The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: legodrew on November 05, 2018, 10:55:51 AM
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I write this because the releases have been so sparse, and so unappealing, mane six re-releases and no no-mane six characters at all.
The two packs (with Sandbar and Silverstream) are so hard to come by and the Mlp section in all stores have been unchanged for a long time. -_-
Just saw some “new stuff” coming on the Entertainment Earth page and it is just literally more of the same. I have reached a point where it’s just “why bother” :(
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The lack of new toys this year makes me really feel like this gen is winding down. The MLP sections at both Target and Walmart have dramatically shrunk. It really is time for something fresh and new.
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Well like tailrust said. This gen is winding down. Plus the School of Magic sets are very new, so don't expect a whole lot yet.
As for giving up? I don't think they are. Just further cheaping out.
Blame it on the Evil Xerox machine they've got working as head of the toy factory.
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Just before the G4 ended and the 4.5 began showing at stores, Hasbro released a ton of non mane six characters (the pearlies, the last TRU exclusive with the Flower ponies) etc. Now that this gen is getting to an end, is the complete opposite.
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I too think they're getting ready for the next generation.
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I too think they're getting ready for the next generation.
At this point you start to see the pattern of it. It wasn't really like that between G1 and G2, but between G2 and G3 (at least in Europe) you start to see a wind down/things only reaching certain areas, then G3 to 3.5 to 4 similar kind of thing happened in my opinion. I feel like G4 has been basically dead in the stores since the movie. That seemed like the "finale" of the toyline to me, nothing has kind of happened since then that's worth taking note of toywise (certainly not in the UK where literally nothing new has appeared in several months)...
Also G4 are appearing more in charity shops and second hand sales. That's a good indication a line is reaching its end.
I really think Hasbro would do well to let MLP have a couple of years break and then come back with some new twist completely different from anything that's gone before - but I think they've got unimaginative so expect minor twists on the same boring themes in the next year or two I guess...
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I too think they're getting ready for the next generation.
At this point you start to see the pattern of it. It wasn't really like that between G1 and G2, but between G2 and G3 (at least in Europe) you start to see a wind down/things only reaching certain areas, then G3 to 3.5 to 4 similar kind of thing happened in my opinion. I feel like G4 has been basically dead in the stores since the movie. That seemed like the "finale" of the toyline to me, nothing has kind of happened since then that's worth taking note of toywise (certainly not in the UK where literally nothing new has appeared in several months)...
Also G4 are appearing more in charity shops and second hand sales. That's a good indication a line is reaching its end.
I really think Hasbro would do well to let MLP have a couple of years break and then come back with some new twist completely different from anything that's gone before - but I think they've got unimaginative so expect minor twists on the same boring themes in the next year or two I guess...
I expect it. And it's disheartening to think they'll likely carry it over to the next gen too. Bah!
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As a pessimistic cranky old person I feel like MLP has probably been permanently damaged by the FIM phenomenon. NOT the existence of FIM itself or G4 but the fact it got such a rousing fandom unexpectedly. It means that probably now for the rest of eternity anything MLP will try to recapture that and therefore won't break away and try to be really original. Original seems to be a rare element these days anyway, but I genuinely feel that the phenomenon of the fandom community has probably broken MLP as a toy franchise worth collecting for any future generation.
There may be some cute toys or gimmicks. But the idea of them being brave enough to try something totally new...I just don't see it happening. I feel like if there is a new generation, the form it takes will basically dictate whether MLP as a toy franchise is basically replaced by a media tv series fandom storm, or whether there's still something to salvage from the wreckage of brony mayhem.
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But...we're not even old. And they had such a beautiful and creative gen with the 3rd. Its amazing what a hard, boring fliparound they've had afterwards. *shakes head*
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As loud as the bronies can be, most of MLP FIM's success boils down to kids connecting with the characters and wanting the toys. MLP FIM has been amazing for Hasbro monetarily and most of their money comes from parents buying for kids.
I do think we will see iterations of the Mane Six pretty much forever. Hasbro has been longing to get a recognizable stable (ho ho horse pun) of MLP characters since G2, and now they do. It has a lot of branding advantages. It does make things duller for collectors. Like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee being omnipresent in ever iteration of Transformers. It makes me a little sad. But it is what it is.
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When I go into Walmart or Toys R Us(still have them in Canada) etc the MLP section has become teeny. My area Walmarts are such miniscule areas of MLP that it's easy to have to look twice to find them. It seems like the focus of toys at the moment are all the blind bag type toys, LOLs, capsule toys. They are everywhere. I can't name all the surprise type toylines now and they aren't cheap either.
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It seems like the focus of toys at the moment are all the blind bag type toys, LOLs, capsule toys. They are everywhere. I can't name all the surprise type toylines now and they aren't cheap either.
That's why they made Cutie Mark Crew. They are super deformed and cutesy. Even more so than the old blind bags. And they are big and can be stored together.
The toyline is slowly petering out but Hasbro has found ways to milk the last drop out of that udder.
Giving up on brushables would be giving up on the core of the franchise. Not gonna happen. There is too much competition on the market to give it up.
Like Spirit, Breyer, Barbie's horses... a horse toy with a brushable mane and tail is a classic toy and MLPs original form is a classic as well.
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The checkout clerks at Target told me the most popular toys in the past couple years have been Shopkins, L.O.L., and a third brand I can't remember, but it too was of the "tiny surprise" variety. They're definitely popular right now.
Yeah, "horse with brushable hair" is still a popular concept, I even see Shopkins horses and Barbie Princess horses with brushable manes. And the pets of the Disney Princess Palace Pets, if those are still around.
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I also feel that the all of the move related releases was Hasbro’s “big spectacular” before Gen 4 quietly fades away. There were so many releases and in my area the green bird pirate and some of the Mane 6 pirate ponies went on clearance. I think that’s why I never saw Captain Celeano in my area.
I also think Hasbro is getting ready to end G4. Some of the random episodes G4 DVDs have been found at Big Lots and Dollar Tree. That makes me think that Shout Factory is starting to take those DVDs out of print. The brushable releases have slowed down since the flood of movie releases and the MLP section grows smaller and is now just a few feet of an aisle crowded in between other toy lines.
I think the Cutie Mark Crew are the result of Hasbro noticing the blind bag/surprise toy trend and trying to improve on their previous blind bag MLP toys since Cutie Mark Crews come with a stand, a home/display case (the capsule) and an accessory for them to sit it.
The School of Friendship sets are just starting to hit shelves.
Ponyfan
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I always feel disappointed when I go to the MLP area in stores. It’s so small and uninspiring. In a way it makes it easier for me as a collector because I don’t feel the need to buy everything new. But I love the retro releases. It would be awesome if the kept going through the line but that seems unrealistic.
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We have gotten quite a few mainline toys recently, come to think of it.
Soarin
Trixie Lulamoon
Starlight Glimmer
Pretzel
Princess Skystar
Haven Bay
Big Macintosh
Cherry Berry
Coloratura
Nurse Redheart
Meadow Flower
Sapphire Joy
Seaswirl
Songbird Serenade
Tempest Shadow
Sandbar
Sweetie Drops
And some of them do have decent and unusual designs.
Granted, that's a pitiful amount compared to the sheer, obsessive awfulness of Mane Sux characters Hasbroken has been pumping out this gen. Bah!
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Ohhhh. I thought it was just me! Every single time I go into Target There are only like 3 ponies on the shelf and no new ones ever get put out. It sucks because I really wanted the newer see-through Luna that was supposed to come out this year. oh well.
I guess......Cutie Mark Crew is here to stay....(blegh)
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It’s sad, cause the thrill of MLP (at least to me) was to get them all, get all the different characters, with distinctive cutie marks, personalities, different body colors and different mane colors. Now everything is mane six, and pink ponies mostly. The boldest color this gen was Big Mac?? 😑
They don’t even dare to release brushable (regular size) Luna in dark/right color
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My big lots still has the ponies with ribbon in the hair, the main six ones, that are from ages ago toy line wise, and they have pearly ones. I think my work place is not gonna carry anything anymore the few we do have are all marked way down.
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To me ponies have been going downhill for the last few years! I could not bring myself to keep buying the same ponies over and over! And they are starting to look more like deer with big ears then ponies!
I wish Hasbro would go back towards the G3 nd G1 styles! It will be sad to see that time come again when there are no more ponies in the stores. I remember when the happen from the G1 to the G2 ponies and then it was done! :(
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To me ponies have been going downhill for the last few years! I could not bring myself to keep buying the same ponies over and over! And they are starting to look more like deer with big ears then ponies!
I wish Hasbro would go back towards the G3 nd G1 styles! It will be sad to see that time come again when there are no more ponies in the stores. I remember when the happen from the G1 to the G2 ponies and then it was done! :(
:iconclap:
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The lack of new toys this year makes me really feel like this gen is winding down. The MLP sections at both Target and Walmart have dramatically shrunk. It really is time for something fresh and new.
I agree! Our stores have barely anything let alone anything new! I see some stuff online but it's true, its time for a change! Ready for G5!
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I just went and bought three boys on Ebay, I don't mind the styling of the boys in G4.5 or whatever it is but I won't get any others. I was very tempted by Haven Bay but the rest of the sea ponies in this gen didn't appeal to me for various design reasons that i can't get beyond, even though some of them are really nice otherwise.
Edit: It's a shame that Soarin isn't in available in the same mold to match the others. The 'All About' version doesn't really appeal to me much.
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To me ponies have been going downhill for the last few years! I could not bring myself to keep buying the same ponies over and over! And they are starting to look more like deer with big ears then ponies!
I wish Hasbro would go back towards the G3 nd G1 styles! It will be sad to see that time come again when there are no more ponies in the stores. I remember when the happen from the G1 to the G2 ponies and then it was done! :(
:iconclap:
Thank you! :)