In my opinion building a pack is one of the biggest achievements a Ghostbuster fan can do, so if they were suddenly available 'off the shelf, would you buy one? Should packs be built and not bought, or would it open up random to those (like me) who could never build a high-quality movie spec pack. The 'built not bought argument is one I come across at work all the time and I wondered what the Ghostbuster perspective was…
Without question I’d buy one.
I think it’s impressive what people are able to build and I commend them on it. Not everyone has the time and ability to do that to that high quality though. Some say that everyone can, but the simple fact is that everyone doesn’t necessarily have the skills/time/money to buy the fan made parts.
If a Matty pack were available, I would absolutely buy it, just like I’ve bought the other props. And then I’d simply ignore those who think there’s something wrong with it, or that they’re better than someone because they built theirs.
I agree with you, but being in the UK I’ve struggled to get hold of the props released so far!
i have thought about trying to build one but the cost and the time is a big thing but man would it be so cool but i guess i hope mattel makes one maybe i would buy one because i am a ghostbusters nut i really need medical attention because of this
yes with out second thought.
unfortunately some self entitled ■■■■■■■■ here will still find something to bitch about it instead of being absolutely grateful for it.
seriously, the bitching about shipping and whatever for the mattel trap and the pke is 100% tacky what makes anyone that did that deserve a proton pack.
A Matty pack would in my honest opinion, be overpriced and probably have a lot of corners cut for the sake of mass production. While I love my trap and PKE, the problems plaguing the traps would make me leery about a pack. Quite frankly having done enough cons and Halloweens, I would not feel comfortable with an expensive mass produced pack on my back. Even though there are several people here on the board that have expensive fiberglass shells, the main difference is that a shell can be repaired, a matty pack wouldn’t be so easy. Honestly building a pack isn’t that hard,it can be at first but I guess I get tired of the assumption that all of us that scratch build knew exactly how to build them accurately. Bottom line is we didn’t. It’s alot of trial and error. I feel like it’s much more rewarding when you’re asked where you got the pack to reply that you built it. When you say that you bought it, it loses some of the awe factor when average joe knows that he can just go on line and buy one.
and speaking of average joes…
as long as it was under $400 with lights and sounds and the same accuracy and quality as their ghost trap, I would definitely buy one. if not to wear then at least for display purposes. granted its hard to imagine a 1:1 proton pack built using the same plastic as the ghost trap but I would love to see one produced. as long as you could secure it to an alice frame so it would be sturdy. I plan on building myself one between now and october 2012 but since mattel hasnt made one I will do the next best thing and buy a shell like the one below and build off of that.
I have the skill and the desire, but time is something I’m always lacking, and thanks to the economy so is money. Frankly, you can only afford so many hobbies at once and you really need to choose. So, if I was able to get a pack for relatively as close in price as I could by making it, then yes, I’d get it.
Sure, why the hell not? It’s would be a cool piece of Ghostbusters merchandise and would look nice next to my Proton Pack.
In a heartbeat
From my perspective, no. I appreciate what they are making but having my hand in something is much more rewarding than buying it out right. Whether it be a corporation with a license or a fan doing a run of completed packs it seems it would cheat the experience.
The artistry and craftsmanship at all levels of fan made props impresses me more than what Matty could do because its a piece of self expression.
I understand that many people don’t have tools, time, money or will power to do some research but if you can build I think you will find it to be fun and satisfying.
Heck, the traps were sold out before they even arrived. It would be near impossible to get a pack.
I think I will have to make one in order to have one.
No.
I think Matty overall does a good job, but they should stick to small items. The PKE meter was awesome, nearly flawless. The trap, while I am in love with it, is plastic-y and feels flimsy in a lot of areas if we’re being honest, not to mention the high number of defective items. I am totally happy they made the trap and they did some cool things with it, but I think even the trap was a little ambitious for Matty… a pack is probably a bit beyond them.
My heart says yes, my wallet says no.
… but yes.
No. If it was as “accurate” and “high quality” as the PKE and trap, it would be junk. I think the “built not bought” theme holds true for a pack more than any other GB prop. I understand some people lack the skill and space and time to do certain things, but at least make an attempt.
It’s a moot point, though. AFAIK, Matty is discontinuing the line. Personally, I think the trap is their “jumping the shark” moment.
For craps’ sake, support small business! 
The trap and PKE meter were small props with relatively little to them. The pack has so many in’s and out’s to it I could see there being huge problems. Not to mention the amount of tooling involved and the size of the tooling cavitation just for the shell itself combined with Matty’s markup would make this pack much more expensive than what you could spend to make a nice fan made pack yourself.
I’ve greatly warmed up to Mattel’s small prop replicas (I bought one of each and then some, so that shows how I’ve warmed up to them), but I don’t want them to make a Proton Pack.
A Proton Pack would be too ambitious. Even though it wouldn’t have moving parts, it’s so much larger than a Trap… there’d probably be a lot of corners cut to both make it easy to produce as well as to make it cost effective.
My greatest concern would be the public’s reaction to the Pack, I’m happy to reveal the sources of the Mattel-made PKE and Trap when quizzed on the subject, but I’d hate it if someone assumed the Pack I wear was a Mattel replica, as it would be devaluing the efforts of the awesome people who had a hand in it’s creation.
Yes, but I wouldn’t wear it. I bought the Matty trap and the PKE, but left them at home when out in costume. Sure there was a little effort in obtaining these limited edition items, but like some folks said earlier, there’s a sense of pride and accomplishment of a pack and gear you can say you built or assembled than wearing something you bought and took out of a box.
Depends on price and features. But if the trap was $130, I can’t imagine a pack being less than the cost of buying a shell and other resin parts, which are likely going to be more accurate and of higher quality. Sure, you save the building time, but I’d probably rather put that towards a kit than a toy. But it all depends. I can’t give a solid no.
Being such a fan, I would simply have to buy one, just for the sake of it!
I do however agree with most that in order to be affordable, corners would be cut, and the finished product may have a cheap ‘toy’ like look to it…but lets face it, thats what these things are, collectable toys.
I would wear my old beast out in costume, and have this one on a wall for display.
one bonus is that I am sure the lighting effects and sound could be utilised in our handbuilt packs
so yes I would buy one…probably two… 