BanthaSkull's 5th Hasbro Star Wars Q&A for 2009 is here!

[RoswellSun]

Hasbro's answers for the questions submitted on 04/10/09. Enjoy!

1) Hasbro, what are the chances of some battle packs with repaints of Battle Droids for the Clone Wars? There is the one with yellow highlights, camouflage deco, blue highlights and others as well as a battle pack with the various astromechs seen in the various episodes? We already have Obi-Wan's Delta 2 Starfighter, but no R4-P17 to fit in the droid slot. Thanks for your consideration!
- SithMan

Hasbro: More of the Battle Droid variants from Clone Wars are already on the way. As for Clone Wars astro droids, it's certainly something we have heard loud and clear from fans and will be looking for ways to get more of the them out, and Battle Packs may be one possibility. R4-P17 is one of the most important ones to get out there and we'll look to him first.

2) So you've given us detailed pics of the upcoming Legacy ROTJ Nikto figure. The large cannon accessory appears to have some kind of clip at the end of the "arm" or "base". Clearly, this is meant to attach to something big in order to keep the figure from falling over. Can you please provide us with pics of the BMF Jabba's Sail Barge you plan on releasing in 2010 but haven't told us about yet?
- nomadscout

Hasbro: The design team did put that in there for forward-compatibility, should there ever be a chance to do a Sail Barge. There is certainly no Sail Barge in development for all of the reasons we have previously articulated - not iconic enough, not a kid-demanded vehicle, and it would have a massive tooling budget against probably the lowest demand of the "big vehicle program" we have been driving. In short, not a good formula for success, that would likely grind the program to a halt. We would love to do it, because we are fans and it is a cool vehicle to us, but unless Jabba and the Barge shows up in a big way in future entertainment the chances of this one are slim.( oh wonderful sail barge)

3) Hasbro, in regards to the recently revealed Saga Legends on the new cardbacks, why do you continue to keep making the same choices for repacks? As every SL we've seen on a new card are figures we saw in this year's (Stormtrooper cardback,) and TAC's Saga Legends line. While we realize the need for core characters, is there any way we can shake these up a bit? Maybe replace Vader with the infinitely times better Legacy mold? Or put older Clone Trooper paints - 212, Cato Nemoida, or 7th Legion - in place of clean ones?
- RebelTrooper1138

Hasbro: The simple answer is that we are drawing on the same figure because Saga Legends have been extraordinarily successful in meeting the needs of kids for core characters, and we see that demand continuing. Your point is a strong one regarding different trooper variants - as some of these are long-overdue for a return to the lineup. There's a strong possibility that we'll add future waves of Saga Legends to the lineup that can get some of these back in - since they meet the dual needs of strong Clone Troopers for kids, as well as offering collectors another chance to get them. As for Vader - he's still being repacked in the Legacy Collection, and this not available for Legends. He is a strong figure and sure to be back out on a basic figure card in one form or another.

[DarthDre758]

I love the 'because we're fans' line. It's like they want to connect with us.

[nomadscout]

In a completely gay kind of way.

[DarthDre758]

Is there any other way?

[JediJunkie247]

not iconic enough, not a kid-demanded vehicle, and it would have a massive tooling budget against probably the lowest demand of the "big vehicle program" we have been driving. In short, not a good formula for success, that would likely grind the program to a halt.

Not iconic enough?

Grind the program to a halt?

And yet, the include the rail cannon with a figure in hopes that they might be able to do it in the future.

[captainalex]

Originally Posted by DarthDre758

Is there any other way?

Hasbro and I are so much alike. It's like having a twin but without the shareing and the careing.

[JediJunkie247]

Originally Posted by captainalex

Hasbro and I are so much alike. It's like having a twin but without the shareing and the careing.

So, which one of you would be considered the "evil" twin?

[nomadscout]

Also, I say we call a moratorium on all questions dealing with Saga Legends.

They sell. Hasbro loves 'em. They're here to stay, as is, for a while, no matter how much we think they clog the pegs.

They're not supposed to be repacks of hard to find figures that collectors thought were cool, they're supposed to be major characters that are kept in the rotation when the Legacy line isn't doing it on it's own.

Move along...


As for the sail barge, it seems like Jabba could be a recurring character throughout the series. Maybe his Barge will be there as well.

I agree with JJ - they obviously haven't completely written off the possibility, and it's one of the last major vehicles from the OT that has never been made.

[DarthDre758]

I agree on the Saga Legends questions. It's a waste of a space.

If the sail barge is seen in the Clone Wars cartoon, then maybe we'll see it in a couple of years. Other than that, I really don't think we'll have a chance at seeing it...doesn't matter to me though. BMF is the last vehicle I see myself getting.

[JediJunkie247]

Originally Posted by nomadscout

.

I agree with JJ

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! IT'S A SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE!

Sorry, just not used to reading those words.

I just don't see why they have to dance around shit like this. They release the accessory, then say they probably won't put out said vehicle because blah, blah, blah............., then they try to cover it up and say they want to because they are "fans".