The state of our hobby
Rainbow Vipers Salute you! (For reading this far)
I do not have a solution, as the 1:18 scale manufacturing companies are seemingly uninterested in our feedback or our wants. I love this hobby, this scale, and the people (well, most of them) involved in it. My goal, and goal of this entire site has only every been to expand the hobby and draw in new people who may have never heard of “21st Century Toys” or even BBI (cricket, cricket). The more people we can get interested in this hobby, the better we will all be. From new customs, to new ideas to a real market-share.. we can grow this hobby and have fun doing it.
The new “OurWar” figures from TIEKA (whoever they are!) look promising, and we hope to have a full review by one of our Forum members soon. We are all excited to see anything new in 1:18 scale, and modern troops are always welcomed. Maybe some of the other 1:18 players have some tricks up their sleeves for the coming months? Some of the figures shown at the G.I. Joe convention are actually looking really good, they are making figures that actually look tactical and not rainbow colored! Wonders never cease.
This concludes my meandering, rambling editorial. Thanks for reading, and help spread the word about the awesomeness of the 1:18 scale!
This is an excellent summary of the state of affairs.
The companies out there need to remember that people do like military toys, and they will sell if the scale, detail and prices make the line fun and worthwhile.
I also agree that a certain toy company has basically resorted to Mafioso tactics of extortion. “Do as I say, and you get what you want.”
In short, forcing us to buy XX in order to attain YY is absurd.
No one, but no one, will survive in a free-market economy with such an attitude.
This might explain why the ROC line was a complete disaster.
Not only did Hasbro refuse to stick to the original storyline and themes, they defied the justifiable backlash that was brewing during production itself.
They refused to stop for a minute and re-think what will work. They should have hired someone like Jon Favreau, who evidently respects the Marvel fans and material, while simultaneously providing something that everyone can enjoy.
Bottom line is that “Rise of Cobra” was Hasbro’s “Jump The Shark” moment, and they need to stop with the extortionist behavior.