jollyroger wrote:
Big_Tex_Wild_Phil wrote:
The set was decent, but with the looks of how these sold I don't know if they will make the large playset everyone wants.
Really? They can't think that because the 14829849234th tiime the Mobat get's re-released, a Red hiss for the uber 3rd time, a few thrown togeather 19th variant repaints and a Blue trubble bubble didn't sell, that they should axe big playsets..
Thats pulling an Indy line move.
Had it had something other then the ^&*(ty mobat mold, and the Hiss's millionth release I might have though about it. Now add cobra commander V68 and Destro V45 and you killed the set.
What shocks me is how people think that this is a set for us, despite Hasbro adding in an Original 13 member the completists can't get any other way (yet).
Stalker wrote:
I saw a kid at Target salivating over this. There were three. Didn't scan them, but I didn't think they were on sale. (I'm not paying full price nor pulling the old swaperoo if/when it does.)
He was saying things like: "(so-and-so) will be so jealous if I get this," "I don't care if my mom kills me, I want to get this," and to the mother of his friend, "G.I. Joe is the cool thing now!"
There's your target audience right there. It's an introduction set for the kids who have no Joe toys yet. Iconic Joe tank vs iconic Cobra tank? Check. Are both tanks a simple design (few parts = less cost in assembly) that kids new to the hobby might not have? Check. Iconic Joes (all original 13) vs tier-one Cobra leadership? Check. Nifty air vehicles (well backpack) for both sides? Check. Some cannon fodder as well? Check. Plus, it comes right at Christmas (although I didn't see it in Houston until the week before Christmas -- timing it for the last-minute buyers?)
This set screams, "have Santa leave this under the tree and kindle your 10yo's interest, so he or she will want to buy more Joes and Cobras."
Heck, the price point even matches the sum of the parts. Hiss and driver - $15. By that, we'll say Mobat and Steeler- $15. stalker, Short-Fuze, Cobra troop, Destro, CC - $7 each for $35. 15+15+35 = 65 -- plus a trouble bubble tossed in on top of that. If we continue to think intended audience -- someone who has /no/ Joe toys, it fits right in with the rest of the line so far.
Hasbro must have known that they'd take a hit from the collector community, though. Unless their marketers actually believed that the rabid calls for Short-Fuze and Zap would blind us to the other repaints. Every time I look at that set, I think it's only worth ~$40 to me -- but then, I skipped the Steeler/Armadillo in favor of this. (SF, Steeler, Hiss, driver, gunner (the troop), and blue bubble)
Now if the Houston Targets would drop the price to $40 like they apparently are elsewhere.

_________________
Visit
Midgarn's Dio-Stories: Tales of G.I. Joe!
\/ - means I'm on the laptop with the broken 'v' key.
