The Energon Pub

I have access to several, willing to sell at reasonable prices or trade for other masterpiece figures

I was at two different TRU's this weekend, and both had several Acid Storms on the shelf. It's not going to sell out like Soundwave.

I find it interesting that this is the first one that wasn't a previous takara release, all the rest hasbro just did some time later. I'm really hoping Hasbro does Sunstorm

I do also have an extra soundwave TRU mint still sealed also

I saw a pair of Masterpiece Acid Storms on the shelves of my local TRU on Friday. Someone grabbed one up right in front of me. I thought about grabbing the other, but...it's just Acid Storm. Glad to know my instinct to wait was right. I'll pick him up when I have the $75 to splurge on him.

Is Masterpiece Soundwave officially sold out now? I managed to get one a few weeks back. My parents are awesome about looking in their area of the country for rare Transformers for me. It would be nice to have another set of Soundwave's minions for display in my Classics/Neo-G1 shelves.

I hope Hasbro really stocks TRU/BBTS/Amazon etc. up with Soundwaves so that the Takara version's price drops on the aftermarket. My buddy in the UK really wants him, but he doesn't want to settle for the Hasbro version and he's a bit short on fundage.

"settle" for the Hasbro version?

GuyIncognito wrote:"settle" for the Hasbro version?

Don't play dumb, you know what he's talking about. We don't need to keep having this conversation....Many people feel Takara's versions are very often superior than the Hasbro versions. Not everyone agrees and there are always exceptions, but don't act surprised and don't take offense.

JackStraw wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:"settle" for the Hasbro version?

Don't play dumb, you know what he's talking about. We don't need to keep having this conversation....Many people feel Takara's versions are very often superior than the Hasbro versions. Not everyone agrees and there are always exceptions, but don't act surprised and don't take offense.

Even if there won't be a TakaraTomy version? Then what? TakaraTomy has Sunstorm, Hasbro has Acid Storm.

JackStraw wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:"settle" for the Hasbro version?

Don't play dumb, you know what he's talking about. We don't need to keep having this conversation....Many people feel Takara's versions are very often superior than the Hasbro versions. Not everyone agrees and there are always exceptions, but don't act surprised and don't take offense.

I am "playing dumb" because I don't see why anyone would consider the Hasbro version of MP SW inferior. What, does it have some minor paint differences? What does it have that makes up for the fact that it doesn't come with the four extra cassettes, but still costs more? Is it really "settling" if you get more for your money? Are you "settling" for the four extra MP figures you get basically for free?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

JackStraw wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:"settle" for the Hasbro version?

Don't play dumb, you know what he's talking about. We don't need to keep having this conversation....Many people feel Takara's versions are very often superior than the Hasbro versions. Not everyone agrees and there are always exceptions, but don't act surprised and don't take offense.

Even if there won't be a TakaraTomy version? Then what? TakaraTomy has Sunstorm, Hasbro has Acid Storm.

I don't think that would even fall under the "there are always exceptions" part of my post. I'm gonna say if there isn't a version from both companies then a comparison can not be made.

MANY people in the United States pay extra to import Takara versions, they are not doing this because they like the Hasbro version just as much. I wonder if anyone in Japan ever pays extra to import a Hasbro version of a figure that Takara has released.

Jack, we're not talking about Takara figures in general; we're talking about MP Soundwave. That was the original comment: that someone was considering "settling" for the Hasbro version of Soundwave.

xyl360 wrote:I hope Hasbro really stocks TRU/BBTS/Amazon etc. up with Soundwaves so that the Takara version's price drops on the aftermarket. My buddy in the UK really wants him, but he doesn't want to settle for the Hasbro version and he's a bit short on fundage.

So what makes the Takara version so obviously superior that buying Hasbro version is "settling" by comparison? Red visor is better than 4 extra figures and a lower price?

GuyIncognito wrote:

JackStraw wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:"settle" for the Hasbro version?

Don't play dumb, you know what he's talking about. We don't need to keep having this conversation....Many people feel Takara's versions are very often superior than the Hasbro versions. Not everyone agrees and there are always exceptions, but don't act surprised and don't take offense.

I am "playing dumb" because I don't see why anyone would consider the Hasbro version of MP SW inferior. What, does it have some minor paint differences? What does it have that makes up for the fact that it doesn't come with the four extra cassettes, but still costs more? Is it really "settling" if you get more for your money? Are you "settling" for the four extra MP figures you get basically for free?

Yes, sir. For some, those minor paint differences make all the difference. Less so on Soundwave than others, but for me, having both right next to each other, the vibe of the red eye Takara version gives off a much more evil imposing vibe than the yellow. The colors of the cassettes are very different to me. Especially buzzsaw is it? The Hasbro yellow bird is pale in color compared to the Takara version.

Again - I see you are all up in these message boards every day, and you didnt just jump on the bus yesterday, so if you really don't know or understand by now that many people find the Takara versions superior to Hasbro versions on a lot of these toys, than I can't help you or reiterate what's already been said a million times. I can say, having both, that in my opinion something as simple as red eyes vs yellow eyes can really change the overall vibe of the figure. Not to mention the unpainted section of the feet, and the dull coloration of many of the cassettes as compared to the Takara version.

So the difference is basically the "vibe" they give off and a slightly different shade of yellow on Buzzsaw, which you can only see when they are side-by-side. And yet, when I ask what the difference is, you accuse me of "playing dumb" as if these difference are so significant that only a fool wouldn't see the obvious superiority of the Takara version.

Yes, I realize some people prefer Takara versions of some figures. I just wanted to know what the difference was in the case of Soundwave because I don't see how the Hasbro version is settling for an inferior version. And your answer suggests that the differences are subtle, not obvious, which is why I asked.

GuyIncognito wrote:So the difference is basically the "vibe" they give off and a slightly different shade of yellow on Buzzsaw, which you can only see when they are side-by-side. And yet, when I ask what the difference is, you accuse me of "playing dumb" as if these difference are so significant that only a fool wouldn't see the obvious superiority of the Takara version.

I accuse you of playing dumb, because you know the differences and you don't agree that those differences don't to you make the Takara version superior. Not calling you a fool, and nor do I believe the "differences are so significant that only a fool wouldn't see the obvious superiority" This proves that my original post telling you to not be offended wasn't very far off base. Just saying people should know by now some people often prefer the Takara version (even MP Soundwave) enough to pay extra for it, and one should not be surprised or take offense to that. That's all I'm saying.

GuyIncognito wrote:Jack, we're not talking about Takara figures in general; we're talking about MP Soundwave. That was the original comment: that someone was considering "settling" for the Hasbro version of Soundwave.

xyl360 wrote:I hope Hasbro really stocks TRU/BBTS/Amazon etc. up with Soundwaves so that the Takara version's price drops on the aftermarket. My buddy in the UK really wants him, but he doesn't want to settle for the Hasbro version and he's a bit short on fundage.

So what makes the Takara version so obviously superior that buying Hasbro version is "settling" by comparison? Red visor is better than 4 extra figures and a lower price?

Yeah, that, and he (and I) suspects that the Hasbro version's colors will be just slightly off, particularly with regards to the blue used for his body. We may be wrong on that suspicion and it won't be confirmed until side by side comparison pics are shown (same lighting/camera etc.). I gotta admit that compared to the Takara version's pricing plus the price of the cassettes, that the Hasbro version is extremely tempting, but for me at least, I gotta go with my gut and stick with Takara on these. I did so with Prime as did he and neither of us have regretted that choice even once after seeing them side by side.

I already have Takara's Soundwave and all of the Takara cassettes, so it doesn't really matter to me, but I know he's got his heart set on the Takara versions as well so I hope it does go down as I expect it to once the Hasbro version becomes commonplace (I've got my fingers crossed for very high production numbers).

By the way guys, no need to argue, at least not about the phrasing I used. I literally meant that HE doesn't want to "settle" for the Habro version because HE would prefer to own the Takara version. It had nothing to do with one being "superior" and the other being "inferior" (great words for a discussion about Soundwave though I must admit ), but only the fact that the Takara version is the one that he really wants, so to get anything else, for HIM, would be settling. Nothing more than that guys, really.

TRU Soundwave is certainly not a settle kind of figure.
And as for Hasbro's being desired more than Takara's? Optimus Prime V.2 The anime coloring sold it to the fans better. Not to mention the lower price that was reasonable.
And Takara went to the trouble of releasing the US version of Starscream, minus the battle damage.

Rodimus is superior from Takara because he comes with the trailer and doesn't have limbs snapping off.

Autobot032 wrote:TRU Soundwave is certainly not a settle kind of figure.
And as for Hasbro's being desired more than Takara's? Optimus Prime V.2 The anime coloring sold it to the fans better. Not to mention the lower price that was reasonable.

Right, but to ME (and to him), the Takara version looks better, which is what I've been saying all along and why I happily paid $250 for it and never once regretted it. The only thing provably "superior" about the Hasbro version vs the Takara version is the pricing, everything else is pure conjecture and opinion.

Autobot032 wrote:And Takara went to the trouble of releasing the US version of Starscream, minus the battle damage.

Isn't the coloration different? I think the Takara version looks more like the toy in color while Hasbro's looks more like the animation model from the cartoon (most cartoons anyway) where white was silver/silver was white etc.

Autobot032 wrote:Rodimus is superior from Takara because he comes with the trailer and doesn't have limbs snapping off.

Hehe, I had to get both because I wanted Hot Rod in his animation form (Takara) and one that looked like his Targetmaster toy (Hasbro's).

Stopped by TRU on a whim and they had 9 or 12 Acid Storms by no Soundwaves.

Id be curious to know the production #s on the two figures. While no where near as popular as SW or any of the other seekers, Acid Storm is still a really sweet looking figure. Glad I picked him up

I've been to three TRUs in the past couple weeks and found several Acid Storms at each. They're shelfwarmers now.