I am a little salty about that too. It really wouldn't have taken much at all for Bandai to just include the visor feature in the helmet, or just provide two heads (and belts, and a different left arm I suppose). It was definitely within their means.

Or they could have just, like...released Mach as the mass retail version, (since he uses this form way more than Drive ever has) and leave Drive's version for the twe. As it is it really is just a pretty crappy situation.

Just wanted to add to this conversation, i got a request from N-Y for the Hi Metal VF1S strike version and the UA Kamila and Tiga set by middle of August. Nothing else as of yet.
Its a shame, that the policy has to change.

Oh wait I just noticed that the email had my Knuckle's order number.

I haven't got any payment requests for any of my other items.

Btw what exactly is Bandai's policy change now?

Posted this in recent purchases yesterday. But, got my Alternative Zero yesterday!! Who-hooo!!

Hm, just put in an order yesterday for the Nigou/Cyclone pack that's coming out in a couple of months, since it's really going to cost no less than just getting Nigou on his own on the aftermarket.

But...I was looking at pictures more closely just now and noticed that the Nigou in the 2 pack seems to have very different coloring from the old one that was released. The chest and gloves/boots are the same, darker color, and he has silver stripes, rather than white. It's...probably not as accurate, but he actually looks much better this way. So that works out well.

The only weird part is for some reason I think he's using Ichigou's legs, with the two stripes, just colored as if it was one. It's not a deal breaker....but it's hella weird, either way.

Only the lead Rider's upgrades generally get mass releases. I'm still miffed that they chose the seldomly used, not-actually-a-midseason-upgrade Dead Heat instead of the frequently used, ACTUAL midseason upgrade Type Formula, whereas last year had Jinba (DH equivalent) as a TWE while Kachidoki (Midseason Upgrade) as a mass release.

But no, seems that Drive always has to find a new way to stall on me.

I know it's rare, but Knight and Meteor managed to get mass released upgrades...granted, that was years and years ago. Still, one can dream. Truly the real solution, as was mentioned, was to have the figure be both Drive and Mach...

But yeah, that they chose Dead Heat over Formula is really odd. I just hope Chaser and Type Tridoron, when they eventually get figures, are not exclusive...

Oooh so got confirmation from NY that only the items you got an email for regarding the whole Bandai Premium thing will have to be paid in advance. Any of the other items coming out those month are safe!

I expect Bandai decides what's going to be a web exclusive and what's going to be a mass release WELL before the episodes themselves air. Shin Zangetsu Melon Energy is a perfect example. If anyone at Bandai had realized the suit's prominence, it wouldn't've been an exclusive.

The only thing I'm not sure about is whether the audience had seen the relevant episodes when Shin Zangetsu was available for pre-order. So Bandai received preorders roughly in line with how they thought the figure would sell. Whoopsie. Total disconnect between Bandai and customers, and the "exclusive" part of "web exclusive" apparently meant they couldn't just fix it with a belated mass release.

Awe man, I should have pre-ordered SHF Omegamon before NY removed the pay later option. :( At least I got the SSJ Vegeta.