MOTUC Q&A's From Around the Net (10/1/2012) - Let's Try This Again

[MegaGearMax]

Hordak.de

1. In 2012 the Temple of Darkness Sorceress wasn't ready for the early conventions this year, for example the Eternia Convention in Xanten/ Germany. Could you produce Strobo early enough to have him available for the early conventions in 2013, as there is a lot less product to produce next year?

We are shooting to have Strobo available as early in 2013, but it is unlikely we will have him in Q1 2013.

2. The Fighting Foe Men will have two different display options: Vehicle breast plates and Horde breast plates. Could you make the Box resealable and add two unattached stickers (Horde/PoG)? That way fans would have the option two display the box both ways and chose one faction. It could even lead to MOC collectors buying an extra set!

The FFM will come in the same box as the Star Sisters. They only have one sticker for POG, but with the great sticker sheet we sent to sub holders last year you can customize the box for any team you want!

3. Is there any chance you could tool the Strobo weapon and then put it into a possible 2013 weapons pak, together with a blue Bubble Power She-Ra sword for Netossa?

This is something we are looking into but no plans to confirm right now.

4. When you sold the Weapons Rack, did it sell only "okay" like the Wind Raider did or would be possible to get more diorama pieces like this in the future based on sales?

It just sold "okay" and has not green lit additional small diorama pieces.

5. The orb stand that is coming with the Temple of Darkness Sorceress looks great! Can you tell us more about the meaning of the letters and symbols on it?

They tell the story of the formation of the Orb combining the Power of the Universe and the Wisdom of the Elders.

Elkkthunder's Toyroom

Many of the Mattycollector Exclusives (12" Superman, Green Lantern, Ghosbusters) have been found at retail bargain outlets. Can you provide any details and whether we may see more of this?

Older Matty inventory is being moved out to make room for new items. No bigger story. We are however reducing quotas going forward and no longer doing second runs so that future product has cleaner sell throughs and will not be showing up anywhere else.

The early listing of September Snakemen and DB Skeletor on Mattycollector was clearly a mistake, but seems to speak to the persistent problems with Digital River. How does this occur and why not honor orders placed?

It was a simple mistake and those "orders" were not "honored" because it is not fair to sub holders for a few accidental orders to trump them getting their figures first. Our customers are a smart bunch

Kastor’s Korner

Kastor’s Korner: After what Toy Guru said about wishing to get all the unique Masters bucks completed earlier in the run, have you considered prioritizing the new bucks for the remainder of 2013 so there is less new tooling left to do when the line dials back in 2014?

Mattel: We aren’t able to make any changes to 2013. It was locked in over a year ago.

Kastor’s Korner: We know based on Comic Con this year and the 2013 sub window that the plan is to do a smaller run for the 2014 Masters subscription, with a focus on core characters… when all is said and done, is the overall game plan still to at least see updates of all the classic MOTU figures in the new line, or is it now more likely that certain figures– especially those with more unique tooling– are less likely to make it to the Classics collection?

Mattel: We actually have not announced anything about 2014 at this point. It is still too early to comment.

Mintconditioncustom.com

Trevor Williams asks: How does Mattel feel about people selling custom action figures using parts from Mattel products?

As long as they are one of a kind pieces of art that is pretty neat. Once fans step into production it may be a legal issue.

Justin Martinez asks: With the MOTUC roadmap changing to better suit the changing market, will variants like Laser Light He-Man and Skeletor be put on the back burner to make way for brand new characters?

It all depends on how many slots we get in 2014 and what figures fans want the most.

Greatrebellion.org

AdultCollector asks: If Mattel decides to end its "black plastic design choice", can we possibly see reissues of those figures affected by the design choice?

Matty: No. While there is some demand from a handful of collectors (even a few hundred based on the number of unique user posts online) it is not even close to the demand needed to do a new run. There will be no second run of any 2012 MOTUC figure.

Tim Beers asks: Can we expect a NA reveal at NYCC?

Matty: You'll just need to wait and see!

RJ Polito asks: Why was the concept character Sharella abandoned and her name given to Green Goddess -doesn't that go against the "justify as many figures as possible" motif?

Matty: Not in the least. If anything it helps justify a "pre Goddess transformation" figure of her.

Arthur asks: Have you considered making Netossa a gay character given her relationship with Spinnerella? We know MOTU is an avathar of the imagination but the gay fans of MOTU would love to have at least one figure they can relate to in an official Mattel bio.

Matty: It certainly is a cool idea but we can confirm her bio does not refer to her sexual orientation.

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The sites listed below are the sites who want to participate in the Q&A round-up in these threads and on the He-Man.org homepage news entry.
Be sure to check out their sites! There's a lot there to see in addition to the Q&As.

http://www.planeteternia.de/
http://www.figures.com/
http://www.kastorskorner.com/
http://www.facebook.com/hordak.de
http://www.maitresdelunivers.org/
http://www.infinitehollywood.com/
http://www.he-man.de/
ElkkThunders Toy Room
MOTUClassics.com
MOTULA.org
http://www.preternia.com
www.mintconditioncustom.com/
greatrebellion.org
toyhypeusa.com COMING SOON...

All other sites haven't gotten back to us yet about participating, or have asked not to be included which we completely understand and respect.
So, please do not post the actual questions and answers from any site not listed above.
But you are welcome to post a direct link to their Q&A, and discuss the info here in this thread.

Thanks!

[JonWes]

Okay - we're going to try this again. I'm sorry to everyone who made posts in the last thread, but to be honest it became such a cluster there was little to nothing to salvage. Please feel to discuss the Q&A here, being sure to follow the board rules.

Here's my message from the last thread that was not heeded and ended with the closing of that thread:

Okay, well despite my last message this has turned into a topic about religion and sexual identity. Sorry, but according to the rules this topic needs to be discussed in the Tar Swamp.

It is ENTIRELY possible to have a conversation about characters of the same gender having a relationship just like we talk about other relationships like Randor and Marlena's marriage or Frosta's flirtation with He-man without going into Tar Swamp territory. If your opinion prevents you from doing so, then do not express it here - go to the Tar Swamp.

If anyone wants to have a debate about sexual identity and how it relates to religion or politics it must go in the Tar Swamp. Period. Please let's keep it on topic and keep it within the board guidelines.

Thanks for understanding, everyone - and happy posting!

[He-Dad]

I think now would be a great time to get a Sharella......great way to use the toy colored Teela parts in the Weapons pack as well. She could serve as the godess without the exploding legs.