I really doubt a lot of it. I know people have their opinions just like I have my own. What my opinion is, Hasbro and Mattel just would rather hold back on playsets because there is more to be made on the figures and vehicles rather than a large set. They can make money, but not enough to really care. It's just like they could get some commercials out there and sell more product, but they seem happy enough not spending marketing dollars and just accepting sales figures where they currently are...

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I am willing to bet that Hasbro as well as other toy companies look closely at investment vs return at all of the products they release. I would love to get more playsets or even things like the ammo depot and other such sets but I think the ratio of investment of resources against gains is probably better with figures.

I don't see a company deciding not to make money when they can. Star Wars seems to have proven that larger items can be profitable however other lines may not have the same numbers buying them to really push the sales, I have seen a lot of people stating they will just wait for clearance and there is nothing wrong with that line of thought. I have waited my self for items to go on sale but I can only see that making retailers not wanting as many large items from that line so the toy company end up selling less to them.

I think some of this comes from the collecting habits of some groups buy multiples of everything even the large items other groups seem to be more openers or MIBers. Whatever it is I wish we would get more non-figure items for GI Joe.

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I Talked a little bit about this on my Drive to Coil Con this weekend.

I think, especially with Modern Figures... Once they get to $10... unless it's something spectacular like Professor X using the SDCC suit, I can wait. Christmas is coming and that will bring down prices and bring up selection.

Also Collectors selling off collections "lock, stock and barrel" happens on a regular basis.. so much so that there are times I can plan to not chase current figures, knowing I'll pick them up if I still want them when a Collection gets dumped.


I think, especially at Toy Shows, it's better to grab a vintage playset... the economics make more sense. Playsets cost more to ship, and you can see it while you're there... Also who's to say you won't find that Rare Figure that's $15 at the show on your next Milk run to walmart....

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I think todays playsets have alot to do with production costs more than anything, that and the fact retailers have more say in what they want to carry in their stores, the retailers don't want to get stuck with big items like that, but back in the day the 1980's Star Wars and GI Joe ruled the World, cheesy plug, but those 2 particular lines sold, that's why there was so many knock off brands that had compatible stuff, so playsets from the past rule, they not only tied into their movie roles, but they was fun to play with, i haven't gotten anything from today's market, playset wise besides the new AT-AT, Turbo Tank and the AT-TE aka the 6 legged tank, if you consider those playsets more than vehicles ?

I just generally don't think the toy makers see playsets selling like they did back in the day

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That is a really good point. I certainly considered the possibility of me seeing the playset again versus the figures. I can't deny that didn't enter into the equation. Those newer figures just hitting could find their way into my hands later one way or another. Not that the playsets couldn't through ebay or another show, but seeing this one in person, and having the seller (needlessly but thankfully) demonstrate all the play features probably did give it the edge in the end.

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I have TONS of old playset parts in my garage just waiting for the day when Liz and I get a house and i can really start doing massive dioramas! I am pretty much set on figures, and to a lesser extent, vehicles, but I really don't have any playsets in my collection that have not been broken down for parts.

I would LOVE to get an old Toxo Lab. I have never even seen one in person but really want to have one someday

Hell, I'd even be willing to trade my original Trek Tribble for one if someone had a complete one to trade.

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I think playsets can sell today, but they will REALLY have to knock it out of the park - and it will have to be for a line that has BIG kid support. TF and Joe had massive support back in the day. Today's lines (and recent past) that had that are pretty much Turtles and (in the past) MMPR. I still remember the Command Center coming out in the early 90s - it was practically a myth that thing was so hard to find. Joe could do a playset again, but they need to take it easy - get a line that draws people in with it's well developed toy qualities.

Really, a lot of this goes back to old-school toy retailing: make a SOLID product, one people can't HELP but play with. I'm thinking Transformers, Blackstar with that rad sparking action, etc. Then do a small line, succeed some, come back for more, build on bigger and better things. These days look at the mistake that was Thundercats: Here's most of the guys, a tank, an HQ that sucks, some half assed roleplay, and all done. The companies want all the money up front instead of developing their own intellectual property and then slowly building the customer base.

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At some point when I liquidate my POTF2 stuff, the playsets are going to stay. I think playsets in general do a great job of being a center point and giving the feeling that there is a whole, full world. As soon as I see Castle Grayskull, I have the feeling that all of the inhabitants of Eternia are somewhere nearby. Every Joe 83HQ feels like Breaker was at some point sitting at the comm center, regardless of whether or not that particular playset ever had a Breaker in it. And there is a versatility to them. Most playsets can easily work for multiple toylines.

I get really tired of hearing people ask for a new USS Flagg. I don't personally want one at retail. But one detail of the Flagg's original release that I think is often overlooked is that the Flagg wasn't entirely about making a big sale. As I understand it, the team working on the brand wanted something awe-inspiring that would get kids talking about G.I.Joe. I think in 85, they succeeded so well in that regard that we are still affected by their plan....still talking about how big that thing is. It is like playground viral marketing.

That is what they may need to revisit...not the Flagg at retail, but impact that came with it.



I passed on the MCC at TRU because I have a vintage one. At the time, I was pressed for money and I just didn't want it for the price. If it had been green...or silver...or anything appealing and new, I would have gotten one.

I have to wonder if that was a time to go for nostalgia or to go for something new. Would it have sold better in another color?

I bought one because I never had it as a kid. I don't know if it would have mattered to me if it was in another color I doubt it would have.

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Yes... I too passed on it because the Color wasn't new, and the Driver was previously available and nothing special.... I'd have found the $70 if it had been green or any color other than Tan.

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But what about those lines that offer playsets that are huge, yet fairly affordable, like the Discover and Chap Mei lines? I was looking at that set with the sperm whale and DSRV diver and wow, I would have been all over a set like that in the long ago.

Speaking of playsets, what do those display pieces I have seen from the larger Marvel figures qualify as? I remember seeing the shattered remains of a Sentinel head or hand for some of the figures. Some come with a bit of terrain or part of a building. I thought that those were genius for the larger figures, but would have been literal GOLD for 1:18.

I hear you pluv on the Robin Hood playset, but the one that I used to promise myself I would aquire was the Fisher-Price Robin Hood playset, with the detailed tree canopies and wood structures. That set would work on any scale. Also the Schleich Shadow Rock tower. I got that on Amazon for a song years ago and I have to tell you, for a ruined castle structure this thing rules.

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I just made a trade for what is my Holy Grail; something that, to me is the ultimate in both a play set and vehicle, and that is the Defiant. The thing is huge, but unlike the Flagg or Terrordrome, it is mobile, and then it breaks open and has two more vehicles that can be played with separately. Also got an AT-TE, while not as big as the big AT-AT, still both a good sized vehicle that is both a vehicle and play set.

As far as your purchase pluv, I'd have gone for the older, harder to find item as well.

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I got the re-released HQ for a birthday. I sold it the next year at a toy show. Compared to the 83 HQ it is horrible. Gimmicky to the nth degree and not fun. Not even good for displays really.

The MCC never appealed to me. It is illegitimate child of a jawa sandcrawler and a tackle box.

Cap, the Narnia Castle is great and has some fun play features. I've used the old 21st Century destroyed building on so many photoshoots it isn't even funny.

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The Defiant really isn't all that mobile, friend. There's no good, logical places to grab it that are actually strong enough to be grabbed. It's best if you either keep it on the floor, where it can always be played with, or kept in a place where you can set it up all the time, up or down. But it IS super awesome, I'll give you that.

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