why not more podracer sets?

[onions]

i just realized while i was in the shower today, that with episode 1 in 3d coming out next year, it would have been a perfect year for LEGO to sell more podracer sets. they did such a great job with the anakin/sebulba two-pack, i would have loved to have seen more official podracer sets, with more aliens, and heck, why not throw in a shmi skywalker, or some of anakin's buddies?

gasgano, ben, and whatever other whacky pilots and racers would be great. kids love podracers.

missed opportunities, i tell ya. they should hire me as a consultant.

[HothTrooper]

I'm with you 100%. The podracers are some of the most visually appealing designs from Episode I. They're uniquely shaped, brightly colored, and because they're racers they lend themselves perfectly to LEGO's style of play. They seem like a no-brainer product.

[Mister Ed]

Given how much they are charging for a set with two racers in it now, I think perhaps they figured people wouldn't be that keen to buy "Random-Obscure-Guy's-Podracer" for $45, and certainly not keen to buy multiple different instances of that at that price.

Anakin vs. Sebulba, sure, but how many people would shell out $45 for Ben Quadinaros's Podracer, really? Some people, sure, but enough? I would tend to think not, but I could be wrong. And the situation, I think, would only get worse if you were also offering Gasgano's Pod, or Neva Kee's Pod, for that same price.

[onions]

if they can package and sell such obscurities as an imperial v-wing fighter i say why not. i'm almost certain that any kid who is a fan of star wars will recognize a podracer when they see one whether or not it's piloted by someone well known.

you could argue that similarly sized racers would be at the same price point but i think that's making too many assumptions. the scale of the podracers can vary, and looking through wookieepedia, not all podracers are the same size. also, look at last year's bounty hunter gunship and jedi shuttle set. two sets, same piece count, two different prices. they could do something like that, or do what they did with cars sets which is offer three sets at the same price point.

[fallenangel327]

I've also noticed this, and the conventional explanation appears to be that podracers aren't popular with kids, LEGO or otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing pods as toys outside of LEGO sets and Micro Machines.

That being said, I would very much like to see something like this as a set.

[Mister Ed]

Unless they got them down in the $20-$25 range (which seems unlikely- sizes vary, but not THAT much, and you don't want them to look ridiculous next to the Anakin and Sebulba ones) I can't see this working.

Sure, they sold an Imperial V-wing. How much did that cost? And how many variations of it did they try to market at the same time?

Plus, most of the Pod pilots would require new molds that would likely never be used anywhere else...

But again, I could well be wrong. I do agree that the Pods were cool. I would have LIKED to get more of the ones they DID offer- but couldn't justify the cost to myself at the time. I REALLY like the new Anakin and Sebulba Pods- but I can't afford THOSE, either. Not sure I'd spring for a Gasgano Pod for $30 now, either, even though that would likely be a more than reasonable price, since I can't see having that as my ONLY podracer model (outside the original Anakin one), and, as I said, I can't afford the new Anakin and Sebulba set....

[Mofo Jones]

I'd be down for more podracers over yet another Naboo Fighter and another Sith Infiltrator, but I guess some people's memories become increasingly selective once you get past 4-5 years. Granted, 7660 was available forever, so maybe most people who wanted one at the time was able to get it. I only saw 7663 Sith Infiltrator once at retail, and that was when I bought it. Most seem to think that wasn't LEGO's best design effort, but MSRP for that set was $30, less than half of what they want for the new 7961 version.

They could certainly make a few different podracers at a certain price point. As long as they avoid the "Podracer Bucket" fiasco, there would be sales...

[onions]

i dunno mister ed. it sounds like your opinion on the viability of more podracers sets is based on whether or not you'd be able to afford one.