Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
gothsaurus wrote:I think Takara is much less inclined to put out bots with just a head swap... especially Masterpiece.
gothsaurus wrote:gothsaurus wrote:I think Takara is much less inclined to put out bots with just a head swap... especially Masterpiece.
Yeah, I agreed with you in my last sentence above. (???)
gothsaurus wrote:I think my real point about Grapple/Inferno is that because it would be a much larger figure, that it's an unlikely choice at the beginning of the line. Less popular characters... and larger price point. I'm guessing they'll put that one off a while, if they do it.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Bowspearer wrote:The fact is that people will pay upwards of $200 for ultimate versions of their G1 favorites - in fact they are doing it and preorders are selling out shortly after they're announced on many Asian e-tailers.
If the line keeps going this well, then combiner teams are an eventuality.
-Kanrabat- wrote:TF-fan kev777 wrote:First-Aid wrote:Okay, did anyone else notice that we all get a wonderful shot of Starscreams crotch anytime he sits in that throne? That's unnerving. Couldn't they have put n extra flap in there? It's....weird.
Its kind of like Basic Instinct, but not in a good way...
Goddammit, now I can't unsee it.
First-Aid wrote:Bowspearer wrote:The fact is that people will pay upwards of $200 for ultimate versions of their G1 favorites - in fact they are doing it and preorders are selling out shortly after they're announced on many Asian e-tailers.
If the line keeps going this well, then combiner teams are an eventuality.
Combiner teams will not happen unless you lower the price. WOuld you pay A THOUSAND DOLLARS for a combiner set?
First-Aid wrote:With the economy the way it is worldwide, it won't happen.
First-Aid wrote:Honestly though, this is a niche market.
First-Aid wrote:Takara knows exactly how many to make.
First-Aid wrote:They won't have shelfwarmers.
First-Aid wrote:This is a collectors' targeted market.
First-Aid wrote:Essentially each figure is a limited edition.
First-Aid wrote:Besides, why make Masterpiece versions of figures that third party companies are making already, anyways? Just cuts into your profits.
First-Aid wrote:I'm calling it right now. Jazz will be the next figure, then Stepper.
First-Aid wrote:Because honestly, one can make a very respectable and accurate Jazz from the Prowl mold without doing much to it.
First-Aid wrote:Low cost to produce, high profit because collectors pay through the nose...as such it is zero risk for the company.
First-Aid wrote:However, once that safety net disappears as they run out of characters to repaint/retool with low cost, that's when the line will end.
First-Aid wrote:It's just business.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Raccon wrote:I personally can't see them doing combiner sets. I imagine that the figures would come out one at a time. A set would be too expensive for most people to invest in all at once, even if it sold for $480. Using the constructicons for reference, each figure has it's own mould so there would be a lot of tooling costs. I could see each constructicon going for $120 and up.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Bowspearer wrote:Raccon wrote:I personally can't see them doing combiner sets. I imagine that the figures would come out one at a time. A set would be too expensive for most people to invest in all at once, even if it sold for $480. Using the constructicons for reference, each figure has it's own mould so there would be a lot of tooling costs. I could see each constructicon going for $120 and up.
First off, if people would pay for 6/6 of the Constructicons if they were released individually but not for them in one hit, then why on earth would Takara release them in one lot? That makes no sense.
Bowspearer wrote:However the fact is that the adult collector's market is no stranger to high ticket items. Look at the Hot Toys 89 Batmobile coming out this year at around the $800 mark. The fact is that adult collectors will fork out for them- especially in Japan.
Bowspearer wrote:Actually there are multiple mould reuses for the Constructicons that I imagine would be exploited (G2 Yelow, G2 Orange, SG, Diaclone) which would give options.
Bowspearer wrote:However even if there weren't that wouldn't affect cost. Look at Grimlock for example - which is as limited a mould use as the Constructicons.
Bowspearer wrote:Furthermore it stands to reason that the costings on the new Masterpiece line have been worked out to allow for single use moulds like Wheeljack and Mirage, when they show up.
gothsaurus wrote:I think we're at a stalemate here. Some of us think they'll make combiners, some don't. Let's call that a draw and move on :-p We can watch to see what Takara actually does as this plays out.
Keeping things positive, I still think we could see multiple molds out of Wheeljack and Mirage — Slicer and Marlboor, plus red Diaclone or clear invisible Mirage. (and that's throwing out the chance of Crasher or Drag Strip as retools.) I think there are lots of repaint options for just about all the old G1 cars.
Raccon wrote:Bowspearer wrote:However the fact is that the adult collector's market is no stranger to high ticket items. Look at the Hot Toys 89 Batmobile coming out this year at around the $800 mark. The fact is that adult collectors will fork out for them- especially in Japan.
But not all collectors will or can fork out that kind of money all at once. It all depends on an individual's disposable income, and how much they may have allotted for toy collecting per month.
Raccon wrote:I believe more people would be inclined to buy a combiner team if it was spread out over a period of time. Some people people will be willing to pay all at once, but not all people can. Just like with Hot Toys, a lot of people buy Hot Toys figures, myself included. But I don't know anybody that buys the vehicles, granted, some people do, or they wouldn't continue making them, but more people buy only the figures.
Raccon wrote:Bowspearer wrote:Actually there are multiple mould reuses for the Constructicons that I imagine would be exploited (G2 Yelow, G2 Orange, SG, Diaclone) which would give options.
Normally I agree with you on repaints, but the Constructicon would be a harder sell. Regardless of whether they are sold as a set or individually, the Constructicons are a set. You wouldn't just be buying one figure, you would be committing to buying 6 figures in a different colour.
Raccon wrote:Bowspearer wrote:However even if there weren't that wouldn't affect cost. Look at Grimlock for example - which is as limited a mould use as the Constructicons.
And look at how expensive Grimlock was when he was first released. I remember paying something like $250 on BBTS when he first came out.
Raccon wrote:Bowspearer wrote:Furthermore it stands to reason that the costings on the new Masterpiece line have been worked out to allow for single use moulds like Wheeljack and Mirage, when they show up.
I believe this. And at the prices we are paying for these figures, I hope you're right. I'm happy to be paying high prices if it's contributing to the overall health of the line.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
Bowspearer wrote:One other thing if. If you consult the style guide on say, the Constructicons, they come in at about the height of Ratchet and Ironhide. As such, there's no way you'd pay remotely close to $1000+ for even Devastator, let alone the other combiner teams.
-Kanrabat- wrote:TF-fan kev777 wrote:First-Aid wrote:Okay, did anyone else notice that we all get a wonderful shot of Starscreams crotch anytime he sits in that throne? That's unnerving. Couldn't they have put n extra flap in there? It's....weird.
Its kind of like Basic Instinct, but not in a good way...
Goddammit, now I can't unsee it.
First-Aid wrote:Bowspearer wrote:One other thing if. If you consult the style guide on say, the Constructicons, they come in at about the height of Ratchet and Ironhide. As such, there's no way you'd pay remotely close to $1000+ for even Devastator, let alone the other combiner teams.
Yet Ratchet and Ironhide are taller and bulkier than Sideswipe- more materials=more cost. How much was Sideswipe retailing for? $100? You can expect $125-$150 for them then, likely more because they will be more sought after and as a result be priced higher. TImes six. Or five, depending on the combiner. Still going to be $600-900.
First-Aid wrote:Look, I love the line. But to be perfectly frank, I want more variety in it. THey need to get out of G1 (bring on the Geewhiners now). Who wouldn't love a MP version of...say...BW Optimus Primal? WHat about BW Megatron- dragon mode? Or a MP Rattrap from BM? That never got a good mold anyways- none of the BM characters did. Movieverse Ironhide?
First-Aid wrote:If this was NOT a collector's aimed line, why are they doing nothing but figures that children- for the most part- do not recognize and adults DO? This is an adult line. Adult don't play with toys (normally), ergo this line is aimed specifically at collectors. It's logical. As for being limited editions, it's quite simple to figure that out. Look at the Fun Pub figures. Why are they expensive? Because they are not mass produced like the figures on the shelves are. The more of something you make, the lower you can make the cost because you can defer the overhead over a large amount of product. There are toys on the shelves at TRU that are made of the same parts and quality as the MP figures, but cost LESS (yes I am factoring in shipping to the US)...because they make more of them. If you are making small batches, you have to jack the price up to break even or make a profit. That is the primary reason the MP line is so expensive. Two things would lower prices on them: increased supply and/or decreased demand. RIght now there is a low supply-high demand relationship because of the fact that these figures are still hard to find and not truly mass-produced in the same way as the average deluxe figure or even leader class figures are. They don't make more because there is not DEMAND for it. Assuming 30,000 figure are made, at a cost to produce of 50 bucks US (meaning MSRP of $90-100), that's only 1.5 million, and usually 75% is lost to overhead. SO that leaves a net profit of about $330,000 dollars. Do you honestly think that a profit that tiny means ANYTHING to a multi-billion dollar company like Takara Tomy? The CEO probably burns that in his fireplace on a daily basis.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
gothsaurus wrote:Glad to have some people chiming in who understand the markets and business. Some really great points above. Cheers.
Bowspearer — You mention buying direct from Asian sellers... How do you read the Japanese/Chinese to set up an account and order? What sites do you use and recommend?
gothsaurus wrote:Given, that's getting off topic, so I'll throw some fuel on the fire. The 3rd party companies don't have to contend with the same budget and safety testing framework that Takara does, which helps keep the already expensive price down. They also have much less people to please/less compromise/less people giving input at the boardroom table.
Point being, the prices of the 3rd party combiners don't necessarily dictate what Takara's would cost.
Third parties are actually a really a quirky institution. Hearing how people like Renderform or the MasterShooters are molding/assembling all their items blows my mind... not to mention Maiden Japan, who does it all, painting included. Given, these are smaller shops. But quite interesting how different they all are, and the degree to which they handle the work personally... VS a global company like Takara or Hasbro.
Fanboy wrote:You need to see the figure, feel the figure , lick the figure , be the figure,
And only then can you love mp 01 the way I have.
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