356 replies to this topic

[NinjaBeast]

Yeah...what that guy said! ^

<ninja man in disguise.

[DSTZach]

by the way... is it possible that the negative reaction on this forum caused the change from master-gator to the hot ram-cam?

I respect all of you, as well as your dedication to the old BB line, but... no. Especially since many of you wanted them to be more like the old figures!

The change was actually precipitated by IDW's use of an amazing artist, Valerio Schiti, and his detailed artwork made us want to up our game to match what the fans were going to read. I've seen some of his designs that aren't in the mini-comic, and they're spectacular. His take on the alligator is MUCH more impressive.

[BAPESTER]

Hi, Just wanted to say the sculpt for the new Ram looks awesome. I will be buying the series 1 and I will actually open them and play with them with my kids(4 and 7 years old) even though I am a MIB figure collector who is not a minimate fan. The only minimates I have ever bought were the ghostbusters(for me) and HALO ones(my 7 year old son). I understand the mixed reactions of the people on this board, but I still think that this is the best way to bring back the series in this timeline. Seriously if the Battle Beasts were put out not as the minimates it probably would have went the same way as the new MADBALLS released a couple years ago... Keep up the good work.

[Preacher]

I have no complaints whatsoever.

This is the world I live in:

A favorite toy from my ancient childhood is returning. Not just once, but under multiple guises and toymakers. I can pick, choose, mix, match and merge any and all if I want.
These aren't exactly the same as I had as a kid, but that's good. Because most of our toys SUCKED. Those memories you're having are discolored and distorted by the overwhelming sense of nostalgia. They're updated, as they should be. If I wanted the exact same toys, I could just go to ebay. I want something new yet familiar, and these deliver.

[fourth_heir]

Question to Zach: I note that in the preview comic, Vorin and his companions own a rather swanky aircraft - are we going to be seeing any vehicles attached to this line?

[lord]

This has already been answered during the DST panel: no thought for vehicles at this time. If sales are good they will think about it. So we won't see any vehicles soon but I hope we will do one day. winter 2013 ?

[fourth_heir]

Ah well, one more excuse to buy lots of these Thanks!

[FANtomCore]

I look forward the the Mini-mate Battle Beasts, but I just wanted to know if anyone is creative enough to make a solid un-moveable core mini-mate body frame. What I mean is, an obvious problem with mini-mates is that they tend to get loose and in some cases so loose you can't even stand a figure up with out it falling down, so I'm just imagining this solid body frame with the arms spread forward and the legs positioned in a general squatting position, this frame would be one solid molded piece that allows the animal parts to slide on to the frame as if it were the original mini-mates frame, but would not allow for any articulation or addition posing/moving, the default pose would be like the original Battle Beasts with there arms lifted up to there chest as they would normally hold there weapons in the original and there legs in a squat position for added stability. If some animal pieces are a bit more complicated as far as there sculpting design goes then variation solid frames could be made to accommodate the more difficult reattachment to the solid mini-mate frame. What do you think, is it possible?

[buttheadsmate]

I look forward the the Mini-mate Battle Beasts, but I just wanted to know if anyone is creative enough to make a solid un-moveable core mini-mate body frame. What I mean is, an obvious problem with mini-mates is that they tend to get loose and in some cases so loose you can't even stand a figure up with out it falling down, so I'm just imagining this solid body frame with the arms spread forward and the legs positioned in a general squatting position, this frame would be one solid molded piece that allows the animal parts to slide on to the frame as if it were the original mini-mates frame, but would not allow for any articulation or addition posing/moving, the default pose would be like the original Battle Beasts with there arms lifted up to there chest as they would normally hold there weapons in the original and there legs in a squat position for added stability. If some animal pieces are a bit more complicated as far as there sculpting design goes then variation solid frames could be made to accommodate the more difficult reattachment to the solid mini-mate frame. What do you think, is it possible?

There have been several (fairly) successful unsolicited attempts at moulding rigid minimates ,so I know it can be done.

I've also heard of people making teapots out of chocolate ......& a shepherd who bought a three-legged sheepdog to ensure it wouldn't run off

I mean no disrespect but surely you could put the Minimate in the 'default' pose ......erm....by posing it ? You might even decide to glue it in that pose! Whilst I'd be a liar if I said that I've never had a 'loose' Minimate ,saying that it is an "obvious problem" & that it is inevitable..... is unjustified .

[DSTZach]

I look forward the the Mini-mate Battle Beasts, but I just wanted to know if anyone is creative enough to make a solid un-moveable core mini-mate body frame. What I mean is, an obvious problem with mini-mates is that they tend to get loose and in some cases so loose you can't even stand a figure up with out it falling down.

Buttheadsmate has definitely owned more Minimates than I have, but I've been posing them for photography purposes for ten years, and I have never seen or heard of a loose Minimate, aside from some rare neck-peg incompatibility (which shouldn't be an issue with these as they will all have unique heads). So if it is a problem, it is far from common. Articulation will be a strength with these toys, not a weakness to be overcome.

Also, any softness in the translucent red Vorin will not be an issue in solid-colored and/or painted pieces.

[lord]

More pic in the Battle Beast Facebook but this one is my favorite.

[JonnyPac]

That ram got crazy with the cherry Jolly Ranchers!

[Ghost Lion]

That is a cool pic!

[mannakat]

These aren't exactly the same as I had as a kid, but that's good. Because most of our toys SUCKED. Those memories you're having are discolored and distorted by the overwhelming sense of nostalgia. They're updated, as they should be. If I wanted the exact same toys, I could just go to ebay. I want something new yet familiar, and these deliver.

You are confusing things that 'suck' with things that are simple, which do not always go hand-in-hand.

As for the whole 'it's just nostalgia' argument, it's a weak argument. It's saying people and collectors can't appreciate more simplistic designs as they age, and that they have to 'grow up' to really appreciate anything. Seems to me your viewpoint is one that is rather jaded.
Not everything needs to be updated, but making the attempt isn't something horrible either.

At the end of the day, I'll probably be buying the new figures, but don't know yet. The quips I have are things that could easily be modified (mostly beefing up the thighs) and wouldn't change things too much.

Edited by khaomera, 21 April 2012 - 06:55 AM.

[ironmask]

I think Beast Saga is doing it better, even with the chest dice gimmick.

[lord]

I will keep you informed when i will have the package in hands but I'm sure we will have mail exchange even before that.

I wonder what a clear red figure will look like with the grey armor.

[Ghost Lion]

Here's a pretty honest review:
http://www.actionfig...wn-and-thoughts

[buttheadsmate]

Honest review ?

They are 'Lego-like' & 'mostly share parts & are made different with different with additional accessories & custom paint-jobs'.....?

Lego-like ?  lego-captain-america-minifig.jpg   11.72K   8 downloads  fig1073flg.jpg   20.44K   10 downloads **

'mostly share parts & are made with blah blah blah ........' .....that describes every action-figure line on the market bar none.

** My thanks again to the Minimate Database.

[lord]

'mostly share parts & are made with blah blah blah ........' .....that describes every action-figure line on the market bar none.

Even the popular MOTUC figures share lot of parts. An action figures line doen't need to have all unique parts for every figures in the line. Look at the great Glyos figures. They are mostly made of the same parts but it doesn't stop me trying to get at least one of each color scheme made. As long as the figures look great, share parts is not a problem.

[mannakat]

Honest review ?

They are 'Lego-like' & 'mostly share parts & are made different with different with additional accessories & custom paint-jobs'.....?

Lego-like ?  lego-captain-america-minifig.jpg   11.72K   8 downloads  fig1073flg.jpg   20.44K   10 downloads **

Yeah, that's pretty Lego like. Not Lego exact.

'mostly share parts & are made with blah blah blah ........' .....that describes every action-figure line on the market bar none.

** My thanks again to the Minimate Database.

They do share a lot of parts, more than most, as the details are mostly in the paint job. Most action figure lines have more variation than that within the actual sculpts, and I'm not counting accessories.

[Kingjaja]

Not sure if this question has been answered yet but any idea when we will see series one from DST?

[lord]

The full series 1 revelation will be made at SDCC in 3 months. I don't think we will se anything before or maybe just the SDCC 2-pack exclusive.

[DSTZach]

Series 1 will be revealed at SDCC, and should be out around October.

And while all Minimates get their articulation from the same base parts (albeit with some variations in structure), Battle Beasts will feature more sculpted parts than pretty much any line we've ever done. If you look at the ghosts from the Real Ghostbusters line, you'll see that the base body can be pretty well hidden, to the point of being unrecognizable. On Vorin, you can see basically the elbows and thighs, and that's pretty much it. I know that for some people that's TOO much, but anyone who saw the designs for BB Series 1 (very few of you, probably) know that Vorin is one of the least sculpted in the assortment.

But yeah, saying Minimates are Lego-like is like saying Marvel Legends are Secret Wars-esque. Not knocking Lego guys, but they're half the size and they don't do anything.

Talyn's review (not sure if that's an accurate term, since it doesn't really review the toys) MAY be tainted by a slight on my part. I... didn't give him a retailer promo. They were reserved for retailers, I didn't have many left, and I had never met him before. If he'd asked me, I would have given him whatever he wanted, but I had to introduce myself when I saw him shooting pictures, and he had a friend (whom I'd ALSO never met) ask me for the retailer promo while he stood there avoiding eye contact. Maybe it's just how he is, but if I'd just been able to talk to the guy I probably would have given him one. As it was, I gave one to anyone who said they were on LRG.

If you're reading this, Talyn, I'd love to read an actual review of the actual figure. Sorry if you had breakage on past Minimates. Toys that small occasionally break. I myself have more broken Kubricks than broken Minimates. (I also have broken vintage Battle Beasts... which broke 25 years ago.) But we do have a customer service e-mail for breakage.

[Tars Tarkas]

Good, October is late enough I'll still be on budget when I buy these after getting wiped out through September with the Takara line. My biggest concern is if the weapons fit the hands, as the croc promo weapon did not work at all (though it was a leftover gun from another figure, IIRC)

[Ghost Lion]

The weapons fit the hands very nicely. Also in some of the photo I saw during the panel the weapons can contact forming bigger weapons. Nice feature. Zach, quick question: on the reverse of Vorin's shield beneath the handle is a piece (almost looks like a landing gear wheel) what is it?