ALL THINGS TRANSFORMERS!!!!

[lerath666]

So MP Magnus and Galvatron are confirmed?

more or less?

insiders from TFW hinted that they were in development.

Magnus is based on MP-10

 

[karamazov80]

Something that has undoubtedly contributed to the change in scale in the Masterpiece line is the ongoing rise in production costs, the raw materials don't go down in price.

It should also be remembered that Takara are a business and not a charity, so price rises will always occur whenever they think they can get away with doing so.

This happens all the time in every other industry so it should be no suprise that toy/collectibles companies operate in the same way.

I don't think anyone is advocating that Has/Tak shouldn't charge what people will pay. But same as HT, the production cost argument doesn't hold water with me. The costs of oil, plastic, factory operation, transportation, etc. haven't gone up 150% or whatever over the last 7-8 years. It's all about charging what a collecting audience has decided it is willing to pay. We're the suckers who are to blame. And these companies don't have genuine competition, so there's really no check on their cost increases.

 

[lerath666]

it's not just that. costs have gone up, and the american dollar has gown down in value about 40% in the past 10 years. all that factors together.

 

[Rock83]

more or less?

insiders from TFW hinted that they were in development.

Magnus is based on MP-10

I really hope it isn't just another repainted Optimus.That's just lazy!

I really hope this teaser is legit

 

[lerath666]

its sorta legit.

It was made by the designer of MP-10, as a mock-up of what he waants to do with Magnus.

 

[teemu]

it's not just that. costs have gone up, and the american dollar has gown down in value about 40% in the past 10 years. all that factors together.

this is exactly what most people cannot wrap around their head...

the Dollar has had lost its buying power because of creating and printing of money out of thin air and then also through debt creation...The creation of MORE money creates dollar devaluation which creates Inflation,which is why we are paying higher costs/prices for things...that is the bottom line!

materials and production costs factor in,but that also goes with what I said above...it takes more federal reserve notes to buy materials and to produce things which then gets passed onto the population/consumer/useless eater/customers

 

[Rock83]

its sorta legit.

It was made by the designer of MP-10, as a mock-up of what he waants to do with Magnus.

How old is this pic btw?

 

[EndoSickness]

Good question, but if Magnus really would something like this, it would be great.

Either way I would get those, disregarding the size, cause I want specific cybertronians in my collection.

BTW on a subject important to me:

I repainted Prime´s weapon in G1 acurate colors. Anyone noticed this and if, what do you guys say?!

 

[karamazov80]

Of course, U.S. currency value is something to consider. But again, the difference isn't significant enough to warrant an explanation for the change in costs. It seems a business decision, and that's fine, but let's call a spade a spade. I found a site with some historical MP prices at release (in yen), and it went from 9800 for MP-01, to 13,000 for MP Grimlock, to over 17,000 for Rodimus (MP-10 was over 20,000 yen, Soundwave is a little over 16,500). So, I would say that the U.S. currency argument is only going to go so far.

 

[lerath666]

How old is this pic btw?

it was shown about 6 months after teh announcement of MP-10.

the kit he has op wearing for magnus is a modified G1 magnus, for the record.

 

[Dubcustomz]

I don't think anyone is advocating that Has/Tak shouldn't charge what people will pay. But same as HT, the production cost argument doesn't hold water with me. The costs of oil, plastic, factory operation, transportation, etc. haven't gone up 150% or whatever over the last 7-8 years. It's all about charging what a collecting audience has decided it is willing to pay. We're the suckers who are to blame. And these companies don't have genuine competition, so there's really no check on their cost increases.

QFT. IMO, its the third parties AND the fans (and partly customizers) who are to blame.
Random TF fan: "Oh look! (insert third party company or customizer here) is making a G1 accurate X Y and Z, oh but they cost so much. Still, Hasbro wont ever make them so im gonna pay whatever it costs!"

Customizers: "Wow im surprised how much this went for, i need to make more!"

Third party business: "wow these suckas will pay anything, lets make more!"


Hasbro/Takara: "Wow, these schmucks will pay more for things than we thought, lets make some decent toys finally, but charge 150% more for them, oh and dont use any more die cast or paint, and shrink everything down a few sizes"

 

[karamazov80]

Nah, that wouldn't explain comparable increases across the board from low to high end products. this goes for Mattel Hasbro hot toys ssc etc.

 

[Dubcustomz]

Nah, that wouldn't explain comparable increases across the board from low to high end products. this goes for Mattel Hasbro hot toys ssc etc.

Im sure TF's aren't the only thing that has expensive knock off's?

It might not be the only reason but it could definitely be partly to blame.

Hasbro do have access to the internets im sure.

 

[DPrime]

We are the same person lol.

I never thought I'd have negative feelings about this Soundwave either. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that look great on him, and Laserbeak is pretty damn near perfect. I think a few things just needed more refining.

Cool. I'm Dylan. Didn't know you were into Sideshow stuff as well.

Well, I ordered mine a LONG time ago and am pretty much locked in at this point. No regrets - I'm sure it'll be awesome.

Didn't order the cassette packs yet, though...

The last thing I read was that Marky Mark said it's a total reboot. But that kind of contradicts what I had heard before (sequel with new humans).

I'm down for whatever. I have come to accept the movies for what they are (stupid) and appreciate the designs that I do like, disregard the rest. It all just adds up to more TF popularity to me, which is a good thing.

Well, Hasbro likes rebooting things every few years, so I wouldn't be surprised. Frankly, I'd be pleased. I don't mind the movies, but they're nothing special. Even for those who love them, I'm not sure why there's this slavish desire to rehash 'em over and over again. Three movies is enough.

this is exactly what most people cannot wrap around their head...

the Dollar has had lost its buying power because of creating and printing of money out of thin air and then also through debt creation...The creation of MORE money creates dollar devaluation which creates Inflation,which is why we are paying higher costs/prices for things...that is the bottom line!

materials and production costs factor in,but that also goes with what I said above...it takes more federal reserve notes to buy materials and to produce things which then gets passed onto the population/consumer/useless eater/customers

Are you an economist?

 

[Ra88]

Updates in the 3rd party Predaking arms race.

Both companies, MMC and UT, are now coming out with Divebomb as their first figures.

UT's is scaled to go with Maketoy's Giant (the smaller Devastator), is more G1 faithful, and costs $95.

https://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6062/

MMC's is scaled to go with Hercules, with Divebomb standing a little over 7 inches tall, with a wingspan of 18 inch(!). He clocks in at $95 as well, but the preorder price at the various online retailers is $75 until the 25th of january.

https://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6240/

For me, the only thing that the UT one wins with is the head. The head in beast mode looks ridiculously tiny. But for the rest? MMC, no contest!

 

[thecorsair]

I ordered mine a LONG time ago and am pretty much locked in at this point. No regrets - I'm sure it'll be awesome.

Didn't order the cassette packs yet, though...

Same here, Takara are on a hot streak and long may it continue.

I'm likely to be ordering the cassettes next week.

A new MP announcement around the time Soundwave ships would be nice especially if it's Prowl.

 

[soundwave]

Updates in the 3rd party Predaking arms race.

Both companies, MMC and UT, are now coming out with Divebomb as their first figures.

UT's is scaled to go with Maketoy's Giant (the smaller Devastator), is more G1 faithful, and costs $95.

Snip...

https://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6062/

MMC's is scaled to go with Hercules, with Divebomb standing a little over 7 inches tall, with a wingspan of 18 inch(!). He clocks in at $95 as well, but the preorder price at the various online retailers is $75 until the 25th of january.

Snip...

https://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6240/

For me, the only thing that the UT one wins with is the head. The head in beast mode looks ridiculously tiny. But for the rest? MMC, no contest!

Both look freaking awesome but I expect that I'll have to skip them like I did Devestator as I just can't justify the cost.

I'd dearly love them but at about $600 shipped I just can't

Same here, Takara are on a hot streak and long may it continue.

I'm likely to be ordering the cassettes next week.

A new MP announcement around the time Soundwave ships would be nice especially if it's Prowl.

Not ordered the Cassette's myself yet either had a few bills come in that mean I've spent on other things & that included my lovely Christmas bonus that was going to be splurged on some much needed TF goodness

Think I'll be grabbing them soon along with iGears mini warrior twin packs.

I think I would explode in a puddle of geek if there was an announcement of Prowl soon

Oh in other news...I broke my iGear Faith Leader at the weekend

Was trying to Transform him back into Truck mode to put him back in the box & I managed to destroy the slide mechanism on both hands
The clip you used to lift out to move the fists had already broke a clip so it was a little fiddly to try & be gentle with that.
However when moving them back into the arm I managed to totally destroy the grey bit that slides back with them (connects to the black rubber bit if that makes sense)

They still retract & stuff fine but it's pretty much resigned me to the fact that he's staying in truck mode & in the box.

Now I DO need an MP10 to go in scale with the new figures & TRU UK still haven't done anything to release him

Oh well, looks like expensive Ebay is the only option now

Neil

 

[Spanbauer]

MMC's is scaled to go with Hercules, with Divebomb standing a little over 7 inches tall, with a wingspan of 18 inch(!). He clocks in at $95 as well, but the preorder price at the various online retailers is $75 until the 25th of january.

https://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6240/

For me, the only thing that the UT one wins with is the head. The head in beast mode looks ridiculously tiny. But for the rest? MMC, no contest!

Agree completely, Mastermind's is just far more interesting. And their Headstrong figure is just outstanding.

 

[Deak Starkiller]

I gotta go with MMC, to me they've proven themselves with the overall quality of their figures.

 

[DPrime]

Both are really nice but I'm afraid I'll have to pass on Predaking, I think.

I'm pretty happy with just Devastator (Hercules), I think. TFs starting to take over my shelves and my Joes aren't liking it.