Yep, Activision has created their very own Pokemon, and they're rakin' in the profits.
Today, Activision Publishing has announced that Skylanders figures have outsold all action-figure properties in the US and Europe so far in 2013. The Skylanders property also outpaced all toy properties in the UK year-to-date as of June 30, 2013. It's a craze!
As of July 31, 2013, the popular franchise has generated a whopping $1.5 billion in worldwide retail sales (combined sales of the toys and games). Furthermore, so far in 2013 in North America and Europe, the recently released Skylanders Giants has been the #1 best-selling console and handheld game overall. They're going strictly by dollars in that statement, which means profits have gotta be through the roof. Said Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg:
"We began something very special with Skylanders, and the magic of bringing toys to life through a video game. But it's not just about the game. We know the toys have to be just as creative and imaginative as the kids that play with them, and that's why we're so excited to bring even more innovations to this genre when Skylanders SWAP Force™ comes out in October."
The games aren't bad at all, and the idea of creating physical figurines you must purchase in order to unlock and play all available characters…let's face it, it's genius. It wouldn't work as well for adults but as a property that's geared toward kids, it's perfectly designed. These guys know how to make money, don't they?
When I was a kid it was He-man and the Masters of the Universe, and Gobots, and Voltron.
And Go-Bots were better than Transformers.
…yeah, I said it.
Freaking GoBots. Every time that intro song played it annoyed me. Toys were cheaper quality too.
Gobots were some sturdy-ass toys 🙂 They should get their own film franchise, with Shia LeBoufe
oops that should read "without"
http://www.burningclam.com/BB/battlebeasts.html
I collected these as a kid. Seems similar to Skylanders.
wow those are awesome
I forgot all about Battle Beasts.
Those toys really take me back to so much great fun that I had as a "wee lad", awesome!
I think I still have one of those figures buried deep in an old toy box, if memory serves me right.
The lone survivor of countless imaginary battles. 🙂
Last edited by JROD0823 on 8/18/2013 5:34:42 PM
This news does not surprise me. The death of imagination is upon us.
Also… my nephew has like 40 Skylanders toys. I'm like, "Seriously, oh sister of mine? Does he really need every single toy for his collection when he doesn't even touch most of them?"
And somewhere in the make-believe country of Actitopia, Bobby Kotick is laughing is rear end off while lighting up Cuban cigars with bundles of cash, and his untold number of servants scurry about feverishly to attend to his and his family's every want and need.
I am really tired of Activision just coasting on CoD titles and other game franchises (originally Tony Hawk, then Guitar Hero, and now Skylanders) that either are just the same game over and over, or require the purchase of numerous peripherals, while other companies go out of business trying their best to innovate, but just get flat-out ignored instead.
I am only making an exception on buying Destiny because I want to support Bungie in any way I can now that they have broken free from Microsoft and Halo, but I simply refuse to buy any other game franchise that Activision publishes in the future.
Last edited by JROD0823 on 8/18/2013 4:44:15 PM