Mattel - New for 2025

[andrewsaurus rex]

No kidding.  Takes all the fun out of collecting imo, just like scalpers do.

[Carnoking]

Yeah, all these hoops you got to jump through make getting these figures kind of a pain in the butt but no more so than it would be to actually have to go to Comic Con just to get them.

[andrewsaurus rex]

i don't even see the point of the exclusives.  Favours the few that can make it to Cons and majorly ticks off all the other loyal collectors especially when the exclusives are very desirable items. If i were running a toy company there would be no Con exclusives; maybe give the Con attendees the chance to purchase items a few weeks/months in advance of the general retail release, but that's it.

[crazy8wizard]

The "point" is less for the buyers and entirely for the sellers. It creates artificial scarcity.

[Gwangi]

I've said it before but one of the reason I collect Mattel toys, aside from being a Jurassic Park fan, is because of their availability. They're the only company I collect where I can walk into a Walmart or Target and find their products. They're affordable and easy to find (usually). So, when the exclusives come around, I don't even consider trying to acquire them. I don't want to jump through hoops and feel anxious about these toys, takes the fun out of it for me.

[andrewsaurus rex]

As an example of how damaging exclusives can be:

Many, many years ago i was into collecting Playmates Star Trek figures.  They were about 5 inch scale and fun, covering many of the characters from the various series and the movies and more were being added on a regular basis.  Playmates was raking in the loot.  Very popular hobby.  But then they got stupid.

When the Star Trek movie which had the first appearance of the Borg Queen came out, they released movie figures, but in a much larger scale that was totally incompatible with all the previous figures they had made.  AND they did not make a Borg Queen figure for the line.  The fans were furious with Playmates.

Then the next year they came out with the "1701 Exclusives".  These were the regular 5 inch figures but only 1701 of each figure was released....they were scattered randomly throughout the country.  To make matters worse, the figures were of subjects that everyone had been clamouring for for years.  The prize of the 3 released was Tapestry Picard.  Within weeks of the exclusives' release this figure shot up to over $1000 in the secondary market (this was before Ebay).  The other 2 figures were over $500 each.

This was the straw the broke the camel's back. Still upset about the borg movie figures, collectors not only stopped buying but began dumping there collections.  The Playmates Star Trek line never recovered, even when they later released the 1701 figures in large quantities (which of course infuriated all those that had paid hundreds for them).  Within a year the line was cancelled by Playmates.  They had lost a lucrative cash cow because of executives who did not understand their product nor their customers.

[stargatedalek]

I don't mind paint variants as convention exclusives, but unique sculpts is definitely something that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[crazy8wizard]

Aside from the guy in the costume, so little of the T. rex is unique enough to justify the price IMO. The throat pouch is barely noticeable and the proportionate feet bragged about on the website should have been standard. (plus I only have room for one giant HC theropod in my collection so I might as well keep it as the gorgeous giganotosaurus)

[Shane]

Welcome to the world of toy collecting, everyone!

[Carnoking]

Welcome to the world of toy collecting, everyone!

I guess it's the life I chose!

[PumperKrickel]

I'd just like to remind everyone that some of their previous con exclusives were the integral characters John Hammond, Dennis Nedry and Ray Arnold. All of them later got regular releases and this Rex will, too.

[Faelrin]

P @PumperKrickel That used to be true. Since 2022, none have since re-released. While it makes sense for the latter two (Spielberg, and Jimmy Buffett), Gennaro still has yet to recieve a widespread release.

Hopefully they do a re-release with an updated sculpt and more film/SWS accurate coloration down the road. This one is colored more like the classic Kenner Bull T. rex toy.

[Shane]

I'd just like to remind everyone that some of their previous con exclusives were the integral characters John Hammond, Dennis Nedry and Ray Arnold. All of them later got regular releases and this Rex will, too.

Don't forget Steven Spielberg and Jimmy Buffett.

[PumperKrickel]

P @PumperKrickel That used to be true. Since 2022, none have since re-released. While it makes sense for the latter two (Spielberg, and Jimmy Buffett), Gennaro still has yet to recieve a widespread release.

Hopefully they do a re-release with an updated sculpt and more film/SWS accurate coloration down the road. This one is colored more like the classic Kenner Bull T. rex toy.

Yeah, but giving Gennaro a widespread release makes no sense financially. Ray Arnold became an absolute pegwarmer and he's  a far more popular character, due to being played by Samuel L. Jackson alone.

Mattel will keep making new Tyrannosaurus Rex figures for as long as they have the license. A Hammond Collection Bull Rex is just a matter of time imo.

[SBell]

I'm annoyed to discover that the dino reveal figures can't be differentiated from the product codes... I want my Shringasaurus variant! They're in store here, but I don't want to waste the money on uncertainty

[Faelrin]

@SBell They do have codes (letters on the bottom of the tube). Wave 1's have been in the op. Unfortunately I've been a bit behind on checking out Andy's Dinosaur Reviews video on the Wave 2 ones, and getting the OP updated with them. Just checked it out. Here's the codes:

Wave 2:
Dilophosaurus Code A
Shringasaurus Code B
Miragaia Code C

Wave 1
Avaceratops - Code A
Dracorex - Code B
Velociraptor Code C

Worth mentioning again, that if you or anyone else prefers the skeletal look do not get them wet, it will take the washable paint off.

I'll go get the op updated with these codes finally. Edit: Updated now.

[SBell]

@SBell They do have codes (letters on the bottom of the tube). Wave 1's have been in the op. Unfortunately I've been a bit behind on checking out Andy's Dinosaur Reviews video on the Wave 2 ones, and getting the OP updated with them. Just checked it out. Here's the codes:

Wave 2:
Dilophosaurus Code A
Shringasaurus Code B
Miragaia Code C

Wave 1
Avaceratops - Code A
Dracorex - Code B
Velociraptor Code C

Worth mentioning again, that if you or anyone else prefers the skeletal look do not get them wet, it will take the washable paint off.

I'll go get the op updated with these codes finally. Edit: Updated now.

I didn't think to look at the bottom, looked everywhere else!

Thanks for that, I'll see if it works when I can get back!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I found the vehicle set, Zora with raptor and Dr Loomis with pteranodon set at Books a Million today. Some of the new matchbox too.

[SBell]

I found the vehicle set, Zora with raptor and Dr Loomis with pteranodon set at Books a Million today. Some of the new matchbox too.

Saw the entire Matchbox lot.
Already have the Spinosaurus+people set!

Mattel has been surprisingly good about getting merch into the stores here for once. And I've seen a lot of restock already

[Prehistory Resurrection]

New Chaos Theory Advent Calendar revealed;