The Energon Pub

[o.supreme]

Greetings All,

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss Haslab on general, in addition to the 2 dedicated threads we have for Unicron and Victory Saber. Do you back them ? What is your interest level. Praise, complaints, questions. It all is welcome here.

Now after Hascon, I thought it was prey daring for them to try running two campaigns again at the same time. I know Cookie Monster probably wasn't well researched, but it will be interesting to see if both the Star Wars Rancor & GI Joe Skystryker fund, and make all the stretch goals. Let alone the rumor now the there will be a Ghostbusters Proton Pack coming on Tuesday.

If Hasbro runs 3 and they ALL find, that certainly opens quite a bit of possibilities.

[blackeyedprime]

All have seem vastly overpriced so far and no real value with only the Sailbarge seeming to be the stand out, something that had never had a toy or the possibility of before.

Rancor will fund but only because star wars diehards but I think at that price it should be pretty much a prop replica in the style of the Godzilla Kaiju releases by who ever it was.
Mandolorians ship could have been brought out at retail -it would likely have sold more than the outrider despite shadows of the empire being better and having more cannon than mando. Plus for a more reasonable price than haslabs. I'm glad that there is a mission fleet? version for those who want the ship.

Gi joes Jet just makes me dread how much a US Flag would cost. Once again seems overpriced with the figures reducing the price if it hits all its targets (and why the TF Starsaber was a pretty bad campaign -reach third tier for a shield wooop wooop on top of a figure that pales to MP). I'm tempted on the jet but classifieds the scale I'm buying and I cooud probbaly pick up a few vintage ones for the price (or 20 CORPs vehicles) being asked. If it was a Rattler I'd probably be in on it with out questioning a plane that's going to cost as much as a macross toy with out any of the engineering/diecast/tampos.

Marvels have been overpriced too but they do give a few bonus figures at tiers again. For the most part its like the opposite of kickstarter/crowdfunding because you arent really getting rewarded to make things possible (its hasbro, they can already make them) and it's just if we get X suckers with more money than sense, why not. Starsabre really was the worst of the bunch, back an incomplete figure and maybe we will complete it, though it was far from the most overpriced.

It's likely all three will fund despite running at the same time, slightly different markets for each one, even with the rancor being the least value for money in my eyes.

[o.supreme]

Victory Saber is the first and only one thus far that I backed, mostly because of the fairly reasonable price (way better than Botcon or TFCC which weren't even new molds). Also you really can't compare with the Masterpiece Star Saber, because a high end collectible is not something that everyone wants or can afford. The same designer coincidentally worked on both, and its nice that he actually got to do Victory Leo this time (which MP doesn't have, and 3P doesn't count). I figure this was the ONLY way we were going to get a new Star Saber which I have wanted for ever, so I backed it. I think some people don't understand how much tooling costs even for smaller toys. Hasbro counts on molds being used more than once. But what else could Victory saber Be? It's pretty much one shot deal. I'd love to see more unique character get funded through Haslab at relatively low costs. It's better than nothing at all.

I didn't back Unicron because it was just simply too BIG and too expensive, but I understand to do a character like that justice it has to be big.

I've had no interest in any of the other Haslabs so far. Also while all these lines do have independent fanbases, there is some crossover. I do enjoy GI Joe, Star wars, and GB media, even if I don't get the toys. I would really be fretting if I was getting toys of all of these and to see 3 Haslabs at once, you just cant get them all.

[o.supreme]

I have to say how impressed I am with Ghotsbuters fans funding the Proton Pack in record time, 8 Days!. The other 2 projects are about half way each respectively, and will probably fund. Not sure about all the stretch goals but there is still plenty of time.

[Emerje]

I have to say how impressed I am with Ghotsbuters fans funding the Proton Pack in record time, 8 Days!. The other 2 projects are about half way each respectively, and will probably fund. Not sure about all the stretch goals but there is still plenty of time.

It is impressive, especially when for the price the wand isn't even included, it's another $125 and sold out on Pulse. Definitely makes me wonder what Hasbro could ask for other prop replicas like a an opening light up Matrix or a Cerebros helmet from Xmen. I know Adam Savage has been gushing over Hasbro's prop replicas on his Tested YouTube channel so that's probably helping sales A LOT here since he's a props maker with a ton of clout.

Emerje

[blackeyedprime]

If I'm remembering right the previous 'props' of ghostbusters were pretty pricey and well done too (in the case of the trap and wands) so Hasbros pricing is probably inline.

Starsabre however, is costing as much as the MP (minusing Leo convoy) for a much lesser and what was potetntially incomplete figure until it backed.

Rancor is still way too pricey but Starwars fans be stupid like that (even I was back when I was into starwars) but I'd still have said no to the razorcrest price as well. some days I still wish i hadnt given my Falcon and Outrider away but that's not often (I still have nostalgia for the Queens spaceship which was the most I had ever spent on a toy in my teens).

Looking at prices for second hand GI Joe Skystrikers, it's not looking as overpriced as I first thought. I'd be more tempted for the Robo Skull V2 Kickstarter with it having compatability with old joes and classified by swapping out seats in the piiot compartment (which obviously the jet cant do for good reasons)

[blackeyedprime]

Heroquest is getting a general retail release bar the haslab exclusives £90-£100ish. Would be funny if Starsabre eventually got the same treatment (and no shield o.O)

[Emerje]

Heroquest is getting a general retail release bar the haslab exclusives £90-£100ish. Would be funny if Starsabre eventually got the same treatment (and no shield o.O)

I think everyone looked at HasLab Heroquest as Hasbro gauging interest in an eventual retail version. HasLab Heroquest is to the Heroquest franchise what Victory Saber is to the Transformers Legacy line. I don't think we should read too much into it.

Emerje

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Glad to see a thread for the collective Haslabs.

I received my first one, the Sentinel, and it is far and away worth every penny I spent. That is an awesome haslab project, and I adore my Sentinel a lot.

I also backed Razorcrest and Star Saber, and I am equally as excited for them. I want to back the ghostbusters one, but the time of year just isn't ideal for that amount of money to be spent.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

For fun, thought I'd share this image with you guys

[o.supreme]

Glad you are enjoying the Sentinel. I've seen a few videos where the "loose knees" seem to be a point of oncention, but I hope yours wasn't like that.

I know this discussion is a few days old, btu last Friday Hasbro Pulse did a FFF, and they revealed all the stretch goals for the Rancor, which has resulted in quite a negative reactioin. Over 300 backers immediately canceled, and it seems like this Haslab isn't going to fund.

The GI Joe Sky Stryker hasn't lost backers, but with just 2 weeks left, it has been pretty stagnant. It is defintely questionable whether this will fund.

Now of course, none of this really effects Hasbro as a company. Sure some developer decisions will be questioned. However I have a couple of thoughts on this...

I've heard one toy expert say it's no big deal, and Hasbro will just go on to try other things if these don't work, whihc would be great if true. However my fear in this time we are living in, is that Hasbro will blame the fans, saying they are terrible, and basically just not attempt anymore Haslabs. I hope that wont be the case. Victory Saber was my first backed project and I am looking forward to it, and future TF Haslabs *hopefully*

[Emerje]

What were the complaints about the Rancor stretch goals? Do people really not understand that they're meant to be a bonus and not a part of the base figure? I get that some people were hoping for a Rancor Keeper and Oola, but there's no point in complaining about a bonus that may not have been reached even if it was announced. It's not like he's missing something truly essential to his look as a stretch goal like his manacle the way Victory Saber was missing his canon.

Emerje

[o.supreme]

I think that is just it. With Victory Saber I think most fans here had pretty reasonable expectations. I thought maybe a deluxe might have been nice, of course made from already pre-existing tooling, but still I'm happy with what we got.

I'm not too familiar with Marvel Legends, but since both the Sentinel and Galactus go multiple figures as stretch goals (my understanding was that most were from bodies already tooled, just with new head tooling).

But basically Salicious Crumb (SP?) and the RotJ Luke Skywalker are straight up reissues, so nothing new is being offered in the stretch goals. It would kind of be like if, instead of getting Holi in his Victory Colors, if we got another Stakeout, which was already release in WFC.

While Oola and Rancor Keeper are not part of the Rancor himself, they would make good accompaniment as they were featured in those scenes of the movie, with the Rancor, and could (assumedly) be made from existing tooling. I'm not sure if that last part is true or not, I would hope fans would realize you wont likely ever get a newly tooled figure as a stretch goal.

[Emerje]

John Warden on Adam Savage's Tested talking about the Proton Pack.



That thing really is incredible.

Emerje

[D-Maximal_Primal]

First off, that Proton pack is so so cool and I wish I could actually back it.

As for the Rancor: based on what I've been hearing inside the Star Wars fandom, it was a general consensus that the Rancor was overpriced to begin with, with a very similar reaction to the price as the TF community had with Unicron. And there were expectations that the Keeper would be included in the package as a baseline (like Sentinel Prime was with Sentinel or Mando was with the Razor Crest). And then when the 4 tiers were revealed, and they included 2 repacks of figures that are still currently available, a new mold Luke Skywalker that was basically stated to be getting a retail release in Black Series Mando packaging, and a backdrop with some bones, and it was apparent no keeper was coming, that was the tipping point for a lot of people. They either decided not to back it or to cancel their orders.

So in a way, it was a combination of the worst parts of both TF Haslabs: it started out as overpriced, and then it looked like it would include a stretch goal that should have been in the base package, but then that figure didn't even become a stretch goal.

We'll see how the next 2 weeks go, but I am curious now if this one will make it. The Star Wars community appears to have abandoned it

[blackeyedprime]

Sky Striker has had three figures added to it if it reaches backing goals and some Cobra decals. Shame no Joebra decals or Cobra parachutes.

The good thing about the haslabs failing or stalling is that Hasbro will hopefully learn from them and whilst they still arent on the levels of being kickstarters or offering value for money, every little helps.

[Emerje]

Man, we Transformers fans really screwed up funding Victory Saber so quickly, just imagine the things they would have added if they got desperate.

Emerje

[o.supreme]

^ I get the in-joke , but I am soooo glad Hasbro didn't decide to run Victory Saber (1) along with 2 other Haslabs & (2) During the end of the year when so much money among consumers is being allocated for other things.

Last night the Youtube Channel Geek Dad Life (which I am becoming a fan of), had a really fun live event. It was originally planned to be a fun-spirited debate between Dan Larsen (Toy Galaxy) campaigning for the GI Joe Sky Stryker vs Make Kaess campaigning for the Rancor. Because of the real world possibility that BOTH might not fund. It turned more into a group therapy session among everyone involved, and really wanting the best possible outcome for everyone.

While it will be no shock to me if BOTH do not fund. I do not actively WANT them to fail (unlike Retroblasting & Analog Toys & their cronies). Seeing projects like this fail, nobody wins.

I've heard varied opinions. I understand Hasbro being a billion dollar company, a failed crowdfunded item or two wont effect them as a whole. But people's jobs certainly may be at stake, as well as the idea of Haslab altogether. Some say "oh no worries, they'll just try something else later", and I hope that's true. But alternatively, Hasbro might just see it as a losing proposition altogether, and eventually stop if they keep failing.

The feedback/outcome may have some positives. It may:

1. Allow them to be more discerning in what a "Dream Project" really is (A Vehicle for a not-currently active GI Joe Line, and a large accessory for a Star Wars Line that is driven more by the figures themselves).

I'm no expert, but it seems almost like the opposite should have happened. I realize a Skystryker for the 6 inch GI Joe Classified line would have been Massive, and probably cost upwards of close to $500, but at least it would have worked with the current line. Also a highly articulated Rancor for the 3 3/4 scale SW I think would have been smaller, easier to produce, and less expensive, along with their 2 previous SW Haslab fundings.

and 2. Run this at different times. During a time when fans are getting their Tax return would be great, also late summer like when Victory Saber was going on would be great as well.

3. Definitely do NOT run 2 or more on top of each other. heck I'd stagger them throughout the year, given them some space as well. maybe something like:

(1)Feb through Mid-March Haslab 1 (Star Wars)
(2)April-Mid May Haslab 2 (Marvel)
(3)June-Mid-July Haslab 3 (Transformers)
(4)August-Mid September Haslab 4 (GI Joe)
(5)October-Mid-November Haslab 5 (*another franchise)

That would net you the same result as 2021, and fans would not feel such an economic crunch as well as give *hopefully* development teams more time to really look into the fan communities as to what they REALLY want , as opposed to just getting something out there for the sake of doing it.

I do firmly believe however that if the Rancor does not fund (seems like FOMO is not having *much* effect, currently just 6305 with 7 hours left), that there will be enough carry over from fans, nwo that they realize they have an extra $350, that they will go over to the GI Joe Skystryker and get it funded before it ends tomorrow. It certainly wont make all 3 tiers, but it will defintely fund, seeing it is already over 7400 with 31 hours left.

[blackeyedprime]

dunno if the rancor counts international backers like transformers did, so I wouldnt rule it out yet. I'd be okay with it failing, just gives Hasbro some time to reconsider and shape up things (and hopefully some of the backers would boost the sky striker numbers too).

Unicron could have got a moonbase and half eaten moonbase in backers held out Star sabre could have got...painted eyes or somethingelse that should have been included with the figure from the get go XD

[o.supreme]

Well it was a valiant effort in the last few hours, but with 8500 backers ( 500 short) it ended. The Rancor did not find. It will be interesting to see what happens now with the Skystryker in the next 24 hours.

It is interesting to think Hasbro is walking away from 2.975 Million. Even if the profit would have only been a small fraction I think it could have been done.

This isn't like Cookie Monster where there was little interest. This just barely missed the mark.

I know some fans hope the Rancor will come back either with fewer backers required,or a lower price with more backers. That would be great for fans, but it would definitely complicate future Haslabs if fans think that by holding out they can just get a better deal later. Perhaps the loss of the Rancor, and if Hasbro scraps it, all parties will learn a lesson.

[Emerje]

If these are truly fan driven projects then they'll take all of the feedback they got and do something constructive with it, not just walk away and try something new.

Three campaigns at the same time with lots of crossover appeal, what were they thinking? It'll be interesting to see if the Skystriker gets a boost in backers today.

Emerje

[King Kuuga]

Well this certainly proves that Hasbro does NOT fluff their numbers (or that if they do it wasn't enough), and that products which get close to the goal but don't pass it will NOT proceed. Two theories that have been hotly debated.

I can't say I wanted the Rancor to fail but hearing the fan complaints I'm not surprised.

And evidently GI Joe is just a dead brand.

[Emerje]

And evidently GI Joe is just a dead brand.

It isn't a dead brand, they simply made this for the wrong line. If they made it for the current 4" line instead of a soft reboot of the 3 3/4 line it probably would have done better.

Emerje

[blackeyedprime]

If it had been for classified I would have been straight in on the sky striker. Lannard could probably do a very decent 3 3/4 jet with electronics for £60 tops even if it wouldn't have the bells and whistles.

[blackeyedprime]

Also Sky strikers pretty much funded, go Joebra! I just refreshed and it needed less than 80 backers.

Seems strange that Rancor didnt fund with additional overseas backers.