Games&Theory
Freakalicious
OK, so I’ll lay my bias out at the very beginning: I want...nay...need...no... absolutely must have the Buffy PF line continue. The thought of seeing the core Buffyverse characters in PF is just too compelling to allow me to sleep peaceably. I know…I’m mad…but I’m packing gumption and a shaky understanding of micro economics. Beware all ye who continue on from here…
The point of this novella is my attmempt at dredging up info from the more knowledgeable sorts on the board. I'm trying to better understand the odds (long though they could be) of seeing all my beloved Scoobies in PF. So, any and all feedback is greatly appreicated!
1) Buffy: the (Profit) Margin Slayer
Ok, I know that the Buffy PF has a higher overall cost due to an investment in a new design/sculpt for her body. Higher costs likely means thinner margins especially when compared to Spike who costs the exact same $250. At least, I PRESUME Spike has a higher profit margin…seeing as how I am guessing he was based off of an existing male body (and possibly even an existing head sculpt).
All that presumptin' leads me to my first question: since there is already an investment in a Buffy body, is it reasonable to expect that this body could also be used to produce PFs of Willow (dear lord, please please please) and Faith (maybe even Anya)?
I’d say those actresses are of similar enough stature to Sarah Michelle Gellar to allow SS to get by with modest tweaks to the basic Buffy PF body. If so, then I would guess they should all have higher profit margins than Buffy and thus make even a low edition sizes a compelling enough reason to keep the line going to SS? Am I even close to right on this, in terms of getting more mileage out the the body?
2) Buffy -vs- the Demand Curve
While I’m cautiously hopeful the Buffy PF will do well enough to cover the investment in a body all by itself (as well as the incremental costs specific to producing Buffy herself), I FIRMLY believe that if SS can also produce at least a Willow in PF (in addition to the Angel we are all guessing/ hope is already in the queue) we'll see more and more Buffy-verse fans step up to the plate and buy becuase they will see the potential (and life) in the PF line. I dare say, customer demand for each subsequent PF should increase as each new one is released as more of the beloved characters are released...with the very important caveat being these subsequent PFs absolutely need to be core members of the Scoobies!!!!!!
I think the trick with this property is that Buffy may be the titular character but fans love the universe equally as much (if not moreso) for the supporting cast. I think if you can get Buffy, Spike, and Willow PFs available…the buy-side demand for the Angels, Xanders, Giles, etc PFs will only increase. I’m not saying the PF customer base will go on to support even half the number of characters available in 12” but I do believe the demand curve is bell shaped and getting 2-3 beloved characters out there will only increase demand for subsequent characters in PF…so much so that I'd bet good money that a more definitive version of Buffy will eventually be demanded (highly demanded)....thus allowing SS to further recoup that intial investment on the original Buffy body.
Anyway, given all this, my second question is: if more Scoobies are made available in PF, would you kind folks expect to see demand increase as the customer/fan base begins to see that they really could think about displaying the core Scoobies?
I'm not complaining by any means to have him, but while Spike is an awesome character (and hands-down a fantastic statue) he does not strike that chord with fans that would have them happily running to sell-out more Buffyverse PFs. I think it's becuase he's the consummate outsider...the rebel...the straight shooter that people love him so much but what the line needs (and what fans want, I think) is to have access to the characters that became a family and went on to truly give the show it's heart. Give use the Scoobies in PF and I believe, I HAVE to believe, this line would soar.
tia for your thoughts!
G&T
PS - for those who made it all the way through, thanks for reading!!!!
The point of this novella is my attmempt at dredging up info from the more knowledgeable sorts on the board. I'm trying to better understand the odds (long though they could be) of seeing all my beloved Scoobies in PF. So, any and all feedback is greatly appreicated!
1) Buffy: the (Profit) Margin Slayer
Ok, I know that the Buffy PF has a higher overall cost due to an investment in a new design/sculpt for her body. Higher costs likely means thinner margins especially when compared to Spike who costs the exact same $250. At least, I PRESUME Spike has a higher profit margin…seeing as how I am guessing he was based off of an existing male body (and possibly even an existing head sculpt).
All that presumptin' leads me to my first question: since there is already an investment in a Buffy body, is it reasonable to expect that this body could also be used to produce PFs of Willow (dear lord, please please please) and Faith (maybe even Anya)?
I’d say those actresses are of similar enough stature to Sarah Michelle Gellar to allow SS to get by with modest tweaks to the basic Buffy PF body. If so, then I would guess they should all have higher profit margins than Buffy and thus make even a low edition sizes a compelling enough reason to keep the line going to SS? Am I even close to right on this, in terms of getting more mileage out the the body?
2) Buffy -vs- the Demand Curve
While I’m cautiously hopeful the Buffy PF will do well enough to cover the investment in a body all by itself (as well as the incremental costs specific to producing Buffy herself), I FIRMLY believe that if SS can also produce at least a Willow in PF (in addition to the Angel we are all guessing/ hope is already in the queue) we'll see more and more Buffy-verse fans step up to the plate and buy becuase they will see the potential (and life) in the PF line. I dare say, customer demand for each subsequent PF should increase as each new one is released as more of the beloved characters are released...with the very important caveat being these subsequent PFs absolutely need to be core members of the Scoobies!!!!!!
I think the trick with this property is that Buffy may be the titular character but fans love the universe equally as much (if not moreso) for the supporting cast. I think if you can get Buffy, Spike, and Willow PFs available…the buy-side demand for the Angels, Xanders, Giles, etc PFs will only increase. I’m not saying the PF customer base will go on to support even half the number of characters available in 12” but I do believe the demand curve is bell shaped and getting 2-3 beloved characters out there will only increase demand for subsequent characters in PF…so much so that I'd bet good money that a more definitive version of Buffy will eventually be demanded (highly demanded)....thus allowing SS to further recoup that intial investment on the original Buffy body.
Anyway, given all this, my second question is: if more Scoobies are made available in PF, would you kind folks expect to see demand increase as the customer/fan base begins to see that they really could think about displaying the core Scoobies?
I'm not complaining by any means to have him, but while Spike is an awesome character (and hands-down a fantastic statue) he does not strike that chord with fans that would have them happily running to sell-out more Buffyverse PFs. I think it's becuase he's the consummate outsider...the rebel...the straight shooter that people love him so much but what the line needs (and what fans want, I think) is to have access to the characters that became a family and went on to truly give the show it's heart. Give use the Scoobies in PF and I believe, I HAVE to believe, this line would soar.
tia for your thoughts!
G&T
PS - for those who made it all the way through, thanks for reading!!!!
