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Post by Radar on Jul 29, 2008 12:27:39 GMT -5
After many questions asked of Brian Wilk, we have received most of the answers. There were some issues that he declined to speak about. There were some issues with specific #s and $ issues that he didn't want to get into and some company secrets he wanted to keep a while longer, but he did have this to say... Q: Is Attacktix a dead series? A: NO. We are working on a special relaunch approach as we speak. Q: Do you check Attacktix.Proboards22.com?A: Not as often as I should. Q: Can we get SW5, M2, TF2 out by pre-sale? How do we convince Hasbro to make even a small run of those figures? A: We are still figuring out the logistics. Q: If one Universe sells better than another, will we see more of that universe and less of another? A: Yes. Q: Did Hasbro overproduce SW4, M1, and TF1 in comparison to other sets? A: No. Q: How much SW4, M1, and TF1 are left over? A: We are almost sold out. Q: What will it take to get the new series sold, on-line or in stores? A: A brand re-launch. Q: When can we expect new tournament figures? A: With the re-launch. There will be many exciting new things at re-launch. Q: New Attack types? A: There will be a lot of great things happening when we re-launch. Q: Will we see Movie themed sets? A: Too Far away to tell. Q: Why hasn't Hasbro been able to get Attacktix into Happy Meals/Kids Meals? A: Safety restrictions. We could have used weaker springs on launchers and strikers, but that would have prevented an authentic Attacktix experience. We are not going to do Attacktix just "Halfway". Q: Should we expect clear boosters like in the Heroes line, or blind like in previous Attacktix series? A: We are looking at both and in-between. Q: How about a "try me" feature in the box? A: There are some logistical problems with that, figure attaching to packaging, not being able to fire a projectile, not having an authentic "Tix experience. Wait and see. Q: Tournaments? Local, district, regional, state, national, world, etc. A: I'd love to. Q: How does Hasbro get people to understand that Attacktix is both a toy and a game? A: (smiles) ...re-launch. Q: Themed sets? Imperials, Autobots, x-Men, Cobra? A: I love it. Q: Promotions? @ Movies, Conventions, in store demos? A: Wait and see. It is all about the re-launch. I'm working hard to get this going. Q: Is there anything the fans can do to help? A: Keep petitioning! You have no idea how effective that is. Hasbro listens to its' customers. We respect what they think and the petition really made an impact. I signed it. Keep petitioning. Q: anything you want to say to the fans? A: It's coming. Be patient. Don't sell your figures! More are coming. I want them relaunched as much as you.
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Post by sfx5000 on Jul 29, 2008 14:21:39 GMT -5
Great leg-work Radar!
Anything about a general time frame? 2008? 2009? 2020?
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Post by Joe Manzo on Jul 29, 2008 14:28:08 GMT -5
A++! Good to know we can keep the faith (and our figures)!
And sweet pictures Jay, I have been searching for those custom Muggs in the backgrounds of other pictures!
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Post by ionicdesign on Jul 29, 2008 14:36:11 GMT -5
A++! Good to know we can keep the faith (and our figures)! Sounds good, now if only there was a time line. Thanks for the update Radar.
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Post by Phoenix on Jul 29, 2008 14:41:09 GMT -5
Thank you sir...all good stuff. I really like the various "bronze" statues, those look particularly classy. Those mighty muggs rock, I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but one of the 'tix guys is behind those as well...I REALLY love the customs that they had on display. Hot dang! They look pretty cool. I'm excited about the blank ones coming out, I can finally try customizing now. Awesome pictures JayDouble!! Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Radar on Jul 29, 2008 14:41:43 GMT -5
Holy Guacamole! Joe is back! and with excellent karma I might add It seemed that the time frame for the re-launch was the biggest secret. But knowing (what little) I do about the toy industry, I would think no more than a coupe of years. I know that is still a while off and I am not an insider, but I remember reading and hearing that from start to finish it takes about 2 years to get a toy on the shelf. Plus, he made a point in general conversation outside of the interview questions that they want to do Attacktix "right". They are not going to go forward with a product just to see it sit on shelves, they want a strong product so they are putting effort into getting it done well (I'm paraphrasing, but that is generally what he said). So I would think about that long. But Mr. Wilk was not sharing information on release dates. ...at least not yet, maybe when it gets a little closer they will. I remember when I did the video interview last year he said having publicized solid release dates was one goal they had for re-launch. So maybe we will hear word when it gets closer.
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Post by Joe Manzo on Jul 29, 2008 14:44:06 GMT -5
Holy Guacamole! Joe is back! and with excellent karma I might add It seemed that the time frame for the re-launch was the biggest secret. But knowing (what little) I do about the toy industry, I would think no more than a coupe of years. I know that is still a while off and I am not an insider, but I remember reading and hearing that from start to finish it takes about 2 years to get a toy on the shelf. Plus, he made a point in general conversation outside of the interview questions that they want to do Attacktix "right". They are not going to go forward with a product just to see it sit on shelves, they want a strong product so they are putting effort into getting it done well (I'm paraphrasing, but that is generally what he said). So I would think about that long. But Mr. Wilk was not sharing information on release dates. ...at least not yet, maybe when it gets a little closer they will. I remember when I did the video interview last year he said having publicized solid release dates was one goal they had for re-launch. So maybe we will hear word when it gets closer. Between the Clone Wars Movie(s?) and that TV show, I guess we may have a lot of chances coming up... glad to see the board is still thriving
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Post by David Skywalker on Jul 29, 2008 15:08:13 GMT -5
Awwww come on almost every answer was "wait for the re-launch! Oh, well that left me hopeful.
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Post by attacktixman on Jul 29, 2008 16:09:37 GMT -5
Awwww come on almost every answer was "wait for the re-launch! Oh, well that left me hopeful. Yeah, Poo! Nothing really new or different from a whole year ago. Q: Is Attacktix a dead series? A: NO. We are working on a special relaunch approach as we speak.Working on a re-launch doesn't mean much, to me anyway. It doesn't mean that the ones who call the shots will give the final approval. Without a comittment and time frame, we very well may be hearing the same thing next year or the year after. I almost rather for him to have answered Yes. Call it dead. Then resurrect it if Hasbro runs out of other money makers two or three years from now. It's past 18 months since they were suppose to release SW5, MV2 & TF2. Q: Can we get SW5, M2, TF2 out by pre-sale? How do we convince Hasbro to make even a small run of those figures? A: We are still figuring out the logistics.Pre-sale can have a down side to it. If consumers think they can wait to get Attacktix cheaper at retailers as opposed to an online pre-seller and Hasbro looks at the pre-sell numbers as indicators, might not be good news. Q: Did Hasbro overproduce SW4, M1, and TF1 in comparison to other sets? A: No.My foot they didn't! I wonder if they are utilizing Lean Manufacturing Principles... I AIN'T GONNA TWIDDLE MY THUMBS. Customs are the way to go if you have a new fig craving. Seriously, give it a try. SHAME ON ALL THOSE WHO ARE AWARE OF THE PETITION AND HAVEN'T SIGNED IT! Good to hear from Joe!
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Post by greyelephant on Jul 29, 2008 16:36:19 GMT -5
Posted by Joe Manzo on Today at 3:44pm Between the Clone Wars Movie(s?) and that TV show, I guess we may have a lot of chances coming up... glad to see the board is still thriving |
That's my thoughts exactly. Welcome back Joe! Q: Is Attacktix a dead series? A: NO. We are working on a special relaunch approach as we speak. |
Good to know. I've had it up to here listening to the "Attacktix are dead" lines. Even though I've posted enough of my own. Q: If one Universe sells better than another, will we see more of that universe and less of another? A: Yes |
Very interesting. I don't think TF did very well. Not enough figures that were familiar to the average person. Now those G1 figures that we saw at TixCon and for TF-S3 could make a difference. Q: How much SW4, M1, and TF1 are left over? A: We are almost sold out. |
I have a strange theory about this comment. My ToysRUs all of a sudden had some starter sets showing up on the clearance racks. I've not seen these on the shelves for months. Are they wanting to see the last remnants sold before they release anything? Is there a possibility that ToysRUs could be a launching pad for the relaunch? That's not all that unusual to find a certain product only in one store. Q: When can we expect new tournament figures? A: With the re-launch. There will be many exciting new things at re-launch. |
Wonderful! I'm excited to know that we've got some new things to look forward to. Q: Should we expect clear boosters like in the Heroes line, or blind like in previous Attacktix series? A: We are looking at both and in-between. |
Just give me anything at this point. Later I will complain about blind boosters, but right now, I just want new Attacktix toys. ;D Q: Themed sets? Imperials, Autobots, x-Men, Cobra? A: I love it. |
That makes two of us. Q: anything you want to say to the fans? A: It's coming. Be patient. Don't sell your figures! More are coming. I want them relaunched as much as you. |
Sell my figures!? Ha! If anything I've filled in several gaps that I never would have noticed before. Good lord I've got a lot of figures! I still need more to pacify the beast! ;D Great work Radar. If by what you are saying it takes 2 years, then we should be close by this point. It's been 2 years since the release of SW4 back in June 2006. Here's keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see these in October.
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Post by greyelephant on Jul 29, 2008 16:46:04 GMT -5
So did you end up running a tournament Russell?
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Brandizard
20 Point Captain
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Posts: 111
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Post by Brandizard on Jul 29, 2008 17:03:08 GMT -5
Yeah great job Radar. I think that Brian has verry little done with the re-launch(since it was his only answer) i think that the only thing he knows is they might have a re-launch and thats it.
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Post by Radar on Jul 29, 2008 20:12:03 GMT -5
I ran a 100 point tournament on both Friday and Saturday. It is kind of fun to see familiar faces that I have come to know at the Attacktix events here in California. I wanted to do kids and adults separately, but I was running awfully low on tournament prizes. Pictures will come soon (I have a battery charger and usb cord on order for my camera, so it may take a few days). I'm not so sold on the theory that they are looking to sell out before re-launching. I think that is ideal, but when I talked to Chris Hicks or Brian Wilk this last week they were very focused on getting the line to do well. At this point, there are few things that I think they would consider off limits. They talk in generalities about the base sizes, attack types, their desire to utilize terrain, stability, weight, and center of gravity of figures in comparison to their point values, projectile types, making the game easier to understand, making the game more fun to play, packaging, marketing, promotions, and some stuff that they wont even hint about. I think the only thing off limits would be to make the old figures obsolete or over-powerful. Besides that, we are likely going to see some really creative and innovative things when they come back out. So, all that to say, I think the focus is on getting a top notch product more than it is eliminating product on shelves. Brandizard, I feel your pain brother. But unfortunately for us, Hasbro is a major corporation that has a tendency not to leak information until they are ready to promote it (ToyFair, Comic-Con, JoeCon, Transformers Convention, or release of movies). Just remember, don't stop believing. I love that song.
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Post by Cona Chris on Jul 29, 2008 20:20:07 GMT -5
Thanks Radar, great stuff. I am cautiously optimistic about future releases - even if they take a couple years. I'll be waiting with a big fat wallet to blow on them! Who are these "Joe" and "Phoenix" characters? Welcome to the boards newbies
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Post by superflytnt on Jul 29, 2008 22:16:15 GMT -5
Good to see Mr and Mrs Manzo are alive and well! I hope all is truly thriving at your household and feel free to CALL ME from time to time to debate finer points of Flash programming (which I have all but given up on).
Attacktixman - you are a prophet. Re-Launch was the word of the day. At the end of the day, I see from a business standpoint that they are working on it (if what he said is to be believed) and thus the approval and timeline is in place, otherwise they would not be working on it at all, and he would've said something like 'exploring all our options' which is codespeak for "Trying to find a buyer".
Hats off to you as always Radar, you are hereby promoted from Cub Reporter to Attacktix Anchor!
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