25th Anniversary Optimus Prime pics! [Archive] - Ozformers Transformers Club of Australia (otca.com.au)

SilverDragon

16th August 2008, 10:37 AM

Yup. (http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-286923.html)

And look here for the bio, so you won't destroy your eyes squinting at the blurry picture. (http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/universe-classics-20-reissues-266/optimus-prime-25th-anniversary-re-issue-1839/)

I think it says something that I'm anticipating someone to complain that he isn't the right shade of red or something like that.

Any word on whether this is going to get here?

dirge

16th August 2008, 10:57 AM

That looks tacky alongside Encore packaging and Masterpice packaging (Hasbro's AND Takara's). Pass.

Robzy

16th August 2008, 11:11 AM

Bah! Short stacks!! :mad:

The shade of blue looks unusual... more cartoon accurate

GoktimusPrime

16th August 2008, 11:24 AM

Bah! Short stacks!!
And notice that those ridiculously over-sized missiles are back too! Gah! This is why I generally prefer Takara reissues over Hasbro's.

The shade of blue looks unusual... more cartoon accurate
It is. And the trailer is also a lighter shade of grey. I personally think the show colours don't look as nice on the toy. Also, there's a variant of G2 Optimus Prime which has more show-like lighter blues anyway. So I really have absolutely no reason to get this toy. If people want a reissue G1 Prime, go get an Encore Convoy IMO.

The reprint of issue #1 is a neat bonus though. But of course, it's already been reprinted - and to be honest, it's not a very good comic. But I consider #1 to be a must-have collectible considering that it was the very beginning of Transformers mythos (remembering that this comic came out well before the G1 "More Than Meets The Eye" pilot ever did). But the Titan reprint comes with issues #1-6 anyway so I reckon you'd be better off getting that. It's definitely not worth buying that toy just for the comic book.

http://tfarchive.com/comics/titan/reprints/beginnings_tb.jpghttp://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/thumb/3/33/Ratchetg1first.jpg/180px-Ratchetg1first.jpg
L: Titan's reprint of G1 #1-6 R: Pre-dating the cartoon, the early comics featured more toy-accurate art

Lint

16th August 2008, 11:26 AM

Visually I don't mind the packaging at all but it doesn't look very survivable o_o

The stacks (or lack thereof) are a bummer too

pheonix83

16th August 2008, 11:36 AM

where will that be sold at ?

Pulse

16th August 2008, 12:50 PM

This has nothing on Encore Prime... :rolleyes:

I wonder how these people on actoys get these figures so early? :confused:

GoktimusPrime

16th August 2008, 01:24 PM

I think the over-sized missiles look even worse than the shortened smoke stacks. It's overall just a very ugly reissue. :( 'sif you'd get this over Encore! 'SIF!

where will that be sold at ?
Hasbro reissues are usually Toys R Us exclusive. I would expect it to sell for at least $80.

Encore Convoy meanwhile retailed for 5250JPY (approx. 55AUD) when it came out a year ago. This Encore Convoy on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-G1-Reissue-ENCORE-01-OPTIMUS-PRIME-Convoy_W0QQitemZ320285610604QQihZ011QQcategoryZ469 6QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em122) is selling for 17.99GBP (38.65AUD)

IMO Takara's reissue offers far superior value for money over Hasbro's.

roller

16th August 2008, 01:33 PM

If the thing has a soundbox, why not celebrate a G2 anniversary and reissue G2 Prime??!!!!??? !

Short stacks again for the the general Aust. market???? That will turn us collectors off. And we just know the price tag will be like the early noughties reissues. $80 minimum for a toy that claims to be G1 accurate. Funny, the original had long smoke stacks!

I would like to buy it but its not up there with the important stuff like Universe Ultramagnus or Fortress Maximus

kurdt_the_goat

16th August 2008, 01:34 PM

When you factor in shipping on that Ebay auction, the total cost is closer to $80 still... not that i'm disagreeing that Encore Convoy is the better choice!

kup

16th August 2008, 01:34 PM

roller

16th August 2008, 01:47 PM

I don't find the colors that bad. What kills it is the short smoke staks and the elongated missiles.

I am a bit dissapointed as I wanted to get this Prime to support the franchise, its 25th anniversary afterall . However these modifications are not surprising and they really do damage the look of the toy so I will be giving it a miss.

exactly, you want to support the franchise, but then they give you a toy that could be alot better, simply by a few centimetres of smokestacks.

And, the issue of toy safety, well if the toy turns out to be something like $100 do you really think that a child will want to possess a toy that is in a way 25years old? How many kids today know of G1 optimus that they would want the toy? The answer is so low it doesn't register on the Count Von counts radar.

Its a toy aimed at 20-30 year olds, not kiddies

MV75

16th August 2008, 02:17 PM

I think the over-sized missiles look even worse than the shortened smoke stacks. It's overall just a very ugly reissue. :( 'sif you'd get this over Encore! 'SIF!

Hasbro reissues are usually Toys R Us exclusive. I would expect it to sell for at least $80.

Encore Convoy meanwhile retailed for 5250JPY (approx. 55AUD) when it came out a year ago. This Encore Convoy on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-G1-Reissue-ENCORE-01-OPTIMUS-PRIME-Convoy_W0QQitemZ320285610604QQihZ011QQcategoryZ469 6QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em122) is selling for 17.99GBP (38.65AUD)

IMO Takara's reissue offers far superior value for money over Hasbro's.

I've been saying several times, it's the commemorative version in a new box. Why is this such a revelation now? Didn't anyone actually look at the SDCC news pictures of this thing?

And $80? Yea right, it's going to be US$70, so here I expect nothing less than $100, probably even $120. But TRU did surprise me on the soundwave reissue, so it is possible it will be $80, highly unlikely though.

EDIT: Notice they've now cheap skated the packaging?

This is what it should have been. (http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=view&album=9863&pic=Optimus_03.jpg&dispsize=800&start=0)

Now look at what we get. :D

GoktimusPrime

16th August 2008, 02:17 PM

When you factor in shipping on that Ebay auction, the total cost is closer to $80 still... not that i'm disagreeing that Encore Convoy is the better choice!
Even then, at almost the same price, why not get the Encore?

That was my beef with Hasbro reissues when they first came out 7 years ago... for nearly the same price we could just get Takara reissues. Little wonder they shelf-warmed at TRUs for ages. (-_-)

kurdt_the_goat

16th August 2008, 02:42 PM

The version on AcToys doesn't appear to have the DVD either....

EDIT: Notice they've now cheap skated the packaging?

This is what it should have been. (http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=view&album=9863&pic=Optimus_03.jpg&dispsize=800&start=0)

Now look at what we get. :D

MV75

16th August 2008, 02:46 PM

Yea, I noticed that too.

Now it will be interesting to see if it will be a market variance or not, but I suspect it's just cheap skating.

And the link I put in well, as a consumer/collector, I'd be more willing to purchase that one, not this new one at all.

EDIT: I just read some comments on tfw2005, apparently the US will get that better version with the DVD, the rest of the world won't.

But either way, I'm still just going to get an encore.

Demonac

16th August 2008, 03:59 PM

The thing with the smoke stacks & missiles is that they are required by law to have these 'safety' measures. If they didn't, they would have to market them for an older market.
The problem is that TRU & Wal-Mart aren't going to want 15+ toys cluttering up the shelves. And remember, its these big retailers who tell Hasbro want they want / don't want. So its probably unfair to blame Hasbro for these things.
Personally, I'll probably skip this as well. My 25 year old Prime is fine & dandy. :P

GoktimusPrime

16th August 2008, 04:13 PM

The thing with the smoke stacks & missiles is that they are required by law to have these 'safety' measures. If they didn't, they would have to market them for an older market.
...which is what Takara does.

The problem is that TRU & Wal-Mart aren't going to want 15+ toys cluttering up the shelves.
They wouldn't. You make them:
1/ Targetted at an older audience
2/ Limited production run

As for retailers, they could do what DC Direct does and distribute them via Diamond Select straight to collectible outlets like comic book stores etc.

Takara marketed their reissues at older collectors, manufactured in smaller production numbers and even sold them at regular retail outlets like TRU and they mostly flew off shelves there.

Also, they could reproduce regular G1-accurate sized missiles and just neuter the launchers as they have with some of their other reissues. I think most fans would much prefer that over the oversized missiles. Would it also be possible to manufacture the smokestacks from rubber rather than plastic like with movie Prime?

Demonac

16th August 2008, 04:26 PM

They COULD do that, but that would drastically alter the profit margin on the toys, and I don't think the shareholders want any of that!

kup

16th August 2008, 04:40 PM

They COULD do that, but that would drastically alter the profit margin on the toys, and I don't think the shareholders want any of that!

I agree with Demonac in what he said. Hasbro like most other American corporations have only one group of people to please and that's their share holders. Of course this causes a drastic loss of quality in products by production cost cutting and expanding their consumer horizons as more profits give way to the increase of share values. The result is that toys such as this Prime are to be marketed to a 'wider audience' even though it is likely only to be bought by collectors.

Its not just Hasbro but the whole corporate world, that is why in the past decade or so we have seen a lot of 'quantity over quality' attitude with most American Corporations.

I have seen the above when it comes to things that I enjoy such as toys, video games and movies although the latter two have been slowly improving in the past year specially when compared to the abysmal overall quality of the last 5 years.

However does this excuse Hasbro and other corporations from producing bland products and justify us buying their stuff? No. I will only buy from Hasbro if I consider their product to be reasonably well produced and will ignore their mediocre stuff.

Rampage

16th August 2008, 05:15 PM

meh i'll stick with the encore as well:(:p

MV75

16th August 2008, 05:25 PM

They COULD do that, but that would drastically alter the profit margin on the toys, and I don't think the shareholders want any of that!

They could do that and it will sell anyway.

When was the last time you actually saw a parent give a crap about age recommendations or ratings?

More 10 year olds are playing GTA4 than any other age group.

kup

16th August 2008, 05:49 PM

They could do that and it will sell anyway.

When was the last time you actually saw a parent give a crap about age recommendations or ratings?

More 10 year olds are playing GTA4 than any other age group.

There is always the small but vocal sect of Soccer Moms who would take it to the media and once its broadcast..Well you know, if its on TV it must be true.

That is what Hasbro is afraid of.

MV75

16th August 2008, 06:10 PM

No, that won't work because Hasbro doesn't make toys that are used as scapegoats. My example has nothing directly to do with this, it was used as an example of parents not caring about ratings. So don't confuse them both. ;)

They bend to age laws because they don't want to put up with Mr&Mrs dumbarse going off about how their kid ate a missle, and then Hasbro having to point out the age on the box, because here in Australia, they (general population), always assume that a toy/video game is for kids, hence we have no 18 or R/X rating on games, again video games are used as my example on how the general population don't give a crap about ratings.

But the thing is with these toys, people don't buy them for their kids, nor do kids buy them. 20-70 year olds buy them, so they will sell anyway.

Zippo

16th August 2008, 09:20 PM

Its a UK box - hense the missing DVD and the flap that covers the toy.
I want the sound box ..

GoktimusPrime

16th August 2008, 10:09 PM

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/Aussie-Alex/Jimbo.png "Four-finger discount dude." ;) :p

j/k - you could buy it, take out the sound box and sell it off for a cheaper price to someone else. d:

I don't think it's worth it really. I enjoy making my own TF voices and sounds when I play with my toys anyway.

Demonac

16th August 2008, 10:29 PM

Soundwarp

17th August 2008, 08:19 AM

Well this is a must for me, i like the colour better and i want the stand!

funkyaw

17th August 2008, 06:56 PM

Rampage

17th August 2008, 08:29 PM

I reckon that the best re-issue of G1 Optimus Prime is still the 2002(?) New Year Convoy... came with blue windows, blue eyes, matrix, cartoon accurate action master prime, autobot stickers, mousepad!

i forgot about this one that just ended oh well :(

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=360078795901

JuzMel

17th August 2008, 08:43 PM

Haha I like the Comic and DVD idea and also the stand, definitely not the colours or the ultra short smoke stacks. Then again we all say "meh, pass on it now.." I'm sure when it appears right in front of your eyes, you just can't say no.. :D

GoktimusPrime

17th August 2008, 09:31 PM

Yeah, I can pass it. I passed Hasbro's last reissue - I can pass this one too. Mind you, I already have like 3 versions of Takara's reissues, so I'm pretty thoroughly immunised. ;) The comic I already have (both original and reprint). And what's on the DVD? (can't imagine it being something I don't have)

definitely not the colours
The colours might appeal to people who are absolute lovers of show-likeness It doesn't appeal to me either. I much prefer the darker colours of the original toy.

I reckon that the best re-issue of G1 Optimus Prime is still the 2002(?) New Year Convoy... came with blue windows, blue eyes, matrix, cartoon accurate action master prime, autobot stickers, mousepad!
"Cartoon accurate Action Master Prime" is rather ironic considering that Action Master Optimus Prime never appeared in the cartoon. :p ;) But I agree that the reissue does have nicer colours than the original, even if the original is more 'comic-accurate' (or more accurately, the comic was more toy-accurate). That reissue didn't come with the energy axe which the TFC reissue came with though. But it's also my favourite of the Convoy/Prime reissues. :)

btw the blue window thing is because it's actually a reissue of Goodbye Convoy. Although the blue eyes is an added feature and looks really nice along with the blue windows giving it the whole "show-akkuracy" look... although I must admit that I think yellow eyes look a lot nicer on Optimus Prime than blue, mostly because yellow stands out more against a head that is mostly blue itself (even if it is a different shade of blue). I also prefer the look of the original brown windows on that toy over the blue. But hey, it was a nice and cheap/affordable way for fans to get a Goodbye Convoy not to mention a reissue of Action Master Prime (too bad it didn't come with the vehicle, although that would've made the whole set pret-ty freakin' expensive :p).

kurdt_the_goat

17th August 2008, 09:46 PM

Encore OP doesn't come with the energy axe does it? At least i know mine doesn't, and if anyone else's does - i'll be mighty p'd off!

GoktimusPrime

17th August 2008, 10:32 PM

You're probably right. I don't have Encore Convoy and was never really that interested in it myself - I just kinda assumed that it was the same as TFC Convoy but in a different packaging. I'll amend my last post accordingly. :p

Pulse

17th August 2008, 10:36 PM

Encore OP doesn't come with the energy axe does it? At least i know mine doesn't, and if anyone else's does - i'll be mighty p'd off!

Nah, mine doesn't either. Prime only used his axe in one episode (I think :confused:) so no axe isn't really that great a loss... :)

Kyle

17th August 2008, 11:25 PM

I agree the nicest reissue is still New Year Convoy. I also find Music Label Optimus Prime to be very nice too (if we ignore the trailer). New head and blue windows. Not only are the Autobot symbols printed on like Encore, but the silver stripes on body and arms are also painted and not stickers. Nicer than I expected. (Gold Matrix is from reissue Galvatron and Megatron gun from TF Collection Starscream.)
http://www.hk-tf.com/discuz/upload/attachments/month_0808/20080814_59763df679d946da67f0H6PPQEKoDLPE.jpg

sifun

18th August 2008, 11:56 AM

so dusty :confused:

Kyle

18th August 2008, 03:46 PM

so dusty :confused:

It's time I invest in some dust cleaning equipments for my toys... :o

SilverDragon

18th August 2008, 06:17 PM

Enlighten me: why are the short smokestacks such a problem?

Maybe Prime modified his so he was more environmentally friendly? :p

GoktimusPrime

18th August 2008, 06:42 PM

Enlighten me: why are the short smokestacks such a problem?
Obviously because they're less faithful reproductions if the smokestacks and missiles aren't the same length as on the original toy.

Maybe Prime modified his so he was more environmentally friendly?
...I'm not really sure how having shorter exhaust stacks would make Prime more environmentally friendly. :/ If anything you'd think that it'd come from using cleaner sources of fuel that are harnessed from renewable sources and have lower pollution.

I have no idea what kind of pollutants are created from refined Energon - but it would also depend on where the Energon was harvested from. In G1 we often saw Transformers harvesting Energon from fossil fuels.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/thumb/7/77/Gbblackrock.jpg/180px-Gbblackrock.jpg

Gutsman Heavy

18th August 2008, 08:11 PM

Enlighten me: why are the short smokestacks such a problem?

their not, hell I PREFER shorter stacks, looks better IMO.
Angry TransFans lynching in 3...2...

STL

18th August 2008, 10:59 PM

their not, hell I PREFER shorter stacks, looks better IMO.
Angry TransFans lynching in 3...2...

Gutsman is a very lonely Transfan at this moment. :p

GoktimusPrime

19th August 2008, 11:03 AM

I got three words for ya...

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/scott_lapachinsky/2007/12-16/freightliner-brochure-1986.jpghttp://www.transformerland.com/g1/prime-thumbs/g1.jpg
Robot in disguise

:)

SilverDragon

19th August 2008, 07:19 PM

OOOOHHHHH. Right. Yeah, I see your point. Realism and all.

I still don't mind short stacks. At least they're less likely to snap off and break if the toy falls.

kup

19th August 2008, 07:28 PM

OOOOHHHHH. Right. Yeah, I see your point. Realism and all.

I still don't mind short stacks. At least they're less likely to snap off and break if the toy falls.

I am yet to encounter a Prime with broken smoke staks. They are hard die cast.

I would not have minded if they were made of rubber like Movie Prime. Sometimes I think that Hasbro overcompensates for safety laws since often I can find new toys with firing missiles thiner and longer than the stacks. If this was to comply with safety laws, those toys would need to banned too.

GoktimusPrime

19th August 2008, 08:42 PM

...the typical person who'd buy a G1 reissue Prime would be well beyond the age where you'd worry about breakable choking hazards. :/ This is why I much prefer Takara's approach at specifically marketing their reissues at older collectors instead of kids.

The_Damned

19th August 2008, 08:47 PM

their not, hell I PREFER shorter stacks, looks better IMO.
Angry TransFans lynching in 3...2...

good things have small packages..........

Gutsman Heavy

19th August 2008, 09:10 PM

I am yet to encounter a Prime with broken smoke staks. They are hard die cast.

My G1 prime had a snapped stack, perhaps my preference comes from nostalgia!?

MV75

19th August 2008, 09:51 PM

They could do that and it will sell anyway.

When was the last time you actually saw a parent give a crap about age recommendations or ratings?

More 10 year olds are playing GTA4 than any other age group.

Even though parents don't give a crap, the retailers do. And at the end of the day, THEY are the ones buying from Hasbro.

I think the guys (and girls) who are designing these toys at Hasbro are just as frustrated as we collectors in regards to the safety laws.

My point below

...the typical person who'd buy a G1 reissue Prime would be well beyond the age where you'd worry about breakable choking hazards. :/ This is why I much prefer Takara's approach at specifically marketing their reissues at older collectors instead of kids.

They could make them 12+ years and they'd still sell because of what I also said here:

But the thing is with these toys, people don't buy them for their kids, nor do kids buy them. 20-70 year olds buy them, so they will sell anyway.

Sure I see where you're coming from Demonac, but toy stores still have plenty of toys for the older folks too, they all arn't for 5 year olds. ;)

GoktimusPrime

20th August 2008, 07:21 PM

My G1 prime had a snapped stack, perhaps my preference comes from nostalgia!?
So you want pre-broken toys to re-create stuff that you broke as a kid? By that logic then the Hasbro version should also come without fists, cos how many people lost Prime's fists?! Or maybe it should come with pre-worn chrome... oh wait, some Hasbro reissues already do come with that *cheesy.grin* :D ;) If they're going to do that then they should sell it at a price that is representative of the pre-done damage. You wouldn't pay full price for a damaged toy otherwise. If I'm gonna pay full price for a toy it ought to be in mint condition IMO.

They could make them 12+ years and they'd still sell because of what I also said here:
that's pretty much what TakaraTOMY does! Their reissues are all marketed at "Ages 15 and Up." Makes perfect sense to me. :)