Takara Transformers

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Yeah, I hope that Jazz and Cliffjumper won't be too hard to get from the germans.

UM seems like a stretch, given the size he'd require. They seem content to hit the lower price points with smaller figures for now. I mean, we got 12" MP-01 for $100. Then we got 10" seekers for $100, then we got 6" cars for $80, and now we're getting $30/ea cassettes and mini-bots for $80. If they wen't back to the right size for UM, even at the "new" scale, he'd be $400, and I just don't see them going that way.
 

Mandingo Rex

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Mar 14, 2011
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Yeah, I hope that Jazz and Cliffjumper won't be too hard to get from the germans.

UM seems like a stretch, given the size he'd require. They seem content to hit the lower price points with smaller figures for now. I mean, we got 12" MP-01 for $100. Then we got 10" seekers for $100, then we got 6" cars for $80, and now we're getting $30/ea cassettes and mini-bots for $80. If they wen't back to the right size for UM, even at the "new" scale, he'd be $400, and I just don't see them going that way.

Really? I think UM is a shoe-in. He's the only other large-scale Autobot leader left who is likely to get made besides... um, well... Rodimus 2.0? Grimlock 2.0? Dinobots?

He'll be pricey, no doubt. But I think he'll be in the $250-300 range. He's just an MP-10 bot repaint plus a new trailer, albeit a complicated one. I expect we'll see him, Megatron 2.0, and Galvatron, and maybe a Shockwave or Blaster, as the next "large" bots. Otherwise, it's Seeker repaints and cars for the time being, I think.

MP collections are shaping up beautifully for the Autobots

Yeah, I just don't want 'em to go Autobot-heavy like the Alternator/BT lines. For awhile, it was Decepticon-heavy, especially if you considered the Conehead KOs, but I'm thinking we'll be getting Thundercracker/Skywarp/Conehead seekers to fill in the gaps for a few of those numbers, just to flesh out the Decepticon ranks. Who else is left from season 1, besides Reflector and Shockwave from the Decepticon side who will require all-new sculpts? Insecticons? Devastator? Then we're getting into combiner territory, there, with ol' Devy.

Granted, I want 'em all, and I do mean ALL, from Season 1, 'Con or 'Bot, regardless of size, but I'd like to see some sort of balance...
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Really? I think UM is a shoe-in. He's the only other large-scale Autobot leader left who is likely to get made besides... um, well... Rodimus 2.0? Grimlock 2.0? Dinobots?

He'll be pricey, no doubt. But I think he'll be in the $250-300 range. He's just an MP-10 bot repaint plus a new trailer, albeit a complicated one. I expect we'll see him, Megatron 2.0, and Galvatron, and maybe a Shockwave or Blaster, as the next "large" bots. Otherwise, it's Seeker repaints and cars for the time being, I think.

I'm not sure MP-10 was designed to accept trailer-armor, so they would likely have to retool a lot of pieces, and then do a fairly extensive engineering job designing the trailer. That thing is a hell of a lot more involved than Prime's simple fold-open trailer.

If prime was $260 in 2011, UM would easily be $350-400 in '14. And I think that price point would scare them, i.e. they'd fear that they'd do a ton of work and the fanbase wouldn't pony up for something that pricey. TF fans aren't as cheap as Joe fans, but you get into rare air when looking at how many fans who are both willing AND able to pay that much for a toy.
 

Mandingo Rex

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Mar 14, 2011
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There's nothing I doubt those designers in designing. I think MP-10 was designed with UM in mind, but maybe that's just me being hopeful. I bet they could get him to work in the $325 price range, but much higher than that, and you're gonna see drop-off.

I personally would rather him be in the $275 range or less. But Ultra Magnus has always been a favorite design of mine, and I've yet to own any version because the original was a brick, and I don't buy the "white Prime is UM" lazy repaint cop-out.

I'd pay more than $300 for him, though.
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
I probably would too, but I'm not sure there are enough people in that boat... or more to the point, I'm not sure Tak will be convinced there are enough people in that boat to take the risk.

Look at it another way. If they keep the price down such that they make the same margin on UM that they would make on another $80 autobot car, why wouldn't they just make the car and sell a ton more of them at the lower price point?

Maybe MP-10 has some design hooks that will work with the trailer. Maybe UM is deemed super important to take the risk. Maybe they do it out of love of the character and fans, profit be damned. But I think any of those scenarios take a backseat to cranking out some higher volume characters. I think we'll get Megs 2.0, Galvatron, Shockwave, a ton of cars, and the japanese Super Genareieieiwhoeverthefuck fan's choice before they make UM.
 

Mandingo Rex

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Mar 14, 2011
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Well, I care more about the G1 and G2 cars and Decepticons before UM... But I want an UM before a goddamned Galvatron, I can tell you that much. I hate that character almost as much as Rodimus.
 

G.I.*EDDIE

gobbles a LOT of cock
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Mar 14, 2011
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I'd love a Skyfire, but I fear the size would push it into astronomical pricing too.

As would I...he's my most beloved Autobot...

He's quite popular...I wonder why not even a third party group has tackled him...all too busy hopping on the combiner craze?
 

Hellion42

Meat Shield
May 1, 2013
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Side 7
Ultra Magnus will happen. Book it. I have no doubt that he's been designed and pre-approved, they're just waiting for the right timing. Maybe once they can fill his trailer with different car models? Maybe announcing a new car at the same time for wow factor. Who knows? But it'll happen.
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
That's a bold prediction. I don't think he's been designed. If so, we'd have seen a proto by now. He's only a popular character with Tak because they can just spit out a white prime and call it a day. If they couldn't do that, he probably wouldn't have gotten a new figure since the '86 brick. I contend that if they have to do a lot of work/spend much money to make him, he'll be a very low priority.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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Side 7
Wheeljack is designed, as well as Bumblebee. We haven't seen protos for either.
Unlike the old line when there was years between releases, TT is playing these close to the vest. Witness the slow leak of Prowl/Streak info leading up to an actual photo reveal. We didn't see proto shots until well after that.

As far as the prediction being bold, well...
We shall see I guess. I'm not worried one bit. :)
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Exactly, even the announced figures to be released nearly a year from now don't have any proto pictures. So why would I think that UM is all designed and gathering dust in the Tak vault?

I'm not arguing that it'll never happen. I just think he's not a priority and that the price point he would require probably has them focusing elsewhere.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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That pretty freakin cool.

I'm still not seeing a background image in the link.


Also, Botcon seekers. Call me a sucker but I wants em.
 

Mandingo Rex

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Mar 14, 2011
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They removed it! That's too funny. His ark deco was in the background of the product photos yesterday.

Haha. Wonder who caught it? I don't try to be a dick about it, but c'mon. It's not licensed art, just fan art, and besides being a freebie for personal displays it shouldn't be used for profit.

It looks cleaner anyways without the confusing background. You couldn't even tell what the product was with a red bot on an orange background.
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Haha. Wonder who caught it? I don't try to be a dick about it, but c'mon. It's not licensed art, just fan art, and besides being a freebie for personal displays it shouldn't be used for profit.

It looks cleaner anyways without the confusing background. You couldn't even tell what the product was with a red bot on an orange background.

I assume that's why they did it. I seriously doubt they monitor our board or give two shakes about where the photo backdrop comes from.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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And now being investigated for connection to a previous double murder. Not sure if he's an easy target, or if they have actual information.
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Everything I've read says the guy is as dumb as a bag of hammers and guilty as f#$%. So much evidence, from phone GPS data, to text messages, to his own home security video, witnesses (i.e. one of his accomplices rolled over & bystanders who heard the shots), chewed gum he bought on the way to the crime found in his rental car next to the shell casings... the list is extensive.

Yeah, as to the other murder, they think this dead guy might have known too much about the other murders. Then they start talking about gang ties, secret apartments, other rental cars... it just keeps getting deeper. It's a wonder he had time to play football!

But hey, how about those botcon rainmakers? They would have been awesome.... in 2006.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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In 2006 the fans would have been in a rage that we got random background characters before Thundercracker.


I'm a bit of a Seeker whore so I'm interested... just not $200 interested. The forearms look terrible and the wing logos overlap the stripes.
If I can get them cheaper (or, ideally, swing a trade) I'll bite. Otherwise, I have the tetra Sunstorm on preorder and don't really need Purple Dude and Not-Quite-Thundercracker. They would just be cool to have.
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
I'm a bit of a Seeker whore so I'm interested... just not $200 interested. The forearms look terrible and the wing logos overlap the stripes.

TC was the fault of Hasbro and no one else. Making him an exclusive for several years was criminal. I had the Tak version, the one that originally pissed off all the people that shelled out $$$ for the botcon version. suckers.

I understand about loving seekers, and I was a seeker whore too in the past. I have the CHMS rainmakers trio as well as the purple seeker and orange sunstorm. But as far as the new botcon versions go, it's tough to get excited about something so overpriced, dated, and poorly executed compared to their KO brethren. The seeker hoarder in me wants them, but the realist in me says What-the-f#$%-for? And at those prices, I know who is going to win that argument.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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Well, BBTS just opened up more preorders for $145. I don't need them at all, and I may regret it a bit, but I jumped on it.


No arguments here about TC. I remember 2007 Botcon being the first time I considered buying the TF set. I was part of the fan rage over Blue Ramjet, which ultimately caused me to back off. I then jumped on the Henkei TC, Dirge, and Thrust. And then got the superior (IMO) Hasbro versions a few years later.

Kinda ridiculous that Hasbro once shied away from releasing TC.
 

Goldbug

BND
Mar 15, 2011
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I saw the BBTS preorder, but I'm really trying to scale back, not accumulate more D-level characters. However, I completely understand the appeal of these oft-discussed background seekers.

Well MP Acid Storm is coming out at about the same time MP Soundwave is.
I would have rather had one of the MP Autobot cars, which one was first Sideswipe?
 

nacho

"Big Guns"
Founder
Yeah, Sideswipe was first.

While on one hand I'm pretty tired of MP seekers, I really do need acid storm to complete my rainmakers. 3 Tak + 2 US + 7 igear.... yeah, I NEED a thirteenth MP seeker... ;)

But the Botcon CHUG seekers set is just too little, too late... and too expensive. I'll buy a few of the upcoming generation figures like Trailbreaker and Skids since they really haven't had decent figures since the 80's, but my desire for CHUG-scale, or any scale that isn't MP, is virtually gone.
 

Hellion42

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May 1, 2013
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Side 7
I read about a lot of people giving up their classics for MPs. I may do that one day, but some of the most fun TFs I've ever owned are in that line. I've stuck to deluxes for the most part (exceptions being Sky/Jetfire, Magnus, and the upcoming triplechangers) so they don't take up a lot of room. Plus, they're cheap as long as I'm not splurging on stupid shit like Scrapheap (anyone need a clear blue Hot Rod or battle damaged Kup?) or the not-Rainmakers. So, yeah, keeping them for the foreseeable future.

BTW, not really feeling the designs on TB/Hoist/Skids, but since those are likely the only G1-themed figures those guys will ever get, I'll pick them up. I like Orion Pax too, and was okay on the Megatron until they revealed the Dreadwing redeco. Nailed it!