Shopping Cart
Oct 17, 2018 Writen By: Miguel Galvez

Recap: Friday Q&A with Chocks and A #90 (12 October 2018)

This is a breakdown of the important (and not so important) topics of last Friday’s (12 October 2018) Friday Q&A with Chocks and A #90.


 

REMINDERS

 

  • ALPHONSE ELRIC pre-orders open right after this stream!
  • The BLADE OF THE DARKMOON PENDANT and MUSHROOM PARENT PENDANT pre-orders are now closed. Thank you so much for all your support! You can still jump on the waitlist for a chance at pre-ordering these accessories if you already haven't.
  • SONIC THE HEDGEHOG VS. CHOPPER DIORAMA pre-orders from the F4F x GNF Toyz partnership is still open for pre-orders until 19 October 2018. It will NOT re-open in the future.
  • SPYRO PVC (EXCLUSIVE) is still open for pre-orders until either 2 November 2018 or possibly longer if it doesn't reach at least 3,000 pieces sold.
  • GUTS THE BLACK SWORDSMAN is still open for pre-orders until the Exclusive versions reach a combined total of at least 1,000 pieces sold or until before production begins.
  • SPIKE SPIEGEL is still open for pre-orders until the Exclusive version reaches at least 1,000 pieces sold or until before production begins.
  • WARP STAR KIRBY is still open for pre-orders until the Exclusive version reaches at least 1,000 pieces sold or until before production begins.
  • PSYCHO MANTIS is still open for pre-orders until the Exclusive version and Special variant reach a combined total of at least 1,000 pieces sold or until before production begins.

 

 

WEEK IN REVIEW

 

  • This Peggy Hsieh person that's supposedly a new addition to the F4F team to help Chockles out in marketing is apparently just an alternate account of Chocks; she's a fake! Or, is she? Regardless, here's a code that allows you to redeem some free reward points "care of Peggy," and the 1,000 reward points contest is real as well. (Spoiler Alert: She's real.)
  • First 4 Figures and Animegami both published a press release stating their partnership during the upcoming MCM London Comic Con from October 26-28 2018. Also, Chockles will be present for the duration of the event!

 

MCM London Comic Con 2018

 

  • The IT team is currently working on a website update that will allow people to do a couple of new things:
    1. Payment plans for those on the waitlist
    2. Defer payments for a month up to a maximum of three (3) times before finally canceling an order
    3. The ability to add payments plans for those that aren't on one yet
  • Alex ran a Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy character poll in light of the recent Spyro™ 8″ PVC product launch. Currently on the lead is Crystal Dragon. It would certainly be easier to make compared to the OG Crystal Dragon since it is easier to make curved things than sharp edges.
  • Alex also ran a non-anime and non-video game dragon poll since it does seem like the Club is quite interested in dragons in general, and he found it interesting that Toothless is currently at the top. If Toothless reaches 800+ votes, Alex will look into this very carefully. How he would go about it is if he knew from the very beginning that it would do well, he would start with PVC first to introduce people to First 4 Figures before creating a resin piece.
  • Dan Cheng has joined the F4F team and is now the new Wholesale executive. Welcome, Dan!
  • Alex posted a poll asking the ladies of the Official Collectors Club what video games they're into. The result can help Alex gauge which licenses to acquire so that it appeals to both genders for better sales.
  • Alex has been talking to the team about fixing the inefficiencies of the company.

 

 

TEMPTATION THURSDAYS (TT) POLL

 

  • Last week’s Characters from The Binding of Isaac series TT Poll #121 Results: 85 YES votes / 165 NO votes
  • This week’s Rytlock Brimstone from the Guild Wars series TT Poll #122 Results: 47 YES votes / 116 NO votes

 

TT Poll #122: Guild Wars

 

  • Next TT polls will be (in this order): OWLBOYBLOOD+
  • The six winners of last week's #F4FBIGAL are JENNIFER TRAYNOR, ÅSA ANDERSSON, LOUISE SMITH, LIZ MARTIN, CLAUDE BOUFFARD, and GIANLUCA PILATO.
  • Next week's hashtag is #F4FPEGGY for a chance to win 500 reward points.

 

 

KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT

 

  • King of the Ring Tournament #2 to begin next week
  • As discussed, if no one wins the tournament, 2,000 reward points will go into a prize pool and will continue to accumulate until such time that a winner claims it all. If multiple winners succeed in claiming the prize, they will each receive 2,000 reward points plus their equal share of the prize pool.
  • Majority of voters don't own plenty of the F4F pieces, so it doesn't matter if the statue participants are already out in the marketplace or not.
  • Tourney #2 matchups are as follows:
    • Match #1: Sif vs. Sonic 25th Anniversary
    • Match #2: 20th Anniversary Sonic vs. Amaterasu
    • Match #3: Sword Kirby vs. Jin Kazama
    • Match #4: Breath of the Wild Link PVC vs. Zero Suit Samus
    • Match #5: Ganondorf vs. Optimus & Megatron
    • Match #6: Simon Belmont vs. Nightmare
    • Match #7: Viewtiful Joe vs. Dredd & Death
    • Match #8: Spyro (Resin) vs. Tanooki Mario

 

 

PRODUCTION VIDEO EXCLUSIVES

(NOTE: You need to be a member of the Official Collectors Club to view these videos.)

 

 

 

VARIOUS CHARACTER & PRODUCT LINE UPDATES

 

  • SPYRO (RESIN) UPDATE: 100 pieces were sent out to Australasia; only two people complained. Alex doesn't feel the need to do any corrective action, so he gave the thumbs up to have everything else shipped.
  • SPYRO PVC UPDATE: Laser focused on trying to get these out around the launch of the game; maybe about a month out depending on how things go; still hoping to ship before Chinese New Year; the Standard version to go out first because of F4F's commitment to the retailers and the hefty penalties that go with it if dates aren't met
  • AMATERASU PVC UPDATE: Moved a flower and a bit of the greenery to the left to add more color when viewing the statue from the front (before, all the colors were at the back); estimated to go up for pre-order when the PVC mold is ready

 

Amaterasu PVC changes

 

  • SOLID SNAKE UPDATE: Factory visit next week to inspect if statues are ready for Australia shipment
  • This week's tee-hee; Alex now in two minds about this given the response

 

Tee-hee!

 

  • WARP STAR KIRBY UPDATE: Exclusive version edition size currently at around 300 pieces
  • VARIA SUIT UPDATE: Factory slowed down; production is very difficult
  • NIGHTMARE UPDATE: In the same slow factory as Sonic 25th Anniversary Batch 2 and Amaterasu Life-Size Bust, so it will be awhile for those on the waitlist
  • IVY UPDATE: Prototype sneak possibly next year
  • Alex looking into doing Spyro PVC in the original design
  • True Form (TF) and Super Deformed (SD) PVC anime statues hopefully in the future if the support is there
  • Dark Souls SD PVC statues all the same size
  • PHOENIX WRIGHT UPDATE: Warehouse just recently received the prototype since it was stuck in Customs; now working on the color changes
  • YAKUZA UPDATE: F4F to send SEGA a "Kickstarter" proposal
  • SEGA UPDATE: After their meeting with SEGA during Brand Licensing Europe, they've concluded that "Kickstarter" projects will depend on the character involved.
  • BANJO-KAZOOIE UPDATE: Changes have been sent to the licensor.
  • Shiranui PVC is a possibility.
  • TRUE FORM MIDNA UPDATE: Production estimated to start in a month's time
  • "KICKSTARTER" UPDATE: Will get the first one done first to get a better idea on how to execute this
  • DARK SOULS 2 AND 3 UPDATE: Development is taking a bit of time; one of the longer ones to develop; SD PVC statues are there to keep the interest going
  • SKULL KNIGHT UPDATE: Now in the physical stage
  • AMATERASU LIFE-SIZE BUST UPDATE: Still no shipping estimates; the factory is very hard to predict
  • FAYE VALENTINE UPDATE: Alex was working on her this week; still not there yet
  • DRACULA UPDATE: pushing Dracula pre-orders back; did not make it in time for Halloween
  • Laser focused on plushies for 2019; starting to gather resources together such as laser cutting machines, embroidery machines, skilled in-house prototype developers, etc.; would be a disservice to the licensors and the fans not to do it properly
  • SHOVEL KNIGHT: Started production; still working on the Green and Black variants; other knights still possible depending on the support for the other variants
  • DANTE UPDATE: Alex is happy with the redesign; now onwards and upwards
  • AIKA UPDATE: Still no news on the "Kickstarter" program
  • GRAY FOX UPDATE: Confirmed to have a Definitive Edition
  • Kindly let Alex know in the comments section below how you want Crystal Cloak Alucard to look.
  • Mini figures are a guarantee.
  • JET BLACK UPDATE: Estimated to go up for pre-order towards the end of this year
  • BOWSER UPDATE: Alex to visit the factory soon; factory quite slow
  • SONIC AND TAILS DIORAMA UPDATE: Should finish printing in the next few days

 

 

ALPHONSE ELRIC LAUNCH

 

 

  • The base has different layers and depths to it and is painted really well.

 

Alphonse Elric base design

 

  • Around the base is a glow-in-the-dark transmutation circle
  • Blood Seal symbol on the rim of the base and on the neck portion of Alphonse.

 

Alphonse Elric rim of the baseAlphonse Elric neck section

 

  • Anime lines on the wrinkles of the apron; color of apron can be tweaked

 

Alphonse Elric apron

 

  • The Exclusive Edition comes with LED features for the normal head and comes with an interchangeable head. The second head comes with its own hairpiece, but since it is similar to the first hairpiece, it is to be determined if there will be just one universal hairpiece for both head sculpts.

 

Alphonse Elric Exclusive Edition

 

  • The Definitive Edition comes with all the add-ons of the Exclusive Edition plus a second set of arms and a base that features the power of Pride. The Philosopher's Stone also has LED features. The inspiration for this edition comes from Episode 52 of the Brotherhood anime series.

 

Alphonse Elric Definitive Edition

 

  • All versions come in a Gray variant and a Silver variant.
  • A Combo Edition is available for the Exclusive and the Definitive Edition for those that wish to purchase both color variants.
  • The head with the LED feature has its own switch and power source. It was impossible to give the statue a floating head effect if the wiring was connected to the power source of the base.
  • Regular and Exclusive Edition SRP: 549.99 USD + shipping
  • Definitive Edition SRP: 699.99 USD + shipping
  • Exclusive Combo Edition SRP: 999.99 USD + shipping
  • Definitive Combo Edition SRP: 1,249.99 USD + shipping
  • Alex took a big risk with the price. He priced it as low as he did because he is banking on the fact that there is enough support for the franchise in and out of the Club. The route he chose to take was to sell more quantity at a low price, as opposed to less quantity but at a high price. But, even so, the price is at the bare minimum and isn't sustainable for the future of the company. According to Alex, this should have been F4F's most expensive piece to date, but they are only pricing it as such for the first piece to keep the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood line healthy and to help attract more anime fans.
  • Regular and Exclusive Edition will be shipped in one box; Definitive Edition will be shipped in two boxes
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood character poll soon; Edward Elric and Roy Mustang still included in it to gauge their popularity in comparison to the other characters
  • For more information on Alphonse Elric and how to place your pre-orders, kindly click HERE.
  • ALPHONSE ELRIC EXCLUSIVE EDITION (GRAY VARIANT) GIVEAWAY

 

 

OTHER TOPICS

 

  • Statue numbers have no bearing on the quality.
  • Peggy likes Monster.
  • Through the Peggy experiment, Alex and Chocks have determined that there are a lot of lurkers in the Club.
  • Biggest plot twist: Alex Davis is just the janitor of the company.
  • So far, 1,303 people have claimed "Peggy's" points.
  • Alex would love to do multiple versions of PVC statues such as Yoshi.
  • Alex to look into adding an instruction pamphlet for those who do not receive a battery with their statue
  • Alex to sort out a production calendar on Trello
  • Alex has no problem answering the same questions week after week since there are always new members joining the Club.
  • Alex and Chocks prefer the Nintendo 64 over the PlayStation 1.
  • Could consider doing a statue raffle giveaway during conventions
  • Peggy likes Black Clover and some romance novels.
  • More conversation on Amaterasu's divine weapons after the launch of Amaterasu PVC
  • Nothing to report on the Persona 5 license
  • Each shipment should have their own allocated replacements.
  • The Christmas sneaks are future Alex problem.
  • You only earn reward points from the portion of a payment that was paid for with money.
  • Chocks' throne is located in the City of Dreams.
  • If you wish to sign for a shipment online, please contact Customer Service. They'll see what they can do to help.
  • To the Moon and Telltale's The Walking Dead made Alex cry.
  • Monetary wise, Guts: The Black Swordsman sold better than Spike Spiegel.
  • It's F4F's QC team that "makes" the statues; the factories just do what they're told to do.
  • WHO DAT WHO DAT: This week's Who Dat Who Dat was postponed to make way for the Alphonse Elric product launch.

 


 

To view everyone's questions from the Q&A portion of this episode, please click HERE.

 

If you want to have your questions answered by our very own Chocks and Alex, simply search "Chocks and A" in the F4F Official Collectors Club Facebook group and leave your questions in the comments section of the most recent thread prior the upcoming live stream. This thread is posted every Thursday of the week.

 

If you wish to watch the entire video:

 

 


 

Recap: Friday Q&A with Chocks and A #89 (5 October 2018)Recap: Friday Q&A with Chocks and A #91 (19 October 2018)

Last Update 2018-10-23 14:51:17
Read 2973 Times
Published in Friday Q&A Show

Leave a comment