[DogFashionDisco]

I agree with most of your major points, but with lack of articulation should be a cheaper price point. I mean seriously, if a toyline is specifically geared toward children then make them affordable so that kids can actually buy them. I've seen plenty of happy meal toys that are the same quality as what is being shoved down our throats at retail, so that needs to be addressed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberlad

I usually get slammed for my opinions on stuff like this, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway. I don't mind reduced articulation on movie figures and sub-lines for a few reasons:

1) I'm always happy to get new figures. The Spidey subline has given me a ton of badguys I'd otherwise be waiting years for in MU proper. The articulation may be reduced, but I've got a service-able Rhino. I'm cool with that. A lot of times the sculpts are pretty awesome, even with reduced artic. In just a few years, I've amassed a huge MU collection thanks to these sublines, and I really want to keep it going.

2) Movie figures usually get displayed for a short time, and then put away or relegated to a movie-verse shelf where they can all suck together with Movie Deadpool and various IM2 Drones I'll probably never think about again.

3) I see these lines as the gateway lines to get kids hooked onto action figures. I'll deal with T-crotches if it makes the figures more available for the kiddos. (I also understand that while kids like articulation, there's also something to be said for the sturdiness of a figure, too. Reduced articulation helps in that regard for sure.) Then, those kiddos grow into the MU line and keep the main thing I care about going. Hasbro has their strategy, and I think I get it.

4) I understand that a lot of figures aren't meant for me, the middle-aged collector. I'm ok with Hasbro making water splasher toys or scuba spideys, because I know if I was a youngin', I'd love that stuff. I cherrypick from the sub-lines and I'm happy for any gems they throw in like super-articulated figures or obscure costumes (Manga Spidey, Ben Reilly, Spidey Unlimited, etc.). It doesn't have to be about me all the time.

I get all of the nerd-rage, I really do. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I get it sometimes myself, but I think long term these are minor tribulations to deal with that help keep everything else we love going.