|
|
Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2016 17:56:32 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 25, 2016 18:08:22 GMT
Looking forward to this.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Feb 25, 2016 22:14:08 GMT
Interesting... In some respects it has been the complexity of actually programming and operating 3D Printers which has been holding the technology back, so this is a promising development. Must say though - I wouldn't have expected it to be Mattel who was first to move on this. Life in the old dog yet.
Karl
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2016 22:26:44 GMT
I think it's a very smart move. This type of thing has the potential to be the biggest thing in the toys market since 'toys to life' became a thing. Mattel also need a 'killer app'. Barbie is in slow decline, Hot Wheels has healthy competition, they still can't figure out MOTU for mass retail and lack new IP's.
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Feb 25, 2016 22:29:31 GMT
It is, but there's also the potential for it to be absolute rubbish with a handful of pre-loaded things and no customisation/creation options.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2016 22:32:01 GMT
This is merely the first to market. Whether this particular iteration of 'make your own toys at home' is any good is just part of the equation. This area of product line has massive potential. Time will tell whether Mattel got it right out of the gate or if a competitor made a better version that took off.
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by Fortmax2020 on Feb 25, 2016 22:53:33 GMT
Soon all will be able to print their own MANTA Force toys.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Feb 25, 2016 22:56:55 GMT
Mattel did take over Bluebird, so YES
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 25, 2016 23:05:12 GMT
Manta Force nothing, I want to make my own Decoys/Action Masters...
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Feb 25, 2016 23:16:17 GMT
Boo! The day I have to print my own toys is the day I hang up my collecting coat!
If I had a collecting coat. Maybe I should have a collecting coat.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 25, 2016 23:16:59 GMT
How about I print them and you buy them then?
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Feb 25, 2016 23:23:43 GMT
Or a collecting goat!
Half the fun of toys is the expectation and excitement of opening the box, or in my case denying myself that through not opening it. Printing my own would feel like making knock offs. No value. Disposable, repeatable. Press a button and another one pops out. I see the benefit but it ain't for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Feb 25, 2016 23:26:36 GMT
I suppose it would depend on what you were making.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 25, 2016 23:39:44 GMT
First on my list - decoys.
2nd - Action Masters!
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Baron B of Triple B on Feb 26, 2016 10:19:05 GMT
It'll come down to what it produces. If it's a case of printing solid figurines with no posability or colour depth then it'll bomb.
If they can produce designs that look like separate sections of a proper action figure that you put together and have something to play with then its worthwhile for Mattel to try to get ahead of the market.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 26, 2016 10:29:04 GMT
I'll still do a run of decoys though!
I agree. If it allows you create segments the way a lot of action figures are put together then yes, it's a goldmine for them.
Whether them getting in early doors will mean they succeed is up in the air, but Mattel do need to try something new given how their current core brands are performing.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Feb 26, 2016 13:17:22 GMT
From the article it sounds like that "sectioned construction" thing is what they want to bring to market. I suspect we will see them release a lot of premade templates and patterns, but it spunds like they want to support the "design your own" flexibility too. How well they will do kinda depends. Sometimes being first to market gets you the lionsshare - Hoover. Sometimes it leaves you in the dust when everyone else gets to let you encounter the problems and steal the solutions - mosaic, Betamax.
Just think - in a generations time the term "Thingmaker" might be a generic term for 3dprinters the way "hoover" is for a vacuum cleaner!
Karl
|
|
Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
YOU INTERRUPTED MY SPEECH!! But don't worry. It won't happen again.
Posts: 6,120
|
Post by Stomski on Feb 26, 2016 15:17:04 GMT
I suspect part of the ongoing revenue for this is based upon selling the plastic used in the printing itself, similar to "official" printer ink is over expensive because manufacturers need to make money back on the low cost of the printer itself.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 26, 2016 17:27:20 GMT
Thing is, I don't think it will need to be all that expensive. People if using it will go through the stuff at a phenomenal rate, so even if they keep it at a reasonable price, they could coin it in.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Baron B of Triple B on Feb 26, 2016 18:54:48 GMT
It'll come down to what it produces. If it's a case of printing solid figurines with no posability or colour depth then it'll bomb. If they can produce designs that look like separate sections of a proper action figure that you put together and have something to play with then its worthwhile for Mattel to try to get ahead of the market. I'll still do a run of decoys though! I agree. If it allows you create segments the way a lot of action figures are put together then yes, it's a goldmine for them. Whether them getting in early doors will mean they succeed is up in the air, but Mattel do need to try something new given how their current core brands are performing. Andy It'll be ideal for army building. The last part of your post is the problem. Sometimes people come in too early with an idea before the markets ready. |
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Feb 26, 2016 19:27:35 GMT
Well, obviously the resolution it prints at will also be a major sticking point! I guess we wait and see!
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Feb 26, 2016 19:57:08 GMT
Depends on what people end up using it for I guess. If it comes in cheap enough in terms of running costs to make things that are simple but enjoyable for the kids then it might do ok.
(For my part I'd probably mostly use it for designing and producing fairly simple accessories for existing toys (a load of UMM- style missile pods, or sleek and 90s boxy/Apple-esque handarms for 0.5 cm mounts and manipulators for example))
Karl
|
|
