nhyone

11 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

I can't tolerate the robot mode at all, though. As Bobby noted, it looks like the cartoon from dead-on, but it looks like an unfinished mess from other angles, especially the feet and backpack.

This is Takara's current design. We can see it in MP-44 and Unicron as well.

On 10/5/2019 at 1:00 PM, mikeszekely said:

Given Omega's size, I think the comparison most people want to see is it and one of the MP-esque third party versions.  Could Titan Omega be a cheaper stand-in for an MP shelf?  Well, here he is with the only one I have, DX9's Gabriel.

This review makes me want to buy DX9's Gabriel. 

7 hours ago, anime52k8 said:

MS-01S: dead body edition.

I can't imagine there is much demand for this. I wonder how many units MS will make.

Zeta says: "Thank you for your concern. We will come out with better toys."

If true, this implies that ZetaToys will still be around.

I'm still of the opinion that Hasbro can't really enforce its G1 IP much, especially in China.

16 hours ago, captain america said:

I think it's fair to say that sufficient pressure was applied to sink the Core Star.

I agree. Hasbro was able to take down the videos because they mentioned "Unicron".

But ZetaToys itself? My belief is that Hasbro is unable to go after them directly -- unless someone shows that they were served C&D letter.

The way ZT phrases it, "it looks like it will be aborted (abandoned) this time", there is some uncertainty.

(I use 'may' previously, but now I think 'will' is closer. 'Looks like it will be ...' = likely to happen.)

Will they be uncertain if Hasbro sued them?

Maybe the factory got cold feet or retailers declined to carry Core Star, so they couldn't proceed. For now, at least.

Zeta Toys has removed their full-figure reveal of Core Star on their weibo page. This is interesting times.

Seige will scratch the G1 itch for many people, I think, at a fraction of the price of 3P.

That's how you destroy 3P, by taking their market away.

On 9/11/2019 at 1:27 PM, eXis10z said:

Wait.. what happen to Toy World? I'm still waiting for that optimus. ThreeA's a little too expensive for me.

https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/hasbro-has-taken-legal-action-on-transformer-kos-in-china.1180249/page-14#post-17188698

IMO, Hasbro has a case here because unlicensed 3P looks too alike an official product.

Keyword being 'official product'.

G1 IP infringement? Hasbro has a long fight ahead.

1 hour ago, tekering said:

Why all the hate for MP-36, all of a sudden?

It has always been there.

Even on day one:

- its high price

- its unfinished back

- its foreshortened upper body

13 minutes ago, JB0 said:

What's even the point of removable exhausts if you can't use them as guns?

There's a choice of two lengths.

1 hour ago, mikeszekely said:

Thing is, it's not exactly Hasbro deciding where the line is.

I meant legal lines, of course.

Didn't a toy shop use "Optimus Prime" to describe Toy World's figure recently and Hasbro send the cease-and-detest letter immediately?

Hasbro is watching -- all the time.

8 hours ago, captain america said:

If the Haslab crowdfunding fails, and based on how it is at a virtual stall now it likely will, then you can bet your a$$ that Hasbro will unleash their legal "Unicron" on 3P, and Zeta in particular.

While many people think Hasbro is tolerating the presence of 3P, I don't share that view. Cross the line, Hasbro will come after you faster than you can transform your 3P figure.

Clearly over the line: trademark and counterfeit

At the line: KO and stuff that resembles their physical products

Not that close to the line: 3P G1 stuff (IP violation)

For example, TE-01 comes with the Autobot insignia sticker sheet. I thought that was bold of them, but apparently it was okay.

And why was the v2 head not installed by default? Maybe it is too close for comfort. (Because it is based on MP-44.)

41 minutes ago, tekering said:

This could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.  The threat of litigation could bring down the whole third-party market.

I don't know. Given what just happened to Toy World, the fact that they still went ahead says they think they are on safe grounds.

1 hour ago, tekering said:

HasTak are desperately trying to crowdfund their figure, and you're trying to take money out of their pocket, enticing them with an unlicensed version of the same character.

If you think about it, it was Zeta Toys that was scooped by HasLab. It was supposed to be their big reveal on Aug 10. They decided to hold back until Sep 1, except HasLab extended their campaign and ZT said, "not going to wait anymore".

ZT is planning to release this end of this year. They don't have much time.

On 9/6/2019 at 6:07 AM, Negotiator said:

So this is the toy that got Toy World into trouble...

On 8/31/2019 at 4:41 PM, Negotiator said:

zeta unicron, under 200?? i'm in.  curious what the back of that thing looks like.  

Brightened-up images:

The back of the planet is extremely panel-ly.

I have also brightened the front images that I previously uploaded.

6 hours ago, David Hingtgen said:

It's the opposite of what MP's used to be.

MP is now all about "stepping straight out of the cartoon" now.

I don't mind, since I never hold it to the realistic alt mode, toon bot mode model.

3 hours ago, JB0 said:

Didn't we used to call that kind of transformation a "shell-former"? I miss the days when the different modes were expected to share parts.

HasLab Unicron is a shellformer. The bot is hiding in the shell. MP-44 is an inside-out transformer?

On 8/26/2019 at 8:53 AM, anime52k8 said:

Nicee painted prototype. also showing off the alternate head and kibble configuration

Pretty thick hips. The pink is too dark for my liking.

I should not have pre-ordered it so early. 

On 8/29/2019 at 7:17 AM, mikeszekely said:

Exactly the same here. FT's Brawn doesn't look like a huge improvement over BC's, but I don't have a Warpath yet.

I have no interest in Brawn. I rather have both Wardog and Sheridan.

Since no one has done it...

Zeta Toys really need to pay their electrical bills.

4 minutes ago, kajnrig said:

What are you guys talking about it can't be that siiiiiiiiiigggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh god damn it god damn it god damn it

I must be doing something wrong cos I don't see any out-of-place articles/links when I search for his name. 

8 hours ago, anime52k8 said:

I've never shopped on TaoBao.

In any case, you can only ship D12 to the US via third-party forwarders.

From my post in TFW:

I've checked with them: 70cm x 50cm x 58cm, sum = 178cm.

Zhongshan EMS limit is 80cm for the longest side, 130cm in total. JCEX limit is 80cm for the longest side, 150cm in total. It won't be possible to ship DX9 D12 in its original packaging to USA using the official forwarders.

Based on the dimensions, the volumetric weight is 33.8 kg! Looks like this option is out.

20 hours ago, anime52k8 said:

Still don't know if I like the DX9 sufficiently more to justify the price.

What's the cheapest you can find DX9 D12 for?

On TaoBao, some sellers are listing him at ~800 yuan (US$114)! It looks like they just can't get rid of him...

(This is why I'm not surprised DX9 does not release the blue guardian.)

At this price, it is really a "no-brainer", not even considering that it is the best looking OS in bot mode (YMMV).

Shipping would be very expensive, though, so be sure to check it out first.

I'm still thinking, though. I don't feel the need for OS in my collection -- yet. 

21 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

Plus the Takara mall and some retailers are taking orders, and we don't know when/if they're counted in the 8000.

The answer is yes.

It is being offered by Hasbro China on TMall, along with many TaoBao sellers, for the China market.

The text there says it is jointedly marketed by HasLab, Hasbro CN and TakaraTomy. It also mentions a worldwide target of 8,000. Not met = not made.