I disagree. They're not updates of the 80s toys, but detailed versions of the 80s characters. In most cases that means large redesigns, but for others (Grimlock*, Soundwave) the original version was already good so little change is needed.Originally Posted by Duh_Prez
* The original's main problems were lack of posability and his head was... wrong. The transformation sequence worked quite well.
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What he said. Soundwave, and to a large extent Grimlock simply take advantage of modern engineering. There's little else, apart from the size, to differentiate them from their original toys. That's basically saying their designs from back in the day were good enough. And I'll say it again - what does the Masterpiece version of Sideswipe bring to the table that his Binaltech counterpart doesn't? i think my problem with the development of the Masterpiece line is that its moving away from figures genuinely deserving of a Masterpiece figure (Shockwave, anyone?) and turning into a very expensive Binaltech line, and surely that's not the point?
Sideswipe has a really nice looking realisation of the Countach, but then i can get a model car for that. His robot mode, whilst faithful to the animation model, is also incredibly dull. This also means the upcoming Red Alert repaint will look less like Red Alert and more like Sideswipe (!). I also wonder what the cost of these will be. If Rodimus was appraoching £200 for a smaller figure, then are these two going to slot into the same price bracket? Soundwave you could probably excuse that with if he's coming with all those cassettes (which I doubt), less so Sideswipe. Even if the latter costs what Grimlock did (£130, if memory serves), its going to be hard not to feel short changed. I can forsee both of these getting a cheaper US release down the line though.
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Sideswipe right now preorders for $60-$90, Soundwave for $140-$160 including only Laserbeak.
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Why must the existence of the Alternators / Binaltech line dicate what is done with the Masterpiece line? I'm pleased that you like your alt/bin Sideswipe, I like mine too. But let's be completely honest - that was a toy intended to be for tracks, which had a different head and a minor door reconfiguration added. Plonking a Sideswipe (or whoever) head onto the wrong body does not equal a masterpiece figure.
Don't get me wrong, I like that line a lot. But it is of it's own time. It is it's own line like any other and to regard those figures alongside Masterpiece's really does no justice to either line. It's like placing a war for cybertron Soundwave with a classics G1 collection because they kinda look right. They do kinda look right. But, placing that model Lambo would kind've look right too. Wouldn't be a masterpiece though.
(in any event though, alt Sideswipe has incredibly limited posability due to his kibble; so even if my above argument gains no sympathy, it looks like masterpiece Sideswipe will still improve upon that figure in this respect).
As for Robtimus' (that you Iceman?) suggestion that MP's are updated versions of the characters rather than toys, yes, that is more accurate. Although that does not mean they are not to an extent, a toy upgrade. It has been clear with some of the figures that they have intended to preserve elements of the original transformations - going out of their way to do so at times. But yes, what you say is correct.
However, the circle is complete here with the Soundwave / Grimlock analogy - and I'm not necessarily picking on what I've seen above, but generally, it grinds on me when people say there is little need to produce masterpiece figures of those which already had pretty good G1 figures. I feel these people are missing the point. The masterpiece line may well add articulation, but that is not the end of it. It's about showcasing one character / figure and perfecting it as much as mechanically (and economically) possible. Now that a universal scale has been adopted (and I'm all in favour of that) another aspect has been added. The term "masterpiece" is line wide.
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Sideswipe's a little smaller, judging by the pics available on TFW2005, to keep him 'in scale' with the leaders. I suppose really what i'm getting at, is there a need for a mechanically perfected Sideswipe? Is he deserving of a Masterpiece figure? Out of the raft of recognisable Transformers deserving of the treatment, he wouldn't have been my top priority. Its nice to have my perceptions of the Masterpiece line challenged with this figure and there's clearly an eye on mould resuse for some of these figures (which is fair enough) and a desire to cast the remit of the line wider. It just seems odd to me to bring to the table a figure in a similar size class that was done equally well nearly a decade ago, but then you could say that about any Transformers line, I suppose...
Superhero? No, you were right all along. Name's Death's Head. I kill people for a living!
It is indeed
Oh, I agree. Although I have a G1 Grimlock, I also bought MP-08 and MP-08X, simply because they are better. The only problem with them is their lack of size - Grimlock should have been taller than Prime. That probably would mean a price increase of at least $40 though.However, the circle is complete here with the Soundwave / Grimlock analogy - and I'm not necessarily picking on what I've seen above, but generally, it grinds on me when people say there is little need to produce masterpiece figures of those which already had pretty good G1 figures. I feel these people are missing the point. The masterpiece line may well add articulation, but that is not the end of it. It's about showcasing one character / figure and perfecting it as much as mechanically (and economically) possible. Now that a universal scale has been adopted (and I'm all in favour of that) another aspect has been added. The term "masterpiece" is line wide.
Although I agree with you that Sideswipe isn't the most obvious choice (Shockwave, Jazz or Prowl are much more iconic), don't forget that Hasbro and Takara are still companies that need to make money. Sideswipe automatically gets a Red Alert retool, Tigertracks, Clampdown, etc, and perhaps even (but I hope not) Sunstreaker. Shockwave's mould would have about zero reusability. Jazz has a bit more (Zoom Zoom (ugh) or with retooling Prowl), Prowl would have Silverstreak, Bluestreak (yes I would see HasTak release both if they can) and with retooling Smokescreen.
However, the problem with Prowl would be that the Alt mould (well, that of Smokescreen / Silverstreak / Red Alert) already looks a lot like the original form. The car is different, but the transformation and robot forms look alike. People would buy Prowl (simply because Prowl and Red Alert should have been swapped as some people have already done), but skip Streak and Smokescreen. That leaves only a possible Bluestreak (for the sake of the colouring).
There is no I in TEAM... but there is ME
I've cooled down quite a bit on Sideswipe/Red Alert (Soundwave is a must have though). If you have a display of leader MP figures and some BTs/Alts, a figure that's apparently only slightly larger than a Classics Deluxe is going to look a bit runty. Given the prices being listed for him, I'm happy to skip him and wait for a cheaper Hasbro version. As said, it's a shame we didn't get a Shockwave or Skyfire instead (although given the trend of approx 10" MPs, I'm afraid that a potential Skyfire will end up like Grimlock and be only the standard MP height, when he should be at least MP-01/05 size.
I completely agree about the selection of Sideswipe being a bit odd. Well, no. From a repaint view, it's a good choice. Would I have preferred the line to stick with leader type figures? Yes, but in all honesty that ship sailed a long time ago. Also, from a very selfish point of view, TakTom's decision to move onto the car-formers means I may one day own a MP Tracks
The other posts above - no offence intended - are making the sme mistakes that many are making. It is quite clear that TKTom are basically rebooting the MP line, with scale being a consistent factor. (as stated previously, I am in favour of this). The new Prime, Rodimus, Soundwave and Grimlock are now of much more more closely sized. So to me, Grimlock is much more in scale with the new masterpiece line. (a head taller would still have been nice, but he no longer feels diddy).
As for the new Sideswipe looking diddy next to Alternators - that's my same argument from above again. Alternators are not Masterpieces. Don't display them together.
I'm happy to admit I display my Alts with my old masterpiece's; and that's how they will stay. My new masterpieces will also be seperate. In fact, to be honest, as much as we (fans generally) have made a big deal out of the scale change, it is really only Prime and Megs who had the original giant masterpiece releases. I'm happy to buy those again at a smaller size if it means I get. Much better masterpiece line as a result. And they are still 2 nice figures to display independantly.
(nb - I am aware that last part is slightly voided if you own the magnus / slew of black primes. But seriously, if you spent masterpiece money on the white inner Prime robot that Takara told you to call "Ultra Magnus" then you deserve to lose out)
You can now buy tickets for Auto Assembly 2013 at www.autoassembly.org.uk That's what the cool kids do.
I just hope that masterpiece line doesn't just end up being G1 redux...
Superhero? No, you were right all along. Name's Death's Head. I kill people for a living!
I disagree! Personally I think the alt/BT figure is garbage and I'm more than happy to see a - in loose terms - "replacement". Granted, it wouldn't be my first choice for an MP either, but I love the Countach and I love the original Sideswipe toy (and probably own the mold 10 times over) and will most likely buy every repaint/tool of this that's made. It may not be the most needed/deserving MP, but I like it.Sideswipe's a little smaller, judging by the pics available on TFW2005, to keep him 'in scale' with the leaders. I suppose really what i'm getting at, is there a need for a mechanically perfected Sideswipe? Is he deserving of a Masterpiece figure? Out of the raft of recognisable Transformers deserving of the treatment, he wouldn't have been my top priority. Its nice to have my perceptions of the Masterpiece line challenged with this figure and there's clearly an eye on mould resuse for some of these figures (which is fair enough) and a desire to cast the remit of the line wider. It just seems odd to me to bring to the table a figure in a similar size class that was done equally well nearly a decade ago, but then you could say that about any Transformers line, I suppose...
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