[zedhatch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

Well, a lot of the scale issues with MU and such are due to reusing parts - basically what Joes have done for years. That in itself isn't that bad, since we essentially get new figures that aren't simple paint swaps and it helps Hasbro keep costs down. (If Hasbro did all-new molds all the time, the toys would be ridiculously expensive.)

The problem with reusing parts in MU is that most characters in Marvel have unique characteristics that set them apart from the others in MU (Wolverine is short, Colossus is tall, Juggernaut is wide, etc.). And let's face it - the Marvel Universe is huge! But it's these features that make it hard to reuse parts.

With Joes, nearly all of the characters are human (or a close approximation) with millitary backgrounds, so it's easier to get away with parts reuse for the toys and accessories.

Of course (which has been argued time and again) is that if what you say is true then why do MU cost so much more than GI Joes and Star Wars. Some argue licenceing but Hasbro has told us for years that Licencing is why Star Wars is always more expensive than GI Joes (saying that Lucasarts licencing fees are "exorberant") I doubt Marvel's fees were more (Or if they were Hasbro made a bad business desision).

Also GI Joe part reuse is a fairly recent phenominon. While there was some parts recycling in the orignal 12 year run (Specificly 1982 which was a test year for the brand that no one thought would succeed at all). Look over the years of 1983-1994 and you see very little reuse of parts (mostly in exclusives and mail aways, and even then the usages made more sence than what we get now).

The 1997-2001 series were all repaints but also were labeled as such. Its not until the 2002 JVC relaunch that we see the assinine level of repaints that still hurt that line today (Although more recently they are getting more creative with it like in the case of ROC Karmakura). Also another great way to keep the costs down is to not put out a wave a month, but no one wants to believe that.

Point is we've heard the stories before but when pressed (especially) Hasbro won't reveil what it is that drives the costs up and down, but it is obviously something different that the old story of sculting parts since A mostly repaint line is costing more than when that same line is useing unreusable parts (Colossus, Juggernaught, ect).