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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    But to my thinking, if TT are going to produce these as a gift set, much like both CW and UW Devastator, why not just do that with all of them? It seems to be that would be a cost effective measure, since TT are producing them anyway. All they need to do is increase the production run, which generally saves money over the long term rather than making special variants like TT are doing. If both companies release sets of the same figs, it would likely cut costs on both sides. I guess not, since that's not what Hasbro is doing, but it makes more sense to me to make identical products for both companies. Moot point. As long as Takara continue to put out improved versions of the TFs I want, they'll be getting my money. Hasbro can suck it!
  2. M'Kyuun
    I've been waiting for TT's Bruticus to be revealed, expecting that they would make a proper shuttle mode Blast Off, so this is good news. Hopefully clear pics will emerge soon so we can see what's on the table. I do have to wonder, though, if TT are willing and able to make all the limbs of these things properly relative to their originals, why isn't Hasbro just releasing the same toys? I'd expect, given their close working relationship, that Hasbro are aware of TT's plans, so it perplexes me that they are releasing substandard versions of these guys with sh!tty paint apps, improper limb alt modes, and in Devastator's case, lack of articulation, among other features and details. I know the argument will come that Hasbro sees these as purely children's toys and that the kids will neither know nor care that these updated versions of old toys are not entirely accurate to their originals; however, Hasbro is acutely aware that there are a lot of grown men and women filling their coffers with hard earned cash these days, and we have financial resources far exceeding that of Hasbro's intended demographic, which they also know. They also know that we know our sh!t when it comes to these toys, and every subpar release is a huge disappointment, which drives folks like me to wait for TT's eventual superior release. Which brings me back to my original question: why not just release the same toys as TT? More and more, these shenanigans are compelling me to buy the TT versions...so yes, as Mike so elegantly stated above, Hasbro can , indeed, eat a d***. One gripe for both versions, however: I wish they'd ditch the awkward and insufficient hand/foot/weapon accessories and just make proper feet and hands, similar to what Perfect Effect are doing. It would vastly improve the look and articulation of the combined modes, even if the hands and feet just have to be set aside when they're not joined. Small price to pay, methinks.
  3. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    A really bulky upper torso and arms would be a nice contrast to the thin lanky -31, or just about every other valk out there, for that matter. The VF-31's forearms are really thin...they don't look right even to me, and I like lanky bots. If the Sv-262 ends up being a little bulky, that'd be a welcome departure from the norm.
  4. M'Kyuun
    To that end, I hope CW Devy does well enough to spark Takara's interest in putting out a MP version. I'd be really happy if they sold maybe two figs a year for around $80 a figure. That'd be a nice pace, and I could afford to get the whole team, and still pick up the other MP releases. Plus new valks. And LEGO. Gaaah! too many expensive addictions.
  5. M'Kyuun
    There exists quite a disparity between the quality of design and engineering in his MP toys as compared to either version of Devastator, IMHO. I wouldn't have even guessed he was part of the Devastator design team, honestly. But I guess he and the rest of the team were under more restrictive constraints for the CW line than the MP line. Shame really; such iconic characters as the Constructicons, and Devastator by extension, should have been given their just due, since he's arguably the best known and probably the most popular of the combiners, and he still would have sold well at the $200, even $250 price tag for improved individual bot modes. Oh well, at this point, it's a dead horse, and I shan't beat it any longer. Looking forward to more G1 MP goodness for 2016. Since we already have Ironhide, Ratchet, and Shockwave coming, I wonder who the next figures will be. My hope is for Jazz, Hound, Mirage, and maybe Brawn, Cliffjumper, or Huffer for the Autobot camp, and V2 Megatron, Reflector, Insecticons, or a new F-15 design (the current one is ok, but not without its flaws) to help fill out the Decepticons. It's a shame we probably won't get MP Constructicons, as they made their appearance in the first season, and quite often thereafter in numerous episodes and the Movie. Third parties to the rescue! Also curious to see what Takara rolls out for their Beast Wars MP line. I wish Alex Kubalsky still worked for Takara- that guy was an amazing designer, and I think he'd have been a great asset for the MP design team.
  6. M'Kyuun
    Considering 3P Devies, it's a tough choice. I also favor Giant over Hercules. Gravity Builder's bots have some amazing looking construction vehicle modes, which appeals to me, but they took serious license with the bot modes. Toyworld's bots are pretty plain in their alt modes, although I absolutely love that their Scavenger and Bonecrusher have actual rolling treads. That kind of engineering is what I think of in terms of MP quality...it's tough to pull off, but I think they did it beautifully. And, their Long Haul is the most evocative of the G1 toy, which I also love. All their bot modes are pretty faithful to G1, actually. However, I'm not sure their Long Haul's legs form the legs in combined mode; it looks to me like they're add-ons. Anyway, I'm waiting for reviews on this guy to see if he's worth plunking down $600+. I'm hoping MP Ironhide will be shipping soon; I've got him and a LEGO set sitting in Private Warehouse, and the LEGO set's time is almost up. I also preordered the Takara version of Warrior Class Fracture in Earth motorcycle mode from RiD. Hopefully, they'll all ship together.
  7. M'Kyuun
    I've not actually seen it in person, although TRU had a CW set. The poor, or lack of, articulation on several of the figs' arms just turned me off to the Hasbro release. Articulation is of huge importance to me, esp in a voyager sized figure; Mixmaster, Long haul, Scrapper, and Hook are just exceptionally poor figures, IMO. The Takara version had me slightly interested, but after looking at pics and reviews, they still do not appeal to me. Devastator, OTOH, looks brilliant, and seems to have been the greatest focus of the design, which is understandable, I guess. But I've always been partial to Long Haul and Scavenger, and I had high anticipation to see how they looked when Devy was first announced and shown. When the pics finally came of the individual Constructicons, it became readily apparent that their designs were secondary and lacking. Big letdown. I've been considering third party releases, but they're all fairly costly. With lots of new LEGO, Macross, and other TF stuff coming out in 2016, I'll probably just live without Devastator. Plus I owe escrow on my house. Priorities. Shrug.
  8. M'Kyuun
    I want to like this so bad, but too much was sacrificed for the combined mode. For voyager sized figures, I would have expected the individual bots' arms to be far better designed and better proportioned , esp Long Haul. I also would have expected the vehicle modes to have better working features, such as Scavenger's cab section capable of rotation. I really would have loved to have seen them figure out a way to make Long Haul's bed actually dump. Not sure if any of the third parties have even been able to manage that, but it'd be a nice bit of polish. I'm not crazy about Mixmaster's front dispensing cement truck mode; the old rear dispensing truck would have made a better looking Mixmaster, not to mention it'd be true to the source. I'm actually surprised Takara didn't produce a different Mixmaster figure for their version, since they seem obsessed with cartoon accuracy. I was seriously thinking about grabbing the Unite Warriors version, but having watched two reviews, there are just too many compromises that I can't get past, esp since my Constructicons would spend most of their time in their individual bot modes on the shelf due to space restrictions. I will say, the Devastator mode is about as good as it can possibly be, minus Mixmaster's odd little foot. All things considered, I'm disappointed in this set. For those who love it, I'm happy for you...it's just not hitting the mark for me.
  9. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    Funny you say that- I was thinking the same thing. Or four arms. I doubt it, but it would certainly set it apart. The Octos from Zero is the only other quadruped styled mech I'm aware of in Macross, and it didn't get much love despite the fact that it was a cool and aggressive looking design. Transforming boats just aren't as cool as jets, I guess. An oceanic series with variable combat watercraft would make for interesting viewing. Macross: Aquatic, anyone? Variable subs, battleships, cruisers, and carriers with a host of new valks, underwater bases, and genetically altered people who can breathe underwater...just a few ideas. I digress. I'm also curious why they're keeping such a tight lid on the 262's other modes, esp with the buildup about its uniqueness. If I was Bandai, I'd want pics of the thing out there to whet appetites.
  10. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    Heeeey, the VF-4 doesn't look awkward....I love its battroid mode. My only beef with the Yamato version is that the shoulders don't rotate, which greatly and ridiculously diminishes its range of motion. When I built my LEGO version, I made sure to alleviate that restriction. "All new transformation" makes me far more excited than apprehensive. The YF-19 was an all new transformation, as well as the SV-51, and the VF-25, and even the VF-4, relative to the ubiquitous VF-1 style transformation that became somewhat of a standard with transforming jets in the 80s. ( Diaclone F-15 design notwithstanding, which was also Kawamori's) So, given that Mr. Kawamori continues to churn out new and interesting, if not functional, mechanical transformations, I have high expectations that this will be an interesting valk. I'd find it very interesting if that ventral cannon ends up attached to an arm-I like that kind of integration. Anyway, as long as it doesn't share any of the fugliness of the VA-3 Invader, which had potential to be a whole lot cooler if those legs had been designed differently, I think I'll be pleasantly surprised when the big reveal comes. And come soon, I vehemently hope.
  11. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    Unlike a number of other valks, this one hides its battroid parts really well, aside from the feet/exhaust nozzle. Although I'm neither a fan of the Draken's design, nor this particular paint scheme, I'm really curious to see how this transforms, and the final look of the battroid. Hopefully the B and G modes will be forthcoming soon.
  12. M'Kyuun
    I love BW; heck I even like BM. However, when it comes to the figures, I'd much prefer my TFs turn into vehicles and other machines. That said, my curiosity is piqued to see what MP Primal's, and Megatron's, final designs look like. I was actually really hoping Takara'd develop some sort of fur/skin coverings to make these things more closely resemble animals. It's the kind of thing they would have tried in the 80's. Say what you like about the cheesiness and clunkiness of some 80's toys, but the sheer amount of experimentation and variety in toys was awesome. We just don't see that too much now.
  13. M'Kyuun
    New photo of prototype MP Optimus Primal has been released on TFW2005: http://news.tfw2005.com/ My first impression is that it looks alot like the Voyager Primal toy, which was a really good figure, but not really MP quality. I was really hoping they'd bust out some new tech know-how to hide all the joints and give him a more accurate screen look. But, this is still a very early render, so things may change, hopefully improve, as time goes on.
  14. M'Kyuun
    That last one never occurred to me. That would be an interesting turn of events. But, it would also be too coincidental. One of the things that ruined the Prequels was Lucas' attempt to try and relate so much to what was in the OT. Esp the Threepio and R2 stuff. He could easily have waited until the third movie in the Prequels to introduce them as Bail Organa's droids, show them being sold to Captain Antilles of the Tantive VI, and been done with it. Just my opinion.
  15. M'Kyuun
    I saw it this morning with my wife, and greatly enjoyed it.
  16. M'Kyuun
    Such corruption! Now they say that with regularity on the Sy-Fy Channel. Taken as a whole, they did stuff in TF:TM that was unheard of in animation at that time in America. Japanese audiences probably found it comparatively tame. I remember finding Battle of the Planets (G-Force) fascinating at an early age, probably around 6 or 7. There was a lot of mature stuff, beyond deaths, going on. It was profound to me at such a young age. And of course, Speed Racer's enemies were often dispatched violently. The only American animation with maturity that I recall fondly was Johnny Quest. It was a cool show, but I fervently wished for Bandit to die in every episode. I hated that cartoon dog.
  17. M'Kyuun
    Likewise. Although, I could live without Wheelie, Blurr, and Hot Rod. But that movie still has an emotional impact. Lots of good quotes, too. and ...Unicron. But I do get where Myk is coming from as far as the Movie's being a vehicle to push new toys for Hasbro, hence the jarring demise of most of the original Autobot lineup, and a few Decepticons along the way. But, obviously, there's still an allure to those original characters, as the CHUG line, and the MP line, both seem to be doing well, not to mention IDW's comics. Generations/CW stuff doesn't warm the pegs like Bay's movie toys. In my area, the Generations stuff is almost always tough to find; the CW toys hang around a little longer, but they still sell. The RID stuff seems to warm the pegs a bit too. I've only bought a few of them, just b/c the designs appealed to me. I haven't watched the show. In the right hands with a director who cares about the property and the characters, Prime and the rest of the Autobots could be noble characters who fight out of an obligation to defend themselves and Earth from the Decepticons, and any other threats. Bay's turned the Autobots into thugs who don't even like or get along with each other, led by a psychopathic version of Prime. It's like one of those mirror Earth stories where the good guys on our planet are the villains in their world and vice versa. I hope these movies falter in popularity and earnings, and we get a good reboot. I don't think it needs to be slaved to G1, but at least keep the fundamental essence of the original show.
  18. M'Kyuun

    Bandai DX VF-31

    M'Kyuun replied to UN Spacy's topic in Toys

    Or an otaku character who has a whole collection of valks on a shelf...just a quick scene, but in there as a wink and a nod.
  19. M'Kyuun

    Bandai DX VF-31

    M'Kyuun replied to UN Spacy's topic in Toys

    While it would be cool to see her flying proud in Delta, the VF-4 is vintage at this point in the timeline, and likely retired to the Macross equivalent of Davis-Monthan. I wouldn't doubt that some form of the VF-25, or variant, will show up in Delta. But I still hold out hope for at least one or two additional new designs.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Enjoyed the article. Thanks! Loved reading all that history. I liked his comment about the mash up of unrelated anime in Robotech; I found it jarring when I tried watching the series. Hopefully, he'll add autobiography to his to-do list, and it gets worldwide distribution. Put his pic on the cover surrounded by pics of a number of his designs, esp G1 Optimus Prime, Starscream, and the VF-1, and it'd be sure to garner attention in the West.
  21. M'Kyuun

    Bandai DX VF-31

    M'Kyuun replied to UN Spacy's topic in Toys

    Well, thus far, we've only seen color variations of the same two valk designs. My hope is that there will be more valks, hopefully in different roles, such as bombers, ECS, or recon, to fill out the roster. Thinking practically, if we had variable mecha technology as a common staple in our current military, we would no doubt employ that tech across all roles/mission specific equipment types. I thought the Octos was a cool addition to Zero, but it got little attention, and no toy or models; but I liked that Kawamori-san was thinking in that direction, and included it as a non-aircraft variable mech. It's a logical extension of technology, and human nature, to apply what you know to various applications; I hope we see that demonstrated in Delta, as it would be extremely cool to have ground/water based variable mecha in addition to variable non-fighter mecha. I can only hope; there will never be enough Kawamori-designed variable mecha.
  22. M'Kyuun
    I saw a video of Mr. Cullen at a convention (I think it was BotCon, but I'm not certain) where he mentioned a line, which he wouldn't repeat, but only said to the audience, "you know what line I mean", that he didn't agree with and argued with the filmmakers over. But in his words, the "big boys" got their way, and he said the line. I can only infer he was referring to one of the many lines where Optimus threatens to kill someone. I saw the video before I saw the movie, so I was wondering . After I saw the movie, I was a bit dumbstruck by just how extensively out of character Optimus was in the last movie, in both word and deed. I already knew Bay didn't get it, nor did he care, but Prime was still previously portrayed as a fairly good guy. So my thinking is, Mr. Cullen had to have read the script prior to accepting the job, and presumably had the choice to back out, unless they have him tied to the films by an ironclad contract. I imagine he's getting paid well for the role, esp given the money the movies are generating. He's been a part of this franchise long enough to understand Bay's inclinations, the overall feel and direction of these films, and the questionable portrayal of his character, and other characters, in these films to make an educated judgement call. I'd say the money talks over any objectionable script content. I guess it rubs me the wrong way that, when questioned by fans about objectionable dialog and actions, he cops to 'they made me do it', rather than just being honest and saying ' sorry, but the money's too good to turn down'.
  23. M'Kyuun
    That is the tip of the iceberg of things to change. While I'm not a fan of the designs, I could have tolerated them better if the story and characters were decent. As such, the only positive to come out of the designs were a few years of really complex and interesting transforming toys that also indirectly informed the Animated toy designs. Someone mentioned the weakness of Megatron's character in the last movie or two; I submit that Optimus Prime's character has become so evil and bloodthirsty , and just plain psychopathic, that Megatron is no longer necessary. Prime's sociopathy has negated the need for any further bad guys in this film franchise. Honestly, was there anyone in the last film he didn't threaten to kill? In Bay's universe, freedom is no longer the right of all sentient beings. I often wonder how a set of films, based on a cartoon/toyline with no small amount of nostalgia, which has departed so vastly from its origins, can continue to make money. My theory is that despite how remarkably terrible and disappointing these films are, rabid fans continue, against all demonstrable odds and evidence to the contrary , to hold out hope that 'the next one will be better'. But it won't be better, and so long as those fans pay to see these reprehensible films, Bay will remain a large part of the live action franchise, even in spite of the fact that he's turned one of my greatest childhood heroes into a terrorist. The saddest thing to me is that Hasbro not only lets him continue, but endorses the bastard. I guess money means more than protecting the integrity of your brand. That Robot Chicken vid is great, and so right on target. Such a douche.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Everyone likes what they like. 80's Omega Supreme never appealed to me. But when the Ark transformed into Omega in Animated, I had a "wow" moment. Not to mention, yeah, the original toy was a serious partsformer, and I always thought it odd when the Autobots would fly off in his rocket, and somehow the rest of him appeared magically when he transformed at their destination. I was 13 or 14, but even then I called bullsh1t. Making him become the Ark doesn't jive from a G1 perspective, but it would be easier to realize in a toy, and I'd love it purely out of bias. I'm sure Omega will get the Titan treatment eventually, as there aren't that many of the really big well known characters (at least that I'm aware of, but then I'm only familiar with the cartoon, and some of the comics characters by virtue of their inspired toys), and my feeling is that he'll be based on the G1 character. Either way, I hope Has/Tak make a new version, as he's a classic character in need of a nice updated toy.
  25. M'Kyuun
    Trypticon is going to get a new toy in 2017 as part of the Titan line. http://news.tfw2005.com/page/2/ (scroll down to about the middle of the page) I doubt it will have the walking function, though. But, it should have decent poseability. City-formers aren't really that interesting to me, although I have to agree that Trypticon was the best 80's city-former, and I'm interested to see what they come up with as a modern update. I hope Omega Supreme gets a Titan class toy, heavily influenced by Animated. Love Derrick Wyatt's design, and the fact that he turns into the Ark, which, IMO, is much cooler than a city or battle station.
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