The Energon Pub

Sabrblade wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Except that HasLab products are "last resort" items made to be super premium...

Yes, this is a premium product - a luxury product - and that means it's unlikely that successfully backing it will result in mass market price hikes. I'm with you so far...

Sabrblade wrote:...for only the most nostalgic super-nerds with enough disposable income willing to throw away $600 for a giant that turns into a ball.

At least the Titans turned into playsets with built-in interactivity for smaller figures found at normal retail, or into component figures that could likewise interact with some of the larger normal retail figures.

This Unicron, on the other hand, just literally turns into a giant ball-on-a-stick.

It's no wonder it's only being marketed to the market of rich nostalgic super-nerds since that crowd (which includes any of us here who are willing to fork over the money for this thing) is the only crowd weird enough to want to own a giant ball-on-a-stick.

This is where I lose you.

First, I don't disagree with the sentiment that this is a premium product necessarily geared towards those who can afford it. But I DO take issue with the classist way in which you articulate that.

Second, Unicron is a ball. That is literally his thing. I expected you to be the last person to make hay about source accuracy.

Finally, I don't get this kvetching about playset interactivity with retail figures. Is this a retail figure? No. Do we even have a full picture of what this thing can do? Also no. To the extent that non-combiner Titans like Metroplex, Fort Max, and Trypticon have base modes, they're half-assed concoctions that heavily rely on the primary alt mode components, especially the exteriors. But to the extent that Unicron's exterior is a shell that folds in on itself to reveal the robot, how reasonable is it, really, to expect that kind of additional functionality?

As one of those "nostalgic super-nerds with enough disposable income willing to throw away $600 for a giant that turns into a ball," I'd much rather them perfect the 'giant' and 'ball' aspects of Unicron - the only aspects that matter - than half-ass a 3rd thing.

User897 wrote:Hasbro is still wrong to make the deadline so soon, and to not offer any kind of payment plan. They would be better served to pre-sell them through BBTS or EE or the like, with a release date months away to allow us to save up for it. They would not "lose their shirt" on it this way.

I don't understand this complaint, at all.

6 weeks is a long frickin time - and it's not even 6 weeks, it's more like 10-12. If you're getting this, it means you're using a credit card (and if you don't have a credit card, this simply isn't for you - and that's OK). If payment hits towards the middle or end of your billing period, that adds 3-4 weeks to the time you need to scrounge up funds. If it hits at the beginning of your billing period, well, that's another 6 weeks in your pocket.

Pre-selling through BBTS and EE doesn't add up. Those retailers are just as attuned to the risk of big ticket items as Hasbro is, so why would they assume the risk of committing to a massive product they know they'd have to mark down later? Plus, selling through those channels means another mark up on the steep price tag. Rather than going through the hassle of coordinating those channels to no benefit for anyone, it's much better that they bring this prestige product directly to fans with a transparent message about what is required to make it happen. No games, just the hard binary of go or no-go.

User897 wrote:Toys are supposed to be for all of us. Not just the financially elite.

I'm not sure where you think the collectibles market is right now, but it's certainly not where your head's at.

megatronus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Except that HasLab products are "last resort" items made to be super premium...

Yes, this is a premium product - a luxury product - and that means it's unlikely that successfully backing it will result in mass market price hikes. I'm with you so far...

Sabrblade wrote:...for only the most nostalgic super-nerds with enough disposable income willing to throw away $600 for a giant that turns into a ball.

At least the Titans turned into playsets with built-in interactivity for smaller figures found at normal retail, or into component figures that could likewise interact with some of the larger normal retail figures.

This Unicron, on the other hand, just literally turns into a giant ball-on-a-stick.

It's no wonder it's only being marketed to the market of rich nostalgic super-nerds since that crowd (which includes any of us here who are willing to fork over the money for this thing) is the only crowd weird enough to want to own a giant ball-on-a-stick.

This is where I lose you.

First, of all, I don't disagree with the sentiment that this is a premium product necessarily geared towards those who can afford it. But I DO take issue with the classist way with which you articulate that.

Second, Unicron is a ball. That is literally his thing. I expected you to be the last person to make hay about source accuracy.

Finally, I don't get this kvetching about playset interactivity with retail figures. Is this a retail figure? No. Do we even have a full picture of what this thing can do? Also no. To the extent that non-combiner Titans like Metroplex, Fort Max, and Trypticon have base modes, they're half-assed concoctions that heavily rely on the primary alt mode components, especially the exteriors. But to the extent that Unicron's exterior is a shell that folds in on itself to reveal the robot, how reasonable is it, really, to expect that kind of additional functionality?

As one of those "nostalgic super-nerds with enough disposable income willing to throw away $600 for a giant that turns into a ball," I'd much rather them perfect the 'giant' and 'ball' aspects of Unicron - the only aspects that matter - than half-ass a 3rd thing.

1. What are you getting so worked up over? He's not kvetching about anything. You know how you said "Is this a retail figure? No."? Sabrblade's pointing all that out as reasons why it wouldn't fly as one, and thus has to be a fan-backed thing.

2. Sounds like you're mainly experienced with TR Fort Max's base/city mode. But, uh, you seem to be mistaken about something: The base/city modes are the primary altmodes for those figures.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:1. What are you getting so worked up over? He's not kvetching about anything. You know how you said "Is this a retail figure? No."? Sabrblade's pointing all that out as reasons why it wouldn't fly as one, and thus has to be a fan-backed thing.

Yes, he acknowledges that it is not a retail figure... which is exactly why complaining about the lack of interactivity with retail figures is odd and potentially unreasonable. Kvetching is the right word, unless Sabr comes in and clarifies that he wasn't, in fact, complaining, which is a possibility.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:2. Sounds like you're mainly experienced with TR Fort Max's base/city mode. But, uh, you seem to be mistaken about something: The base/city modes are the primary altmodes for those figures.

Two things. First, I'm not missing anything - what you said here does not at all disprove or contradict my point. Second, you're missing the forest for the trees in trying to make this about semantics rather than addressing my core argument.

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:1. What are you getting so worked up over? He's not kvetching about anything. You know how you said "Is this a retail figure? No."? Sabrblade's pointing all that out as reasons why it wouldn't fly as one, and thus has to be a fan-backed thing.

Yes, he acknowledges that it is not a retail figure... which is exactly why complaining about the lack of interactivity with retail figures is odd and potentially unreasonable. Kvetching is the right word, unless Sabr comes in and clarifies that he wasn't, in fact, complaining, which is a possibility.

It's a very strong possibility. In fact, it's such a strong possibility that I'm baffled as to how you interpreted his post as complaining at all.

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:2. Sounds like you're mainly experienced with TR Fort Max's base/city mode. But, uh, you seem to be mistaken about something: The base/city modes are the primary altmodes for those figures.

Two things. First, I'm not missing anything - what you said here does not at all disprove or contradict my point. Second, you're missing the forest for the trees in trying to make this about semantics rather than addressing my core argument.

You are missing something. Let me make myself plain (and bold the part of my reply you overlooked): Fort Max's base mode is the only one where you can remotely justify calling it a "half-assed concoction" that relies too much on "primary" altmode parts (and even then I wouldn't go that far, especially not in terms of play and interactivity).
Metroplex:


You can't even see the vehicle mode decks like this)
Trypticon:

Trypticon, it's more like his vehicle mode is a halfway transformation of his city mode (Fort Max is kinda the same, and this also applies to their G1 toys; TR Fort Max just suffers a bit for it because he's a Metroplex retool rather than a new mold and is thus missing the key sideways leg hinges below the knees).

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:1. What are you getting so worked up over? He's not kvetching about anything. You know how you said "Is this a retail figure? No."? Sabrblade's pointing all that out as reasons why it wouldn't fly as one, and thus has to be a fan-backed thing.

Yes, he acknowledges that it is not a retail figure... which is exactly why complaining about the lack of interactivity with retail figures is odd and potentially unreasonable. Kvetching is the right word, unless Sabr comes in and clarifies that he wasn't, in fact, complaining, which is a possibility.

It's a very strong possibility. In fact, it's such a strong possibility that I'm baffled as to how you interpreted his post as complaining at all.

My plain reading: Sabr is complaining that Unicron is a ball with no additional features, and that only 'super-rich' people would throw money away to have it. I'm honestly baffled you could read it any other way, and yet I'm open to the possibility that my interpretation is wrong.

Funnily enough, you're completely ignoring the possibility that my response was reasoned counterpoint rather than angry rant.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:2. Sounds like you're mainly experienced with TR Fort Max's base/city mode. But, uh, you seem to be mistaken about something: The base/city modes are the primary altmodes for those figures.

Two things. First, I'm not missing anything - what you said here does not at all disprove or contradict my point. Second, you're missing the forest for the trees in trying to make this about semantics rather than addressing my core argument.

You are missing something. Let me make myself plain (and bold the part of my reply you overlooked): Fort Max's base mode is the only one where you can remotely justify calling it a "half-assed concoction" that relies too much on "primary" altmode parts (and even then I wouldn't go that far, especially not in terms of play and interactivity).

Why must you make me wade into trees? Again, you're missing the forest.

The trees: instructions for all 3 Titans list the vehicle as the primary mode, with the base mode as secondary. Again, this is a semantic point, but I consider the instructions to be the official word on what is primary vs secondary. But let's be clear: the limitations of the Titans' size and the budget the designers dealt with meant the robot was prioritized, so neither of the other two modes were particularly amazing on these Titans, with the base / vehicle relying heavily, by necessity, on the vehicle / base parts unfolding or reconfiguring.

The forest: the play patterns and interactivity rely on the exteriors and alt-parts unfolding and reconfiguring, but that ability to create a base that interacts fully with smaller bots is harder to implement on a spherical shellformer like Unicron, especially one which tries to make the robot mode look as clean / G1-accurate as possible. For that reason, I find the complaint about lack of interactivity unreasonable.

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:1. What are you getting so worked up over? He's not kvetching about anything. You know how you said "Is this a retail figure? No."? Sabrblade's pointing all that out as reasons why it wouldn't fly as one, and thus has to be a fan-backed thing.

Yes, he acknowledges that it is not a retail figure... which is exactly why complaining about the lack of interactivity with retail figures is odd and potentially unreasonable. Kvetching is the right word, unless Sabr comes in and clarifies that he wasn't, in fact, complaining, which is a possibility.

It's a very strong possibility. In fact, it's such a strong possibility that I'm baffled as to how you interpreted his post as complaining at all.

My plain reading: Sabr is complaining that Unicron is a ball with no additional features, and that only 'super-rich' people would throw money away to have it. I'm honestly baffled you could read it any other way, and yet I'm open to the possibility that my interpretation is wrong.

Funnily enough, you're completely ignoring the possibility that my response was reasoned counterpoint rather than angry rant.

My plain reading: Sabrblade is pointing out to all the people whinging about Unicron being done as a pricy fan-backed HasLab product, why he has to be done as a pricy fan-backed HasLab product. Which is that he is designed purely to pander to G1-nostalgic fans, with no gimmicks to woo general consumers with and an altmode that currently has decidedly limited appeal outside of G1 nostalgic fans. Appealing near-only to G1-nostalgic fans is not a success strategy at retail, especially not for something so pricy. And thus, the only way he's viable is as a crowdfunded thing that forces the sufficiently-moneyed among fans to put up or shut up.

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

megatronus wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:2. Sounds like you're mainly experienced with TR Fort Max's base/city mode. But, uh, you seem to be mistaken about something: The base/city modes are the primary altmodes for those figures.

Two things. First, I'm not missing anything - what you said here does not at all disprove or contradict my point. Second, you're missing the forest for the trees in trying to make this about semantics rather than addressing my core argument.

You are missing something. Let me make myself plain (and bold the part of my reply you overlooked): Fort Max's base mode is the only one where you can remotely justify calling it a "half-assed concoction" that relies too much on "primary" altmode parts (and even then I wouldn't go that far, especially not in terms of play and interactivity).

Why must you make me wade into trees? Again, you're missing the forest.

The trees: instructions for all 3 Titans list the vehicle as the primary mode, with the base mode as secondary. Again, this is a semantic point, but I consider the instructions to be the official word on what is primary vs secondary. But let's be clear: the limitations of the Titans' size and the budget the designers dealt with meant the robot was prioritized, so neither of the other two modes were particularly amazing on these Titans, with the base / vehicle relying heavily, by necessity, on the vehicle / base parts unfolding or reconfiguring.

I am not "missing the forest" because IMO the only "forest" worth addressing was your dismissing the base modes as "half-assed concoctions".

megatronus wrote:I consider the instructions to be the official word on what is primary vs secondary.

Not the greatest idea, with as often as instructions screw up.

megatronus wrote:The forest: the play patterns and interactivity rely on the exteriors and alt-parts unfolding and reconfiguring, but that ability to create a base that interacts fully with smaller bots is harder to implement on a spherical shellformer like Unicron, especially one which tries to make the robot mode look as clean / G1-accurate as possible. For that reason, I find the complaint about lack of interactivity unreasonable.

As far as I can tell, this forest is growing out your exhaust port, because as far as I can tell Sabr isn't complaining.

RodimusConvoy13 wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

You really think they're going to increase the prices just because 8000 people, 8000 out of how many hundreds of thousands or millions of Transformers customers they have?

Hasbro isn't stupid. Hasbro isn't evil. There's so many on this thread that seem to think Hasbro just sits there and says "Let's see how much money we can get out of these stupid collectors! Let's raise the prices on all our toys so we'll lose even more customers to electronic/mobile gaming. Yeah! That'll show those stupid collectors. We so greedy!!!"

Maybe there is something to what you say. I do not like Hasbro as a corporation. I see them as a pretty standard representation of the corporate greed that is playing a massive role in destroying our country. I don’t trust them and maybe that’s clouding my views. But that is a political discussion from another day and another topic.

Also, with the Rung reveal this morning, and my realizing just how much I would have been happily willing to pay for it, it’s time to be honest that I just don’t care that much for Unicron, which is also clouding my views.



On to point, all bellyaching and praising aside, I have a question: why wasn’t this reveal saved for some point at SDCC?

One of the big problems I have with Unicron is that, considering the price and the way he's being presented, he seems to be a bit confused as to what he's actually trying to accomplish.

On the one hand, he's clearly being marketed as a high-end collectible for super fans who can afford such things, but he seems to fall a bit short of the whole "high-end" thing- he has lots of lovely sculpted detail that could really do with painting. Not even talking 3A level ultra-realistic paintwork either, but just something on par with Armada or Energon Unicron (especially the latter with his beautiful "energon glow" panel washes) or even just Siege-style weathering, which given he's a literal planetoid would actually make sense. Likewise, in terms of features, things like LED lights, more working mechanisms like that admittedly awesome geared planet maw (think a more refined Mech Alive), opening panels and whatnot hiding even more detail, and the like; sort of "play features" for grown-ups that just give him more to do than just stand there looking impressive. And lastly, he does feature some annoyingly hollow bits (the hands especially) and really, for that price, elbows that can bend over 90 degrees would have been good.

So he doesn't really quite work as a "high-end" figure, but as a toy that happens to be really big and expensive he falls a bit short as well. He doesn't really have much in the way of interactivity with other Siege figures, which somewhat makes sense given that a "to scale" Unicron would be the size of Pluto, but little things like Armada Unicron's Minicon interactivity and numerous opening compartments would have elevated him as a particularly grandiose plaything (and would have made some sense given the more...loosely-scaled bits in the movie), and in general aside from standing/floating on a shelf looking impressive- if not as impressive as he perhaps could have been- there's not much to really do with him.

So basically, to cut a long story short, he's not quite high-end enough (for the price) to fall into the high-end collectible category but not really playable enough to fall into the centrepiece toy category, leaving him somewhat in the "I must have a Unicron that can transform and is huge but not much else" category. I somewhat doubt what we've seen is finalized so there's a chance the actual product might have more extensive paint detailing (which by itself would immensely elevate this IMO) but as is, he's just missing that extra something that would turn him into a must-buy.

At the moment I still think he's a cool looking toy with some nice features, and I really hope whoever wants him can get him, but if I was told "You must spend £400+ on really large Transformers" I'd rather buy Trypticon and Omega Supreme than this Unicron.

Again though, that geared mouth gimmick is amazing.

*sigh*

Megatronus, we super-nerds with money are the only ones who actually want to own something as weird as a giant ball-on-a-stick because we are the only ones who have the nostalgic and sentimental attachment to this silly thing that makes us want to own it, so it makes worlds more sense for them to market this to us weirdos instead of the mass market casuals that wouldn't find this ball-on-a-stick as a appealing as we do.

According to TakaraTomy, it looks like Japan is gonna be getting a piece of the HasLab Unicron crowdfunding pie with orders soon opening up for that country to be placed through TakaraTomy Mall.

発表されたばかりのハスブロ社のグローバルクラウドファンディング企画 「HASLABユニクロン」の日本における販売をタカラトミーモールで行うことが決定！
ワンフェス開催日までには、予約をスタートする予定です。
これにあたり、なんと試作モデルをワンフェス会場で飾ることが決定しました。
過去に類をみないサイズの超巨大トランスフォーマーを、ぜひ生でご確認いただき、
クラウドファンディングの支援をお願いいたします！

Hasbro's global crowdfunding plan just announced It will be decided to sell "HASLAB UNICLON" in Japan at Takara Tomy Mall!
We plan to start bookings by the 1st festival day.
On this occasion, it was decided to decorate the prototype at the one-fest venue.
Please check the raw super-sized transformers of unmatched size in the past,
and ask for their help in crowdfunding!

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Personally, I think that particular ship already sailed with MP-44.

Sabrblade wrote:According to TakaraTomy, it looks like Japan is gonna be getting a piece of the HasLab Unicron crowdfunding pie with orders soon opening up for that country to be placed through TakaraTomy Mall.

発表されたばかりのハスブロ社のグローバルクラウドファンディング企画 「HASLABユニクロン」の日本における販売をタカラトミーモールで行うことが決定！
ワンフェス開催日までには、予約をスタートする予定です。
これにあたり、なんと試作モデルをワンフェス会場で飾ることが決定しました。
過去に類をみないサイズの超巨大トランスフォーマーを、ぜひ生でご確認いただき、
クラウドファンディングの支援をお願いいたします！

Hasbro's global crowdfunding plan just announced It will be decided to sell "HASLAB UNICLON" in Japan at Takara Tomy Mall!
We plan to start bookings by the 1st festival day.
On this occasion, it was decided to decorate the prototype at the one-fest venue.
Please check the raw super-sized transformers of unmatched size in the past,
and ask for their help in crowdfunding!

I was trying to translate that and figure out what exactly it was referring to thanks Sabr!!

Stargrave wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:According to TakaraTomy, it looks like Japan is gonna be getting a piece of the HasLab Unicron crowdfunding pie with orders soon opening up for that country to be placed through TakaraTomy Mall.

発表されたばかりのハスブロ社のグローバルクラウドファンディング企画 「HASLABユニクロン」の日本における販売をタカラトミーモールで行うことが決定！
ワンフェス開催日までには、予約をスタートする予定です。
これにあたり、なんと試作モデルをワンフェス会場で飾ることが決定しました。
過去に類をみないサイズの超巨大トランスフォーマーを、ぜひ生でご確認いただき、
クラウドファンディングの支援をお願いいたします！

Hasbro's global crowdfunding plan just announced It will be decided to sell "HASLAB UNICLON" in Japan at Takara Tomy Mall!
We plan to start bookings by the 1st festival day.
On this occasion, it was decided to decorate the prototype at the one-fest venue.
Please check the raw super-sized transformers of unmatched size in the past,
and ask for their help in crowdfunding!

I was trying to translate that and figure out what exactly it was referring to thanks Sabr!!

Thank Google Translate.

"Uniclon"
XD
...
*Insert Unicron's angry "BWAAAARGH"*

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Personally, I think that particular ship already sailed with MP-44.

I think it's a ship with more holes in it than RiD Ultra Magnus' trailer. The part about Hasbro using it as an excuse to jack up prices on all Transformers sure is. That idea is, frankly, laughable. Hasbro is not so stupid business-wise that they'd use the success of something perforce done as a crowdfunded lab project as a reason to jack up the prices of their bread-and-butter mainstream TFs beyond what the retail market will bear.

Say Unicron is a success, there can't be many other tf projects for the venture. Primus (Cybertron version) and maybe a boxset of thirteen leader Class versions of the thirteen... Anything else this service could use?

ZeroWolf wrote:Say Unicron is a success, there can't be many other tf projects for the venture. Primus (Cybertron version) and maybe a boxset of thirteen leader Class versions of the thirteen... Anything else this service could use?

Yes, but only obscure stuff rather than mainstream.

Sabrblade wrote:

Stargrave wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:According to TakaraTomy, it looks like Japan is gonna be getting a piece of the HasLab Unicron crowdfunding pie with orders soon opening up for that country to be placed through TakaraTomy Mall.

発表されたばかりのハスブロ社のグローバルクラウドファンディング企画 「HASLABユニクロン」の日本における販売をタカラトミーモールで行うことが決定！
ワンフェス開催日までには、予約をスタートする予定です。
これにあたり、なんと試作モデルをワンフェス会場で飾ることが決定しました。
過去に類をみないサイズの超巨大トランスフォーマーを、ぜひ生でご確認いただき、
クラウドファンディングの支援をお願いいたします！

Hasbro's global crowdfunding plan just announced It will be decided to sell "HASLAB UNICLON" in Japan at Takara Tomy Mall!
We plan to start bookings by the 1st festival day.
On this occasion, it was decided to decorate the prototype at the one-fest venue.
Please check the raw super-sized transformers of unmatched size in the past,
and ask for their help in crowdfunding!

I was trying to translate that and figure out what exactly it was referring to thanks Sabr!!

Thank Google Translate.

Yeah but YOU always do stuff like this and it’s totally helpful so screw Google translate I’m appreciating YOU instead

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Personally, I think that particular ship already sailed with MP-44.

I think it's a ship with more holes in it than RiD Ultra Magnus' trailer. The part about Hasbro using it as an excuse to jack up prices on all Transformers sure is. That idea is, frankly, laughable. Hasbro is not so stupid business-wise that they'd use the success of something perforce done as a crowdfunded lab project as a reason to jack up the prices of their bread-and-butter mainstream TFs beyond what the retail market will bear.

He didn't say 'all Transformers'. He said all Transformers aimed at collectors. Of which in the last few years the cost of the Masterpiece in general has risen. It is like they tested the water with MP Dinobot, raised it a little more with BW Megatron and then in light of their success, threw caution to the wind with MP-44's price tag. Even that pre-order has sold out through many retailers. Which is more troubling for the future of Hasbro collector lines than a one-off Unicron.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Say Unicron is a success, there can't be many other tf projects for the venture. Primus (Cybertron version) and maybe a boxset of thirteen leader Class versions of the thirteen... Anything else this service could use?

Yes, but only obscure stuff rather than mainstream.

Indeed. The Planet Bots are the metaphorical ceiling in terms of Transformers scaling. Atlas could be the third Planet Bot, at a push?

Thinking smaller: A new or retooled Leobreaker with legs that collapse for Savage Claw Mode like they were originally supposed to.

ZeroWolf wrote:Say Unicron is a success, there can't be many other tf projects for the venture. Primus (Cybertron version) and maybe a boxset of thirteen leader Class versions of the thirteen... Anything else this service could use?

An Ark battle base play set? Please?

Edit: Also, I've been thinking, why couldn't they use this crowd founding to do small stuff? Fans have been pining for 5 mil based accessory packs for years. Hasbro has seemingly deemed that idea to be a "no sell" at retail. Here's an outlet for that kind of thing. And with smaller items they would be more likely to reach the goal.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Thinking smaller: A new or retooled Leobreaker with legs that collapse for Savage Claw Mode like they were originally supposed to.

I see your point. Perhaps HasLab will be the platform by which Takara actually releases the Masterpiece Gestalts?

Cobotron wrote:Edit: Also, I've been thinking, why couldn't they use this crowd founding to do small stuff? Fans have been pining for 5 mil based accessory packs for years.

I'm not paying 5 million bucks for an accessory pack.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:"Uniclon"
XD
...
*Insert Unicron's angry "BWAAAARGH"*

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:As I've thought about this today, I gotta say, I hope it fails. Not because I want to see some of your hopes and dreams crapped on, but because I don't trust Hasbro. If this succeeds, I'm afraid they will just see it as an excuse to jack up prices on all transfromers with even a hint of aim at collectors. If they see us as willing to shell out this much money, they will apply that to everything. Or just put all collector type stuff behind an exclusive pay wall.

Hopefully, I'm wrong, but experience in life with big business doesn't leave much room for hope.

Personally, I think that particular ship already sailed with MP-44.

I think it's a ship with more holes in it than RiD Ultra Magnus' trailer. The part about Hasbro using it as an excuse to jack up prices on all Transformers sure is. That idea is, frankly, laughable. Hasbro is not so stupid business-wise that they'd use the success of something perforce done as a crowdfunded lab project as a reason to jack up the prices of their bread-and-butter mainstream TFs beyond what the retail market will bear.

As an economist, I don't think this whole idea of unicron being made having an impact on mainline wide release toys sold at Walmart and Target is worth much thought. While us fans see a similar labeling (Generations WFC), they are two different things. There is no conspiracy here. Fans don't consist the majority of retail toy sales so pricing for the median income family is still a priority. And the US has the highest poverty rate of all first world nations so retail prices can only go so high before you lose money on unsold inventory.

Basically, there will always be affordable toys at retail, hence why this Unicron isn't sold at retail.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Thinking smaller: A new or retooled Leobreaker with legs that collapse for Savage Claw Mode like they were originally supposed to.

I see your point. Perhaps HasLab will be the platform by which Takara actually releases the Masterpiece Gestalts?

Or maybe an obscure Titan.

(Darth Maul voice)
At least Majin Zarak will reveal himself to the fandom. At last he will have his toy.