The Energon Pub

Auto Bot wrote:It also took away some of the "exclusivity" of Botcon.

Maybe it did for the Japanese...

Which I think is a good thing.

Look folks, until Dirge and Thrust appear at your local Wal-Mart, these are still exclusive figures.

Low production runs on toys are in the 10,000 unit range.

We're talking probably a little less than that for these Henkei releases...

Plus, you have to import them...

and tack on exclusive cost...

and shipping...

They're still really expensive, perhaps not $350 Botcon Thundercracker/Thrust expensive, but at $70+ shipping...

Which is fine. Really, it's all good. I would be happy to have US exclusives available to Japanese consumers who can't otherwise get them if it means that WE get the same ability and dibs on their exclusives.

Counterpunch wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:It also took away some of the "exclusivity" of Botcon.

Maybe it did for the Japanese...

Which I think is a good thing.

Look folks, until Dirge and Thrust appear at your local Wal-Mart, these are still exclusive figures.

Low production runs on toys are in the 10,000 unit range.

We're talking probably a little less than that for these Henkei releases...

Plus, you have to import them...

and tack on exclusive cost...

and shipping...

They're still really expensive, perhaps not $350 Botcon Thundercracker/Thrust expensive, but at $70+ shipping...

Which is fine. Really, it's all good. I would be happy to have US exclusives available to Japanese consumers who can't otherwise get them if it means that WE get the same ability and dibs on their exclusives.

Putting the cost aside, there's another major difference.

You don't have to be a member or attend anything to be able to buy the Henkei toys. It's open to anybody who have a means of purchasing Japanese toys.

Auto Bot wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:It also took away some of the "exclusivity" of Botcon.

Maybe it did for the Japanese...

Which I think is a good thing.

Look folks, until Dirge and Thrust appear at your local Wal-Mart, these are still exclusive figures.

Low production runs on toys are in the 10,000 unit range.

We're talking probably a little less than that for these Henkei releases...

Plus, you have to import them...

and tack on exclusive cost...

and shipping...

They're still really expensive, perhaps not $350 Botcon Thundercracker/Thrust expensive, but at $70+ shipping...

Which is fine. Really, it's all good. I would be happy to have US exclusives available to Japanese consumers who can't otherwise get them if it means that WE get the same ability and dibs on their exclusives.

Putting the cost aside, there's another major difference.

You don't have to be a member or attend anything to be able to buy the Henkei toys. It's open to anybody who have a means of purchasing Japanese toys.

BotCon is open to all as well.

Anybody can buy Botcon toys?

Ok. I had the mistaken impression that you have to be a member, or attend the event to be able to buy their toys.

So then, it all boils down to the price.

Auto Bot wrote:Anybody can buy Botcon toys?

Ok. I had the mistaken impression that you have to be a member, or attend the event to be able to buy their toys.

So then, it all boils down to the price.

You can either attend the convention, paying nigh $300 for the "Primus Package" which includes the Exclusives, OR you can buy the "Iacon" Non-Attendee Package, and get the figures without attending the convention.

Or you can buy them on ebay after the fact.

Counterpunch wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:It also took away some of the "exclusivity" of Botcon.

Maybe it did for the Japanese...

Which I think is a good thing.

Look folks, until Dirge and Thrust appear at your local Wal-Mart, these are still exclusive figures.

Low production runs on toys are in the 10,000 unit range.

We're talking probably a little less than that for these Henkei releases...

Plus, you have to import them...

and tack on exclusive cost...

and shipping...

They're still really expensive, perhaps not $350 Botcon Thundercracker/Thrust expensive, but at $70+ shipping...

Which is fine. Really, it's all good. I would be happy to have US exclusives available to Japanese consumers who can't otherwise get them if it means that WE get the same ability and dibs on their exclusives.

I'm not a fan of the misuse of a worod exclusive. Justifying the term by extending the parameters is wrong. If it's not 100% Exclusive
or there is a chance of an official release that is close enough, it should be labeled as like BotCon Edition or limited release or something. But the word exclusive is very precise on what it means. I think clarifiction on what it is should be made, maybe call it an Antendee Figure, and that's it. When people question that, you just say "This is the figure you get when you are one of the first 1,000 people to register." This way there is no arguments like with the 2007 set.

This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

Sledge wrote:This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

Q. F. T.

Sledge wrote:This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

Ladies and gentlemen, Sledge has spoken. He is right. ALl is well.

Really, I find it a little annoying how harshly people are arguing that these figs shouldn't be made as they are so clearly different from the botcon ones.

Sledge wrote:This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

If this is true, then why did the value of the Botcon set drop?

I would like to know the agreement that Takara has with e-hobby and understand why Hasbro honors it.

GetterDragun wrote:

Sledge wrote:This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

If this is true, then why did the value of the Botcon set drop?

Because many fans are quite happy to substitute Henkei seekers in place of the Botcon seekers. Sure, they're not the same, but they work just as well in your collection as Classic versions of the seekers as the Botcon ones do. If you actually want the Botcon seekers in your collection, well, then the Henkei ones won't cut it. Otherwise, go with the cheaper option.

GetterDragun wrote:

Sledge wrote:This is where the difference of opinion arises. You see it that the Henkei Seekers rob the Botcon ones of exclusivity. I contend that the differing colour schemes make them different figures. I don't see the Henkei ones as affecting the Botcon set anymore than Classics Voyager Prime makes Crystal Convoy less exclusive.

If this is true, then why did the value of the Botcon set drop?

I would like to know the agreement that Takara has with e-hobby and understand why Hasbro honors it.

So would I as this has affected the release of a few figures during Cybertron. Also I really don't feel that comparing Voyager Prime to Henkei Crystal Convoy is good. Voyager Prime is not made of clear plastic like Crystal Convoy. Now if Henkei Convoy was exclusive to one store and came out first while Classics Prime was given the same mass release I would have a problem. Hmm, I just had a though; would we be having this discussion if TC and SW were released in Japan first and then brought over in a BC set?

I still think it's fine that the seekers are getting a Henkei release. They are noticeably different from their Botcon counterparts so any collector who wants the Botcon set will know what to look for.

I myself am looking for a Botcon set so the fact that this is making Seekers available to everyone makes it much easier on my wallet. Once they're released, I'll have a better idea of what the value of the set will be and I'll be able to budget from there. SO Games of Deception might lose $150 in value. Anyone who decides to sell it even after the final Henkei Seekers are released wil still make a decent profit.

Games of Deception will always be one of the more sought after Botcon sets because of the fact that it was released alongside the movie. Dreadwind and Bugbite will never be released outside of Botcon so it's safe to say that those 2 figures will become the valuable ones now.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So would I as this has affected the release of a few figures during Cybertron. Also I really don't feel that comparing Voyager Prime to Henkei Crystal Convoy is good. Voyager Prime is not made of clear plastic like Crystal Convoy.

So? Same mold. Same toy. But one is an exclusive, one isn't. By the logic of "the Botcon toys are no longer exclusives," neither is Crystal Convoy.

robofreak wrote: Dreadwind and Bugbite will never be released outside of Botcon

Yikes. After all this discussion, I find it humorous that you would even dare say such a thing! Takara execs just read your post and are readying the molds as we speak--way to go!

Sledge wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So would I as this has affected the release of a few figures during Cybertron. Also I really don't feel that comparing Voyager Prime to Henkei Crystal Convoy is good. Voyager Prime is not made of clear plastic like Crystal Convoy.

So? Same mold. Same toy. But one is an exclusive, one isn't. By the logic of "the Botcon toys are no longer exclusives," neither is Crystal Convoy.

That makes perfect sense when you think about it.

So what happens if Hasbro decides to release Sentinel Maximus in different colors? Will the forums be flooded with people whining about their investments losing money? I know they've done the Overload mold, but they've yet to mass release the Sentinal head.

Also, why aren't people complaining about ehobby rereleasing Sunstorm? Wasn't he an exclusive? Surely that's one worth getting worked up about, seeing as it's exactly the same toy.

Sledge wrote:Also, why aren't people complaining about ehobby rereleasing Sunstorm? Wasn't he an exclusive? Surely that's one worth getting worked up about, seeing as it's exactly the same toy.

Shall we add Black Megatron to the mess?

TFBuyer wrote:

robofreak wrote: Dreadwind and Bugbite will never be released outside of Botcon

Yikes. After all this discussion, I find it humorous that you would even dare say such a thing! Takara execs just read your post and are readying the molds as we speak--way to go!

Now, I would pay the extra for Dreadwind. Man, that figure looks f&^%ing sweet.

Emperor Galvatron wrote:

TFBuyer wrote:

robofreak wrote: Dreadwind and Bugbite will never be released outside of Botcon

Yikes. After all this discussion, I find it humorous that you would even dare say such a thing! Takara execs just read your post and are readying the molds as we speak--way to go!

Now, I would pay the extra for Dreadwind. Man, that figure looks f&^%ing sweet.

Dreadwind is more likely to be released then Bugbite. Being a G1 Transformer and not a Gobot. I'd rather see them make Dreadwind and Darkwing as Powermasters that combine into the Dreadwings using new molds for the Henkei/Universe Classics line.

The real question is, in Leu of BBTS, where do I order these....

Let's face it, kids. The BotCon Set is. and always will be, exclusive. Yes, people are running out right now to buy the Henkei figures, mostly cause they missed out on the BotCon Set. So, for now, the BotCon sets aren't selling. In a few months, a year or two, Henkei Seekers will be harder to find sure, but BotCon Seekers will still be rarer and more coveted. Over time, the value of the BotCon Seekers will come back up and be greater than the value of their Henkei counterparts. Exclusivity does not just go away.

I just hope this Dirge and Thrust have QC like Henkei Skywarp, not Henkei Thundercracker. Just this minute I finished filling in the missing paint apps on my Thundercracker (humbrol gloss enamel is a very good approximation for whatever paint Takara uses btw) and I'm gonna set about fixing his loose null rays sometime soon.

While there is a certain satisfaction in fixing something somebody else messed up, I prefer my Transformers to be pre-painted and fully assembled.

Sledge wrote:Also, why aren't people complaining about ehobby rereleasing Sunstorm? Wasn't he an exclusive? Surely that's one worth getting worked up about, seeing as it's exactly the same toy.

Well, with eHobby I think the thing is that their toys are exclusive to them as a seller/distributor. They aren't necessarily exclusive runs of a figure.

Does that make sense?

Also, unlike BotCon, they don't make any promises of limited availability.

Ah, gotcha. Still, that's gotta affect the second hand price for Sunstorms now. Not that anyone will admit that's what bothers them.