Playmates Toys

[Paul755]

It’s delay could be for any number of reasons.

It could just be as simple as Playmates doesn’t want two “premium” items out at the same time.

maybe they want the figures to hit for the first half of the next 10 episodes and the ship to hit for the second half or for the debut on Nickelodeon.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Ships are for Christmas.

 

[brandnewfan]

What circumstances will be required for the new Playmates wave of Star Trek figures to be as massive as the 90s toyline?

I know it's going to be pretty impossible for it to be as huge as the Star Wars toy line, where essentially every character gets a toy...but if we can just get it to the 90s Playmates level, where a few obscure characters get a release, that'd be something.

 

[Paul755]

it’s pretty simple, the line has to be successful. As long as the figures are selling they will keep making them.

I would hope aside from a bad guy like Kahn we mostly get the complete main crews first before we start getting random/obscure characters like Soran or Kevin Reilly.

 

[brandnewfan]

I would hope aside from a bad guy like Kahn we mostly get the complete main crews first before we start getting random/obscure characters like Soran or Kevin Reilly.

Agreed, but that'll be 10 different crews from 10 different shows (TOS-TNG-DS9-VOY-ENT-DIS-PIC-LDS-PRO-SNW)...that'll be around 80-90 figures just for the main casts of each show, and that's not accounting for character variants in different uniforms or whatnot. It's all very exciting, but I also can't help but feel that it's going to be extremely unlikely we get anything close to that number :/

But then again, I am a Debby Downer.

 

[Tomalak]

I'd be very surprised if this range goes anywhere near the 90s numbers. I think they should focus more on the current series, not rehash the older stuff that collectors already have.

The 90s figures are all pretty easily obtainable on eBay if you want them.

 

[fireproof78]

What circumstances will be required for the new Playmates wave of Star Trek figures to be as

It won't. Completely different market now.

 

[brandnewfan]

It won't. Completely different market now.

I feel you’re right unfortunately. But what is it that keeps Star Wars ongoing and so expansive?

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I feel you’re right unfortunately. But what is it that keeps Star Wars ongoing and so expansive?

Completist fans with too much money.

 

[fireproof78]

I feel you’re right unfortunately. But what is it that keeps Star Wars ongoing and so expansive?

Well, for starters, Star Wars has kept up to speed with new content, by and large, regarding newer figures. It slowed significantly with "The Last Jedi" and was near nonexistent with Rise of Skywalker, so even then there is still some gaps. In addition, Hasbro has refined their tech so that the new 6 inch line is getting a lot of love, detail and development, which supports interest in other lines. They also have exclusive deals, with Entertainment Earth, Game Stop, Target and Wal Mart, allowing for even more variety.

Finally, Star Wars is a line that has significant struggles. Hasbro is not well regarded in the collector's market, and considered rather deaf to consumer response.

 

[ToyBoxComix]

Star Wars as a franchise tends to be a lot more toyetic and approachable by kids. Star Trek tends to be mostly humans wearing the same clothes and ships that are generally the same shape.

 

[Paul755]

Agreed, but that'll be 10 different crews from 10 different shows (TOS-TNG-DS9-VOY-ENT-DIS-PIC-LDS-PRO-SNW)...that'll be around 80-90 figures just for the main casts of each show, and that's not accounting for character variants in different uniforms or whatnot. It's all very exciting, but I also can't help but feel that it's going to be extremely unlikely we get anything close to that number :/

But then again, I am a Debby Downer.

depends on what they consider the main crews, especially when it comes to the LD and Disco. I’m sure we’ll get Tilly, Stamets, Culber, Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi. But Detmer, Reno, Owosekun, Freeman, T’Ana…maybe.

We also don’t know how many waves of figures they will be doing and how many per wave. So it makes it tough to guess.

I'd be very surprised if this range goes anywhere near the 90s numbers. I think they should focus more on the current series, not rehash the older stuff that collectors already have.

The 90s figures are all pretty easily obtainable on eBay if you want them.

that’s what I had assumed they would do too. But I think you still need the classic characters to push the newer ones. Especially since I think they are trying to pull in collectors that weren’t around back with the line was active.

 

[Tomalak]

Yeah, I think they've got the mix pretty much right. It's TOS/TNG for the classic, Disco/Prodigy for the new.

I guess if there's a wave two it will include more Prodigy and Discovery stuff, and probably SNW too.

For the classic I wonder if they'll move on to the key characters from DS9/VGR/ENT, or continue to round out the TWOK/TNG characters?

 

[Paul755]

My guess is they go with DS9 and Voyager.

Maybe Sisko/Worf/Dukat and Janeway/Seven of Nine/The Doctor. Then add in Pike and Number One from SNW or Picard and Rios from Picard (for example). Try and get every series repped before they revisit.

I would bet Lower Decks gets a stand-alone series like Prodigy.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I would SO want a Pike figure! It's time for Pike figures. I really hope they'll give us some decent merch there.

 

[Kor]

Star Wars as a franchise tends to be a lot more toyetic and approachable by kids. Star Trek tends to be mostly humans wearing the same clothes and ships that are generally the same shape.

That could be part of the reason they gave some of the TNG figures those action poses, and Riker's ripped uniform, and at first put Picard in his jacket instead of the regular uniform.

Kor

 

[Paul755]

That could be part of the reason they gave some of the TNG figures those action poses, and Riker's ripped uniform, and at first put Picard in his jacket instead of the regular uniform.

Kor

Riker with the ripped uniform was unintentionally hilarious. Especially when they did the “Season 2” Riker and just painted over the rips. Sure, resculpt the top part of the figure but leave the rips in.

 

[Kor]

If any character really needed a ripped uniform figure, it was TOS Kirk!

Kor

 

[brandnewfan]

Here are my guesses for Wave 2, which I assume will be sometime in 2023...

The original announcement that Playmates would start releasing a new line of toys included a couple of teases that weren't part of Wave 1, so I'm gonna say we get those as part of Wave 2.

Those teases were:

1. Captain Pike (from Discovery/SNW, and in the TOS era uniform)
2. Spock from Disco season 2 (with a beard, and in civilian (I guess it's civilian?) clothing)
3. Jean-Luc Picard from Picard season 1

And I'm gonna be hopeful and say that Wave 1 will sell enough for Playmates to issue more figures for Wave 2 than they did for Wave 1. My guesses aren't for which characters I want to see, just the ones I can see them releasing as the big sellers, and one or two that won't sell as much but they'll release "for the hardcore fans" or whatever. I'm thinking the first LDS toy will be geared more toward that "hardcore fan" in Playmates eyes, and unfortunately probably DS9 too. Also, I just don't see many more Discovery options for the first two initial waves. After this second wave maybe. Michael and Saru would be the best sellers from that series and I just can't see any other character being that sought after until after more of the bigger characters from the franchise are released. Just my view, don't yell at me.

4. Captain Kirk (in TOS uniform)
5. Uhura (ditto...from TOS)
6. Worf (from TNG)
7. Q (in judges garb)
8. Borg Queen (from First Contact)
9. Benjamin Sisko (as captain, with the First Contact era uniform)
10. Captain Janeway (live action version, from the later seasons of Voyager...no hair bun)
11. Seven of Nine (in one of those one-piece outfits she wore all the time on Voyager)
12. Beckett Mariner (since the Prodigy toys look cartoony, so will the LDS toys)

I think the next logical ship release is the Enterprise-D. Maybe a TNG era phaser or tricorder.


Prodigy toys in 2023:

1. Rok-Tahk (obv)
2. The Diviner
3. Drednok
4. Captain Chakotay

 

[Admiral Archer]

I think the next logical ship release is the Enterprise-D. Maybe a TNG era phaser or tricorder.

If they re-release those I can die a happy man. Well, after I've enjoyed playing with them for several years (don't judge me - toys were meant to be played with )

As far as the USS Protostar goes, no wonder they are taking their time. Somehow the replica is gonna have to have an electronic spring-loaded third nacelle that pops out of panels on the stardrive while simultaneously lighting up. Sounds like a logistical nightmare to me!