Toyguru Not Following 2016 Roadmap Anymore: Planning Only 80's Figures for 2014

[MegaGearMax]

Huge News! The Roadmap is finishined.

If we don't get the minimum, postpone the new characters and make the old ones?

If MOTUC doesn't achieve the minimum, could you postpone new characters like King He-Man and concepts like The Fighting Foe Men for already established, actual MOTU characters such as Ram Man, Netossa and Jitsu? Ordinarily, these new characters would be cool, but if MOTUC is in such dire straits, then maybe now is not the time to indulge into these new characters when we haven't barely touched the New Adventures cast.

It is too late to make any changes to 2013.

BUT: what I am doing is reworking 2014. If we can get enough subs to get 2013 done, I will make sure that the 2014 line is reworked to include all remaining vintage figs and all the major NA and POP figures (we might not get to Kayo if you will...).

First step is ensureing 2013 works. Then I will rework 2014 so that if that winds up being the last year, at least we will go out with a bang. It doesn't mean we couldn't still get to a 2015 (if support is there) but I am no longer going to follow the 2016 roadmap. I've always said what will kill the line is when the figures cost more to produce then fans are willing to pay.If the writing is on the wall, I will do all I can to ensure 2014 finishing things off.

[Prince Adam's Dad]

If he wanted my help, all he had to do was ask.

[mekaneckpain]

This is the coolest thing I've heard today! But with the track record, I don't know if I believe it... might be just another ploy to buy subs.

[The All American]

Wow! As a vintage fan, I'm for this. Some of the concept figures have been neat, but I'd rather get the 80's characters sooner.

[horseman1981]

I am very excited for this,please let this thing go through.

I will be buying my sub along with the watchmen and dc next week.

If we can just hold on a bit more.

[bribri4u]

So would this mean cutting out Filmation characters that we wouldn't get in 2013? Or would key ones like Scorpia be included in 2014?

[geooco]

I know that this is going to enrage a lot of people, particularly the fans of the more underrepresented factions like NA and POP, but it really makes sense. I always thought that the 2016 roadmap was very unlikely, and that Toyguru no doubt weighed the line accordingly. I'm sure the last years of the line were always packed with POP and NA human characters , the ones with decidedly less appeal to the fanbase at large. Yes, I know that there are fans for these factions, emphatic fans, yes, but even you must admit that the largest segment of people buying these figures are those that are fans of the classic MOTU figures. So yeah, I'm sure we'll hear a lot of outrage, and I feel bad for anyone who will not get their favorite character represented, but it only makes sense according to the law of demand.

[Calderon]

Promises, promises.... if they don't get enough subscriptions for 2013, there wont be line in 2014. If they sell enough subs why change the roadmap?
This is a desperate shot to get subscribers... looks like things are worse than they would admit...

[WDWFreak53]

Am I the only one NOT excited for this? Why would you be up for it? Ok, so we get the figures we want faster...but it spells doom for the line growing and continuing.

Oh, and from the sounds of it...vehicles and Grayskull are DEFINITELY not happening.

[kal]

One of my rare appearance in the American forum.
I'm worried after the letter of toyguru, but I have to admit that, as an Italian, some statements seem to me very strange.
if the work of the future year (2013) is in serious doubt is very strange to hear about next of year again (2014) ....

[JonWes]

If this really is where we are now as indicated by sub sales (not totally convinced... still quite a lot of time for people to buy subs) this is the way to go.

A full 2014 year and the remainder of 2013 would give them about 21-22 slots. You could cover a lot of ground with that.
I think fans would probably still support a more limited line of 6 or 9 figures after that to support the release of the rest of the POP, most of NA and some key Filmation figures. We'll see.

[He-Dad]

Thats awesome news. I do still hope to see some new filmation characters that we never got as kids. Blue hordak, Imp, scorpia, madam razz, shokoti, masque, strong ARM, icer, Plundar..(yes I really like him and wanted him as a child) we also need veena in 200x colors for sure. I hope 2013 is filmation heavy!

[Draego-Man]

Personally, for me... this kills the line. Part of the reason I love MOTUC is because it was a mix of POP, NA, MYP, New characters, Mini Comics, Filmation, AND Vintage.

They just got Filmation rights and there was a chance to get so many awesome characters in figure form and now this? What a slap in the face. I for one am disgusted.

TG's big mouth does a lot of damage in terms of potential sub-sales than it does good. He just enrages fans, and because this news they just lost my sub. Mattel needs to muzzle this guy.

[Tallstar]

I echo my post in the other thread.

"Major POP characters" probably won't include much of Wave 2...which makes me a sad Panda.

[paulioscorchio]

I've not been on here for a few days. I was still mad about the international shipping issues. And now this.

Basically its over. And Scott surely knows the reasons why.

He's looking to guarantee that 2014 will be fully vintage loaded. Why would people believe it? We've got Foe Men and King He-Man, yet now the line's in trouble he's willing to knock out all the big hitters at once?

And then what? Where does MOTU go from here? Back into its post-200X wilderness?

All the "new characters expanding the line" stuff? Pah. As a Brand Manager you'd think he'd be well aware that the majority of us are in this for nostalgia. And nostalgia has a limit. The figures just aren't worth what Mattel are asking, nor is the shipping cost.

A sad day.

[MegaGearMax]

We have 48 characters left (It WAS 47, but since the line might not reach 2015, Nocturna is back among the others) and 12 slots.





Who lives and who dies.

1. Rio Blast
2. Rokkon
3. Stondar
4. Extendar
5. Clamp Champ
6. Gwildor
7. Rotar
8. Two Bad
9. Ninjor
10. Blade
11. Saurod
12. Twistoid
13. Mantenna
14. Modulok
15. Horde Trooper
16. Multi-Bot
17. Dragstor
18. Tung Lashor
19. Squeeze
20. Blast Attak
21. Glimmer
22. Angella
23. Castaspella
24. Sweetbee
25. Peekablue
26. Perfuma
27. Mermista
28. Spinnerella
29. Flutterina
30. Kowl
31. Loo-Kee
32. Double Trouble
33. Entrapta
34. Hydron
35. Kayo
36. Vizar
37. Nocturna
38. Tuskador
39. Spinwit
40. Artilla
41. Sagitar
42. Flogg
43. Lizorr
44. Karatti
45. Hoove
46. Staghorn
47. Butthead
48. Quakke

[kal]

Forgive me, we talked about the increases in labor and materials, but the fact that molds and reuse of the parts now cover 60% of the pieces is not a saving point?

[The All American]

We have 48 characters left (It WAS 47, but since the line might not reach 2015, Nocturna is back among the others) and 12 slots.

Wouldn't that be 48 characters and 19 slots (or 20 slots)? Considering Snake Face is in 2013, we've got 7 vintage possible in 2013 (variant could be vintage too to make it 8) and 12 in 2014. Then the 2014 sub exclusive could be also be vintage, and if they do 2 variants for 2014, that bumps up the number 23 possible slots.

[Sabretooth]

Am I the only one NOT excited for this? Why would you be up for it? Ok, so we get the figures we want faster...but it spells doom for the line growing and continuing.

Oh, and from the sounds of it...vehicles and Grayskull are DEFINITELY not happening.

I am with you. I would definitely love to see more.

[I, Harbinger]

Well that's good news at least, and a move much needed at this point. 2012, though fun, was overloaded with too many releases, too many skus and too many new characters for most wallets to handle. Coming off that with a price hike on the horizon and most vintage figs produced, it's no wonder 2013 subs are significantly down. Realistically, now that we've gotten so much out of this line in the last few years, 2014 is time to scale way back, 12 figs for the year, done. If MOTU makes it beyond that, great.

[He-Kal]

I am really sad about all of this--I REALLY thought we had a good chance of seeing this line make it to 10 years possibly. I knew when this was over, that would be it (forever most likely). These are VERY sad announcements for Motu fans, because I do believe this will be the LAST chance we will have for motu figures. Oh well, as they say, to all good things......... Iwil lsay though---I do think it's good of Scott to plan to get theA list figures out before the line ends-I'm just sad we may not get to see new figures which was the most exciting thing about this lne to me --sigh

[MegaGearMax]

Wouldn't that be 48 characters and 19 slots (or 20 slots)? Considering Snake Face is in 2013, we've got 7 vintage possible in 2013 (variant could be vintage too to make it 8) and 12 in 2014. Then the 2014 sub exclusive could be also be vintage, and if they do 2 variants for 2014, that bumps up the number 23 possible slots.

I hear you, but I was preparing for the worst, since we don't know who is coming. We very well might hack more characters off that list.

[XelaStratos]

I am totally fine with this. I would hate to get some of the lesser known figures and miss out on some of the vintage figures like Two-Bad, Mantenna, Modulok or the Horde Troopers to name a few. I am a completist so it would be horrible if the line ended without making all of the vintage figures. I am not a fan of the NA but the four horseman have done a tremendous job on these sculps so I have been enjoying them. POP and NA have always been bonuses to my collection.

[Orko's Magic Hat]

It's a no win situation - this statement makes me more sad than happy. The end seems near....

[blacksun442]

Maybe they would do 2 or 3 packs to get them out, remember it was originally going to be 3- 2packs right