protostar8

Is anyone else disappointed by the Gurren Lagann's lack of the backpack wings and drill accessories (at least I don't see any of that stuff on display). The Revoltech figures usually have tons of accessories and all I see is a boomerang/sunglasses weapon and a changeable head/face. I figured we'd at least get a giant drill.

So what group seems to have the best subs out? I don't want a link or anything, but a name would be nice since Animesuki lists a ton of groups.

I kinda hope they change their minds and run the series straight through since it will more than likely take a full year to show the series anyway. That is unless they do what Seed did and make two series.

The new human figures look good, but what's taking my Revy Motoko Kusanagi so long?

I want a Motoko Kusanagi too!!!!!!! That would be one of the best figures from the line hands down, especially if they use the GITS: SAC outfit and character. Heck, they'd even get a limited release invisible special edition out of the mold too.

Just something I want to add...I think the anime industry is experiencing the same problems other media industries are experiencing. The industry is seeing pissed off people that are finally fed up with exorbitantly priced media. I can't find myself willing to shell out $10 for a movie ticket when I can watch it on DVD (from Blockbuster) for half that price and have it for a week or two and let my other family members see it. The same applies to anime in a way, I can't see paying for a crappy American version years after the Japanese release. I can't really rent anime from anywhere and I don't think I would b/c by the time the American releases begin, I've seen the entire series in Japan. Merchandise is another story, I'll buy that stuff forever if I like what comes out and if I can get it cheaper in the US (never happens but if it did) I'd be all for it, even if I had to wait an extra month or two.

Again, I support the industry, just not through the purchase of cheaply produced, overpriced, poorly dubbed, months old (compared to Japanese release) DVD's. I buy merchandise and that supports their broke behinds too!!! And there is little chance I would be buying that merchandise without having seen the subbed Japanese releases.

Yeah that is the ARX-8 Laevatein.

Awesome, thanks for the info. Now they need to release the Arbalest I guess...

What's the tan colored one from (the one off the far right with the big cannon at its hip)? It kinda looks like a Full Metal Panic Arbalest, but not really (unless it's the Arbalest ARX-8 b/c I've never seen a picture of that mech).

You know, a very simple solution may exist to this problem. The companies can basically argue that the anime broadcast on a "free" station is "free" b/c you get commercials. What do commercials do??? They show you a product and make you want to buy it. Therefore, if the anime company would work together with subtitle groups, they could design websites full of images of products (which when we are talking about anime we're really talking about figures/shirts/accessories). The sites could also have randomly cycling intro screens for other products likes major businesses in the US who would pay to advertise to anime watchers to draw business (like Blockbuster). Thus, to download the anime, you would be exposed to lots of commercial related images, which would more than likely have the same effect if not a higher effect (when referring to anime specific items) as the potential buyer sees what the company has to offer. Heck, if I could go to a Gundam 00 or Macross F site and see tons of shots of toys and shirts and stuff before I got to the anime itself, I may just see something I want to buy. This could also insure quality subtitles since the subbers would work directly with the anime producer.

I read most of the article, but I haven't read any of the replies, so if my post is the same as someone elses, my bad.

I agree that waiting years to see a show in America is ridiculous. On top of that, the dubbing companies usually have crappy voice work IMO. Also, DVD's are way overpriced even when they come out years after a show finishes its run in Japan. I will never stop downloading new fansubbed shows, however I would be open to a subscription to a legit company in Japan if they did as good of a job subbing as fansubbers did (no XCHKS type of companies, I mean ones that actually know English from Engrish). I also would want to download the episodes and not just stream them b/c streaming quality is lacking compared to download quality in general.

Companies need to realize that they are putting out crap years after the majority of people who care about it have seen it, so why would people want to buy crappy versions of things they've seen???

Also, the most fundamental problem is the fact that the companies ignore the fact that their sales would be almost zero to US citizens if not for fansubbers...I'm talking about merchandise. Hell, HLJ is a shining example of this. How many people would be buying stuff from companies like HLJ or other anime/manga merchandise heavy places if not for the fansubs? I support the industry BIG TIME, just not by purchasing crappy Amerime versions of stuff I've seen. I buy the toys/models/keychains/etc. and I guarantee that stuff is worth more than the DVD set. In reality, these companies would have probably went belly up if not for support of merchandise buyers (if the article really is true about how badly fansubbing is hurting the industry b/c that implies that Americans constitute a large sum of money being lost), so they should be supporting the idea of a fansub subscription package instead of saying fansubbers are driving them out of business b/c they wouldn't have the American business anyway if not for fansubbing.

By the way, I've read at Yaco that those extra weapon set for Megahouse is a mail-away...

Well that sucks. I bet you have to buy both of their Ride Armors to get that too (or pay them extra).

It's such a small thing that I'd rather make it then pay the $15-20 it would cost to get someone to help you get the mail away item.

You know, I really like where I feel the CMs Corp figure should fit in (small scale Microman style playable figure), but based on price point and such... that photo just doesn't favorably compare them. The MH figure blows the CMx one out of the water there...

One thing tho, I noticed that the MH fig pics in armor mode don't show the legs extended... I hope they actually do on the figure, as it can look slightly goofy without the longer legs...

The person who took those pictures of the MH one messed up and extended the legs when the person had no armor on instead of when they had the armor on.

I'm still wondering why CM's has a solid black hip armor piece.

The pictures below are of MH Rei.

MHouse wins! What you got now CM?? Hah? Whats that? Same price and still can't add the extra hand weapons?

tisk tisk tisk! Hope it's not a weapon package bought separately... anyone can read this?

Yeah a translation to give us some kind of idea would be nice.

Just noticed. Why is the right side hip plate solid black on the CM figures??? Is that how it's supposed to be or do you guys think it's a screw up and will be fixed by release?

I'm more surprised by those of you surprised by the price than I am of the price itself. CMs stuff is always expensive.

But they actually have to compete with 3 other companies, which should force them to lower the price to be competitive. Obviously it hasn't because I noticed that in the add, there are two separate areas that point to each of the figures and have 6300Yen listed, so I'm going to assume that the prices are separate. Usually CM goes after a market that nobody else is doing and can charge whatever they want b/c it's pay their high price or get nothing. In this case, it's pay their high price or pay a lower price and get a bigger, sharper figure (IMO) from MegaHouse. So far, all three companies that have shown figures have issues with proportions. MegaHouse's has neck issues and you need to remove a few parts for transformation, CM's has a GIANT helmet, Toynami's is very blocky/thick looking.

Do you think that maybe the price is for both Rei and Stig?

If it is, then they got my money, despite that big 'ole head (see my post on pg 26-ish of the CM Tread thread for an explanation). It just doesn't make sense if it's for separate figures compared to prices and looks and sizes of other cyclones/ride armors.

The Toynami Alphas were also *actively* being discussed here.

Thank you for correcting me.

I didn't mean any harshness towards you. Sorry.

I think the Tread/Legioss look okay. Definitely a unique take on the designs. I'd buy them if they were reasonably priced (I know I've said that a lot lately), but I just don't see it happening now that I see the final designs and gimmicks. I guess it's back to trying to make my own out of paper/paper to connect to my Crapnami Alpha.

Also, the last pic in the bottom right of the big advertisement makes the head of the cyclone rider look HUGE. Look how much more helmet there is after his face ends. The picture next to that one also makes the helmet look way out of proportion compared to the non-armored body. And those just really don't look worthy of the price tag w/ that "plastic" look. They just look like cheap toys you might get for $30-ish bucks, not double that.

I had heard this rumored sometime back, but this is the first I've seen a pre-order:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product...mp;picture=aux2

It's the Aoshima Alpha, which is Toynami's Alpha but with some extra missiles and a missile battery accessory. What's Aoshima's reputation for QC? Or is Aoshima just another word for Toynami?

I'm not trying to be mean, but the thread to discuss those is on page 2 of this section of the forums. Here's a link to the thread.

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=22156

Those are precisely the problems I have with the Tread as well.

If it is as overpriced as those ride-armors though, they can count me out in all likelihood.

I love Mospeada mecha, but I don't pay that kind of money for toys.

To be honest, it would be a stretch for me to pay $150 for the Tread/Legioss set. I just can't justify spending that kind of money on single toys anymore (especially with things like video games and local toys like Transformers Animated right around the corner, not to mention Classics 2.0 that will cost a small fraction of what a single japanese toy does).

120mm = 4.724 inches. I'm guessing that's the height in Armor mode. In that case, with an actual height of 2.05 meters, this thing is a hair smaller than 1/17 scale. Bigger than I thought, and they look good, too. I was hoping for a cheaper alternative to the Megahouse, but with Japanese toys, when is anything cheaper?

There were cheaper valkyries that were about this height for Macross fans (I got one shipped for $12 and it had all the extra armor and it was awesome). Lots of Gundam figures in the FIX line are incredible figures with tons of accessories for cheaper than $45. CM is just flat out overpriced, especially with competitive market like the one that's forming.

I forgot to add that I know that the company can be pricey sometimes, but it's usually in areas where they have no competition at all so they can demand however much they want.

Like I said in the other thread. They look good but are WAY too expensive for their size. $40 each would have been more than enough.

CMs toys are always really expensive, so it shouldn't really come as a surprise that their Ride Armors are $60+. I'm guessing the Legioss & Beta combo will be around $250.

Then I won't be getting that either. What the hell happened to reasonably priced toys like Transformers in Japan to make the current toys so expensive?

HOLY CRAP!!! 6300Yen for those tiny ass things!!! CM loses my money on that one. It looks cool, but that size and the lack of other accessories (not included with MegaHouse's), etc. doesn't justify the price tag. Maybe though that's the price for a set or something. Makes me think that the Tread/Legioss is going to be WAY overpriced, like more overpriced than Toynami's Beta is going to be.

The things that I don't like about the CM one are:

1.) The small cockpit area. It's just not proportional to the rest of the body.

2.) The exposed shoulder area that makes it look like a piece of the arm is missing in fighter mode.

3.) The way the missiles sit way above the fighter in fighter mode.

If they fix those things, I'd like it a lot more. I still plan to get it if it's REASONABLY priced (less than $150) and they fix the Legioss b/c that really did look bad in fighter mode.

Thanks for the updated info, SaveRobotech!!

Two additional questions:

1) Does it look like CM's made the Legioss/Tread connection more flush this time (no noticeable split/dip in the combo this time around)?

2) How's the Legioss look in fighter mode now?

I'm curious about those exact two things as well b/c before, the fighter mode looked horrible.

One other question, did the shape of the Tread change at all or is it still pretty much the same (their version was pretty rounded and didn't really look like the original design of the "flying brick" like Toynami's).

The first picture is CM's one from the last show (a long time ago) in case anyone hasn't seen it.

The second picture is Toynami's I think. I personally like the Toynami one's overall flow and traditional style better than the one CM presented. I really hope CM's is a bit better proportioned now.

so far, probably the megahouse because it looks more detailed but i don't know nor own any of the toys they put out.

you already know toynami is putting out some substandard, why even bother?

CM's looks like they haven't gotten very far, or anywhere for that matter.

To be fair, CM's really doesn't look that bad. It's basically a test shot (maybe even pre-test shot since there isn't any ride armor mode shown), so who knows how theirs will end up.

Whew. I made it in time.

Sorry if it's been asked before but I'd like to know how good is the build/quality control for Megahouse figures?

I'm kinda curious to know that too??? I've never bought anything from them that I'm aware of. I'd wager it's pretty good though b/c they make all the palm action figures and those are supposed to be fairly good.