Mkall wrote:I don't believe that for a second. I believe that TFC saw what fans were doing with their figures as they were being released, so they collected the ideas into a single set.
Why don't you believe that? Why do you think that TFC is so noble? Can you honestly sit there and tell me that you, yourself couldn't have predicted the fans reaction to the product? Nearly every 3rd party product that is released is G1 based. Either G1 figures or upgrades to make current figures look more like G1. The entire 3rd party is G1 because the collector's want G1. Thats why its so overwhelmingly successful.
So can you honestly say that you could not predict that collectors would say that they wanted Herc to be more G1? Because I bet that you could have. And I bet that nearly everyone on this board could have as well. And you can surely bet that TFC predicted it as well. Hence, a more G1 upgrade set for a product that should have been more G1 from the outset. For a fee, of course.
Frankly, its a good plan if you ask me. Because for every one or two people that it upsets, there's 5 more people who get down on their knees to TFC for listening to the fans. And TFC cashes in either way. Its hard to hate on TFC really, they are only taking the money that so many here are so eager to shove in their pockets.
megatronus wrote:Joe - the issue people are taking with your comments is you sound smug and condescending, and imply that we're all idiots. Is it naive to think TFC wasn't thinking about this relatively early on? Perhaps. I personally think the argument that the QC issues preclude the possibility of this kit being planned isn't an effective one, because those were unexpected problems post-production. True, it doesn't mean TFC wasn't planning on releasing a kit like this, especially knowing that this would help TFC steal MakeToys' market share. However, your "embarassment" at the actions of your fellow fans and collectors really rubs a lot of us the wrong way.
Well, I'm not sure what to tell you. I'm sorry I haven't reduced the thread to name calling and swearing so I can come across as a jerk or a troll as opposed to smug and condescending. If I have to be "that smug guy" for trying to comunicate intelligently and rationally, then thats my cross to bare and I'm fine with it. I am only calling things as I see them. There's an old saying that says "the truth hurts." If people are getting upset at my comments, maybe its because I'm not too far off base with them. If some other hobby had just had some must have item come out for a ton of money and then soon after had an upgrade set come out for even more money, and those hobbyists were praising the company and lining up to throw their dollars at them, I'm sure there would be plenty people on this board who would say the same thing to them as I said here.
Look, at the end of the day, its your money. Buy what you want with it. Whats embarassing for me is that people are spending their money under this notion that the 3rd party is so great, they give fans what they want, and they really listen to fans and blah blah blah. When the reality is that the collector fanbase is like an unstruck oil reserve. Its awesome wealth thats waiting to be tapped into. And the 3rd party is just the drill thats doing the tapping. Its only about the mighty dollar for them. TFC has practically thrown this fact in everyone's faces with this upgrade. But people here either don't want to believe or just chose to ignore the facts because they don't want the magical illusion of the 3rd party market ruined for them.
Like I said in one of my earlier posts: its like the junkie who thinks his dealer is his friend. The dealer is just providing the product that the junkie thinks he needs so badly. And the junkie is so greatful when he finally gets what he needs. But at the end of the day, the dealer doesn't give a rat's ass about the junkie. The only thing he cares about is whether or not the junkie can pay him. And one day, if the junkie can't pay him anymore or the junkie OD's or ends up broke and homeless, the dealer doesn't care. Because there are plenty more junkies where the first one came from.
That my friends is the 3rd party market.