Big Fish, Big Pond: The Newest Big Name in Action Figures to ReleaseMass Effect Series

Ever wish you could go back in time and start collecting the first figures from a top collectibles company? Who were the lucky or prescient early adopters who got the first McFarlane Toys or Sideshow Collectibles releases, and where were you when they launched? There's no sense dwelling on missed opportunities, but we're always on the lookout for the next big maker. We think we've found it. (View Mass Effect figures on our site by clicking here)

This spring, Big Fish Toys is entering the market with a new line of 8 Mass Effect figures. Formed in 2011 with "an A-list of action figure and toy industry veterans," Big Fish has already been working with video game companies, including the amazing Cole figure for SONY's release of  inFAMOUS 2. According to their press release, "When Bioware and Electronic Arts sought to bring previously-developed, yet unreleased Mass Effect action figures to market, Big Fish Toys was able to incorporate the team’s goals and craft a business agreement that allowed the project to move forward."

Not only are we anticipating some top-notch sculpts and paint in this premier series, but we're getting in-game content for Mass Effect 3 as well! A "downloadable content pack" will be included with each figure, and I believe that each content pack will be unique to that figure.  From Big Fish Toys' release, it sounds as though the content might not quite be set in stone yet, but they're shooting for weapons, characters, upgrades and modifications that will have an impact on game play, not just ornamental items.

The Mass Effect line promises to be  amazing. As described by Big Fish Toys:

The fully-articulated figures, ranging between 6 3/8” and 7 ¼”, will be intricately sculpted with collector-level paint decoration. They will be securely packaged in a clam-shell blister card. The figures will be manufactured at a vendor who has produced some of the top collector action figure lines of the last couple decades, and in fact produced the Cole piece for Big Fish. Figures should be available for sale by April 2012. As a bonus, each figure will include a downloadable content pack for the Mass Effect 3 multi-player mode (on PC and XBox) that could include powerful new weapons and new characters. The pack could also include character boosters, weapon modifications, and weapon upgrades to make your multi-player squad stronger.

At ToyWiz, we're anticipating a larger demand than is usual for a new label when these arrive. Pre-orders are available and will ship on arrival, scheduled for April, 2012.

So what do you think - are these figures going to be hot because of the quality we're expecting, because of the Mass Effect franchise, or because it's a ground-floor chance to get in on a collectibles label that might make it big in coming years? For me, all three factors make these a must-buy. But how about you?