SFX's Toy Shop #4: FORCE JUMP FIGURES

[sfx5000]

Hey gang, welcome to the Toy Shop!

As you can tell by the great threads about game play variations and future figures, Attacktix lends itself to creativity. I've had a few ideas rattling around for awhile and I thought I'd share them with you. Think of them as figure mods, but instead of paint & clay I'll use ones & zeros.
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One thing that really stands out for me when watching the prequel trilogy is, 'Darn, those Jedi are spry buggers!' They're jumping, hopping and flipping all over the place. The Jedi and Sith are know for using the Force to propel themselves in super human ways. When looking at your Attacktix collection you may ask yourself, "Why can't my Attacktix jump around?" Well, now they can (in an imaginary kind of way). I give you...

FORCE JUMP FIGURES
(original photos via Rebelscum.com)


This FORCE JUMP FIGURE (Yoda) has 3 main parts.

A. STRIKER FIGURE (functions exactly like a striker)
B. LAUNCHER
C. BASE (functions exactly like attacktix base)


The LAUNCHER (B) has 2 buttons (more on this later).

How does he work?

1. The LAUNCHER, which is attached to the base, has a small post.
2.The STRIKER FIGURE has a small cavity running the length of it's leg. Inside this cavity is a spring.
3. When the STRIKER FIGURE is attached to the LAUNCHER the post compresses the spring. The STRIKER FIGURE locks on to the LAUNCHER.


1. When both buttons on the launcher are pressed the figure is released and flies off of the base under the power of the compressed spring. The launcher has 2 buttons that must be pressed at the same time for the figure to launch. This is to avoid any accidental launches when your opponent hits one of the buttons (although this would be funny and could show a Jedi jumping away from the blast).
2. After the buttons are pressed your figure will fly thru the air. Force Jump Figures can jump anywhere from 8-12 ticks.
3. Your figure will come crashing down upon your opponents figures. This is especially helpful for any bunched figures or can just be used to advance forward on the battlefield. The figure will be slightly heavier on the non-lightsaber side. Hopefully this will cause your figure to land lightsaber up and avoid any breakage.
4. Wherever your Force Jump Figure lands he is reattached to his base and can continue the battle on your next turn. Your Force Jump Figure is also a striker giving you the choice of jumping or striking on any given turn.

Well, there you have 'em. Now that I think about it, perhaps I should've called these 'Launcher Figures'. The concept would work well on the Fett's, Jetpack Clones and Geonosians.

That's all for this Toy Shop. Join us next time for the...
Imperial Probe Droid

[YodaBreaker]

Well, this would certainly obviate WOOKIEE RANGE! (tm) as a strategy, as now, you wouldn't have to sacrifice a figure to attack this way. And you're right; this could be used for more than just Jedi figures. Did you get the Yoda pics from the Unleashed series?

[Joe Manzo]

Yeah, another job well done. I gotta get my act together and finish my Mega up...

[spartan117]

I just noticed something.. Since hasbro can tdo anything we send in cause we could sue them.. Every time you do one of these More chance of not having them.. Correct me if im wrong but, i Really like this idea but would hate to see it not being able to have it in the game.

[YodaBreaker]

Well, they'd have to have documentation that they came up with the concept independently...and first. I've thought about this, too, but I think it'll won't be much of a problem.

[spartan117]

Ok.. i Feel better now i was scared for a second Anyway i could make this. My dad has a lot of power tools and my mom is a great crafter. If im lucky i might be able to have a working one in 2 weeks. If i do il post a picture and il give a link of a video of it shooting out. it might turn ou to look ugly but it would still work cool.

[Phoenix]

Very cool, as usual.

I can see myself screaming "CANNONBALL!" as I launched him at tightly bunched up figs.

[sfx5000]

Thanks again gang. Yea, YodaBreaker, that is the Unleashed Yoda. Those 'figures' are awesome!

admin said:

I gotta get my act together and finish my Mega up...

I'm looking forward to that bad mamma-jamma!

spartan117 said:

I just noticed something.. Since hasbro can tdo anything we send in cause we could sue them.. Every time you do one of these More chance of not having them.. Correct me if im wrong but, i Really like this idea but would hate to see it not being able to have it in the game.

beevomit said:

Well, they'd have to have documentation that they came up with the concept independently...and first. I've thought about this, too, but I think it'll won't be much of a problem.

I don't think it's as simple as that. First off, Hasbro's rule states that I can't 'submit' anything to them.. which I haven't. Second, there are a million ways to launch a figure (ok, maybe not a 'million') and I'm sure the bright folks at Hasbro could come up with something better.

If they wanted to use any of my designs they could contact me and some kind of contract could be arranged that protected them from any lawsuits. And when it comes down to it if they wanted to make something similar they would just have to change a small percentage of the design and I would have no grounds to sue.

Take the tale of Howard the Duck for example. Disney was going to sue Marvel because Howard resembled Donald too much. Well, Howard got a new hat, a different ducks bill and a few minor changes and 'ta-da'...small changes, new duck and no lawsuit.

Just think about it, this is America. There are thousands and thousands of legal loopholes and even more legit ways a company can go about acquiring a design. It's not as black and white as you may think.

Did you hear that Hasbro? I'm open to negotiations!

[sfx5000]

And, speaking of legalities I'm probally infringing on both Hasbro and Lucasfilm copyrights when I make these. So I'm not exactly in the right and they can do whatever they like.

(don't sue me Georgie-boy!)

[Joe Manzo]

As an art student we were required to take some legal and business classes to protect ourselves for situations like these.

Basically, if you send an unsolicited script or concept to a game company, video or board games, they will send it back to you unopened, usually with a note.

We learned that there are basically very few UNIQUE ideas. So SFX's jumping toy figures are a slight variation of Hasbro's own gun. And you can find jumping toys in many toy lines. So simply because SFX made this, and IF Hasbro browsed this message board and saw it, it does not mean they can not create it.

If you were to create a website, with every idea you ever thought of, and then waited for a company to produce something similar you would NOT be making any money anytime soon.

Like others mentioned, there would need to be proof that the information was made available to Hasbro, and that they then used that as the SOLE inspiration for their toys.

In conclusion, SFX, keep creating your toys. Everyone else, keep enjoying the toys and coming up with your own ideas.

[YodaBreaker]

I think this would fall under the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law. You're not profiting from your creations this way, nor are you in any meaningful way (if I'm the judge, anyway) infringing on Lucas/Hasbro's ability to profit off their existing inventions. Thus, there's no legal harm. You're also only using digital representations of figures, rather than the figures themselves to create your works. Furthermore, your works would be considered sufficiently "transformative" of Lucas/Hasbro's works (again, assuming I'm the judge) to be considered a new, original use.

Here's more on the "fair use" doctrine, courtesy of Stanford, if you're interested/scared.

[Joe Manzo]

I second this. Basically if you are NOT making money, (and not trashing Lucas or Hasbro) there would be no reason they would spend a dollar to come after you.

AND if they did find you using their images inproperly, they would just issue a warning to remove the images before they would sue anybody.

I had some early images of a Superman/Darkness cover that someone from Image told me to take down, so I did, and I never heard from them again.

[sfx5000]

beevomit said:

f you're interested/scared.

Cool info guys.

Definitely interested, never really scared. Never thought they'd come after me. I'm what you might call 'chump change'.

[YodaBreaker]

Yeah, when you think about how much it would cost just to have an hour's worth of consultation with their lawyers, it wouldn't be worth their while to pursue any legal motions at this time. 'Taint like we're plotting a nefarious scheme to supplant Attacktix with our own line of figures, complete with a fabrication plant. If *that* ever factored into the Toy Shop, then, only then, problems would we have.

[Dark Horse]

Very cool as always. How about those vehicles?