|
  Figure of the Day has updated once again! The daily feature on figures you might have but might not-- either way, here's what you've been missing! Spanning from the original Power of the Force series of 1995 to the latest of The Legacy Collection, it's almost like a history lesson!
Today we look at the Qui-Gon Jinn from the Eopie, considered to be one of the hardest to get items from the Episode I line by virtue of the fact it was not sold in North America. So should you get it, or wait for the potentially superior mail-in? Go to Figure of the Day to find out!
Special Bonus Feature: Hasbro Answered Some Star Wars Questions
As you may or may not know, Hasbro does a number of Q&A sessions with its brands, and we participated in the Star Wars one. Hasbro's answers will be italicized for your increased comprehension difficulty. (Again: we asked, Hasbro answered, in case there was confusion.)
1. We do so enjoy seeing our figures whenever possible, and often buy multiple extra pilots just to outfit the ships. Now it seems there's no longer a need to do so. Over the years Kenner and Hasbro have generally made vehicles with clear or light grey, but still clear, plastic windows. Since the release of the Darth Vader Sith Starfighter, we've seen a few with virtually opaque canopies, thus negating the need to buy pilot figures. (Other candidates include the 2008 Clone Wars Republic Gunship and the fairly dark recently released Anakin Delta 2 Jedi Starfighter and Magnaguard Droid Fighter.) Is there an aesthetic decision in making the vehicles impossible to see inside, is this an oversight?
A1. The tech of craft in the Star Wars universe does not have to conform to
conventional viewpoints, like the viewpoint that all canopies must be
clear. The real world is no different - who hasn't seen cars with opaque
windows using polarized filters? Yet these are perfectly functional
vehicles. For each of the craft you mention, it was just an aesthetic
decision on the part of the designer. It makes it harder to appreciate
what we may put inside, but could also lead to different choices for
display - is the fleet in space, or in a hangar where I can put the pilot
in front? Either way is valid, although there is something heroic and
chaotic about the pre-battle chaos of the hangar that evokes both the
team-oriented yet deeply personal nature of the Star Wars conflict.
That's one reason why we have been going after more pilots - both Imperial
and Rebels - recenty, because these largely unsung film-based and EU
pilots need to have their day in the sun. We can't wait to see the
different ways folks will use set pieces like the vehicle from Scramble on
Yavin, or even simply the ladder that comes with the Comic-Con Luke
Skywalker exclusive.
2. If we recall correctly, there was some mention for the Battle Pack box form being changed in the very near future, thus making it so this next wave of Battle Packs will be very here today, gone tomorrow. Assuming this is true, will any of the final 4 Battle Packs from that wave find homes in the new assortment, or perhaps put into other assortments like the new figure with vehicle assortment 91349? (Naturally, we're awkwardly getting at the big Republic Gunship pod, of which we all want several.)
A2. The same package size will be used for the new red/white battle pack
versions, and it will go back to the older, narrow, figure-based footprint
for Fall 2010. The Gunship pod is not targeted for re-release in the new
red/white line look, but we'll keep an eye on the sell-through to see how
it tracks and guage whether there is a chance/need for re-release. We
think based on the first release that there should be plenty to go around,
but the extent to which folks will be buying deeper multiples of this is
the wild card that could drive it to be scarcer. UPDATE From Hasbro - August 12, 2009: It was decided to re-release the Geonosis Assault (Gunship pod) set, so it *will* be coming out in the red/white line look this Fall.
3. We just got the yellow Anakin's Delta 2 Jedi Starfighter, and it's great-- R2-D2 is sitting in the droid socket, and everyone's favorite future psycho is in the pilot's seat. We've had Obi-Wan's for months, and love it-- but there's no astromech droid specifically for Obi-Wan Kenobi just yet. Is one planned? We're all ears when it comes to new cartoon astromech droids.
A3. Great question. With as many cool things as there are to keep track of
in Clone Wars, we sort of lost sight of our little mechanical astromech
companions in the line planning (other than R2 and goldie, of course). We
are indeed looking at getting out more of the cool cartoon astro droids,
but we don't have any details yet on who/what/when will be added. We're
hoping that we can get some more out - and Obi-Wan's R4 tops the priority
list - by late next year.
--AP
| 
So what's new this week?
After being on nearly everything else, SquareEnix finally decided to release Crystal Defenders, that sort of a tower defensey thing with the classes from the Tactics games. It's $9.99. Also new is the second Watchmen game episode and the PSone game Spec Ops: Covert Assault. It's about $10.
Not as much as usual this week. The downloadable is: Dynasty Warriors ($14.99), and some Hanna Montanna DLC. So... yeah.
This week, Gold members can save 50% on something they won't buy, and therefore will save 100%. If downloading a FIFA 09 Ultimate Team pack is your bag, there are 7 options. And if it tickles your fancy, we're truly sorry to hear that.
Hey LEGO fans, stores are getting the new stuff in. If you haven't seen the Hoth set, the new Y-Wing, or Space Police, they're all showing up in the current Target reset. Happy hunting!
So what's new this week?
The big game this week is Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which was released on the Xbox 360 last month. It's $14.99, or for some reason, there's a retail box copy which includes a came download code, a collector's box, and a 3 month subscription to Marvel's online digital comics service. It's the clear winner. Had they made it for the Xbox, we'd have bought it.
Nothing just for the PSP-- just the PSOne games that you can get on the PlayStation 3, which are: Ten Pin Alley, Dead In The Water, and the original Tomb Raider which is $10 for some reason.
Weezer confirmed their new album, Raditude, is coming October 27. Clearly, this is to capitalize on the hugely popular film Raditooie. The first singe "
We get a lot of press releases here, and we had some good ones that basically warrant brief reports. And they are:
So what's new this week?
The oddest news this week is that Andy Dick is now a playable character (via DLC) in PAIN! No, we don't know why. But it's $1.99. If this works out, may we suggest Doug Benson DLC in Street Fighter IV or perhaps Dana Gould in Soulcalibur IV?
This week's downloadable PSP title is Warriors Orochi for $14.99.
If you have an Urban Outfitters store nearby, and odds are you do, check out their clearance area. Tucked away are a bunch of formerly $20, now $4.99 Mighty Muggs. The store carried blanks, Marvels, Joes, and Star Wars, so get while the getting is good.
So what's new this week?
This week's new downloadable PSN game, also on the Xbox 360, is Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao. It's $15.
This week's downloadable PSP games are all PSOne releases at $5.99 a hit.
