View new posts | View your posts Ghostbusters Fans' Exclusive Interview with Mattel

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Thinking about it, even though it makes the most sense to do the trap next, I'd personally prefere the Goggles be next. There seems to be some logic of pairing them with the PKE, especially after having played TVG.

I'm down for a Gigameter or a trap either way! I'm just so Jazzed about this PKE man!!!

The more I hear about it the happier I get. I'll be buying at least two for sure! (It all depends if these gypsies buy my little brother or if they welch on our agreement...)

I'd expect to see a trap or goggles before the gigameter. They're much more iconic, not to mention it adds some variety rather than making a meter and then making... another meter.

No job is too big, No fee is to big.

an affordable belt gizmo would be a neat idea...

DO WANT.

And if they did a trap next... *Homer simpson drool*

I realise I probably am being a bit inconsistant, but I don't think I'm being hypocriticial.



Only a few months ago I burned myself with a soldering iron trying to sort out a connection for my Pack lights, and I've had hot gobs of hotglue sear my flesh more times then I can remember, it's a hazard of the hobby.



For your information, I already have a PKE resin Iona replica, and various collections of battery-op LED sets I plan to use for the lights, so although I intend to purchase the Mattel PKE, I still endeavor to assemble my own, even if it doesn't have a screen-accurate lighting kit.


My main reason for purchasing the Mattel PKE is the present lack of electronic kits for the PKE. As much as I'd love to get Hyperdyne's kit, there's no way I could justify in my own mind, or in those of my nearest and dearest spending $329.00 plus shipping... and that's if it ever gets back in stock.

A second reason is that I'm getting it so that at least one of the PKEs I eventually own will be a bit more durable if somewhere down the line I end up being involved in a fanfilm. I'm not stupid enough to think the one I'll build will be able to take much rough and tumble. - Mind you, were kits more plentiful and less expensive, I dare say my stance would be less supportive... who knows.

As for saying "I'd love to see Ecto Goggles" (your words, Dan, not mine) - I'm not saying I think they should make other props, as I wouldn't like the precedent that it could lead into a Proton Pack replica, but I can't say I wouldn't be interested in seeing them if it was an inevitability, who wouldn't want to see them? That and the likely craftmanship, if the PKE is an indicator likely couldn't be denied.
But I'd still rather people carried on with building the majority of their own props, even if you decide to go for the less accurate options, like welding Goggles Ecto Goggles, rather then a replica using the PVS-5 frame.

A fan-built pair of Ecto Goggles... or Proton Pack, or Ghost Trap will always be more impressive, and with much more character... I can't say I'd hold a fan in as high esteem as some of the regulars here, and in the U.K. Ghostbusters, if they were completely equipped with Mattel-made Trap, Pack, Goggles, PKE etc.

That being said, I also wouldn't make any assumptions that like Master Replicas, a hypothetical Mattel Proton Pack wouldn't be anything more than a display piece.



I never said that. My point is is that it boggles the mind that some people want to get into this hobby, and yet some seem unwilling to go through the same "right of passage" a lot of us have done. I know some people aren't able to build them, and my remarks shouldn't be confused as relating to buying one that has been built by a fan.

I just don't want someone to assume my Proton Pack is a Mattel one because a load of people bought them and decided to wear them for Halloween.

And true, you don't have to have a Proton Pack to be a Ghostbuster, but it's expected by the public... and although I love my Ghost Sniffer, it's not the same as my Particle Accelerator:



(This Pack isn't mine, but I think you'll get my point)

Yes, I can build a computer. I've taken mine apart completely three times and I also do computer tech work on the side. Last time I fiddled with spraypaint I ended up spraying my grass instead of what I was trying to due to the wind lol. Wasted the entire can before I figured out what was going on. So I ended up with a half-painted Gameboy Advance shell. Awesome!

Not saying I can't spraypaint, or I can't do a pack -- I'm sure I could, I'm just not going to deal with the frustration of messing up repeatedly on a limited budget right now. I've been out of work for 5 months, the last thing on my mind right now is spending $400 - $1,000 on a goofy pack that I have no idea how is gonna turn out. I'm doing a lot of freelance stuff to get my uniform for halloween in order as it is. Being a GB is an expensive hobby, man lol. I realize that, which is why I said I respect you guys who build, but it's not a focus of mine right now to go run out and do all that. I'm 24 and broke, but I have some kind of pride in wearing the suit that I won't disgrace it with a P.O.S. proton pack made out of cardboard and empty icing containers haha. I'm either building it right or not at all lol.

And I'm sure a pack won't be made, atleast anytime soon -- but you know a kiddy pack was released in stores back in the day (I wanted it so bad, too!). I'm sure they can spice things up and keep the costs somewhat down with an upgraded one. I've seen crazier collector's items in the past. If WWE releases deluxe belts that cost upward of $400 sometimes and people eat that up, I see no reason why Mattel wouldn't so something similar price point wise. The diff. here spending that much is that it's pre-made, ready to go out of the box instead of me having to build it from there. It's far fetched, but if we make it past 2012, I suspect it may happen whenever GB3 is out. I'm not in Mattel's exec. meetings, but I wouldn't do such an investment unless GB3 was killin' the box office and was fresh on the mainstream's mind. But anyways...

I'm just glad Mattel is even releasing anything. I'm new here, I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but I've been reading the forums for a bit and just figured I'd speak my mind.

I see where you're coming from, Kingpin, and I respect your argument. but I guess nobody but me knows I'm going to end up in the ER if I break out anything that's not a screw driver. I'll stick with computers, I got really freakishly long fingers and big hands that get in the way of everything (I can easily palm a basketball and ppl say I got good hands to play piano) which is why I cut myself on everything -- like profusely bleeding cuts lmao. I'm accident prone, man. I'm cool with it I came to terms with it YEARS ago...

And I doubt the Mattel pack would even compare to a fan built one. Some people just want a cheaper, respectable alternative. I don't even give a shit if it lights up or has sounds, as long as it doesn't look like cat puke sign me up lol.

And I know people expect you wear a pack, I'm just telling people I'm a ghost whisperer and don't have a pack yet lmao.

Thanks for doing this interview. I'm really looking forward to this and any other potential props (personally rooting for the trap, it's always been my favorite).

Awesome article and awesome prop! I'm hoping for a trap too and heck, why not goggles...
*fingers crossed*
Please let me be able to get one of these when they're finally released.

I think when you do the Cost vs. Benefit analysis, if you are Mattel, you decide that a 1:1 Proton Pack just isn't an economically feasible options to pursue.

You need to make a larger number of them to control cost, the price has to be higher because of the increased cost, and that's going to decrease the available market. There may be thousands ready to drop 50-75 on a PKE, but are there 4-5 thousand people ready to spend 500 bucks on a Proton Pack replica? It'd sell out eventually, but it wouldn't move like a 50 dollar item.

Though some have told me be careful here as some people don't like the 501st on this forum, I'm going to give my 2 cents on the matter anyway because as the coach from MAJOR LEAGUE said, "I'm too old to go runnin' behind lockers."

Anyway, as a guy who's bled for his craft, be it here or in a sandtrooper costume, I think if Mattel actually made a Pack, it would probably look a little different than everyones else's.
Look at the Rubies Stormtrooper costume. It has a weird lip around it. And I'm sure my pack looks nothing like a random pick of 2 or 3 people on here.
If someone wanted to buy a Mattel Pack, who am I to say they'd be "real fans" or "hardcore". If they weren't a real fan, they wouldn't have spent the $100's of dollars getting one. (Unless Mattel can come up with a way to make it hollow or not light up which would make it cheaper.)
Heck, I've got a PKE but it's pretty crappy looking and most times doesn't work. I love it, but I'm sure as heck buying one from Mattel, if not for me, then my boy who could go on charity events with me.
I guess I'm too old to care about being hardcore.
I'm just glad GB is out there and getting more more popular thanks to Mattel and all these toys.
It makes GB3 more and more likely.

/my 2 cents
//bored at work
///My pack is great, it just needs needs a little suspension work ... And a muffler ... And maybe brakes, brake pads, brake linings...

Forget the pack, lots of us already have those, what would be cool is a slimer blower!

man I wish I get a chance to buy one of these. by the time I usually discover they are out, they sell out. (missed out on all the 12' figures)
I really hope that they do pre-orders, not just so I get a chance to buy one. But because they need to fully understand that a lot of people will want one of these. Even if they already have their own home made replica PKE, they will buy this one too just to compare.

I agree. Man, I'm 24 and I'm not too concerned about being hardcore. Like I said before, I just want a better alternative to buying a cheap-ass blow up proton pack with that cheesy GB Halloween costume or using cardboard and a skillet lmao.

For me not to want to build my own pack or props doesn't make me less of a fan. The fact I'm even on this forum to begin with means I'm of equal nerdiness as everyone else LOL. We share a common bond in the love for these movies and everything with it. To say I need to build a pack from scratch to be truly accepted is a bit short sighted. If I want to buy my damn props from K-Mart in a pre-packaged affair, let me. Just like you spent money on building your own whatever, I'll spend my money on something already done for me. It's a free country, I can spend money on anything I want that's not weed or heavy drugs (LOL).

And while I'm in the minority, I still think Mattel can pull off a pack. I think scratch builds will still look more accurate and flashy, but to say they can't do one at all is foolish. If I were them, I'd see it as a challenge and research it for a bit. There's definitely a market for it for collector's and casuals alike. Who wouldn't want a proton pack that remembers the movies like they saw them yesterday (which isn't hard to believe since I see one of the two on Bravo every time I turn to it lol)?

Bottom line, to steal a line from Lost's John Locke, don't tell Mattel what they can or can't do!

The proton pack is a very cost prohibitive thing to mass produce is all I'm saying.

Thanks the lord there is someone with some sense!

The whole 'right of passage' thing is odd to say the least...

tbip2001

I called Matty customer service yesterday on a non related issue, (a defective Monster High doll with two right hands if you MUST know), and she looked into the PKE release date for me. She managed to actually give me release dates for more Monster High dolls that have not been announced yet, but couldn't pull up the PKE release date in the Ghostbusters stuff. She said that even internally they have not been given an exact release date yet, so we should just "stay tuned, and keep checking the website"

At least customer service is aware they are going to exist though.

Thats a very good sign, im glad mattel has become the company it is, so much better than back when i was young, i remember my father talking to customer service about a in package broken mail away he man toy, they didnt even know there was a mail away lol

How about a FULL SIZED ECTO 1?????

You know, a cardboard "fold it yourself" containment unit wouldn't be too hard or costly.

Dear Mattel guys that are hopefully lurking this thread: GOGGLES.


Wow, gotta say that's one of the more interesting variations of that community-ruining "True Fan" bullhockey that I've ever come across. xD

Oops, but I haven't built a pack. I better go...

;P

I don;t think the franchise, and events would be NEAR as much fun, if I had purchased everything. Building the gear has been almost as much fun as using it.

Word. I'm more interested in meeting a fan and conversing with them if the majority of their props were fan build, then if their whole costume, minus jumpsuit, were a collection of Mattel-made props.

That's discrimination on the basis of one's ability to build and or purchase one type of prop vs. another. As much as the term "elitist" has been thrown around, I think that is a perfect example of it. You somehow believe that quality of one's props can be a guide as to the quality of conversation you might could have with them.

Its a shame that this hobby has to be filled with so many snobs. I don't know where to start. It doesn't matter whether or not you love Ghostbusters and have built props or if you love Ghostbusters and haven't built props. The only thing that matters is that you love Ghostbusters. I'm a huge fan. I don't have a screen accurate pack (yet). That doesn't mean you shouldn't want to talk to me about Ghostbusters. I've always collected Ghostbusters memorabilia but it wasn't until the past few years that I really learned about the props and lots of other stuff. Much of what I learned was thanks to this wonderful site.

We all come on this site because we have a passion for Ghostbusters. Having a pack that you made doesn't make you a better fan than anyone else.

And for anyone that doesn't like the idea of Mattel making props, don't buy them.

Naw naw, Francine and Ron. It is us who are in error. We should find such enlightenment quite gracious.

In fact, I have already withdrawn from working on Transformers, because I have not yet built a full-size, transforming, sentient Optimus Prime.

Man, I'm glad no one knew I hadn't built a pack when I met Aykroyd the other day. Oh the ignominy!

I can't even talk to you..

First: Ouch.

Second: I'm sorry if my remarks read "snobbish" or "elite", but I've come to expect a certain level of shop talk (something I always enjoy when meeting up with my fellow ghostheads in the UK) whenever meeting up with fellow fans of our level of obsession, amongst other things it helps to pass the time if we're being asked to post for a million photos, of if waiting for a particular part of an event... Ghostbusters geek humour only goes so far, and most of the non prop-subjects have already been discussed to death on the forums.

I enjoy talking about methods of improvement, about whose parts are in a particular Pack, and the cosmetic angle of things... and if a fan wearing props isn't able to converse in those fields then there's a lot less to talk about.

This doesn't mean I'm going to ignore someone who doesn't build props, or those who do plan to build them but haven't yet (I don't know where that conclusion was drawn from).


I don't like the vibe that some seem to approach the Mattel props, like the attempt by Master Replicas before them, as some sort of "easy" option to getting a collection of prop replicas together. Building props isn't easy, but that's what makes it more rewarding when you've got the finished product.