I know as a community we come down on the side of "more articulation is better", and for the MOST part, I agree.

But I am also about to be a father to a boy, after two girls. I am buying large quantities of loose SW figures from Lance Quasar and Evil Porkchop. It suddenly hit me, when I saw the Bespin Battle Pack:

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/star-wars- ... 3&ID=30304

These figures have relatively limited articulation. And that's just fine. In fact, I liked them so much, I bought them instantly for my kid. Why?

Certain figures are totems, stand ins for the movie. Luke and Vader need to fight, and be tough enough to resist attacking each other with lightsabers. They don't even need knees - that in fact gets in the way of them standing up. Luke has what he needs to have - a bent arm to shoot a gun, and an arm to swing a lightsaber. As crazy as it sounds, I think I LIKE this kind of SW figure BETTER.

I love my Hoth Luke in X-wing gear. But he's a tiny, super-detailed statue, not so much a plaything. He looks amazing as a diorama piece, but he also needs to be a TOY. I'm not saying my kids can't play with that, but Biggs from POTF2 is going to be a lot more durable as a figure.

Thoughts? Who needs articulation, who doesn't?

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Every figure ever released to retail needs to have at least 1985 GI Joe articulation.

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*THIS*

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As a newbie my opinion is based on little experience, but for my collecting purposes, I like the 25th style GI Joe articulation the best, over Star Wars and the current MU 3.75" line. I don't like the Star Wars figures for some reason and the MU figures I've seen have those spinning joints in the thighs and they just remind me of a marionette without the strings. The MU figures have too much articulation I think.

As for toys to actually be played with by children, I agree with you on the less articulation is better. Not like the Snake Eyes that came with the Ninja Commando 4x4 with all 4 limbs completely stiff, but something in between. The ARAH o-ring figures might be the best for actual play, in my humble opinion.

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80's Joes had the best articulation, 25th amounts just made it more likely to have lose joints.
If O-ring's had been injected into other main toylines, the world would be at peace.

Star Wars O-rings.
Halo O-rings
DC/Marvel

ALL!

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On the articulation thing, I would say it depends. When I am making a custom meant to be posed and photographed, I want full articulation. Full, not crazy articulation like some of the figures I have broken down where the foot is three hinges and each finger has a post and joint. Just the usual MU or 25th lower with at least a Joe swivel in the arms.

On the stockpiling for your son, just want to share a small insight.

When my son was a child, we used to on his birthday take him to ToysRUs and let him pick out his own toy, whatever he wanted and whatever it was to be. She (the ex) naturally wanted him to pick up something either electronic or play-style (like a doctor's outfit and bag) and I was pushing him towards the action figures. In the end, he both surprised and disappointed us both when he chose a "Wembley" Fraggle Rock stuffy. It was his choice, so it got bought and came home.

Well Wembley traveled to all the cons, all the vacations, and kept him happy even on Space Mountain in Florida and in Colonial Williamsburg. He took care of that guy even when other choices years after would stockpile, even the Joes.

Try as you might, you can't really assume what your child, especially a son will gravitate towards your likes. He may dig Star Wars and Joe because you like it, or he may develop his own tastes and run with that. I experienced this when we had our adopteds. The boys had moved away from the "investigate and try" stage of tools and building, preferring Nintendo, but my stepdaughter wanted a full set of real adult tools with hot pink handles and repaired the vacuum cleaner.

Wish you great luck with the stockpile, but I would consider saving some of that in a breakable piggy bank that you can give them later on to have them have their own "I decide the toy" day. Will make for just as much a photo worthy day than anything else.

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In my eye, what is missing is this:



A standard Buck. A set of physical limits that define where sculpt can be, and where Articulation MUST be and MUST work.

A problem with MANY modern figures is that they're designed without reguard for where articulation will be or consideration for how detail will affect mobility. With a BUCK all that is baked in.

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Actually, I have had people bring this up before. Thank you for your insight, Cap.

The motivation is this: I loved Star Wars like CRAZY when I was a kid, but when I got into it big time (1983-84) everything was beginning to croak. I could get figures anywhere, but vehicles were tough to come by. I am loading up on every OT vehicle I think he needs, packing it away carefully and storing it. We'll do the first Christmas with ANH, but if for some reason he isn't into it, I will make him this offer: I will eBay his mint-in-box vehicles each year I was to give them to him, and he spends the money on whatever HE wants.

But at least that way, if he wants the old school stuff, he's got it. That's the main idea, because to be honest, some of that old stuff, even from 1-2 years ago is getting CRAZY expensive. This year was my ONE shot to get an affordable AT-AT, so I took it. I hope he loves it - I can't wait to see Hoth all over the living room.

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And to Nova- YES absolutely. I would totally endorse this, especially for most male SW figures.

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Macrossmaster, you better be careful, depending on how old he is and how many vehicles you buy, he might be able to buy himself a dirt bike or something with the profits. I can't believe how much people spend on things on ebay. I get outbid by like quadruple my max bid a lot of times.

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Sturdy construction is the key. All the 80s and 90s stuff is sturdy, regardless of articulation. Joe just happen to have a great balance with RAH stuff.

Look at the PTE figures. Kinda ugly, but nicely articulated, and much more sturdy than a 25th Joe. I gave my daughter a 25th Scarlett and she pop her head off while she had the figure in her mouth. All the loose gear, hands, heads, etc makes sturdiness a problem.

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Can we mass email this pic to Mattel and MacFarlane?

It's like, a no brainer of a minimum...

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Yep, every time I see someone posting about buying things for their child for the future, I think pretty much what Cap says. I do not have kids, but I have had well 12 - 14 (I've lost count) nieces and nephews. Every one of them developed their own likes and dislikes. I even tried to get one of them into GIJoe and they had nothing to do with it. You just can't push any one thing.

Articulation is the same thing. Most of us collectors want it and want a nice amount to get as natural of a pose as possible. I don't think even the toy companies have any real authority to say kids like or dislike heavy articulation. I think this is more of a thing that has to just be put out there and see how it sells. It does seem to sell well from what I can see, but that's just visual observation and nothing on paper.

I think it really depends on the source material. If there has been a nice share of articulation previously and then a reduction, that's where you have to look. Has reduced articulated figured slumped in sales? Again, visually I would say yes. I base that most of all on those new Star Wars multipacks that has vintage style articulation. They seem to just be sitting at the stores and not selling while all the others still sell out.

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To me, articulation has to strike a balance. Sure more the merrier is great but Microman ultimately proved you need to manage how that articulation works or you end up with a floppy mess. Toybiz's Super Hero Showdown and to some extent Marvel Universe are just as loose. Even the best sculpting and actor likeness in the world won't help of the figure can't stand up or hold a weapon.

I've gotten rid of all but 5 vintage (vintage, vintage) Star Wars figures. I held onto only the most cherished childhood figures because the modern more articulated versions of those figures serve more purpose than the older ones. At this point getting the most out of what I buy is paramount, whether it ends up in the collection, customized or diorama fodder. Additional articulation gives more options and therefore more creative freedom. So no, I don't think it is overrated.

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For me personally, I don't buy those multipacks because of the outrageous price tag. Maybe if they were all fully articulated I would. Are they not selling because of the decreased articulation or because they are overpriced? Figures are about $10 each for a single, those packs are $40 for 4 figures. I bought 1 about a year ago. I was shocked at the price, but bought it anyway. When I opened it and saw solid arms and legs I was positively peeved. That was the last one I will ever buy.

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