That's the general consensus. There's a lot of IFs, which is unfortunate.

IF it goes to mass retail, we can ASSume the MSRP will go down.

IF it doesn't go mass retail, we can ASSume $10 single packs. Maybe $8 due to the lack of licensing (unlike what Hasbro pays George Lucas for the SW name).

IF it goes mass retail but no advertising, will it fail?

IF it goes online only, it's destined to fail, especially w/o marketing.

In the end, if the line gets to mass retail, has a bit of marketing, and it sells well, this could be the rebrth of teh line. If not, Hasbro will have to figure out another way to get interest from the masses in 3.75".

Future of 3.75
 

I don't mean to be pessimistic; but this could be the end of the line for awhile. I think Hasbro is giving it one last chance. Going down with all guns blazing. I hope I'm wrong!!

That's not pessimistic. That's reality, dawg. There's a fine line, imo. Like I said, there are way too many IFs at this point. If we find out that these go to mass retail, it'll automatically do BETTER than the online sales. However, we still don't know how these'll be packed. :(

Unfortunately I think it's the last hurrah, whether it sells well or not (and from the first ten figs, I have my doubts). Wave four has been delayed so long I don't think we will ever see it go into production, and we've most likely seen our last 3 3/4" vehicle already. :(

...And instead of Billy or Dr. Venom, or Kwinn in shorts, we would prefer that mysterious old, blind dude who pulled SE out of the snow in the aforementioned cartoon... I know there is clamoring in the community for THAT guy. ;)

I'm with you. Just pick one SE for this release.

Lastly, They could do a mail-away for the hooded CC, if they really wanted to go back to the olden days... But one edition per character is the key to success, imo.

Well if it's the last hurrah for the line, then so let it be. :rolleyes:

The sign of the times for us collectors are changing.... and the era for Joes isn't what it used to be.

Might as well wait and see how things go down the line. Here's hoping. :)

Justin told me the other week not to hold out for Wave4. Consider wave4 canceled.

Totally, YorkTown.

The way I feel, if they want to do our chars in new and funky outfits, the themes are perfect. But at the same time, if they want to do variants, allow 'em to come a wave or 3 further away than the original release. So let's say the 25th does well. hasbro continues on with another 25 or whatever. I could handle seeing v2 SE or whatever in the 50-75 figure range. MAYBE the latter 25-50 if he's at the butt end of it.

I would like to see the 3.75 line continue, but I think it is going to go the way of the 12 inch line, as a collector's line. I think with the new Sigma 6 line, this is going to be the current and forseeable future of the Joe line. Too bad, but probably realistic.

Somehow I'm not surprised in the least, I've had my suspicions for a while now. There's no reason for wave 4 to have been delayed for this long. If it was coming out, it would be here by now. :rolleyes:

I think you'll have some "new" sculpt fans starting to feel like RAH purists, expecially if Wave 4 never comes to pass. Munitia might join Knock-Out in cancelled Cobras Hall of Shame...yeah, you're thinking "who's Knock Out?". One of the unreleased Ninja Commandos from 1994/1995.

There's buzz outside the Joe boards over these 25th figures, so I imagine these will reel some people in and back into Joe collecting. The only major thing than can ruin this line is if they charge too much for the figures. I've seen a few post by some gushers claiming they'd happily pay $10 each for these. That's not gonna fly with many people, especially non-Joe collectors (who can get figures three time the size of Joes for $10 or less) Star Wars' VOTC is a yearly release, lots of it went on clearance last year (it's still hanging around a few stores) and Star Wars is much more well known. Hype like that might give lurking corporate types the wrong impression about Joe fans.

Anyway, hopefully the comic packs will return...though with what style figure, I wouldn't care to guess. Hasbro loves to milk older Star Wars molds for all they can, even if there's a better version of a character available. New sculpt and RAH may not be "dead". (really tired of people saying that.)

The other things I worry about is Wal-Mart's corporate bullying (by refusing to buy what Hasbro makes) and Hasbro pretty much making so many toy lines that they might be concerned about competing against themselves or something.

Yup. Hear ya on the Walmart thing. If this thing goes to poo, it's gonna be WalMart. Nice to know there's buzz outside the Joe world. I know on the JBL, a whole lotta guys who used to be regulars are popping back in again. There's been a HUGE influx of noobs too.

You could still get the 3"3/4 online at hasbro shop probably but I think the stores will only sell S6 and 25 stuff. And if you look far back enough you might find a few old figs.

25 anniversary Snake Eyes.
 

I'm very Happy, but what is that bag (Green goblin-type)?
I preferred Snake eyes with the strange Medieval visor!!!

YOJOE!!!

Bros., don't You understand?
This is a big opportunity, a brand new start.
We must hope (and buy!!!)...

But here is the question... if the 25th anniversary figures do really really well, and Hasbro decides to put 3.75" Joes back out again, will they all be this new 25th anniv. style, or will they go back to the cheaper new sculpt (2002) style?

I know a lot of people are bashing these new 25th anniv. figure sculpts. I personally like them, and think it is a great direction to be going in. Things change and you can't expect the toys from 1982 to do well at retail right now, sure I'd buy them, but I am in my mid 30's, I have three son's right now, and I can tell you for a fact, it my two oldest sons had a choice to buy 3.75" or Sigma-6 Joes, they'd buy the Sigma-6 Joes, things are just different and the kids now are used to a different type of toy.

I have been in Walmart a couple times the last few weeks and have seen young boys with their Mom's or Dad's asking for Sigma-6 stuff. One kid was looking at Snake Eyes and saying something like "Wow, look at the cool Dog he has! I want it!" I honestly think (from my experience as being a parent of kids who are into toys right now), that if the 25th Anniv. figures were on the shelf next to Sigma-6, they would buy Sigma-6... UNLESS either the packages are kick @$$ and draw their attention, OR the price point is worked in such a way that the kid would want them over Sigma-6 (which means the kids would have to be 9+ years old or so to be able to do the math in their head), but if the price point is $10 for a 3.75" figure and only a couple of dollars more for a big Sigma-6 guy, then I can't see a kid wanting the 3.75" figure...

As for the 2.5" line, my oldest son like the vehicles, but hates the little 2.5" guys, in fact, the only sets he has wanted were the sets with vehicles, because the non-articulated figures just don't cut it for the kids. My Wal-Mart has all their 2.5" stuff on the clearance Isle, while they are constantly restocking the 8" line.

What price point would make kids want the 25th anniv. Joes? I'd say less than $7 per figure, or priced in such a way that they could get 2 figures for the same price as 1 Sigma-6 figure. Also parents would be more likely to buy them if the price point was setup that way to.

In either case, the person that was thinking about Wal-Mart earlier (can't remember who wrote that message now - sorry) was correct, Wal-Mart would once again be competing against itself and I think that both the 25th Anniv. line and the Sigma-6 line would suffer there if that was the case.

I personally can not wait for the 25th Anniv. Joes to come out, I will certainly buy a full set for myself, and if they are single carded I'll buy probably a few of the Cobra Soldiers... if they are multi-packs or 5-packs, I won't be buying multiples to get the Soldiers... but I will be buying 1 full set either way... As for kids, my personal experience says that they won't be into them as much as they are the Sigma-6 stuff (the cartoon helps with that too).

--== Paragon ==--

Actually, the 3.75" was put on 'hiatus' from the B&M on purpose. That info came to light just as VvV was wrapping up. VvV was also extended 6 months to get that last wave out (which was, W7 or W1 of Robot Rebellion). It wasn't necessarily all Hasbro's doing. George Lucas and Walmart had pull to get 3.75" off the shelves.

Take a look. His v1 came w/ an explosives satchel. Hasbro is literally going back to 1982 and giving them modern sculpting techniques. Well, give or take a few lil things but they are trying to honor the old stuff.

And yes, I merged the threads cuz I wanted to keep all discussion in 1 spot.

Snake Eyes and his hand bag

25th Snake Eyes
 

For my other version 1 Snake Eyes, I'll choose one to customize based on the cells that I've seen from season 1 of the cartoon. I'll use flesh tone paint on his hands and will try to get that darkish blue going with more highlights on his visor. Anyway,this one is the best version 1 so far

Those bastages. :)

25th Vehicles
 

I'd like to see Hasbro put out some 25th anniversary vehicles with a new touch. Any rumors?

None at all, man.

Yes, the vehicles are every bit a part of GI Joe mythos but I think Hasbro wants to push the characters as hard as they can. Like people have been saying, these 1st 10 figures need to be bough and cleared from the shelves to get Hasbro to think twice about things. We can ASSume that if these 1st 10 are sold out, then the next 15 will be easy and the inclusion of vehicles is a possibility down the road.

Thing is, I like the idea of themes. It helps the Joes evolve in terms of characterization and whatnot. Unfortunately, the lack of focus on the themes led to redundant chars and outfits that made no sense. At least w/ VvV, you had venomized troops and Link the problem-solver. But at the same time, that could have been a small scale mission and another mission could've been made up and have had chars specifically for that.

SHoot, what if they did Viper Lockdown? What if they ran with that idea and created a wave or 2 of Joes to support it? Give them similar camo/outfits and away we go. Then another mission/story after that and again, different joes w/ decent outfits. Uhmmmm, anyway, the vehicles could go w/ missions too. What's the point of creating dune buggys for a snow story? lol

Ok ok, i'll shut up.

What he said... it all depends on the velocity of sales for the last 15 if the scale line will continue and vehicles show up.

I never thought about Lucas pulling strings to help his "marketing genius". Conspiracy theory of fact *eyes dart back and forth*

If I remember the dates right, I think it happened w/ the 3rd movie. He wanted NO competition so he set up a situation w/ Hasbro to get that 'other' 3.75" action figure off the shelves so only his would be available. To an extent, 3.75" went away for Sigma6 but the small line had it coming. You can also blame that on the big wigs there. It would seem that each theme/year, there was someone knew at the head. Deryl DePriest, Dwight Stall, Billy Lagor... Someone wanted GI Joe to be an overnite seller and that was part of the reason for S6.

It wasn't until recently that someone figured out that slow and steady sales can work too. Instant success stories are rare and S6, while popular, may have not taken off like they had hoped or assumed or thought or whatever.

Here's the goofy thing tho. We talk about how Hasbro will continue 3.75". But in what fashion? More redux of characters? Extend the years so the choices are thru 1989? It's gotta be quick cuz I think the steam will run out.

Off topic, but....Depriest manages (or mismanages) Star Wars now (not sure if he has had any hand in GI JOE in recent years). I say mismanages sort of jokingly, as good and bad ideas used for GIJOE appear in the Star Wars line.

Good: comic packs. (Including EU character ones with all new figures), return of some large vehicles (as store exclusives), acknowledging clone army building fans with things like Betrayal on Felucia and Hunt for Greivous.

Bad: Order 66 two packs with reissued figures paired with exclusive repaints. (which he acted like these were some treat in the press release about them :rolleyes: ), large vehicles with exclusive figures, exploiting army builder and clone trooper fans with things...like Order 66 2-packs.

I always hated those gimmicks, putting an exclusive figure in with an expensive vehicle, or repacking them with figures that have already come out and most likely already own... The comic packs were certainly a nifty idea though (for Star Wars) ad gave us some nice figures we would have otherwise never seen. :)

--== Paragon ==--

I had forgotten that DePriest went over to SW. Rumor has it, he's a lot of the reason why some of those figures got new/more articulation.

re:
 

While you guys are out collecting the 10+ Cobra Vipers, remember, some of us only need one, so if there is one left on the rack, be NICE and leave it for some of us poorer shmucks that are slow to get to the store when they come out.

Well, they have to be single carded for any of us to buy mass quantities. ;)

I'll be very happy putting hands on one of each that is being released. But have to agree that a large army of those guys would be awsome. He bring me memories from my childhood mornings watching the cartoons.

All things aside, Scarlett has been updated to fit into the '25th Anniversary' look. Is she the BEST Scarlett ever?? No, but then again, nothing ever stays the same. I am THE biggest fan of the ORIGINAL Scarlett, but I could get used to this one. Of course, that said, I will probably continue to use my original Scarlett. But I'll still buy this one......

These joes look like they'll be great for stop-motion animation! :D

i hope these things are marketed in va

Do we have an ETA yet? I am so in love with some of these. I have already started putting money aside for army building that Cobra Trooper.

Being pessimistic, I think they may haven't done so because there WON'T be more Joes like these, so they can afford to make them so detalied :(

I have to admit that this is THE figure that to me is the best representation of the line. Great blending of the old figures, the comics & the cartoon. In the past I never really cared if I picked up 'bunches' of these guys, but with this one, I will definately try to pick up a bunch!!
And yes, I am hoping that they cast the Crimson Guards-and that they do as good a job!!!!!!

Upcoming Info for 25th Anniversary Joes (3.75")
 

The other 95% of this place prefers the small scale Joes. BUT not so small as the odd, money-wasting 2.5" statues (which DO look good on your desk). There's been a lot of speculation on price point and how these things will be marketed. Hasbro has released information on it's media page. Enjoi.

Uhmmm, are the other 15 really going to be repaints???

They are talking about the 10 new figures already released, and that new idea of releasing the original 15 characters in replica packaging, but they are not talking about the 10 figures supposedly left in the list of 20 of the Commemorative Set :(