From a post asking the "what if..." question had the 25th Anniversary (hence "modern" line) never happened (and Sigma Six remained...), after thinking about it, I think the Mission Scale line might have been something I would have gotten into.
I had a few Sigma items a few years ago, as you can see I have since streamlined everything into my fairly personally focused little collection. I've gone most of the last year with little hands on GIJoe stuff at all, hardly anything hobby/ fun related, and as that absence of stuff continues I find myself thinking more about the vehicle part of line. It's a funny sounding statement, as you may well see I've got almost no vehicles supporting my made up little figure team. But, I dunno..., I'm much more interested in the vehicles still.
But this "what if" post got me thinking, and I had to take a look back at the YoJoe.com archives and see what there was, and I'm finding the stuff I really glanced over at the time is really kind of fun looking to me now.
What's appealing to me now as I look back is the interactivity between all the vehicles and sets. I think Sigma Six Central is a great resource to learn more about what was available. And here , I'm really taking in the 2.5" Mission Scale part of the line.
There's a nice little line that looks like it really builds around the Dragonhawk, and as you can see from the package pictures on that site, it can carry a lot of the other vehicles, even the mechs, and the winged fury. It looks like there's a lot of play value when everything comes together. The HISS tank looks fun, too, a transport and bunker all in one.
The figures are nowhere near articulated as a "modern" figure, but I'm thinking that could be okay for me. Most of the figures I have stay in one position anyway, but these little mission scale figures sort of remind me of the Kenner M.A.S.K. figures. Are they the same size? Consider Matt Trakker showing up, was there a possible related line being floated? I kind of always wanted my M.A.S.K. and GIJoe toys to be able to work together back in the day.
What would it take to collect this entire small part of a retail time gone by now? Are there any collection pictures with all of these loose and together out there online?
About HQ icebreaker
- icebreaker
- This is a very random bunch of thoughts based from my collecting of GIJOE: A real American hero figures and vehicles. Contained here are memories, experiences, recent thoughts, completely random thoughts, and other random things on top of that. While one company has made, and makes, our shared interests, we all add into that interest with our own creativity. You, the reader, will find many, many, excellent sites among the links to see what other GIJoe fans are doing, hit them up! For GIJOE stuff that is more random in topic, you'll find it here.
11.28.2013
11.24.2013
Character or vehicle line?
What do you think, with the very strong emphasis on character figures, do you think that GIJoe is stronger as a character figure line, or a vehicle line, or does a balanced blend lead to stronger success and fun?
Sure, from my experience, the old cartoon still resonates with fun animated characters. All the voices lent to those cartoons really add some likeable character that did translate over to my toys. Serpentor, would often yell, "this I command" in my battles, but his animated snake throwing move was hard to do with the toys slithering snake. And even to this day, Wild Bill's cartoon persona is hootin' and hollerin' when I get that old helicopter pilot in a chopper.
But then, all these guys weren't just jumping into their generic jeeps to take on Cobra. GIJoe was jumping into the AWE striker, or in my case back in the day, the Tiger Cat. And they weren't attacking Cobra's planes and tanks, that was a Night Raven and a STUN. Even the vehicles started to take on their own personalities of sorts, such as the iconic HISS.
Without the human element, the figures, characters, we would just have little green army men. But without unique figure-interacting unique vehicles, we would have almost have to have little super hero figures running around. Maybe the enemy isn't bringing any armored HISS tanks any more, so, we're all on foot with figures that are all up-armed and armored themselves. Slap on some little jet packs and get it done? Perhaps that is why the spring fired missile launchers and other action accessories are back in style? Does this mean that the makers of this stuff today know that the figures need "more" of something?
Perhaps that need is simply vehicles. Vehicles for imagination. Good designs that transport and inspire.
Is GIJoe an either or line, a character or vehicle line? For success, I think it needs both equally.
In today's more electronic world, perhaps there is even another layer of all-encompassing interactivity that can really bring GIJoe to the forefront, rather than the property side burner.
Sure, from my experience, the old cartoon still resonates with fun animated characters. All the voices lent to those cartoons really add some likeable character that did translate over to my toys. Serpentor, would often yell, "this I command" in my battles, but his animated snake throwing move was hard to do with the toys slithering snake. And even to this day, Wild Bill's cartoon persona is hootin' and hollerin' when I get that old helicopter pilot in a chopper.
But then, all these guys weren't just jumping into their generic jeeps to take on Cobra. GIJoe was jumping into the AWE striker, or in my case back in the day, the Tiger Cat. And they weren't attacking Cobra's planes and tanks, that was a Night Raven and a STUN. Even the vehicles started to take on their own personalities of sorts, such as the iconic HISS.
Without the human element, the figures, characters, we would just have little green army men. But without unique figure-interacting unique vehicles, we would have almost have to have little super hero figures running around. Maybe the enemy isn't bringing any armored HISS tanks any more, so, we're all on foot with figures that are all up-armed and armored themselves. Slap on some little jet packs and get it done? Perhaps that is why the spring fired missile launchers and other action accessories are back in style? Does this mean that the makers of this stuff today know that the figures need "more" of something?
Perhaps that need is simply vehicles. Vehicles for imagination. Good designs that transport and inspire.
Is GIJoe an either or line, a character or vehicle line? For success, I think it needs both equally.
In today's more electronic world, perhaps there is even another layer of all-encompassing interactivity that can really bring GIJoe to the forefront, rather than the property side burner.
What would you think about a new transportable battle base for your GIJoe team?
I think it would cool. I think back to years ago on forums where a new '83 HQ-style base with modular components was floating around. Even those random topics where a new or re-issued '85 TTBP would be welcomed.
I think something like this would be fun, but I would like it to be as all new as possible. As much fun as it is seeing the past come back in some new shape in retail or exclusive on cycling basis, I think a new, transportable base would be very useable by all.
How would a new battle base look in your imagination?
How about one small polygon foot printed shape, perhaps a pentagon, to invoke that sense of military into the scheme. In the center of that Pentagon, perhaps the HQ center is the high-tech satellite up link central communication intelligence (etc, etc. whatever...) where there are five seats all surrounding this machine. And then on top of it, to provide a little shelter is a roof over hang, which permits antennas and radar dishes, balls, cones, and other technical looking stuff.
And the from there, other pentagon shaped base parts with their core components, like a vehicle lift in the center, or a centered prison cell, or a centered medical bay, or a weapons storage locker in the center, or even a raised platform with a ladder stemming from the center for a helipad. Core parts, all with their own unique little fortified feature where figures are interacting within the space. All the outer edges would have armor-emulation walls. Surround an entire section by itself with its walls and doors, or combine components and mix and match doors and walls. Or leave connected pentagon plates open with each other and only wall the outer edge.
Or, utilize the steel beam parts and stack the base plate units on top of each other!
And then, with that same pentagon shaped base, one needs the offensive and defensive components to augment those utilitarian pads. These would be like individual bunker battle stations, unlike the utilitarian sections, with the little overhangs and somewhat open tops (mostly for play purposes) would disappear and armored shells and forms would support such things as a double barreled "double devastation cannon." And a flip up auto radar controlled missile launcher, perhaps a tank turret style anti-aircraft gun, and others.
And I wouldn't stop it there, much like the '83 HQ, I think tow-able weapons could be made so that they not only serve as individual field weapons towed by other vehicles, but they all interact with the base to enhance a users set up.
Not unlike the BF2K concept, and not too unrelated to the interchangeable "DTC" weapons (such as the humvees, Rhino, etc. weapons.).
I think it would cool. I think back to years ago on forums where a new '83 HQ-style base with modular components was floating around. Even those random topics where a new or re-issued '85 TTBP would be welcomed.
I think something like this would be fun, but I would like it to be as all new as possible. As much fun as it is seeing the past come back in some new shape in retail or exclusive on cycling basis, I think a new, transportable base would be very useable by all.
How would a new battle base look in your imagination?
How about one small polygon foot printed shape, perhaps a pentagon, to invoke that sense of military into the scheme. In the center of that Pentagon, perhaps the HQ center is the high-tech satellite up link central communication intelligence (etc, etc. whatever...) where there are five seats all surrounding this machine. And then on top of it, to provide a little shelter is a roof over hang, which permits antennas and radar dishes, balls, cones, and other technical looking stuff.
And the from there, other pentagon shaped base parts with their core components, like a vehicle lift in the center, or a centered prison cell, or a centered medical bay, or a weapons storage locker in the center, or even a raised platform with a ladder stemming from the center for a helipad. Core parts, all with their own unique little fortified feature where figures are interacting within the space. All the outer edges would have armor-emulation walls. Surround an entire section by itself with its walls and doors, or combine components and mix and match doors and walls. Or leave connected pentagon plates open with each other and only wall the outer edge.
Or, utilize the steel beam parts and stack the base plate units on top of each other!
And then, with that same pentagon shaped base, one needs the offensive and defensive components to augment those utilitarian pads. These would be like individual bunker battle stations, unlike the utilitarian sections, with the little overhangs and somewhat open tops (mostly for play purposes) would disappear and armored shells and forms would support such things as a double barreled "double devastation cannon." And a flip up auto radar controlled missile launcher, perhaps a tank turret style anti-aircraft gun, and others.
And I wouldn't stop it there, much like the '83 HQ, I think tow-able weapons could be made so that they not only serve as individual field weapons towed by other vehicles, but they all interact with the base to enhance a users set up.
Not unlike the BF2K concept, and not too unrelated to the interchangeable "DTC" weapons (such as the humvees, Rhino, etc. weapons.).
11.09.2013
Almost a year later...
Almost a year later and not much has changed. On the 'Joe front, I've succeed in moving stuff around like I have for years. I'm kind of digging what I have happening in the picture above. I think this set up is somewhat of a interesting space, where the surrounding steel shelves can be loaded up with figure and vehicles, and then whatever can be spread out on the board.
Likely no Terrordrome in the future, but lots of space for hanging stuff as the background, as well as more storage space below. Somewhere nearby this set up, I hope to start working in some art/ artsy stuff to kind of make the whole corner a sort of workshop and fun, toy-inspirational space.
Everything is very low-tech here, no finished look to it. I'm thinking some speakers might be good in those outer corners, get some music playing, and then something for lighting to warm the space more.
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