The Energon Pub

Our friend Alfes has updated his blog with images of the recently released Transforers: United Jazz and Tracks. His images feature their packaging, the figures in multiple poses, and comparison shots with their Hasbro counterparts. Some of the images have been mirrored below. To view all of the images follow these links: Jazz and Tracks

awesomeeeenessssss

@#$%* I'm just hating how United is pounding home the fact that Hasbro's giving us the short, sucky, ugly-a** end of the stick with our Generations figures. Yeah most of the Generations stuff is cool but that sentiment only lasts until you hold them up next to these guys.

Want that Tracks for the flame on the hood but I allready have the hasbro version :/

T-Macksimus wrote:@#$%* I'm just hating how United is pounding home the fact that Hasbro's giving us the short, sucky, ugly-a** end of the stick with our Generations figures. Yeah most of the Generations stuff is cool but that sentiment only lasts until you hold them up next to these guys.

Happens almost every time nowadays.

Oh, don't ever compare United Drift to Generations. You'll be spending $35 more if you do.

These two look fantastic.

Pr1meSuspect wrote:Want that Tracks for the flame on the hood but I allready have the hasbro version :/

reprolabels.com

I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? In Japan these toys are geared more towards collectors whereas here in the states they are geared moreso to kids although Hasbro is trying to remember the collector also by remaking classic characters. If these figures were geared more towards the collector in America then they would likely be made exactly like the Takara versions. Of course if you like the Takara variations better (no harm in that), then you are welcome to pay $30.00 instead of $11.00 for the stateside version. One more thing, when a crappy figure comes out can't blame Hasbro complete ly because Hasbro/Takara have equal hands in the invention of the actual toys (not talking about the paint schemes).Rant over, I'm sorry. Had to get that off my chest.

The Takara versions do look good but I can buy three Generations figures for the cost of one United figure.

prmlove1 wrote:I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? In Japan these toys are geared more towards collectors whereas here in the states they are geared moreso to kids although Hasbro is trying to remember the collector also by remaking classic characters. If these figures were geared more towards the collector in America then they would likely be made exactly like the Takara versions. Of course if you like the Takara variations better (no harm in that), then you are welcome to pay $30.00 instead of $11.00 for the stateside version. One more thing, when a crappy figure comes out can't blame Hasbro complete ly because Hasbro/Takara have equal hands in the invention of the actual toys (not talking about the paint schemes).Rant over, I'm sorry. Had to get that off my chest.

We all keep saying that but do they listen? Nooooooooooo...

lol i feel the same way. the only takara figure i ever purchased was classics voyager prime and only because in box he was only like 50. then a company messed up my order and sent me the takara onslaught instead of hasbro, but i didnt complain. Otherwise though Hasbro works perfectly for me based on the price.

Definitely prefer the flames on Hasbro Tracks over Takara.

Overall, though, the differences really aren't that strikingly different.

I must admit these do look better. Especially Tacks with the improved hood flames and the shiny paint goes with the sports car styling. I be sticking with my Hasbro versions though.

prmlove1 wrote:I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? ...

But regardless of your market, white is white and red is red.

Compare Jazz or Drift side by side and US releases are gray. In the US Prime and Ironhide have generally come out in a dark orange, not red.

I just don't buy that there is such a vast difference in the markets, or that US children prefer their white cars to be created in off white or light gray.

prmlove1 wrote:The Takara versions do look good but I can buy three Generations figures for the cost of one United figure.

And I think that is what causes a lot of the US collectors to gripe. To get the product they prefer they have to shell out 3X the dollars, when no one can see a reason for the differences.

I'll give you the additional paint apps on Jazz add to his production cost, and those may have been dropped for money saving measures. Lil' Johnny is just going to have him crash into walls anyway.

That I can understand.

But why the color differences in guys like Prime, Jazz, Drift, Ironhide & Hound?

I just don't see any cost savings or "appeal" arguments applying there. To the hardcore fan market it will make a difference (and a sale), to the kid market, or just the less picky fans, it makes no difference. For example, I'm perfectly happy with my US version of Drift, but I chose to import Hound & Tracks (among others) from Takara.

I had heard it suggested, but never confirmed, that the plastics & paints used by Hasbro may have to conform to different standards than Takara. Something like THAT could account for the differences. Or maybe pure white plastic is just plain more expensive than off-white. I really don't know.

United is the way to go for these two.

These look amazing! I can't wait to be able to get them myself. Jazz has been one of my biggest Classics wants for a long time now.

found these both at a Walgreens this morning. i was soo happy.

These pictures make my wallet very sad.

prmlove1 wrote:I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? In Japan these toys are geared more towards collectors whereas here in the states they are geared moreso to kids although Hasbro is trying to remember the collector also by remaking classic characters. If these figures were geared more towards the collector in America then they would likely be made exactly like the Takara versions. Of course if you like the Takara variations better (no harm in that), then you are welcome to pay $30.00 instead of $11.00 for the stateside version. One more thing, when a crappy figure comes out can't blame Hasbro complete ly because Hasbro/Takara have equal hands in the invention of the actual toys (not talking about the paint schemes).Rant over, I'm sorry. Had to get that off my chest.

Preach it! I am tired of this complaint as well. Little Johnny age 8 does not care about chrome wheels or a G1 accurate paint scheme, especially since he is going to play the hell out of the toy. He has been saving up his precious little allowance for a few weeks and when he goes to the toy store, he has a choice to make. If all that extra Takara paint jacks up the price, then he will move onto another product. Also, all of that Takara paint does not hold up after hours of play. Normal play will produce lots of scratches, leaving little Johnny disappointed. Meanwhile in Japan, Takashi, age 34, loves all of that metallic paint. Since he has a full time job, he does not hesitate to pay a higher price. When he takes his toy home he transforms it carefully. Takashi probably only transforms each of his toys a total of three to four times. He places them on his shelf and admires the sheen of the metallic paint.

Due to the Japanese low birth rate, the market for children's toys over there has shrunk. Toy companies have been compensating by catering to adult collectors.

Hasbro is trying to cater to both children and adult collectors. I must say that I think they are doing a really good job.

I normally buy Hasbro. However, I do think Hasbro did botch the paint job on Smokescreen really bad. I bought it, put it on my display shelf, and it just never seemed right. I could not get over it. I eventually broke down and bought the Takara version.

Oh man, I'm so glad I preordered Jazz. Looks so much better. Tracks looks amazing too, and I really want to get him, but I'm not sure if I can justify the cost. The differences are most apparent in alt mode, and he's most likely going to stay in bot mode on my shelf for most of the time. I suppose if I have trouble finding the Hasbro one I may pick up Takara's.

UN Tracks is the 1st United figure I like in metallic paint, I'm not a huge fan of the G1'ish flame though, I kinda like the one reprolabels has better.

As for Jazz, I honestly don't think whitish plastic is worth $20+ extra and the extra details are easy to add on your own.

I love these Takara/Hasbro discussions !!! I support both companies for their good points but I also trash both companies for the B.S. they often deliver in the form of excuses.

1. Paint apps do cost extra money. United Jazz and Bumblebee painted in metallic finishes does justifiy a higher price. However, a different color of plastic does not. Plastic colors are made by mixing powders. They have it down to a science as the measures of color are done by computer. But when someone screws up we start seeing variants on each run like ROTF Breakaway. Why Hasbro chooses not to go with G1 accurate colors sometimes in beyond me because it costs the same. And kids could care less about color variations of a slight difference. But collectors do. So why not kill 2 birds with one stone and get the most out of your product by mixing the right shade of plastic Hasbro ??? Stop lying about the cost because it's the same damn price !!!

2. For Henkei figures that share the same plastic color as the Hasbro version, stop lying about how much the few extra paint apps cost and bring the figures down to a fair price of $20. Perfect examples are Drift and Wreck-Gar. Painting a chest red or a few extra stripes and a grill does not cost an extra $20. So why are you charging $20 more than Hasbro ??? I heard Henkei was using a factory in China. Im not sure if this is true, but if it is then that means they probally have 1000 factory workers working 12 hour shifts for 50 cents an hour. So Henkei, I love you guys but get real !!!

Anyone wanna see how the Henkei factory operates watch the quick video on this link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX1iplQQJTo

I like these figures and the paint apps do make them look really good, but I have still yet to see a Takara deluxe figure that I am willing to pay $20.00 extra dollars for as compared to the Hasbro version.

prmlove1 wrote:I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? In Japan these toys are geared more towards collectors whereas here in the states they are geared moreso to kids although Hasbro is trying to remember the collector also by remaking classic characters. If these figures were geared more towards the collector in America then they would likely be made exactly like the Takara versions. Of course if you like the Takara variations better (no harm in that), then you are welcome to pay $30.00 instead of $11.00 for the stateside version. One more thing, when a crappy figure comes out can't blame Hasbro complete ly because Hasbro/Takara have equal hands in the invention of the actual toys (not talking about the paint schemes).Rant over, I'm sorry. Had to get that off my chest.

The Takara versions do look good but I can buy three Generations figures for the cost of one United figure.

And it's equally irritating toe always hear "in the states they are geared moreso to kids" blah, blah, blah. WE KNOW these are for kids but they shouldn't have to get inferior looking versions.

Since they raised the prices on these, I'd rather pay the extra and get the Takara version. I would rather get ONE great figure than 3 average ones.

sold. too bad Tracks can't fly in car mode

prmlove1 wrote:I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect thaty but I must admit that it is terribly irritating to hear people constantly talking junk about Hasbro and their versions of figures as compared to Takaras. Have any of you realized that these toys are catered to two wide different markets? In Japan these toys are geared more towards collectors whereas here in the states they are geared moreso to kids although Hasbro is trying to remember the collector also by remaking classic characters. If these figures were geared more towards the collector in America then they would likely be made exactly like the Takara versions. Of course if you like the Takara variations better (no harm in that), then you are welcome to pay $30.00 instead of $11.00 for the stateside version. One more thing, when a crappy figure comes out can't blame Hasbro complete ly because Hasbro/Takara have equal hands in the invention of the actual toys (not talking about the paint schemes).Rant over, I'm sorry. Had to get that off my chest.

The Takara versions do look good but I can buy three Generations figures for the cost of one United figure.

You can try to talk yourself into believing that, but why would a kid ever prefer the crappier paint job and how much does it really cost for a couple extra applications of paint? They didn't have an issue painting Tracks rims and I bet the firebird deco costs about the same as the tribal deco... I think the better answer is it gets schmucks like me to buy the same friggin' figs twice...one time around because they come out 4 months sooner here, then a second time to get it the proper way.