HasLab Transformers Victory Saber Reaches 20 000 Backers, All Tiers Funded

So I think this should be proof positive to hasbro that victory stuff should on the table for updating, should they dedicate a line to it? maybe, but I could see them adding some figures to the legacy line if it goes on for a few years

Hellscream9999 wrote:So I think this should be proof positive to hasbro that victory stuff should on the table for updating, should they dedicate a line to it? maybe, but I could see them adding some figures to the legacy line if it goes on for a few years

Well Considering we got a *version* of LioKaiser already, and Sky Shadow in TR, it seems fitting. Even if just one or two mixed in each year with legacy would be fine. I think the biggest reason why VS was a Haslab project is because it is intended to be a one-time use mold. There really isn't much else you could make from it. Deszaurus would probably be the same way, but the rest of the Victory combiners could easily have 2nd or even 3rd uses, or be retooled from pre-existing CW/PotP era toys.

Glad they made the 20K. Would have preferred the shield over the stand but hey, it got there in the end!

At least I'm doing my role as an anti-spam warrior

I take it you had a good read of my handy guide on how to deal with spambots then? Would be good to know if people find it useful or not.

It's a Thanksgiving Day miracle!

Burn wrote:

At least I'm doing my role as an anti-spam warrior

I take it you had a good read of my handy guide on how to deal with spambots then? Would be good to know if people find it useful or not.

Some try to me sneaky by hiding their spam behind what seems to be a "genuine post", but they fail miserably. They are obvious like a cartoon villain wearing a Groucho Max mask.

Congratulations everyone who ordered this. Hopefully we continue to get more of these projects and they get even better every time

Epsilon Delta wrote:Congratulations everyone who ordered this. Hopefully we continue to get more of these projects and they get even better every time

Next one, DEATHSAURUS!

o.supreme wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:So I think this should be proof positive to hasbro that victory stuff should on the table for updating, should they dedicate a line to it? maybe, but I could see them adding some figures to the legacy line if it goes on for a few years

Well Considering we got a *version* of LioKaiser already, and Sky Shadow in TR, it seems fitting. Even if just one or two mixed in each year with legacy would be fine. I think the biggest reason why VS was a Haslab project is because it is intended to be a one-time use mold. There really isn't much else you could make from it. Deszaurus would probably be the same way, but the rest of the Victory combiners could easily have 2nd or even 3rd uses, or be retooled from pre-existing CW/PotP era toys.

Deszaras had an obscure redeco in the Yuusha/Brave series, but that may be forbidden soil given split copyright troubles. Blacker, Braver and Laster had lightened redecos in the form of the EU-exclusive Motorvators, Breast Force had the EU-exclusive Rescue Force (sans Hellbat and Guyhawk). Blue Bacchus was made from Pretender Crossblades, but he may need a name change as Bacchus is the Roman equivalent of Dionysus, god of wine and other alcoholic beverages.

In short, plenty of chances, but some need to be handled delicately.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Epsilon Delta wrote:Congratulations everyone who ordered this. Hopefully we continue to get more of these projects and they get even better every time

Next one, DEATHSAURUS!

The rumor was that Hasbro had a Leader (?) Deathsaurus potentially in the works for 2023 if Star Saber did well, which he obviously did.

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

o.supreme wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:So I think this should be proof positive to hasbro that victory stuff should on the table for updating, should they dedicate a line to it? maybe, but I could see them adding some figures to the legacy line if it goes on for a few years

Well Considering we got a *version* of LioKaiser already, and Sky Shadow in TR, it seems fitting. Even if just one or two mixed in each year with legacy would be fine. I think the biggest reason why VS was a Haslab project is because it is intended to be a one-time use mold. There really isn't much else you could make from it. Deszaurus would probably be the same way, but the rest of the Victory combiners could easily have 2nd or even 3rd uses, or be retooled from pre-existing CW/PotP era toys.

Deszaras had an obscure redeco in the Yuusha/Brave series, but that may be forbidden soil given split copyright troubles. Blacker, Braver and Laster had lightened redecos in the form of the EU-exclusive Motorvators, Breast Force had the EU-exclusive Rescue Force (sans Hellbat and Guyhawk). Blue Bacchus was made from Pretender Crossblades, but he may need a name change as Bacchus is the Roman equivalent of Dionysus, god of wine and other alcoholic beverages.

In short, plenty of chances, but some need to be handled delicately.

Exactly. I know about the Brave Series, but those are definitely off the table because Bandai.

Deszarus probably would have to be Haslab, unless they could extensively retool it into something else. I'm still eagerly anticipating to see how Leader Astrotrain and Double dealer are reused. I know how it can be done... just a question of if Hasbro will or not.

o.supreme wrote:

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

o.supreme wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:So I think this should be proof positive to hasbro that victory stuff should on the table for updating, should they dedicate a line to it? maybe, but I could see them adding some figures to the legacy line if it goes on for a few years

Well Considering we got a *version* of LioKaiser already, and Sky Shadow in TR, it seems fitting. Even if just one or two mixed in each year with legacy would be fine. I think the biggest reason why VS was a Haslab project is because it is intended to be a one-time use mold. There really isn't much else you could make from it. Deszaurus would probably be the same way, but the rest of the Victory combiners could easily have 2nd or even 3rd uses, or be retooled from pre-existing CW/PotP era toys.

Deszaras had an obscure redeco in the Yuusha/Brave series, but that may be forbidden soil given split copyright troubles. Blacker, Braver and Laster had lightened redecos in the form of the EU-exclusive Motorvators, Breast Force had the EU-exclusive Rescue Force (sans Hellbat and Guyhawk). Blue Bacchus was made from Pretender Crossblades, but he may need a name change as Bacchus is the Roman equivalent of Dionysus, god of wine and other alcoholic beverages.

In short, plenty of chances, but some need to be handled delicately.

Exactly. I know about the Brave Series, but those are definitely off the table because Bandai.

Deszarus probably would have to be Haslab, unless they could extensively retool it into something else. I'm still eagerly anticipating to see how Leader Astrotrain and Double dealer are reused. I know how it can be done... just a question of if Hasbro will or not.

I would be quite a stretch, but I could see Deszaurus being retooled into BW 2nd Galvatron. But ya, I really cant see them using him for much else, so unless the line he would be in is full of repaints, I would bet money that he would have to be Haslab. The question is more of, will they?

also I still want a proper breast force team. CW LioKaiser just doesn't cut the mustard.

We've now officially doubled the original goal at over 22,000 orders.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:We've now officially doubled the original goal at over 22,000 orders.

Emerje

They should add a bonus tier. (I know they won't.)

Emerje wrote:We've now officially doubled the original goal at over 22,000 orders.

Emerje

Come on, secret bonus tier as a "thank you!"

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:We've now officially doubled the original goal at over 22,000 orders.

Emerje

Come on, secret bonus tier as a "thank you!"

Surprise! The fourth tier is exactly that: The words "Thank you!"

I keep refreshing the page and the number keeps changing back and forth between 22,701 and 22,700.

Im not even sure if TT final orders got added yet as it just went up gradually all day. I'm guessing the total will still go up as the final numbers are tallied

At time of writing, funding is over at the total is 22,713. We shall see what happens.

payment was taken at around midnight. I haven't been this happy to loose almost $200 in a while

Right now, the number's dropped to 22,706.

Now the hardest part...roughly a year of waiting...



In the end, I hope we get a nice packaging reveal. I mean, I didn't even get Unicorn, but I felt sorry for everyone with that plain brown box. Every other Haslab has had premium packaging. Transformers deserves better.

o.supreme wrote:Now the hardest part...roughly a year of waiting...



In the end, I hope we get a nice packaging reveal. I mean, I didn't even get Unicorn, but I felt sorry for everyone with that plain brown box. Every other Haslab has had premium packaging. Transformers deserves better.

To be fair, Unicron had practical packing implications to worry about given the weight and what not. I don't think SS will have that issue and wouldn't surprise me if they tried to homage the Japanese toy box in some fashion.

I think Unicron's box being a giant cube might have had something to do with the plainness. Well, that and barely making it to production. This is assuming the packaging deco was basically an afterthought.

On most packages, there will be a largest side that can be the front and the back for the majority of the artwork/photos, leaving the other 4 sides more simple (brand info, logos, etc.) For unicorn all 6 sides were the same size, so the 2 biggest sides for the artwork are smaller, and the 4 "other" sides are much larger when compared to a typical package that is flatter and has a defined front and back side.

I can see something as stupid happening as they had some really nice artwork in mind, then they want to fit it on the box and went, "oh crap, the artwork is too big and can't be scaled down to fit the box without looking bad."

Unicron was a 26 inch cube box IIRC. I looked online and the Sail Barge Box was Height 15″. Width 50″. and Depth 14″. Not quite as big as Unicron in terms of overall dimensions however...Still a pretty HUGE box, but it got premium packaging.

Sail Barge even came in the standard Hasbro shipping box, but inside was the premium "retail like" package. Unicron came in a Large Brown box, with another brown box (with some minor illustrations) inside.

I mean its not the end of the world. Some people don't even keep the packaging, but I thought it would just be a nice "Thank you" to fans.

Unicron was meant for Selects, hence the plain brown packaging.

For me ... I don't care. I only kept Unicron's box because I think he'd break if I had to store him any other way. Thanks to all those spikes of his.

Well, my hope now is that we get Road Caesar with the same Brainmaster style, and maybe a Commander class Powermaster Prime and a leader class Godbomber

They should have done like the old large G.I.Joe boxes for Unicron. Big, full colored print on the front of a white box with B&W art on the other sides.

Emerje

They got this funded pretty quickly, compared to other projects like Unicron. With Unicron it seemed like they had to drag people, kicking and screaming, to get all the donations they needed. I guess people just like "Victory Saber" better....

Price had a LOT to do with it as well. Unicron was 3X the price of the VS set. There is no doubt that Unicron is universally a more well known character in TF Fiction than VS. But sometimes less is more.

DeathReviews wrote:They got this funded pretty quickly, compared to other projects like Unicron. With Unicron it seemed like they had to drag people, kicking and screaming, to get all the donations they needed. I guess people just like "Victory Saber" better....

It also has to do with the price. Unicron was more than three times more expensive than Victory Saber. People find it easier to drop $180 than $600, especially when there's no $500 Masterpiece Optimus Prime from Takara toy to purchase at the same time.

Sabrblade wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:They got this funded pretty quickly, compared to other projects like Unicron. With Unicron it seemed like they had to drag people, kicking and screaming, to get all the donations they needed. I guess people just like "Victory Saber" better....

It also has to do with the price. Unicron was more than three times more expensive than Victory Saber. People find it easier to drop $180 than $600, especially when there's no $500 Masterpiece Optimus Prime from Takara toy to purchase at the same time.

You can say that again. For ONE Unicron, you get more than 3 Victory Sabers. I shied away from Unicron but I didn't hesitate to back two Victory Saber sets.

Sabrblade wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:They got this funded pretty quickly, compared to other projects like Unicron. With Unicron it seemed like they had to drag people, kicking and screaming, to get all the donations they needed. I guess people just like "Victory Saber" better....

It also has to do with the price. Unicron was more than three times more expensive than Victory Saber. People find it easier to drop $180 than $600, especially when there's no $500 Masterpiece Optimus Prime from Takara toy to purchase at the same time.

I'd say pricewise it's somewhere in the range of more to everything to do with it. Popular as Star Saber is in some circles, name recognition isn't even a contest.

Has there been any official announcement that the project ended? I haven't seen an email or anything on social media from hasbro. I am still even seeing ads saying to support it.

Nothing from Hasbro in the form of an email, but on Pulse it has move into In Production status, which is essentially confirmation.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:Nothing from Hasbro in the form of an email, but on Pulse it has move into In Production status, which is essentially confirmation.

My card also got charged. I'm sure I'm not alone.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

TF-fan kev777 wrote:Nothing from Hasbro in the form of an email, but on Pulse it has move into In Production status, which is essentially confirmation.

My card also got charged. I'm sure I'm not alone.

Two of my cards got charged. I think 20 some thousand other people got charged too.

Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

Dont put that stuff in the atmosphere, man.

Today is a Federal holiday so I'm guessing nobody was in the office? Sure, they could set up an automated email, but I'm thinking they'd want to be able to include the final tally and we don't even know if they've finished adding all of the overseas orders or not. Or maybe they thought sending out a tweet yesterday saying tier 3 was cleared was enough. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Emerje

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

I don't think it ill be a bad figure.
But I do think we won't reap the same aftermarket margins we saw with Unicron. Because this was a much cheaper set, buying another (or a third) to later sell and offset the costs was a common strategy. I see more people that did that than people who did not. So that means there will be a lot on the aftermarket.

This still remains a limited figure, so it will always have that going for it and there are people who will want it then that arent even collecting now. I'm sure we will all be able to sell ours, but I don't think it will be at the margins some were hoping. I'm thinking maybe $300 on the aftermarket in terms of going rate (ie, "sold" on e-bay).

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

Dont put that stuff in the atmosphere, man.

Oh God, what have I done?

william-james88 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

I don't think it ill be a bad figure.
But I do think we won't reap the same aftermarket margins we saw with Unicron. Because this was a much cheaper set, buying another (or a third) to later sell and offset the costs was a common strategy. I see more people that did that than people who did not. So that means there will be a lot on the aftermarket.

This still remains a limited figure, so it will always have that going for it and there are people who will want it then that arent even collecting now. I'm sure we will all be able to sell ours, but I don't think it will be at the margins some were hoping. I'm thinking maybe $300 on the aftermarket in terms of going rate (ie, "sold" on e-bay).

My goal is indeed just to have a "free" Victory Saber in the end by buying two. I really don't plan to get a house with it or something.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

Dont put that stuff in the atmosphere, man.

Oh God, what have I done?

You spoke negativity into existence, main man. In life (not just Haslab figures) that just limits you. In addition to collecting Transformers I dabble in philosophy.

As has been said above, while it probably won't reach Unicron levels of absurdity, it will likely always yield you a good bit on the aftermarket. Some timing may be required as there will be a lot of em out there, but I'm betting you can always expect to have your keeper version paid for, which is the main reason people got more than one.

In a less pragmatic idea, the various modes and configurations of the figure for a dedicated Victory Saber display would require you to buy more than the 5 you're even allowed to buy, but I'm sure it would be a cool display in someone's collection.

They must have added the TakaraTomy Mall orders since the number has jumped up to 27,372.

Sabrblade wrote:They must have added the TakaraTomy Mall orders since the number has jumped up to 27,372.

Damn!

It would be nice if they'd throw in a special bonus. Maybe a full color collector box and hardcover full color instructions booklet with clear and detailed illustrations? Akin to what Lego do with their Idea and Architecture sets.

Anything as an additional *Thank you* would be nice for sure. I'm glad it all worked out, and I understand the logistics of tallying up orders from many other sources especially from other countries is a challenge that would take some time. However I wonder if Hasbro had a backup plan? Or at least a way to estimate the # of TT orders quicker.

I mean, lets say for the sake of argument, time ended with only 19,500 backers. Some fans would be pretty upset (perhaps not realizing that TT orders hadn't been counted yet), and to leave them all in the dark for 2 days could have been bad.

I mean I'm pretty sure Transformers are the only Haslab projects that include TT (Honestly, I have no idea who has the license to Star Wars or Marvel toys in Japan, but I'm guessing not a lot of other Haslab projects had as high demand in Japan as the 2 Transformers ones) But Marvel and Star Wars are so big in NA alone, let alone the res of the world, it more than makes up for it.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:They must have added the TakaraTomy Mall orders since the number has jumped up to 27,372.

Damn!

It would be nice if they'd throw in a special bonus. Maybe a full color collector box and hardcover full color instructions booklet with clear and detailed illustrations? Akin to what Lego do with their Idea and Architecture sets.

For all we know the packaging may already be special and colorful.

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

Dont put that stuff in the atmosphere, man.

Oh God, what have I done?

You spoke negativity into existence, main man. In life (not just Haslab figures) that just limits you. In addition to collecting Transformers I dabble in philosophy.

As has been said above, while it probably won't reach Unicron levels of absurdity, it will likely always yield you a good bit on the aftermarket. Some timing may be required as there will be a lot of em out there, but I'm betting you can always expect to have your keeper version paid for, which is the main reason people got more than one.

In a less pragmatic idea, the various modes and configurations of the figure for a dedicated Victory Saber display would require you to buy more than the 5 you're even allowed to buy, but I'm sure it would be a cool display in someone's collection.

I think it was just a cute little goof, not meant to be taken as actual negativity. (Of course I don't want to speak for Mr.Chuck.)

Chriphord wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well I did go in for a second Victory Saber, so knowing my luck this will be the absolute worst figure ever made in the HISTORY of Transformers, and these will only be worth pennies on the dollar on the aftermarket.

Dont put that stuff in the atmosphere, man.

Oh God, what have I done?

You spoke negativity into existence, main man. In life (not just Haslab figures) that just limits you. In addition to collecting Transformers I dabble in philosophy.

As has been said above, while it probably won't reach Unicron levels of absurdity, it will likely always yield you a good bit on the aftermarket. Some timing may be required as there will be a lot of em out there, but I'm betting you can always expect to have your keeper version paid for, which is the main reason people got more than one.

In a less pragmatic idea, the various modes and configurations of the figure for a dedicated Victory Saber display would require you to buy more than the 5 you're even allowed to buy, but I'm sure it would be a cool display in someone's collection.

I think it was just a cute little goof, not meant to be taken as actual negativity. (Of course I don't want to speak for Mr.Chuck.)

I just suffer from Murphy's law. By the way, since somebody asked, everyone has the rights to Star Wars in Japan. Bandai, Takara, and Hot Toys all make figures and such.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:By the way, since somebody asked, everyone has the rights to Star Wars in Japan. Bandai, Takara, and Hot Toys all make figures and such.

*raises hand*. That was me . Thank you. So, I guess if anyone in Japan wanted to submit orders for past Haslab (Non TF) Projects (Razorcrest, Galactus etc...) I guess they would still go through TT Mall?