megatronus wrote:You can make the opposite argument: they included Ratbat with Soundblaster in order to move units of Soundblaster, which has 0 development cost. That revenue should more than counterbalance the cost of developing a wee little thing like Ratbat.
Also, possible future 2-pack would probably be:
Slugfest & Overkill
Beast Box & Squawk Talk
Where would Ratbat fit into this scheme?
How is that the "opposite argument?"
1) I didn't deny the fact that they likely included Ratbat with Soundblaster to create more interest in the figure than there would be if he came alone or with one of the cassettes we've already gotten. That has no baring on whether or not they will also release Ratbat separately in the future....
2) The fact that Soundblaster is a recolor may mean that it has 0 cost for R&D, but it will still cost money to produce and ship, and the development and production costs of Ratbat himself I'm sure are also figured into the price of the figure. Either way, I don't see how that has anything to do with the mold being released at a later time, either.... The people who are going to buy SB will buy him...those of us who won't buy him won't... How much it costs Takara to develop the figure isn't going to effect that one way or the other.
You also assume they're somehow unable or unwilling to release Ratbat on his own, or in a three-pack based on the fact that they've released two two-packs? They make the packs, my friend, they can include as many or as little in them as they wish to. If for some strange reason he MUST be in a two-pack, they could easily make a recolor of any of the other cassettes we already have for little to no cost to sell with him....
They know people want Ratbat. We've been asking since MP Soundwave came out.
They know some people will buy Soundblaster to get him,
but they also know many will NOT buy Soundblaster just to get Ratbat.
It makes no sense for them to just ignore that money, and perfect sense for them to collect that money with a separate release in a couple months. One approach intentionally forgoes a large section of their customers, while the other approach insures that anyone who wants him can get him, but that those who want him immediately are going to pay substantially more to get him with Soundblaster.
Really doesn't seem very complicated, if you ask me.
This is how business works...
If there is demand for their product, which there clearly is, what possible reason could they have to refuse to supply it?