A question to ponder

[Gorn Captain]

It's a good thing that the 8 inch format is finally renewing itself, and getting a second life. So Mego 2.0 will be a good thing IMO. Everybody can ride that wave now.

The only possible down side, is that smaller players might not be able to match the prices, making them seem "overpriced" to uninformed buyers.
So that might hurt the little guys a bit.

[DocDrako]

Doc Mego and Cast-A-Way Toys still have alot of stuff I want that Mattel isn't making, so they will still be getting my money in the near future. In fact, I'd like to get their stuff before Mattel's WGSH come out, so I don't get sidetracked and miss out. Especially on Phantom, Achmed, and Captain Action. I have to have those.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

The only problem I can see would be folks gravitating towards the bigger name figures, and not having the cash left for the lesser known ones. So the Mattell DC superheroes are a go for sure, but someone getting the rights to.... I dunno, the DNAGents might have a problem drumming up sales 'cos their characters aren't as popular as the DC ones, and they're both selling to essentially the same crowd. (Although I bet the DC figures will have a LARGER audience, I think it'll encompass most of the usual 8" collectors.)

But a smaller company producing smaller runs might not have TOO much of a problem, 'cos they won't need to make as many sales to keep afloat.

So.... I guess I have no clue, really....

Don C.

[David Lee]

Hugh... you make good points. However I still believe that the initial launch of new WGSH will help the smaller companies by increasing awareness of the overall genre. And you're right, the licenses make all the difference. It's two years from now when things will be interesting.

I agree Bryan, that's when the rubber will meet the road. Mattel making 8 inch figures gets everyone excited now, but also takes the luxury of sitting around away

-Dave

[boss]

Hugh... you make good points. However I still believe that the initial launch of new WGSH will help the smaller companies by increasing awareness of the overall genre. And you're right, the licenses make all the difference. It's two years from now when things will be interesting.

[David Lee]

I don't know how much of that example applies cause there are
some real harsh dividing lines in this 8 inch scale competition that
will ultimately dictate success...the most important, I'm guessing,
being what liscences what companies have.

As David Lee alluded to, if Flash Gordon or The Phantom
is something that really captivates the consumers out there the most,
it doesn't matter WHAT properties someone like Mattel has, Cast-A-Away
would still, in theory, be kicking butt.

That's just one aspect where I see things being a bit difference than typical
"big company vs. small company".

I think you got it Hugh... It's the concept of "Niche" that makes it work. While a big outfit shuts down similar, smaller ones not willing to adapt. The concept of bringing something new, different or inherently better to differentiate from the Big Boys is key. By staying with high quality, and low numbers, while also picking projects that are "outside" the box I think we'll make it. I truly believe nobody can out-match our imagination and our adaptability, not even Mattel. It's because we are Customizers at heart!

I tend to focus on the positives of having them in the game, and I am sure as heck not scared of figures that are not even made yet.

[huedell]

A good example from the retail world is that when a new "big box" store enters a market, the smaller competitors initially see a bump in sales because of an overall bump in interest in the category. Eventually the economies of scale catch up to the little guy.

to sum up... at first it should be great. in the long haul... you may see some of the smaller guys consolidate or go away.

I don't know how much of that example applies cause there are
some real harsh dividing lines in this 8 inch scale competition that
will ultimately dictate success...the most important, I'm guessing,
being what liscences what companies have.

As David Lee alluded to, if Flash Gordon or The Phantom
is something that really captivates the consumers out there the most,
it doesn't matter WHAT properties someone like Mattel has, Cast-A-Away
would still, in theory, be kicking butt.

That's just one aspect where I see things being a bit difference than typical
"big company vs. small company".

[boss]

A good example from the retail world is that when a new "big box" store enters a market, the smaller competitors initially see a bump in sales because of an overall bump in interest in the category. Eventually the economies of scale catch up to the little guy.

to sum up... at first it should be great. in the long haul... you may see some of the smaller guys consolidate or go away.

[huedell]

The cream will rise to the top---- and that is all really.

What the smaller companies may have going for them is that they can
manuver quicker and focus on details quicker than Mattel, I'm guessing.

[Meule]

I disagree, in fact if interest in the format is increased, then a new slew of 8 inch collectors will discover the others and hopefully want them.

My thoughts exactly. As long as the "small players" don't rerelease The Waltons they should do just fine. With the correct line or show it doesn't matter whether you're big or small

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I will certainly still be buying from the smaller guys.

[David Lee]

I disagree, in fact if interest in the format is increased, then a new slew of 8 inch collectors will discover the others and hopefully want them.

As a "little guy" this is exactly what we are betting on Paul. Mattel only makes it better for all involved. They legitimize the format for all of us. We are niche at best, so we tend to go for the more Pulp/Noir kind of stuff. We also go a notch further on the "realism" and limited quantity... GI Joe had Dragon, 21st century and BBI which spawned Sideshow and Hot Toys... I am a firm believer in the "more the merrier" mentality. The more companies that make 8 inch figures the more people will buy. Mattel isn't going to make the Phantom or Flash Gordon, but we will
As long as we stay realistic we should be fine... we are doing great now, so I think it will only get better, which equates to better for you the consumer..

The way I see it.... it's a win/win sit'chation

-Dave

[Hulk]

I disagree, in fact if interest in the format is increased, then a new slew of 8 inch collectors will discover the others and hopefully want them.

[megocrazy]

I do not see the Museum members being the biggest buyers of the new WGSH. If that were the case Mattel would never have taken the gamble to do them. While I do believe they will listen to input from here, and obviously Doc and Joe, there are no where near enough collectors on this site to make the sales needed to support this line. It will be from kids that have no knowledge of what a mego figure is that make or break this opportunity. That is why the Trek and Apes lines were not picked up by a mainline company and were marketed to smaller retail outlets. That line was focused at a much broader fan base made up of not only Mego collectors, but Trek/Apes collectors, and Sci/Fi collectors as well as fans of retro TV stuff. Combined they made the lines successful, though Trek much more than Apes from what I've seen. I don't think it will have a very big impact. Even if you had passed on Trek stuff when it was released it will still be available now at some outlet. You may need to space the purchases out but in reality the only ones that will be overwhelmed will be the die hard Mego collectors. Most of the rest should be actual toy consumers that will rip the figure off the card and play with it. Just start saving your pennies now and budget your purchases accordingly. Even if Mattel releases them quarterly at 4 a wave you'll spend $80 tops and have 12-16 weeks at least before the next wave hits the shelves. Only about $5-$6 a week. Still leaves enough to grab an occasional Castaway/Zica/EMCE/etc. offering.

[MIB41]

I don't see any impact to other companies. If anything it should only bolster the market. Their all tapping into a target group that has been hungry for product for a long, long time and their all making different characters. I think these different companys will feed ethusiasm for one another (just like Mego did with LJN and AHI, etc. in the 70's). At this stage character selection is everything and there is alot of untapped movies and vintage television shows that don't have the "mego" stamp yet. Licensing should be getting very active right about now and there should be plenty to go around for all of these companies. It's a great time to be a collector.