The Energon Pub

Auto Bot wrote:

Ultra Prime wrote:I'm honestly very suprised at how many people feel the Hasbro version is better than the expected TakaraTomy version. I remember hear the deafning roar of complaints about how the Hasbro version looked like a nerf gun with gay colors.

There's too much expectations on what Takara can do. There's always this notion that Takara can "always" do better than Hasbro.

Now reality sets in.

Bingo.

When I was completely uninformed, I used to think "Yeah! They're the greatest!", then I became a Hasbro fanboy and said "No, Takara's overpriced and for what? Paint?"m then I wised up and saw both sides of the fence....Hasbro and Takara both pull their own weight and provide us with great figures. Sometimes both companies either hit or miss and we've got to remember that.

Although, as I mentioned on another board, I do think Hasbro has a greed disease problem, what with all of their repaints and remolds, but after thinking on that...I realize it's all about making money for any company, not just Hasbro. So they're no more guilty than anyone else for trying to milk anything for it's worth.

I'm grateful that Hasbro has been answering the fans cries, and I'm definitely grateful that Takara has as well, but I have to be honest and say Takara's done a little more of that lately.

People wanted a G1 themed Classics Megatron? We got it.
G1 Reissues? We got 'em. (Including Sky Lynx!)

I realize that the markets are slightly different here and overseas and that the customer focus is definitely different (Hasbro appeases all ages, Takara goes for the collectors) and along the way, both companies are going to do things we don't care for.

It's the price we pay to get what we want, and if we have any complaining to do, it rests on our shoulders.

It's better but there's too much red on it for my tastes. I'm glad I just skipped this mold all together.

Auto Bot wrote:

Ultra Prime wrote:I'm honestly very suprised at how many people feel the Hasbro version is better than the expected TakaraTomy version. I remember hear the deafning roar of complaints about how the Hasbro version looked like a nerf gun with gay colors.

There's too much expectations on what Takara can do. There's always this notion that Takara can "always" do better than Hasbro.

Now reality sets in.

I think a lot of that comes from our UK community....from what I've heard they're division of Hasbro is really bad about delays, only releasing parts of lines, nothing but excuses & dissapointment. Compared to that, Takara's overpriced, poorly QC'd, superiorly painted toys probably would seem superior.

Auto Bot wrote:

Ultra Prime wrote:I'm honestly very suprised at how many people feel the Hasbro version is better than the expected TakaraTomy version. I remember hear the deafning roar of complaints about how the Hasbro version looked like a nerf gun with gay colors.

There's too much expectations on what Takara can do. There's always this notion that Takara can "always" do better than Hasbro.

Now reality sets in.

I think a lot of that comes from our UK community....from what I've heard they're division of Hasbro is really bad about delays, only releasing parts of lines, nothing but excuses & dissapointment. Compared to that, Takara's overpriced, poorly QC'd, usually better-painted toys probably would seem superior.

Takara has this reputation of making good paint jobs. We'll have to see when the Classics comes out, if Takara lives up to its reputation.

Looks pretty good. But I dont know If I want to spend the money to import it as it will probably end up here at some point anyway.

Hmmmmm......

Nemesis Cyberplex wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

Ultra Prime wrote:I'm honestly very suprised at how many people feel the Hasbro version is better than the expected TakaraTomy version. I remember hear the deafning roar of complaints about how the Hasbro version looked like a nerf gun with gay colors.

There's too much expectations on what Takara can do. There's always this notion that Takara can "always" do better than Hasbro.

Now reality sets in.

I think a lot of that comes from our UK community....from what I've heard they're division of Hasbro is really bad about delays, only releasing parts of lines, nothing but excuses & dissapointment. Compared to that, Takara's overpriced, poorly QC'd, superiorly painted toys probably would seem superior.

I've never had a single problem with Takara's Quality Control, or really ever heard anyone complain about it until this thread.

NuclearConvoy wrote:I've never had a single problem with Takara's Quality Control, or really ever heard anyone complain about it until this thread.

a couple of major issues I can think of off the top of my head:

Robot Masters Skywarp & Thundercracker: some of them were missing guns.

Masterpiece Convoy: weak ankle joints.

Masterpiece Starscream: Some had missing fingers.

MP Megs: feet rust rather quickly.

Binaltech: the painted metal pieces sometimes rubbed off on edges, & IIRC some of the corvette Ravages were made from leftover yellow Tracks pieces painted black.

& on top of that, I've had a couple of figures where I had both the hasbro & takara versions, & aside from Vector Prime, all of the takara ones had looser joints, breakaway parts, & overall instability compared to hasbro's versions....but they looked much better.

Nemesis Cyberplex wrote:

NuclearConvoy wrote:I've never had a single problem with Takara's Quality Control, or really ever heard anyone complain about it until this thread.

a couple of major issues I can think of off the top of my head:

Robot Masters Skywarp & Thundercracker: some of them were missing guns.

Masterpiece Convoy: weak ankle joints.

Masterpiece Starscream: Some had missing fingers.

MP Megs: feet rust rather quickly.

Binaltech: the painted metal pieces sometimes rubbed off on edges, & IIRC some of the corvette Ravages were made from leftover yellow Tracks pieces painted black.

& on top of that, I've had a couple of figures where I had both the hasbro & takara versions, & aside from Vector Prime, all of the takara ones had looser joints, breakaway parts, & overall instability compared to hasbro's versions....but they looked much better.

Well, I never bought any Masterpieces due to overbearing cost, never got the RM Seekers cuz I never got RM Starscream, never got the old BT toys cuz I wasn't an Alternators/BT fan too much.

But none of my other Robot Masters or other series Takara toys have ever been subpar to Hasbro versions.

I've also had probs with some Takara toys as well. I got a Takara BB(movie '76) and he had very loose joint but it had nice clear blue windows. But I'd rather have good toys other than a good paint job, because I could just give it a pait job myself

Optitron, is your avatar icon a screencap from Animated?

I missed out on Classics Megatron the first time around but I just don't think I like Classics enough to get this. I'd rather get more animated figures.

Prime vs Wild wrote:I missed out on Classics Megatron the first time around but I just don't think I like Classics enough to get this. I'd rather get more animated figures.

That's definitely a good idea, LOL. But, I like this one enough to have it be, pretty much, my last Classics figure for now (Unless Takara releases Astrtrain in Purple and Grey!)

My own experiences with Takara's subpar workmanship.

Binaltech paint jobs look really good. But very delicate. Scratches easily. Flakes off too easily. Some parts of Battle Ravage rubs off, revealing a grey-like primer or metal.

Most of my movie toys are Hasbro. Except one, Longarm, which is Takara. He is the only with loose joints, one arm not even attached, but he's got nice paintings.

He looks a whole lot better than Hasbro's green, purple, orange, and white version.

Definitely beats clown colors Megatron, but I'm more than happy with my custom paintjob.

Am I the only one who didn't buy him from Hasbro on the first release?

NuclearConvoy wrote:Am I the only one who didn't buy him from Hasbro on the first release?

No, I know a few others who were/are holding out for Takara.

I didn't buy because I wasn't in the market at the time but I think I'm gonna get Earth Mode Megs from animated instead.

Lord T wrote:I didn't buy because I wasn't in the market at the time but I think I'm gonna get Earth Mode Megs from animated instead.

Oh, I'm getting both versions of Animated Megatron...my only issue right now is whether or not to cancel my preorder for this Megatron, seeing as he's expensive and, frankly, not as awesome as AniMegs...but I want him because I've never owned a Gun Megatron before. Neither G1, nor reissue, nor Hasbro Classics...and, I think the Takara version looks better than the Hasbro clown version...

rpetras wrote:Definitely beats clown colors Megatron, but I'm more than happy with my custom paintjob.

I did the same thing with mine. I bought a used Megatron on Ebay just to customize it. I'm happy with my version too.

I'm not too happy with this Takara version of Megatron.

Auto Bot wrote:I'm not too happy with this Takara version of Megatron.

Me neither, the original one is better.

Sonray wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:I'm not too happy with this Takara version of Megatron.

Me neither, the original one is better.

...if you are on acid and need something colorful to stare at. Otherwise the Takara one ROCKS.

i actually think its an okay lookin megatron but i rather get tf animated toys just because they are so freakin awsome