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Seems like every time you turn around these days a new third-party company is throwing their hat in the ring. Courtesy of our colleagues across the pond, FMH, we have images of a new unofficial MP styled Soundwave from a previously unheard of third-party company calling themselves Fans Toys. Check out the mirrored prototype images below.

Update: TFW2005 member fabexmax has uploaded images of MP style Blaster that appears remarkably similar to the Fans Toys Soundwave. fabexmax's images have also been mirrored below.

Suddenly, Soundwave.


Seriously, what's with all of the great toys coming out of no where all of a sudden!?

Looks interesting...

Well, this came out of nowhere.

Nooooooooooooooooo! It looks beautiful! And I know I likely wouldn't be able to afford it. This is exactly what I've been wanting from HasTak for a long time! Him or Galvatron anyway...

I also feel like the 3rd Party market is getting way too saturated. We need to put them all in a ring and thin them out, Gladiator-style. Although, I suppose while the number of 3rd Party stuff that gets announced is high, less of them actually make it to the production stage.

Looks awesome!

Now all we need to do is wait for iGear or Maketoys to announce the exact same project.

You son of a Biatch!!! I JUST bought music label Soundwave!!!

I guess I am going to have to buy this one too. It looks to awesome to pass up.

Oh hai there you'll be part of my collection.
It's getting kind of pathetic how HasTak are constantly outdone by little fan owned companies.

kirbenvost wrote:eed to put them all in a ring and thin them out, Gladiator-style. Although, I suppose while the number of 3rd Party stuff that gets announced is high, less of them actually make it to the production stage.

This is good! Let the 3rd party companies steal their income and force them to offer us what we want.I have City Commander, Arcee, Rodimus, Springer, Kup (with the right head), and Optimus (faith leader) all from 3rd party companies and haven't had a complaint yet. I also have Laser and Buzzer, piledrivers for G1 Frenzy/Rumble, a war axe for WFC optimus, all the Crazy Devy devastator add ons. Not a single problem from any of them. Hasbro will have to take notice of the 3rd party success and answer it. Most likely from litigations, but it should change the market up nicely for us.

I really want this Soundwave now too!

OMG this is AMAZING!!!!!

That looks awesome!

It is surprising, given how simnplistic Soundwave's tranformation is and how popular the character is that a 3rd party has beaten Takara/Hasbro to producing an MP Soundwave.

I like it, I really like it. I hope they can work in some more details, just to try to reduce his blocky appearance. I know Soundwave was blocky but they could sculpt in some more panels here and there to break it up. Would look less like an upscaled toy then.

Im very happy all of a sudden.

I really like the look of this. I hope they make new cassettes too!

This will be the only MP i will own. (hopefully)

so this looks good, but it is just scaled up, with the benefit of better articulation. I would love to see some aspect of the transformation being different from the G1 mold, or some gimmicks, something we appreciate in the "masterpiece" lines. This is more like the custom masterpiece soundwaves built by upgrading a G1 you find so often on ebay. I like it, but they better not want $100 bucks for it.

Maybe you don't mess with perfection though.

Now that is sweet.

Going to pick this one up Seibs or still a no go on the third party train.

I do hope they can figure out a way to get him to grip his rifle tighter. I don't like how it looks all Rodimus Prime-y the way it dangles limpt wrist.

How do these people get away with this stuff? I thought there were laws in place about things that looked like trademarked characters.

A little loop hole called "not for profit"




but.. HELL YES I want! sell me know now! I command you!

Treetop Maximus wrote:How do these people get away with this stuff? I thought there were laws in place about things that looked like trademarked characters.

So did I but I dont think the same rules apply in China or Japan....or they just dont give a fig.

Treetop Maximus wrote:How do these people get away with this stuff? I thought there were laws in place about things that looked like trademarked characters.

It's almost like different countries have different laws.

This will be mine, just like every other Soundwave mold.

"Unofficial" meaning 3rd party or not officially announced from HatTak? Either way it will be a crown jewel addition in the few MP figs I now possess...'nuff said!

Midnight_Fox wrote:

Treetop Maximus wrote:
This will be mine, just like every other Soundwave mold.

This is what keeps me poor

Treetop Maximus wrote:How do these people get away with this stuff? I thought there were laws in place about things that looked like trademarked characters.

I suspect the law regarding this is not as tight as people assume it is. While Hasbro trademark the name of a character, I have never seen anything saying they trademark the look or design. And I think as long as it is not practically identical, then it is not a trademark infringement. After all, Hasbro do this themselves. Universe Sunstreaker looks a hell of a lot like a Lamborghini Gallardo, but not exactly so they don't have to pay anything to Lambourghini for using the likeness. Same with the Nissans (Prowl, Bluestreak, Red Alert).

This is all just assumption and observation, I'd be interested what an actual lawyer who deals with copyright infringement has to say.

But anyway, Soundwave looks awesome and props to this company for not just rehashing an idea that's already been done. Assuming the next official MP is not Soundwave, I will be keen on getting this.

Midnight_Fox wrote:

Treetop Maximus wrote:How do these people get away with this stuff? I thought there were laws in place about things that looked like trademarked characters.

It's almost like different countries have different laws.

Cool story, bro. Too bad the article didn't say the third party company was from another country, so how the hell was I supposed to know?