Black Hat wrote:Their Weibo and various other accounts are still up. I don't think Zetacron is down for the count, this is probably just them waiting for the bullsh!t to blow over.
With regards to the timing, Zetacron has been in production for a while now (before HasLab 'cron IIRC) but only recently got a finished prototype shown off. Bad timing perhaps but I think it's a bit silly to call it a "scummy move" to deliberately undermine the official offering. This seems more like an unfortunate coincidence than an evil ploy.
With regards to Hasbro striking the video, calling it Unicron in the vid was a bad idea. I HIGHLY doubt Hasbro even has any interest in actually "fighting" 3Ps though. According to sources that shall remain nameless for, shall we say, security reasons, Hasbro and 3Ps have had a "gentlemen's agreement" for a long damn time and even share ideas at events. This is most likely posturing for formality's sake and not an actual threat to either side.
With regards to the IP law debacle, US IP law is a decrepit, jumbled, corrupt mess that has been warped so far from its original meaning (largely by lobbyists from Disney trying to avoid their properties entering the public domain ever ever ever) that quite frankly it needs to be taken out the back of the shed and put out of its misery. Obviously some level of IP law needs to exist, but in it present state anything that undermines it is a good thing, just because it will hopefully pave the way for reform.
TLDR: US IP law is ridiculous and is not a good basis for an argument of how IP should be handled.
Finally, whilst as I have said many a time I have no real horse in this race, and I hope that both make it into production and everyone that wants them can get them, I would find it bitterly ironic if this really was the end of Zetacron...and then HasLab Unicron failed anyway and nobody got an updated Unicron. Obviously I sincerely hope that doesn't happen, but I fear that it might.
On a more positive note, if these do succeed I would love to see the old BWN Unicron get resurrected and released somehow.
Leonardo wrote:Take your lips off my pipe!
Black Hat wrote:On a more positive note, if these do succeed I would love to see the old BWN Unicron get resurrected and released somehow.
Shadowman wrote:This is Sabrblade we're talking about. His ability to store trivial information about TV shows is downright superhuman.
Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'
Sabrblade wrote:If only Zeta Toys had just been more patient and waited for the deadline to end before showing off their version.
Crosscheck wrote:Sabrblade wrote:If only Zeta Toys had just been more patient and waited for the deadline to end before showing off their version.
And not used trademarked names in their product videos. That is what brought Dragon Momoko down with regards to Bandai.
Regimus Prime wrote:Good on Hasbro for putting a stop (temporary or permanent) to Zeta’s blatant attempt to syphon their crowd funding effort. I get it, there have been years of 3P options on some fan favorites that Hasbro/Takara Tony had yet to produce particularly for the MP line, but really? In the midst of Haslab attempting to secure backers for Unicron you slide in with your bootleg offering? That’s some unlicensed street vendor, buyer better beware, swap meet knock off, low life bad form right there. You can agree or disagree with Hasbro’s roll out of this project, it’s price point, G1 movie accuracy, sculpt paint apps, scale... you can even argue the merits of creating competition and driving the market with 3P offerings but that was just really underhanded. Me personally, I’ve always frowned upon bootlegs of any merchandise I wish to purchase. I want the real deal Holyfield. I’ve been a bit of a sneaker head for years and couldn’t imagine buying knockoff Jordan’s. I’m a fan of Mike. I followed his career and willingly supported his brand. If Brand Jordan put out a pair of shoes but not in the color way I wanted I could customize em or pass and buy another choice that won my dollar. But if another brand wins my dollar they must have produced THEIR OWN PRODUCT/IP that I could get behind. I can respect that. But jacking another companies IP and leeching off of THEIR fans?... I gotta pass regardless on the 3Ps out of respect for the brand that I grew up with because I’m a fan. If they put out a product that I don’t like or is out of my budget I’ll purchase another legitimate item from another brand I respect.
YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Cobotron wrote:Hey! You seemed to have attracted a wild Megatronus. They're hard to find, but boy are they fun when you catch one!
megatronus wrote:YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Translation: “Dear Hasbro, I know this hurts but I benefit so you should be cool with it.”
Va'al wrote:Deadput wrote:Actually I don't know my mother's name is Valerie so is Va'al actually my mother?
Yes. Now go to your room and don't play with yourself.
PadForce wrote:megatronus wrote:YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Translation: “Dear Hasbro, I know this hurts but I benefit so you should be cool with it.”
If I was to translate crowdfunding by a public listed company it would be "we'll benefit from this and think you'll be cool with it even though itl hurt all the people who cant raise the money in time"
Cobotron wrote:Hey! You seemed to have attracted a wild Megatronus. They're hard to find, but boy are they fun when you catch one!
Deadput wrote:While Unicron's price could of been better perhaps if Hasbro had opened up orders internationally in return for a bigger stretch goal having to be met (like say 1000-1500) as it is for how big and how much mass of plastic is used to make the guy it is quite unrealistic to make it any cheaper yet make the amount there is.
I think it could of been a little bit cheaper if there was less of him to go around, such as 3000-4000 instead of 8000 and reduce the amount of plastic that would need to be used to mass produce him but at that point Unicron might of ended up being too limited.
It is certainly pretty expensive but this is a novelty item similar to some of the statues that get put up for 1000's that clearly have enough market to still get made.
Cobotron wrote:Hey! You seemed to have attracted a wild Megatronus. They're hard to find, but boy are they fun when you catch one!
megatronus wrote:PadForce wrote:megatronus wrote:YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Translation: “Dear Hasbro, I know this hurts but I benefit so you should be cool with it.”
If I was to translate crowdfunding by a public listed company it would be "we'll benefit from this and think you'll be cool with it even though itl hurt all the people who cant raise the money in time"
I can't help but roll my eyes at this perspective.
Why are you personally offended that a large corporation would dare attempt to crowdfund a product with no market precedent such as this one?
I would translate HasLab crowdfunding as: "Hey, we invested 18 months of R&D into this cool thing. Do you want this cool thing at X price that makes it worth it for us to produce? If you do, great, we'll make it! If not, I'm sorry, we can't."
megatronus wrote:PadForce wrote:megatronus wrote:YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Translation: “Dear Hasbro, I know this hurts but I benefit so you should be cool with it.”
If I was to translate crowdfunding by a public listed company it would be "we'll benefit from this and think you'll be cool with it even though itl hurt all the people who cant raise the money in time"
I can't help but roll my eyes at this perspective.
Why are you personally offended that a large corporation would dare attempt to crowdfund a product with no market precedent such as this one?
I would translate HasLab crowdfunding as: "Hey, we invested 18 months of R&D into this cool thing. Do you want this cool thing at X price that makes it worth it for us to produce? If you do, great, we'll make it! If not, I'm sorry, we can't."
PadForce wrote:Problem is, it's not that cool. Zeta showed how a unicron could be made that actually transforms. If it took haslab 18 months to come up with a robot inside a shell,they need to hire new designers.
Cobotron wrote:Hey! You seemed to have attracted a wild Megatronus. They're hard to find, but boy are they fun when you catch one!
megatronus wrote:YRQRM0 wrote:If this is true...
I get Hasbro has the right and respect that. But a lot of us were a bit disappointed in Haslab Unicron to begin with, pointing out that indeed the kibble could be managed better, not many features, etc. Some people were acting like this was nonsense, but the Zeta one proved you could do better imo, even if they fell short in some areas like the planet mode.
I was going to buy Haslab until I saw Zeta, and I'm sure not going back to Haslab now just because Zeta isn't available anymore. If that's what they're hoping for (it must be), I think that's ridiculous and greedy. They've already lost to many 3P designs and this was just one more that they should have accepted.
Translation: “Dear Hasbro, I know this hurts but I benefit so you should be cool with it.”
Why is it greedy for Hasbro to want to protect their property and enforce their copyright, but not greedy of Zeta to totally rip it off without paying dues or licensing fees?
Black Hat wrote:With regards to the timing, Zetacron has been in production for a while now (before HasLab 'cron IIRC) but only recently got a finished prototype shown off. Bad timing perhaps but I think it's a bit silly to call it a "scummy move" to deliberately undermine the official offering. This seems more like an unfortunate coincidence than an evil ploy.
Black Hat wrote:With regards to Hasbro striking the video, calling it Unicron in the vid was a bad idea. I HIGHLY doubt Hasbro even has any interest in actually "fighting" 3Ps though. According to sources that shall remain nameless for, shall we say, security reasons, Hasbro and 3Ps have had a "gentlemen's agreement" for a long damn time and even share ideas at events. This is most likely posturing for formality's sake and not an actual threat to either side.
Black Hat wrote:With regards to the IP law debacle, US IP law is a decrepit, jumbled, corrupt mess that has been warped so far from its original meaning (largely by lobbyists from Disney trying to avoid their properties entering the public domain ever ever ever) that quite frankly it needs to be taken out the back of the shed and put out of its misery. Obviously some level of IP law needs to exist, but in it present state anything that undermines it is a good thing, just because it will hopefully pave the way for reform.
Cobotron wrote:Hey! You seemed to have attracted a wild Megatronus. They're hard to find, but boy are they fun when you catch one!
EunuchRon wrote:Way too much harsh in here dudes! Some vids got taken down and people are going all Dinobot rampage. Why don't we all just chill and watch da movie till we kno what's goin' on? U know, facts an stuff?
Leonardo wrote:Take your lips off my pipe!
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