HasLab Project 2 Proposal: #2 Mechanized AT-AT

Just like our proposal last week for a Death Star, a fully mechanized AT-AT fits the mold of what we think is appropriate for a HasLab project candidate: Too expensive, too big, and too niche for release at mass retail; appeals to hard-core collectors willing to shell out $500 for dream items.

Ever since we first saw the AT-AT in the Battle of Hoth, we've all probably dreamed of having a walking version. Over the years, there have been several walking AT-AT toys that have come to market, notably a Lego version from 2007 (watch to the end of the video to see how successful the walking feature is), and a small remote control version that came out in 2015. Of course, neither of these are a "BAT-AT" sized offering from Hasbro.

In 2016, Hasbro released the "controversial" Rogue One AT-ACT. Don't get me started (too late) but in my personal opinion, the only truly fair complaint about this vehicle was the initial MSRP. All the other complaints, mostly arising before the toy was even released, can be easily debunked for the open-minded. Unfortunately for the AT-ACT, the MSRP and the otherwise unfair collector response sank this release before it even had a chance. Weird distribution and funky retailer discounts didn't help. Nevertheless, the AT-ACT was Hasbro's first attempt at a mechanized imperial AT-AT.

Before we go any further, the proper way to pronounce the acronym is by sounding out the word "at" twice. If you say the individual letters "A T A T", you have a real problem, and should consider therapy. In fact, it may be an emergency situation, and you should seek help immediately. We're not recommending you call 911, but it's almost on the same level. When acronyms happen to spell out sounds that are easily spoken as words, THEN DO IT! In the immortal words of that great philosopher, LunchBox:

NASA is "nasa" because it's structured like an English word and we can pronounce it easily. USDA is "U-S-D-A" because "usda" doesn't have a natural feel as a syllabic letter combination.

Anyway, now that we've settled this issue, let's get back on topic, shall we?

The structure of the idea for a BAT-AT was included in our review of the AT-ACT from back in December of 2016. In that review, I stated:

maybe Hasbro could refine and expand upon what they have done here, and give us a walking BAT-AT, legs that move independently like the film, a small camera inside the cockpit so you can use the app to see what General Veers sees and accurately target your Echo Base Shield Generator with actual rapid firing nerf missiles that travel more than 12 inches, and an MSRP of $199 for it all. I can dream.

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Now, "I can dream" about such a thing for $199 until the cows come home, but until then, we now have that lovely little thing called HasLab. HasLab, according to the official webpage:

HASLAB is Hasbro's new crowdsourcing platform that hopes to bring dream products into the hands of fans. With your support, our goal is to make products that are trophy items both in significance and size that fans have been clamoring for.

Now, I never felt the Khetanna was actually impossible. I just felt it was highly unlikely. We imagined a plastic toy, shaped somewhat accurately as the Khetanna, that holds figures and has some action features. Nothing fancy there. The question was whether there was enough support for it, and how much it would cost. HasLab not only made it a real product, but the craftsmanship of the product looks to be second to none as far as anything Hasbro has ever created for Star Wars.

As for a walking AT-AT, it was something I've always thought would be incredibly awesome (the vintage AT-AT was already the centerpiece of my kid collection back in the day), but never thought it was even possible. A walking AT-AT just seemed like a bridge too far, with the technology not available to make it work at anything approaching a cost that would price out everyone except Bill Gates. But the AT-ACT suddenly made that dream a lot more feasible. The hurdles were still price and selling channel, but at lease price seemed to exist within the general realm of the collector community.

If Hasbro could sell that original AT-AT-sized AT-ACT that included electronics and a walking feature for $299, how far out of the realm of possibility would be a BAT-AT sized AT-AT that walks for $499? As alluded to in the AT-ACT review, if this is a premium, collector-grade, dream vehicle, the walking feature should be truly screen accurate: One leg at a time. Also, there should be a camera inside the head of AT-ACT, which, when viewed through a mobile device, puts you behind the helmet of General Veers himself, as you command the AT-AT, even from another room. If Hasbro were extra slick, they could turn this feature into some kind of targeting game, as you lock on targets and unleash maximum firepower. How about if it came with a decently sized Echo Base Shield Generator? What if that EBSG had an RFID sensor that would react to a direct hit from your targeting camera? Speaking of maximum firepower, in the review I explained why the NERF missiles were not nearly as obtrusive or offensive as many assumed. The feature has almost no discernible impact on the exterior aesthetics (although the missiles due take up a seat in the cockpit). The problem was the "Rapid Firing" claim on the package. Not only are the four missiles launched very slowly one after the other, but they don't travel more than 3-4 feet. Either find some way to improve the launching feature and have it interact with the cockpit camera targeting app. Finally (for now), the chin guns should pulse and light up, like the vintage version. That might have been the single best action feature of any Star Wars toy from my childhood.

If you view the AT-ACT as a pre-cursor to a bigger, better, and totally freakin' awesome mechanized walking AT-AT, then it's not really far fetched at all. It had a pretty good walking feature, and the app controller has the DNA necessary to evolve into what is described here.

Is it something HasLab could sell for $499? Is this something that would have enough support? Are the features something you would want as a collector? Let us know below, because Hasbro might be watching.

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