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Post by goldorak on Mar 9, 2013 2:16:46 GMT -5
Is that Gattaiger in the picture below?  If so did HLPro ever release it? Yeah, looks like Gattaiger. Good eye. It's probably one of their projects in the prototype stage, and they may announce it soon. By the way, you can guys see HLPRO's FB, and they said Gin Gin will be released in May, and when I asked about US retailers, they said the following: "guys...it is certain, 100% sure that PBM express USA will have some, and it means that net retailers like Entertainment earth will have Giru Giru too, somehow they do not work on preorders but offer the product once it is in stock only... you can contact PBM express USA here and make a reservation ? ; shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.688859/sc.1/.f"I sent Paul an email. I think there will be a Gattaiger vinyl figure and a Metaltech with spacer, read it somewhere... |
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 9, 2013 12:53:13 GMT -5
New review. Grendizer Mini Metal
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Post by Chen on Mar 9, 2013 21:48:59 GMT -5
I would like to add that Bandai is a umbrella corporation where there are different departments for each toy segment they occupy. They each have their own mandate and budget and dedicated engineers and designers with factories geared to each department. So yes they are all under the Bandai banner but the team that makes Gundam models has nothing to do with the studio that makes SOC's and so on. Also when they say Bandai has experience making this or that it is more correct to say the designer of the certain studio has a lot of experience or damn Bandai for web exclusives when its really less about Bandai managment and more about that department making financial decisions. Bandai management has little interest if a certain toy is a web exclusive, what they care is that a certain department is profitable. They will also budget funds to each department depending on how well they and the market is doing.
Anyways back on topic I hope Gin Gin comes out soon but I am thinking about getting the Manga Grendizer so I can have a Grendizer in the Spazer.
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 10:57:56 GMT -5
thanks Chen, your description is nice and concise.. It matches up perfectly to what I was told, I just had problems describing it. Bandai is a "complicated" outfit..
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Post by Chen on Mar 10, 2013 11:27:55 GMT -5
It's like any big corporation and honestly the best way to describe them is to compare them to the American military and defense outfits. You got the Marines, Air Force, Navy, Army, FBI, CIA, DOD, ect. All separate entities that technically work under the President but each has its own agenda and unique purpose.
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 11:49:00 GMT -5
exactly.. If you look at the whole Bandai "Army" its bigger than HLpro, but if you look at the departments that make all the Super Robot stuff that we like here on RJ and compare them to HLpro, HLpro could actually be "Bigger" than those Bandai departments. I know HLPros numbers on alot of thier releases are bigger than Bandai's numbers.. HLpro is rare in the US, the US Market only makes up a small fraction of HLpros total business.. fans are lucky to get anything at all from them. The Guys that run HLpro are nice guys, they are collectors like us, they make sure that at least SOME of the prodctuion makes it here to the US to satisfy the hardcore collectors. They LIKE us, but they dont NEED us.. Super Robots are not well known here in the US, they know that. We are not the "main target", its too hard of a sell over here, BUT they make sure we can get enough to satisfy the US collectors, and they dont really make any money with us right now, all the money is coming from other markets and they are doing VERY well with them.. so Im just real happy that we are getting at least SOMETHING from them. The robots will contiune to flow, but the numbers to the US will always be small.. its the nature of the US Market.. nothing we can do about it. Not enough US collectors, what that means for us is that HLpro products will always be rare and valuable in the US, thats good for us collectors.
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Post by Chen on Mar 10, 2013 12:11:43 GMT -5
Yeah it's like any company, they usually start out by having one manager and a handful of designers, engineers, etc. That pretty much works on every product they produce, but as the company grows and your product line expands it then makes sense to start breaking up your product line and start specializing. You thus improve your product and only put your efforts in a particular field. So your not working on Gundam models one day then vinyls the next followed by a week of SOC designs. It's the whole jack of all trades, master of none.
As for HLPRO yeah as a whole company I'm pretty sure that their larger then the Adult high-end department at Bandai but then again that department just focuses on stuff like SOC's and SRC's and don't have to worry about designing/selling t-shirts or piggy banks. But yes HLPRO has a much wider audience in Europe and Asia compared to here, it's just the nature of the hobby. The products they sell is comparatively small and unknown to North Americans if you compare it to Transformers or Power Rangers. I'm sure if we had a updated series of something like Force Five with new animated features it would increase customer awareness but then you get into licensing issues and that's a whole other issue. It's all about promotion and getting your product out there, if fans don't know about your product they can't buy it.
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 12:39:39 GMT -5
The US is a "special situation" for all of these companies, Bandai's Super Robot departments doesnt even really consider us to be a factor.. numbers arent there. You cant just "invent" a Super Robot market in the US like that.. not enough history here and even in Japan, Super Robot sales are flat. Most Japanese collectors are buying those little "hot girl" statues and figures for perverse reasons. ha ha If any of these Japanese companies wanted to make money in the US it would have to be done with a product line based on characters that are well known in the US (well known but not overdone).. something cool and rare but still known.
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Post by Chen on Mar 10, 2013 13:20:53 GMT -5
There was a time when giant robots were super hot here, we had Voltron, Force Five, Transformers, Go-Bots, Orbots, Robotix, etc. It just seemed that it was hot for awhile then came the home video game systems and really we haven't seen cartoon tie-ins like we had in the 80's ever since. Anime did grow in the late 80's and 90's but honestly the shows we grew up watching had no new stuff. No new episodes of Grendizer or Danguard and all we're feeding off is nostalgia and our basic love of the designs an hobby. There is a market here but when there are no new Animes based on the Super Robots we grew up watching (except for a handful of properties), we can't play the games that have all these cool Super Robots in it, it really can't grow.
I still say what we need are English version of the SRW games, have comic tie-ins, posters, merchandise based on those games. Expand the line with action figures based on the pilots, you will hit two markets action figure collectors and collectors who want a Koji or Ryoma action figure, and yes you can make your naughty statues of the girl pilots. Who cares about the licensing issues, work them out.
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Post by Ross McCollector on Mar 10, 2013 13:38:46 GMT -5
exactly.. If you look at the whole Bandai "Army" its bigger than HLpro, but if you look at the departments that make all the Super Robot stuff that we like here on RJ and compare them to HLpro, HLpro could actually be "Bigger" than those Bandai departments. I know HLPros numbers on alot of thier releases are bigger than Bandai's numbers.. HLpro is rare in the US, the US Market only makes up a small fraction of HLpros total business.. fans are lucky to get anything at all from them. The Guys that run HLpro are nice guys, they are collectors like us, they make sure that at least SOME of the prodctuion makes it here to the US to satisfy the hardcore collectors. They LIKE us, but they dont NEED us.. Super Robots are not well known here in the US, they know that. We are not the "main target", its too hard of a sell over here, BUT they make sure we can get enough to satisfy the US collectors, and they dont really make any money with us right now, all the money is coming from other markets and they are doing VERY well with them.. so Im just real happy that we are getting at least SOMETHING from them. The robots will contiune to flow, but the numbers to the US will always be small.. its the nature of the US Market.. nothing we can do about it. Not enough US collectors, what that means for us is that HLpro products will always be rare and valuable in the US, thats good for us collectors. You make it sound as if HLPRO is making us a favor here lol. HLPRO is doing well in Europe and Middle East for 1 reason....Grendizer. I just hope they stay focused on what made them successful in these regions and not drift to other lines especially if they only release 1 to 2 figures a year. Personally as a collector I don't take sides to which company I spend my money at, as long as this company release the products that I'm interested in with reasonable prices and good quality. Other than that, I don't care if it's Bandai or HLPRO but to be fair HLPro can't be in the same league as Bandai...not even close  |
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 13:38:48 GMT -5
yeah I would love SWR but getting it is a NIGHTMARE.. the licensing issues are totally wacky and there doesnt seem to be a solution to it.. I dont understand it.
and the new anime is so wacky and written so poorly that a American veiwer can barely understand whats going on.. just a bunch of people yelling and giving speeches in the middle of the action... nowhere as good as the old Go Nagai stuff.. total rubbish most of the new stuff.. you cant connect to it at all.
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 14:06:57 GMT -5
exactly.. If you look at the whole Bandai "Army" its bigger than HLpro, but if you look at the departments that make all the Super Robot stuff that we like here on RJ and compare them to HLpro, HLpro could actually be "Bigger" than those Bandai departments. I know HLPros numbers on alot of thier releases are bigger than Bandai's numbers.. HLpro is rare in the US, the US Market only makes up a small fraction of HLpros total business.. fans are lucky to get anything at all from them. The Guys that run HLpro are nice guys, they are collectors like us, they make sure that at least SOME of the prodctuion makes it here to the US to satisfy the hardcore collectors. They LIKE us, but they dont NEED us.. Super Robots are not well known here in the US, they know that. We are not the "main target", its too hard of a sell over here, BUT they make sure we can get enough to satisfy the US collectors, and they dont really make any money with us right now, all the money is coming from other markets and they are doing VERY well with them.. so Im just real happy that we are getting at least SOMETHING from them. The robots will contiune to flow, but the numbers to the US will always be small.. its the nature of the US Market.. nothing we can do about it. Not enough US collectors, what that means for us is that HLpro products will always be rare and valuable in the US, thats good for us collectors. You make it sound as if HLPRO is making us a favor here lol. HLPRO is doing well in Europe and Middle East for 1 reason....Grendizer. I just hope they stay focused on what made them successful in these regions and not drift to other lines especially if they only release 1 to 2 figures a year. Personally as a collector I don't take sides to which company I spend my money at, as long as this company release the products that I'm interested in with reasonable prices and good quality. Other than that, I don't care if it's Bandai or HLPRO but to be fair HLPro can't be in the same league as Bandai...not even close dude, I just wrote like a 4 paragraph answer to your comment and I lost my connection hahaha damn I would hate to type all that agian. basically what I said is that the Japanese manufaturers dont even really know about us or see any money from us to speak of. We only make up about 3% of thier total sales and they dont even notice any difference in thier income becuase what happens is the distributors of these products are making all the money. The manufacturers see only a few grand a year from the US, thats how bad it really is. So we cant blame ANY of these Japanese manufacturers, they never handle the US end of the business. They dont even really know about it. ha ha Its all in the hands of distributors that bring them here to the US. Also, all of these companies can make ANYTHING and they can make them in UNLIMITED numbers with unlimited features..if the distributors order them that way. Everything these companies do is ON PURPOSE when it comes to the figures themselves... and that is another story.. too long to tell here. |
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 14:26:51 GMT -5
Example: Hlpro could make an EXACT replica of say a Bandai SRC or SOC, they have access to the same technology, the same kind of talent. BUT, if you go back to the very beginning of this thread, HLpro said that they would never directly compete with any other company.. they wanted to "compliment" not compete. This is a fantastic strategy, Hlpro could never be accused of being a "fake Bandai".. they are NOT Bandai and dont want to be like them design wise. If anything, I would compare Hlpro more with "Popy" on a spritual level..more like a modernized and high tech "Popy" but with its own personality. Thats my personal opionion, though.
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Post by Ross McCollector on Mar 10, 2013 14:37:20 GMT -5
You make it sound as if HLPRO is making us a favor here lol. HLPRO is doing well in Europe and Middle East for 1 reason....Grendizer. I just hope they stay focused on what made them successful in these regions and not drift to other lines especially if they only release 1 to 2 figures a year. Personally as a collector I don't take sides to which company I spend my money at, as long as this company release the products that I'm interested in with reasonable prices and good quality. Other than that, I don't care if it's Bandai or HLPRO but to be fair HLPro can't be in the same league as Bandai...not even close dude, I just wrote like a 4 paragraph answer to your comment and I lost my connection hahaha damn I would hate to type all that agian. basically what I said is that the Japanese manufaturers dont even really know about us or see any money from us to speak of. We only make up about 3% of thier total sales and they dont even notice any difference in thier income becuase what happens is the distributors of these products are making all the money. The manufacturers see only a few grand a year from the US, thats how bad it really is. So we cant blame ANY of these Japanese manufacturers, they never handle the US end of the business. They dont even really know about it. ha ha Its all in the hands of distributors that bring them here to the US. Also, all of these companies can make ANYTHING and they can make them in UNLIMITED numbers with unlimited features..if the distributors order them that way. Everything these companies do is ON PURPOSE when it comes to the figures themselves... and that is another story.. too long to tell here. Oh yeah, I'm totally aware of the US market not being a big factor when it comes to sales. Personally I have no problem ordering from other retailers outside of the US. It will be interesting to see how sales will go for HLPro when they decide to do other figures outside of the Grendizer universe, for example a Mazinger figure (regardless if it's a brand new type of Mazinger) Would people in Europe buy this figure even if they have other figures that similar (or if they don't care about the robot) just cause it's made by HLPro ? Perosnally I won't bother with any more Mazinger figures just cause I have enough ones (not even if it's a totally new one)...but it's just me. |
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Post by Ross McCollector on Mar 10, 2013 14:42:04 GMT -5
Example: Hlpro could make an EXACT replica of say a Bandai SRC or SOC, they have access to the same technology, the same kind of talent. BUT, if you go back to the very beginning of this thread, HLpro said that they would never directly compete with any other company.. they wanted to "compliment" not compete. This is a fantastic strategy, Hlpro could never be accused of being a "fake Bandai".. they are NOT Bandai and dont want to be like them design wise. If anything, I would compare Hlpro more with "Popy" on a spritual level..more like a modernized and high tech "Popy" but with its own personality. Thats my personal opionion, though. If HLPro's new figures have same design/articulation as Gin Gin then they are going in the right direction (which most probably they are gonna do that)...just pleaaaaaaaaaaase STOP releasing remakes of the MT01 outdated technology for God's sake looooool ;D |
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 15:30:19 GMT -5
yeah they are gonna update as they go.. at the time MT01 was on the drawing board it was basically what they wanted at the time and it was alot better than average compared to other companies for its overseas retail price.
The HLpro Mazinger vinyls that they do are some of thier best selling items. The 24" sold out quick and the 12" action figures sell like hotcakes. Hlpro has a bright future outside the Grendizer world but I think it will always keep one foot firmly planted in Grendizer over the years. Hlpro is going to be a player in the game for a long long time I think..
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 15:40:15 GMT -5
oh and they have a different idea of what a figure should be..what some people may see as "outdated" others see as "traditional". Bandai loves to impress with high technology, HLpro seems to love sticking with vintage chogokin "traditions" but expressing them in a more modern way. I see them as selling me the "toy" that Popy should have sold me back in 1978.. a traditional figure, DONE RIGHT! Its that classic "charm" that I like about them that makes me collect them.. I have bandai stuff too, its execellent.. but I dont have the same type of "connection" to them as I do the HLpro stuff.. Those two companies are selling two different "ideas".. one "high tech" the other "classical".. but in the coming years I belive HLpro is gonna "mix it up".. youre gonna see some really cool interpretations of chogokin stuff.
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Post by Ross McCollector on Mar 10, 2013 16:22:06 GMT -5
oh and they have a different idea of what a figure should be..what some people may see as "outdated" others see as "traditional". Bandai loves to impress with high technology, HLpro seems to love sticking with vintage chogokin "traditions" but expressing them in a more modern way. I see them as selling me the "toy" that Popy should have sold me back in 1978.. a traditional figure, DONE RIGHT! Its that classic "charm" that I like about them that makes me collect them.. I have bandai stuff too, its execellent.. but I dont have the same type of "connection" to them as I do the HLpro stuff.. Those two companies are selling two different "ideas".. one "high tech" the other "classical".. but in the coming years I belive HLpro is gonna "mix it up".. youre gonna see some really cool interpretations of chogokin stuff. What do you mean by "classic" design? are you refereeing to the joints of MT01 like the elbows and wrists? |
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Post by B- on Mar 10, 2013 18:36:07 GMT -5
oh and they have a different idea of what a figure should be..what some people may see as "outdated" others see as "traditional". Bandai loves to impress with high technology, HLpro seems to love sticking with vintage chogokin "traditions" but expressing them in a more modern way. I see them as selling me the "toy" that Popy should have sold me back in 1978.. a traditional figure, DONE RIGHT! Its that classic "charm" that I like about them that makes me collect them.. I have bandai stuff too, its execellent.. but I dont have the same type of "connection" to them as I do the HLpro stuff.. Those two companies are selling two different "ideas".. one "high tech" the other "classical".. but in the coming years I belive HLpro is gonna "mix it up".. youre gonna see some really cool interpretations of chogokin stuff. Yes Tom but HLPRo is so limited with characters,all they have is Grendizer and related,in order to really collect their stuff as an alternative,they need to branch out with WAY more characters.Im sure we will see more though,they just need to get a bigger flame under their butts and get rolling here. ;DAlso Tom I think you should really get a few SOCs I think your horizons would be much broader in the meantime!Alot of SOCs are tradional like the Getters,Mazingers,Gaiking etc.They are way different than the SRCs you own.Or do you own some?Just going by your reveiews Im not sure.Youd be amazed!! |
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Post by Gettershadow on Mar 10, 2013 20:22:16 GMT -5
oh and they have a different idea of what a figure should be..what some people may see as "outdated" others see as "traditional". Bandai loves to impress with high technology, HLpro seems to love sticking with vintage chogokin "traditions" but expressing them in a more modern way. I see them as selling me the "toy" that Popy should have sold me back in 1978.. a traditional figure, DONE RIGHT! Its that classic "charm" that I like about them that makes me collect them.. I have bandai stuff too, its execellent.. but I dont have the same type of "connection" to them as I do the HLpro stuff.. Those two companies are selling two different "ideas".. one "high tech" the other "classical".. but in the coming years I belive HLpro is gonna "mix it up".. youre gonna see some really cool interpretations of chogokin stuff. What do you mean by "classic" design? are you refereeing to the joints of MT01 like the elbows and wrists? actually there was a funny story behind the elbows but I wasnt given any details so I cant comment on them.. ha ha ha I will just leave it at that. As for the wrists its a simple ball joint, nothing fancy. The MT01 is a good seller overseas. I dont think they pay quite as much as we do here in the US for them so you have to consider that. Depends on the exchange rates and a bunch of different factors.. so a MT01 may only cost 25-30 bucks in some countries.. not sure on that though. |
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