The Energon Pub

DeathNoble wrote:Okay, so uh.... This gonna sound really stupid but I'm really not up for reading through all the pages of this topic. I got to like, 14, and my head is swimming. I'm also extremely tired since I work graveyards and its currently 5pm, so my spelling & memory is probably way off

But... My actual question: These are going to available at actual brick-and-mortar stores that you can walk into IRL and pick up off the shelves, right? And they're called ToyHobby and Ganbo? Like, those will be the names of the stores over the doorway, correct? And last, which store is getting which again?

I got a friend who's currently deployed to and temporarily living in Japan.........

I got buds in Japan too. Thats gonna be the only way you can get these guys. The preorder goes up tomorrow, May 22nd. According to TFormers.com, the set price per fig is 3000 Yen, or about 30 bucks US. But you can only get them in Japan. No word on how many will be produced has been established, though a rumor stating that as many preorders there are, they will be fulfilled.

Might I interject here that I find it interesting that no one has yet cried foul on the fact that Henkei Skywarp was also an exclusive in the USA. I am not crying foul but I thought I would point it out. Just Henkei Thundercracker is the issue.

Isn't the particular nature of the US Skywarp just an issue for stores though? It was done so only a particular store could get the business on the Skywarp/Magnus pack right? So maybe somewhere, somehow... a Target executive is spitting blood because it also got given to Woolworths in the UK and Takara are now brining it out too. I doubt it, but it's an amusing thought.

Stop it Sunstar, you're being level headed and logical, and that sort of thing doesn't belong in this thread!

Hey... I'm perfectly logical.

If you say so.

You wound me, sir.

Tekka wrote:Isn't the particular nature of the US Skywarp just an issue for stores though? It was done so only a particular store could get the business on the Skywarp/Magnus pack right? So maybe somewhere, somehow... a Target executive is spitting blood because it also got given to Woolworths in the UK and Takara are now brining it out too. I doubt it, but it's an amusing thought.

Good point. Exclusives are only to some extent. Recent excample is Target exclusive movie allspark blue deluxes got released in Canada under another chain. Same toys.

Tekka wrote:You wound me, sir.

You'll live.

If I didn't would you mourn my passing?

Knowing what I vaguely know of burn, probably not. A store exclusive is till an exclusive for all intents and purposes. And the argument by those in this thread, it that exclusives should not find their way outside their root source.

Japan should not have got the usa edition MP-03 Starscream because that was a Walmart exclusive. USA should not have got the crowned HOC because there was a chase figure of the same in the ACT series. Ironically, that is still going for over 100 bucks last I looked. Although that HOC, has red eye piping.

I am simply thinking things from my collection here as I am unfamiliar with those out side of it. But anyway, the argument has been put forth that if it's an exclusive, and its released elsewhere, then it is no longer an exclusive, in spite of the fact it might be different, even slightly.

I have a botcon exclusive seeker set with the generic seekers, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp, and yet you still could get Thundercracker, Skywarp and Starscream in regular retail. The difference between that set and the retail, were the three generic, and that Starscream, warp and tc, all had metallic paint jobs. Virtually the same figures.

I am not sure the argument is strictly the exclusive nature, but more of a deep personal wounding. Perhaps feelings of betrayal, or being misguided, in spite of knowing that exclusives turn up common place elsewhere or as exclusives in a different country.

I don't necessary buy the current idea that the prices will be extraordinarily high, but anything is possible. It depends on supply and demand. if the preorders are limited, then possible, if the preorders are not so limited, then there is the possibility that the market may be flooded and figured can be snared at reasonable prices (100 dollars or less).

Going from a marketing point of view; Skywarp and Thundercracker are popular characters, Skywarp had been released as a store exclusive, but more general. Thundercracker had much demand and outcry that it would be silly for a Jtoy maker to say, we can't make him because it is an exclusive in the USA. That is not good for business. If I am correct, it was the paint pattern for Thundercracker, dirge and the wings of thrust that were owned by fun pub, I can't recall exactly. But the paint scheme for Thundercracker is different.

Anyway, marketing is what marketing is.

Tekka wrote:If I didn't would you mourn my passing?

I wouldn't even notice you were gone.

The HOC figures have always frustrated me with that light piping. The 200 piece Lucky Draw Skywarp has always been a top priority of mine. I had the opportunity to buy it once for $200 and I passed it up like a fool. I still regret doing that to this day.


Bad day for the camera...

Even though it's merely a repaint of the two HOC Skywarps I already own, albeit without the light piping, I would still want it regardless of it being an exclusive that saw a general release. It is still impossible to find and has not lost any of its value.

Tekka wrote:The HOC figures have always frustrated me with that light piping. The 200 piece Lucky Draw Skywarp has always been a top priority of mine. I had the opportunity to buy it once for $200 and I passed it up like a fool. I still regret doing that to this day.


Bad day for the camera...

Even though it's merely a repaint of the two HOC Skywarps I already own, albeit without the light piping, I would still want it regardless of it being an exclusive that saw a general release. It is still impossible to find and has not lost any of its value.

I know that feeling. I actually would pay a hefty sum for the clear starscream like that. I missed it twice because, I am still kinda poor.

OH and I forgot to add to my previous post that I vaglelt recall a post about those who were upset about the botcon release to basically keep quiet. Anyone else remember that?

Sunstar wrote:OH and I forgot to add to my previous post that I vaglelt recall a post about those who were upset about the botcon release to basically keep quiet. Anyone else remember that?

I'm sure something like that has been said by both sides numerous times.

I think it's time people just got off their high horses and accepted things. Get over it, move on, and enjoy the rest Transformers has to offer.

Burn wrote:

Sunstar wrote:OH and I forgot to add to my previous post that I vaglelt recall a post about those who were upset about the botcon release to basically keep quiet. Anyone else remember that?

I'm sure something like that has been said by both sides numerous times.

I think it's time people just got off their high horses and accepted things. Get over it, move on, and enjoy the rest Transformers has to offer.

I agree with you whole heartedly.... for once

In happy news, just a little over three hours until the pre-orders for TC and SW go up.

Good hunting ladies and gents.

I am trying to prod my contact awake, thus far's been a bit difficult. But, I still have hope.

Tekka wrote:In happy news, just a little over three hours until the pre-orders for TC and SW go up.

Good hunting ladies and gents.

Man, and no one yet can answer a price estimate on Clear henkei Convoy.
Poor Convoy, he's been overshadowed by seekerbois...

NuclearConvoy wrote:

Tekka wrote:In happy news, just a little over three hours until the pre-orders for TC and SW go up.

Good hunting ladies and gents.

Man, and no one yet can answer a price estimate on Clear henkei Convoy.
Poor Convoy, he's been overshadowed by seekerbois...

3500 Yen or about 35 bucks US man.

First Gen wrote:

NuclearConvoy wrote:

Tekka wrote:In happy news, just a little over three hours until the pre-orders for TC and SW go up.

Good hunting ladies and gents.

Man, and no one yet can answer a price estimate on Clear henkei Convoy.
Poor Convoy, he's been overshadowed by seekerbois...

3500 Yen or about 35 bucks US man.

That would be the price to the Japanese market if I'm correct. If you get them from say, BBTS I bet you're looking AT LEAST double that.

First Gen wrote:

NuclearConvoy wrote:

Tekka wrote:In happy news, just a little over three hours until the pre-orders for TC and SW go up.

Good hunting ladies and gents.

Man, and no one yet can answer a price estimate on Clear henkei Convoy.
Poor Convoy, he's been overshadowed by seekerbois...

3500 Yen or about 35 bucks US man.

Thanks, mate!

I did get word, my sister in law is going to order one for me.

WOW!!!!

Almost 20 pages of this in just 2 days.....

F'ing Awesome

Nekoman wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

Nekoman wrote:I fully understand Getters comments as someone who DIDN’T go to Botcon.

In essence, this is sad, people will see less incentive for going to Botcon and possibly end the convention. I frown upon TakaraTomys decision as not only a fan, but a collector.

If cheap enough, I may order it. Still, some part of me agonizes over this release. It’s not fair to those who went to Botcon, its not fair to Botcon.

I get the feeling that a greedy side of the fandom will cheer about this for a long time, another side, may just leave forever.

Shame on those who demanded this release, shame on Takara for going through with it and shame on Hasbro for allowing this to happen back in 06...

Shame, SHAME!

Oh, good grief.

So, it was fair that the remaining seekers were unavailable to a large part of the fandom, but it's not fair to botcon that now a single seeker from that set, with a different paint job, is being released in limited numbers in a different country?

Last I heard, this Thundercracker is about as limited as fruit at the store. They’ll be making as many as they get Preorders for, THERE IS NO LIMIT.


And no, it’s not fair at all. I’m sure there are a lot of people here who understand me saying this. Put your self in their shoes for a change, you save up a TON of money, take off from work, get on a plane, get you’re overpriced toys that were never supposed to be released anywhere else, then two years later, they release what is virtually THE SAME THING.

Look at Getterdragun, he wouldn’t have gone to that Botcon if he had known it would be released like this. No where near as many people wouldn’t have gone, but they were told this would be the only way to get their seekers. So much for that.

Now, doesn’t any of that sound the least bit unfair to you?

Honestly, it sounds as fair to me as when the other side was saying 'if you want it badly enough, you'll find a way.'

No one was forced to go through any of that. And to me, botcon should not be soley about the exclusives. I would've love to have gone. However, it was not possible at that time. And I did not want to pay the same price for just the toys as others paid to get into the con and get the figures. So I passed.

And this figure is different from the Timelines version anyway. Not the same figure! The Con version is still an exclusive! If you're upset because it looks similar, well, nothing to be done about that.

I've read one post that says there will be as many of these made as are ordered. Everything else I've read says this will be fairly limited, probably in about the same numbers as the Timelines version. And considering that, it will probably cost about the same. If so, I'll pass on it too. I think it's silly to pay that much for that mold. Heck, I already have the extra Classic Skywarps and the paint, I'm still going to attempt a kitbash someday.

To reitereate, it doesn't seem any more unfair to me than the whole Classic Seeker thing did to begin with.