Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[Sabrblade]

The whole "Japan never got that mold" concept is getting kind of silly. Almost all serious collectors of Takara figures buy their stuff online. This seems to render the term "Japanese Exclusive" pointless.

The phrase "Japan never got that mold" means "TakaraTomy never officially released it in Japan domestically". The Japanese collectors who would have bought them online would have had to import the Hasbro versions, which isn't the same thing as TakaraTomy releasing them over there themselves.

American collectors say the same thing about things that Hasbro hasn't released in the U.S., and their getting them online isn't the same thing as Hasbro releasing them over here themselves.

I just think it's silly to say "Japan never got that mold" when half of the collectors in Japan probaly obtained it online from BBTS or TF Source.

Do BBTS or TF Source have Japanese branches? If not, then any Japanese collector would be far wiser to give their money to a more local online retailer like Hobbylink Japan or Red Mercury instead of the more expensive (for the Japanese) American websites.

Unless they are taling about Japanese kids not getting that mold in toy stores ? But $100 a figure, I dont think the target of the Cloud line is kids walking into an Asian toy store.

The $100 price comes from the American online retailers importing the figures from Japan to sell to us. For Japanese collectors to purchase either of these domestically would cost them about $50-$60 instead.

[Rated X]

The whole "Japan never got that mold" concept is getting kind of silly. Almost all serious collectors of Takara figures buy their stuff online. This seems to render the term "Japanese Exclusive" pointless.

The phrase "Japan never got that mold" means "TakaraTomy never officially released it in Japan domestically". The Japanese collectors who would have bought them online would have had to import the Hasbro versions, which isn't the same thing as TakaraTomy releasing them over there themselves.

American collectors say the same thing about things that Hasbro hasn't released in the U.S., and their getting them online isn't the same thing as Hasbro releasing them over here themselves.

I just think it's silly to say "Japan never got that mold" when half of the collectors in Japan probaly obtained it online from BBTS or TF Source.

Do BBTS or TF Source have Japanese branches? If not, then any Japanese collector would be far wiser to give their money to a more local online retailer like Hobbylink Japan or Red Mercury instead of the more expensive (for the Japanese) American websites.

Unless they are taling about Japanese kids not getting that mold in toy stores ? But $100 a figure, I dont think the target of the Cloud line is kids walking into an Asian toy store.

The $100 price comes from the American online retailers importing the figures from Japan to sell to us. For Japanese collectors to purchase either of these domestically would cost them about $50-$60 instead.

My point is that at the click of a button, anyone living anywhere can buy any mold. I think anybody in japan who relished the ROTF Bludgon mold that much didnt have a hard time obtaining the original Bludgon toy. Walmart couldnt give those damn tanks away for like 6 months. China and Japan didnt need GDO or Cloud lines to get hold of that mold. Thats why I say its not about any demographic market, its just about milking the mold. Maybe ten years ago before the internet was big, The term "exclusives" would be Meaningful. Now it just means a repaint you buy online. Maybe a handful of hobby shops in japan sell the cloud line to walk in customers. Even at the $50 to 60 price, its not exactly a kids toy line like the hasbro versions. You probably wont find them in mainstream japanese toy stores that cater to younger kids, just hobby shops. Here in my city, I havent seen a hobby shop in 15 years. The internet destroyed those kind of small businesses.

[Sabrblade]

My point is that at the click of a button, anyone living anywhere can buy any mold.

Yet, not everyone wants to pay import prices.

I think anybody in japan who relished the ROTF Bludgon mold that much didnt have a hard time obtaining the original Bludgon toy.

Japan did get ROTF Bludgeon, but not the Megatron version of it from Generations GDO. That's what's new about this for them.

Maybe ten years ago before the internet was big, The term "exclusives" would be Meaningful. Now it just means a repaint you buy online that maybe a handful of hobby shops in japan sell to walk in customers.

Again, not everyone is able to pay import prices, or is willing to spend hundreds of dollars on something they could get for a lot cheaper if it were a given a domestic mass retail release.

That's one of the two major differences between an exclusive and a non-exclusive: The price. The other difference is the availability, as the numbers of exclusives are generally far more limited when compared to a non-exclusive. The wider the availability, the lower the price, and the lower the price, the easier the toy is to obtain. And for the Japanese, these Cloud toys are probably more appealing to them in that regard than their foreign counterparts released by Hasbro.

[El Duque]

e-Hobby has tweeted a new image of Transformers Cloud TFC-D02 Starscream. This image compares him to his original G1 and recent Transformers Generations Legends figures. The Cloud figure itself is a repaint of the Transformers Generations Voyager Doubledealer mold with the inclusion Masterpiece Starscream's Null Rays. He is being offered exclusively through e-Hobby and will be released along TFC-A02 Brawn, who is a repaint/remold of the Transformers Prime First Edition Voyager Bulkhead mold available exclusively through the TakaraTomy Mall. Check out the new image mirrored below:

[megatronus]

I like it - the colors are just so blindingly vibrant, and the mold does work surprisingly well.

[Manterax Prime]

I'm still wondering why people think this mold doesn't work for Starscream.
For an alternate universe Starscream, this mold is very fitting.

[Sabrblade]

I concur, it's one of those "so crazy it works" ideas that genuinely does work.

[Mkall]

It's a good homage, but I don't have any interest in it.

[Wolfman Jake]

So many things work so well about this redeco as Starscream, but beyond all the details, the figure is just nifty. I want it in my collection.

[Nemesis Destron]

It's a good homage, but I don't have any interest in it.

Ditto!

[MagnetarPrime]

Take that legends starscream and turn it into a deluxe or voyager class figure. Starscream cloud =ez pass for me

[fenrir72]

G1 SS has a painted face?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

G1 SS has a painted face?

Nope, and that's the TFC reissue by the way, who also didn't have a painted face.

[Wolfman Jake]

Cloud Brawn and Starscream are up for preorder on the TFCC store. They are listed at $87.00 USD a piece, and preorders will remain open until 03/21/2014. Does anyone know when the club will be shipping out Cloud Optimus Prime and Megatron?

[El Duque]

e-Hobby has tweeted a new image of their upcoming Transformers Cloud TFC-D02 Starscream alongside the previously TFC-D01 Megatron, both in their tank modes. No lack of Decepticon firepower in this line! Starscream is repaint of the Transformers Generations Voyager Doubledealer mold, and Megatron is a repaint of the Voyager GDO Megatron mold. Check out the image mirrored below:

[Sabrblade]

They look really good together. Very uniformly deco'd.

[RevTibe]

Love how they added in the Null Rays. Really makes the redeco perfect.

[Manterax Prime]

Why do I feel that this Starscream could actually beat Megatron?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Why do I feel that this Starscream could actually beat Megatron?

This Starscream has one mode up Megatron?

[Amelie]

I would seriously have preferred the Blitzwing mold as Megatron. Starscream looks great, but I'd have preferred Megatron. The Bludgeon mold just doesn't fit for Megatron for me.

[durroth]

now if they fixed the shoulders by some miracle, I might just buy this to have a triple changer starscream

[Windsweeper]

Looking at that pic, I wish they released all the G1 seekers with painted faces.

[Sabrblade]

Looking at that pic, I wish they released all the G1 seekers with painted faces.

That particular one might have been a custom paint job.

[El Duque]

It appears Takara Tomy's upcoming Transformers Cloud figures, TFC-A02 Brawn and TFC-D02 Starscream, will come with sticker sheets. Each will come with a set of their respective faction symbols in various sized, plus special Transformers Cloud mixed faction stickers. Images of the sheets are mirrored below from e-Hobby and the TakaraTomy Mall.

[hinomars19]

Nice one TT. Nothing against other companies, I use them all the time and hope they continue the great work they do re-creating the old G1 sheets and of course their original and creative stuff. But this is what I like to see in an official company-don't whine like a baby that somebody else is doing your stuff-challenge them at it and give fans what they want straight from the source. Faction symbol decals are always going to be in demand for customising options! (sadly I can't purchase a whole cloud toy for them... )