[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sentai Tamashii

I don't think that's necessary true, most of the manufactures produces the toys for both US and Japanese side, but the Japanese ones might feel better simply because of the extra paint apps, or it's all in your head because you paid more

Well the thing with Takara, they include stuff that TRU and Hasbro and the like wouldn't care about, like the silver platter and brainwave machine for MP Grimlock. That kind of stuff, while small, is a big move to me for collectors. So bravo Takara.

Also, in addition to more paint apps, the plastic they mold their toys in is more catered towards us. Check out voyager 1st edition TF Prime Optimus compared to the Hasbro version. Both look good but the Takara version is excellent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denshin48

id much rather buy a Japanese toy than american. they get all the good shit over there be it packaging wise or far superior paint apps

case in point during Ryukis run Bandai made these

instead of just bringing those here for Dragon Knight we instead got these


it was one helluva step backwards too as the R&Ms had a ton more articulation than the DK figures ever had but were quite a few years older. it really does suck that manufacturers here are so concentrated on the kinds more than collectors everything is dumned down so badly here

I agree and WOW...yeah man those DK figures were bad. I wanted good figures because Ryuki has bad ass designs, but yuck, I remember seeing the DK figures in store and wondering WTF happened.

Then I found out just recently, that Tamashii made some SIC figures in GI Joe scale, the Kiwami Tamashii series, WTF!? Stuff like that, in smaller scale..I mean damn...they've got all the bases covered AND it's an affordable line! Now I haven't handled a Kiwami Tamashii figure but I imagine the quality is high.

Recently I was walking through the stores to check out the new Star Wars stuff, and the price increased, meanwhile the mainline is just a bunch of repackaged repaints with minimal articulation. Some of the prices are absurd for the vehicles. Bringing back old prequel figures from years back is a bad move, kids aren't stupid.

I dunno I guess at some point when you're younger, while you're still a child, there are decisions which pave the way for toys in the future. If toys aren't meant to be I guess you ditch them as they are and move onto games. However if you were like me, and started craving more articulation, the path towards becoming a collector starts.

I remember the Toy Biz Spiderman animated series figures. In fact I still have mine. I was like "oh man they gave Venom some elbow joints, kick ass!". Then came, in 1995, the super articulated Spiderman figure. I remember buying it, I think at KB Toys, and that figure, changed it all.

It's worth noting however, that while that seemed advanced at the time, for the US, Japan already had them beat. Look at the 8" ZyuRanger figures which were brought over for MMPR. Those had way more articulation than anything we had, and those were created in the early 90's.

These days the stuff we want is more expensive, but I find that you get more of what you want, and save money in the long run, by pre-ordering collector items. Reserves what you want and gives you time to save for it.

[ComicGuy89]

So today I decided to buy, after a long time, a Hasbro Transformer. This was the Voyager Powerizer Prime, seen here (Amazon picture):



First of all, make no mistake, this is a great figure. Amazing engineering, an very intuitive transformation, with a great design. Some weird design choices, such as the translucent arms, but I'm pleased.

Then I realized that it was hard to get the hood of the vehicle mode to stay together. The connector is a simple friction port, which won't hold well. Wondering if there was something I didn't do right, I looked all over the figure.

Turns out, it was not my fault but another QC problem. One of the pin joints is jutting out at a slight angle, possibly either from poor assembly or low quality plastic. Unfortunately this joint is one of the more crucial joints so having it off-center makes the whole transformation misaligned.

This is greatly frustrating because it's something that could have easily been avoided with greater quality control. It's also very frustrating because this is not the first time this exact same issue has happened to me on a Transformers figure.

And worst of all, more concrete design choices would have worked around this issue! Instead of having a straight friction-based connector port, why not use one of these?



(Image from CollectionDX)

That would have snapped the hood together even when misaligned.

Or if that's not possible, why not have more connectors instead of just one measly one? For instance, as can be seen in the following picture, the front grill could have loads of connectors to keep the hood together, but there are no functional ones in the actual toy.



It's really tiny bits of cost-cutting measures like this that ruin an otherwise fantastic design. I still love the figure, and after lots of fiddling the hood stays together. Yet, all this hassle could simply have been avoided in one way or another. A toy shouldn't need this much fiddling to work!

I guess a few years ago I wouldn't have been so irritated with these issues as I am now. However, Transformers prices are rising, and I have not bought a single Transformer in many years that did not have a QC problem right out of the package (and I am not kidding!). I see myself bothering less and less with the toy aisle in superstores in the future.

[PkmnMstr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComicGuy89

So today I decided to buy, after a long time, a Hasbro Transformer. This was the Voyager Powerizer Prime, seen here (Amazon picture):



First of all, make no mistake, this is a great figure. Amazing engineering, an very intuitive transformation, with a great design. Some weird design choices, such as the translucent arms, but I'm pleased.

Then I realized that it was hard to get the hood of the vehicle mode to stay together. The connector is a simple friction port, which won't hold well. Wondering if there was something I didn't do right, I looked all over the figure.

Turns out, it was not my fault but another QC problem. One of the pin joints is jutting out at a slight angle, possibly either from poor assembly or low quality plastic. Unfortunately this joint is one of the more crucial joints so having it off-center makes the whole transformation misaligned.

This is greatly frustrating because it's something that could have easily been avoided with greater quality control. It's also very frustrating because this is not the first time this exact same issue has happened to me on a Transformers figure.

And worst of all, more concrete design choices would have worked around this issue! Instead of having a straight friction-based connector port, why not use one of these?



(Image from CollectionDX)

That would have snapped the hood together even when misaligned.

Or if that's not possible, why not have more connectors instead of just one measly one? For instance, as can be seen in the following picture, the front grill could have loads of connectors to keep the hood together, but there are no functional ones in the actual toy.



It's really tiny bits of cost-cutting measures like this that ruin an otherwise fantastic design. I still love the figure, and after lots of fiddling the hood stays together. Yet, all this hassle could simply have been avoided in one way or another. A toy shouldn't need this much fiddling to work!

I guess a few years ago I wouldn't have been so irritated with these issues as I am now. However, Transformers prices are rising, and I have not bought a single Transformer in many years that did not have a QC problem right out of the package (and I am not kidding!). I see myself bothering less and less with the toy aisle in superstores in the future.

Wow, that sucks. I haven't had too much trouble with QC on my TF's. If I do, it's never anything I can't fix. I completely agree with you about the small cost cutting choices they make though.

[Shin Densetsu]

Bumping this thread because I found myself at a crossroads. I simply have too much stuff and I started looking more at stuff I regretted buying, like "WTF why did I buy this, this sucks!". Then I took a trip to the stores and looked and didn't buy much. It only reinforced my stance on going more towards importing rather than buying domestic. In addition, in recent months I got back into plamo and now want to build MG Figurerise. A few years back, I started to make simple customs and have taken baby steps since. It invigorates my creative side.

Some of the newer domestic stuff just isn't doing it for me. I thought "hey, I'll get that super poseable Amazing Spiderman from the Amazing Spiderman 4" movie line". Bad decision. Figure comes off looking too thin, legs are too long, sculpt was killed for articulation.

Saw Clone Wars, most of it looks cheap, and Hasbro is charging higher all around for Star Wars. However with Star Wars, I understand inflation and all that, but it seems like we are paying more for CHEAPER product. For Spiderman I will just stick with the 6" figures whenever those come out.

For GI Joe, some figures were gimped, I got the Ghost HAWK II, decent but good lord looks like a ninja turtle jet. The 1st Rock figure in the line has a bum right hand for some weird gun attachment contraption.

I got some Thundercats figures but the line looks DEAD. Shame too because the cartoon kicks ass and is one of the best cartoons on in the US.

Then I look at stuff in Japan that I know will cost a pretty penny but will be worth it. I mean I got my 1/60 VF-17S by Yamato a few weeks back and that thing is glorious.

[Kiryu]

A lot of my money tends to swing towards Japan anyways. The Big three that I collect are:

Gundam Model kits
Kamen Rider/Sentai S.H.Figuarts
Transformers

And the latter is only IF I can find them locally too, but here in Canada, we get the waves a month or so after the states. Very rarely will I delve into any US toy line.

[KamenRiderOOO]

I honestly gave up on collecting Transformers just so I could get Toku Stuff. So far, loving it ^_^

[TokuChris]

I've also given up on Transformers (except for the new Generations line, looks awesome and totally my style). I bought one Transformers Prime figure (Wheeljack) and regretted it. He looks like an ape with swords. Arms way too big. Can't move worth a shit. And then I pick up my SH Figuarts Gokai Yellow and fall in love with Bandai's SH Figuarts all over again, browse Ebay, and try really hard not to buy Kamen Rider Knight, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Ouja, Gokai Silver (but I do need him), or worse, drop the $130 for a Gokai Pink.

RIP Transformers. You still take up a majority of my storage unit.

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickback

I've also given up on Transformers (except for the new Generations line, looks awesome and totally my style). I bought one Transformers Prime figure (Wheeljack) and regretted it. He looks like an ape with swords. Arms way too big. Can't move worth a shit. And then I pick up my SH Figuarts Gokai Yellow and fall in love with Bandai's SH Figuarts all over again, browse Ebay, and try really hard not to buy Kamen Rider Knight, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Ouja, Gokai Silver (but I do need him), or worse, drop the $130 for a Gokai Pink.

RIP Transformers. You still take up a majority of my storage unit.

Strange, I thought Wheeljack was one of the best Prime figures. Mine had pretty good quality control too. Perhaps it's a difference in taste? I like the ape arms on Wheeljack.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickback

I've also given up on Transformers (except for the new Generations line, looks awesome and totally my style). I bought one Transformers Prime figure (Wheeljack) and regretted it. He looks like an ape with swords. Arms way too big. Can't move worth a shit. And then I pick up my SH Figuarts Gokai Yellow and fall in love with Bandai's SH Figuarts all over again, browse Ebay, and try really hard not to buy Kamen Rider Knight, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Ouja, Gokai Silver (but I do need him), or worse, drop the $130 for a Gokai Pink.

RIP Transformers. You still take up a majority of my storage unit.

I dig some of Generations but am crossing fingers FOCtimus Prime is FOCking mis-transformed because all of the official images of him make him look very awkward. Right now the WFC Prime looks a lot better.

I have a good number of Prime RiD and something I noticed was that it took the current design team, a while to get in the groove. For example, I find voyager Megatron to be highly overrated with not only a hollow torso but a terrible upper body connection, and I do wonder why we got new figures of the same characters when the First Editions were already tooled?

It only makes Eric Siebenaler's absence felt even more.

His First Edition TF's for the most part, are superior to their RiD counterparts with exceptions being possibly Arcee and the Vehicon. Compare Prime RiD Prime to the FE and the differences are glaring. I am amazed at how much Siebenaler got right, I mean presumably the RiD was designed later, but shouldn't it be more accurate if that's the case? It's weird. Seems like Hasbro wanted the RiD to focus more on an accurate transformation while Siebenaler intended the FE to look like the CGI model even if it utilized cheats. Hell I don't mind the cheats, FE Prime looks amazing! Hopefully Haskaromy brings it back out.

SH Figuarts is awesome and innovative. Could be expensive sure, but if you were to take apart a SH Figuarts figure and a Marvel Legends figure for example, the Figuarts will more than likely have more small parts and of different material hence the higher production cost. Hell some Figuarts use diecast...that's impressive.

That's awesome that you got Gokai Yellow Kickback, I want her too, and I must add, Ryuki is awesome looking. Haven't taken it out of the package but damn it looks good. Going to get Wing Knight eventually too.

[ComicGuy89]

Man, with the recent ToyFair reveals, I'm more tempted than ever to return to buying Transformers. Yet just a cursory look at the Feedback and Toy Discussion sections of TFW have revealed that Hasbro plastic quality, production values and quality control are still rather poor. Figures are still made of cheap, poor plastic, there are still lots of loose joints and overall toys apparently still feel rather flimsy.

It sucks because there are some really cool Transformers coming soon, and I'm really tempted to buy a few of them. I'm just so wary because I don't want to be disappointed.

At least in our Bandai of Japan DX toys, it's just an issue of aesthetic preferences. You either like or don't like a design. In Transformers (and many other modern Western figures), a good design isn't enough to buy a toy because you never know when cheap production values screws up what could be a great toy.

I'm still looking forward to that lovely Metroplex though. Here's hoping they use plastic that's at least as durable as Super Sentai's DX mecha.

What do you guys think?