Toys and Games

Before Star Wars, toys weren't much a part of the whole movie experience. After Star Wars, the market for them exploded.
But no-one had foreseen the sudden demand. Scrambling to supply the new demand, Kenner, the toy manufacturer, released empty cardboard boxes for that Christmas, with certificates entitling the bearers to the first new action figures to ship from the company. Even the toy lightsaber had not been created, instead, kids had to rely on rulers for their weapons.

Collecting toys, especially action figures can be tricky. Things to remember:

• It's only worth the full collector's price complete in the package.
• It's only worth the partial collector's price if it is, at least, complete with all it's accessories.
• It's condition affects the price
• Where you store it will affect condition: temperature extremes, humidity, and light can all damage an item over time.
• Variations affect price: there are many different 'sculpts' of a figure, and sometimes of ships. There are also variations in packaging, from different releases to outright mistakes.
• There are different language and location versions for different countries. A foreign figure may go for more where you are than in it's home turf.
• Exclusives. Some figures are released only in limited runs, at conventions, or at a specific store.
• Rarity. Some figures are packaged 1 per box, while others have 5 per box. This is because the company expected the 'common figures' to sell best. Naturally, the collectors wanted the one - per - box 'Wedge Antilles' or Mcquarrie figure instead and raid toy aisles looking for it.

Star Wars toys have two main eras:

• The Vintage era, toys made between the 1970's and 1980's.
• The current era, toys made between the 1990's and the present.

Kenner Vintage Hoth Turret and Probot set with assorted action figures. From the Empire Strikes Back.

Kenner ruled the 'vintage' era with:

• Action figures of about 3 inches.These included not only the original trilogy movies, but also the Droids and Ewoks cartoons.
• Action figure playsets, creatures and vehicles to fit the 3 inch figures.
• 12 inch figures, which were less popular but now fetch high prices if complete or in the box.
• Micro Machines. These included small ships and playsets.
• Board Games

Three versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Current Era: Hasbro now has 'toy control' in America, partly by buying up other companies. Sideshow Collectibles have taken over the 12 inch line.

• The 3 inch action figure line, reintroduced with the 'special edition' release of the original trilogy into theaters.
  It now includes not only the 'prequels' and TV shows, but the 'expanded universe' from books and comic characters as well.
• Vehicles, animals, and a Mustafar playset for the 3 inch.
• Hasbro's 12 inch figures. Original trilogy to the Prequels.
• Sideshow collectibles 12 inch figures. More expensive, but for detail and quality they blow away Hasbro. These are more collectibles than toys.
• Titanium Vehicles. Small ships and vehicles from all the series.
• Galactic Heroes. Cute, small versions of the characters for younger kids.
• Mighty Muggs. A simply shaped figure with painted features and clothes, with an accessory or two.
• Puzzles, including Puz3D and a Vader torso you put together in slices. Or how about a 'Darth Maul' Rubix Cube?
• Role Play toys: including the ever popular lightsabers, blasters, and helmets.

Games have come along way from the old Vintage versions. You can now play:

• Trivial Pursuit Star Wars
• Monopoly Star Wars (several versions)
• Battleship Star Wars (several versions)
• Chess
• Trouble, starring R2-D2

This is just a sampling of what the Star Wars Galaxy has to offer. For Video Games check the Electronics Page and the Games List Page

Check out the Toy Gallery

Warnings: Beware the SCALPER

This is someone who raids the store seeking out toys, not to collect them, but solely to earn a fast profit. Working en-masse, they can artificially drive up the prices. This is not the same as the soccer mom or the like who buys an extra for their kid to store in the package, so one can be sold in the future for the college fund. It's not even the same as a collectibles dealer, who may at least mark it up reasonable to have a bit of profit, considering supply and demand. Scalpers rush in and buy up a whole selection.

For instance: You are Christmas shopping for a favorite kid and wonder why the toy aisle is bare, right after the store said they got the toy in. Then you walk in the next aisle and find someone has boxes and boxes of figures in their basket. Doubles, even triples of every character. The whole missing aisle in a basket. Meet your enemy: the scalper. He or she who makes children weep and parents tear their hair out because that action figure little Johnny really wants is nowhere to be find, except on e-bay for $40 bucks. Mind you, the price may drop back to the norm eventually. But meanwhile, little Johnny has driven his parents mad.

Your best weapon: store management. Checkout clerks may not have the authority to stop this scoundrel. But management, if you tell them what's going on, has been known to step in and put a limit on what someone can buy. Allowing scalpers free reign may drive other customers from the store, regular customers who would, in the long run, be worth more.