The Energon Pub

News Credits: 905 · by **Mach** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:41 am

Japanese blogger posted a series of images for the ROTF Vog Prime - Tokyo Toy Show 2009 edition.

http://tagoal.blog4.fc2.com/blog-entry-243.html#more

News Credits: 5 · by **skywarp-2** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:57 am

Great Find again!

I think that that mold has been played out... I don't see how anyone could or would buy it, unless they missed out on it before, or they want to customize it.. but the new ROTF Leader class Prime, now that is hot stuff!!

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:03 am

A few weeks back, TakaraTomy updated their website with a special edition Voyager Optimus Prime that was to become available and be exclusive to the 2009 Tokyo Toy show by e-Hobby.

The picture made it unclear how this toy was different than the voyager ROTF retail release of Optimus Prime to this point.

Real Devastator has found a gallery of the toy so you can see the differences for yourself! Check it out here! Go ahead compare it to the U.S. ROTF voyager Optimus Prime release.

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News Credits: 1 · by **gingermoney** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:05 am

wow the difference is so blatantly obvious now .......... theres a sticker on the box

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:21 am

i would like to make a motion to rename the Voyager Prime mold as "Dead Horse"...

There are more repaints of this guy than there are Seeker repaints!

by **Valandar** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:31 am

So... WHY are his windows gold?

News Credits: 459 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:42 am

Only difference I can see is the lack of Chinese symbols.

by **ashe5k** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:53 am

still prefer the 1st film's Voyager Prime to this version.

by **Dagon** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:56 am

I so wish eHobby would concentrate on making repaints of good toys again and forget this movie trash.

by **Alex Jones** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:58 am

For me the Leader class Optimus Prime is worth the purchase if only if they came out with a more accurate Leader Megatron (like with wings). As to date, the Voyager Megatron seems a lot more screen accurate (sans color scheme) than the Leader version, in regards to its alt mode.

by **Warbreaker** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:37 pm

Bah, what's so exclusive about a lack of the Shanghai characters? Anyone could easily acetone the characters off any ROTF voyager Prime and try to pass him off as a loose exclusive on eBay.

Lousy_Autobot_Lover wrote:For me the Leader class Optimus Prime is worth the purchase if only if they came out with a more accurate Leader Megatron (like with wings).

Baaaad idea. Leader-class Megatron may not be that popular, but Leader-class Optimus Prime is hands-down one of the shiniest gems of the ROTF line. Get gim, GET HIM NOW!!!!! Alternatively, you could wait for the Buster Prime so conveniently displayed long after many (including me) have gotten non-buster Prime. Thinking about it still pisses me off.

by **Dagon** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:46 pm

Warbreaker wrote:Bah, what's so exclusive about a lack of the Shanghai characters? Anyone could easily acetone the characters off any ROTF voyager Prime and try to pass him off as a loose exclusive on eBay.

Cha-CHING!!!

by **Warbreaker** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:49 pm

Dagon wrote:
Warbreaker wrote:Bah, what's so exclusive about a lack of the Shanghai characters? Anyone could easily acetone the characters off any ROTF voyager Prime and try to pass him off as a loose exclusive on eBay.

Cha-CHING!!!

Exactly. Though personally, methinks that even if someone went ahead and did it the drab things would be largely ignored since there's hardly any 'exclusive' feel to them.

News Credits: 2 · by **starfish** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:49 pm

So what's the difference between this and the regular Japanese version (seen here)?: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-hyper-hobby-magazine-scans/16410/

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:12 pm

starfish wrote:So what's the difference between this and the regular Japanese version (seen here)?: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-hyper-hobby-magazine-scans/16410/

There is no regular version. Our RotF Voyager Prime (sans Chinese) is an exclusive in Japan, period. Same goes for Swerve and Interrogator Barricade.

Thing is guys, as far as I can tell, the Japanese don't like repaints or re-releases unless it's exclusive to a store or site. Also, you're forgetting this is only the second use of the mold in Japan as both Robo-Vision and First Strike were never released there; those two had to be imported.

With that said, this is geared more towards Japanese collectors than us so they don't have to pay import prices.

by **Jetstorm92210** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:53 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
starfish wrote:So what's the difference between this and the regular Japanese version (seen here)?: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-hyper-hobby-magazine-scans/16410/

There is no regular version. Our RotF Voyager Prime (sans Chinese) is an exclusive in Japan, period. Same goes for Swerve and Interrogator Barricade.

Thing is guys, as far as I can tell, the Japanese don't like repaints or re-releases unless it's exclusive to a store or site. Also, you're forgetting this is only the second use of the mold in Japan as both Robo-Vision and First Strike were never released there; those two had to be imported.

With that said, this is geared more towards Japanese collectors than us so they don't have to pay import prices.

That's the reason why they don't have Universe Blades, Blaster, Dropshot... At least WE get something that they don't.

News Credits: 2 · by **starfish** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:03 pm

So, the question is... how do I get one?

The Tokyo Toy fair has already finished, yes? So why aren't there any on ebay?

I know there'll probably be a few more floating around once e-hobby sell their share, but you'd think there'd be at least one copy on ebay, surely?

There's never a scalper around when you need one...

News Credits: 1 · by **gingermoney** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:24 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
starfish wrote:So what's the difference between this and the regular Japanese version (seen here)?: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-hyper-hobby-magazine-scans/16410/

There is no regular version. Our RotF Voyager Prime (sans Chinese) is an exclusive in Japan, period. Same goes for Swerve and Interrogator Barricade.

i may just have misunderstood but swerve and interrogator aren't japan exclusives
swerve has been spotted for sale in the u.s. and i know where i can buy interrogator barricade in u.s. packaging over the internet.

News Credits: 459 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:39 pm

gingermoney wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
starfish wrote:So what's the difference between this and the regular Japanese version (seen here)?: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-hyper-hobby-magazine-scans/16410/

There is no regular version. Our RotF Voyager Prime (sans Chinese) is an exclusive in Japan, period. Same goes for Swerve and Interrogator Barricade.

i may just have misunderstood but swerve and interrogator aren't japan exclusives
swerve has been spotted for sale in the u.s. and i know where i can buy interrogator barricade in u.s. packaging over the internet.

They're not exclusives TO Japan, they're exclusives IN Japan.

The U.S. has them available as regulars, while Japan has them available as exclusives. They both get them, but the U.S. gets a wide release of them, while Japan gets a limited release of them.

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:06 pm

Who's dumber, the jackass that comes up with the idea to "repaint" a figure with this little of a difference or the person that actually buys both versions?

On a side note, I can't wait for ROTF voyager class Green Eyes Optimus Prime to come out!

News Credits: 2 · by **starfish** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:09 am

Kibble wrote:Who's dumber, the jackass that comes up with the idea to "repaint" a figure with this little of a difference or the person that actually buys both versions?

On a side note, I can't wait for ROTF voyager class Green Eyes Optimus Prime to come out!

As someone who has all five versions of this mould thus far (and wants this one as well), I can safely say that, yes, it's we the completists who are by far the dumbest!

However, I like the idea of just buying a duplicate US toy and getting rid of the chinese writing with acetone or whatever. However, the writing on the hood overlaps the flames, and as far as I can tell there's no way of getting the writing off the hood without botching-up the painted-on flames.

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:19 pm

I feel sorry for completists when they do crap like this. If I were a completists, toys like this would drive me nuts. As it is, it slightly annoys me, but I can take comfort in the fact that it's about the easiest pass there is. The only time it sucks is when it's not much different, but the latter one is the better of the two and you already purchased the first.

It's crap like this where I almost don't blame the jerks that return an old version in the new one's package

News Credits: 2 · by **starfish** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:58 pm

Kibble wrote:I feel sorry for completists when they do crap like this. If I were a completists, toys like this would drive me nuts. As it is, it slightly annoys me, but I can take comfort in the fact that it's about the easiest pass there is. The only time it sucks is when it's not much different, but the latter one is the better of the two and you already purchased the first.

It's crap like this where I almost don't blame the jerks that return an old version in the new one's package

Ha-ha! I know where you're coming from. The worst thing ever is when they package new repaints with figures I already own. I hate the fact that I have to buy an extra Rampage, Longarm and Breakaway just to get that box-set with the battle-damaged Sideways in it. Grrr!

To be fair though, Voyager Prime is a good mould. It may not be ultra-accurate to the movie, and it has that big backpack, but taken on its own merits, Voyager Prime is ultra poseable, has pretty good proportions, a fun transformation and some cool weapons. I don't mind it half as much if I'm buying a mould I actually like.

The problem comes when it's a mould I absolutely hate. It's going to be hard buying a third Fast Action Battler Starscream, that's for sure.

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:07 pm

starfish wrote:To be fair though, Voyager Prime is a good mould. It may not be ultra-accurate to the movie, and it has that big backpack, but taken on its own merits, Voyager Prime is ultra poseable, has pretty good proportions, a fun transformation and some cool weapons. I don't mind it half as much if I'm buying a mould I actually like.

I like the fig, but have no use for most of the repaints. First Strike is understandable for the most part, but the rest a total waste. Maybe a Nemesis Prime repaint would be worth getting...

News Credits: 2 · by **starfish** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:39 am

Kibble wrote:
starfish wrote:To be fair though, Voyager Prime is a good mould. It may not be ultra-accurate to the movie, and it has that big backpack, but taken on its own merits, Voyager Prime is ultra poseable, has pretty good proportions, a fun transformation and some cool weapons. I don't mind it half as much if I'm buying a mould I actually like.

I like the fig, but have no use for most of the repaints. First Strike is understandable for the most part, but the rest a total waste. Maybe a Nemesis Prime repaint would be worth getting...

Now that would be cool.

In other news, I finally bagged myself one of these Tokyo Primes from ebay. It came to about 30 GBP plus postage, which isn't bad considering a standard Voyager here in the UK retails for about 25 GBP. According to the description, the seller apparently queued up to buy it for himself, but then decided to sell it before even opening the box, because he thought it was identical to his US edition. He obviously didn't look hard enough, because his photo clearly shows it's the Japanese version.

It's great these Japanese exclusives are so easy to get - the only one I really had any trouble with was the metallic Legend Bumblebee from the first film.