From Action-figure.com, "As Star Wars dominated toy sales last year, in 2006 Hasbro will keep the force strong on the toy store shelves and pegs with a whole new range of toys.
First up is the new Saga range which will have over 80 basic figures from all 6 movies. Every figure will include a new ranndomly packed bonus mini hologram figure (12 to collect) Around half of each wave will utilise previously realeased figures with new additions or paint applications. The rest will be all new figures from all kinds of characters from the saga. On display were some of the Carkoon, Hoth, Geonosis and Coruscant waves. It will even include the odd character from the popular clone wars cartoon series and even a video game based figure in with the mix. Each wave will focus on a famous battle from the star wars saga, starting off with the battle of Carkoon and the battle of Hoth. Figures have already started appearing in some UK stores and selected figures from the 1st two waves are in the current Argos catalogue. The Entertainer, Toys R Us and speciality stores should recieve product on the shelves within the next month.
The 3 3/4" range will also be supported by refresh waves of the popular episode 3 vehicles and a few new supprises later in the year, I was able to confirm there will be a NEW AT-AT, most probibly a redeco of the previous one and a Toys R Us exclusive. Rumour has it that its an Endor version.
In 2006 Hasbro will combine 2 of their most popular brands of the past 25 years transformers and star Wars to bring you the best vehicles from the saga that turn into thier pilots and owners. On display was Ben Kenobi's Episode 3 Jedi Star Fighter and a Mock up sample of the interesting Millenium falcon Hyperdrive 2 pack. Its a bigger vehicle than the rest of the range and looks very authentic but a bit chunky. It will transform into 2 figures 1/2 makes a Han Solo the other 1/2 makes Chewbacca. the first assortment of these have already started arriving in some UK stores
With the popularity of shows like OCC and Pimp My Ride, Hasbro will be releasing Star Wars Custom choppers. Wave one was on display and included Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Boba fett on their own Chopper motorbike. They all have rip and go play feature and are stylised like each characters signature vehicle.
Some of the best selling product of 2005 was the role play products. In 06 we will see plenty more of the ever popular Vader helmet with breathing and voice changer feature. There will also be a brand new lightsaber in the range. A prototype sample was on display, it has a sligtly longer handle but this means that the whole blade can be hidden inside and at the push of a button it pops out and extends plus lights up and makes the ignition noise. A very cool product that I am sure kids of all ages will be clamouring for. The one on display looked loosly based on Luke ESB sabre with a blue blade. I expect more colours will be released later on.
Next up was the new Unleashed minis. Now the UK have not seen any official release of the first two waves of mini figure packs which are out in the USA. You get a blister pack with four 1 1/2" static figures from the saga. Many are army builder packs with clones or wookies etc. A few were on display at the stand and they hope to start shipping them out soon to stores. Also in addition to the blistered 4 packs was a mock up big box that will feature extra components to add to a display. The one shown was a Hoth pack which featured a Turret cannon and radar laser cannon, you will be able to add these to your figure packs to add to your displays.
The cute and popular Galactic Heroes range will continue in 2006 with re-releases and repaints of popular characters in 2 packs as well as figure and vehicle 2 packs in the early assortments. We should see Luke with Speeder bike and Imperial scout Trooper with bike.
In other sections of the Hasbro stand I found the new addition to the astoundingly popular Mr Potato Head range. With the sucess of last years Darth Tater and Spud Trooper the now add to the range with R2-D'Tater who comes with a whole slew or extra accesories and a Super cute princess tater organa mini hologram figure. It looks like the Mr Potato Head range will be big this year with plenty of other items like classic Mr and Mrs Potato Heads and the Star Wars range. Lets hope for a Boba Spud and ChewTater.
Also on display was the Saga DVD Trivial pursuit and the Plug and Play TV Lightsaber game.
There werent any Attacktix on display and I asked if the UK would be getting the second and third assortments of the well recieved table top gaming release. I was informed that the UK should get them in them in a few months. I did a review feature on them last year you can check it out here
So it looks like the force is forever..."
6 comments:
"It looks like the Mr Potato Head range will be big this year with plenty of other items like classic Mr and Mrs Potato Heads and the Star Wars range. Lets hope for a Boba Spud and ChewTater." Sigh.
I find it hard to explain our wrath over the 'taters to others. I'm not sure I can explain it to myself, even, but are they annoying. Maybe it's cuz those giant goofy potatos dotted our capital once.
I thought that was one of three discouraging comments, along with "Around half of each wave will utilise previously realeased figures with new additions or paint applications," and "With the popularity of shows like OCC and Pimp My Ride, Hasbro will be releasing Star Wars Custom choppers." You gotta wonder at how marketing people think.
What's with these huge articles with tiny pictures, dude?
Those stupid custom choppers are already out, I've seen them! I want Hasbro to issue a statement like, "Our goals for 2006 are to use cheaper plastics, package the same figures on shiny new blister cards, and use as many existing molds and repaints as possible"!
Soon they'll just release the same three bobble-heads: a generic body with either Darth Vader, Boba Fett or a Stormtrooper.
I was very bummed there were no attacktix there for display. I've heard they've been hard to find in the UK.........
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