A small image has emerged from the dark corners of the internet that appears to be packaging art for a new line of G.I. Joe single-pack figures. It appears to be the Pursuit of Cobra Firefly on the package, with some elements from the Rise of Cobra package design, so all signs point to “legit”. The most curious thing, of course, is the fact that there is no mention of “The Pursuit of Cobra” on the package, and it almost looks like the single pack line may now be separated into a straight up “G.I. Joe” line once again.
Is this a result of lackluster response to the movie themed toys? Tough to tell, but the new packaging is pretty exciting. Love the blue coloring, love the chrome logo that retains many of the elements of the vintage one.
Big thanks to HissCommander from The Terror Drome for pointing this out!
EDIT – IMAGE REMOVED BY REQUEST
This is a really nice upgrade to the 25th packaging. I was never a big fan of the ROC packaging design but this is a nice combination of classic style with a modern touch.
One problem with that card: that’s the Toys R Us exclusive Firefly pictured, not the City Strike Firefly.
It’s really exciting to see this, a pretty cool homage to the vintage packages, the RoC blisters stink, so it’s nice to have these back.
I like the packaging as well, but wish we had more information from Hasbro at this point as to why the changes (dropping movie look and reference to packaging) and what we can expect from the anticipated PoC line in 2010- i.e., will it be canceled and replaced with more vintage designs, when will it show up at retail, etc.
It is really nice but, I don’t think it is from Hasbro. From a marketing perspective you don’t spend money updating and familiarizing people with the new logo and then switch to the old one 12 months later, even if the line wasn’t as successful as you wanted.
David, in my opinion, this would be a smart move from hasbro, now that they probably realized how low they sales were for RoC, maybe they (finally) realized that kids won’t buy this stuff, and we, the old collectors go: “wow, it’s the same ‘ol package back again!” i didn’t get any RoC figures, but if they came on these blisters, man, i would get as much as i could. And hey, hasbro has changed the star wars blisters like, 20 times.
Wow….very cool! Slick design, and the world map on the back of the figure spot is perfect! This is a great updated look for G.I. Joe in general; I wonder if this will bring back 25th remakes; ya know, sprinkle them in with the new product?
Hasbro has been switching back and forth from the old to new logo for the past five years since Signma 6 (and even before that going back to GvC). Switching back to a familar old logo colored like the new logo isn’t all that shocking or reaching in terms of marketing their product.
The ROC packaging was great discounting the bland logo colors and lame filecards that didn’t have any actual info on them. They can’t fit all those accessories on the old ARAH-style cards. Look at some of those 25th figures with large accessories like Zartan where half the card art got covered up or some of them were cramped into their coffins with their legs spread-eagled so they could squeeze accessories in between their legs.
I have a feeling the change of the blister card is more in relation to the new cartoon, rather than the lackluster sales of the Rise Of Cobra product.
yo quick-draw Justin… you’re as fast as me. hahahahahahahaha.
i think itz real. (especially since you know who was asked to you know what).
Hopefully it is real, because I too think it is a change in the right direction.
Neon Viper, I find it interesting that you feel the packaging could make you buy ROC figures you would otherwise not purchase. I realize packaging can enhance or detract from a product, but have you been skipping the ROC figures solely based on the packaging? Not that it’s wrong, I’ve just never felt that strongly about product packaging for it to be a deal maker/breaker.
I am guessing that from a marketing perspective, changing the packaging should HELP sales, so as to show that something NEW is on the shelves at quick glance, so people just don’t keep passing by the aisles. I know I just walk on buy at a quick glance as I don’t see anything new just because all those single packs look exactly the same.
It’s not just the packaging, Pentastar, since i really didn’t liked the movie, i really didn’t liked the designs, i bought almost everything i could from the 25th anniversary, since the line got cancelled ’cause of RoC i was pissed (and still i am) so, i didn’t buy any RoC toys, but there are some figures i would really like to get, off-screen characters like Flash, Para-viper, Charbroil, etc. in my very personal opinnion, i think it’s unfair to cancel a line like 25th anniversary just to flood the aisles with RoC merch; so i didn’t get anything RoC-labelled as a non-violent protest. But if i can get those figures in another simplistic “G.I.JOE” blister, that’s another whole “non-RoC” universe to me.
You keep insisting that Hasbro flopped with G.I. Joe. What’s wrong with you?! On what plane of existence do you come from?! Even if Hasbro decides to change the packaging, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra has been a resounding success for the company. Going into 2010, the G.I. Joe figures and the P.I.T. have sold well. Around Metro Atlanta, racks have been sparse. The only things you can readily find are the smaller vehicles. They weren’t anywhere in the film, and so they haven’t moved.
Whoever posted this about the upcoming packaging…whether you hated the film or not, it was successful. And the toys have sold. During Christmas, you could see both kids and adults getting G.I. Joe figures. Regardless, we’ll get more Joe and Cobra figures in a matter of weeks.
Whew! Relax dude, these are only comments about toys! Not everybody liked the movie as much as you do; have a seat, a deep breath and a happy new year. Sheesh.
Neon Viper,
I can see what you mean; the movie repackaging hasn’t prevented me from buying the figures, but it did ruin a lot of my enthusiasm seeing the 25th Anniversary line get cancelled because of it. It would always brighten my day to go down a toy aisle and see GI Joes in original style packaging on the pegs; it took me back to my childhood. While this new card art is more similar to the original packaging, I still don’t think I’m going to get that nostalgic feeling from it. But for me, that’s not going to stop me from wanting to buy the figures I like.
I do agree with you 100% in one area: the 25th Anniversarry line was much more successful and Hasbro was short-sighted to pull the plug on it in favor of having only movie themed toys.
I’m still waiting to see if it’s legit. Hisstank.com had this up earlier, but one hour later took it down. I can read between the lines and know what you know who for doing you know what means, but still it was something that showed up on an auction site, so there’s not gurantee its legit. Time will tell.
Derrick Coleman, your comments are not fact.
Derrick Coleman, despite these toys starting to clear out in SOME places in the Christmas rush @ $5 dollars, does not mean this line was a success.
It was launched in July with a price tag varying from $6.99-$8.99.
From August until November (when the price was dropped because of poor sales) the figures were peg warmers.
Neither was the film a success.
325 million dollars as a total budget (production + marketing–and that’s not farfetched considering it was marketed WORLDWIDE) has been suggested since last summer and not once has Paramount attempted to refute that.
And it would certainly be in their best interest to refute that if it wasn’t true.
It wasn’t a handful of collectors on various GI JOE forums saying that, it was the LA Times and other sources. Not to mention the bad rep it got with critics and the online communities. So they certainly are aware of that number being tossed around and it absolutely would be in the interest to dispel that if it’s nothing more than a rumor with the dark cloud over it already.
However, they have not. Which means the fact that a sequel is not greelit, makes sense and it all comes together. But lets say the 325 million is correct (and it is) and it has grossed 355 million. (which I think is the latest tally)
That’s not 355 million dollars in Paramount or even Hasbro’s bank account. Foreign ticket sales usually take somewhere between 20-40% of profit.
Yeah…
Even domestic sales are not 100% returnable.
So yes, Justin is correct. The figures were a major disappointment. And It is a fact that the movie was a flop. Subtract 20-40% of the international profits and look how many millions you’re already in the hole.
Then subtract somewhere between 5-15% of domestic profits and you can see where the total revenue is actually at.
Remember, Paramount has stockholders and shareholders to satisify. Not fans to please.
If something is millions of dollars deficit, they are not going blow millions of more dollars a second time around.
Understand though that I am not someone who demands, wants, or expect the 25th anniversary line to come back in full force and think it magically will because of poor sales with ROC and am being a braggart of flaunting this information.
It’s simply what is.
Getting back on topic, I do hope this is legit and if Justin feels like it is, I won’t be 100% behind believing it’s legit, but will lean more to that.
Good point about POC not being on the logo Justin.
And this answers a question for me: That is the Firefly we saw at JoeCon. So that figure and the rest of them ARE POC.
POC is supposed to be a revamped line. And here we have a new card.
So I guess if this pans out to be legit, that Firefly I like will NOT be coming in the spring under the ROC label, but will in fact be delayed until next fall.
Bummer…
It’s kind of funny but think about this…in this line, G.I.Joe is supposed to be stopping Cobra from building the H.I.S.S. tank? They’ve already got Mechs, but G.I. Joe is crapping their pants over a tank? In theory, wouldn’t a mech be more advanced than a tank?
That last comment was totally off topic. I was wanting to post on another thread on another website. That’s what you get for trying to type and have a conversation with your fiancee on the telephone!.
The design is really nice. But like I said, Alpine(?)- the toy line did sell well. If it didn’t, there would be a hiatus on par with what happened in 1994…yeah…And those “factoids” you spouted, don’t account for video distribution, DVD sales and rentals. There are other revenue streams for motion pictures that weren’t available just a decade ago.
So I’ll “take a chill pill” when some of you stop the ill will and lies. Again – on what planet do you come from? The toys have sold well. The ONLY blockbuster line of action figures this year, was Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Behind that, the Rise of Cobra figures have sold well. At Toys R Us and Target, most of the popular characters are gone. Am I lying? Am I crazy? I don’t think I’m either of those.
Now I will say this much for the line. I think the worst mistake Hasbro made was selling the Pit Commandos. Using Dusty’s outfit was silly. They should have just utilized the Zartan figure, or Grunt body to create the G.I. Joe Trooper. Those are cool figures. I’ve realized I should’ve gotten a bunch of Zartans and converted the heads. But they should just sell the Joe Troops so you don’t have to do that. And the Joe Troopers would go perfectly with the blue cards.
LOL! Good point Andrew Hall. When there’s mechs, who cares about tanks?
Derrick…
There IS a hiatus! G I Joe has been pushed back to fall 2010 –nearly a year away– because of poor sales with ROC.
As for the “factoids”, I get it. You’re a big fan. You love ROC. But being a fan of this brand means being a fan in the highs and the lows, and realizing when it’s in the highs and when it’s in the lows.
That doesn’t make you less of a fan, it just makes you aware and puts things into a realistic perspective.
Actually the 355 million total I cited, includes DVD sales, so I’m sorry, your wrong again.
I don’t recall telling you take a chill pill, and I’ll ask you to not to call me a liar. NOTHING I have said to you is a lie.
And I have never called you a liar, neither has anyone else.
Actually, the Pit Commando was one of the hottest figures from the ROC line, so you’re in the minority there about not liking him or thinking it was Hasbro’s biggest mistake in this line. Far from it.
I think Derek is whining about the ‘lackluster’ comment I had made earlier in the thread. Listen, it’s great that they’re selling in Atlanta. I can say in Chicago, they ain’t moving. The only thing that helped pushed the line forward was Christmas and a $3 price decrease. If the line was as popular as you say, stores wouldn’t be keep in them in supply, even at the $8 a figure price tag Hasbro tried to get for them. I’m not anti-ROC, far from it. Sure the movie is forgettable, but it’s a fun 1:35 min ride. I’m thankful for some of the great toys we got (including the PIT Trooper, Ice-Viper, Charbroil, etc), but I don’t think it was the success Hasbro wanted to milk another year out of the ROC banner. It’s clear from this new packaging that the big ‘H’ is going in a different direction that ain’t the Pursuit of Cobra. Pursuit was supposed to launch in spring. Now Hasbro’s saying fall. Stuff that was supposed to be released under the Pursuit of Cobra banner are now being released as Rise Of Cobra. This new packaging. All of this evidence is pointing to the Pursuit of Cobra line (as we know it) ending. It makes sense. If the sequel to ROC hasn’t been greenlit, Hasbro really should take their proverbial eggs out of the Stephan Sommers basket and focus the brand toward the new cartoon series.
Fake.
That’s not even POC Firefly, it’s the TRU exclusive one.
Yup. The artwork is exactly the same as the TRU one.
http://www.yojoe.com/action/09/cardedimages/firefly20.shtml
Not saying it isn’t a mockup or something, but fake seems more likely.
I really don’t think so. I think it’s more likely just a re-release of the TRU Firefly.
If you look underneath the blue map area, you can see Firefly holding the flashlight. An additional part of the artwork not originally seen in the TRU ROC version. Not saying that it couldn’t be faked, It would just require a large amount of work for someone to do it. I’m going with real. Plus, the way Hasbro asked HISStank to take the post down is even more evidence that we’ve stumbled on something we’re not supposed to see yet.
I stand corrected. I was looking at the TRU Firefly artwork and did see the flashlight part. But I still believe it’s the real deal.
So did Hisstank take this down because they didn’t feel it was legit? Or did Hisstank take it down per request from Hasbro?
My understanding was Hisstank took it down per request from Hasbro.
It’s starting to seem that way to me. This topic has been brought up again there in their forum. Someone asked whether it was their own doing (suspected it was a fraud) or wether they were nudged by Hasbro.
No one in the know has come forward to say that Hisstank.com is taking the stand the filecard isn’t real. And the Mods seem to be ignoring that question, which seems to me that Hasbro said take it down, wait until Toyfair and they are not in a position to say Hasbro told them to take it down, because it’s a dead give away.
In the meantime it’s ignited a firestorm of conversation over there and it’s good for them traffic wise, so thats more incentive to leave it all hanging on a thread.
I think it’s legit now. And wanted to point out what Justin already has: There’s no POC logo on this card.
They’ve dropped the POC theme and direction because of lackluster interest and sales of ROC product.
Lol. Oh No, Alpine! Don’t use the ‘lackluster’ word in front of Derek.
I think a big problem is that most people don’t understand the ways companies measure success or failure. When you here that so-so lost 1.4 million last quarter, what that really means is that they were 1.4 million under projected sales. They actually made money, but not as much as they were expecting, and everything a company plans is based on projected sales, they borrow money like almost everyone else, and when less comes in than they expected, problems occur. It’s kind of like you taking a loan for a car and working out payments based on what your job is paying you. Well, that’s all fine and good until you get your hours cut and all of a sudden you are bringing home less money than before. Then you have to re-evaluate the situation, can you still afford the car payments or not?
The same things happens with companies, except that it’s a bit more complicated. Hasbro and Paramont have a deal regarding the GIJoe Rise of Cobra property. Hasbro and Paramont make money from ALL things related to the movie (not just the film for Paramont, or just the merchandise for Hasbro). So when they say, we need to make so much money on the movie, what’s also behind that is that they expect that if a certain number of people go see their movie, a certain percentage will buy the related merchandise. I honestly have no official numbers regarding all this stuff and all the things that factor into it, but the last report that GIJoe had been one of the better selling properties, was also accompanied by the news that Rise of Cobra toy sales were at about 35% of what Hasbro expected based on interest in the 25th line and what the Transformers movie had done for that line. Now sure, you can argue it was very unrealistic, but the problem is that Hasbro didn’t bring in nearly as much money as they expected. The movie did okay I guess, but didn’t translate to merchandise sales and that’s a BIG problem. Or more impoportantly, it didn’t sell as much as they wanted. It could actually even mean that it outsold the 25th line. It all depends on what the guys at Hasbro expected.
I think a lot of people misunderstand when us non-movie-lovers rant, they think it’s just a dislike of the movie and that’s it. Lots of us though, are worried about what it will do to the entire GIJoe line in the end. And we’re already seeing problems occuring. Why was Pursuit of Cobra pushed back? I doubt it was production, as you can buy most of the figures in quantity on E-Bay already. Sales are the big reason.
And bringing this back to making sense with this topic, while I have no idea if this packaging pic is legit, it would make a LOT of sense to me. Bring back something familiar to the old time Joe fans (the logo), give it a new twist (modern looking packaging) and disconnect it from the movie. This way, movie fans still get new sculpt figures that are based on the same principle as the movie. Movie haters can then feel superior by saying, “See? movie flopped. Knew it was a stupid idea, glad they got their senses back.” and will start buying again. It’s a win-win situation. Well, except that it may spell eventual demise for a GIJoe movie sequel, but you never know. There have been many sequels made for movies that lost money, so who knows.
The truth of it all? I’m holding my breath in dreaded anticipation. Will we actually see the PoC figures on store shelves in the fall? Or will the line be cancelled again? I’m hoping cooler heads prevail and that they realize that there was just a minor mistep made and this can be salvaged into great success again. After all, the sculpting is awesome on these figures, they just need a new angle and maybe stop aggravating long-time fans…you know, the ones that actually bought so much of the 25th toys that it was even possible for Hasbro to consider the idea of re-launching GIJoe as a big-time brand?
I’m wondering if someone is going to include this with one of the Q&A’s this round?
Either way, we all knwo what the answer would be, lol!
Maybe Toyfair will give us some answers. I hope it is real, because I feel myself getting excited about possible future product and I haven’t felt that way in over a year. This will make or break me on Joe.
If this isn’t POC and that line or sub-line appears to be dead (to me)what is this line? Will it include the handful of figures that were revealed at JoeCon last year? Will it include Resolute figures? Or how about those last dozen or so 25th figures the masses have been clamoring for the last year?
Or will be molded into the cartoon we have heard is coming? Lots of questions. I think somehow it’s going to be tied into the cartoon although I think the line will launch a good 4-6 months before the cartoon even gets off the ground. I hope whatever it is, we can see a Dial Tone, Lowlight, Lifeline and Airtight.
was the rise of cobra a success for hasbro yeah it probably was, why? hasbro has already gotten their money from the roc toys. they dont put toys on store store shelves on consignment. retailers have to pay for them before they are sold. i really dont understand all the dome and gloom. credible sources have stated that gi joe will maintain a shelf presence through at least the first quarter of 2010. i am not basing this only from the poster at hisstank, but from was confirmed by a local target employee. look at what has been clearanced so far, the night raven and the exclusives from both target and wal-mart, the battle rollers, the role playing toys, and the 8″ figures. if there were immediate plans to cancel the line completely everything would be clearanced to take advantage of the after Christmas bargain hunters. its way to early to call it.
Dragongravy, apparently it is time to call it, with word from Hasbro that the line is on hiatus until fall 2010 and now images of both this new card art and the new logo designs featured for the GIJCC 2010 con and the designs on the new Joes with the Mechs.
It’s obvious it wasn’t a hit and it’s becoming apparent that Hasbro is wanting to move away from that. Selling product to the retailers in June or July by the boat loads is not what makes it a success. Sure, they got money from the retailers, but that’s all short term. Hasbro (naturally) wants long term. Now retailers are not ordering anymore product and the fact that “Joe”, whatever it is going to be, is now delayed until late 2010 means it wasn’t a blockbuster success and the money is no longer there for ROC product.
To each their own I suppose, but I have never believed that gentleman at Hisstank, because since summer he has come up with numbers that point to the line being a success, but when we all log off our computers and go out into the real world–at retail–it’s a different story. Full pegs, the same waves over and over and the price drop in October or November.
We know what was once POC (whatever it is now) isn’t coming until Fall of next year. I can’t imagine that Target would order anymore ROC product since it has been there since July and had to take a price cut and last minute Holiday gift buying to get it bought out in some areas will order anymore.
So what is it that will be at retail this spring/summer?
I think it’s clear that Target and Walmart (who aren’t too particularly crazy about Joe anyway)do not want anymore “ROC” product or “POC” product, basically anything that’s associated with the film because of poor sales, which is why we see the new logos and card arts and a new direction just to keep Joe at retail.
I mean really? Who do you believe? Someone from Hisstank.com or Hasbro?
Say you know what? With all this downtime coming with the line, it would be an excellent opportunity for Hasbro to put out those last several 25th guys and gals that everyone wants.
The molds are already there most of them.
Alpine, no matter what you believe- a failure of the RoC toyline, real or imagined, will not bring back the 25A line in any form; you complain about shelfwarmers and underenthusiastic ordering from the retailers with regard to the RoC line… but THAT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH THE ANNIVERSARY LINE. Heck, the Wal-Mart nearest me still has about 4 pegs worth of Bazooka, Major Blood, and 25A Barbecue. And that’s OVER A YEAR AFTER THE LINE STOPPED COMING OUT.
I really don’t get why everyone thinks that the 25th figs were so much more successful than ROC. Afterall stores had so much more less of them than they had of ROC product. Stores would only bring in one or two cases at most and sure they sold fast but towards the end of the 25th stores around me brought in more figs and filled the pegs and than they started to sit and barely move. The dvd packs hardly sold, there were tons of them clearanced at the end. With the exception of the pack #5 which hardly seemed to have been produced. I bet ROC outsold the 25th figs by quite a bit actually. Personally I don’t want the 25th figs to come back. I want new, not oring figs redone in the new style. POC seems to provide great new takes on old characters and some new characters as well.
I knew that DistantFred. What happened was, in 2008, collectors were not being patient. They asked for Hasbro to produce more product. What we got was wave 9 out the yazoo, this caused pegwarmer and began the uneasy feelings with Joe from the retailers.
Perhaps I wasn’t clear: I’m not calling for a complete return of the line. I’m not saying shoot back to the 25ths and nothing else simply because ROC tanked.
What I AM for, is for the first 6 months of the year with no product at retail is for Hasbro to do some more 7-packs sold online like the Cobra Island sets. Guys like Lowlight, well they know have all the parts to do him. It’s just using an imagination and a paint job. Put 7 of them in there, oh I don’t know, Cover Girl, Airtight, Footloose, Lifeline, Sci-Fi and Dial Tone and there’s another 7 pack for $40 dollars.
Easy money and in the mean time it clears up that loose end in the downtime.
And hey DistantFred, don’t you think it would be nice for the forums finally to have some peace and quiet once everyone gets these last dozen or so 25th Joes?
I do.
DistantFred—by the way, those Joes you mentioned at your Walmart are the Joes in that wave 9 and revision wave that I mentioned. See what I mean?
And they are still there now because collectors already have them and Joes do not appeal to kids.
Oh and it’s not what I believe, it’s what Hasbro says (delayed until fall 2010) and what Hasbro does with the product. (card art/logo change) It’s also what I and everyone else see at retail that points to the failure of the ROC toyline. Not an imagination.
ROC SHOULD have sold more than the 25th Joes. It had a multi-million dollar film and ad campaign behind it, a video game, paperback novels, sleeping bags, lunchboxes and party supplies among other things.
Not to mention, as we all saw at our local Walmarts and Targets, a 10 to 1 ratio of individual figures produced and sold at retail.
While the 25th had none of this except a bunch of 20, 30 and 40 year old’s nostalgic memories. Yet it endured at retail far longer.
Was it the greatest selling toy of all time? No. Of course not. I never said it was. It was the hottest selling Joe item in many years, but not the hottest selling toy.
But as I told DistantFred, I am not petitioning for the line to return in force.
I am stating my observations as I see things with regards to ROC and where I agree with Justin and his observations with things, and think in the meantime, with the half year’s worth of downtime, it would be an excellent opportunity to get out the rest of the 25th’s people want. And that’s hardly the entire ARAH lineup.
I think doing the 86 lineup and maybe Jinx and people are happy. That’s not bringing back the line to sell at retail for 2 more entire years.
ndviper—It was more successful, for several reasons:
1. It brought EVERYONE back on board and grew the community 3xtimes it’s current size.
2. It was a classic line geared at older collectors sold at retail. Mattel’s Ghostbusters and He-Man line can’t even share this distinction.
3. Instead of going 3 months as peg warmers and then getting a price cut, it went on for 2 years, prices increased it only ended because Hasbro set it’s sights on the movie line.
That’s what makes it a sucess.
Wow, that last comment log was all jumbled up. That is not how I typed. It’s been distorted. Maybe it doesn’t matter to DistantFred or ndviper, but I’m funny about things like that so I wanted to say the first 3 paragraphs are comments to Fred, the rest is for ndviper.
“To each their own I suppose, but I have never believed that gentleman at Hisstank, because since summer he has come up with numbers that point to the line being a success, but when we all log off our computers and go out into the real world–at retail–it’s a different story. Full pegs, the same waves over and over and the price drop in October or November.”
Right, it’s all a big conspiracy to convince the clown that ROC toys were more successful than they really are. Nothing gets past you! What a joke.
Hasbro sold more G.I. JOE toys in 2009 than they had sold in the previous five years combined. You’d have to be willfully ignorant to argue that fact. No, the movie wasn’t a hit, but the toy line was a tremendous success for retailers and the manufacturer. Get over it.
I think the first 2 waves of the ROC toys was a success because the stores bought a shit-ton of them. Because of the movie, Hasbro obviously had way more shelf space than what was previously available to them. However, all the retailers had gummed up their shelf space with those first 2 waves and nothing was moving (ala Indiana Jones line from the previous year). The retailers had to drop their prices $3 during Christmas rush to get the toys moving. There’s 2 ways to measure success in the scenario. Hasbro was certainly successful in initially selling the product, but unsuccessful in keeping the product a ‘hot commodity’. Even if there is a sequel to ROC, I find it unlikely stores would ever give G.I.Joe the shelf space Hasbro squandered with ROC. Again, I enjoyed the ROC line, but I’m just facing reality on this one.
Also, I would like to see where you get your numbers, Blaze. I literally want to see Hasbro’s quarterly report that actually states Rise Of Cobra sold more toys ‘than the last five years combined’. That sounds like a case of fuzzy math to me.
Blaze, sounds like you’re the one who needs to get over something…yourself!
Do yourself a favor and re-read my comments.
ROC SHOULD have sold more toys. I mean are you telling me it’s not a big deal that unlike the 25th and Resolute lines that they are one the same foot?
I seem to recall ROC getting a multi-million dollar movie, a video game, t-shirts, posters, lunchboxes, books and comics.
I don’t recall the 25th or Resolute getting those with the exception of the 1 hour Resolute cartoon that aired in 5 minute segments at midnight.
So I hope the ROC toyline that you are so adamantly trying to defend and uphold right DID sell more than other lines, otherwise it is a much bigger failer.
If you would have actually read my comments, you would know I never said it didn’t. I said it SHOULD have.
I don’t know if it’s a consipiracy, but the information that he (you?) gave looks all nice and neat when it’s front paged on hisstank.com, except in the meantime, the pegs were full of figures that weren’t selling, the toys got a price cut well before the Christmas season, now we know the line is on hiatus until fall and the logos/card art has changed.
Despite what he–or you–say, the results at retail and the actions of Hasbro show quite the contrary.
And no the line wasn’t a “tremendous success” for retailers. If it was, they never would have dropped the price to $5 dollars in October or November. AND the line wouldn’t be on hiatus right now…
“You’d have to be willingly ignorant to argue that fact.”
Andrew, the retail stores dropped the price of Joe before the Christmas season. It was before anything else went on sale for Christmas. You and I know why, and so does Justing and about everyone else here, except Blaze.
Even some who still wish to defend it, suggest it’s all the retailers fault.
I would like to kindly remind everyone that at the tail end of the 25th because of reasons I have already stated in this blog that Walmart and Target were nearly ready to give Joe the axe.
Walmart and Target bought up the intitial shipments because Hasbro managed to convince them it had a movie behind it and was going to be a blockbuster. As we can see and have seen at retail with all of that product sitting there, both figures, vehicles and the little guys in the two-packs, Hasbro very clearly thought and hoped it was going to be bigger than it was.
It wasn’t the retailers fault that product sat on shelves for so long.
The only thing you can toss at the retailers for blame are the prices, and even then I don’t think they were making that much of a profit off of them at the $7.99 price.
Andrew, this “blaze” is the very same person who is giving the fuzzy math on hisstank.com.
He has never cited any sources, and despite what he says about how well the line is selling, we see at retail nothing is selling even after the price drop and Christmas (4 Walmarts here packed full still!)and Hasbro telling us that the line is on hiatus and the logo and card art get changed.
Quite the contrary. I’d say don’t him your time.
For all those who like ROC and are trying to accuse me and others of being ignorant or being liars, I guess we’ll have agree to disagree and wait until Toyfair to see what’s up.
For those interested, here’s a time line summary of that person’s “numbers crunching” at hisstank.com.
–The line launches July 7–
–In August, said member comes forward with numbers from a personal computer at Target where he works that shows the line is selling very well–
–Late August, Early September. We are starting to see figures remain on the pegs and not sell despite his numbers–
–Said member returns with more numbers that claims the figures are still selling by the hundreds of thousands–
–October, early November. The toys get a price cut across the board from all retailers. Walmart, Target, Kmart and TRU has it’s 3rd 2x$9.99 sale.–
–Said member returns with more numbers, claims the price drop to $6 dollars at Target has sped sales of ROC and the line is at an incline–
–Round 5 Q&A, Hasbro tells us that POC is pushed back, on hiatus, until Fall 2010–
–Said member returns with more numbers, claims ROC is one of the top 3 sellers at Target for action figures, behind only to Star Wars and Transformers–
–With news of the line already in hiatus until Fall 2010, images surface on 4chan that show new card art that is taken down from Hisstank.com, possibly at the request of Hasbro. No “POC” is seen on the packaging. New Joes show up with Mech vehicles, their logo is no longer the rise of Cobra eagle logo, but a new one, with a star, which by no coincidence is now the logo that the GIJCC is using for the 2010 Joecon.–
It all looks good frontpaged there on hisstank. But word from Hasbro as well as apparent actions, along with price cuts at retail tell us something completely different.
Wow guys. It’s not personal. Saying RoC failed to meet Hasbro’s expectations does not constitute wishful thinking, a conspiracy or a personal attack against anyone who liked it.
Like I mentioned before RoC may well have outsold 25th, but then again Hasbro ramped up production for RoC and made them available everywhere. I mean my town never saw any 25th stuff untill 6 months after they canceleld the line and every small time drug store is loaded with RoC stuff, so obviously they poured way more money into it than the 25th stuff.
But the real problem isn’t whether the first waves of RoC sold enough to recoup expensives, it’s that they sold some and then filled up shelves and have now suspended the line until Fall. Look at Star Wars and Transformers. Hasbro was hoping that they would launch a line like those based on the release of the movie, which basically lasts years, and now after only a few months they have already had to change plans.
This is all fact. There is no assumption in any of this.
Having 7 friends that run toy stores or stores that sell toys, I also know that anytime a store has to stick a sale price on a new product that was just released a few months back, it’s a sign that they are not selling up to expectations. Ideally you run out. Also, many smaller stores are embittered with GIJoe because places like Walmart are desperately trying to clear their Joes and sell them at way less than these other stores buy the figures for. So GIJoe becomes a major sore spot as not only do they not get their product sold, but customers complain about why their prices are so high. On the opposite side, if a line sells as expected or better, those little stores can prosper selling their guys at a slightly higher amount because people can’t get the figures anywhere else anyway and big stores like Walmart don’t put them on sale.
Now I’ll say again. This doesn’t mean RoC didn’t sell well. But it didn’t sell up to expectations. Hasbro expectations. And again, I do get the feeling their expectations were unrealistic, but it is what it is.
And once again, the 25th line sold over 200% of expectations in it’s first full year, making it a huge success for Hasbro, while RoC at last count was selling at around 35% of expected sales. It’s just how much they put into it compared to what they thought they’d get out of it. I mean it’s no great mystery that a lot more effort went into the sculpting of the new RoC stuff and the plastic is better and then there’s the marketting, distribution, adding production and who knows what else. When they did 25th they basically said, well, let’s try this, people keep asking for it, so let’s see…and demand was way higher than they expected.
It’s like a movie made on a 100 million dollar budget obviously has to pull in 10 times the amount of viewers than a movie made on a 10 million dollar budget to equal it’s relative success.
And I’m not a movie hater per se. I thought it was a move in the wrong direction, but it was still enjoyable for what it was. But my big fear remains that Justin is right and that it was the biggest moment for GIJoe in the last decade. However, it’s just that it might be heralding a dark age, not the golden age everyone expected.
I’m not saying you guys are wrong about what ROC did, but you guys come off as just hating on everything ROC. I loved most of the toys, the prices sucked but were far better priced that Marvel Universe figs considering the difference in accessories. I loved the 25th myself as well and bought almost everything from that line. I hear what you guys are saying but I’m just trying to remain optimistic through all of this. I would hate for Joe to dissappear again, I just want Hasbro to do what it takes to make Joe a success that keeps it on the shelves. Perhaps the correct route is still coming with a good animated series that hopefully can be as good as The Clone Wars and bring in the younger fans that the movie failed to grab. I’m sure it got a few but not enough, and with video games being far more popular now and grabbing the youth’s ever shrinking attention spans than in Joe’s heyday, I realize its an uphill battle for Joe, but I hope it can pull through and we keep getting some great product (which seemed to be the POC line.)
I guess the only reason I responded was I’m just so tired of all the bickering and the negative feelings that has been going on around the joe sites of late. I know most of it is based on reality and the future of Joe seems uncertain and murky at best, but 3.75″ Joe’s have been around for most of 25 years plus and I know there is alot of us that don’t want them gone. To me hope and optimism seems a better course for us fans than doom and gloom. They’ve managed to sustain Joe this long why not longer?
In short, I don’t want to argue the success of different lines or was it a good movie or a bad movie. I just want to enjoy what we have received over the past 25 plus and hope.
Does anyone truly believe that ROC was such a dismal failure as some have been making out to be?
Well, I think we ALL want GIJoe to do well regardless of how anyone felt about the movie. Even people who hated the movie and say they wish for the dismal failure of the RoC line don’t want it to be so dismal and complete that GIJoe gets cancelled.
Personally I’m upset with Hasbro because if you really break it down to very simple steps what happened was this :
After years of trying all sorts of stuff (some semi-successful, some not so much) like Spy Troops, VvV and Sigma 6, Hasbro finally got some good response with the 25th line.
Then they decide the response is good enough to warrant a movie and dropping a whole lot of money on new toys. (Sounds good so far.)
But then they totally change almost everything we know and love about GIJoe and excuse it with trying to target a new demographic (kids) and then it doesn’t sell all that well with kids and the existing Joe community is torn in two and sales don’t meet Hasbro expectations.
And what does that mean? We suffer. I mean c’mon, let’s keep this in perspective. We’re the people buying this stuff. Our money is going to Hasbro and they basically said, well you guys are great and all (here’s a new cartoon called Resolute) but we have bigger fish to fry. Now they appear to be scrambling trying to re-package the new line to appeal to all the people they upset. (Which will probably work, cause well, we still love GIJoe, we can’t help ourselves).
If the new cartoon can recapture GIJoe, all this won’t matter anymore, and things will pick up again. Pursuit of Cobra or some other name, who cares, as long as we get the toys and they are cool.
Personally I think the cartoon will be a great way to mix the old with new and let Hasbro capitalize by using all the new molds since 25th started.
And while I didn’t really thrill over RoC all that much I still bought most of the figures I could find.
We all want the G.I. Joe line to flourish,ndviper. It’s really not about that. If G.I. Joe is on the box, more than likely I will buy it (I tend to be a completest). I can’t speak for Alpine, but I know I’m not anti-ROC. I’m in total agreement with Hawkwinter on the movie. I just see some of the mistakes Hasbro did with this movie line. 1.) They honestly should have focused more on the 3 3/4 figures and less on things like the Rapid Rollers, Action Battlers, Ultimate Sigma Suit Duke, Combat Heroes (which I love), and those stupid 8 in. noise making toys with the karate chop action. Hasbro plugged up alot of shelf space on stuff nobody had an interest in. Stick to the toys that everyone knows, and what got the movie deal to begin with. ALSO, I think Hasbro burned a lot of bridges with focusing just on the movie line. Hardcore fans (again, not me) felt slighted at the fact the 25th line (which everyone loved) ended with the movie line. Hasbro could have totally integrated more traditional characters into the line and no one would have complained. Instead we were given repaints of the classis in ROC colors (there are a few exceptions, of course). I know that collectors are a small percentages of sales for Hasbro, but again, we were probably the driving force behind the success of the 25th line to begin with.
But I digress, ROC is literally spilled milk at this point. It’s over, and more than likely done. We should be excited that Hasbro is looking to break away from the constraints of the movie-verse and get back to what made G.I. Joe, G.I.Joe.
“Wow guys. It’s not personal. Saying RoC failed to meet Hasbro’s expectations, does not constitute wishful thinking, a conspiracy or a personal attack against anyone who liked it.”–Hawkwinter
Thank you Hawk.
Ndviper, I want to reiterate, that by saying what I have said, is not something I am flaunting or thinking because of RoC’s failure, the 25th classic line will return.
It’s all fact. And it is what it is.
NO ONE should like it, and really except for a small minority, I don’t believe anyone likes it, myself included.
It was G I Joe’s introduction to the world at the box office, it was the chance we’ve all been waiting for for 20+ years.
It was time for Joe to once again dominate the airwaves, comic books and the toy aisles. How anyone can be “happy” that it’s not happening, is beyond me. It’s shameful and selfish.
I think you’re spot on that a cartoon is desperately needed to keep kids engaged and focused on the brand.
“Does anyone truly believe that ROC was such a dismal failure as some have been making out to be?” –Jcast
By some, I assume you include Walmart, Target and all major retailers who have dropped the price of ROC product since last fall,
And Hasbro who has put the line on hiatus until fall 2010, changed the brand’s direction and cancelled the line overseas?
“I don’t know if it’s a consipiracy, but the information that he (you?) gave…”
“Andrew, this “blaze” is the very same person who is giving the fuzzy math on hisstank.com.”
That sort of paranoia is unhealthy. I recommend seeking professional help immediately, as there is a very real chance you could be a danger to yourself or others.
“…looks all nice and neat when it’s front paged on hisstank.com, except in the meantime, the pegs were full of figures that weren’t selling, the toys got a price cut well before the Christmas season, now we know the line is on hiatus until fall and the logos/card art has changed.”
All movie-based toy lines crash after the movie leaves theaters. The first Transformers line was an exception, but Revenge Of The Fallen certainly wasn’t. Those had price reductions across the board, too. I wouldn’t have to explain this to anyone who actually has any knowledge about the hobby or the toy industry, but it becomes necessary when some delusional collector is falling all over himself to convince the world his personal favorite toys are the most successful ever. Also, we don’t “know” the card art or logo has changed. All we have is a small file that looks like a bad Photoshop job.
If Alpine would ever get out of the basement for a while, he might understand that the few adults who were collecting G.I. JOE figures prior to ROC could never even come close to the sales the movie line enjoyed. To the oblivious basement-dweller, a line that’s constantly refreshed with the same assortments will appear to be, “not moving,” at retail. This is due to the redundancy of product replenishment and the collector’s narrow view of, “no new figures = no sales,” when it simply isn’t the reality of a movie line.
“By some, I assume you include Walmart, Target and all major retailers who have dropped the price of ROC product since last fall”
25th Anniversary figures saw a price reduction at Target, too, after they had raised the prices, just as they did with ROC. At the end of ’07, tons of 25th Anniversary product was reduced to 75% off at Target, because the retailer couldn’t move it. The same happened earlier this year.
And for the record, I’m not a fan of very many ROC figures. They’re mostly custom fodder for me, although I do like the vehicles quite a bit. As a matter of personal taste, I prefer the 25th Anniversary figures by miles and miles. I’m simply objective and realistic about my hobbies, and I don’t cry “conspiracy!” when my own opinions aren’t reflected in the facts. I absolutely do not participate at Hisstank.com, either. I don’t even like the damn site.
“By some, I assume you include Walmart, Target and all major retailers who have dropped the price of ROC product since last fall,And Hasbro who has put the line on hiatus until fall 2010, changed the brand’s direction and cancelled the line overseas?”
So you feel a price drop indicates total failure? It should also be noted that Hasbro US has nothing to do with the actions of their overseas offices.
Blaze, if you could prove to me or anyone else for that matter what I have stated ISN’T fact, please feel free to do so. I will retract my statements.
In the meantime, I own my home, it’s paid for. It’s valued just under $300 grand.
My home is welcomed to you and anyone else who’s ever in my area and we can sit and talk like adults.
Jcast, what does a price drop say to you? If something is meeting or exceeding expectations do you drop the price?
As for overseas sales, my point was that G I Joe will not be available to people in the UK, Belgium, Greece and Australia this year because of poor sales. Which means Hasbro G I JOE division will not be involved in those areas.
Wow. I am completely flabergasted at the potshots that have been leveled at myself, Justin and a few others here. For starters, we all have stated that we are disappointed to see this happen and it’s not something we get our jollies from.
Justin, I’ve never met, but he seems a genial fella and his word is as good as gold in the community.
What has been stated by Justin, myself and others are simply facts that cannot be disputed. We can all drive to our local Walmarts and see G I JOE with a price cut $5 dollar tag on the shelves. My Walmarts still all have the ret tag that clearly says price cut.
It was Hasbro, per the last Q&A that stated that G I Joe is delayed until Fall 2010. And these images of new logos and card art, could be another line like Jurassic Park, or it could be a fraud. Either way it’s not something that Justin, myself or anyone else here have manipulated, and we have all surmised our opinions on all of this and what’s going on in Joe world right now.
So I can’t understand why some take this personal and feel the need come out of the proverbial woodwork with vile comments like “basement dweller”, “liar”, “conspiracy theorist” or “What world are you living on”
Am I engaging in disourse with adults or children?
These facts, whatever they mean are still facts. That card art is there. Those logos are on those mech figures. It’s the 2010 Joecon logo. The Q&A with Hasbro can be found on any site that participated in the last session by using the search feature on those forums.
Sorry if it sounds like a broken record, but it seems that everyday there someone coming here childlike immature banter from people in denial of what’s going on. And the best way they seem to know how to deal with it is accuse someone else of being a liar or something else as incriminating as an accusation.
It has been said that Hasbro doesn’t put much stock into the collector community. I hope that has changed, but if not, I can’t say I blame them.
Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves and start acting like adults.
Jcast, what does a price drop say to you? If something is meeting or exceeding expectations do you drop the price?
It says that demand might have been overestimated, but there’s also the bad economy. the retailer demands that come across as bizarre, some questionable decisions on Hasbro’s part (like releasing too many repaints that weren’t in the movie), and other factors. ROC haters seem to make ROC out to be a failure of biblical proportions, when it appears to be a success. People seems to be grasping at anything to talk down ROC (Dark Knight sold more copies! It’s only # 15 on the top selling list!).
A lot of the comments seem to start out with “I’m not a ROC hater, but…”,and go out to make the same anti-ROC points time after time. it seriously reminds me of people during the presidential primaries last year saying stuff like ” I’m a life-long Democrat, but Obama…” and proceed to rehash republican talking points.
I live in the real world. Not one of made-up black and white.
I sure as hell can say I don’t hate RoC but that I didn’t like several things about it and also that I feel it was a move in the wrong direction and also that the whole endevour didn’t pan out as well as all hoped. But I know the black and white people, my brother is one of them. You’re either for something or against something. The thought that things can be more complex than that never crosses their minds.
I’m not even sure how many times it has been repeated that it’s not a hate of RoC that is causing our unhappiness it’s that RoC was something we weren’t really wanting and apparently it ddn’t give Hasbro what they wanted either (based on sales, decisons for the future) and that sucks. It hurts all fans.
Why is it that everytime anyone raises concerns about their hobbies future in Joe forums there are a number of people that just totally freak out and spazz out about how anyone could possibly say anything negative about their hobby? I haven’t yet seen anyone say it’s all over. We’re concerned about what seems to be happening.
Now I’d be thrilled if it’s all a smokescreen and the new toys hit shelves next week but there are other signs that things are changing. Take the comic book. IDW started with several titles all supporting a relaunch. And now? They are adding a continuation of the original Marvel line. Now why does a company do that? Quite simply…. demand. And keep in mind Hasbro still controls the big decisions and the fact they didn’t oppose that addition after having just released a movie that totally re-writes GIJoe and even a cartoon (Resolute) that took a totally different approach shows that the diehard purists DO have considerable pull.
Personally things are looking up for me as a fan (as long as all the current plans come to fruition). A continuation of the old Marvel title? That could be fantastic ! A new cartoon coming on the heels of the surprise success of the awesome Resolute? Wicked. And now the toy line seems to be adjusting to fit these changes? Terrific.
In 2008 I spent over four grand on GIJoe related stuff, last year I spent less than $500. I’m all set for a change. And if that works out for Hasbro, then I will again be hopeful for another GIJoe movie. Hulk and Punisher and many others show that it’s possible for Hollywood to re-do their films and get it right the next time around. Maybe someday we will still get the GIJoe we all know and love. (See Justin? At heart, I’m a hopeless diehard optomistic as well…lol).
“It says that demand might have been overestimated, but there’s also the bad economy. the retailer demands that come across as bizarre, some questionable decisions on Hasbro’s part (like releasing too many repaints that weren’t in the movie), and other factors. ROC haters seem to make ROC out to be a failure of biblical proportions, when it appears to be a success. People seems to be grasping at anything to talk down ROC (Dark Knight sold more copies! It’s only # 15 on the top selling list!).”–Jcast
Economy certainly could be an indicator, yet you have to consider that Star Wars is still a hot seller and at the $8.99 price. Marvel and Transformers are no slouches either.
Neither have any of these lines been put on hiatus along with Joe, which would indicate economy. Since it’s only Joe it indicates it wasn’t a success, rather than the economy.
You seem to be content to paint me as a ROC hater. The problem with that is I am not. And never have I stated I was. I am reporting the facts, which unfortunately at this point doesn’t seem good, and you come under the assumption that it means I am a ROC hater.
I’ve never mentioned Dark Knight. Can’t speak for others. What I can say are FACT:
1. $5 dollar price tag in the fall, only 3 months into the line.
2. The brand is put on hiatus until next fall. That’s from Hasbro.
3. Possible new card art without “POC” listed on it, which suggests a new direction. We should know more by February at Toyfair.
4. New logos on the Joes that appear to be sold with Mechs, that are not the ROC logo and it s the same logo the G I JCC is sporting for the 2010 Joecon.
You don’t have to like it, but it is still FACT.
Far from “reaching” for or to anything.
We’re not talking politics. We’re talking G.I. Joe. Let’s start with that. Seeing as how Jcast isn’t letting anyone have the “It’s not the G.I. Joe I wanted to see represented, but it was a fun popcorn movie” opinion of the franchise, I guess I have to fall in line with ‘the haters’ then. There is nobody on this board that can tell me Rise Of Cobra was what you, as a fan, would want to see in movie theaters. The acting was wretched, the plot line was laughable, and George Lucas should be suing Sommer’s ass off because the end fight resembled the Death Star scene in Return of the Jedi (only underwater). I haven’t met anyone, with the exception of my fiancee (who probably is just being supportive) say they liked the movie. In fact, I’ve been called on the carpet for standing up for it. My friends all say that I only liked it because it was G.I. Joe. If it were anything else, you wouldn’t give that movie the time of day. You know what? They’re right. I’m glad the ROC experiment was a bit of a disappointment for Hasbro. It won’t kill the brand, and it will usher in another era for the Joe franchise. One free from Snake-Eyes lips, Storm Shadow sneakers, and Iron Man envy. Hopefully one that will closer resemble the franchise that we all know and are passionate about. What I’m ultimately saying is this: whether ROC was successful or not, it doesn’t appear to be continuing. Is there anyone here who’s really going to miss it all that much? If your answer is ‘no’, then why the hell are we fighting?
Let me add a couple of thoughts here, for your consideration.
1) ROC (the movie) was basically created during the writer’s strike. It wasn’t as good as we all hoped, but it wasn’t Ishtar either. The sequel will be better.
2) The brand is on hiatus until next fall. So is Star Wars. Perhaps these hiatus’ have more to do with Hasbro itself than GI Joe specifically. Either way, you’ll not get a straight answer out of Hasbro about it.
3) The original price of the figures at retail was intended to get money from early adopters, and when they had wrung that rag dry, they “lowered” or “Rolled back” the prices to the actual price needed to make money.Even if the new Lowered price was less than 25th figures, this is allowed by economies of scale. Furthermore, you ever notice just how much of the parts for the ROC line are actually parts that were “NEW” for the 25th line? Just how far ahead of time were the plans for the ROC line formulated? Notice how all the retailers seemed to come to about the same “lowered” price? This is reflected by the single packs (and the Gunship/ steel crusher/ etc.) remaining the same price when everything else is getting clearanced.
4)Assuming that that card art is real, and I’m not 100% convinced that it is, just because there isn’t anything on the front of the card, and I can’t believe I’m the first person to point this out, doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be a paper or cardboard insert INSIDE THE BLISTER that says PURSUIT OF COBRA city strike. Or the back of the card, for that matter. Just look at Star Wars figures. Hasbro do love to cram stuff in them blisters.
5) Yes, perhaps POC is sh!tcanned, but that has more to do with the videogame flopping than the movie or movie toys flopping. Since the game crapped out, pretty much nobody but us (collectors) had any idea what POC was, anyway. There definitley isn’t going to be any sequels to the GI Joe game any time soon, nor any kind of DLC. The next media tie in will be something else, probably the cartoon.
5) When the movie logo came out, a total boatload of people lost their minds and stated they HAted it. Maybe Hasbro is just trying to appease them.
Oh, and since when is the sequel movie not greenlit? I’ve read in a couple of different places that it was, that pre production is already starting, etc. That isn’t sarcasm, I’m asking, did I miss something?
Well as far as the sequel being greenlit….I guess my comments on that stem from having about two dozen movies I was looking forward to being greenlit and in production, some with filming started and then just mysteriously cancelled or put on hold in the last year alone! This must be a result of the bad economy and films that aren’t expected to rake it in get put on hold.
Filming hasn’t started yet so in reality the movie doesn’t exist yet. Conan the King has been greenlit seven times since the last Conan movie came out and was even reported to be nearly done filming three years ago. I still see no Conan the King. Stargate has two more films greenlit with interviews with the actors saying they were flying out for filming in a week in one interview. Yet….both got quickly cancelled based on the horrendous sales of the Battlestar Gallactica movie (or at least that’s the excuse they give).
On the other hand, when I hear rumors about an Underworld 4 and even TV series I have no trouble believing it because it makes sense, since everything is all about Vampires these days thanks to the Twillight movies. Military based movies that glorify war and aren’t heavy hearted dramas showing the grotesque nature of war? Not so much.
So forgive me for being slightly pessimistic about all this talk about a sequel.
I think, strangely enough, the future of G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra sequal depends greatly on the success of Hasbro/Paramount’s next venture: Battleship. Which, based on the premise alone, doesn’t sound promising at all.
“We’re not talking politics. We’re talking G.I. Joe. Let’s start with that. Seeing as how Jcast isn’t letting anyone have the “It’s not the G.I. Joe I wanted to see represented, but it was a fun popcorn movie” opinion of the franchise, I guess I have to fall in line with ‘the haters’ then. There is nobody on this board that can tell me Rise Of Cobra was what you, as a fan, would want to see in movie theaters. The acting was wretched, the plot line was laughable, and George Lucas should be suing Sommer’s ass off because the end fight resembled the Death Star scene in Return of the Jedi (only underwater). I haven’t met anyone, with the exception of my fiancee (who probably is just being supportive) say they liked the movie.”
Ok…I think you proved my point for me.
Anyway, I really don’t know what people wanted from the movie. Did they think they were going to get “Saving Private Ryan” or something similar? I actually wasn’t too excited about ROC, but I decided to give it a chance. I’m glad I did for a few reasons: ROC totally captures the tone of the original Sunbow cartoon, Lee Byung-hun played a perfect Storm Shadow, and the action sequences were awesome to watch (loved the desert ambush). Did I dislike some things about it? Of course, but I think overall it was done rather well for the source material.
I also think the retailers have to bear some blame with over-ordering of the first waves being the main issue (and also seem to have really strange rules when it comes to GI Joe). Hasbro also missed some golden opportunities by reissuing older repaints instead of stuff that was actually in the movie.
Honestly though, If a movie can’t give Hasbro the sales it wants, then the GI Joe brand must not be viable.
A lot of the comments seem to start out with “I’m not a ROC hater, but…”,and go out to make the same anti-ROC points time after time. it seriously reminds me of people during the presidential primaries last year saying stuff like ” I’m a life-long Democrat, but Obama…” and proceed to rehash republican talking points.
I’m not proving your point. My point to you was that I’m in the middle when it comes to the ROC movie, like Hawkwinter, I stated that the movie wasn’t what I wanted to see from a G.I. Joe movie, but it was a fun popcorn movie. But under your ‘black and white’ non-sensical view of things, I must hate the movie. Also, of course the G.I. Joe brand is viable. The movie really let us down on that level. Sure it made $300 million worldwide, but out of those ticket sales, how many people actually liked the movie enough to buy toys from it?
“…under your ‘black and white’ non-sensical view of things…”
Wow! I’ve never been called “non-sensical” before! I’m just saying that people seem to list everything that’s wrong with ROC with no focus on what was right about it.
Lol. I think I picked that up from reading the Dr. Suess memoirs.