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■ Fallout
Fallout is a 1997 role-playing video game developed and published by Interplay Productions, set in a mid-22nd century post-apocalyptic and retro-futuristic world, decades after a global nuclear war led by the United States and China. Fallout’s protagonist, the Vault Dweller, inhabits an underground nuclear shelter.

Cableguys Mini Fallout Holders

As I previously mentioned, I own the original Cableguys Fallout Holder, which is large (and in charge) and able to hold a full-sized video game controller with ease. It’s designed in a way that you can see Vault Boy’s head when he’s holding the controller. I love that thing, and I have contemplated on many occasions to buy another Fallout holder – but I want a different design. Vault Girl, anyone? Controller holder… for her.

When I saw these officially licensed Mini Fallout Holders on Amazon, I knew they were smaller, but I convinced myself that I can put my phone on the holder, right next to the controller, that would be cool! There are two designs, the Super Hero (Toughness) and Baseball (Big Leagues), and without seeing it in person, I ordered one for $17.

The description from Amazon:

At approximately 4 inches tall, this mini holder fits neatly into any setup, making it an ideal phone rest for desk spaces, bedrooms, or gaming rooms. The stable base and secure arms keep your devices primed & ready for whatever’s thrown at you

I have to confess – it’s way smaller than I thought. Even a standard business card will cover Vault Boy’s head. Sure, maybe it’s by designed, because even my phone is comically way too large for the mini holder.

I guess, as a Fallout fan and collector, this is pretty cool to have in my collection. And even though I know I’ll regret it, I am thinking about the Baseball Mini to add to my collection… but I’ll probably just wait for clearance or when it goes on sale. I think $17, retail price, is too much for how small it is.

Or here is a thought: maybe just make the Minis a full-size version. I know charging $30 or more for the full version might not sell as well, but since I love my original holder so much, I wouldn’t minding owning another (or three) to hold various other Fallout controllers I have in my collection.

McFarlane Fallout

When I purchased my first McFarlane Elite, I noted that at the price point of $60 each, that it is way too expensive for me, so it’s unlikely that I’ll collect the entire line. I still stand by that statement, $60 is unaffordable.

Recently, McFarlane reduced these Lucy MacLean Elite to $42. As a Fallout fan, I had to get her. Oh boy, did I regret it. This is not a $42 figure, let alone the original $60 asking price.

Let’s get into all my complaints:

Including Dogmeat in the Lucy packaging is cool – but it’s not articulated… basically it’s just a prop, like a chair or table. I would have preferred to have more guns or alternate clothing/covers or hair styles, etc.

Lucy’s hair sculpt gets in the way of posing… and worst off, very hard to pose with her backpack (since you have to tuck the hair underneath the backpack – but it’ll cause it to make it look funky with the backpack. Plus the hair sculpt doesn’t even match what is on the box artwork (which shows her hair tidied up).

You get three face plates: a happy one, an angry one, and a neutral face. They sort of look like the actress, but I would’ve exaggerated her big old eyeballs a little. I don’t know, I didn’t like any of the face plates.

She comes with two small pistols. Only two hands are designed to hold them. If you wanted to use the other hands, like the missing figure one, you’ve got nowhere to stash the guns! Couldn’t McFarlane just have given us a gun holster (as seen on the box artwork?).

Overall, this figure should have been sold with all the other McFarlane Fallout figures – those are selling at $35 each. The fair price for this so-called Elite figure should be around $35, in my opinion.