Breaking my Silence on the MOTU Snake Lair Debacle 

The snake face on the concept art is sooo bad ass !!! But the one on the big set looks like imaginenext !!! ALL WE NEED IS THE CONCEPT ART WITH THE SNAKE VEHICLE TO FIT UNDER THE STAIRS !!! THEN IT WILL GET BACKED !!! SERIOUSLY .... NO ONE HAS ROOM FOR THIS GIANT SET !!! NOT EVEN IN THE 80S DID ANYONE HVE ROOM FOR THIS THING !!!! AND IT DONT FIT IN WITH HE MAN AT ALL .... IF THEY WERE GONNA MAKE IT HUGE , IT SHOULD HAVE FIT IN WITH THE REST OF THE LINE ... IT LOOKS LIKE SHIT NEXT TO ETERNIA BECAUSE IT DONT FIT IN WITH THE OTHER HE MAN SETS AT ALL !!!

Until I see the official voting, I will never believe the Snake Lair actually won the fan vote. The Year Of the Snake Men was proclaimed some time ago, and we are still stuck here. This playset was already featured on various toy packaging. You just can't tell me this wasn't the plan and a supersized version on top of it just to make it "crowdfund ready".

I am curious as to who displays the back of these playsets over the front. My space is limited so I want the front to have places to set the figures. My main problem with this set aside from the Vehicle was that there were a lack of ledges or display areas for the figs. All the figs are displayed on the floor in front of it so it just becomes a backdrop.

It's refreshing to see Mattel listening to fans. They are smart to offer a fix on this. It feels like they were a bit too ambitious and needed a reality check. I think that the playset should be similar in size to Snake Mountain and be offered as a Mattel Creations for around the $100 price point. These giant projects are just too damn expensive and too big to display. Keep it real, keep it simple.

Any design process for a client requires revisions …I think is a nice prescedent to speak to the community and listen to them , since they would be buying your product … good for Mattel

In the original concept art the staircase is a very eye catching part of the set. They really should have kept that, it looks way better than the snake head tower that replaced it. It could still fit in all of the current interior and even take up less horizontal space if they make it a triangular one piece, no need for hinges.

I voted for the concept, not what they delivered. I was also expecting (ok, hoping) for a $150-$200 price point. Based on the concept design they used to sell us, I feel that was a safe bet. On the other hand, had they made an updated version of the Fright Zone, with the Slime Pit attached, I think more people would have voted for that instead.

This situation is very much like when people thought MOTU was not going to be at Retail.

Your point about Mattel seeing this as a negative for the MOTU team is well-taken. I would love to know if they were legitimately good-faith about this, and just thought this design was better than the concept - or - did anyone suggest this might be a bad idea and got shouted down?

I think much of the backlash is a result of what the community wanted out of it. They wanted a third clamshell playset in the same style and general scale as grayskull and snake mountain, which is what the concept art suggested. The increased size, price, extra stuff, and general design changes aren’t what most people wanted/ voted for. That probably alienated a lot of those who voted for it in the first place. Also can’t imagine those who didn’t vote for it at all would be positive towards the 300$ playset that they never wanted.

I believe it does look more like imaginext......but it is not a Diss to imaginext. I brought my boy up on imaginext playsets. But it's not motu. I was also annoyed as I loved the concept art. I knew it would change as it was a concept. But they then put that very image on card art. So it looked like that is what we were getting. It's great that mattel are listening to fans though. It restores my faith in them somewhat. Now they just need to make their motu line more accessible to people who do not live in the USA.

I think the major problem with the snake lair is it left the vintage classic dark fantasy feel behind. If you look at Castle Gray skull, and even the freight zone. It’s very dark fantasy. Eternia lacked that dark fantasy, but was not successful as a toy. Only the remake last year made it of success. If they have stuck with the more traditional style and less colors that were blended in better, it would have a darker feel which would’ve made people happier.

The front is too colorful, castles tend to get degraded by the weather (rain, sand, snow, etc.). If in retrospect they give the castle a wash (black, gray, or tan) to make it look less like a toy (even if it is a toy, you know what I mean) maybe even with the changes it would still have a chance. On a side note: They miss an opportunity to make the vehicle the actual steps of the castle. Then, when the vehicle is operational (people are playing with it) it leaves a gap like portcullis (castle door bridges), giving offense and defense power, sometimes the lack of creativity by people that are part of the toy industry is mind-boggling. It is like they learned nothing from the movie BIG.

The Snake Lair prototype they revealed is going to be worth a million dollars to someone out there.

The first mistake mattel made was asking what collectors wanted and then making something totally different . If i buy a mercedes dont send me a hyundai . Second ,even if the back of it is cool ,in most cases it is useless on a shelf where only one side is facing forward . And im not in the habit of flipping around a playset to see the back side ,they are a dio to provide a background for the stars of the shows ,my figures . The snake vehicle could have been a tier . Finally ,i dont care if its made or not so what ,i always have something else to buy . I dont care about a coporations ' suffering about ppl rejecting it ,itz a self inflicted wound trying to pull a bait and switch .

I liked it and would have backed it. I know it looks different but I appreciate the changes and surprises.

Firstly I believe the fan feedback has come from a great place, good, bad, indifferent. Yes the reaction has been a strong one but you have to appreciate the level of frustration and bitter disappointment felt by fans who were no doubt very excited to see the highly anticipated concept offering. I personally didn’t vote for it and would much rather seen Fright-Zone or Attak-Trak, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to buy into one… I am a huge fan of MOTU and have a big personal collection. I have been very happy with all of Mattel’s offering to date and this would have been no exception had they presented something close to concept. Mattel’s reaction is absolutely spot on… it surely makes no business sense to ignore the paying customer and carry on regardless. The back-lash may have been embarrassing for the Mattel team but this surely isn’t as damaging as a potential failed crowd-fund. The set simply needs to be smaller because space is a real issue for collectors. Although a new concept it needs to feel familiar, the concept art fans voted on was based on a clamshell style play-set, that is really clear and strongly believe influenced the vote. Price will always be a consideration but it is obvious to fans that the over exaggerated final product has most definitely heavily inflated the price on a play-set Fans were expecting to be comparable with snake mountain or Grayskull. The only surprise is that the team at Mattel were surprised. Perhaps if there had been an indication of size and price at vote there would have been a more favourable reaction. I expect there will be a long delay to the project but getting images/ sketches out to the fans shouldn’t take much time at all and this would help with re-engaging fans in the project. As you said scaling the set down will come with sacrifices to detail, but let’s look at the positives… Snake mountain has a throne, so why not this? All sets have a lift so why not this? The iron maiden is a separate piece so can go anywhere on the set. We’ve seen integrated weapons on play-sets like 200x Grayskull so why not this? I don’t see the downside to scaling the set down and certainly don’t agree that anyone is celebrating the postponement of the set. The Mattel team have a lot to be proud of and feel that the majority of feedback comes from a great place. I do understand the anxiety fans may have around speaking up but I feel the intervention Mattel has made is very positive for the future of the line. I really enjoyed this video and hearing your take on the debacle😅, I’ll be sure to look out for more of your videos, take care👍

If the people said it reminds them of an Imaginext set, it is because it looks like one, not that Imaginext sets are rubbish (actually FAR from it, and I love them): it just doesn't look like a MOTU set, plain and simple as that. And this is not for kids either; do you envision somebody buying this for their kids? I mean, there will be the crazy soul here and there that spends $300 (plus S&H, don't forget that!) worth of plastic for their kids, but they will be outliers. People buying this is the 40-50yo geezers like me and many others, and most of us will buy most of what they put out as long as it fits in the MOTU line - and also I agree with what others said: it is not what we were shown. It was BARELY based on Axel's design. Oh, and I simply don't get the "we better buy whatever Mattel puts out or else they'll stop making figures and sets!" mentality. It is SO limiting, SO mind-slaving, borderline fearmongering. And as for Mattel listening to us fans...well, that would be good for a change. They just reacted to having their potential earnings go down the toilet, which they knew veeery well right from the very first moment they unveiled this set at SDCC. They don't care to do a better Snake Lair: they are working right know to find out how to make the original design look $300-ish...plus shipping and handling, that is. 🙄

You were allowed to vote for 2 items but it couldnt distinguish between your 1st and second choice. If the Snake Lair was everyones 2nd choice, the system couldnt distinguish that and its possible the second choice was called the #1 choice

Thanks!

This grew on me the colors could of been better and the front snake head could use some work but it's not terrible. Sure it dint look like the concept drawing but that was what it was a concept. Was I upset It dint look like the concept drawing? A little but I got over it. The biggest thing against this is mad pouty people complaining it should of been the fright zone. So when given the opportunity by mattel they complained about it. Now we don't know what's going to happen because of people's complaining about it. Even toy habits said the fright zone was too small to be crowd funded. So if you dint like what they did to the snake lair I'm sure you would of hated what they would of done to the fright zone

You're very welcome! As far as The Snake Lair goes I'm not beholden to the design though I like it. I'm more surprised Mattel didn't stick closer to the original artwork since they had included the image in privious packaging. Figured the look was locked in.The playset itself is pretty awesome and I actually prefer it to all of the other playsets released including Eternia, sorry not sorry. I especially like the interior. And boy do I feel for the production team. You know they must have been devastated by the reaction from the fandom for what they probably thought was over-deliveeing on the concept. And they did. And given it's basically the sane size as Eternia but $200+ cheaper, yes, I think we missed out and let's be honest, nothing they they replace it with will be as cool. If they replace it all. I agree Mattel will and maybe should shelve it altogether. The response was uncalled for. It felt like Revelation all over again in its absurdity and The Snake Lair wasn't even my 3rd choice. Oh well "fandom" wins again. But I would have happily backed it as is.

This isnt going to hurt the brand. Theyll make a new one and make millions and even more figures. They need to make Hordak’s lair with a detachable Fright Zone and Slime Pit to justify the higher price. Make it big or not at all. Thats the whole point of crowdfunding. The vehicle was the best thing about it and the one thing seemed to like. Keep it.

I had this video recommended to me even though I'm a Transformers guy and not a MOTU guy, so I had no background knowledge of what had happened prior to watching this. So my views are from being a non Fanbase person seeing this set for the first time To me this looks like a very expensive mainline toy rather than a collectors piece. It looks plastic. Yes I know it's plastic but it really looks plastic, not enough sculpted detail and paintwork, it looks cheap. As such the comparison to Imaginex or whatever it's called, is based more on the fact that it's a similar quality product but for a much higher price. A good product, but not an excellent one. It lacks the wow factor and it needs that. That's my thoughts.

Awesome❤😊

No hostility or negativity intended here, but it's just not what the fans were shown. A smaller scale playset more in line with the earlier Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain playsets would've been just fine. It would've fit on a shelf more easily, and had an overall uniform look with other toys in the line. The Snake Lair is cool, but it shouldn't be given more importance than Grayskull. I think as far as the look of it goes, it's not so much the form of the sculpt being the problem as much as the color scheme. It's orange, yellow, and gold look downright cheerful, and I think that's what causes comparison with Imaginext and Chap Mei toys. If they decide to re-design it, just tone it down a little with some greys, greens, and blues, and keep the iron maiden. If they really want to have a Rattle Trap vehicle, maybe make it a separate piece that can snap onto the main playset like Point Dread, and sell that at retail. Nothing will ever please everyone, but I think that with a few minor adjustments, this project can please more people.

I was happy either way... I am interested to see how 5 years from now if the demand of this particular set is significantly increased.

KEEP IT UNDER $80 BUCKS JUST LIKE GRAYSKULL AND SNAKE MTN AND I'LL BUY ONE FOR MY LONELE SKELETOR,......MARIUS(PUNK RULES).

So many things to say about this unfortunate situation: (1) I actually voted for the Fright Zone as Motuc failed to revive this spooky stronghold back in the 2010s - (2) How frustrating it is to have seen this prototype that presented great ideas (the snake tower / the rattle trap) - (3) Just like you, I'm really nervous about the negative signal it may have sent to upper management and their willingness to pursue or not this type of project (remaining vintage vehicles, mounts, etc ...). PS: This lair first appeared in a mini-comic supervised by Scott Neitlich back in 2014 (2015?), the scene introduced NA Skeletor looking for new allies on Trolla before he finds the said fortress and starts plotting once again against NA He-Man and his new companions. PS: Most of these characters were created together with Fearless Photog in a contest launched by Mattel in the 80's, their names: Netta, Man Crystal, Hans Hammer Holder, BrainWave, Compactor, Eye Beam. The evil ones, however, were created in 2012 when He-Man celebrated his 30th birthday: Ra-Jar, Major Header, Bubblor, Muck Man and Tri-Beasts. Greetings from France

Or the fan base could have just saved Mattel an incredible amount of money and embarrassment for a DOA Haslab by making their opinions known

Why just not keep stickin 2 the vintage style 'n havin a Fright Zone - Slime Pit (plus a figure) combo?

Thanks for the video. Good to see some positivity.

okay this is kinda tangential to the topic but this looks like a really cool toy. So I was wondering, do people still play with these like toys? like i collect transformers and i still play with them as toys. and this legit looks like a really fun playset, so it got me curious

I really don't care for how this looks. I don't like the way the snake head looks for one. It's not fierce, the chipped tooth is dumb. I hate how it's painted. It's way too brown. I think the Rattletrap is cool but is just set on the playset awkardly instead of incorporated smartly in it. Having it come out of that far right door, for instance, would be better. the snake at the top should do something, like wrap around a character and trap him. And yeah, it went too far away from the original design.

I’m not sure I understand the math here. Cut off a third of the playset and get rid of the vehicle and then lower the price by $50? If we were going to get half of what we were just shown then the price should be half of what it was. No way this funds at $250, $150 at best.

One thing I guarantee comes from this, everyone , even those who threw sh*t fits about it, will want this made 15 years from now if not sooner because it will be an unmade playset. Getting the thing you couldnt get years ago makes people crave it more so lol to everyone upset about this one now.

It won’t have any impact on the line as a whole. But it’s dead in the water…regardless of back peddling. People are over Snakemen maybe? They just over did them. And ugh, burn out. Plus this won’t be out for another 2 years…. Too much other stuff coming out in the future. Moving on up.

Didn't like it at all at first but it started growing on me... I found it very strange that an unknown playset like the Snake Lair should be that much bigger than Grayskull and Snake Mountain... Also, it just didnt feel very MOTU to me unlike the original concept artwork... Personally i don't mind getting the Snake Lair even though i voted for the Fright Zone as i think the original MOTU playsets should have precedance...

this feels like a better snake mountain, its more full but it isnt as cool shut and feels a lot on the front too close, pluse it does look good but it is a bit false advertising making it look different for without telling people the art isnt 1:1.

I collect imaginext. It looks like it. Youre not paying for what this would go tor at retail. Youre paying a percentage of the cost of the tooling and other costs of production and the item.

Great video but I never wanted this. I always voted horde. Too many snakes!

It’s me brooklyn

I believe this would have funded. Angry fans are the loudest, they’re usually also the minority.

This was maybe the One and Only chance to give the Snakemen faction a true Lair of their own , which now may be in jeopardy alltogheter. The higher ups in Mattel might well double down , and scrap new playsets alltogheter.I thimk it was big , maybe too big , yes. But the price was NOT too expensive. Fans really should be carefull what they wish for. By boycotting this thing ,they might well postpone the Fright zone , maybe indefinatly. Which is my biggest fear.

I am subscribed

Hey Mr.ward

People are not just buying it just for nostalgia the actual truth is the price and how large it is, people like me who voted for snake lair expected the one they show on the poll not that crap on sdcc a happy snake with dented teeth then a mustache rattle trap 😅. Its quite funny adults aaying it for its playability 😂 like they are playing with eternia play set? I dont think so, youl just buy these just for display and your not even a 10 yr old to play with it, and I didn't think so kids would play with it either coz kids of today dont play anymore with toys

Nope its clear as day whats about to happen. Fans are about to get a rude awakening when they cancel projects indefinitely due to the back and forth from some of these people. I actually wonder if Mattel was using Pixel Dan as a catalyst in that recent poll.

Keeping it real, I don't like your ideas at all. They need to make what we voted for and nobody's blinking on this notion that we should be careful if we don't buy this trash. There is no way their bait and switch is our fault. Don't want to crowdfund anymore? Fine! LOL

Had they made it right the first time I would've paid the 300 dollars. Now I wouldn't buy it even if they make it exactly like Axels design. Classic case of too little, too late

That Snake Lair is just fucking ugly. It's not the intended design, and personally not my choice for a play set. I voted for the Doom Tower or the Fright Zone. Origins in my opinion should have stuck to Original concepts.

MOTU fans can be very whiny. Remember Revelation? I actually think it would have funded even after all the griping and moaning.

bring back the 80's prices on all mattel toys and playsets and the good crowd of fans will flock the toy aisle and buy every toy mattel puts out, and the company will be number one gold not silver,..............marius(punk rules).