Hasbro has Star Trek toy license?

[C.E. Evans]

It's all about catering to different markets. There's are people who prefer the 3.75-inch scale and those who prefer larger scales. But the 3.75-inch scale does allow for vehicles and playsets that can be sold in retail stores, and they're generally less expensive than the larger figures.

But Playmates simply blew it by releasing too many figures too soon, forcing customers to generally choose one scale over the other and leaving the rest on the pegs...

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ In my opinion that was only part of the problem with the last Playmates line. The biggest detractor, at least for me, was the fact the figures looked nothing like the actors portraying the characters. The body sculpts were also clumsy and the articulation was mediocre. Add in the boring poorly designed playsets for the 3.5 figures and you have a line destined for the clinker. The only thing Playmates did well was the 12" figures. They were beautifully done and exquisitely detailed. Unfortunately that scale is a niche item and barely blipped on the radar. Frankly the company missed the mark. If they had produced a product that was properly detailed, interesting, innovative and encouraged kids to play they might have sold. Instead they tried to pawn off cheap and ugly as something exciting.

As for the Potato Heads... I am actually very excited about this. They look awesome. I love Potato Heads and own most of the recent themed spuds so I am looking forward to finally adding some Trek to the mix.

 

[C.E. Evans]

^ In my opinion that was only part of the problem with the last Playmates line. The biggest detractor, at least for me, was the fact the figures looked nothing like the actors portraying the characters. The body sculpts were also clumsy and the articulation was mediocre. Add in the boring poorly designed playsets for the 3.5 figures and you have a line destined for the clinker. The only thing Playmates did well was the 12" figures. They were beautifully done and exquisitely detailed. Unfortunately that scale is a niche item and barely blipped on the radar. Frankly the company missed the mark. If they had produced a product that was properly detailed, interesting, innovative and encouraged kids to play they might have sold. Instead they tried to pawn off cheap and ugly as something exciting.

I tend to agree on all points. In hindsight, there's no doubt that Playmates bungled the Star Trek XI toyline. From the design to how it was managed. But the cancellation of Wave 2 by retailers was simply embarrassing, IMO, as it left customers with incomplete collections.

 

[The Wormhole]

Instead they tried to pawn off cheap and ugly as something exciting.

To be honest, that's pretty much par for the course when it come to mass-market action figure lines related to summer blockbusters these days. Get them out so that sales can tie into the hype surrounding the movie's release, then within a few months they're in the discount bin. But yeah, the Trek XI figures were terrible. Most figures were the same damn mold with the same accessories, the only difference being the head and colour of uniform. At least in the 90s Playmates had individual molds for each figure. And accessories should always be personalized to each particular figure, which they are in most toy lines. Trek XI figures having the same accessories was just cheap and lazy.

 

[Kelso]

Despite the "cool factor" of the latest Trek film, the tie-in toys seemed to be shelf-warmers. I'm surprised that any major mainstream toy manufacturer has any interest in Trek.

That's because the toys were terrible.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Instead they tried to pawn off cheap and ugly as something exciting.

To be honest, that's pretty much par for the course when it come to mass-market action figure lines related to summer blockbusters these days. Get them out so that sales can tie into the hype surrounding the movie's release, then within a few months they're in the discount bin. But yeah, the Trek XI figures were terrible. Most figures were the same damn mold with the same accessories, the only difference being the head and colour of uniform. At least in the 90s Playmates had individual molds for each figure. And accessories should always be personalized to each particular figure, which they are in most toy lines. Trek XI figures having the same accessories was just cheap and lazy.

Since I don't buy all that many toys I haven't really noticed that trend. But on the other side of the coin, the new Tron toys surprised me. They are very nicely done and look really cool with the internal lighting. I was surprised at how effective it was. I was not sold on the face animation featured on the larger figures. It was just... creepy. But at least Disney tried for something unique with the line. I may have to pick up one of the discs when they go on sale.

Tonight we were in Target picking up a few things and I took a quick look at the current Star Wars Toys. I have to say that the vehicles are just awesome. The figures are nicely done too. If Hasbro was able to generate a line for Star Trek half as good as what I saw tonight we would be in business.

 

[Kelso]

^ Yeah, the Tron toys were great! I bought several of them for my nephews.

 

[C.E. Evans]

^^^
I bought several of them for myself.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I would be happy if Hasbro or any other company took over the license from DST, because they've pissed me off with their endless delays and lack of output on the action figure front. They're the only toy company I've ever been mad at...it's so frustrating to be jerked around like I was by that company, the way they would announce a release months in advance then cancel like two days before its release date. After all that waiting, what a drag. They seem to make a lot of props, but I only care about figures, so I don't give a damn.

I also don't care for their excuses about lack of interest in the property forcing them to make cancellations and produce less. Every time they released something, it became a hot collector's item on E-bay (sold for an exorbitant price) and people scoured ToysRus locations for it, until ToysRus seemingly got sick of collectors hounding them and decided to stop carrying DST Star Trek. Screw them. They may do top notch face sculpts (sometimes), but the way they do business sucks.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

I would be happy if Hasbro or any other company took over the license from DST, because they've pissed me off with their endless delays and lack of output on the action figure front. They're the only toy company I've ever been mad at...it's so frustrating to be jerked around like I was by that company, the way they would announce a release months in advance then cancel like two days before its release date. After all that waiting, what a drag. They seem to make a lot of props, but I only care about figures, so I don't give a damn.

I also don't care for their excuses about lack of interest in the property forcing them to make cancellations and produce less. Every time they released something, it became a hot collector's item on E-bay (sold for an exorbitant price) and people scoured ToysRus locations for it, until ToysRus seemingly got sick of collectors hounding them and decided to stop carrying DST Star Trek. Screw them. They may do top notch face sculpts (sometimes), but the way they do business sucks.

Yeah... i keep hoping and wishing for their Voyager line to actually finish... or start. I want a Doctor in the same scale and detail as my TNG crew.

 

[Whofan]

What happened with Trek (and also Playmates Terminator Salvation) is similar, I think, to what happened with Hasbro's Indiana Jones IV. While both Trek and Indiana Jones were financially sucessful, the toys didn't sell-partially due to sloppy design on the figures themselves, and what was left of the line ended up as exclusives (A second Raider's wave with some more Indy/Marion variants and Toht-which will be an SDCC exclusive this year as part of the 30th anniversary) or extremely limited (The Last Crusade and Temple of Doom lines).

 

[Lynn Minmay]

When will DST get the license?

I'd like to see their take on the Abrams Enterprise.

 

[C.E. Evans]

For all intents and purposes, Playmates still has the master toy license for Star Trek XI and beyond...that could change next year if the license expires by then and Playmates opts not to renew, but so far there hasn't been any word of it changing hands or even being up for grabs right now...

 

[Trek Survivor]

For all intents and purposes, Playmates still has the master toy license for Star Trek XI and beyond...that could change next year if the license expires by then and Playmates opts not to renew,

Actually, according to the brand manager at Playmates (who responded to a query from the trek toy forum folk) the licence DID expire.

 

[C.E. Evans]

For all intents and purposes, Playmates still has the master toy license for Star Trek XI and beyond...that could change next year if the license expires by then and Playmates opts not to renew,

Actually, according to the brand manager at Playmates (who responded to a query from the trek toy forum folk) the licence DID expire.

Very interesting...IIRC, there was some talk (albeit last year) of Playmates wanting to reorganize their Star Trek line and hold onto the license for Star Trek XII, but being shut out by the major U.S. retailers must have made that unrealistic for them.

Now it may be a question of is there anyone willing to be the master toy licensee for Star Trek XII?