Doctor Who merchandise

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The long running British science fiction television series Doctor Who has since its beginnings in the 1960s generated many hundreds of products related to the show, from toys and games to picture cards and postage stamps. This article is not an exhaustive list of merchandise but attempts to present a flavour of the type of material that has been produced. This entry mainly concentrates on "official" spin-offs, that is to say, material sanctioned by the British Broadcasting Corporation, which produces the series.

Contents

[edit] Games

Doctor Who: The Interactive Electronic Board Game
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Doctor Who: The Interactive Electronic Board Game

[edit] Board and card games

  • Doctor Who - The Game of Time and Space (1980)

This boardgame from Games Workshop came in a bookshelf style box that featured Tom Baker as the Doctor in front of several Daleks on the cover. The game involved two to six players moving around the board attempting to collect pieces of the Key to Time. Along the way the players face classic Doctor Who aliens and villains and collect various companions and items to help them.

  • Doctor Who - Battle for the Universe (1989)

Published by The Games Team, this game could be played by two to four players. One player would play the role of the Doctor while the others would play one of three villains, namely Davros, the Master or the Cyber Controller. Each player would also have a team of four assistants which they would collect (the Doctor having his companions while Davros would have four Daleks, for example) while moving around the board and challenging each other in hyperspace "battle zones", until confronting each other in a final battle for control of the universe.

  • Doctor Who Collectible Card Game (1996)

Published by MMG, this collectible card game involved each player building a deck of cards from their collection and playing that deck against each other. Each player also had a deck of Time cards representing his cycle of regenerations; the object of the game was to eliminate the other player's "lives" before they could do the same. This would be accomplished by using various categories of cards for attacking and defending.

  • Doctor Who: The Interactive Electronic Board Game (2005)

This game involves each player moving a player piece representing the Ninth Doctor, along with a Dalek-shaped playing piece. The movement of the pieces and other random events are determined by an electronic TARDIS model that speaks and lights up.

Part partwork magazine, part collectible card game, Battles in Time is sold both in the conventional booster packs (275 cards) and with a magazine both explaining the rules of the game and character bios of the cards.

[edit] Role-playing games

Two role-playing games have been released set in the Doctor Who universe:

  • The Doctor Who Role Playing Game (1985)*

Published by FASA, The Doctor Who Role Playing Game allowed players to assume similar roles to the Doctor and his companions or as agents of the Celestial Intervention Agency. It had a picture of the Fourth Doctor and Leela on the box and its game system was based on the Star Trek RPG also published by FASA. The main set of three rulebooks was followed by several separately published adventures and sourcebooks for the game. A range of 25mm white metal miniatures were produced to coincide with the game, these were designed and released by Citadel Miniatures in the UK. They were also released and distributed by RAFM in the USA and Canada.

  • Time Lord - Adventures through Time and Space (1991)

Time Lord was written by Ian Marsh and Peter Darvill-Evans and published in paperback novel format by Virgin Publishing. This game is totally unrelated to the previously released Doctor Who RPG by FASA. It has different, simpler, mechanics and is considered faithful to the original television show.

However, it was marketed with other Doctor Who books and not other role-playing games. In addition, Virgin was unknown in the gaming market. As a result, it did not sell well and aside from a few articles in Doctor Who Magazine, no supplements were published. Since 1996, it has been made available for free on the Internet by the authors (see below).

[edit] Miniature Wargame

  • Doctor Who: Invasion Earth (1996)

"Doctor Who: Invasion Earth" was a miniature wargame designed by Daniel Faulconbridge and released by Harlequin Miniatures. The game allowed players to create or re-enact scenarios involving characters from the "Doctor Who" universe. The rule book came with an inital scenario of UNIT pitted against the Daleks in an invasion of Earth. Additional scenarios were produced, as well as an extensive range of 28mm pewter miniatures for the game which covered the first eight Doctors, the Peter Cushing movie Doctor and all of the television companions (except for Katarina) in the original series and the 1996 television movie. In addition a wide variety of monsters, foes and guest characters from a number of the original television stories were produced. Harlequin later became Icons Miniatures, and are currently known as Black Tree Design. Scenarios, miniature statistics and information about the game and miniatures can be found on the site listed below (see below).

[edit] Gamebooks

  • Make your own adventure with Doctor Who (British title) or Find Your Fate - Doctor Who (United States title) (1986)

These were a series of six gamebooks published by Severn House in the United Kingdom and by Ballantine in the United States. (At least three were also published by the ABC in Australia, using the British titles.) These stories feature the Sixth Doctor together with many familiar old companions and enemies including K-9, Peri, Turlough, the Rani and Omega. With the exception of Michael Holt, all the books in the series were written by scriptwriters for the television series, although some of the books tended to break from the continuity of the series (particularly Crisis in Space which features Vislor Turlough, even though he did not travel with the Sixth Doctor). The books were first published during the 1985-86 hiatus though it has never been confirmed whether any of the plots were originally intended for the TV series. The six books were:

Title Author ISBN UK ISBN US TV companions featured
Search for the Doctor Dave Martin ISBN 0-7278-2087-7 ISBN 0-345-33224-5 K-91
Crisis in Space Michael Holt ISBN 0-7278-2093-1 ISBN 0-345-33225-3 Peri Brown, Vislor Turlough
The Garden of Evil Dave Martin ISBN 0-7278-2113-X n/a None
Mission to Venus William Emms ISBN 0-7278-2122-9 unknown Peri Brown
Invasion of the Ormazoids Philip Martin ISBN 0-7278-2100-8 ISBN 0-345-33231-8 None
Race Against Time Pip and Jane Baker ISBN 0-7278-2116-4 ISBN 0-345-33228-8 Peri Brown
1 This is K-9 Mark III who was introduced in the spin-off K-9 and Company and later appeared in School Reunion, as opposed to K-9s Mark I and II who travelled with the Fourth Doctor.
  • FASA Gamebooks

FASA also published two books similar in format to the "Make Your Own Adventure" books listed above, the first ('The Vortex Crystal by William H. Keith, Jr.) featuring the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan, and the second (The Rebel's Gamble also by William Keith, ISBN 0-931787-68-8), set during the American Civil War) featuring the Sixth Doctor, Peri and also Harry Sullivan, even though Sullivan was not a companion during the Sixth Doctor's era.

[edit] Pinball

Flyer for Midway's Dr. Who pinball game.
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Flyer for Midway's Dr. Who pinball game.

In 1992, Midway (under the Bally label) released a Doctor Who pinball game, designed by Bill Pfutzenreuter (also known as "Pfutz") and Barry Oursler (designer of the 1986 classic Pin*Bot). The theme of the game was "Time Streams", and featured a rearrangement of the Doctor Who theme tune by Jon Hey. Sylvester McCoy provided voice work for the game. The machine features a Dalek on top of the scoreboard. This Dalek was designed to move along with the game; however, the electronics were not always attached. Approximately 1000-1500 of these have a moving Dalek (unless it was updated by the owner).

[edit] Computer games

  • Doctor Who: The First Adventure (1983) and Doctor Who and the Warlord (1985)

Two computer games by BBC Soft for the BBC Micro

  • Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror (1985)

A computer game published by Micro Power for the ZX Spectrum, C64 and BBC Micro.

A computer game published by Admiral Software, it allowed the player to play either the Second, Fourth or Seventh Doctors, with the option of a second player taking the role of Ace or Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The object of the game was to navigate through several environments, ranging from sewers to devastated cities and defeat the Daleks and their assorted minions.

Published by BBC Multimedia, this was a CD-ROM based computer game in which the player took the role of the Graak, a creature of mental force created by the Fourth Doctor. The Master has imprisoned all seven of the Doctor's incarnations in a dimension known as the Determinant and the player must undergo a series of quests and puzzles to free each of them. The game featured extensive new clips of Anthony Ainley as the Master (playing the role for the final time) and the voices of all the surviving actors to play the Doctor as well as that of Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

[edit] Picture cards

Cover of 1967 Dr Who's Space Adventure Book into which Walls Sky Ray cards were collected
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Cover of 1967 Dr Who's Space Adventure Book into which Walls Sky Ray cards were collected

There have been several series of picture cards devoted to Doctor Who over the years. These include a set of 36 cards given away in 1967 with Walls 'Sky Ray' ice lollys. The cards featured a somewhat long-haired doctor based on Patrick Troughton joining forces with the 'Sky Ray Space Raiders' to battle the Daleks. The cards were collected in an album, Dr Who's Space Adventure Book, which also included games and other features [1].

The Tom Baker era saw a collection of 12 cards issued with Typhoo Tea entitled The Amazing World of Dr. Who. These featured photographs of various monsters from the series, and could be stuck onto to a 'wallchart' poster that could be purchased separately [2].

[edit] Action Figures

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[edit] 1970's figures

Denys Fisher Mego released a selection of 9" figures in the mid-1970s, including the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), Leela, K-9 (released in 1978 after the first six), the Giant Robot, a Cyberman, a Dalek, and a TARDIS. The Dalek and K-9 have friction drives to allow for movement. The TARDIS has a self-propelled spinning top. The Doctor could be inserted into the TARDIS and the "light" on top was spun. If the red button was hit while the top was spinning, the Doctor "disappeared". If the green button was hit, the Doctor re-appeared.

These toys are all extremely rare and difficult to find, especially in near mint or mint condition. The Tom Baker figure is the most common and can be found in an English or Italian box. A mint (or near mint) Baker figure with the box is worth between $200-500, depending on quality of the figure and the box. The Tom Baker figure with the Italian box is a bit more common (and may sell for as little as $150-250). The other figures, excluding the TARDIS, are worth $500-1200 if they are in near mint quality and have their original box, even if the box is damaged. A Denys Fisher Dalek with box recently (May 2006) sold for over $1150 on eBay! The TARDIS is usually a bit cheaper at $200-350 (provided it has no damage or any repairs are not noticeable and the box is included).

Of course, this is relative and eBay auctions can vary considerably. While a mint Leela may sell for $500600, one without a box may only sell for $150-200. That said, some items are so rare that even a damaged item, or one with missing pieces, is worth a fair amount. For example, in May 2006, a Leela doll without her loin cloth (and correspondingly, without the attached pouches and knife) but with her original, but highly damaged box, sold for over $350. It really depends on competition, timing and if serious bidding is occurring. Nonetheless, considering these toys sold in the UK for under GBP £15 in the 1970's, their value has gone up nearly 10- to 100-fold and will most likely continue to rise due to the popularity of the new Doctor Who series.

If bidding on an item on eBay or purchasing from any other site, be sure to ask:

  • the condition of the Cyberman suit, as the reflective silver paint would readily flake away, and make sure that all tubing is present (one tube on each extremity and one wrapped around the middle);
  • if Leela has her knife, if both pouches (one for the knife) are attached to her loin cloth (and that the loin cloth, with red shape in front, is included), and if her hair is in good condition;
  • if K-9 has both ears, all stickers, his tail and the retractable gun (the ears and tail frequently broke off) and if the figure freely moves (friction drive);
  • if the Robot has his shoulder pads (these readily came off and often the figure is sold without them) and tubing in back;
  • if the Tom Baker Doctor figure has his hat, scarf, ascot around his neck, and most importantly his sonic screwdriver (often this is lost and decreases the value considerably);
  • if the Dalek has all three extremities (eye, gun and suction cup arm) and if it freely moves (friction drive); and,
  • if the TARDIS "light" and doors are properly attached (the light and doors are easily broken - simply glueing the light or doors to re-attach them is rarely sufficient and more extensive repairs are needed), if there is damage to the sides or doors (as these were paper or paper-covered), and if the velcro strip inside the TARDIS (to hold the Doctor in place) is present.

Also, look for cracks in the feet or other areas of the figures or for any discoloration. Some are stress cracks due to time and cannot be avoided, but more serious cracks or discoloration will decrease the value considerably. The more damaged the item is, obviously, the less it is worth. These are very simple toys, as none require batteries, have any flashing lights or speak, but they have become quite collectible.

The rarity of the boxes (or high quality boxes) has led to people selling box reproductions. These reproduced boxes can be excellent alternatives and are far, far less expensive than finding a figure with the original box. However, when buying any of these figures, be sure to ask if the box is original or a reproduction (reproduced boxes sell for $20-30).

Along those lines, some of these toys can be repaired (think along the lines of the repairs done to "Woody" in "Toy Story 2"). As stated above, the TARDIS "light" and doors easily broke, but repairs by those with ingenuity or toy-repair skills can be done. Simply re-glueing the light or the doors rarely works for this toy, so more advanced repairs are needed. Flaking damage on the Cyberman suit can be repaired using a high quality silver paint for fabric. Dust on many figures can be removed by air-blown sprays or delicate washing. Leela's hair can be repaired by combing, conditioning and steam-cleaning. Delicate repainting can also be done on some figures. The key is to do just enough repairs, without ruining the essence of the original. Any repair work should be noted in ads (often a seller will simply sell the damaged item and leave repairs to the buyer). If unsure, ask the seller.

Note: Do not confuse the Denys Fisher K-9 or Dalek with the talking Palitoy K-9 or Dalek toys. The Palitoy talking toys were released around the same time and are also quite collectable. Finding a good quality talking K-9 or Dalek, that speak at a "normal" speed and have their original boxes, can cost anywhere from $200-500. Even without the box, the toy could be worth $100-150 if in good speaking condition. If the toys do not speak, their value drops considerably (not more than $50-100 for a non-speaking Dalek). A working Palitoy K-9 is more rare and may be more costly. Both toys speak via a small vinyl record that is inside or near the battery compartment. The K-9 record is inside the battery compartment and can be flipped over, giving K-9 more phrases. The Dalek record is buried within the toy and cannot be removed. The Palitoy K-9 is considerably larger than the Denys Fisher line, so the two cannot be confused. Likewise, the Palitoy Dalek is considerably different from the Denys Fisher Dalek, although it is similar in size. The Palitoy Dalek came in red with black Dalek "spots" or "bumps" and in silver-gray with blue "bumps". The silver/blue Dalek is a bit more rare. Both Palitoy Daleks had black extremities, with a red end on the eye and red suction cup. The Denys Fisher Dalek is also silver/blue, but has a red head and a blue eye piece (with silver gun and suction cup).

To reiterate, the key issue with the Palitoy K-9 and Dalek is if they speak. Non-speaking ones are frequent on eBay. Sometimes simple button realignment can help them, but beware of rust or damage to the battery compartment, including the band that moves the K-9 record. The three extremities on the Palitoy Dalek (eye, gun and arm) could be removed, so be sure that these are included (some people are selling reproduced Palitoy Dalek extremities that could suffice if the original items are lost). Lastly, be sure to check the Palitoy Dalek's blue screen inside the head for cracks.

[edit] Product Enterprise

It is worthwhile to note that Product Enterprise has created new lines of talking Cybermen (with guns and a cybermat) and talking Daleks (with flashing lights). Product Enterprise rotates its toy lines such that some will discontinue - for example, the Cybermen figures stopped production in 2002. There were two Cyberman figures, the all silver/gray Cyber-Warrior and the Cyber Leader, which was nearly identical, but had black ear-pieces. Note: Product Enterprises has just re-issued the Cyberman figures - one in black and one in a "duller" silver (both have more of a spray-paint effect). These are out for a limited time. The all Black Cyberman was featured in the 1985 Doctor Who episode "Attack of the Cyberman", so this is a treat.

The Dalek figures are approximately the same size as the Palitoy talking figures from the 1970's. However, these new Daleks use micro-chip technology to speak. If their speaking mechanisms break, most likely the circuit has been destroyed. Simply re-aligning the figure, as could at times be done with the Palitoy figures, will obviously not work here. While this is one minor limitation of the technology, these newer toys are far more sturdy and less likely to break. Plus, they are very attractive toys. The Product Enterprise Daleks come in just about every color that was ever seen in the original Classic Doctor Who Series and old Doctor Who movies (from the 1960's), including the red/black and silver/blue of the Palitoy Dalek series, as well as white/gold for the Imperial Dalek, black/gold, gold/black, red/silver, silver/black, etc.

The New Doctor Who Series features Daleks in all gold. To date, Product Enterprise has not made any action figures representative of the New Series. All New Series toys are manufactured by Character Options (see below). Character Options has created a wide array of figures, including all gold/bronze Daleks (in several sizes), that can speak and are remote-controlled. The Character Option line is brand new, and one should not pay more than retail value for the items. The Product Enterprise lines prices vary. As the Cybermen figures are discontinued, these are usually a bit higher than retail value. Top price should be $70-100. Most Product Enterprise Dalek figures sell for $50; however, the rare white and gold Imperial Dalek, of which only 3000 or so were made, may fetch values close to $150-200. Recently, Product Enterprise made a talking, remote-controlled Davros, which wonderfully goes along with their Daleks. This figure is new and worth ~$100.

Product Enterprise also has released a 9" talking Fourth Doctor and K9 (in Tardis-style box), and in 2006 will release a 12" Talking Doctor and Classic Cyberman.

[edit] DAPOL

From the late 1980s to 2001, Dapol released a variety of 4"inch figures. Some of the toys produced by Dapol were rather inaccurate: these included a green K-9, a Davros with two arms, and (as part of a TARDIS control room playset) a TARDIS console with five sides instead of six. The company also hosted the Doctor Who Experience exhibition, which showed props and costumes from the original series and ran until 2003. Dapol stopped making the figures in 2001, along with any other licenced Doctor Who products. The figures in the range included:

Also produced were giftsets containing common figures and sometimes a figure exclusive to the pack itself.

[edit] Character Options (the New Series)

To coincide with the revival of the show, Character Options announced a new line of action figures based around the characters. The figures that have been released so far are (all dates are approximate):

Release Wave 1 (Feb 2006)

Release Wave 2 (May 2006)

  • Lady Cassandra and Chip, Cassandra's frame is rustier than the frame of the previous figure
  • Cyberman, with an open palm and without a gun attached onto the right forearm
  • Cyber Controller, with visible brain and chest bolts

Plus re-releases of Tenth Doctor (coat), Tenth Doctor (suit), Rose & K9 and Slitheen from Wave 1

Release Wave 3 (July 2006)

Plus re-releases of Tenth Doctor (coat), Tenth Doctor (suit) from Wave 1

The Forbidden Planet website had listed some of the upcoming Character Options figures for 2007 and, while they may not be what actually comes out next year, they are the closest guess to what we are to expect. The list included:

  • A re-release of Captain Jack Harkness, with an Empty Child figure
  • A Slitheen re-release including the "Space Pig"
  • Gold 5" RC dalek with a removable chestplate, revealing a Dalek mutant
  • A pack containing two Autons
  • A re-release of the Rose figure (dressed as she was in "Rose") with 2 robotic spiders
  • Martha Jones
  • The Face of Boe
  • Judoon

Other

  • Each Dalek battlepack includes either the Ninth Doctor, the Tenth Doctor (in suit), Rose or the Cyber Leader (with a removable chestplate and an EMP device), plus two Daleks: one Gold and one Black and Gold
  • An Electronic TARDIS playset
  • Tenth Doctor and radio control K9
  • The Regeneration Pack including the Ninth Doctor & the Tenth Doctor both in leather jackets
  • Gold radio control Dalek
  • Black radio control Dalek
  • Cyber Controller with Cyber Throne and Cyber Guards
  • Woolworths six figure gift packs (varying content)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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