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.
Discussion Of The Week - Would You Buy Good Super Mario Toys
Nope, I don't care about the characters enough.
Japan currently has about 10 different product lines for Super Mario all of which are vinyl toys and plush. I personally do not own any mostly because they don't do anything spectacular. Vinyl toys are boring and stagnant and plush toys are for little girls. I think it would be interesting to see articulated figures but knowing how Nintendo is with their name brands they will most likely screw it up for us OLD SCHOOL fans.
If they brought back Super Mario 3 and made some figures then I would say YES!
But
Mario has turned into such a child icon that there would be no point in collecting anything Mario, plush, vinyl, or ortherwise.
I'm not really talking about what is currently out there. I'm asking, if it was made correctly (a line of Mario themed toys/figures), would you buy it?
No, I wouldn't. But that's not to say that the line wouldn't do well with kids or Mario fans.
I know.....that's what I meant
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.
Heck yeah! My Mario from Toy Biz's old Mario Kart line is still one of my favorite figures.
Legend of Zelda is also in need of a solid toyline...
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.
I definitely would. But I can see how it would be hard to make real action figures out of some of the characters who don't have legs. And a lot of the ones that do have stumpy legs and arms. Mario and Luigi would be the only ones I could see having a decent action figure. But if you mean something like the Smurf line...I would buy that.
I could go for a 3 3/4" Mario bros. series, they could havea Yoshi most figures could mount & Koopa/Para Troopas & Goombas would be excellent army builders.
No thanks. Maybe like a video game classics vinyl line with Mario, Pac Man, Earthworm Jim and Vectorman.
I would definitely buy any bad guys. Love my lil pop cap evil dudes. Make a SPINY GODDAMNIT! I would buy like, ten spinys...
If they had well articulation and a great sculpt then yeah. But I would much more prefer a line of Nintendo toys not just just the Mario bros. Just think of how cool it would be to have a well sculpted and well articulated Link toy or Ganondorf.
I would possibly just get Mario himself, but as for the whole line - no.
It's just not in the intrest of fans. I think we are all more considerably interested in the video games themselves. It would be a complete failure to produce articulated figures since they are costly and most fans would only buy MARIO only. Children on the other hand do not care too much about articulation and would be happy with any Mario paraphernalia. It would be a disaster and the company producing these would go under fast!
Even the current line of vinyl figures on the shelves at TRU are not doing well. The 12" vinyl here is selling for less than $20. At the store I work at we sold the Japanese one for $80 (appr. 6800 yen) SO you tell me if it's worth it.
Even the current line of vinyl figures on the shelves at TRU are not doing well. The 12" vinyl here is selling for less than $20. At the store I work at we sold the Japanese one for $80 (appr. 6800 yen) SO you tell me if it's worth it.
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.
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.
I'd buy the hell out of Super Mario bros Minimates.
What I want is for NECA to get the rights to do SSB figures. For me, that would be Mario and Co. done right.
They could even do variants for Mario and Luigi in their "flower power" outfits, or even branch off into gimmicks from some of the other games.
Yes, I would...and HAVE! That Mario Kart line from Toybiz was somethin' else...very true to form but still well articulated. I just wish a line like that could be sustained for more than two series. I'd also like 2-D playsets like this- Mario Stage Sets on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
even for the current vinyl figures being offered.
Their size would make them easy to display and/or play with.
No, but it's simply a resource issue. Space and finances (as well as other issues) dictate my expenditures and such.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy seeing well-made toys from any line, especially for those who'd very much like to have something like this more than any other toy
Mario is one of the kids favourite game.Many go fascinated for it.
Full Thread: Would You Buy Well Done Super Mario Toys?
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