Along with the good news about the store software and membership deadline extension, the G.I. Joe Collectors Club also posted a nice little snippet on GIJoeClub.com! While we did see some packaged mock ups at Toy Fair this year, this is the first time we’re seeing a packaged sample of Cobra Commander on the G.I. Joe: Retaliation card.
I’ve posted a small thumbnail below, but definitely hit up GIJoeClub.com for the full image!
I really can’t describe how much I truly hate the Retaliation packaging. Just horrible. No individual card art is really going to make these things look cheap.
Not as bad as the lack of ankle joints on figures like this one, of course. I LOVE this Cobra Commander, but without ankle joints he will always stand with that “floating” foot when it doesn’t quite make contact with the ground.
I really like the design of the toys, just hate the lack of articulation and decent packaging. Hopefully Hasbro will come to their senses and realize they are cheapening the brand… GI Joe has always been the most consistently high quality in the last 5 years, and to throw that away is a shame.
Oh yeah, one more thing… it seems almost for sure that they are also for the first time since 2007 not going to provide stands. (I know, there were some RoC vehicle drivers that didn’t have them.) To that I have one word: BOOOOOOOO!
So were the previous 25 years before the 25th line just garbage?
I agree with most of what you say and am sad as well that these changes for the worse were deemed neccessary but that’s the situation whether we agree or not. You say you think this CC is awesome, so can I assume you will still buy them?
I just wonder how many people who are upset will still buy them. I will. Right now, I’m loading up on 30th and PoC figs as I get the sinking feeling we just lived through the time of the best figures we may ever see. With the economy being in the trash and some basic rights coming to China (meaning minimum wages) it may never be possible again to have such detailed and articulated figures (definately not at this price point).
No battle-stands??? Will they at least have peg-holes in their heels??? Or is THAT costing them too much??
No battle stands = higher profit through material reduction, production time. No individual card backs = volume production discounts.
Cobra Commander would approve of what we’ve seen so far.
Cloning all cardbacks looks like Dr. Mindbender’s idea…
You may be on to something, the dude is “master of mind control,” afterall……
Yeah, I really dont think battlestands add more than like $0.05 to the deal. And its not like it transfers directly that way anyway. For years now the Vintage Star Wars line has been $9.99 and is the ONLY Star Wars modern line not to have battle stands, while all those with the stands are only $8.99.
So the thing is though, they got the packaging done by some execs kid, got rid of a alot of figures articulation, ditched the crapload of accessories idea AND no battle stands….oh and no filecards from what I here.
At some point you cheapen things a little too much. Its almost as if they have no confidence this line will sell well anyway, but felt obliged to do something for the movie. That’s a shame, because I feel this movie will actually do better and I like most of the toys shown so far.
But yeah, this is really aweful packaging. Far below GI Joe standards. I didn’t like RoC much, but it sure had much better packaging than this.
“Its almost as if they have no confidence this line will sell well anyway, but felt obliged to do something for the movie.”
The line will probably sell Ok. Not well, but ok. At least that is what I think they are projecting. After the last movie, I think that is the best business decision. Sadly, since Joe isn’t doing Star Wars numbers, some cost cutting is probably needed. $0.05 a figure is still a lot.
I mean, in the end it doesnt matter all that much to me, I will still buy the figures and this will give me extra money to catch up on Star Wars stuff, but I’m less happy about it, which is okay this year. I expect movie years to be crap and I’m pretty happy with what we’ve seen so far (figure wise).
I just dont see how simplistic packaging helps sell product to kids, nor do I believe the notion that kids dont care about cool packaging. They may not knowingly seek it out but something flashy and cool catches your eye, kid or adult and therefore sells more.
Now I cant deny this packaging catches your eye, but like numerous others have pointed out it screams cheap ass crap, not kick ass toy. And that should have everyone worried at least a little. Since the continued success of the line is in everyones best interest.
From a collector point of view though, peoples aversion to the design may actually make these rare down the road someday. Not that I care about that, but its just an interesting thought.
When we first saw the card art I praised it, because it has such a different look than anything else we’ve seen; I didn’t realize they’re all identical, ha ha ha!
It’s a cheap out for sure, and an unfortunate one, but as someone who opens everything he buys, I say give back the articulation and pack ’em each in a brown paper bag.
I have already said my peace regarding the articulation issue so I won’t bring it up here. It is what it is. I think the packaging looks cheap and I would expect this style on a Walmart brand like The Corps or something like that. I can’t believe I’m saying this but the ROC packaging was better than this. That’s really a shame to because I think this movie will be so much better and the sculpts are significantly better than the ROC ones.