1. Do you find it odd that the AT-ST has never made it into the $20 vehicle assortment ? Tha'ts one vehicle I would like to buy more of but for some reason it never makes it in. I think that in the least 10 years it has only been available three times at retail and two of those times were exclusives.
--sithlord

The contents of the "starfighter" assortment are largely determined by what fits in the box. The AT-ST really doesn't-- at least, not easily. I'm also pretty sure Hasbro said the mold was nearing the end of its lifespan after last year's dual releases, plus let's not forget their not-so-cryptic comments concerning an all-new AT-ST in some stage of preproduction.

While the AT-ST seems like a good fit, don't forget the X-wing hasn't been reissued in the assortment, nor has the Landspeeder, the Skyhopper, or any of a number of other smallish vehicles. Also, my nerdiness has to correct you on the availability of the vehicle-- there have been four releases. The POTF2 version, the POTJ version (Toys "R" Us exclusive), and last year's two Target exclusive versions. Which were similar, yet different, to the previous releases. (I've got 'em all, they are indeed different. The 2007 ones don't have any external labels, for example.) At this point, one would hope a new mold is really around the corner given how many liberties were took when Kenner first made the vehicle in like 1981.

2. This has been driving me nuts for years now, but do you have any insight as to why Hasbro has refused to release a Senate Duel Palpatine figure? This seems to me, like such an easy choice for a figure to make: It is a core character, plays a big role in a significant action scene, and has lots of play possibilities for the kids.

Given the "never-on-the-screen" figures we have gotten over the years, this one not being made truly boggles my mind.
--Brad

Hasbro's decisions concerning what characters get a figure are tough to nail down, but sales are typically considered one of the big factors. The term "core character" is tossed around a lot, but it means different things to different people. To fans, it means important characters that drive the story. (To some, Mon Mothma is a core character. Anyone who suggests this to you can be ignored in any and all discussions you have on toys.) As far as I can tell, to Hasbro, "core character" means the top-selling, most recognizable characters. As such, Boba Fett is truly an important part of the core product line, as is Darth Vader, General Grievous, Clones, and R2-D2. And Emperor Palpatine? Well, let's look at the past several years-- the guy has had several figures in numerous outfits (more than we've seen for Padme in 2005), and he's an old man. Old men, for the record, are considered pretty poor sellers as a rule, and there are less of them in most toy lines for that very reason.

Kids generally pick and choose their favorites, which tend to include heroes, Darth Vader, and weird aliens much of the time. The Emperor is really a minor character in terms of the series' action, as older fans know him mostly as a cackling older guy and newer fans know him as a bit of a boring guy in a dress. This isn't to say the figure you bring up shouldn't be made-- actually, the time and the place was in the Skirmish at the Senate Battle Pack a few years ago.

At this point in the line, I wouldn't really suggest pitting "Movie Figure" against "Non-Movie Figure" in the discussion of what does or doesn't get priority on the toy block. The TV show is the saga for some fans, and frankly, the thousand or so figures I've reviewed say that it's OK to go beyond six little films. Hasbro seems to have broken down the walls between the expanded universe and the films, which is probably smart given the ridiculous amount of possibilities from off-camera. This year alone, of the 29 "Legacy" figures, 14 were from "never-on-the-screen" concepts-- deleted scenes, cartoons, an RPG supplement, etc. Believe it or not, they're largely decent sellers and a lot of fans are warming up to the idea of game, comic, and other characters alongside their shelves of hundreds of movie figures.

While we might see the Emperor as a key part of the saga, Jodo Kast is selling pretty well-- possibly better than a new Emperor. Odds are we'll see him eventually, but today it seems Hasbro is interested in keeping the line alive for a long time, which means holding back on some key (or key-ish) characters for the future. For us to keep coming back for more, they have to keep something up their sleeves for later, and I'd say this figure-- in addition to certain aliens, a few Jedi, and newer versions of existing characters-- are necessary to keep Hasbro's cash cow alive. So yeah, we don't have one yet, but remember one thing as we march toward the future: Hasbro's figures get better with time. The longer Hasbro waits, the more likely it'll be that Hasbro makes it with better articulation, improved soft goods, better sculpting, and so on. I'm only too happy to wait these days, as you never know when a little extra time means you're going to be given a greater toy than you might otherwise have.

3. What do you think the chances are of the Falcon getting a re-release minus the electronics but with the ability to take the back off ? There's a lot of interior space back there that could be used for play enviroment.
--Philip

In the short term, I'd say about zero. If Hasbro decides they have to keep it in production and are desperate to get costs down, I could see them removing the electronics but it seems almost unthinkable that they would redesign the toy with additional rooms. With the various wires, docking bays, battery compartments, and so on the amount of work to be done may be equal to designing an entirely new ship.

This isn't to say a retool isn't possible, but we might be on the third major revival before we see that happen. So if you think you can make it 20 years after the line dies again, who knows. I seriously doubt we'll ever see a significantly altered version of this toy during this collection's lifetime, although I could see Hasbro potentially cranking out a smaller version ($50ish) depending on the needs of major retailers and the economy.

4. I'm sure you'll get tons of email on this question. I'm totally insulted by Hasbro's crazy price tag on the [Target Exclusive] Sarlaac Ultimate Battle Pack. A playset-dream of mine since 1983, I was so hyped when it showed up at Toy Fair. But the insane price, rehash of figures (and vehicle) I already own, and a supposedly-terrible sand base!? I very much want to show Hasbro I want a Sarlaac and I'm willing to pay some money for it - but when they try to rip me off THIS bad, I just can't give in (I've only passed on maybe 3 or 4 things total since 95). Do you feel we'll see the base "playset" reissued? I thought surely by now they would have put out last year's Hoth Turret base, but it's been a no-show.
--Brian

This is a case of fan expectations smashing into Hasbro's reality. Hasbro has said that playsets are no longer a viable business model for them. Let's assume this is true, as they keep saying it, so they no doubt believe it and/or have done the research to prove it. What they're doing are-- if I recall their wording-- "environment pieces." So instead of the whole scene, you get a few props to basically give the idea of a scene at a much lower cost of development.

Hasbro's development of a white slab of plastic is going to cost a lot of money. While the base of a Hoth playset seems simple, it still needs to be sculpted, tested for safety, molded, and shipped. It takes up space, it adds to the cost of materials of a set, and is a very real product that will cost you more money without adding a lot of play action. In the Ultimate Battle of Hoth set, the turret itself is where the action is. It has a door, a hatch, and a firing rocket of some sort. The Hoth base is a pile of white plastic that could add five or ten bucks to the total set, while adding nothing to the amount of fun you had with it. (See also: Lars Homestead set. That plastic base is beyond worthless.)

I won't deny that the Ultimate Battle at the Sarlacc set ranges from overpriced to a huge steaming pile, depending on the asking price at your local Target and the existing contents of your collection. I will, however, bring up that these Ultimate Battle Packs are supposedly designed to be gift sets for kids during the holiday season, and our interest is secondary. Still, the set is indeed overpriced by pretty much every measurement of the components, plus the attention to detail on the five action figures is pretty awful. There's no real excuse for the Luke figure to look that bad. I've seen, and I own, better knock-offs. The set shows what I presume is an attempt to crank out a product quickly as well as cheaply, and simply rerunning an existing battle pack in a new box with a ship and a new base let them do this. Odds are the economic factors of the summer (high oil prices, in particular) drove up the wholesale price of the item which was passed to you, the consumer.

All that said, Hasbro did spend the time and money creating very playset-like bases for its Lars Homestead and Sarlacc Pit boxed sets this year, although I think fan reaction to Hasbro's "it's this or nothing" said "we'd rather have nothing." I agree-- if it's flimsy, breakable plastic or no environment, I'd rather see them focus their efforts on other items entirely. Sure, I'd love a Hoth base with thick plastic and a big Death Star, but odds are I won't be getting either. So I'll just enjoy my ships and figures and hope that in 2009, Hasbro puts more effort on quality toys than items which end up as half-hearted results at crossing items off fan wish lists. (That, or if you have to be cheap, just use paperboard. At least that way we won't be disappointed like when we get a cheapo plastic piece.)

5. I was in TRU recently and saw a re-pack of the Battlefront II clones and droids sets. They were 39.99 each - a little too much for me, so i decided to pass. But I hadn't heard any word that these were being reissued - they were in the blue-and-white Legacy packaging, with a TRU exclusive sticker. When were these announced? Should I have scooped them up?
--Steve

While never announced by Hasbro, the rerelease surprise has been reported by a few readers. Since I see them on eBay, I assume it's all true. I'm more than a little shocked, although there are a variety of reasons why Hasbro and Toys "R" Us might do this-- although $39.99 is definitely too expensive given how much cheaper they were at online stores this past year.

As to if you should have bought them, that's hard to say-- did you want them? If so, sure, why not? I think that they're somewhat expensive ($65-$70 for both sets was about right) and I don't know what the future holds. At this point, I'm hesitant to suggest you go out and buy anything at any time unless you really want it. It could get reissued, or it might not. Fans may suddenly clamor for a packaging variant, but let's face it-- recent history says that they won't. If you missed the original versions, it's worth considering, but if you didn't than it's all up to your collecting needs. I haven't seen them in person myself yet, but if there's nothing new about the figures I know I won't be buying them.

FIN

This past week was weak as toy running goes. I hit up more stores than I'd care to admit, and there really wasn't much of interest aside from very, very few of any Target Ultimate Battle Pack. So either they're selling, or the stores aren't putting them out. There are, however, plenty of Transformers exclusives at Target to the point of ridiculousness. I think Target alone got more Transformers exclusives in the past four weeks than any store got any brand all year long. Truly, I am glad Star Wars had a fairly lighter Q4, although I guess there's enough stuff next Spring to more than make up for it. (Start saving your Xmas loot, kids.)

But yeah, as 2008 goes, that's pretty much it. If you missed an exclusive, start worrying. (Or take a good local toy run-- check all the stores in your area as a lot of them are weighed down with unsold merchandise and it varies largely by area code.) One neat little surprise is that in Target's Christmas area, there are a couple of harder-to-find holiday items. One, the Holiday Galactic Heroes for $10 a 3-pack. (Not a great deal, but neat.) The other is Funko's exclusive Holiday Jawa and Yoda, both of which are neat, but the Jawa is really amazing. The same area has tiny LEGO sets and Transformers Legends, so it seems Target doesn't care that toy people are missing items as they are not in the toy section.

I did, however, find a $12.50 copy of LEGO Indiana Jones (the video game), so I'm going to go mess with that now. I was not able to find one of those fancy-pants Cyclonus toys I hear are hitting. My computer has been freaking out for the past half hour or so, so if you'll excuse me, I need to return to screaming at it.

Got questions? I bet you do. Email me with "Q&A" somewhere in the subject line and hopefully I'll get to yours in the next column!

Click here to read the previous installment of Galactic Hunter Q&A!