Is it time for PCS to let go of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat?

[archery]

Originally Posted by Josh-a-tron

It's possible, I do think Todd's ego get's in the way of what could be successful partnerships. But Spawn aside, like you said there are other Characters.

That's a good list but you forgot one that PCS would nail - PITT. Dale Keown and Jerry are as perfect a match as you could hope for.

Aside from XM's partnership with TopCow, no one seems to be going after the independent comic companies. Everything being creator owned complicates things but other than McFarlane you'd think most of the creators would be open to the idea.

.

[ukshaun]

I'm sure i read somewhere this week PCS are looking to renew their MK licence implying it might have expired? or nearing the end of their current agreement.

I can't see PCS letting go of their biggest licence, Street Fighter, as they only recently announced a small scale line.

[SONICobra]

a macaluso sculpted maxx would be wicked

[gagaliya]

Originally Posted by wizardjones

I honestly think people are getting less hyped about these two franchises because PCS has sooo many delays with their products.

Delay is only a small part of the problem.

The biggest issues are:

1) The high es and many different versions for each release. It used to be a very low es exclusive and low es reg. Nowdays on average you have 4 different versions at minimum, compounded by the much more frequent release schedule. The demand just cant absorb it.

I remember Jerry said in the past the market is at a tipping point and he is looking to revisit reducing the es/versions in future releases, but that never happened.

2) Many more vendors are making statues, for every $1000+ statue prime1 pumps out that people want to buy, they need to sell at least 2x ss or pcs statues on average, hence you are stuck in this vicious cycle of supply far outstripping demand with no end in sight. Making matter worse you have prototypez and soon prime1 all moving in on the same license.

3) The fractured and incoherent series + format, you got 1/4, 1/3, 1/6, classic black base sf, all the new versions of sf, classic mk, new mk versions, then discontinuing them. I gave up trying to complete a collection, it's just a mess.

4) The continued increase in price (i know this is outside pcs control but it is still a factor), in the old days you have the pcs 1/4 at $300 if paid full while ss 1/4 is at $399 so you feel pretty good about the value. Nowdays pcs is same price as ss even after the discount at $450-500 for a regular 1/4

5) The aftermarket value of all new pcs releases are pretty much gone - they are either below retail or at retail, very few cases you will see price above retail (and actually sells). This is a byproduct of the above, not the cause. But it feeds into this vicious cycle.

6) New PCS customer service policy - i had on average at least 25-30 preorders on any rolling 12 months period all paid in full in the past, and never once tried to cancel anything due to delay. Recently i decided to cancel 1 preorder on a 1/4 statue because it was delayed well beyond the 3+ months from the published release date, i am told by rebecca i will lose 33% of my payment, she then pointed me to a new release date they just made up on the website which is 7 months more than the original release date on their preorder newsletter. When challenged that they are just making up dates as they go to prevent refund, she stopped responding (i was very professional about it).

All of the above reasons, especially 6) has made me stop all preorders with pcs, hoping overtime to reduce the pending preorders to 0 as they are shipped. If something i really like, i will just buy it after it's released, the risk of all the above far exceeds paying a bit more at release if the piece happen to be in demand.

Again this is just my opinion, you dont have to agree /rant off

[ryuhayabusa6787]

Originally Posted by gagaliya

Delay is only a small part of the problem.

The biggest issues are:

1) The high es and many different versions for each release. It used to be a very low es exclusive and low es reg. Nowdays on average you have 4 different versions at minimum, compounded by the much more frequent release schedule. The demand just cant absorb it.

I remember Jerry said in the past the market is at a tipping point and he is looking to revisit reducing the es/versions in future releases, but that never happened.

2) Many more vendors are making statues, for every $1000+ statue prime1 pumps out that people want to buy, they need to sell at least 2x ss or pcs statues on average, hence you are stuck in this vicious cycle of supply far outstripping demand with no end in sight. Making matter worse you have prototypez and soon prime1 all moving in on the same license.

3) The fractured and incoherent series + format, you got 1/4, 1/3, 1/6, classic black base sf, all the new versions of sf, classic mk, new mk versions, then discontinuing them. I gave up trying to complete a collection, it's just a mess.

4) The continued increase in price (i know this is outside pcs control but it is still a factor), in the old days you have the pcs 1/4 at $300 if paid full while ss 1/4 is at $399 so you feel pretty good about the value. Nowdays pcs is same price as ss even after the discount at $450-500 for a regular 1/4

5) The aftermarket value of all new pcs releases are pretty much gone - they are either below retail or at retail, very few cases you will see price above retail (and actually sells). This is a byproduct of the above, not the cause. But it feeds into this vicious cycle.

6) New PCS customer service policy - i had on average at least 25-30 preorders on any rolling 12 months period all paid in full in the past, and never once tried to cancel anything due to delay. Recently i decided to cancel 1 preorder on a 1/4 statue because it was delayed well beyond the 3+ months from the published release date, i am told by rebecca i will lose 33% of my payment, she then pointed me to a new release date they just made up on the website which is 7 months more than the original release date on their preorder newsletter. When challenged that they are just making up dates as they go to prevent refund, she stopped responding (i was very professional about it).

All of the above reasons, especially 6) has made me stop all preorders with pcs, hoping overtime to reduce the pending preorders to 0 as they are shipped. If something i really like, i will just buy it after it's released, the risk of all the above far exceeds paying a bit more at release if the piece happen to be in demand.

Again this is just my opinion, you dont have to agree /rant off

I don't view this as a rant at all makes sense to me. Unfortunately according to red ant they do now have an official policy on delays which sucked for a lot of people who wanted to cancel. After looking at your points maybe it is time for pcs to get some more license and diversify. Sf and mk are just all over the place in scales but it's too late now you can't discontinue sf or mk line we will just have to wait it out for lines to complete.

Street fighter=1/4 mixed media, 1/4 ultra line, 1/3, 1/1 bust, 1/8 classic line, 1/6 action figure line, 1/6 v trigger line.

[ZenLogikos]

Originally Posted by Josh-a-tron

DarkHorse:

Usagi Yojimbo

Unfortunately, Sakai completely owns Usagi Yojimbo, and he doesn't license much.

[Josh-a-tron]

Originally Posted by ukshaun

I'm sure i read somewhere this week PCS are looking to renew their MK licence implying it might have expired? or nearing the end of their current agreement.

I can't see PCS letting go of their biggest licence, Street Fighter, as they only recently announced a small scale line.

Both licenses are their bread and butter, I see neither going anywhere any time soon.

Originally Posted by SONICobra

a macaluso sculpted maxx would be wicked

Where the hell has Sam Keith been anyway?

Originally Posted by ZenLogikos

Unfortunately, Sakai completely owns Usagi Yojimbo, and he doesn't license much.

I thought that too but wasn't sure if they might get around it by going through Dark Horses publishing rights. Either way it wouldn't hurt to ask. Everyone loves that bunny.

[MrYac]

Sideshow did a few Usagi statues a couple years ago, so it does happen every now and again.

[qz33]

Originally Posted by ryuhayabusa6787

I don't view this as a rant at all makes sense to me. Unfortunately according to red ant they do now have an official policy on delays which sucked for a lot of people who wanted to cancel. After looking at your points maybe it is time for pcs to get some more license and diversify. Sf and mk are just all over the place in scales but it's too late now you can't discontinue sf or mk line we will just have to wait it out for lines to complete.

Street fighter=1/4 mixed media, 1/4 ultra line, 1/3, 1/1 bust, 1/8 classic line, 1/6 action figure line, 1/6 v trigger line.

I don't really get the point of this thread continuing. What's the benefit of PCS "letting go" either for PCS or us as customers? PCS having the license hasn't stopped PrototypeZ or Prime1 from stepping up.
Is there some belief that if not for MK or SF PCS would be able to do all these magical projects?

Look it all comes down to sales and costs. We can moan all we want about what PCS should change from our personal view but that even all that isn't going to change the numbers.

MK as a license is nearly exhausted in this game.
Go all Klassics? Yeah ok Liu Kang, Raiden, and the Cyborgs didn't cut the mustard but somehow selling 200 Johnny Cages is?

If y'all are waiting for completion for *ANY* statue line from *ANY* company you might not want to hold your breath.

[Josh-a-tron]

Originally Posted by qz33

I don't really get the point of this thread continuing. What's the benefit of PCS "letting go" either for PCS or us as customers? PCS having the license hasn't stopped PrototypeZ or Prime1 from stepping up.
Is there some belief that if not for MK or SF PCS would be able to do all these magical projects?

Look it all comes down to sales and costs. We can moan all we want about what PCS should change from our personal view but that even all that isn't going to change the numbers.

MK as a license is nearly exhausted in this game.
Go all Klassics? Yeah ok Liu Kang, Raiden, and the Cyborgs didn't cut the mustard but somehow selling 200 Johnny Cages is?

If y'all are waiting for completion for *ANY* statue line from *ANY* company you might not want to hold your breath.

I agree with you. Just certain characters that will not sell, and 20 or so people wishing to happen doesn't change that. But it does beg the as question...where is Fei Long? I mean, I think everyone knows he'd sell.