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What I entertained in thought was what if GIJOE evolved or rode the current trends of popular culture as some other lines have done. For example, when dinosaur movies were big, other companies tried to ride the Jurassic Park wave with very interesting sets. When adventure movies such as Tomb Raider were ubiquitous, the same. More adventure sets. While it could be argued that GIJOE didn't need to do this, I wonder how universal and more interesting GIJOE would have been had they done that? Yes, we had DinoHunters, but I am talking about a true investment into the trends.
Also lets not forget dinohunters suffered from a terrible Dino that was little more than a hunk of plastic.
http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/93/dinohu ... back.shtmlI have think if the dion could have done something it would have been a better set overall.
Which brings me to my point that it does seem when Hasbro strays from what has worked, they drop the ball massivly (ie the first set of Star Brigade figs).
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Imagine, if you can, when the asteroid disaster movies were being made. Then imagine if Hasbro had thought to reissue the Crusader, with a crew, the accessory pack Cobra Drill(which is a nifty spring driven drill), and an fold out playmat of some asteroid terrain that the Joes can land on, and pretend to drill the asteroid. I am pretty sure a set like this would have flown off shelves, and had applications long after the asteroid movies were over. When the zombie fascination was in full swing, from movies to the Marvel "what if everyone..." comics, GIJOE could have made a neat run, comic, or set of figures featuring an APC, and a set of zombie fighters and an army pack of Toxo-Zombies. The franchise could have rode the same waves of popular culture as other lines have attempted, and I personally feel that they wouldn't have been thought "lame". Rather, with so much interest in the franchise utilizing whatever molds, accessories, or ideas that are still viable, I doubt anyone would have turned them down wholly. As for sculpt, I don't care if it were all 25th, or previous. The sculpt is not the issue here, but keeping the franchise viable by riding what's popular at the time, and fresh.
I really like all these ideas, but it does seem that Hasbro has a singular mindset. That is to say, I think these work great as subsets, I don't think you can make these sets without the backdrop of Cobra vs. GI Joe (I can see how the formula might get tiresome, but I think it is the "us vs. them" that makes it viable). And as such Hasbro probably couldn't make a multi faceted line. For example, Spy Troops, a good theame, but everything was Spy Troops during it, I think it could have worked a bit better (and a bit more plausably) as a subset. Also since not every figure was a part of spy troops that was released under the spy troops name it also fits rather well. Same With Valor vs venom. The BATS attack would have worked that way too, Spaced out through the year as a subcatagory of each wave. Also if one set proves to be a failer the company can just disconinue it and still release the figures under the "Normal" GI Joe label.
SW doesn't seem to have this problem, Exapanded Universe all the while expanding the current and keeping the classics fresh, SW has multiple catagories for its 3 & 3/4" line and its seems to work really well. I am not sure why Hasbro hasn't doen the same with Joe (I understand SW is a bigger franchise and all, but some variety can't hurt).
Like I said I agree and love the ideas, but at the same time trying to look at this realisticly.
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Space travel, time travel, or even inner Earth travel, would make for some interesting figures and accessories. Scientific exploration, new weapon exploration, or just natural disaster, something.
All of these I like a great deal. Just to reiterate.
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I spoke at length with many buyers and their common problem with the line was that, despite the new bodies, there really wasn't anything 'new' with GIJoe. In the 80's they were unique and pushed the envelope of what a 3 3/4" action figure could be. The story was solid and the cartoon and Marvel comic didn't hurt either. Compared to toy giants like Star Wars and Transformers, GIJoe really hasn't done much to take kids and collectors into new territory. As one buyer said, Transformers always has something new and exciting. Star Wars, as much as some people love or hate it, has taken the plunge to explore the expanded universe while, at the same time, keeping the characters from the movies fresh. Sgt. Savage, GIJoe Extreme and Sigma 6 were great ideas but they tampered with the size of the figures and made it impossible to interact with the classic toys.
I just wanted to add this is a great observation and one I totally agree with.