Author Topic: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !  (Read 15560 times)

Offline Timotheos

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2008, 12:34:25 »
Like Cachalote and Gordon, all I see in these Ghost Pirates is a knock of Pirates of the Carribean, but about four years too late. Other toy companies have been doing Pyrates and the like for years, why did it take Playmobil so long? The first POTC movie came out in 2003, and now the series has gone stale (I never even bothered to see the third installment).

The pirate theme doesn't strike me as a POTC knockoff (maybe because I haven't seen the movie).  I mean, ghost ships have been around since... well, forever.  This strikes me as PM just continuing its age-old pirate theme with a slight twist.

I agree with Martin--some of the new US$5 medieval-fantasy sets look interesting (images are a little too blurry to make out all details).  The wolf knight theme earns a   :hmm: :hmm: :hmm: from me.  The notion of wolves pulling a catapult is absolutely farcical--not phantastical, but laughable.  Kids will like it, but an ox would have been just as sellable and would maintain PM's tradition of being a subtle educational toy.

With the wolves being so small and close to the ground, I suspect the catapult would be stuck when it hit its first rut in the road (and they'd better not try cross-country).  And why waste wolves when a single (or pair of) ox would do, and the ox is hardier and easier to keep alive?

"Because it looks cool with the wolves."

Offline Timotheos

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2008, 12:39:34 »
Wait a minute--

I detect a marketing ploy--

Notice that for both the Mermaid theme and the Wolf Knight theme that the chariot / catapult doesn't come with its full load of animals (seahorses or wolves).  One sea horse and one wolf comes with each set, and you have to buy all the sets to get your full team.

-Tim

Offline Martin Milner

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2008, 13:20:57 »
The Lyre in 4813 looks just like Cacafonix's one from the Asterix comics - could come in useful for the Gauls when they're not warring with the Romans.

Offline Rasputin

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2008, 13:50:02 »
Thank you Andi for getting and posting the pics.

I think the Pirate ship is a little silly coming from a company like Playmobil. They are in a Fantasy mode . The ship looks useful as an abandoned ship wreck on the shores of an island . It is not sea worthy for sure and all the creatures are mythical as well . Oh well i guess they did the reality with the church and Egyptians earlier and now this was coming . There does seem to be a lot of useful parts in these sets for the Customizers . black ninja sword, large anchor, crusty battle ax & others. It is hard to see with the blurry images.

By the way what is Spiel & Sammelspass ( play & collecting passport ) ?

Thank again Andi
If you hear the sound of the bell which will tell you that Grigori has been killed, if it was your relations who have wrought my death, then no one in the family will remain alive. They will be killed by the Russian people. :prays:

Offline Sylvia

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2008, 14:46:18 »

By the way what is Spiel & Sammelspass ( play & collecting passport ) ?


The last word is sammel and spass put together so a closer translation would be Play & Collecting Fun. :)

Offline playmofire

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #15 on: July 31, 2008, 14:54:52 »

I agree with Martin--some of the new US$5 medieval-fantasy sets look interesting (images are a little too blurry to make out all details).  The wolf knight theme earns a   :hmm: :hmm: :hmm: from me.  The notion of wolves pulling a catapult is absolutely farcical--not phantastical, but laughable.  Kids will like it, but an ox would have been just as sellable and would maintain PM's tradition of being a subtle educational toy.

With the wolves being so small and close to the ground, I suspect the catapult would be stuck when it hit its first rut in the road (and they'd better not try cross-country).  And why waste wolves when a single (or pair of) ox would do, and the ox is hardier and easier to keep alive?

"Because it looks cool with the wolves."


I hadn't noticed that!  It's worse than I thought!  Have Playmobil recruited a load of teenage geeks who sit all day in anoraks in dimly lit rooms playing computer games to design new items?  (Apologies to any tgwsadiaidlrpcgs who are board members.)
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Offline sbblabotw

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2008, 16:03:43 »
I've got them all added to PlaymoDB, here:

New Sets from German 2008-09 Catalogue

I hope I've spelled everything correctly.  I'm now on the hunt for better photos, although these will do until the official ones come out.  Enjoy!
PlaymoDB.org has catalogued over FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND parts in more than 6100 sets. Come and visit to find any set or part numbers you need to know!

Offline Rasputin

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2008, 18:22:42 »
Thanks Silvia, as long as it is not some store exclusive i will never be able to get in the US . I am still waiting for the info on the new blue party truck and the RC Diesel train ( IF they will be in the US ) .

Everybody was so excited about the new pirate with a bald head and now nobody is saying anything about the new addition of a glow in the dark bald head. You know how some bald heads shine, well now it glows  8-)

Tim and gordon i would also agree that playmobil has over educated itself on marketing and design . Normal is not good enough for the hipsters so now we need gimmicky sales pitches and shocking designs in the Playmobil board room . :-\
If you hear the sound of the bell which will tell you that Grigori has been killed, if it was your relations who have wrought my death, then no one in the family will remain alive. They will be killed by the Russian people. :prays:

Offline Justindo

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2008, 18:45:14 »
Like cachalote, I'm also puzzled about where Playmobil is going.  To me, it's all getting rather like other products you see in the shops, and often not very well made products (I'm not thinking of Lego here).  Playmobil seems to be trying to produce expensive competitors to cheap toys!

I agree.  The spirit of these remind me more of the cheap, mass-market Fisher Price, Mattel, Hasbro, etc. Chinese toys than Playmobil.

As others have mentioned, clearly the new Ghost Pirate sets are inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, but Playmobil is a few years late to the table.  I too wonder if they might be sued, although I doubt they would lose.  I suppose, along with the even more fantastical knights presented here, that the ghosts are simply an evolution in the pirate and knight themes for Playmobil.  I can’t say I like it, but it will probably sell well because that’s what kids these days want.  As for me personally, I want no part of the new knights, except maybe the Celtic looking shield via, and the only pirate set that interests me is the ship, as it would make a spectacular wreck.

I don’t collect sea people, but if it makes some board members here happy, that’s great.

I’m not sure about the mini-take-along tower sets.  I have to see them in person, as they could be very interesting and useful or just be really cheap looking.

For me and for many on this board, I’ll wager, the great news is in the three new historical specials.  These will be of inestimable value to Roman, Medieval, Napoleonic, and Imperial fans.

Tim:  You’re absolutely right about having to buy all the sets to have a seahorses and wolves to pull the chariot and catapult respectively.  It’s an ingenious marketing ploy!  And wolves pulling a catapult! :lol:
:egypt: :roman: :viking: :knight: :arrr: :indian: :cowboy:

Offline Jimbo

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Re: the novelties german catalouge 2008/2009 !
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2008, 19:00:30 »
The Caravel/Galleon looks o.k.  It needs to be dry docked for a while and patched up.
It has the possibilities of making a fairly neat little ship :yup:

The merchildren are cool....the masai warrior is neat as well...nifty anchor....
The rest of the stuff :hmm:

Jimbo