Sideshow!!! IS THIS TRUE??? [Archive]

ironman1188

08-14-2005, 08:59 PM

I read the review of the Brent's over on Michael Crawford's site and, out of it all this was the most interesting part to me:

It is my understanding that if we want the Planet of the Apes line to continue, we need to e-mail Sideshow and let know. Sideshow has acquired licenses for all five “Planet of the Apes” movies and the TV series, but will be deciding which characters to make based upon what they feel is enough demand from the buyers. Sideshow handles requests for future wants through their regular customer service forum. So, please, let them know which characters you want by visiting their website and selecting the CONTACT US link on the lower left side of the page. Then select the [Customer Service Form] link, which is also used for “General inquiries”. And then select the “Other” option. They regularly tally results for these requests and pass them on to the correct department.

Does sending information to you work better as a gauge of what we'd like more than the kazillion posts made here?
Is this just for the Apes line or all the licenses?
Hell, to think one email asking for Giles or General Aldo could've helped getting them into our hands and months of posts didn't hint towards anything. :lol

Protozaius

08-14-2005, 09:22 PM

It is my understanding

I wonder how he came to this "understanding"?

Please someone from Sideshow, PLEASE chime in with some insight to this. :help :help :help

I'm ready to e-mail you with my Ape wants!!! :angel

Actually, I think the guest reviewer might be a bit confused on a few things. For one thing, he credits that each Brent portrait has a separate sculptor (one is credited to Mat and the other to Andy) when the figures are clearly using the same head.

Overall, a nice if not overly positive review.:dance

creecher

08-14-2005, 09:33 PM

It would be better if there were some way Sideshow could set up an account, whereby you could deposit your money, showing Sideshow the preparedness of your request. Only for PotA, or another line currently in production. Once they hit a certain number of requests for the same figure, they could email those participating it, and await return figures to decide whether or not to go ahead with the proposal. Maybe a discount for pre-paid pre-orders.

Wishful thinking at this point. Just as the wish lists posted here don't really mean much either. We have begged for figures, that once appear, fail dismally in the sales area.

Michael Crawford MWC

08-15-2005, 05:26 AM

That's the answer when he contacted Sideshow - I asked him about that. They told him that, but I haven't asked them myself.

Michael
MWC

ironman1188

08-15-2005, 06:13 AM

That's the answer when he contacted Sideshow - I asked him about that. They told him that, but I haven't asked them myself.

I don't doubt his having gotten that answer, but it sure would've been nice to have them tell us that. It kind of makes half the posts here moot as they ask when or if we'll see a certain character or characters. I guess hundreds of posts don't equal one email that has to be forwarded several times. :\

Gruson

08-15-2005, 07:09 AM

Hope they continue it....see my post on 1/4 Apes too.

SideshowDusty

08-15-2005, 09:14 AM

I think perhaps this is being blown a *tiny* bit out of proportion. I believe what happens (but don't quote me on this) is that the production guys take into account opinions from various message boards as well as customer service emails to gauge interest in certain characters and licenses, just as any company would do. Don't forget we also just finished up the Collector's Inquisition Survey as well! If they see hundreds of posts about a certain thing, but those posts are written by the same people every time, that does not mean that the majority of collectors agree. But if they are seeing posts from lots of different people and on many discussion boards, plus are receiving tons of email requests as well, that's a true market analysis of what people want.

And I hope everyone here understands that not every character that every person wants can or will get made - including those wants of our sculptors :) But it's really fun and interesting to read everyone's opinions, which can sometimes illuminate certain ideas that were asleep.

ironman1188

08-15-2005, 09:21 AM

Thank you Dusty.
But, does this mean that the Apes line is not necessarily dead?
Is there hope of seeing more characters if enough emails are sent in? Or will it just be an exercise in providing fun and interesting items for Sideshow to enjoy?

William Shatners Toupee

08-15-2005, 09:05 PM

It probably also keeps things honest by writing them. In a poll, some nerd can vote 20 times (laugh). If you e-mail, they can see who's asking for what and how many actual people.

So go E-mail your wants now: Doctor Who, Kolchak, Millennium, POTA, whatever!

SideshowDusty

08-15-2005, 10:20 PM

But, does this mean that the Apes line is not necessarily dead?

Well, you know what Brant always says - nothing is ever truly dead at Sideshow :p I know everyone hates it when he says that, but it's true. You remember the Buffy like was brought back from the dead after a couple of years, so nothing is ever futile :)

WestDan76

08-15-2005, 10:48 PM

Emails have worked for me.

I sent emails a couple years back asking Sideshow to make a Civil War Custer and also stated that General Washington would be the best historic figure they could ever think of making. Both of these have come to pass.

I also sent an email one time stating that the red Baran would be neat to re-release in flight gear and this one came to pass as well.

I made a post one time that Lt Col Chamberlain who is THE most popular Civil War figure of all time would be a good figure to make that no other company has made and six months later he was announced.

In fact I think my wish list from two years ago is now complete.

WestDan76

08-15-2005, 10:53 PM

Of course I must admit I may be one of those nerds that people speak of as I believe I sent quite a few emails on Custer. More emails than I care to admit at this time.

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 05:06 AM

WestDan76.
Being as you seem to have the most luck in the "asking for - seeing produced department" would you care to forward the rest of our wants to Sideshow? :p

I believe I sent quite a few emails on Custer. More emails than I care to admit at this time.

Of course this admission blows the whole 1 nerd can vote 20 times in a poll clear out of the water, but hey!!! whatever works.

dstephan

08-16-2005, 08:14 AM

It also makes sense if that one person's request makes sense like Custer and Washington do. I don't see the same campaign working for the PotA TV characters.

FrodoEyes

08-16-2005, 09:21 AM

So if we keep asking for Pippin, Faramir, Eomer, Mouth Of Sauron and Barad Dur we'll get them right!

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 09:29 AM

Didn't Sideshow make two versions of Custer??

FlyAndFight

08-16-2005, 09:59 AM

FrodoEyes, you left out the Hobbiton Factory! Shame on you!

FrodoEyes

08-16-2005, 10:06 AM

:doh

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 10:17 AM

It also makes sense if that one person's request makes sense like Custer and Washington do. I don't see the same campaign working for the PotA TV characters.

Hmmm, I guess that all depends on your perspective. If you collect military figures, Custer & Washington make sense. If you collect Planet of the Apes; Burke, Virdon, etc. make sense. I'm sure he wanted Custer at least as much as I do the TV characters and others have wanted General Aldo or the Ape-o-nauts.

WestDan76

08-16-2005, 12:13 PM

I don't know as with historic figures Sideshow can take a chance when they are talking about only making one figure. However, with the Planet of the Ape line, if they start on one character from the TV series, they are more than likely committed to 5 or more figures from it. Anyway the entire historic figure line is pretty much dead in the water at this point as the last one to sell out quickly and make it up to number 4 on the top 10 list was Lt Col Chamberlain.

I myself did start to purchase the Planet of the ape line with both Dr Zaius', Cornious, Zira and Taylor. However, the rotocast head sculpts on this line and on other movie lines have ceased my buying any more figures as there was far to much in lack of detail for the hair line, wrinkles etc. for me. In my view if the head sculpt is not detailed enough on the figure then the whole figure is no good.

With my above posts, it may have helped that I was getting custom figures done at the time by their prototype designer Greg Mowrey and did plant a few seeds in his mind on both Custer and Washington. Well more than a few seeds on them as every single email communication with Greg on the Napoleon figure he was making for me ended with Custer and Washington would be the best figures to make. Greg was not the prototype designer for them at that time, but did state on his last email to me that he had just got hired to work for them. Speaking of Greg, here is an early prototype for Washington that he did before he started working for Sideshow. In keeping with the view on bad head sculpts, I did not get him to make me a custom of this figure, but sideshow eventually came through in that department:

pre sideshow prototype of Washington by Greg Mowrey (http://webpages.charter.net/dan76/Washington.jpg)

WestDan76

08-16-2005, 01:42 PM

Also, I must not have any pull with sideshow on movie and TV show figures as my requested emails for a Twiligtht Zone Rod Serling have yet to be fullfilled.

I would also like to point out that I have every intention of keeping my original movie apes. They are good figures with the exception of some loss of detail from that dreaded rotocast disaster. It is just that while the original Planet of the Apes movie is my number 1 film of all time, I consider it 500 times better than all of the sequels and tv series. I have still yet to purchase the other movies eventhough I currently own about 5000 dvd's. I may still have to pick up the General Ursus. I was not impressed enough by the review to ever get the regular gorilla.

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 04:16 PM

I don't know as with historic figures Sideshow can take a chance when they are talking about only making one figure.

But....they did redo Custer. And I thought that the reason behind it was they weren't satisfied with the original. If it can happen for him, they should take a look at the rest of the lines.

Anyway the entire historic figure line is pretty much dead in the water at this point

And it joins a growing list of a lot of our favorites.

Also, I must not have any pull with sideshow on movie and TV show figures as my requested emails for a Twiligtht Zone Rod Serling have yet to be fullfilled.

I, too, as well as many others, have asked for this figure. If it is a licensing issue [as seems to be a good excuse/reason] then why not just say so? I have to be somewhat hesitant on them using that as why figures aren't made or don't look right. I don't want to keep dragging Brent up, but as the reason behind his sculpt changed from first story to last, I have to be rather skeptical of the honesty behind it.

However, with the Planet of the Ape line, if they start on one character from the TV series, they are more than likely committed to 5 or more figures from it.

I see your point, but don't know that it must be so. We all thought that we would see at least one ape from each film..and that was not to be. Ursus was the only ape from Beneath, although we did get another Taylor, 2 Brents and some mutants. Escape came in with no offerings, Conquest gave us only Caesar {which looked, until recently, like we were going to get the shaft on the sculpt} and Battle also left us high and dry. I see no reason that they can't make a 2-pack of Burke & Virdon and perhaps another of Urko & Zaius. Galen should get his own sole figure with new sculpt IMHO. Make them site exclusives, hell they seem to love the ol' exclusive stuff.

WestDan76

08-16-2005, 04:34 PM

"But....they did redo Custer. And I thought that the reason behind it was they weren't satisfied with the original. If it can happen for him, they should take a look at the rest of the lines."

Custer was redone not because they were not happy with the original. Custer was redone to go with the rest of the generals in the Civil War line. The first Custer was made up for the western series which was 11 years after the Civil War ended. They were two Custers for two different complete lines and two different wars.

I am not sure how well figures sell for Sideshow. Custer from six gun legends was the first figure to sell out in that line without even having an edditon size posted. They may have felt that he could stand to be a big seller in the Civil War line as well at least that was my reasoning to them.

The rotocast heads hit me hard on the Planet of the ape line. However, pictures recently posted on Ceaser, with a possible non rotocast head sculpt look much better to me for ape wrinkles and hair lines. I wouldn't take the gorrilla from the first movie if it was given to me as the lack of detail in the hair line and face was far more than I could justify. Perhaps others felt the same way as me and stopped buying the next lines of figures. Of course I am more into the first movie figures than others but would have bought the Ursus figure if they could have even tried to get a passing resemblance to the actor from the movie. The resemblance to Zaius, Cornius, Zira and Taylor were there except for the soft head sculpts.

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 04:45 PM

Custer was redone to go with the rest of the generals in the Civil War line.
You are obviously a bigger fan of those lines than I am. Is it the same Custer sculpt?

I wouldn't take the gorrilla from the first movie if it was given to me
Hey!!! If you happen to get one, I call dibs!! :lol
While the headsculpt certainly could have been made to look like any one of the apes in the first film, the "generic" look was disappointing. Ursus, too, could have looked much more like the character from Beneath, or at the very least had the helmet done right to detract from the difference.

As for rotocast heads, as well as the past rooting problems, I don't know why the faults with these procedures weren't caught by someone along the way. :\

screamingmetal

08-16-2005, 06:48 PM

I was wondering if multiple emails for each individual figure request would be effective or a single email with multiple figures would get more of a response?
Which is more preferable?

WestDan76

08-16-2005, 07:38 PM

You are obviously a bigger fan of those lines than I am. Is it the same Custer sculpt?"

No sir, it is a completly redone in all aspects head sculpt with longer hair for the Civil War look. Matt Falls got done the resemblance to Custer right on the money on this latest offering. I was not all impressed with the six gun legends Little Bighorn Custer head sculpt likeness and so I had a custum made up by eydlehands who is a fantastic sculptor in every regard.

custom LBH Custer (http://webpages.charter.net/dan76/LonnieCuster1.jpg)

While I am a big planet of the apes fan I would have only got them all if they would have been fantastic likenesses and figures. I did not get that compulsive urge with voices in my head stating "Must buy now" "Must buy now" after the gorrilla came out. However, I do still get them with the Washington and Red Barron figures coming out.

You are obviously a bigger fan of the Planet of the Ape line than I am. I will be satisfied with only having the main ones for the first movie that have replaced my mego ones from the 70's that I sold on ebay about five years ago.

Also, if front line hero heads ever does a General Ursus resin, I will buy the Sideshow Ursus. They have done a very good looking likeness to the movie gorrilla that you can check out by downloading their catalog.

Front line Hero Heads (http://www.h2creative.com/HeroHeads.html)

creecher

08-16-2005, 09:26 PM

The historic figures work better for Sideshow as the profit point isn't being eaten away with licencing rights. They can thus afford to try some strategies out. Like the duplicate Custer and Red Baron.

The point Dusty used, that being Buffy, is just a one off. No other licensed line has returned from the dead. Was Buffy dead, or just in remission? I thought the release of three figures, all the same except for their heads, was what rang their death knell, only to be raised once other companies were showing more success. Worked out well in the end, yeah? What other license can make it, if PotA and the other lines in status can't? It must be time for the Zombies, Revnant Frank and other Sideshow's own creations to creep out of the darkness, or are these being held back as backup for when a licensed line wanes? Who knows? At least they tell us what is not true.

ironman1188

08-16-2005, 10:02 PM

They have done a very good looking likeness to the movie gorrilla that you can check out by downloading their catalog.

Got that one as soon as i found out about it. It is now the best ape I have in my collection. A true pity that Sideshow didn't offer theirs with a bit more "character" in it. And, yes, if Eydylhands ever graces us with an Ursus that looks like Ursus, I'll get him too.

WestDan76

08-17-2005, 12:15 AM

"No other licensed line has returned from the dead"

I'm hoping that the next license to return from the dead will be the "Hogan's Heroes" set as it sold out fast and do not think they fully explored that set enough. The dvd's for the season 1 on dvd are selling like crazy and season 2 will be released next month. This is my favorite license that Sideshow did. I would love to get a General Burkhalter and a Major Hochstetter