In last weeks Discussion of the Week, we asked the Toyark members about a video game icon. Would you buy new Super Mario Bros. toys if they were well done? Reaction was a bit mixed, but overall, people seemed to agree that well done toys would sell well. Here are some of the highlighted comments below.
Shin Densetsu
“Maybe, if the sculpting was superb and full articulation was incorporated, but even then, I’d just cherry pick and buy only the characters I like. For example, I doubt I’d buy any goombas. Maybe racoon Mario and Bowser, that’d probably it.“
ludovicotek
“Yes. Yes I would. I already own some of the vinyl figures. I even have some of the little statue figures that don’t do crap except collect dust. But I still like them. I was born in 1980 and grew up playing all the Mario games. I can’t shake the nostalgia that Mario brings into my life and I would eat up a well-articulated line.“
BlazeEagle
“Heck yeah I’d buy fully articulated SMB figures!! That’d be a childhood wish come true!
If I had room & IF they where done without looking half-assed, I’d buy a playset too.
It’d take forever to think up everything, so Here’s some quick ideas –
The standard, unpowered up Mario & Luigi would have full articulation & NO action features to compromise the articulation.
Fire power Mario & Luigi would have full, uncompromised articulation as well, but they’d also come with a replaceable arm/hand with a fireball “shooting” action feature.
Bowser, King Koopa or whatever he’s now called could have a sound chip in him so he could “growl” & “roar” at Mario.
A playset could include an exclusive fully articulated figure of the Princess & squishy two mini figures of Goombas that figures of the bros could “stomp” on & “squish”.
A deluxe set could include a fully articulated Yoshi with a variant figure of Mario. Yoshi could “suck” up those squishy Goomba like he does in some of the games.
All kinds of fun figures & play sets could be made!
While nowadays, I think kids attention is more drawn in by video games, kids still need to have imagination skills.
Sure, Kids can use their imagination to act out scenarios with “cheapo” immobile vinyl figures, but Articulation gives a kids more to work with when they act out scenarios with their imaginations.
And, If it would prove successful, It could expand into including other Nintendo characters.“
bigkid24
“I wouldn’t but I think as long as the sculpts are accurate I would really consider it. But I would prefer candy toys or gashapons with a variety of characters. I feel like that’s the only way we’d see all the different types of characters.“
Thanks again to all who participated. This weeks discussion will be up soon.