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Post by mpchi on Mar 21, 2013 23:55:49 GMT -5
I can. I don't even know what it was until I google it up. Hehe.. But how old are you? You are probably not the target audience we are discussing. Still, Super Sentai/Power Rangers is uber popular and that one is the most vintage/classic of all for many if not most. I am 37, and quite the target audience alright. Just that I am not big into Sentai stuff. If I am into the show, I focus more on the 'Rangers' than the robot. Go Ranger & the J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai is still my favorites. But they don't really have any mechs back then...
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Post by Gold on Mar 22, 2013 3:32:09 GMT -5
Just curious, anyone know how the Popy line ended? It would be kind of sad if the SOC line just unceremoniously went away.
Gold
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Post by magengar on Mar 22, 2013 5:38:35 GMT -5
I don't know, Gold, but since you mentioned it that does seem like a scary thought if the SOC line went out like that as well...... if it were to do so someday. Hopefully not in my lifetime.
zozo-mag
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Post by gokinrob on Mar 22, 2013 6:28:11 GMT -5
Is the GE line still pumping along?
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Post by borg001 on Mar 22, 2013 8:54:35 GMT -5
Is the GE line still pumping along? I think this line stop at GE-10 Gaiking...
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Post by borg001 on Mar 22, 2013 9:29:32 GMT -5
I think high cost is the main factor, licensing,tooling, ( complex combination / transformation) manufacturing cost , raw material cost... all add up might cost almost the price point of DXSOC..Like to ask you guys... will you buy a complex combination / transformation super robot war SRX for $400? Or Trider G7 $350? This price point justifiable?
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Mar 22, 2013 9:34:59 GMT -5
The only line designation that I know is done for is the GD. }D
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Post by B- on Mar 22, 2013 16:26:09 GMT -5
I think high cost is the main factor, licensing,tooling, ( complex combination / transformation) manufacturing cost , raw material cost... all add up might cost almost the price point of DXSOC..Like to ask you guys... will you buy a complex combination / transformation super robot war SRX for $400? Or Trider G7 $350? This price point justifiable? Id pay that for Tryder,I like SRX alot,but not 400$ alot.It depends on how much I like the robot.Id pay 500$ for Daikengo all daaaaaaay long.
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Post by plasmawing on Mar 22, 2013 18:48:18 GMT -5
Most of what I was planning on saying has already been covered: the weak economy means people are less willing to shell out a lot of money on luxury goods, so Bandai is focusing on the more affordable SRC and RD lines.
I think another thing that should be considered is the demographic shift. Mecha series were big during the 70s and 80s, but that group is starting to get older. Kids who grew up in the 90s are starting to find jobs. We have disposable income now, but for the most part we aren't as interested in giant robots, and especially not in giant robots from series that aired before we were born.
There's also the fact that Bandai has already produced SOCs of all of the more popular classic super robots and now has to focus on more obscure series. With all of these factors combined, it's not too surprising to see the number of SOC releases decreasing.
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Post by mazfan on Mar 23, 2013 14:04:04 GMT -5
I've mentioned this before... I will be very happy when the SOC line ends. I have every single color versions of the line from GX-01 to 61. I'm excited to get 62 and Balatak is the only one that I dream of ever being released as an SOC. This is my 13th year of collecting and it would be so cool to say that I have reached my goal/completed my collection/obsession. Most importantly, I would like to express eventually that "I AM HAPPY WITH WHAT I HAVE AND I DON'T WANT ANYMORE " Okay, there are some rare SOC versions that I will hunt down (like my GX-08MAW, GX-11MAM, etc...) and some SPECs (XS-14 and 15) that I may get. And I may totally change my opinion when I get more shelf space or a bigger home.
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Post by B- on Mar 23, 2013 19:07:09 GMT -5
Im surprised SOC never made a Groizer-X being its a Go Nagai Design,or God Mazinger.The Yamato Groizer is very good so,not a big deal,but they should really do a God Mazinger,Tryder,and the Daikemgo Build Plan wasnt popy but it was a very popular vintage toy,surprised one isnt out yet either,
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Post by greengetterguy on Mar 23, 2013 19:14:22 GMT -5
I too have lanky Yamato but I been rallying for fatty Groizer X from Shin Mazinger as a SOC or at LEAST SRC....
I hope I at least get to see SRC version some day near future...
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Post by southpawdragon on Mar 23, 2013 20:39:20 GMT -5
please bandai pump out biorobo atleast if its the last hurrah
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Post by kingdom2000toys on Mar 23, 2013 21:21:30 GMT -5
"I could see a DX Tetsujin 28" That would make lot of sense. I would want a classic one though..the fatty This would be a perfect one. Hanger / people inside. Just like the old steel one.
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Post by kingdom2000toys on Mar 23, 2013 21:54:49 GMT -5
My thoughts would only repeat what others have stated... But in addition to economy and no more robots, I will try to add a non-bais opinion.
SRC (Super Robot Chogokin) is the replacement of SOC. SRC is producing at a rate of 10-12 figures a year. Priced less than SOC and comparable in look and feel (weight and articulation). SOC has run its course and we are seeing the last of the releases. Bandai is transferring their customer base (US - the 80s children Robot Collectors) over to SRC, while integrating the next generation (90/2000s Power Ranger kids).
Personally, I think they are dong a good job of the transision and if they produce high quality stuff like the DX model, I will be happy to buy it. But I won't be following along on the SRC line. My shelf is complete and now I am going to be picky about buying items that I want to put up there.... YES I'm getting old and won't be swindled by every version they put in front of my "disposable cash" eyes. That's what being young and foolish was about 15 yrs back!
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Mar 23, 2013 23:49:47 GMT -5
I noticed that some folks see the SOC line as a renewal of the old Godaikin/Popy toys. The DX Tetsujin 28 post above is a perfect example of what I mean. I never saw the SOC line as a line of modern re-releases of the Popy and Godaikin toys, but that might very well be the case. Nevertheless, I always thought of the SOCs as anime accurate renditions of the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc Super Robot characters - not modern reditions of the 1980's diecast toys. I can't deny the fact that there is at least one SOC that was made as a tribute to the old toy, The GX-31V Voltes V Respect for Volt in Box. But other than that particular one, I can't say that Bandai was paying tribute to any of the vintage toys. All their other SOCs are just too anime accurate both in paint and sculpt. But who knows... maybe Bandai does mean to please everyone. }D
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Post by boricua on Mar 24, 2013 13:29:47 GMT -5
i think that if the soc figure had any toy gimmick like shooting fist or missiles then it was a renewal of the old godaikins, but if it was more complex with no toy like gimmicks then it was not a renewal of the godaikin.
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Post by xiombarg on Mar 24, 2013 21:41:10 GMT -5
Don't know if this has been said exactly, but a lot of figures have had a lot of renditions made over the last ten years. The standard Valkyrie has had literally dozens of renditions of the same basic mold, and while that is the most extreme example, even figures that are a bit more obscure have seen sometimes three or more companies producing them in all shapes and sizes. Just consider Ingrams, Gurren Lagan, Gaogaigar.... these figures may have tapped out their market even though they are relatively popular characters.
Transformers seem to still be doing pretty well, and they are kind of new to the high end rendition collector market.
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Mar 24, 2013 22:24:14 GMT -5
Valkyries and Gundams take the cake in amount of renditions made, and they still continue making more every year. }D
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Post by xiombarg on Mar 25, 2013 0:53:02 GMT -5
Valkyries and Gundams take the cake in amount of renditions made, and they still continue making more every year. }D Well they do continue making them, but it's been less every year... I can only think of one standard Macross Valkyrie that Yamato released this past year which if you compare to 2005-06, It's probably somewhere close to a dozen for each of those years. That has always been their bread and butter, and now it sounds like they are having financial difficulties, which usually means things aren't selling well. On Ebay you could probably find more than a hundred standard Macross Valkyries selling for roughly half of the original retail price. Gundams used to be made in INSANE quantities, but barely a fraction of that now. I remember Bandai having nine different lines of Gundams going at the same time. There was a thread where it was mentioned Bandai had made seven different renditions of RX-78-2 that year alone, including one made of wood, and that's not even counting the Banpresto or BB Gundams. Anyway, the point is that these markets are full of secondary market product and if a company plans on putting out new versions of the same basic idea, they've got a lot of competition from their own past products..
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