Sick of Star Wars

Seeing ol' Maximilian up above - nice find! - led me on a little search that quickly rounded right back to SW...
Another something I didn't know about:
https://simotron.wordpress.com/2015/05/ ... ikes-back/

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So, does a site exist that only covers the phenom up until 1985? I'd probably be much more inclined to re-visit the memories if I didn't have to face the constant disappointments of the past 30 years.

 

How do you mean exactly David, as in coverage of the complete SW universe to that point, just the films (OT) and the two spinoff Ewoks movies, or merchandising, the Star Wars machine, and all else?

 

Just a place I can go where The Power of the Force 2 line never happened and Lucasfilm went under in mid-86 due to bad investments. A virtual world where all things Skywalkerian stopped in time.

Complete coverage with a cut-off.

The horsey movie reminded me of a birthday party that I went to in '83 where the main event was supposed to be seeing Empire. The parents didn't plan ahead, ticket buying-wise, and a legion of 11-year-old boys were forced to attempt to enjoy The Black Stallion Returns instead.

 

So, is anyone here familiar with (or using) the Topps SW Trader? I just learned about it recently, and thought 'what the heck, it has been eons since I was collecting cards' so I decided to give it a go. I have always been into cards since I was a kid, and loved just about anything that came in wax packs, but got out of it when the prices took off (like comics) to the point where they were a collectible commodity, and not something children bought with their spare change/allowance - and before everything turned into a collect-and-swap or 'battle' oriented game. [Anyone remember those great widescreen cards they use to have when SWGM was around?] Anyhoo, a bit of a write up on it here, if you want to check it out before going in:

http://io9.com/how-the-hell-is-this-jpg ... 1726156785

Trying it out was actually pretty difficult, considering I don't have a cell phone, iPad, or use FB, so that was a major hassle and seems like a real pain in the ass. Plus it automatically puts me off anything that is set up so stupidly (and restrictively) in this fashion. Yes, I am sure it is designed for kids, but you know there is a whole world out there that doesn't need social media/personal cell phones/etc.? Anyways, don't get me started.

Long story short, it is not as good as I was hoping, or that article set it up to be in my mind. I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say I am on there now, so letting others SW nerds know this thing is out there (it actually costs nothing) if you are interested.

Now who wants to trade me for my Threepio #207?
(sigh, such a nerd)

 

Yeah, the whole paying for some kind of 'virtual' card, that you can only view on your device, and is exactly just a stock photo from any of one of the franchise's offshoots easily obtainable elsewhere, is really some kind of meta joke. I mean, I can appreciate that Topps needs to change its business model and adapt to new technological times, but I think they fail to grasp the feeling of card collecting all together. And judging from the nuances of the app, I don't think it is really for kids either. Sooooo, what does that leave exactly? Even as an marketing tool for in-app purchases, it seems that this would totally fall flat. But, on execution, I guess it is working for them, so just goes to show how much [even] I underestimate the consumerist economy.

But I was hoping for a little fun and building mock collections of the old cards, but seems like even that is a slim chance with this.... ahem.... game.

 

I gather it was a pretty poorly handled release all around. Lots of disappointed fans who lined up for access to nothing. But, I think it is also important to remember people are luck to live in areas where they even have the possibility to attend these events (even when they do suck).

 

Also, I should say here that while I am down for all things SW and appreciate giving fans a chance to 'preview' the new film through merchandise, I think this obvious ploy by Disney to develop FF into an ultimate consumerist holiday is, obvious, and I am actually kind of pissed off and disappointed it is working for them. We have all been there before (Phantom Menace anyone?) and we clearly saw how that blew up in the face of people - but of course Lucasfilm and Hasbro made their $$$ off the hopes and excitement of honest people [and scammers]. I just find it sad that they developed this 'idea' in the boardroom to rake even MORE money in, cashing in while they could on the hype, for an already giant corporation. While some people were optimistic when Disney purchased the rights to SW and all its entities, hoping that it might bring in some welcomed change to the saga, I think what we got is exactly what we should have expected - and probably what we deserve. This cash cow has not run dry, and Disney was smart enough to see that; there is almost no way that move could have turned bad on them. Sigh. Look, I know, I know, Star Wars has always been driven by a massive (and smartly handled) marketing and merchandising machine; which is why, decades later, they successfully revive the franchise for older fans who still remember the OT fondly, and also bring in new fans. I would argue the toys and collectibles are as much a part of SW lore (and love) as the actual films. GL was smart, he made his creation immortal. Whatever else he did subsequently, we can't deny that. But here we are today, all these years later, and SW has morphed into a global superpower from the once wily startup country it was. Seeing it combined with Disney is kind of soul-crushing for me. Like your good buddy who you grew up with who rose up to became the arrogant, spiteful CEO of a multinational and discarded and stepped on everyone he knew along the way. Star Wars, don't you remember who you used to be? There is no going back, I know that. And the nostalgia is still there for me, but it is covered by a layer of dust and time that is blocking its once bright sheen. Part of that is growing older, I acknowledge that. But that other part, the one of the snake eating itself, but as it does so, it gets fatter, which then eats and fatter snake, which then... well you get the picture - that part just feels sorry for what we have all lost. I am waxing on here about nothing in particular, and am a SW nerd deep in my core, but maybe something will be be relatable to a few others out there.

Long story short is this, I don't begrudge people buying new SW stuff. In fact, I hope for everyone it can capture some of that magic and joy I once felt. I would love it if that same feeling could be shared by more people. But we are also in a different world now. For better or worse, this is not the 1970s/80s, and things have changed. Love SW as you will, and support it whatever way makes you happy. But at least for me, no matter how delicious, every bite is sadly tinged with all that 'other stuff' and sometimes it may be that this lingering aftertaste is what remains in your memory once the momentary joy is gone.

 

To be honest, when I heard about this (not really a collaboration as such?) in the works, I was very excited. But seeing the final product I have to say it is very disappointing. The great aesthetic style of either Star Wars or Pendleton isn't there at all. Honestly, I don't know who was in charge of the 'approval' of these designs, but it seems like the creativity department was asleep at the wheel - or just couldn't be bothered. To tell you the truth, seeing them like they are they could easily pass, to me, as any shitty "licensed" blanket you might find filling the shelves of a Wal-Mart or some such place. They haven't merged the brands well, and each is lesser for it I think. The SW images are just stock collages, have no great impression or art aspect to them (hell, any of the normal movie posters or sheet designs would have better) and just leave me generally unimpressed. And believe me, I want to like them, I really do. This could have been a brilliant merging of two popular lines if handled correctly. I have an appreciation for Pendleton style, if not always the appropriation of native American design motifs popular in their modern lines, and naturally am a huge Star Wars fan. But I am surprised at how they turned out. And for asking 250$ for one of these, well, I think I would have expected more thought and quality put in at that pricepoint. I don't think the price itself is outrageous, just I am not getting what I would have hoped. Pendleton blankets are expensive, so this is in line with what one would expect from the usual product, but it just isn't warranted to me. Maybe they look a lot better in person - they probably do, but still, I think they could have easily been handled better. Maybe they don't care, and I am sure these will sell. Probably we will even see them flipped as limited editions or some such garbage, but I think a very cool idea was rushed out without anyone really thinking it over. A smaller design, collage, or pattern would have been much more effective, especially considering the image you generally will see of the blanket (being one small section) at any given time. Also, I kind of hate how they cut off the "Star Wars" to only give you 1/4 of it on any one blanket - in other words to complete the image you need multiple. Silly really, there isn't need for the text at all (leastways on any high-end product); but half-assed is worse. I think the Jedi blanket is the most effective of the lot. But still, I think any design students could have come up with better proposals than that. The whole superimposed nature of the images, the graphic choices, and lack of union with the symmetry comes off as a fail. Also, "limited editions of 1,977" ARGGHHHH, why?!! I am so tired of this trend. Anyways, those were my initial impressions. I would gladly buy one for a more reasonable price, but at that level, I would rather pick out a high quality blanket that really has to hit on a lot of points. This is something that has to last for years and I need to love. Too bad, really.

 

Well, I loved the original MM line, and still have much of it, but honestly, they were never that great with respect to 'scene accuracy' or detail. The playsets were a lot of fun, but nowhere near the calibre of say the other stuff coming from MM. The mini ships were detailed, but the figures were notorious for their sloppy, slapped on plaint jobs. Just part of the massive manufacturing process these were churned out in. Generally toys have improved (along with higher associative costs). They also suffered from being hefty bulks of plastic, with lots of little parts, that made them very difficult for kids to store and keep together. Inevitably this loses a lot of appeal, as well as making it incredibly easy to lose pieces.

The Action Fleet line on the other hand was where it was really at. They have so much more playability to them, action features on vehicles and (albeit limited) degree of movability of the figures, with much higher detail paid. overall a very successful execution. But it was at that time where companies started putting more thought into their toys as fans and aiming the market at collectors, as well as kids. Given how it is now, and the difference in the toy scene in general, I am unsure how the MM will be received. Older 'kids' will of course love them, and I doubt they will sit on the shelves. But even in the earlier resurgence of SW stuff, I remember the MM playsets clogging toy sections and clearance shelves long after their heyday.

At the risk of bringing in that 'other' franchise, does anyone remember the Star Trek Innerspace line from Playmates? It was incredibly short-lived, and unfortunately so. They were kind of a predecessor to Action Fleet, but were actually a rung above. Very fun, detailed, and playable (and, importantly, storable).

But, all this aside, give me the original diecast micros any day, and I will be happy as a kid at Christmas.

 

Just thought I would post this here as an example it can be done (and quite simply in fact). Not the best maybe, but this is in line with what I would have liked to see come from the Pendleton blankets.



I also wish I could sport one of these:
Something Wicket this way comes / The Wicket in the Woods.