Play With This Too Reveal Designs for Astroblast Figure

Play With This Toos goals include being a top brand developer, designer, manufacturer and wholesale distributor of high-end collectible action figures and toys. Their aim is to target the rapidly growing collector oriented toy market and produce products for both wholesale distribution and exclusives for conventions, retailers and websites.

In February of 2015, Play With This Too will launch a crowd funding campaign to produce their first line of original figures. This debut line will consist of 6 highly articulated action figures with interchangeable parts and weapons. These figures will include intergalactic heroes versus ferocious monsters.

In 2015, Play With This Too will continue to engage with potential licensors to bring official products based on existing brands to market. Later that same year, Play With This Too will begin to offer full service design and manufacturing, as well as intellectual property development for delivery over Transmedia networks.

More information regarding both staff and products will be released at RETROCON (www.retrocons.com) September 27th and 28th, 2014 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.

Meet the PWTT cast:

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Rik Alvarez Chief Executive Manager

Rik Alvarez is an author who has worked for several years as a consultant for various Hasbro licensees. In 2009 Rik was hired as a full time Creative Manager at Hasbro Inc. While at Hasbro, Rik worked on various brands including Transformers and G.I. Joe. He helped in developing the intellectual property, toys and licensed products for the Transformers films Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction. Rik also assisted in developing the television series Transformers Prime and G.I. Joe Renegades. During his time at Hasbro, Rik was also involved in developing Hasbros figure line plan and working with various licensees including IDW, Jagex and Net Dragon. He has also worked closely with the Official Transformers and G.I. Joe clubs and conventions. One of Riks favorite accomplishments while at Hasbro was creating the Transformers Hall of Fame introduction videos and directing the faux documentary Erector: Righteously Huge.

I just want to make cool stuff. I want to make toys that are appreciated for their playability, but also for their artistic value.

Get with Rik at: playwithrik@playwiththistoo.com

On Design: Mark Wong Freelancer

Mark Wong is a freelance designer who has worked in product design and management for Monogram International. Over the past decade, Mark has done continuous design work for both Diamond Select Toys as well as Icon Heroes. Mark has worked on various brands such as Thundercats, Minimates and Transformers.

Get with Mark at: markatron2k@hotmail.com

On Design: Steve Redinger Freelancer

In 1997, Steve Redinger graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Industrial Design. For his senior thesis, Steve re-imagined Lion-O, the titular character from Thundercats. He completely re-imagined the brand and created an entire presentation to support this new vision, including a 3-d sculpted representation of Lion-O and a full size replica of the Sword of Omens. That same year, Steve went to work for Kenner/Hasbro. There, he worked on various brands and toys, including: Transformer, Jurassic Park, Chaos Effect, Gargoyles, Power Spark, Small Soldiers, Man of Steel, Batman Beyond (Bat Link), Men in Black, Titan AE, Congo, G.I. Joe Sigma Six, Zoids, B-Daman, Action Man, Marvel, Star Wars Power of the Force 3 3/4″, Episodes 2 and 3, as well as the Epic Force 6″ figures. Most notable to him, was the Star Wars quick draw Boba Fett. I feel so privileged I had the opportunity to realize my childhood dream.

Steve also provided numerous contributions to several volumes of the Hasbro Design Sketchbook, available San Diego Comic Cons. Several of his influences include George Perez, John Byrne, Neal Adams, Arthur Adams, Todd MacFarlane, Mark Sylvestri and Frank Miller.
Steve now works as a design freelance, and remains an active illustrator and developer of product for an array of clients and licenses including Hasbro, Disney, MJ Holding, Marvel, NHL, Star Wars, and most recently Play With This Too.

Star Wars is my favorite movie of all time (and if you know which one Im talking about, youre as old as I amor older). I was around seven when my Dad brought home my first action figure. It was Boba Fett. I loved everything about it, the color, the lines, the articulation, his blaster, and the fantasy behind this little known character was mine for the choosing. I studied his armor, and particularly his blaster design. I immediately knew that there was someone behind the creation of that blaster. The drawing, the creation of the pattern, the designation of the color, the sculptingI wanted to be that someone.

Find Steve here:
website: sardesign.net
contact: sardesign@outlook.com
Additional contact info is featured on his website.

Design and IP Development Trent Troop Freelancer

Trent Troop is the creator of BMOG (Bio-Mechanical Ordnance Gestalts), an independent toy line successfully funded through Kickstarter in 2013. In addition to BMOG, he designs 3d printable toys through Shapeways. He is also a freelance writer, illustrator and 3d artist, having contributed to a number of projects for various clients including Fun Publications and Hasbro for brands such as G.I.Joe, Transformers and Rescue Bots. In addition to these projects he is one half of the creative team behind The Isle of Rangoon, a puppet-based web series that skewers low-budget films and shorts.

There is nothing quite like holding a toy in your hands that you designed. It is like seeing a fleeing childhood wish come true.