The Energon Pub

Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:25 pm

So, with today's unveiling of a new MP mold (Prowl and presumably Smokescreen as a repaint), an exclusive Tigertrack, and the official release of Soundwave in a few short days to be followed by cassette 2-packs I'm thrilled about actually keeping up with a Masterpiece line. And I didn't even list Nemesis Prime (April release).

Consensus time: are newcomers jumping onto Masterpiece, or maybe hoping for an eventual Hasbro release? Are those, like myself, who had been faithful to the Masterpiece series for years still interested in the new releases/has the steady flow of new product rejuvenated your interest in the line?

Paying import prices for a collector's line definitely adds up, but the presentation of these larger, more detailed figures makes for an awesome display! Also, I'm concerned that some releases (the repaints like Alert or exclusives like Sunstorm) won't ever make it through to a Hasbro release so you've just got to order when you hear about them. So, I'm in for Takara and might even double-dip if the Hasbro release is noticeably different. I think pricing might be a barrier or scare away the average fan. Even so, I hope this line continues as is, and that the gamble pays off for the distributors.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:01 pm

necr0blivion wrote:So, with today's unveiling of a new MP mold (Prowl and presumably Smokescreen as a repaint), an exclusive Tigertrack, and the official release of Soundwave in a few short days to be followed by cassette 2-packs I'm thrilled about actually keeping up with a Masterpiece line. And I didn't even list Nemesis Prime (April release).

Consensus time: are newcomers jumping onto Masterpiece, or maybe hoping for an eventual Hasbro release? Are those, like myself, who had been faithful to the Masterpiece series for years still interested in the new releases/has the steady flow of new product rejuvenated your interest in the line?

Paying import prices for a collector's line definitely adds up, but the presentation of these larger, more detailed figures makes for an awesome display! Also, I'm concerned that some releases (the repaints like Alert or exclusives like Sunstorm) won't ever make it through to a Hasbro release so you've just got to order when you hear about them. So, I'm in for Takara and might even double-dip if the Hasbro release is noticeably different. I think pricing might be a barrier or scare away the average fan. Even so, I hope this line continues as is, and that the gamble pays off for the distributors.

I'm with you. I never got MP Megs or MP Grimlock and wasn't a massive fan of MP Rodimus/Hot Rod (though I did get both the Hasbro and Takara versions (though not the exclusive black repaint) of that one). MP-10 really did it for me and I've now got Sideswipe (Lambor) in hand and Soundwave and his tapes on preorder and just preordered Smokescreen today. These things are really starting to make the third party scene look much less interesting (though there are definitely some items I'm very much interested in with regards to 3Ps) and I'm not waiting for Hasbro. I'm snatching em' up as they come from Takara. Figures this good are too awesome to pass up in my opinion, particularly for those of us who grew up with G1.

Formerly, Classics/Henkei/United (etc. etc. etc.

) was my favorite G1-based line, but now that these MPs are coming in at a rapid-fire rate and look so dead-on screen-accurate with perfect alt-modes, they are the 'new Classics' in my opinion, they're just damn expensive so you gotta pay to play. Still, price and import costs included, I think they're way worth it.

Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:08 am

I whole heartedly agree with xyl360. These new MPs are exactly what I imagine many of us dreamed of owning when we watched the original cartoon back in the day.
In regards to the hard to find Hasbro MP 10, I myself did not see a single one at my local TRU within 3 months of regularly checking upon it's first sighting/release. In fact, I never even saw a UPC place holder sticker for it at all.

News Credits: 2 · Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:01 am

I just checked some prices on ebay and Hasbro's version is going for around $170+ while Takara's is going for around $250+, so yeah, there's still a price difference, but not nearly as steep of a difference as the retail pricing (which was $99 for the Hasbro version). It kinda sucks that it's so hard to get one for a good price these days, but he's definitely worth having if you can swing the cash.

Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:20 am

necr0blivion wrote:Consensus time: are newcomers jumping onto Masterpiece, or maybe hoping for an eventual Hasbro release? Are those, like myself, who had been faithful to the Masterpiece series for years still interested in the new releases/has the steady flow of new product rejuvenated your interest in the line?

I'm one of those n00b collectors, yeah!

I just fumbled over the masterpiece line in the fall, looking for a birthday present for my nephew. Got him a Thundercracker.
That purchase drew me back into the wonderful world of Transformers. (thus my "mini-con" status! lol)

bruticus1978 wrote:Ok, BBTS has MP-10 (Takara) available for 300. Is that a decent price for the Takara version?

$300 for Takara's MP10 if it includes shipping and is coming from Asia, to me still seems a bit overpriced, but not too bad if you've decided you want the Takara version, but I think you might be able to win an auction for one in "open" condition for closer to $200.

Me...I'll go with the Hasbro version. The slight show discrepancies and the too-bright blue aren't deal-breakers me, when compared to the cost savings. Of course price isn't of equal concern to every collector, so to each their own.

Could one of you more experienced collectors explain Takara's stickers to me? Even for the Asian market, their release prices are higher than Hasbro's for it's own "western" market and yet they use so many stickers. ?? Are stickers simply desirable in Asia, or is it simply a cost concern? Is it that they're recouping more production costs than Hasbro, since Takara usually designs the initial molds and navigates the initial production minefield. Do the two companies not share production costs, or do they function entirely separate from one another?

Basically, what's up with the Takara "sticker" preference?

Sure, stickers remind me of fun times on Christmas mornings, but also of disappointment when they start to peel off. lol

Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:42 am

what? none of my takara masterpieces came with stickers, except MP-03 green scream, but none of the others

Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:03 am

ah, ok! As I mentioned, I'm new to mp...haven't bought a Takara yet, and I was under the assumption (looking at some of them) that they used some stickers, similar to Takara's regular TF toys. I was just looking at the pics of MP13 Soundwave uploaded the other day, and the chest Decepticon logo looked rather "sticker" to me...but what do I know! Glad to hear I'm mistaken!! =)

Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:35 pm

yeah there is no logo on the chest, he added that using repro labels.

Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:51 pm

VioMeTriX wrote:what? none of my takara masterpieces came with stickers, except MP-03 green scream, but none of the others

Takara MP Skywarp and Thundercracker both come with sticker sheets which include: wing decals, logo and extra military insignia amongst others

Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:28 pm

oops forgot those 2... my bad

Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:04 pm

necr0blivion wrote:Consensus time: are newcomers jumping onto Masterpiece, or maybe hoping for an eventual Hasbro release? Are those, like myself, who had been faithful to the Masterpiece series for years still interested in the new releases/has the steady flow of new product rejuvenated your interest in the line?

I've been collecting the figures I want since MP-04 came out. I picked-up Optimus, Starscream, Ultra Magnus, Megatron, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Grimlock, and the "Takara" Hasbro Starscream(which was clearly made by Hasbro). I found the line was getting extremely stale.
MP-10 was announced and I sat on the fence for a bit before pre-ordering him. When I got him, I fell in love with him. I picked up MP-11 when it came out, and felt like a sucker for buying the same characters a second time, though the robot mode was drastically improved. My interest in this line became completely rejuvenated when Sideswipe was revealed, our first Autobot car. And shortly after that, Soundwave. And then his cassettes. And now Prowl and Smokescreen. This line is finally becoming the line that a lot of us hoped it would become when it first started. It is the MOTUC of Transformers.

Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:27 am

i feel similar to racoon, im glad we are finally getting something we have wanted for a long time... masterpiee is becoming a full cognitive line that we as hardcore collectors and hobbyist alike can collect and enjoy. personally i sold all my mp-01 & 04 figures and blew up my 20th anniversary prime with a qtr stick of dynamite.... wish i had filmed it, but i am planning on blowing up MP-05, when a new version is announced... i will film that.

Racoon what does MOTUC mean? forgive me if i am naive...lol

Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:33 am

VioMeTriX wrote:i feel similar to racoon, im glad we are finally getting something we have wanted for a long time... masterpiee is becoming a full cognitive line that we as hardcore collectors and hobbyist alike can collect and enjoy. personally i sold all my mp-01 & 04 figures and blew up my 20th anniversary prime with a qtr stick of dynamite.... wish i had filmed it, but i am planning on blowing up MP-05, when a new version is announced... i will film that.

Racoon what does MOTUC mean? forgive me if i am naive...lol

Masters of the universe classics
You blew up an MP figure with dynamite? Dynamite? :shock:

Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:47 am

not a full stick, only a quarter stick... i wouldnt know where to get a full stick, plus id get arrested lol.

Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:06 am

Masters of the Universe Classics is an updated version of my other favourite toy line from my childhood. Each figure is beautifully sculpted by by the Four Horsemen, who are a team of amazing toy artists. It is probably the greatest Masters of the Universe toy line that will ever exist, and in my opinion, the greatest toy line in it's class. I could gush over it endlessly, and I could do the same for the new Masterpiece figures we are getting. Since MP-10, I can't find a single thing I would complain about in this line. These are the definitive versions of the G1 Transformers. I find myself checking for new reveals more often. My heart stopped when I saw we are getting Prowl. I am very excited about this line. And I have high hopes that we will at least be getting all of the original Autobots and Decepticons.

As for my MP-04, I gave it to my nephew, who loves G1 Transformers. Although blowing it up does sound pretty cool. I'd like to do that to my Hasbro Starscream.

Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:25 am

VioMeTriX wrote:not a full stick, only a quarter stick... i wouldnt know where to get a full stick, plus id get arrested lol.

I'm no expert when it comes to contraband explosives, but I'm not even going to ask how or where you got a 1/4 stick of dynamite

Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:20 am

from some fine folks down in mexico

News Credits: 1 · Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:00 am

This is also the line I enjoy most these days. I prefer Hasbro as I enjoy the hunt for them in store and usually they find some of the quality issues from takara releases. On the Grimlock price... I remember getting him from a link on here and it was ridiculous low. Somewhere near 40 bucks shipped after some kind of savings! Then they finally showed up at my store and sat there ... for awhile. Now... I couldn't get Thundercracker or Prime until I got lucky at the store.

The line is loads of fun to collect and put on shelves if thats all you get. I would get the prime first and hassle the stores to see if any are around still. If you pass on prime you'll regret it. Also make sure to keep track on here whats being released by hasbro so you can get Soundwave when he comes. I assume he will be one of the toughest and fastest to rise in price. Over time...

Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:14 pm

Hey guys sorry if this has been asked before,i don't keep up very well.I see Hasbro MP Soundwave has just been announced,but has the Autobot cars Sideswipe,Red Alert been announced for Hasbro versions?Probably just a matter of time before they are,but i'd rather wait and try to hunt them down at TRU.Thanks.