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Mindmaster wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

xyl360 wrote:Between that and how they invariably screw up the colors, I'm sticking with Takara regardless of cost.

Well, they haven't messed up the Mastperpiece decos.

In your opinion perhaps, but every one I've seen was less G1 cartoon accurate than what Takara gave us, at least in the new line so far (and most of the previous ones besides Grimlock and the first release of MP-01).

...Takara gets all the decos right?





The very first release of MP Starscream (by Takara, ironically enough) begs to differ.

Seriously though, all the MP releases, whether they've been Hasbro or Takara, have been faithful to the character they are homaging. What MP release wasn't accurate to their characters? The only differences between Hasbro and Takara releases are subtle deco differences (for example, Hasbro's MP10 was colored more like the original cartoon, whereas the Takara release emulates the original toy).

Look at MP-11.

Hasbro's MP-10 was NOT colored like the cartoon. Go back and look at any episode of G1 featuring Optimus Prime. Hasbro's colors emulate the brighter colors that started with the Michael Bay movie franchise and the likes. In G1, the blue was always about as dark as on the toy.

And to cite a more recent example:

Eagleblaster wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

xyl360 wrote:Between that and how they invariably screw up the colors, I'm sticking with Takara regardless of cost.

Well, they haven't messed up the Mastperpiece decos.

In your opinion perhaps, but every one I've seen was less G1 cartoon accurate than what Takara gave us, at least in the new line so far (and most of the previous ones besides Grimlock and the first release of MP-01).

...Takara gets all the decos right?





The very first release of MP Starscream (by Takara, ironically enough) begs to differ.

Seriously though, all the MP releases, whether they've been Hasbro or Takara, have been faithful to the character they are homaging. What MP release wasn't accurate to their characters? The only differences between Hasbro and Takara releases are subtle deco differences (for example, Hasbro's MP10 was colored more like the original cartoon, whereas the Takara release emulates the original toy).

Takara is more accurate because they are colored like the g1 toys and what comes first, the toy or the cartoon? Answer: the toy.

Takara uses high quality collectors paint and Hasbro uses a even coat of low cost durable paint and Hasbro might even be molded in paint.

Eagleblaster wrote:
Takara is more accurate because they are colored like the g1 toys and what comes first, the toy or the cartoon? Answer: the toy.

Not really what I was going for...

xyl360 wrote:
Hasbro's MP-10 was NOT colored like the cartoon. Go back and look at any episode of G1 featuring Optimus Prime. Hasbro's colors emulate the brighter colors that started with the Michael Bay movie franchise and the likes. In G1, the blue was always about as dark as on the toy.

Very well, I yield to the argument on MP10.

But the argument that Hasbro screwed up most recent MP releases (distribution of MP10 aside) are up for debate.

xyl360 wrote:

I am well aware of Hasbro's Soundwave having a yellow visor to homage the original toy (a red sharpie ought to do the trick, for those not wanting to shell out the import price just for a red visor). But really, there aren't huge differences between Hasbro releases and Takara releases, other than subtle deco differences.

Both of you guys have valid points. Between Hasbro and Takara, at least one of them usually tends to get the show-accurate colors right on the MP releases.

MP-1 - Takara
MP-2 - Neither (Hasbro didn't release one, and Takara's was colored comic-accurately since Magnus never appeared without his armor in the cartoon)
MP-3 - Hasbro (at the time, until Takara made MP-11)
MP-4 - Takara
MP-5 - Takara (by default)
MP-6 - neither (Hasbro did toy colors, while Takara based their on real world F-15 colors)
MP-7 - Hasbro (for the most part, and uses the MP-11 mold)
MP-8 - Takara (but just barely)
MP-9 - Takara
MP-10 - Hasbro openly confessed to basing their deco for this one from the 1986 movie, but Takara's has a silver Roller.
MP-11 - Takara (by default)
MP-12 - Takara (by default)
MP-13 - Takara
MP-14 - Takara (by default)
MP-15 - too early to tell
MP-16 - too early to tell
MP-17 - currently Takara by default
MP-18 - currently Takara by default
MP-19 - yet-to-exist

And that's excluding any special editions, Movie MPs, or Hasbro-only character releases.

My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers. The bloated prices online for every single Hasbro MP in recent years can attest to that fact. If Hasbro put them in every store that carries TFs instead of doing them as exclusives, this wouldn't be a problem (or at least not nearly as bad). Either way, I'm not waiting to see if Hasbro does Prowl and Bluestreak (nor any other MP). I'm getting Takara's as always.

Regarding decos, yes, the differences are minor, but they make enough difference to me along with not having to worry about whether or not I'll be able to get my hands on one to just preorder Takara's and skip Hasbro's. The only exception to that for me was Thundercracker (because Takara didn't do one, though Hasbro's is very nice and based on the same darker blue they used on the Generations TC).

Now I just wish one of them would do Skywarp out of the retooled MP Seeker mold already.

xyl360 wrote:My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers.

Except for Thundercracker, since that shelf-warmed for a good long while.

And in the past, the Classics 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime, MP Starscream, and MP Skywarp all shelf-warmed like crazy at Walmart.

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers.

Except for Thundercracker, since that shelf-warmed for a good long while.

And in the past, the Classics 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime, MP Starscream, and MP Skywarp all shelf-warmed like crazy at Walmart.

I wonder, if people were simply waiting for the prices to eventually drop. I know I would

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers.

Except for Thundercracker, since that shelf-warmed for a good long while.

And in the past, the Classics 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime, MP Starscream, and MP Skywarp all shelf-warmed like crazy at Walmart.

I wonder, if people were simply waiting for the prices to eventually drop. I know I would

I grabbed one of that Optimus as soon as I saw it at Walmart, then got another for myself and one for a friend for $25 each when they went on clearance. Sadly, I never saw a Starscream at any Walmart near me, but they stocked tons of Skywarp. Unfortunately I was usually pretty low on funds at that time, but then they went to $19 on clearance and I picked one up

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers.

Except for Thundercracker, since that shelf-warmed for a good long while.

And in the past, the Classics 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime, MP Starscream, and MP Skywarp all shelf-warmed like crazy at Walmart.

Hmm, but that's Wal-Mart, not T r' U and those are not part of the new MP line.

I'm talking about recent history, like MP-10. Or am I mistaken? Are the prices on ebay back to just over $99 (retail) now? Was distribution of that figure as good? Did it shelf warm ?

Will Soundwave?

Sitting here comparing this figure to my complete alternity line, and my complete alternators line, and what Hasbro is doing this year. And I'm starting to think this figure is 90 $ and its not a lambo or better than half the figures I compared it to. I might just take my chances and and weight for a Hasbro version.

In regards to the MP-10, it was available on the tRs website for a while, for $100 and later $115 (and with free shipping IIRC.)

It was a pretty good deal. (Unfortunately, I couldn't take advantage of that because they didn't ship to my state. I bit the bullet and bought one from eBay a few months ago. With shipping and customs it was quite costly.. but damn, he's such an awesome toy! Don't regret it.)

$50 per Nissanbot is not too bad, I think. They look great.
Pity it's too late to get a Sideswipe.

xyl360 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:My point about distribution is simply that they're always store exclusives. It's up to Toys R' Us to order more and keep them on the shelves, but they never seem to stock them in sufficient numbers.

Except for Thundercracker, since that shelf-warmed for a good long while.

And in the past, the Classics 20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime, MP Starscream, and MP Skywarp all shelf-warmed like crazy at Walmart.

Hmm, but that's Wal-Mart, not T r' U and those are not part of the new MP line.

Uh, Thundercracker is. He came out with Prime last Fall/Winter.

And since when have Hasbro's releases been part of any real Masterpiece line in the West? 20th Anniversary OP was sold in G1 packaging, the DVD Edition of 20th Anniv. OP and Hasbro's Starscream were sold in Classics packaging, Skywarp was sold in Universe packaging, and Grimlock, Rodimus, MP-10 mold Optimus, and Thundercracker were all sold in the red Generations-style packaging but with the generic subtitle-less "Transformers" logo from the toyline released in 2010.

Oh my...

robotmel wrote:

Oh my...

That's how I'll display mine!

Prowl gets no respect........

Hopefully this will ship soon.

robotmel wrote:

Oh my...

A little off topic, but... How sad were you guys when your G1 Prowl broke at the back of his neck/ windshield? No amount of superglue or epoxy could fix mine. I think that toy's purpose was to teach respect or patience. I hope this Prowl is just as awesome.

Yeah, 84-Prowl was a rather sophisticated toy in its day, but very brittle. He also broke in half.

I like the new pic.

So Prowl isn't shipping from Japan till 9/28? Then we surely won't get him in the States till early October. Wonder if the MP Soundwave reissue I preordered is shipping out the same date. It's going to be a looong month! Good thing I've got MP Grimlock on his way to help pass the time!

I have to say, Streak looks much better than Prowl does.

Cyberpath wrote:In regards to the MP-10, it was available on the tRs website for a while, for $100 and later $115 (and with free shipping IIRC.)

It was a pretty good deal. (Unfortunately, I couldn't take advantage of that because they didn't ship to my state. I bit the bullet and bought one from eBay a few months ago. With shipping and customs it was quite costly.. but damn, he's such an awesome toy! Don't regret it.)

$50 per Nissanbot is not too bad, I think. They look great.
Pity it's too late to get a Sideswipe.

Sideswipe is still available at TFsource for $110. Totally worth it. Probably available elsewhere, but I haven't looked. Better than paying $200 a year from now. Really doubt Hasbro will be releasing these licensed cars, too, and if they did they'd surely botch their decos.

xyl360 wrote:Regarding decos, yes, the differences are minor, but they make enough difference to me along with not having to worry about whether or not I'll be able to get my hands on one to just preorder Takara's and skip Hasbro's. The only exception to that for me was Thundercracker (because Takara didn't do one, though Hasbro's is very nice and based on the same darker blue they used on the Generations TC).

Now I just wish one of them would do Skywarp out of the retooled MP Seeker mold already.

Agree on all points except that Hasbro totally screwed up Rodimus Prime with their terrible deco. Obviously, the whole point of that mold was to be as screen accurate possible, but Hasbro decides to deco it after the inaccurate G1 toy? Leaving out the trailer is another matter entirely. They did make up for it, though, with their great Optimus Prime release. Those eyes make such a huge difference. Thundercracker is simply good enough for now till TT get around to releasing him (if ever). The tattoos are obnoxious and unnecessary and his faction sigils need to be upside down. Hasbro's yellow eyes on MP Soundwave were enough of a violation of that character's iconic G1 cartoon look that my OCD butt ponied up an extra $100 for the TT release (including casettes). Why does Hasbro insist on being different from TT for the sake of being different, giving us changes that absolutely no one asks for?

Dean ML wrote:Sideswipe is still available at TFsource for $110. Totally worth it. Probably available elsewhere, but I haven't looked. Better than paying $200 a year from now. Really doubt Hasbro will be releasing these licensed cars, too, and if they did they'd surely botch their decos.

Yeah, I have the MP-12 reissue on pre-order.

Plus, ordered a KO MP-14 from eBay. (will get an original one if they'll tweak the shoulders and doors in line with the cartoon model. White thighs would also be nice.)