Anyone else loosing interest in Ultimates?

[CM Tusk]

:Insert Dean Ambrose “nope” gif:

[AxelSmackdown]

Sept 1, 2023 17:49:28 GMT -5 CM Tusk said:

:Insert Dean Ambrose “nope” gif:

[Midnight: Dark Knight]

Sept 1, 2023 8:05:17 GMT -5 Chip said:

I think, just like with everything, since the line was doing well...Mattel and retailers decided to triple their orders because money. So now the market will be oversaturated and the buzz is gone. It's just another line of figures now instead of "ultimate"

The costs are now being spread to THREE figures per wave, so I expect less and less detail/accessories too.

*edit
unless they just decided to allocate more budget to Ultimates. which is a possibility....only time will tell, but that Series 18 Orton begs to differ.

I think orton is plain because savage ate up all the budget i. That wave. Unfortunately he looks even plainer now that there is no savage

[arossi417]

With all the other spots they have to get legends out now, I'd be cool with just sticking to 2 talents per wave and using them on intricate looks. I know we have the re-releases now, but I feel like a top picks slot twice a year could just cover the Roman/Cody looks they want to have out there on shelves.

I think the rightful flipside of this is in no way shape or form would I like to normalize Walmart trying to manage inventory with exclusive ultimates for the next decade. I am almost certainly losing interest in that.

[secondwhiteline]

I'm not a completist, so I'm not feeling any burnout. I'm just happy we're getting more than we used to, so figures like Ultimate Asuka are a reality now.

[Glorydaysofwrestling]

I prefer the elites, but I like getting ultimates because of all the extra headsculpts and accessories.

[marino13]

No.

[shanieomaniac]

Not a completions so I'm not burnt out but I will say that Ultimates should be reserved for positively iconic looks of whoever they are representing and the execution needs to be much more refined than it is. There's no excuse for such hideous torsos and basic belts this is the premium line. Keep them coming but do them RIGHT. No rushing, no cutting corners. If you can't put out quality figures that belong front and center on the shelf, then cut back the number of figures, pure and simple.

Quality not quantity
Rule to live by.

[danfdan]

The only annoying thing for me is the US store exclusives - I'd love Rey, Eddie and RVD and really want all the MNW Ultimates but no way of really getting them in the U.K.

[kirk815]

Sept 1, 2023 8:05:17 GMT -5 Chip said:

I think, just like with everything, since the line was doing well...Mattel and retailers decided to triple their orders because money. So now the market will be oversaturated and the buzz is gone. It's just another line of figures now instead of "ultimate"

The costs are now being spread to THREE figures per wave, so I expect less and less detail/accessories too.

*edit
unless they just decided to allocate more budget to Ultimates. which is a possibility....only time will tell, but that Series 18 Orton begs to differ.

Since they added a third figure, I don't see them keeping the same budget from when it was two figures (probably not even possible).

The additional figure is probably the main reason why we are finally getting Asuka's robe (and Bianca's jacket) since they can spread costs over three figures.

I think another reason they had to add an additional figure is to keep releasing Legends figures in the main line. Look how long it took to get Randy, Seth, AJ, etc. They were never going to catch up with just 8 main line releases a year (half of which usually went to Legends).

[Chip]

Sept 1, 2023 20:50:46 GMT -5 Midnight: Dark Knight said:

Sept 1, 2023 8:05:17 GMT -5 Chip said:

I think, just like with everything, since the line was doing well...Mattel and retailers decided to triple their orders because money. So now the market will be oversaturated and the buzz is gone. It's just another line of figures now instead of "ultimate"

The costs are now being spread to THREE figures per wave, so I expect less and less detail/accessories too.

*edit
unless they just decided to allocate more budget to Ultimates. which is a possibility....only time will tell, but that Series 18 Orton begs to differ.

I think orton is plain because savage ate up all the budget i. That wave. Unfortunately he looks even plainer now that there is no savage

That's what I mean....how does Savage use ALL the budget? like, this is where we're at now? the fact that the cost of goods to make these things is as high as it is, is a complete scam. Some purple deco hits and fabric tassels now is too much for an ULTIMATE wave?

these are $32 figures at retail...$36 figures online.

[kinnikuman]

I don't care about posing, so Ultimates really don't do anything for me. As a FTIL only guy at this point in my collecting, I won't be getting many that's for sure.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2023 8:24:58 GMT -5 Chip said:

Sept 1, 2023 20:50:46 GMT -5 Midnight: Dark Knight said:

I think orton is plain because savage ate up all the budget i. That wave. Unfortunately he looks even plainer now that there is no savage

That's what I mean....how does Savage use ALL the budget? like, this is where we're at now? the fact that the cost of goods to make these things is as high as it is, is a complete scam. Some purple deco hits and fabric tassels now is too much for an ULTIMATE wave?

these are $32 figures at retail...$36 figures online.

The reason the cost of fabric is so high is because it's made from Bill's back hair.

[BeDamned8008]

Its the Butterfly shoulders for me. They just open up the figures to a whole new world of poses.

[Professor Sparlin]

I wouldn't say I'm losing interest, but I am conscience of what I am willing to pay at full retail and would I can wait for a sale for. I don't care as much about torso parts or skin tones like some, but I do think that Ultimates should constistantly come with soft goods, premium belts, several hands/head options.

[xtremer18]

I'm on board that the recent Ultimates are a bit of a disappointment; the part choices don't bother me as much as the scaling (AJ and Seth are too tall), hoping it gets fixed soon.

I'll still purchase them for the heads or if it's someone that's first in the line like Logan Paul.

[Rocket_Fuel_Merchant]

Nope

[nomorexclusives]

Sept 1, 2023 7:08:41 GMT -5 underoos said:

Re use of same old guys are making it me lose interest, and so much is coming out it's hard to keep up

Same. There is so little variation now. Almost every figure has the same body, legs and arms. I made mention of this in the superstars thread that mattel should just sell the head sculpts.

The secondary problem is the price. For what we are paying now compared to what we were payi g for the same articulated figures a while back with double the pricepoint it gives little reason to collect the new stuff since almost every character has been made multiple times.

I could show so many examples of this from other lines and from other companies. We are living in a funko world and that level of standardization is extremely offputting. Im finding myself buying vegicles more than figures right now and already cancelled any plans to complete any line on the market now other than the superstars.

Having collected for ovee 30 years i know about rehashes and rereleases and mark my words it will destroy the market. But it doesnt matter, these toy compNies know we are a dying breed (literally) and that this and future generations dont and wont collect them after we are gone. So hasbro and mattel especially will milk it for all its worth until we realize one day that the 100th variation of hulk hogan, micheleangelo, cobra commander, heman, darth vader and optimus prime arent worth jack and that the best version was often times the first from decades ago (made from best plastic too) minus articulation.

Bottom line the completist is dead and if you are one of them, i hope you have room and money saved up because it will never end because of you. They are lutting out substandard figures because we keep buying the junk. (Same thing is happening with trading cards (cards getting thinner) Personally some lines just need to die otherwise they get saturated.....


Too much is too much, one line, one of each sculpt. When every wrestler is made, end it. Otherwise its just plastic in the end. A collection is only worth something when it is manegeable. When people can no longer keep track of all the variations, subsets and parallels (trading card reference), and different subseries within one brand well then people only pick up what they like. This is why we keep getting hulk hogans all the time because the new casual collector is not interested in doink the clown or new age wrestler. They buy what they know. But again the writing is on the wall we are in the last years. Once super7 has made every 80s figure line what is left from the 90s? Nothing is the answer. Gg




Edit: the other line being miled to death now is tmnt. I have not checkrx but i bet they have made at least 50 different versions of the main characters whether in singke pack, deluxe formzt, in 3 or 4 packs from numerous companies in every size you can imagine. We as buyers need to be selective and again referencing to my firat example the same figures are being put out now for more double the price with just a few added points or articulation. With gijoes they have changed to different types of articulation u til the next anniversary when they will rinse and repeat. I was excited for the 25th anniversary but seeing them now in 6 inch size hanging with everyone knowing they will never be able to complete the line like the jurassic park amber collection due to size constrainrs (can you imagine anyone being able to pay for the 6 inch version of the command outpost or aircraft carrier? Its juat not possible which is why the black series of star wars is dead now too. I hate to be negative but i have no bones in this game and someone has to say it like it is.

Lastly something i forgot to mention which is the elephant in the room. When most figures are exclusive and barely ever hit shelves forcing people to go on ebay all the time. How many can do that. It is the same reason beanie babies and hot wheels are just for kids now and why noone tries to pick up every car made anymore. There is too much, they are too hard to find and not manegeable. Ever see a youtube video of complete collections? The few who manage it are getting them shipped direct 6 monnths in advance to unbox and speak highly of. The average person has numerous holes in their collection and too far behind to ever be able to catch up for what they are selling for in the aftermarket.

Tl:dr elites, legends, superstars, ultimates, who is honestly able to keep up.

[shanieomaniac]

People talking about completionist collection, like, I really do feel bad for yinz.

I tried so hard to do that with the AEW FTIL Women's figures, only to have it be made impossible with The Bunny. It just wrecks everything to have something you are determined to get ALL of, only to have the figures start getting parted out between store exclusives, crowdfunds, chase figures, unreleased stuff, and all that. It gets depressing and I know how livid The Bunny made me and Ultimates are a way bigger collection to be stuck with at this point. Also, with them finally changing the packaging for Legends figures, I'm staring Mattel down like it's a dog watching a t-bone steak shouting "don't do it! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!".

Yeah. RIP completionists. So sorry for your loss.

[The Madness]

Sept 2, 2023 8:24:58 GMT -5 Chip said:

Sept 1, 2023 20:50:46 GMT -5 Midnight: Dark Knight said:

I think orton is plain because savage ate up all the budget i. That wave. Unfortunately he looks even plainer now that there is no savage

That's what I mean....how does Savage use ALL the budget? like, this is where we're at now? the fact that the cost of goods to make these things is as high as it is, is a complete scam. Some purple deco hits and fabric tassels now is too much for an ULTIMATE wave?

these are $32 figures at retail...$36 figures online.

Savage was going to have a completely new tights mold that was entirely unique to that figure, and that was probably a lot of it.

Add on the soft goods jacket, soft goods shirt, high amount of deco, and deco hits on the included hat and sunglasses, along with three heads (one of which was new) and I can see it.