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01-05-2012, 01:29 AM | #1 |
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Yep. Since last year I have been steadily leaning towards Japanese toys and not buying as much domestic stuff. The US Market, while the companies make strides towards collectors(which I think is due in part, to video games), is still dominated by a society which generally thinks toys are for young-uns, and by the almighty colossus called Walmart.
...whereas in Japan the primary target is the collector. With a declining birth rate, and what is perceived as expendable income, Japanese companies cater to the older Japanese fan. What do we share in common with our Japanese brothers? A love for kick ass toys. High levels of detail. The heroes of our childhood modernized. So I've cherry picked with Marvel Universe, even moreso with Star Wars/Clone Wars, cut back on DCUC, and started saving up more for Japanese goods. For TF's I made a move towards getting FansProject stuff, and more recently, Striker Optimus Prime. I remember the excitement I had tracking down, and posting news for that thing. Even moreso when it was finally revealed with official images. Choosing better colors for injection molding, select paint apps, use of diecast metal, impressive engineering, all these factors please me. All of those aspects are what factor into a Japanese collector toy. Whereas in the US the name of the game is cost cutting unless you're NECA or Sideshow. By the end of this year, my collection will be smaller but better. More Japanese robits. How about you guys? You guys find yourself ditching domestic more now, in lieu of toys from the rising sun?
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01-05-2012, 02:13 AM | #2 |
Hade ni ikuze!
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I think the problem is that there are no innovation for US toys, I mean, look at the action figures, many toys still follows the same joint system, albeit some slight variations, but now check out what the Figuarts have been doing, the US toys just seem... primitive.
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01-05-2012, 10:40 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Lexington, Ky
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Yeah this should definitely get a repost when we go live. I have to agree that US toy standards are becoming pathetic though. Figuarts are the main reason I've almost completely given up on DCUC and DC Direct. Its pathetic what passes for a "collectors line" here compared to a retail line in Japan.
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01-05-2012, 01:26 PM | #4 |
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I've pretty much been doing the same thing myself. I find myself less interested in the mass market domestic toys. The Transformers line I feel has nothing to offer me. Even the really good stuff that came out recently: Generations and Reveal The Shield, I just got kind of bored with. I still pick up the occasional Joe figure, and MAYBE a Minimate here or there, but overall I get more enjoyment from getting some really nice (and higher priced) import releases. Pretty much all I really focus on domestically is Lego.
Maybe it's a quality thing, maybe its more of a fact that I rather have this awesome thing that isn't readily available here. Maybe if there were Figuarts in WalMarts and Targets I would be less interested in them...I dunno. But I definitely feel ya here Shin, and it get's a bit confusing because as a collector who likes a lot of different properties, it's very hard to focus, and very difficult to figure out where you would be happiest fitting in. |
01-05-2012, 02:07 PM | #5 |
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Quote:
I think the problem is that there are no innovation for US toys, I mean, look at the action figures, many toys still follows the same joint system, albeit some slight variations, but now check out what the Figuarts have been doing, the US toys just seem... primitive.
The Figuarts are deceptive in a good way, and I think in a way it hurts them at TRU. For e,xample, the average child or parent doesn't realize just how much engineering went into Shinken Red compared to the Power Rangers Samurai Red figure by Bandai America. I mean vertical hinge joints for the hips in ADDITION to ball hips and thigh swivels? Small amounts of diecast for stability on some figures? Pectoral articulation? I dunno seems like with the average fan/buyer, everything is dictated by size, but in reality, toy costs have to take into account how many tools need to be cut, and the more smaller pieces there are, the higher the tools cost. For example the 4" samurai ranger has substantially less parts than a SH Figuarts. The SH Figuarts torso alone probably has more parts than the 4" figure mold! Then compare Retrofire Dekarobo to SRC Dekarobo and there's simply no comparison. The latter is much more detailed and intricate, but to the naked eye the average buyer probably thinks it should cost the same as the Retrofire(based on size) without realizing just how much more it costs to produce the SRC. Quote:
I've pretty much been doing the same thing myself. I find myself less interested in the mass market domestic toys. The Transformers line I feel has nothing to offer me. Even the really good stuff that came out recently: Generations and Reveal The Shield, I just got kind of bored with. I still pick up the occasional Joe figure, and MAYBE a Minimate here or there, but overall I get more enjoyment from getting some really nice (and higher priced) import releases. Pretty much all I really focus on domestically is Lego.
Maybe it's a quality thing, maybe its more of a fact that I rather have this awesome thing that isn't readily available here. Maybe if there were Figuarts in WalMarts and Targets I would be less interested in them...I dunno. But I definitely feel ya here Shin, and it get's a bit confusing because as a collector who likes a lot of different properties, it's very hard to focus, and very difficult to figure out where you would be happiest fitting in. Seems like most US manufacturers stick to what works and innovate slowly. How long did it take to get double jointed elbows and knees into 4H sculpted figures for Mattel? Years. Playmates and Bandai America are behind the times. Jazwares scored hot licenses but put out subpar product. Seems like the name of the game is to do "just enough". Whereas in Japan, where the market of older collectors is the primary target, it's as if toymaking is an art form. Recently I've been underwhelmed by the Yamato 1/60 VF-17S but saw better pics by the likes of Gamutoys and others, and hot damn....if posed right under good lighting that mold looks chunky and beautiful, and it's HUGE! I think the overseas market in Asia, is a haven for collectors toys. No way in hell would a company here ever think Project BM figures would have a chance in hell at TRU. Yet in Japan, there's even a store coming for HOT TOYS' products! At the end of the day I'm just getting "what I pay for" moreso from imported items than domestic. Could be just me but it seems that the innovation here for the most part is stagnant.
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01-05-2012, 03:02 PM | #6 |
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I love the two Figuarts I have so far (Original Kamen Rider and Gokai Red), but the line might be a little too expensive for my blood.
As far as importing... I have my ups and downs on it. I remember that when Galaxy Force started, I was all about importing it... but my desire to pay more for slightly better paint apps waned pretty fast. I was all about SoC for a time, but the big ticket stuff was too expensive, and I worry about the stability of the toys over time (my Leopardon's posing arms are essentially ruined from holding up his sword and shield... I'm worried that Battle Fever Robo's neck will be next... I worry about the structural integrity of my Xabungle, etc.)... altho the new, less expensive line is intriguing to me. So, I dunno. I find myself buying older stuff these days and am less worried about getting the newest stuff from here or Japan. |
01-05-2012, 03:20 PM | #7 |
I see what you did there.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Somewhere, MI
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I totally agree with you guys. I've purchased a few toys domestically in the last year and I was utterly disappointed with most of them. These toys (with the exception of the Prime stuff) honestly feel like cheap knock-offs when compared to the stuff I've imported over the last year; even when stacked next to a model kit. Also looking at cost; it's kinda like comparing everything else to Apple products. The stuff we import is much more expensive than anything else, but it much better than anything else. Catch my point? Anyways, I'll be importing exclusively (with the exception of a few Prime Figures) until March, when I'll have to stop because of college stuffs.
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01-05-2012, 03:26 PM | #8 |
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@TokuChris Join Date: Oct 2011
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I've joked about "retiring" from Transformers and TFW2005 simply because I have the same mindset and belief as all of you do - domestic mass market toys are just not that intuitive anymore. The innovation is gone ... the better product (in quality, design, look) is coming from overseas.
I've purchased no Transformers since I bought Generations Wheeljack/Thundercracker/Warpath ... and I have no desire to. SH Figuarts on the other hand ... my wallet hates me, but I'm enjoying it way too much. They are really hitting their mark where on the domestic side, everything is falling short. Time to sell some mass market domestic toys on eBay! |
01-10-2012, 05:18 AM | #9 |
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Quote:
I've joked about "retiring" from Transformers and TFW2005 simply because I have the same mindset and belief as all of you do - domestic mass market toys are just not that intuitive anymore. The innovation is gone ... the better product (in quality, design, look) is coming from overseas.
I've purchased no Transformers since I bought Generations Wheeljack/Thundercracker/Warpath ... and I have no desire to. SH Figuarts on the other hand ... my wallet hates me, but I'm enjoying it way too much. They are really hitting their mark where on the domestic side, everything is falling short. Time to sell some mass market domestic toys on eBay! Anyone notice just how far behind US companies are? I mean the average Japanese hobby figure lacks visible joints. Even Revoltech has gotten good at hiding their Revolver joints. Most figures don't have visible pins. Then you see a Mattel or Hasbro 6" comic figure, and while decent, let's face it, the joints are visible everywhere, and 10 years from now if they do a better job of hiding them, some reviewer will point out that they're advancing. Yet in reality, they're behind the times. A more rather visual comparison is the average Tamashii Nations "Arts" figure compared to Bandai America"s 6" and 8" Thundercats lines. If Tamashii made SH Figuarts Thundercats, they might not feel as sturdy but aesthetically, they'd PWN Bandai America. The best thing going for US action figures is price. Dollar to yen ratio is ASS right now and might get worse. Meanwhile the price for figures in the US, though it may increase, is still manageable.
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01-10-2012, 06:58 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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I agree with all your sentiments about Japanese versus American toys, but my reasons may differ slightly.
Articulation and accessories are not as appealing for me. I'm not really good at posing and I often worry about losing accessories. Instead, I want my toys to be durable, solid and most importantly, playable. I'm not so sure I can explain it right. For example, attractive as the SRC Sentai bots are, I still prefer the DX figures because of transformation, ratcheting joints and stability. Limited articulation? I don't mind as there are less joints to worry about wearing out. I also enjoy fancy but non-intrusive electronics and gimmicks. I guess you can say I like my toys to be more...toy-like. In the past, Transformers has largely fulfilled this role. Excellent engineering with decent production values at killer prices made them very attractive. However in recent times, I have been more often disappointed with Transformers than pleased. Figures with loose joints right out of the package, cheap and brittle plastic and transformations that don't lock in tight, Transformers had become steadily boring, which troubled me greatly. I used to justify my Transformers purchases by saying that they were cheap, which was true. But when I looked at my filled shelves of figures I barely play with or look at, I start to wonder if it was worth it even if they were cheap. I wanted to buy less, but I wanted more substantial toys. In the end, I realized that Super Sentai DX toys currently fulfill this role. As for Transformers, I'll discriminate more, even at their cheap prices. Quote:
I think what appeals to us is the engineering and quality involved. For example you mentioned Lego. I very vasually have collected Lego since 06 and something I've noticed is a cponstant push to progress the engineering for better models. For example, Lego is now on its 3rd take on a mini-figure compatible X-Wing and the newest one looks like it could smoke the previous one, and definitely outdoes the original. It's that stride that Lego has, which many manufacturers seem to lack. Megablocks doesn't seem to have the innovation Lego does.
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