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By Ron, on February 15th, 2010 
Here’s some booth pics of the Halo, Playmakers, and Prince of Persia lines from McFarlane. I didn’t speak to anyone at the booth, but it was interesting to see Todd McFarlane working the booth. He’s participated in special events at Toy Fair before, but I can’t remember him actively manning the booth and talking to buyers and media.
There’s more… click to continue reading Toy Fair 2010 – McFarlane Halo, Playmakers, and Prince of Persia Pics
By Ron, on February 6th, 2010
By Ron, on January 30th, 2010   
With new models for the space marines, monsters, and vehicles, Halo: Reach should breathe some new life into McFarlane’s Halo action figure franchise. I’m hoping that we’ll finally get an in-scale Warthog for the 5-inch line. I can dream, right?
There’s more… click to continue reading McFarlane Announces Halo: Reach 5-inch Line of Action Figures and Vehicles
By Ron, on January 16th, 2010 McFarlane has provided a first look at its new 4-inch super-articulated line of figures for Major League Baseball, Playmakers. It looks like there will be different body types (I see subtle differences in the knees and pant legs), so Ramirez will look bigger than Jeter, for example. The articulation looks pretty good to me too, with the biggest limitations in the hips and ankles.
Still no indication of whether figures will include interchangeable heads and hands to switch between fielding and batting or what the suggested retail price will be.
FIRST LOOK AT MLB PLAYMAKERS ACTION FIGURES
Brand New Action Figure Line and Format Coming to Stores this March
McFarlane Toys is excited to reveal a first look at the highly anticipated addition to our sports action figure lines — MLB Playmakers. As announced last November, Playmakers is a completely new type of McFarlane Toys product based on our existing sports licenses. These new action figures include the high level of detail McFarlane Toys is known for in a newly developed 4-inch scale figure. The addition of tremendous articulation, more than 20 moving parts, allows for complete playability and enables consumers to recreate countless sports action poses. All figures come in either a batter or fielder pose, except for pitchers.
While we aren’t ready to show you the entire line, you can take a “seventh inning stretch” from what you are doing and check out this sampling from Series 1 and see the playability and detail this great new line has to offer.
MLB PLAYMAKERS SERIES 1
  
- DEREK JETER (fielding) — New York Yankees
- ALBERT PUJOLS (batting) — St. Louis Cardinals
- MANNY RAMIREZ (batting) — Los Angeles Dodgers
Other players in Series 1 include:
- David Ortiz
- Ryan Howard
- Alex Rodriguez
- Dustin Pedroia
- David Wright
- Josh Beckett
- Chipper Jones
- Ichiro Suzuki
- Tim Lincecum
Playmakers are scheduled to release to retailers nationwide this March. To find a retailer near you, please check our Where to Buy section.
via SPAWN.COM >> NEWS >> FIRST LOOK AT MLB PLAYMAKERS ACTION FIGURES.
By Ron, on December 16th, 2009 With the flamethrower, katana, and the first character from Halo Wars, Halo fans will not want to miss these two sets.
NEW PHOTOGRAPHY OF ‘HALO’ ACTION FIGURE BOXED SETS
Action Figures and Armor Packs Are Coming to Stores March 2010
2010 is quickly becoming a good year for Halo fans. In addition to our ongoing action figure assortments, McFarlane Toys has plenty of exciting Halo products in store for the rapidly growing video game action figure fan base.
Releasing to retailers nationwide in March of 2010, both Halo deluxe boxed sets are sure to whet Halo fans’ appetites. Featuring the debut of a fan-favorite UNSC weapon, the second Halo Wars 5-inch scale figure, plus our first nationwide release of additional white Spartan armor and the coveted Katana sword, these two deluxe boxed sets are not to be missed.
RED TEAM LEADER AND MASTER CHIEF 2-PACK
This limited edition boxed set features McFarlane Toys’ first-ever fully articulated Halo Wars Spartan figure in 5-inch scale, as well as the debut of the highly anticipated flamethrower.
- RED TEAM LEADER (Mark IV Mjolnir armor) – comes equipped with UNSC Assault Rifle
- MASTER CHIEF (Mark VI Mjolnir armor) – comes equipped with M7057 Flamethrower
     
HALO ROGUE DELUXE ARMOR PACK (White)
Includes a Spartan Rogue base body with interchangeable Scout, Hayabusa and CQB head, shoulder and chest armor sets. Pack also includes Battle Rifle, Katana Sword, two Magnums and two Frag Grenades.
- SPARTAN ROGUE
- SPARTAN SCOUT
- SPARTAN HAYABUSA
- SPARTAN CQB
via SPAWN.COM >> NEWS >> NEW PHOTOGRAPHY OF ‘HALO’ ACTION FIGURE BOXED SETS.
By Ron, on November 22nd, 2009 I wouldn’t quite say that I was on pins and needles for this McFarlane announcement, as the McF PR people would suggest. Even though Halo is probably the best McFarlane line ever, I stopped playing the video game franchise at Halo 2. But because it’s so good, I’m still cherry-picking the toys.
I just picked up the Toys R Us exclusive Mongoose set, but it’s been relegated to the new pile of unopened toys that I hope to one day photograph. My wife won’t allow me to call it “New Staging Area One” so I’ll take suggestions on what to christen it, even though I know I’ll have to dismantle it really soon.
‘HALO’ SERIES 7 PHOTOGRAPHY REVEALED
Seventh Figure Assortment Coming to Target and Other Stores Early January
The wait is finally over. McFarlane Toys is excited to present this first look at our seventh Halo action figure assortment. Based on the popular Halo video game universe, this assortment includes characters from the Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo Wars video games.
Halo Series 7 will release to stores nationwide in January 2010. We hope the photography will help you cope with having to wait a bit longer before you can own these fantastic action figures.
HALO SERIES 7
       
- SGT. FORGE – Halo Wars figure comes with UNSC Shotgun, pistol (removable) and two frag grenades.
- ONI OPERATIVE DARE – Halo 3: ODST figure comes with UNSC suppressed magnum and suppressed SMG.
- TARTARUS – Halo 2 figure comes with Fist of Rukt (Gravity Hammer).
- ELITE FLIGHT (yellow) – Halo 3 figure comes with Covenant beam rifle.
- SPARTAN HAYABUSA (steel) – Halo 3 figure comes with UNSC Rocket Launcher. Exclusive to GameStop.
- SPARTAN SECURITY (orange) – Halo 3 figure comes with two Brute Maulers. Exclusive to Toys R’ Us and Toys R’ Us Canada.
- SPARTAN ROGUE (blue) – Halo 3 figure comes with UNSC Sniper rifle and two plasma grenades.
- WEAPONS PACK – Pack includes Fuel Rod Gun, Spartan Laser, two Spike Rifles, two SMGs, two Shotguns, two Plasma Rifles, two Plasma Pistols, two Frag Grenades and two Plasma Grenades. Exclusive to Target.
And we still have a few more Halo surprises planned that are guaranteed to “drive” up your excitement in the coming weeks.
via SPAWN.COM >> NEWS >> ‘HALO’ SERIES 7 PHOTOGRAPHY REVEALED.
By Ron, on November 14th, 2009 Here’s a pretty interesting announcement from McFarlane – a new line of sports figures, in a new scale (at least for them) and with a decent amount of articulation. I think from the schematic that these will have a mix of articulation from the 5-inch Halo figures, like the hips, and some new articulation for McFarlane, like double knees. No news yet on how much these will retail for.
MCFARLANE TOYS ANNOUNCES ‘PLAYMAKERS’ SPORTS ACTION FIGURES
Inaugural Assortment of Highly Detailed, Articulated, 4-inch Figures Coming Spring of 2010
 Playmakers MLB Articulation Preview McFarlane Toys is pleased to announce our newest addition to our ongoing sports action figure product, Playmakers. Playmakers are a completely new type of McFarlane Toys’ product based on our existing sports licenses.
Playmakers action figures include the high level of detail that McFarlane Toys is known for in a newly developed 4-inch scale figure. The addition of tremendous articulation, more than 20 moving parts, will allow for complete playability and will enable consumers to recreate countless sports action poses.
Our initial release of Playmakers action figures is planned to include twelve fan-favorite baseball players, with each figure having a batting and fielding version available.
- Alex Rodriguez — New York Yankees
- Dustin Pedroia — Boston Red Sox
- Albert Pujols — St. Louis Cardinals
- Derek Jeter — New York Yankees
- Manny Ramirez — Los Angeles Dodgers
- Ichiro Suzuki — Seattle Mariners
- Ryan Howard — Philadelphia Phillies
- Chipper Jones — Atlanta Braves
- David Ortiz — Boston Red Sox
- Josh Beckett — Boston Red Sox
- David Wright — New York Mets
- Tim Lincecum — San Francisco Giants
Playmakers are scheduled to release to retailers nationwide in Spring of 2010.
via SPAWN.COM >> NEWS >> MCFARLANE TOYS ANNOUNCES ‘PLAYMAKERS’ SPORTS ACTION FIGURES.
By Ron, on October 6th, 2009     
I really like how the Halo figures from McFarlane look and pose, and if they had been in either the 6-inch or 3.75-inch scale I probably would have bought a lot more than the couple that I have. But alas, these are in an odd 5-inch scale that allows a tremendous amount of detail but with a lot less cost.
Series 6 comes with Medals from Halo 3 and should be hitting stores this month. Also due this month, the Mongoose with Spartan set. I may not be able to resist picking up that set.
There’s more… click to continue reading Halo Series 6 Medal Edition in Stores This Month
By Ron, on September 26th, 2009   
I don’t cover a lot of action figure news in the sports genre – I don’t collect sports memorabilia, and I am not sure I really understand the mindset of the sports action figure collector. Take this Collector Level Program announcement from McFarlane Toys. After you get past the usual hyperbole of of how McF revolutionized the action figure industry, you get to the meat and potatoes:
- Expands chase figure program, adding “Collector Level” variants to existing “Classic Chase” and “Super Chase” variants
- Six levels of exclusivity – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Premier, All-Star, and MVP
- Level indicates production run size, ranging from 1,000 – 2,000 for Bronze and 1 – 50 for MVP
- Nearly all figures in a series will have either a Collector Level or Classic Chase figure
- Every case will get a Collector Level or Classic Chase figure
- Packaging is being redesigned as a clamshell and will include a “treasure map” indicating the Collector Level figures in the series
Now, like I said, I don’t know much about the sports action figure mindset, but what I want to see in superhero toys is the characters I’m looking for to be made easier to find. This just seems like a scalper’s dream and a collector’s nightmare.
The Spawn.com announcement has a poll asking for feedback on the Collector Level program. The choices are great, good, and ok. Way to put it out there, McF!
There’s more… click to continue reading McFarlane Announces Collector Level Program for SportsPicks
By Ron, on August 29th, 2009 
I guess I’m not up on my movie news, because I didn’t know that Disney was delving into the video game genre looking for its next summer franchise. I played the original Prince of Persia game that came out in the late 80’s, but haven’t revisited it since. This movie is titled for the 2003 video game from Ubisoft, and Disney and McFarlane must be hoping it’ll spawn many sequels, just as that particular game did.
McFarlane plans to make figures in both the 4-inch and 6-inch scale, and the smaller scale will also get horses (not much in the way of vehicles in ancient Persia, I suppose) and a playset. The figures are planned to hit retail in May next year, around the same time as the movie is planned.
I wonder if Disney will also produce toys exclusive to their Disney Stores, like they did for Pirates of the Caribbean.
There’s more… click to continue reading McFarlane Announces Action Figures for Prince of Persia Movie
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