S.H.FiguArts Dragonball Z figures!!!

[Big Deano]

Well, yeah, loyalty is whats kept this line alive man. It was almost canned a few years back, and our spending power was the only reason it was kept alive.

Bootlegs are bootlegs, some are good like datong, others not so much. Im not saying dont buy them, I would rather you give your money to them as scalpers, but dont mistake that for approval. If you have the choice to get the real deal at a decent price, as a collector I expect folk to do so, its only right!

 

[Angelo2113]

You know, we live in a world where the almighty dollar dominates everything we do and want to do and usually to our detriment. Now comes along a possible opportunity where Joe and Jane toy collector can benefit from their buying power as consumers and the barrier standing in their way is loyalty and web exclusivity?

If only my cell phone provider operated under the same principles I'd have no complaints...alas.

Different markets, different ethics.

I honestly find it bizarre that the dbz line is still web exclusive; fair enough when the line was struggling but Bluefin has said its their strongest line now, I dont get tamashiis choice in that. They really should have seperated the American and Japanese lines like they did PR and Zyuranger, that gives Bluefin the freedom to reissue the MMPR line. Same figures as Japan, but different figures mean they can reissue them, Japan cant.

That's interesting. I never knew that.

 

[Angelo2113]

yeah id like that a Regular Super Buu and a Fat buu . Which should have been first rather than Buu-tenks and Buu-han which I'm prob getting too but will be mad when i do HA!

I actually think Gotenks and Gohan absorbed Super Buu were great ideas to go with Ultimate Gohan and Vegito. The only bad thing about that is now if Super Buu is released after that, I expect Gotenks to follow.

 

[Silrian]

I don't see any other explanation than the fact that the market research Tamashii acquires ends up in quite a different line up then what the western market wants. Barring fanpoll choices.

However, no Vegeta except ssj4 was even ON their fan poll in america. How the **** is that fair? 'Majin Buu' was without specification, also not exactly great. I appreciate polling, but it's cheating to take fan favourites off the ballot. Nobody can contest that that is inconclusive market research.

I feel they wanted to make Vegito for conjoined domestic appeal and are now choosing to attach releases behind it that are connected to it, like making 16 after the twins. I applaud the essence of that thought and am convinced it's meant as costumer friendly, but the truth is... after 16 it isn't. Not within the context of this line. Vegito was not the right jumping on point for the Buu saga, nor are the connected releases. To boot he's got manga coloured hair! They don't rerelease important main characters besides Goku (sorry but arlia vegeta does NOT ****ing count, it was nothing but a proto design that barely anyone even wants to remember). They don't issue out enough versions of them in new form (well, with Gohan they're starting again... cheaply) and to boot they're paintapps are reverting back to manga style...

I feel like international dollars are now being spent catering products to the japanese market... I'm sorry but that feels wrong to me. Japan let the line die, fact, international sales revived it, fact and it's now their biggest line, fact. And now they're still catering to a demand that does not connect to the very market who supplied the profit that kept the line alive, even thriving? I'm sorry, I feel validated in not being disappointed by that.

 

[SupernaturalAddict]

FFS! Are you ever happy or contented with anything? All I ever see from you is constant complaining and I'm beginning to be concerned. Do I need to find you the number for a help-line or something?

For starters, SS3 Goku was Tamashii's "jump on" point into the Buu saga, not Vegito. So, technically, seeing as they aren't following any particular pattern regarding new releases - I personally am happy for them to continue to release whoever the hell they feel so generous to offer us.

Secondly, how in the world can you see all those amazing promotional pics of Majin Buu and honestly be upset; do you not have eyes? Vegito was the perfect segue into a Super Buu release, so it's hardly as unwarranted as you claim. Contrary to your belief there is actually strong demand for this incarnation of Buu.

You can't honestly be claiming they have not been listening to foreign demand. Lets see here; one of the most popular demands, additional DBZ effect pieces - check; more new villain releases - check! What more do you expect from them?

 

[Big Deano]

Supes, Silrian is right, and I agree with him. Just because its a different opinion doesnt make his wrong man. Tamashii ARE catering to Japan when we were the ones that kept the line alive. I get that some folk are happy with the way its going, but others arent, Tamashiis choices are really bizarre and infuriating honestly!

We are all friends here, lets not start any childishness eh?

 

[crisis]

Show us the poses!

...Please.

You may have to remove the DC Injustice two-packs for Broly. I wouldn't be surprised if Broly's box took up the space of three of them.

But I can't... it's not ready. It's only 85% complete. It will truly be glorious!

About Broseph's box, I wonder if it'll also come with the brown shipper box like all the others?

What pose of Broly fighting everybody?

oh just any scene that resembles these




I'll have to think of something else...

 

[Android 20]

Well, yeah, loyalty is whats kept this line alive man. It was almost canned a few years back, and our spending power was the only reason it was kept alive.

Well that's a bit uninviting. Honestly, unless you're that "Day 1" guy I don't see how you can make that argument. But even then, even if you are that "Day 1"er who supported the brand since the beginning, you can't claim sole responsibility for the success of the brand today. Toy lines, like with anything, grow not only due to an existing customer base but also because of a constant influx of new business from people just discovering or entering their market/products. Especially in the toy market where people are constantly getting into and out of the hobby, people like me become just as important as people like you.

Bootlegs are bootlegs, some are good like datong, others not so much. Im not saying dont buy them, I would rather you give your money to them as scalpers, but dont mistake that for approval. If you have the choice to get the real deal at a decent price, as a collector I expect folk to do so, its only right!

I don't know, I don't really feel like I need anyone's approval before I spend my hard earned cash on figures (cept maybe the gf). Does bootlegging hurt Tamashii? In the current state I don't think that it does; they made their money off of every SS Vegeta out there now so the only people that are hit by me supporting Da Tong are dudes who bought 10 or more on release day with the intention of nailing people down the road with fixed prices. I'm not shedding a tear.

Look at that SS Goku fake...no one is buying it because the real thing is available for a reasonable price. People aren't out there to hurt Tamashii, even us "new folks". We just want a few figures that look cool and pose well. If Tamashii is upset that Da Tong is making mullah off of their brand....well that's tough luck? Maybe cut out that web exclusivity stuff? My wallet certainly isn't packed nearly tight enough for it protect Tamashii's ego too.

 

[Big Deano]

I was in no way insinuating that I kept the line alive man, I was stating facts. The line DID die, and only due to western demand did bluefin convince tamashii to bring it back.

You are right, bootlegs of long sold out figures wont hurt tamashii, but what im saying is not to use it as an excuse to not buy the real thing, should the opportunity arise.

I love that new folk are coming in all the time, it just means the line is growing in popularity! That makes me happy! But I was around for the death and revival, thats why I always get on edge when its treated as if it was nothing.

 

[Android 20]

I was in no way insinuating that I kept the line alive man, I was stating facts. The line DID die, and only due to western demand did bluefin convince tamashii to bring it back.

You are right, bootlegs of long sold out figures wont hurt tamashii, but what im saying is not to use it as an excuse to not buy the real thing, should the opportunity arise.

I love that new folk are coming in all the time, it just means the line is growing in popularity! That makes me happy! But I was around for the death and revival, thats why I always get on edge when its treated as if it was nothing.

I can see your side, Deano. All love.

 

[TBlake]

I still don't buy that either, about having one Goku ahead of Vegeta. I don't really see anything in that either but I do go with Toriyama's own dislike of Vegeta.

Uggh this web exclusive ****...it's going to kill us all, it really will. I heard the Sailor Moon may move to that category, which is going to be really bad.

Sailor Moon already headed there.

 

[Android 20]

While we are in the mood can we entertain a conspiracy theory? Okay, so SS Vegeta is still in production at a top secret underground facility at the base of Mt.Fiji. Trucks arrive at the entrance once a month in the middle of the night to load up and are then escorted out by special forces contractors. Via ninja couriers and bullet-proof limousines these prized Vegetas are hand-delivered to our eBay scalper "friends"...usually in a dark alleyways at 2am. We know the story from here. This could be true for Scouter Vegeta too, and explains the existence of that ridiculous Arlia Vegeta.

Think about it, they release the most random useless Vegeta repaint possible that only SDCC freaks and completionists care about, something that even customizers didn't care to bother with and they can cross off Vegeta from the reissue rotation for a good long while. Meanwhile they are providing the scalpers with product for a skim of the rich fixed price profits. Everybody wins except for people who want a useful Vegeta for their collection.

And Tamashii can say "What? We JUST did a Vegeta guys! Calm down and be patient", while they think of the second most useless Vegeta repaint to reissue so that they can keep this gig going.

/haha.

 

[SupernaturalAddict]

Supes, Silrian is right, and I agree with him. Just because its a different opinion doesnt make his wrong man. Tamashii ARE catering to Japan when we were the ones that kept the line alive. I get that some folk are happy with the way its going, but others arent, Tamashiis choices are really bizarre and infuriating honestly!

We are all friends here, lets not start any childishness eh?

Never did I disagree with the statement that the Western market was responsible for the resurrection of this line. That is a well known fact. What I did however rebuke was Solarium's misconception that we, the Western market, have little or no influence over Tamashii's decisions - which is entirely false. Did we not ask expressly for additional DragonBall Z themed effects pieces; did we not expressly ask for more villains, characters traditionally not well liked by the Japanese audience, to be released - yes; and did we not receive both of these things? Seven of the past nine releases/reveals have been villains. If that isn't direct enough for you well, so-orry!

 

[crisis]

Isn't the crushed scouter that came with Vegeta strictly from Western influence as well

 

[Baneofdemon22]

Yeah, we also got the Kamehameha. They are catering to us, because they guy said they're releasing the figures for the international KAI Boo saga. Right now the Japanese Kai Boo saga is on the part with Gohan training with the Z Sword. It will probably be over even before we get to Vegetto. Broly came out because he won an American poll, so of course they're catering to us. There was a time when SSJ Vegeta and Gohan were $25 for a long time. The SDCC Gohan was under $35 for about a half a year. I think the explosion of popularity for this line happened a few years after it got here too.

I still think Japan is where the biggest Dragon Ball fanbase, but just not for figuarts. I don't think the popularity of one figure line determines that. I have no interest in many of the prestigious figure lines. Maybe they aren't as big on the 6 inch scale like us? They're constantly whipping out new figures and merchandise there that never makes it to the west. In any case, I wouldn't trust one representative of a toy company. Hasbro and Mattel kept saying how we hate female characters, but every time they were made they were sold out. Well, except when they looked awful, and that was the case for most female characters. They would do a terrible job with them, so no one would buy them. Sure male characters are way more popular, but a lot of fans still want them. There's so much Super Saiyan 4 Goku merchandise, and the way he keeps popping up in the video games, I never doubted his popularity. I don't jump on that bandwagon.

Toriyama doesn't dislike Vegeta. He's said he really liked Vegeta after the Boo Saga. I'm sure he had a ton more fun drawing the Boo Saga transformations than the previous saga, but it may not be his most enjoyable to read. He's a cartoonist, so it's probably more fun to go nuts with his imagination. Toriyama usually had a pretty quick turn-around for his villains transitions to becoming villains, except for Vegeta. So maybe, he didn't enjoy writing a villain for so many arcs, until the Boo arc. Researching for Battle of Gods made him realize why so many are a fan of Vegeta, and that's why he said he wanted to make him the lead for the next movie.

As for popularity, Vegeta was the most popular character at a point for the Shonen Jump popularity. However, every other poll, Goku is first, but Vegeta is always second.

This is from the popularity poll in 2003:

#1: Vegeta (with 5,503 votes)
#2: Goku (with 5,225 votes)
#3: Gohan
#4: Trunks
#5: Piccolo
#6: Kuririn
#7: Bulma
#8: Goten
#9: Yamcha
#10: Buu

This is from the Kanzenban:

1. Goku
2. Vegeta
3.Gohan
4.Trunks
5. Piccolo
6. Goten
7.Krillin
8. Majin Buu
9. Frieza
10. Android 18
11. Mr. Satan
12. Korin
13. Master Roshi
14.Cell
15.Yamcha
16.Tien Shinhan
17.Bulma
18.Android 17
19.Yajirobe
20.Videl

@Silrian Awesome new avatar! I really hope we get that Trunks, but I don't think it's going to happen. I won't give up hope though!

 

[Android 20]

Man, when I see those figures my heart aches at the fact that there will probably never be a figuarts Dr. Gero/Android 20 figure...ah...

 

[crisis]

I also recall our very own PwnStar (who now works for Tamashii Bluefin) saying here a while back that the SSj4 Goku design wasn't very popular in Japan, thus a Figuarts version of him was unlikely.

Man, when I see those figures my heart aches at the fact that there will probably never be a figuarts Dr. Gero/Android 20 figure...ah...

Hey buddy ya never know what could happen.. nobody here would've ever guessed they would even consider Android 16. Even when the first photo of him leaked, we were still in disbelief & some were saying it had to be photoshopped.

Number of people here that predicted we would ever see Buutenks/Buuhan Figuarts: 0

 

[Android 20]

Hey buddy ya never know what could happen.. nobody here would've ever guessed they would even consider Android 16. Even when the first photo of him leaked, we were still in disbelief & some were saying it had to be photoshopped.

Thanks crisis, feel a bit better already. If you think about it though a No.20 figure would be a perfect platform for Tamashii to really show off their effects dazzle with the brain window and removable arm and head and what not. A set of open palm absorption hands! Who wouldn't love that? (geez feel like a sales rep...)

Sadly this guy the the best Gero released to date and he's little more than a statue:

 

[TBlake]

Isn't the crushed scouter that came with Vegeta strictly from Western influence as well

They mentioned it a lot, since the meme is mostly popular here.

 

[crisis]

So I dunno if this has been brought up before, but does everyone else have the same sloppy paintjob on 17's right shoelaces than his left, or is it just mine?