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Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

-Kanrabat- wrote:Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

No non-combiners allowed?

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

No non-combiners allowed?

Impossibru.

They'll keep making MPs no matter what, no matter the gimmick.

We probalbly gonna have a new Star Saber


Maybe even combiners.


Day 1561 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

No non-combiners allowed?

Impossibru.

They'll keep making MPs no matter what, no matter the gimmick.

It's not a name change. MPG is a separate line that currently coexists with the MP line. Like how Studio Series 86 and Legacy are separate lines.

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

No non-combiners allowed?

Impossibru.

They'll keep making MPs no matter what, no matter the gimmick.

It's not a name change. MPG is a separate line that currently coexists with the MP line. Like how Studio Series 86 and Legacy are separate lines.

You just said that MP-60 is the FINAL MP release in that line and the MP line will be unified into MPG.

As if the Studio Series would be unified in SS86 and you'd get Bayverse figures in SS86.

Sabrblade wrote:WHOA! Major news flash!



See that bullet-pointed note in the bottom half of the pic? This text:

「マスターピース」シリーズは100体目の発売を機に今作で終了となり、今後トランスフオーマーの最高峰ブランドは次世代最高峰ブランドである「トランスフォーマーMPG」に統一となります。

When translated into English, (courtesy of DeepL) it states the following:

The "Masterpiece" series will come to an end with the release of the 100th figure, and the highest Transformer brand will be unified with the next generation's highest brand, "Transformers MPG".

MP-60 Ginrai is apparently the final Masterpiece release, with Masterpiece Gattai formally taking over as its successor line.

So, what does that REALLY mean?
Are you saying that they will stop making Masterpieces of the non combining characters?
No MP Kup, Scourge, Cyclonus, Galvatron, and so on?

I call bull.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Is there any point in that name change?

Or is it just an excuse to reset the numbers?

No non-combiners allowed?

Impossibru.

They'll keep making MPs no matter what, no matter the gimmick.

It's not a name change. MPG is a separate line that currently coexists with the MP line. Like how Studio Series 86 and Legacy are separate lines.

You just said that MP-60 is the FINAL MP release in that line and the MP line will be unified into MPG.

As if the Studio Series would be unified in SS86 and you'd get Bayverse figures in SS86.

MPG is Combiners-only. That's what the G in MPG is short for. "Gattai". They are sister lines. The normal MP line will be ending while the MPG line will go on to continue on its own as a Combiner-centric line, which the normal MP line is not.

Sabrblade wrote:The normal MP line will be ending while the MPG line will go on to continue on its own as a Combiner-centric line, which the normal MP line is not.

And that's where I call bullsht.
They will keep on making "regular" MP. They will just pull another name out of their ass if need be.

I'm assuming if this is correct, they're counting the recolors, Masterpiece 00+s, etc in that number? Because if Ginrai is only MP-60, and they're going to 100, that would still leave 40 more figures to release to hit 100. There's still SO many G1 figures that don't have an MP release- Jazz, Mirage, Cliffjumper (whatever happened to that prototype and eventual color sample? ), Warpath, Brawn,.... most of the "minibots", now what I think about it.... Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, Springer, Blurr, etc...I just can't see (or understand) them just stopping with Ginrai, calling it a day, and only focusing on combiners.

I've got lots of thoughts about this IF it's true. Emphasis on the "if".

I was recently expressing my frustrations about the Masterpiece line to one of my long time buddies who stopped by ol' Seibertron Headquarters recently. It's incredibly absurd that I've been collecting this line for TWENTY years and we are missing so many main characters. The Masterpiece line is incredible but I don't think I'm interested in collecting a line that isn't going to do the main characters until I'm in my 60s or 70s at this rate. If I had known 20 years ago that this line would never be finished or taken this long, I probably would have never collected it. I say that, and then think of some of the amazing figures we've gotten, but then just think back to how it's been soft-rebooted, 3 Masterpiece Primes, 3 Starscreams, 2 Bumblebees, and so on. No Headmasters, Galvatron, Blurr, Kup, JAZZ (!!!), various Mini-Bots, where's that Cliffjumper (???), Blaster (we got a Decepticon recolored Steeljaw but no Steeljaw!!!), Perceptor, Blitzwing, Astrotrain, SPRINGER!!!, Cyclonus, Scourge, Insecticons, the rest of the Dinobots (Grimlock was released FIFTEEN years ago) and so on. They don't even have to do licenses for most of those excluding Jazz and the Mini-Bots (but they had the opportunity with Jazz recently and didn't do anything with it). Just kind of frustrating at this point. I setup "8" detolfs recently, thinking I'd make some room for some Masterpieces and my first gut instinct was just to put out the "best" regular "Generations" figures. No room for Masterpieces.

First world problems, I know. But still kind of like "WTF" to the whole Masterpiece line at this point.

Sabrblade wrote:When translated into English, (courtesy of DeepL) it states the following:

The "Masterpiece" series will come to an end with the release of the 100th figure, and the highest Transformer brand will be unified with the next generation's highest brand, "Transformers MPG".

MP-60 Ginrai is apparently the final Masterpiece release, with Masterpiece Gattai formally taking over as its successor line.

That's basically what the text in Google Translate says. But I wonder if they might be rebranding MPG itself to Masterpiece Generations or something due to their specific use of the word in the text. I'm guessing we'll hear something official by the end of the year.



Anyway, I ordered both, came to just over $400. Keep in mind that these are not the final prices and will likely be further reduced. AmiAmi has them at 36,960 and 16,940 respectively and typically Amazon Japan's prices are lower.

Emerje

Bounti76 wrote:I'm assuming if this is correct, they're counting the recolors, Masterpiece 00+s, etc in that number? Because if Ginrai is only MP-60, and they're going to 100, that would still leave 40 more figures to release to hit 100. There's still SO many G1 figures that don't have an MP release- Jazz, Mirage, Cliffjumper (whatever happened to that prototype and eventual color sample? ), Warpath, Brawn,.... most of the "minibots", now what I think about it.... Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, Springer, Blurr, etc...I just can't see (or understand) them just stopping with Ginrai, calling it a day, and only focusing on combiners.

Counting up all the TakaraTomy releases listed on the wiki, I count 76 standard releases (77 when counting MP-60 Ginrai), and 36 of the special editions, making a total of 113 (Ginrai included). So either their math is way off, or they're not counting 13 of those special editions.

If I were to guess which 13 they'd be not counting, these would be my guesses:

• MP-1 Convoy (lucky draw gold) - It's a lucky draw, which are usually treated as exceptional figures
• MP-1L Convoy Last Production - too similar to the original MP-1 version, I guess
• MP-11A Acid Storm - this one originated as a Hasbro release first, so it wasn't Takara's idea
• MP-10A Convoy (BAPE ver.) - with how many BAPE versions of MP-10 there were, Takara's probably excluding them all
• MP-12 Lambor (TFExpo 2014 exclusive) - likely not different enough from normal MP-12 to be counted separately
• MP-10 Convoy Mode "Eva" - Takara might consider the TF/Evangelion label separate from the main MP label
• MP-5G Megatron Gold Ver. - though sold under Takara's label, this was a Hasbro Asia release
• MP-10R Convoy (BAPE REDCAMO ver.) - another BAPE version
• MP-10K Convoy (BAPE BLACKCAMO ver.) - another BAPE version
• MP-711 Convoy (7-Eleven ver.) - probably considered in the same ballpark as the BAPE versions
• Golden Lagoon Convoy - was actually sold under the "Golden Lagoon" label instead of the MP label, and has no MP ID number
• MP-10ASL Convoy (atmos safari LEBRON Ver.) - this is definitely in the same ballpark as the BAPE versions
• MP-10DC Convoy (atmos safari DUCKCAMO Ver.) - so is this one

And after clicking on those last two, I see that there were even more Atmos Safari versions, so they've definitely gotta be omitting all of these gimmicky licensed tie-in versions.

And here's the announcement video for both figures:

The 40th anniversary of Transformers is bringing us a lot of big and new things, but one of the biggest staples of the franchise is coming to an end. With the release of MP-60 Ginrai, what they're calling the 100th MP figure when including certain special edition and limited releases they're calling it quits on the Masterpiece line as we know it. That's not to say we wont be getting anymore MPs at all, but the primary line that originated with MP-01 some 21 years ago will no longer Exist at the end of 2024. A blurb on the official website for MP-60 and MP-09 states that the line will continue with the MPG line moving forward. Whether this means all future MPs will be combiners of some sort or if the MPG line is being rebranded is currently unknown. What this might mean for the Masterpiece Movie line headed by Hasbro is also unknow, but probably wont be affected by this news, at least not outside of Japan. Until Takara Tomy clarifies further all we can do is speculate. Below you'll find the pertinent bit from the website as translated by Google.



With so many characters left undone it's hard to guess what the future might bring for the line. Thanks to Sabrblade in the Seibertron Energon Pub Forums for letting us know. And be sure to let us know how you feel about what may be sad news for many fans in the forums as well.

Well I hope it's just a rebranding because 2 Masterpiece Beast Wars Predacons is NOT enough! Especially since I decided to forgo getting any of the Maximals in order to focus on Predacons.

So they really left Blaster on the table after doing Nightstalker and Soundwave and now it's over? What, no Godbomber tease? Have they learned nothing from Star Saber?

Although I have to admit, the pricy nature and iffy quality led me to grab very few of these. Even resorted to a KO after hearing it's version of G1 Megatron has less paint scuffing issues than the real deal.

Ginrai is really tempting, though. He was my childhood Prime. They had one in Titans Return, but he was definitely NOT scratching that itch due to his vehicle mode size and not being a Powermaster. I guess, if you're gonna end the brand, ending on yet another version of Prime is fitting.

If Takara really does drop out of the Masterpiece figure game, then I have no reason to even look at their products again going forward. I'll give the MPG stuff a shot, but so far the figures from that line lack the quality and sculpt work I am looking for in a figure. I want something well engineered that looks good in a display shelf and not whatever those Trainbots were. MPG-9 looks... okay so far, but doesn't hold a candle to MP-44 or MP-10 when it comes to sculpt and the engineering looks downright basic so far.

Hopefully 3P companies will take this move as an opportunity to release better versions of older MP figures now that they won't be directly competing with Takara. DS9 looks like they've started down that road with their recently teased Sideswipe and Prowl figures but we'll see.

Lol 100th. They blew right past that awhile ago!

Wording on this is very weird, but I'm guessing they're just continuing the line as MPG instead of just MP. Why they feel the need to do this, I have no idea, but no way they're just dropping the line and we never get an official MP Jazz or other Predacons.

If I'm being hopeful, maybe they're going with a new name because they're changing styles and rethinking how they're handling these figures going forward. Outside of the Beast Wars figures, I haven't really liked the style they're going for with these since MP-44. I hate the super-cartoony look, and the absurd panel-heavy transformations they've done on a lot of these to make it work. They look bad, they feel bad, and all the extra parts and stupid accessories they included rocketed up the price.

Go back to the style that already worked well from MP-10 onward, when this was arguably the best toyline in the game.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Although I have to admit, the pricy nature and iffy quality led me to grab very few of these. Even resorted to a KO after hearing it's version of G1 Megatron has less paint scuffing issues than the real deal.

Yeah, the QC on these has been iffy for a while. Wanted Hound, but he apparently breaks apart just due to normal transformation because they used garbage plastic (ironically making KO's the better version by default). MP-44 has the infamous knee issues. Tons of them have easily scratched paint. All this while charging 2-3 times what the earlier, often better figures cost.

Hopefully this shift to MPG is used as an opportunity for them to update how they handle these figures, because there's been a lot of crap MP's the past few years.

Spider5800 wrote: MP-44 has the infamous knee issues.

He does? He was too pricy and I already bought two MP Primes, so I skipped. I thought Roddy was the only one with bum knees (I haven't been paying attention, obviously). I picked one of mine up after years of standing there and his shins just stayed on the shelf. WTF, man? I picked up a loose one off TaoBao, but I was not amused (yes, it was the Japanese one). I haven't picked him up for a while, so who knows how he's doing?

Hot Rod is one of my faves so it was a big disappointment.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:

Spider5800 wrote: MP-44 has the infamous knee issues.

He does? He was too pricy and I already bought two MP Primes, so I skipped. I thought Roddy was the only one with bum knees (I haven't been paying attention, obviously). I picked one of mine up after years of standing there and his shins just stayed on the shelf. WTF, man? I picked up a loose one off TaoBao, but I was not amused (yes, it was the Japanese one). I haven't picked him up for a while, so who knows how he's doing?

Hot Rod is one of my faves so it was a big disappointment.

Oh yeah, he has this weird double knee with a loose floating part inside that can get caught in the ratchet and break. Absurdly common issue.

https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/mp-44-general-fix-thread.1180965/

Their whole design philosophy with MPs since like 2019 has been bizarre to me. It all just feels like complexity for complexity's sake, not because it benefits the figures in any way.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:What, no Godbomber tease? Have they learned nothing from Star Saber?

Godbomber is a combiner, so he would be perfectly eligible for the continuing MPG line, just as Super Ginrai is.

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Well I hope it's just a rebranding because 2 Masterpiece Beast Wars Predacons is NOT enough! Especially since I decided to forgo getting any of the Maximals in order to focus on Predacons.

Exactly. They announce MP Rhinox after years of NOTHING and then pull this? Just finish the BW line! It's significantly closer than any other (non-movie) MP line. G1, they've dragging their heels on for 20 years. They literally could have finished every character that didn't require a license by now and chose not to.