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Post by shaxper on Feb 10, 2005 20:41:28 GMT -5
My dream would be Overlord, but I think a set of G1 Dionobots would be the most sensible. EVERYONE wants to see them come back.
Maybe a full reissue of Fortress Maximus (with all accessories) would be a good bet, as well. I'm sure it would be highly impractical though. I'm willing to bet Brave Maximus lacked the extra accessories because Takara no longer has the molds. Plus they may not reissue something that they know Hasbro will definitely not purchase off of them for Commemorative Edition reissues.
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Post by Ledezman on Feb 10, 2005 21:36:41 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree the Dinobots would be a big hit.
Fortress Maximus...well, who wouldn't want one?! hehe. There's the "drop test issue" but I think Takara should forget about Hasbro regarding reissues. IMO the Conmemorative series are quite dead. Some Hasbro reissues cost almost the same as the Takara ones, but they lack the better packaging and tech card.
I really want Wheeljack and Mirage to be reissued.
...maybe Springer too ;D (look at avatar, hehe)
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Post by shaxper on Feb 10, 2005 22:06:49 GMT -5
but I think Takara should forget about Hasbro regarding reissues. IMO the Conmemorative series are quite dead. Some Hasbro reissues cost almost the same as the Takara ones, but they lack the better packaging and tech card. Well the American toy market is much bigger than the Japanese one (population dictates this), so Takara tends to get more (or at least the same) cash from Hasbro than they do on their own sales. Hasbro has always been a major part of Takara's success. I don't think it's a coincidence that Takara nearly went bankrupt the year that Hasbro went to Beast Machines, deciding to use their own molds instead of Takara's, nor the fact that Takara pulled out of their financial crisis right after Hasbro decided to purchase the molds to RID for American release. I agree that the commemorative edition series is dead. TRU's major discounts on the CEs proves that they acknowledge a problem with sales. That will make TRU less inclined to purchase more in the future. Unless someone else buys up the exclusive rights to CE (FAO Schwartz and Kaybee are in major financial trouble, and I doubt Target or Wal-Mart would take the plunge on a series that's currently losing money), I'm concerned that this may adversely affect Takara's desire to continue their own reissue series. Like I said, Hasbro cash fuels a lot of their fire. |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 11, 2005 8:09:20 GMT -5
Actually, the initial pre-market prize toy release of Brave Maximus did come with all Fort Max accessories, so Takara still has all the molds for making him again. Thinking a bit more about it, I would consider it very likely, that we would get a FM reissue from Takara sometime next year, when they have "recouperated" (i.e. seen the final sales figures) from that last big endeavor that was Predaking. Even though I would prefer a Grimlock release first, myself... ;D And regarding the Takara/Hasbro issue, I actually think they have a much more collaborative partnership, and that it has always been like that. The reason for Takara almost going out of business in the late 90's were because their non-TF toy lines weren't selling enough. They pulled out on the Beast Machine line to recouperate and regroup, and focus everything on one last effort, namely Car Robots for 2000, the 15th anniversary of TF in Japan. And then I think Hasbro "leached" off of Takara with that one, as they saw how big an impact the line had had on the fandom. Why Takara then didn't make a TF line for 2001, I can't say, but Hasbro "renting" the CR molds from Takara clearly helped them get back on their feet, and strenghtened their collaborative relationship for the next years. I may be wrong, of course, but that is how I remember it...  |
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Post by cybermuton on Feb 11, 2005 9:14:11 GMT -5
Hmmm - keeping out of the Takara/Hasbro politics , and sticking to a TF I'd actually like to get, I'd like a Grandus really.
And you can keep Grimlock! Of all the Dinobots, he's the fattest and dumbest (IMHO of course!)
Swoop's a much nicer looking figure.
And he's got wheels!
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Post by Lord Zarak on Feb 11, 2005 9:23:21 GMT -5
I really want Wheeljack and Mirage to be reissued....
But why these important figure in the anime aren't reissued? I think these are more important and followed by the funs than Hoist, Inferno and so on...
For this i think there will not realese Wheeljack and Mirage...
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Post by Dragonclaw on Feb 11, 2005 10:23:27 GMT -5
My next wants would be Wheeljack and Trailbreaker...mainly because I want the inevitable Marboro Wheeljack and Yellow Trailbreaker E-Hobby versions...then I'd like to see an official Blue Bluestreak and and E-Hobby Blue Hoist (Then my Diaclones will be complete)
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Post by shaxper on Feb 11, 2005 14:20:05 GMT -5
Actually, the initial pre-market prize toy release of Brave Maximus did come with all Fort Max accessories, so Takara still has all the molds for making him again. I know that one had a sword, but it had the other stuff too? I wonder why Takara refrained from including those accessories with the regular edition, then? Yes and no. For example, Takara had intended for Armada to be an evolutionary step between beasts and machines (this explains the beastial qualities of Megatron's design). Once Hasbro came on board, they essentially told Takara to scrap that idea and make it pure vehicle. Granted, this might have been decided in a cooperative decision-making environment, but it was Hasbro's will, and it meant throwing away a lot of Takara's conceptual work. I think they took a harder hit once they started working on RID though. It's the only way that I can explain how they began with ten really ambitious molds and then turned the rest of the line into repaints. It really looks as though the cash was there one day and then suddenly gone (or going away) on the next. I find it hard to believe, for example, that Ultra Magnus was designed exclusively for the transportation of three vehicles (I suspect several more car brothers were on the way), nor that anyone intended for the majority of RID to be overrun by repainted, cheap to produce spychangers. In short, I believe your explanation for why Takara pulled out of Beast Machines, but I think they got hurt more after the fact. I can't in any way prove that this was due to breaking from Hasbro though. It's just a theory. No argument here. In short, Takara gets more cash if Hasbro purchases the use of a reissue mold. How much that cash means to them is debatable (I say a lot. You say a little) but, all things being equal, it's in Takara's best interest to produce what Hasbro might want to pick up. Same here. I'm no expert. I just talk a lot  |
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Post by Lord Zarak on Feb 11, 2005 17:09:49 GMT -5
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 11, 2005 17:42:45 GMT -5
I know that one had a sword, but it had the other stuff too? I wonder why Takara refrained from including those accessories with the regular edition, then? Maybe to keep the prize item special? That's my best bet... Wow -- didn't know that. Makes sense, though, as it would bridge Japan's continuety from Beast Wars Metals (ignoring the Car Robots storyline, but that was different characters as well). Are there any online pictures of that? I think it was their attempt at going out with a blaze. The ship was sinking anyway, so why not give in to the demands of the fans -- they couldn't loose any more anyway. The few original molds that were in there were really brilliant (IMHO), even though they are rumoured to be left-over Brave designs -- especially the God Fire Convoy set. But from the get-go, I had really hoped for some more car brothers... Hey, most of my ramblings are theories as well, so don't worry about it.  Agreed. Although those "dark years" (1998/1999 - 2001) they were both kind of going their seperate ways, before realising that that didn't really work that well for either of them, and then regrouping for Armada. Or so I see it. You and me both, my friend. You and me both. ;D BTW, sorry to go so much OT, y'all... |
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Post by Orbitron on Feb 11, 2005 19:00:36 GMT -5
DINOBOTS!!! I WANT DINOBOTS!!! ;D
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Post by shaxper on Feb 12, 2005 0:52:22 GMT -5
I think it was their attempt at going out with a blaze. The ship was sinking anyway, so why not give in to the demands of the fans -- they couldn't loose any more anyway. The few original molds that were in there were really brilliant (IMHO), I just get the feeling that more was planned. To mix ten brilliantly innovative pieces in a sea of cheap repaints makes far less sense than producing twenty or thirty less complex/expensive original molds. I get the sense they really tried to spend the big bucks on RID in order to get TF back on track, but then got surprised by a quick market turn-around or a spontaneous awareness of their financial situation. Either way, something seems to have shifted abruptly. You know, that has ALWAYS been my theory, but I'd never heard anyone else say it until now. Is there any proof of this? They specifically remind me of J-Decker and Duke from Brave Police. Me too. I ultimately sold mine because they seemed odd on their own. I was expecting at least six; a full Autobot detachment. Not me. I'm an unabashed off topic-er Incidentally, no, I have no pics of any early Armada designs. As with most things, I no longer have any documentation on how I got that info either  |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 12, 2005 0:54:16 GMT -5
Didn't ehobby already release one as an exclusive? Oh, and your link reminded me, I'd love to see reissues include a Diaclone driver. Maybe even just the ehobby Diaclone colored exclusives... |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 12, 2005 5:06:05 GMT -5
Not to my knowledge, no. Too bad -- they did the silver chrome "tribute" to an old Diaclone prize toy, and a "regular" grey version, but no blue one... Weird, actually, when you think of it. Oooooh yeah, Diaclone drivers!... That would be eever so sweet!!!!  (Hey, I'm still a fanboy, after all... ) |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 12, 2005 5:14:57 GMT -5
I just get the feeling that more was planned. To mix ten brilliantly innovative pieces in a sea of cheap repaints makes far less sense than producing twenty or thirty less complex/expensive original molds. I get the sense they really tried to spend the big bucks on RID in order to get TF back on track, but then got surprised by a quick market turn-around or a spontaneous awareness of their financial situation. Either way, something seems to have shifted abruptly. Yeah, well maybe 10 weren't really "a few" molds... but I don't think anyone were conciously thinking about their "financial situation" as much as Car Robots (not RiD, technically, as that is Hasbro's line, that didn't bring in the real dough until 2001) being a runaway success. That would explain all the recolors, if we stick to my idea about the "all stops out from Takara" with the initial releases, and then them being so surprised with the success of the line, that they hadn't thought about making new designs... but then again, the cartoon gets planned half a year in advance (I think), so they must've known what they were doing with the subsequent waves of toys... hmmm... now I'm confusing myself! ;D Actually, Convoy reminds me a bit of the symmetrical combiners from GaoGaiGar, and in general about the design for Baan Gaan (the Brave toy line that never were) without having ever seen any proof; it's a rumour I picked up somewhere, and it wouldn't surprise me if I got it from you... But the whole combination desing of Magnus attaching to Convoy like that: Classic Brave. Yeah, those 3 cars look kinda sad all by themselves... |
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Post by Lord Zarak on Feb 12, 2005 9:30:56 GMT -5
i would the Seacons set....
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Post by REX-203 on Feb 12, 2005 11:31:16 GMT -5
I really have enjoyed reading Shaxper's and Fighbird's discussion. There are many interesting tidbits in there that I never thought of before, but they make a lot of sense. Please keep going guys! As for reissues, I'd like to see the Dinobots, Blaster (really want him), any of the original Autobot cars from the first series that haven't been done yet, and maybe more movie and post movie TFs. For the E-Hobby exclusives, a real blue Bluestreak would be PRIME! Throwing in some Diaclone drivers would be awesome too. ;D |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 12, 2005 11:47:34 GMT -5
i would the Seacons set.... Aren't they coming as Universe toys? Although horribly colored, as the pictures from OTFCC '04 showed us... but then again, I've heard they have been cancelled again. But with the molds clearly still "working", they could easily do that as a reissue giftset. Wonder how popular the character was in Masterforce, though... |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 12, 2005 12:01:10 GMT -5
I really have enjoyed reading Shaxper's and Fighbird's discussion. There are many interesting tidbits in there that I never thought of before, but they make a lot of sense. Please keep going guys! Thanks! These are some really interesting things we are (pretty much) unearthing -- it is so nice to have found a board which allows for real and intelligent conversations, instead of all those "what he said" and "c00l!!!!!!" replies... no offence meant toward present company, of course... Oh, and check out the "Microchange" thread in the Microman/Diaclone section.... Soooo.... basically you want all toys from 1986 and onwards... now, *that's* my way of thinking!  I actually think a character like Minerva could be a real gem to see reissued. Not only would it be the first 1988 toy, but it would also be the first female TF to be reissued. Hmmm.... We really have a lot of very good potential reissue candidates now.  |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 12, 2005 12:37:58 GMT -5
Thanks! These are some really interesting things we are (pretty much) unearthing -- it is so nice to have found a board which allows for real and intelligent conversations, instead of all those "what he said" and "c00l!!!!!!" replies... no offence meant toward present company, of course... c00l!!!!!!!!!!! |
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