Quote:
Originally Posted by qz33
This will pretty much be made to order or it will not happen at all. Most of the PCS bargain bin is of pieces with inflated demand when solicited which decreased prior to delivery. As is evident by the striving to get Hugo made and the conversations in this very thread Hugo has no such demand.
Here's the thing though: Why Hugo? Did PCS just have to turn out a product to retain the license? Obviously the remainder of the unproduced SSFII cast would at least be more recognizable. Maybe they are testing do package deals like action figures.
They could have gone with 2 versions of Cammy and offered her with a mix and match of Fei Long, DeeJay, or T. Hawk. At least then people would have known there was some certainty of more characters than just 1 more new one (Hugo).
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I believe there are a few factors already stated in this thread which indicate "Why Hugo?", but I'd love to hear it straight from PCS.
One thing I know though - the communication is weak. This original 1:4 museum line is unlike most in the hobby. It's lasted longer and gone deeper than many. If there is any desire to continue it, the communication should improve.
I'm a potential customer. I have no idea what's going on with their Street Fighter lines. The prior owner was much better with this. I've asked the question and have gotten nebulous answers for years, with long bouts of radio silence.
Hugo is revealed, along with some vague threat of the line ending. He's not mixed-media, but I see a post on fb stating it's not an absolute rule going forward. Ok...more mystery. Is it the simplicity of the costume that dictates it? Or how 'skin tight' it is? As I've said, if it's the factories that are the issue, and it's just not worth it, fine, state it, and mark some transition so people like me can justify continuing. For example, I like the Poison rerelease for this reason. Same basic statue, released both ways (no, not
THAT way...
) But, mark the switch to full sculpt with a recent male rerelease as well! How about...Guile. Same pose, but fully sculpted SFV default costume! The one that was
too difficult to do in mixed-media... Then the transition becomes more relevant for the customer, in addition to the producer.
Collectors aren't just writing blank checks here. One-off statues, or very limited lines have the luxury of being able to focus on artistic design and 'wow factor'. This is a line about the
characters. Collectors want a reason - rationale - for buying and continuing to buy characters in this line. At least I do. I'm not going to plunk down the most money this line has seen, for it's largest character, with no understanding of the near-or-long term. Only die hard fans of each character will do that.
I agree with the MTO route. Maybe the B and C tier characters need to employ that, or Kickstarter. What's the problem with being a little more transparent with this? I get that sales may have been lagging throughout the ownership transition, but you only succeed in alienating customers by not communicating. And I'm not counting paid facebook cheerleaders...