TheBadGuyChico
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 3, 2012 10:34:41 GMT -5
Posts: 1,715
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Post by TheBadGuyChico on Aug 5, 2017 19:38:42 GMT -5
These last 7 years have been pretty great, we finally got a scaled figure line with more deco and accessories. That is a huge win.
However we have lost a few things, there is actually less unique sculpting it seems. Eyebrows are painted on with no sculpting, which typically looks very cartoony. Ditto for beards etc., Jakks you could argue out all of their budget into the damn heads lol. I think Jakks headsculpts from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin were just better. The added sculpting resulted in more texture, thus resulting in a more realistic face.
I miss things like Kane's mesh and studded belt being molded like the R3 figure. I'd love for a guy like Rollins to get his belt molded on. These type of things are consistently painted on. There are some great exceptions though, that 95 Bash at the beach Savage with the molded fringe with amazing! I also loved Warrior getting rubber wrist bands with the molded fringe. These things greatly add to a figure.
I like Mattel's but I'm often really underwhelmed with the lack of unique molds and the cheap painting of many of the heads. It's just not as big of a leap from Jakks as I'd like it to be a times, and I'm no Jakks fan. It just bothers me that they got some things done better well over a decade ago, and for a smaller price point. What price point do we need to get better 6 inch figures?
I'm not looking for a flame war, this isn't about negativity, i just want to discuss the state of the game.
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Post by ~*Young $ Money*~ on Aug 5, 2017 19:47:51 GMT -5
I really like what Mattel has done. They have many sculpts and try and get scaling as close as possible but it is hard. You have to remember they have a budget to stick to and using new parts just isn't price effective most of the time. I don't mind things are painted instead of sculpted on. JAKKS did have some great headscans but Mattel holds their own also on some figures.
As far as the leap goes, Mattel tries to keep a 6 inch figure at the price point of 10-20$. If they were to get more detailed and unique sculpts they could easily be in the 50$+ range. Look at the new figarts or whatever they are called, same basic figures for 50$. I'm happy with what Mattel does for 20$
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Post by qdogg on Aug 5, 2017 19:49:55 GMT -5
Hopefully we get more WCW Midcard type guys and ECW guys moving forward and mid carders in general but the line has been very good in general despite having some of the bigger names not released until 5 years into the line.
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xtremebadass
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 2, 2006 19:27:32 GMT -5
Posts: 3,073
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Post by xtremebadass on Aug 5, 2017 19:51:39 GMT -5
I think there's nowhere to go but down when it comes to WWE Mattel Elite figures. This goes for most toy lines in general. The only way for toy companies to keep the price point the same is to make sacrifices. I mean...look at Transformers. Compared the toys for Revenge of the Fallen in 2009 to the Last Knight toys. Quality continues to go down. I am amazed at what Mattel has been able to give us. You see cracks in the armor though with those articulation issues of basic figures.
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Post by Xæro #FakeCollector on Aug 5, 2017 20:01:26 GMT -5
I like what they've done for the most part, but I think their Elite line is severely behind when it comes to contemporary articulation and accessories. Namely butterfly joints, double jointed elbows, and alternate hands/heads.
Compare Hasbro's Marvel Legends line to Mattel's Elite Series for example. The former has the aforementioned articulation and accessories, as well as more unique molds, while still maintaining the same price point as a Mattel Elite. At the end of the day though, both companies are slaves to their allocated budget so that may be where the problem is.
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grandmasterPRA
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Rise Above Being Boring
Joined on: Jun 12, 2002 17:51:32 GMT -5
Posts: 1,075
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Post by grandmasterPRA on Aug 5, 2017 20:16:17 GMT -5
Mattel has done a phenomenal job for me. I could use more obscure legends or definitely more female legends but I understand why certain people aren't made.
Honestly, in terms of the future, I think people will eventually be able to "print" their own figures. I own a really low end 3D printer and the technology is great and only going to get better. But this is obviously looking pretty far into the future.
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Post by ~*Young $ Money*~ on Aug 5, 2017 20:19:57 GMT -5
Mattel has done a phenomenal job for me. I could use more obscure legends or definitely more female legends but I understand why certain people aren't made. Honestly, in terms of the future, I think people will eventually be able to "print" their own figures. I own a really low end 3D printer and the technology is great and only going to get better. But this is obviously looking pretty far into the future. There was a company who actually made these for WWE. If you check the other boards section there's a whole thread on it |
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Post by kgchampion on Aug 6, 2017 5:07:12 GMT -5
I find myself winding down from what I used to. I'm starting to pass on more and more guys. I find myself mostly concerned about late 90's guys, championship belts, non-wrestlers, and playsets. I think I'm coming to the point where I'll have enough of what I like to keep me happy and then I can retire from buying and enjoy playing in my massive WWE "toybox".
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Generic Theme
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 11, 2012 22:28:45 GMT -5
Posts: 566
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Post by Generic Theme on Aug 6, 2017 5:53:46 GMT -5
Mattel elites hit that figure sweet spot that I look for in a wrestling line, so I am very happy with them. Realistic, yet not overly articulated and detailed.
I have collected some lines like McFarlane where the detail is amazing to the point where the figures are virtually plastic statues.
I prefer my WWE figures to retain some of the look and feel of still being a toy, probably because I fell in love with collecting wrestling figures as a kid growing up in the late 80s and 90s.
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ero
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 17, 2011 17:10:01 GMT -5
Posts: 751
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Post by ero on Aug 6, 2017 6:59:22 GMT -5
I prefer my WWE figures to retain some of the look and feel of still being a toy, probably because I fell in love with collecting wrestling figures as a kid growing up in the late 80s and 90s. So true. Seems that adult collectors set the bar at detail and paint apps for figures, and while these are important, I do like that toy quality that Mattel brings. |
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Post by master of the WORLD! on Aug 6, 2017 7:29:34 GMT -5
mattel was a huve step up from jakks no doubt. i do feel like over the last few years they have pretty much plateaued though.
the elites are good for the $20 price point but for me perosnally since getting into more higher end figures you really notice that for the most part you get what you pay for. the elites are what they are a $20 toy which is all fine and well but i perosnally cut back a TON on the mattel line in favor of higher end (non wwe) figures.
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Post by master of the WORLD! on Aug 6, 2017 7:33:38 GMT -5
I like what they've done for the most part, but I think their Elite line is severely behind when it comes to contemporary articulation and accessories. Namely butterfly joints, double jointed elbows, and alternate hands/heads. Compare Hasbro's Marvel Legends line to Mattel's Elite Series for example. The former has the aforementioned articulation and accessories, as well as more unique molds, while still maintaining the same price point as a Mattel Elite. At the end of the day though, both companies are slaves to their allocated budget so that may be where the problem is. it still baffles my mind that mattel has not added double jointed elbows amd butterfly joints to a lesser extent. and yeah interchangeable hands would be an ovious choice and a simple way to add value. |
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maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
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Post by maske2g on Aug 6, 2017 7:44:28 GMT -5
I think there's nowhere to go but down when it comes to WWE Mattel Elite figures. This goes for most toy lines in general. The only way for toy companies to keep the price point the same is to make sacrifices. I mean...look at Transformers. Compared the toys for Revenge of the Fallen in 2009 to the Last Knight toys. Quality continues to go down. I am amazed at what Mattel has been able to give us. You see cracks in the armor though with those articulation issues of basic figures. Those new transformers have also doubled in price since 2009. No wonder the shelves are full of them |
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maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
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Post by maske2g on Aug 6, 2017 7:47:27 GMT -5
There are only so many marketable wrestlers left to make.
Luckily, WWE keeps churning up new talent from around the globe and NXT.
Flashbacks will continue to decrease until Hulk comes back and they make about 20.
Hasbro are now doing the digital paint app. The heads look great and only at 5 bucks more.
That should basically kill figuarts. Because they are not worth an extra 30 bucks. Most adults dont care THAT much about articulation.
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MidCardMarks
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2017 22:03:47 GMT -5
Posts: 55 
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Post by MidCardMarks on Aug 6, 2017 9:42:36 GMT -5
Hopefully we get more WCW Midcard type guys and ECW guys moving forward and mid carders in general but the line has been very good in general despite having some of the bigger names not released until 5 years into the line. I agree..there are only so many Cena Elites you want to see..they could skip many series and give to some mid card guys. |
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marklud
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 5, 2009 21:10:30 GMT -5
Posts: 1,739
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Post by marklud on Aug 6, 2017 10:24:07 GMT -5
They do a great job all things considered. When I see some of the complaints on here it makes me laugh a bit. I think we forget that this is a MASS-PRODUCED line by one of the largest toy companies in the world. This isn't a niche line of collectibles geared toward just us collectors. They have a delicate line to balance. Do I wish that they were higher-end like some recent outputs from Storm and Figuarts? (Ironically not those lines' wrestling figures, but I love some of their other work.) You bet. I'd be happy to spend more on a better all-around figure. I hope we get a truly special top-end line with $50 wrestling figures someday. But for keeping costs as they are we still get a very good bang for your buck as far as the elites are concerned. I get that we want perfect figures but when I see little tiny complaints about molded belts and fringe I think it's time to take a step back and look at the big picture.
Sometimes I think this board does more harm than good when it comes to minor issues. If I hadn't been on the board during SDCC, I wouldn't have realized that Alexa's body on her elite has a flaw without reading it on here first. I had never heard of the belt thing mentioned above but now I know of another "flaw." Same thing with comments on RSC instagram posts, it's like we have to avoid all of these traps because somebody will always find something that otherwise I'd never ever notice.
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Post by Mr Ezekiel Jackson If Ya Nasty on Aug 6, 2017 10:55:35 GMT -5
They do a great job all things considered. When I see some of the complaints on here it makes me laugh a bit. I think we forget that this is a MASS-PRODUCED line by one of the largest toy companies in the world. This isn't a niche line of collectibles geared toward just us collectors. They have a delicate line to balance. Do I wish that they were higher-end like some recent outputs from Storm and Figuarts? (Ironically not those lines' wrestling figures, but I love some of their other work.) You bet. I'd be happy to spend more on a better all-around figure. I hope we get a truly special top-end line with $50 wrestling figures someday. But for keeping costs as they are we still get a very good bang for your buck as far as the elites are concerned. I get that we want perfect figures but when I see little tiny complaints about molded belts and fringe I think it's time to take a step back and look at the big picture. Sometimes I think this board does more harm than good when it comes to minor issues. If I hadn't been on the board during SDCC, I wouldn't have realized that Alexa's body on her elite has a flaw without reading it on here first. I had never heard of the belt thing mentioned above but now I know of another "flaw." Same thing with comments on RSC instagram posts, it's like we have to avoid all of these traps because somebody will always find something that otherwise I'd never ever notice. And on the subject of Alexa, she wears a pushup bra while wrestling. Mattel is not making a new mold just so folks can lear at an acurate portrayal of her mammaries. |
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Deleted
Joined on: May 6, 2024 15:26:05 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2017 11:01:42 GMT -5
Just give me some more ECW, more early 00s Jericho's and I'll be happy.
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TheBadGuyChico
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 3, 2012 10:34:41 GMT -5
Posts: 1,715
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Post by TheBadGuyChico on Aug 6, 2017 11:13:00 GMT -5
Now I'll be looking at the Marvel Legends figures, I hope they're not too good! I can't handle seeing a better line at the same price point.
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Post by kiloinnorcal on Aug 6, 2017 11:23:48 GMT -5
The only thing Jakks did better at this point is dig deeper into the obscurity pool when it came to some of the talent. That and as the TC said, probably more consistent face scan and sculpting. Mattel has added better bodytypes, scaling, and deco. Plus Macho Man.
The problem now for me as an older collector, is I don't feel I need every iteration of the same group of select wrestlers Mattel keeps producing which has made my purchases fewer and farer in between and my eye has wandered to other toy lines.
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