POLL RESULTS: Action Figures: (43 comments)
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POLL: Action Figures

Monday, April 26, 2004 - 12:16 PM

I've dreamt of creating a line of Goats action figures since we started doing this god-forsaken comic strip more than seven years ago. I want a bunch of drunken vinyl nogoodniks on my computer monitor, staring down at me. I'm sure many of you do as well.

We've come to the point where it's looking like we may be able to do this. I can't go into too much detail, but we're going to be working with a friend who has lined up all the connections and we're going to try to make it happen.

Making toys is tricky. Production costs are (very) high, especially for small-run high-end collectible toys like we want to make, so you need to make sure the stuff you're offering is going to have a universal appeal (especially if you want to get it into stores, which we do). We want folks who haven't ever heard of this comic strip to purchase these suckers. So, with your help, we've narrowed down the initial action figures to two choices.

The obvious way to go is with Diablo. Who doesn't like satanic chickens? We're thinking a 3" tall vinyl figurine with removable head, some accessories, and possibly some other interesting features.

The other characters with potential universal appeal are Neil and Bob. The benefits to doing N&B first is that we'd be able to offer two action figures right off the bat, since the body molds would be identical. The heads would be different, and the accessories would also be different for each figure. These would probably be about 5" tall, and possibly more expensive to make than Diablo (and thus more expensive to buy).

This is by no means a done deal. Lots of things can go wrong, and probably will. If we manage to do okay despite our incompetence, we're hoping to have them available for Xmas (or possibly sooner). A successful launch would help us expand the line to include more characters.

So, what do you think?

POLL: What Goats action figure should we make first?
 
56% (503) Diablo
 
31% (283) Neil and Bob
 
11% (104) Action figures are for babies and criminals
890 people have voted in this poll. (This poll is not active.)
Dynedain
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 07:07 PM (#16407)
I had gotten the distinct impression that fish was getting better reception...but, thats me.
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Lonely Goatherd
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 0)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 07:28 PM (#16408)
In Response to Dynedain (#16407):

I'd get the Neil and Bob first...then Fish...yanno...I ain't all that crazy about Diablo. What about Toothgnip? I mean...goats and all?

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jscott1617
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 07:28 PM (#16409)
I'd much rather have a stuffed Diablo that I could taunt my girlfriend and nieces with. But that's just me.
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misere
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 08:10 PM (#16410)
In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#16408):

I also think that in his standard pose, Toothgnip would be the most stable and least likely to fall off the top of my monitor. Plus he'd look all cool and regal up there. But otherwise, Neil & Bob would rule too.
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dr_smith
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 09:17 PM (#16411)
I, for one, would like to see the titular goat, and not just because it just allowed me to use the phrase "titular goat". Toothgnip is one of the most appealing character designs in the strip, and also a little more distinctive. I mean, the market is saturated with chickens and aliens... The goat market is untapped.
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neild
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 09:49 PM (#16413)
I'm with some of the others and would like to see Toothgnip with real bimbette action. (Accessories would include panties of potency, Battle axe to kill upstaging chickens, and possibly a throng of adoring women).

Just my .02
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AsphaltBuffet
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:07 PM (#16414)
If you look at a market of parents buying toys for their children, two aliens would be far easier for them to grasp as a plaything than a chicken or a goat... personally, i'd rather have a chicken. The goat just never really spoke to me as a lovable character.
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themysticalone
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:58 PM (#16418)
In Response to Dynedain (#16407):

I thought fish was top of the list, too.

But regardless, between Diablo and N&B, I'd go for N&B first any day. Not that Diablo isn't awesome, but neil and bob would be better toys, I think. Better in the sense that they appeal to my toy instincts more, and I think people would be more likely to buy two little aliens than a chicken.
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jon
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Monday, April 26, 2004 - 11:28 PM (#16420)
Fish and Toothgnip will both happen, but I don't think they're good first choices right out of the gate.

The Fish "Action figure" that most people wanted was one that fit in a beer mug; that's more of a plastic toy than an action figure. A real to-scale Fish would be very tiny; we might offer Fish as an accessory to another figure.

Toothgnip, in my opinion, doesn't have the universal appeal of a satanic chicken.
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unFalln
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 12:18 AM (#16422)
In Response to jon (#16420):

I reckon a goat would have the universal appeal of a chicken (unless the chicken is really going to look brutally satanic, universally it's just going to be a chicken). How many people would have found your site simply by typing in 'www.goats.com'?

I'd have to say goats are cuter than chickens, unless the chickens head is removable.

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themysticalone
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 12:25 AM (#16424)
In Response to unFalln (#16422):

I found goats by just typing in www.goats.com, so there's at least one of us here :)
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unFalln
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 01:29 AM (#16429)
In Response to themysticalone (#16424):

Yeah, same here.

Poll time! [goats.com]
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cilp33
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 01:42 AM (#16430)
In Response to unFalln (#16429):

That’s how I found it too and that discovery was one of the best days of my life. What I really want to see though is a whole goats chessboard. I would, however, finish the 3D movie first so that you might be able to get a better idea of who looks best off the paper.

http://www.goats.com/forums/news/381/

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Hadlock
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:14 AM (#16436)
I umpteenth a fish figure/toy, and also support the toothgnip motion. Neil and bob would make excellent, marketable toys, but I found goats.com by typing it in one day, too.

Asking the loyal fan base to choose between Diablo, an admittedly good marketing tool, and the much more well developed characters like Toothgnip and Fish (and additionally Neil and Bob), is likely to end up with a loyalist-sided vote for the latter. Asking a marketing department, which I think is really who's oppinion you want/need, would get the Diablo vote.... he's simply easier to grasp as a character than your more complex (and resultingly more loved) characters... fish, toothgnip, neil and bob.

Good luck with yout project! I'll be buying the whole set and hot gluing them to the top of my monitor* as soon as you can get them to my door :)

*after a sufficent amount of bragging/playing
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tynic
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:31 AM (#16437)
In Response to Hadlock (#16436):

That's why I voted for Diablo as the first figure, even though I myself would be more likely to buy N/B. I just think it'll have wider appeal.
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jon
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:28 AM (#16441)
In Response to unFalln (#16422):

I'd have to say goats are cuter than chickens, unless the chickens head is removable.

The chicken head will be removable.
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zamphir
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 3, Compelling)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:35 AM (#16442)
In Response to jon (#16441):

Speaking of which, that chicken's head has been attached continuously for quite a while now...
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jon
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 3, Intriguing)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:48 AM (#16443)
In Response to zamphir (#16442):

I know. Suspenseful, isn't it?
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zamphir
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 3, Insightful)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 08:36 AM (#16444)
In Response to jon (#16443):

Suspenseful, isn't it?

No.

Merely overdue.

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Lonely Goatherd
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 0)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 02:54 PM (#16468)
In Response to dr_smith (#16411):

But have you noticed that the goat hasn't actually appeared in the strip for about 6 months & even prior to that he was not very regular? I say the strip changes it's name to chickens - after all there are 2 now, and in total there have been at least 13 (see the story line where Diablo tells Oliver about his past...). There's never been more than 3 goats - only fish are less represented, but fish has WAAAY more screen time.

Diablo for actionfigurehood!
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DantePendragon
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:17 PM (#16470)
I voted for Diablo, I think it’s a better character to start the series with. Even those unfamiliar with the comic can appreciate a chicken with removable head.
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CHICKEN
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 1)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 06:45 PM (#16474)
In Response to jon (#16441):

You know, out of all the characters, I think the one I would most like to see and buy would be Jerrell. Especially a talking one.

Or Lori, if you could change her to Zombie Lori.

But I suppose if his head was detachable I would probably go for Diablo.

Would Fish (should you come to make fish) be able to prop himself on the edge of his beer mug?
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jon
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 08:43 PM (#16476)
Looks like Diablo is the clear winner so far, barring divine intervention.

For what it's worth, Oliver will be one of the accessories.
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zamphir
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 08:53 PM (#16477)
In Response to jon (#16476):

Oliver will be one of the accessories.

Will his head be removable as well?

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Clan_Hanna
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Re: POLL: Action Figures (Score: 2)
posted Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 02:42 AM (#16490)
In Response to jscott1617 (#16409):

Yes, Diablo must be a cute, cuddly, plush doll... filled with some unique material for stuffing... like styrofoam pellets made from recycled syringes collected in needle-exchange programs and shredded Neil Sedaka records.

Now THAT'S evil.
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