altcunningham
Laura Rings Enthusiast
Where did all that come from?
Snow C.A.T. Live!
- Thread starter Chooch555
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I don't think I've ever heard of the Snowcat ever being in the plans but not being a HasLab. I had heard that there was originally a plan to release the HISS at retail as a lesser version of what we have before they came up with the HasLab idea instead. But nothing about a Snowcat. My understanding is that the only conversations about the Snowcat started with the list of potential HasLab vehicles after the success of the HISS.
I don't think the slow start is that big of a deal just yet. I'd argue getting nearly 7k people already to commit to this is pretty cool considering it's not exactly an A-tier vehicle for the franchise and we're currently living with a FUUUUUUUUCKton of economic uncertainty. The looming threat of nationwide poverty certainly doesn't energize consumers.
I don't think the slow start is that big of a deal just yet. I'd argue getting nearly 7k people already to commit to this is pretty cool considering it's not exactly an A-tier vehicle for the franchise and we're currently living with a FUUUUUUUUCKton of economic uncertainty. The looming threat of nationwide poverty certainly doesn't energize consumers.
docsilence
Dungeon Daddy
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I'm not pessimistic about its chances of funding, but curious if it'll get all the way to Flint. The figures were definitely all what pushed me over the edge to back the last two Haslabs, if I'm being honest. I was on the fence but those extras nudged me over the finish line.
It's all internet rumors coming from people with "sources", or claiming to have seen presentation slides, or been in focus groups. I guess you have to take everything with a grain of salt and determine if something is plausible. For example, about six months ago It'sChad on youtube claimed to have seen slides of different versions of the Snowcat. He was right about the large troop carrier component, but he described something more elaborate with the turret popping up but staying connected to the vehicle. Reasonable to think that was cut due to cost. Now, he was wrong about "Snow Bunny" Baroness being part of a Snow Cat Haslab. That one seemed odd to me because someone from the other faction has never been included with a Haslab vehicle and she was just part of the previous Haslab. Would like to see her as a SDCC reveal. Unless I misread him, I felt he implied the Snowcat and Thunder Machine were intended to be higher priced non-Haslab vehicles, but that price point is now in doubt. He's just a YouTuber. I think his "source" had credible information in the past. I feel he's he's not a bullshitter trying to get Classified views (he's a 3.75 fan).
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I think the big problem with HasLabs is always that the customers view the figures as being baked into the price. Rightfully so, really. But that means the perceived value of the vehicle itself fuckin' absolutely nosedives if even one of those figures doesn't get made. People got mad about the patches with the Rattler solely and entirely because they felt it was wasted money that could have gone to increasing actual display value of the toy. I agree with them, to be fully transparent. Yeah, it's a fun little addition. But these items are a bit too expensive to feel like the company is wasting a single dollar on extras no one wants over actual toys.
Anyway, back to the Snowcat: It's huge. It has all the bells and whistles. It literally has the kitchen sink. That will not save it from people feeling like it's not worth having if even one proposed figure doesn't get included. And that'll be a real shame because the vehicle looks incredible in its own right.
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Precisely the attitude I was talking about. Right or wrong, customers view the tiers as baked in to the price of the item (since they're not actually extras that you have to pay more to add to your order - like a Kickstarter would have) If we view these items as part of the pricing for the HasLab, then not reaching those goals feels like the item is being taken OUT of the package, rather than reaching the goals feeling like value is being added to the package.
altcunningham
Laura Rings Enthusiast
In my local circle, I think it was the Sentinel that gave this attitude.
That was the one where it was trucking along at a steady clip and they kept rewarding backers with little surprises, right?
Nowadays, even when something fulfills quickly, I hear complaints that they haven't thrown in a bonus or two.
So not only is this baked in, but they think they should be rewarded for spending the money in the first when it is just a transaction for a product you want or don't.
docsilence
Dungeon Daddy
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I kickstart/backerkit a SHITTON of stuff, and I always look at it first as "is this worth this price with no bells and whistles," and as the bells and whistles unlock, the price gets easier and easier to stomach.
Of course a lot of what I back are boardgames or TTRPGs, and usually it's hit a goal, unlock an expansion or content you can pay more money for. Knowing toy collectors, setting the price of the vehicle $50 less and saying "if we hit this goal you can pay another $25 bucks for Baroness" would send a ton of dudes wailing into the abyss about corporate greed. They're kinda fucked no matter how they do it. On the flipside, that style enables actual crowdfunders to raise more money up front toward their goal. Haslabs are setup as a different animal.
By contrast, I backed the Expanse figures last year (two years ago?) and I literally have no memory what the bonus stuff is. I just wanted the eight figures and was willing to pay the asking price no matter what (mostly because this was going to be the only way I ever have a Josephus Miller or Camina Drummer action figure so I was just throwing money at them like I was at the clurb).
The SnowCAT is BEAUTIFUL. I think for me this time around it's exactly like the Rattler. I was hemming and hawing about the size, what was I going to do with it, where was I going to put it, and then they added a few figures and I was like oh goddammit fine I'm in you MFers, you got me. Although truthfully this time around, missing out on snow gear Flint and Lady Jaye is less of a concern than "where can I put this toy that is bigger than my dog."
Of course a lot of what I back are boardgames or TTRPGs, and usually it's hit a goal, unlock an expansion or content you can pay more money for. Knowing toy collectors, setting the price of the vehicle $50 less and saying "if we hit this goal you can pay another $25 bucks for Baroness" would send a ton of dudes wailing into the abyss about corporate greed. They're kinda fucked no matter how they do it. On the flipside, that style enables actual crowdfunders to raise more money up front toward their goal. Haslabs are setup as a different animal.
By contrast, I backed the Expanse figures last year (two years ago?) and I literally have no memory what the bonus stuff is. I just wanted the eight figures and was willing to pay the asking price no matter what (mostly because this was going to be the only way I ever have a Josephus Miller or Camina Drummer action figure so I was just throwing money at them like I was at the clurb).
The SnowCAT is BEAUTIFUL. I think for me this time around it's exactly like the Rattler. I was hemming and hawing about the size, what was I going to do with it, where was I going to put it, and then they added a few figures and I was like oh goddammit fine I'm in you MFers, you got me. Although truthfully this time around, missing out on snow gear Flint and Lady Jaye is less of a concern than "where can I put this toy that is bigger than my dog."
There was also an interview with Lenny a couple years ago (1-2) where he mentioned he could see the Snow Cat and Thunder Machine being able to fit into a different price point (say $150 range) and not be a Haslab. However that seems to have gone the way of the dodo and the powers that be decided the Snow C.A.T. should be a Haslab, and mayb the Thunder Machine will end up the same.
As to It's Chad, his leak was pretty spot on for the time compared to now. As you said the pop-up missile rack with a troop transport section below seems to have been adjusted to what we see in the Haslab. So it is easy enough to see that those leaks were probably super early designs and possibilities that changed over time like most products. Though he did seem to push the idea of there being no Haslab this year.
Anyway:
Snow C.A.T.
6,789 / 8,000 (+31) 84.86% of funding goal with 33d 15h left.
yojoebro82
Considerate
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- Apr 9, 2025
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I had an arctic HISS and stupidly sold it. I had seller's remorse and when I looked into rebuying I found the aftermarket prices had (of course) gone way up. I was arctic HISSless for a few years. I just found one MIB at a toy swap last month for a price I was happy with, now it's back in my Joe collection. That's all I came to report.I snapped a couple pictures of the white Hiss I need to match up with a Snow Cat in 1/12.
It includes a body rolled up in a rug ready for discreet transport and disposal.
Chooch555
Thoughtful
I'll feel better when we cross 7K for absolutely no rational reason whatsoever.
Buttmunch
Pensive
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Lenny and Tony were just on the Full Force Podcast and Chris asked them about this and Lenny said they kind of underestimated how big the Snow Cat would actually be in 1:12. Even the original was bigger than then the Hiss (length and width, not necessarily height) so a similar price to the Hiss should have been expected.
I still see the Hiss as $200 either way $100 in figures and think, yeah, that was fair. $225 for this with $100 in 3 figures and a campsite still feels fair, especially since how inflation and tariffs have affected prices the last couple of years/months. I have no doubt this will fund, probably around SDCC, but I’m a little worried about hitting Flint tier at the moment. We’ve hit all tiers before easily so I’m not super worried yet but we’ve also funded the others a lot faster too so it’s harder to say on this one. Probably just mid-campaign jitters and nothing to really worry about but I do like the fast paced funding to reassurance early.