Earlier today we took part in a Google Hangout with the team at Hasbro and Litzky PR, including Mark Boudreaux, Steve Evans and Joe Ninivaggi. Other sites that joined the Hangout were Fantha Tracks, Jedi Business and Jedi Insider.
Each of us got to ask three different questions. Here’s a summary of the pertinent information that came out of the 30 minute Hangout: –
- The Barge will only be made if it has 5,000 backers in the next 12 days.
- Hasbro are fully committed to bring a limited quantity of the Sail Barge to the UK, Europe and some other territories if the Barge reaches 5,000 backers in the US and Canada.
- The Barge will not be available in any other way in the US and Canada. If you want the Barge and live in the US or Canada the only way to buy the Barge is via HasLab here, and only for the next 12 days!
- The version available in the UK, Europe and some other territories will be the same as the version available in the US and Canada, and will include the exclusive Yakface figure with coin.
- The coin included with Yakface will be a replica of the coin originally produced; this unique carded version of Yakface with coin will only be available with the Barge. The figure on its own in Return of the Jedi packaging will be available as part of The Vintage Collection in 2019.
- Hasbro have listened to comments, and have adapted the Barge so that the gun that comes with The Vintage Collection Vizam figure will fit in 6 places along the railings of the Barge.
- The Ithorian (Hammerhead) skeleton will sit in place on a peg but will not be stuck down, so it can be moved around and put in different environment if required.
- They know that people want lots of Jabba’s denizens to fill the Barge and while there may be some coming in The Vintage Collection, it will a) not be a focus and b) they want The Vintage Collection to consist of all new or highly requested figures where possible.
- HasLab may offer products from other Hasbro licensed properties including Marvel, Transformers, My Little Pony and GI Joe — anything is possible.
- There is likely to only be one Star Wars item a year and it won’t necessarily be a $500 item each time — they’re looking for ‘crazy’ items that fans want.
- If (and let’s hope it is an if) the Barge fails this will not stop Hasbro from offering other products via HasLab — but this is the only time they’ll offer the Barge.
- For subsequent HasLab offerings the intention is to offer them globally from day one.
At the end of the Q&A session we got a complete tour of the Sail Barge which looks magnificent. Images to follow soon. In the meantime if you live in the US or Canada go back the barge now here — it needs just under 1,800 people to make it a reality in the next 12 days to hit that 5,000 number!
Big thanks for the team at Hasbro and Litzky PR for their time today.
