SG Cybertron Convention coverage

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I find that odd since one of the reasons that 3rd parties have been so successful is because they offer things Hasbro does not.

I have always said this and stand by it: The 3rd parties exist because Hasbro neglects the clearly profitable and significant collector side of the market. If Hasbro ever starts catering to that demographic with matching products, it would mean the end of the 3rd party movement.

+1.
I'd gladly have bought, say, 3 different Scout Reflector robots that formed a single camera alt-mode if Hasbro/Takara had put them out, but as it is I've got the PE ones instead. It was 3rd party or nothing - even the lame half-track Perceptor remold never came out. If I'd seen an old G1 Reflector set beforehand I probably would have got that instead, which still wouldn't have netted HasTak any money. Same for City Commander - I'd totally pay Leader or even Ultra class prices for a Voyager UM and decent set of armor to go with him, but as it is it was CC or a naked Magnus.
I understand there's budget and safety concerns that Hasbro have to worry about, but they have also made a business choice to go with the 'Lowest common denominator' a lot of the time and neglect to cater to a niche market, so of course other people will fill the gaps. I'll happily buy from Takara/Hasbro most of the time, but if they aren't going to make something I want and a 3rd party will, well, that's money that wouldn't be going to HasTak anyway. I'm not looking for 'new ideas', I just want my Transformers collection done well...usually that means HasTak, sometimes it means someone else.

That said, there's a cut-off point with what I'm down with - outright KOs and even resizing a al Faith Leader goes a step too far for me to support that. It's one thing to make a new mold based on an existing (not to mention really old/'classic') idea, and another to just lift HasTak's designs straight up (IMO).
It's also stupid for the fans to keep asking Hasbro reps if they're going to work with 3rd parties - they're pretty obviously opposed to them, and it'd be nice for the fans not to rock the boat on this one.

EDIT - I'd totally get a reissue Scorponok.

[kup]

+1.
I'd gladly have bought, say, 3 different Scout Reflector robots that formed a single camera alt-mode if Hasbro/Takara had put them out, but as it is I've got the PE ones instead. It was 3rd party or nothing - even the lame half-track Perceptor remold never came out. If I'd seen an old G1 Reflector set beforehand I probably would have got that instead, which still wouldn't have netted HasTak any money. Same for City Commander - I'd totally pay Leader or even Ultra class prices for a Voyager UM and decent set of armor to go with him, but as it is it was CC or a naked Magnus.
I understand there's budget and safety concerns that Hasbro have to worry about, but they have also made a business choice to go with the 'Lowest common denominator' a lot of the time and neglect to cater to a niche market, so of course other people will fill the gaps. I'll happily buy from Takara/Hasbro most of the time, but if they aren't going to make something I want and a 3rd party will, well, that's money that wouldn't be going to HasTak anyway. I'm not looking for 'new ideas', I just want my Transformers collection done well...usually that means HasTak, sometimes it means someone else.

That said, there's a cut-off point with what I'm down with - outright KOs and even resizing a al Faith Leader goes a step too far for me to support that. It's one thing to make a new mold based on an existing (not to mention really old/'classic') idea, and another to just lift HasTak's designs straight up (IMO).
It's also stupid for the fans to keep asking Hasbro reps if they're going to work with 3rd parties - they're pretty obviously opposed to them, and it'd be nice for the fans not to rock the boat on this one.

Exactly! Well said.

[Hursticon]

I am really really glad that the Singapore convention has been a success.

A few things people should note here because of the positives for Australia:

• Collectors market is always Asia - US audience is primarily younger kids
• 15,000 turn up on one day to a convention in Singapore, they cant manage 5,000 in US not matter how much publicity it gets
• Third parties are clearly on their nerves "i wish they came up with new ideas and stop pinching ours"
• Fortress Maximus reissue announcement is 6 months after I told you all
• Wait for a scorponok announcement to correspond
• Wait till they host it in Hong Kong - guarantee 30-40k people

Yep, you called it dude!
You make some great points there too dude, it'll be really interesting to see how HasTak decides to treat the Asian Market compared to the US/UK ones; there is a very clear contrast between the 2 IMO.

P.S. Even though I own a 110% complete G1 Scorponok now, I would not be opposed to acquiring a reissue of him; He's just too damn cool a toy to pass up!

That said, there's a cut-off point with what I'm down with - outright KOs and even resizing a al Faith Leader goes a step too far for me to support that. It's one thing to make a new mold based on an existing (not to mention really old/'classic') idea, and another to just lift HasTak's designs straight up (IMO).
It's also stupid for the fans to keep asking Hasbro reps if they're going to work with 3rd parties - they're pretty obviously opposed to them, and it'd be nice for the fans not to rock the boat on this one.

Exactly my stance on the matter also; The mind truly boggles at those who ever think HasTak are going to work with the likes of iGear or FansProject - Makes you wonder what's going through their minds?
(Spacepet on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. )

[griffin]

Added to first post....
More images of the TakaraTomy Prime toys & Microns. Some very nice details on these toys coming out of Japan very soon.
Fastest Fingers (transforming toys) competition winners.
Model competition by 50 invited Artists, and how to vote.

[5FDP]

Hang on... so a Fort Max reissue has been confirmed? I thought they were only looking at whether or not it's feasible to do.

[Hursticon]

Hang on... so a Fort Max reissue has been confirmed? I thought they were only looking at whether or not it's feasible to do.

Not so much officially confirmed but due to the longevity of muling over the idea that seems to of occurred with HasTakTom, there seems to be a bit of light piercing the darkness if you know what I mean.
(Fingers crossed at any rate! )

[fatbot]

Does anyone know the likely cost of the deluxe Evac? I have a friend heading to Singapore in June who said she'll get me half a dozen or so for myself and some others on the board

[griffin]

Was Fort Max actually mentioned as being a reissue, or as a whole new homage toy? After recent efforts to have it pass safety testing by todays standards failed (not to mention how much a reissue would cost now - if large recent Encores that are less than half the size of Fort Max are over $100, just imagine how expensive a reissue would be... and how difficult it would be to be posted from Japan)... is it even possible?

[griffin]

Does anyone know the likely cost of the deluxe Evac? I have a friend heading to Singapore in June who said she'll get me half a dozen or so for myself and some others on the board

Transformers toys that I saw being sold at Universal Studios and Disney in America were priced similar to our pricing, so a very hefty mark-up.... I'd expect about US$25-30. (but since we are used to that pricing here, it won't seem like a mark-up to us)

[kup]

Final Report from Roller:

"Attention Megatron, emercgency bulletin from Cybertron Con, shockwave reports, energon levels approaching critical"

So the final day of the Con was pretty lacklustre. Valk and I showed up in the afternoon again as the timetable said that the things on earlier in the day were all the general stuff, drawing tfs, Kreon activity area- u play with kreons or dance to the 3D bumble bee

We chatted with Mervin, a fan who was asked by Hasbro to supply some display pieces. He has boxed G1s and according to him, Hasbro wanted him to pull them out of the box. He said no, so his stuff wasnt on display.


valk and I lined up for the photo sesh with the Movie characters , people in costumes and gals dressed in transformy coloured sexy outfits.

I also got a snap with some of the shop ladies, as they had cool NEST shirts. The people manning the TF ride had cooler NEST uniforms and jackets.


It was funny to notice that the scaffolding platform where people could get a paid snap of themselves with OP statue in back, had some safety net


Overall a good first official Con for me, Im glad I came, no regrets about the lack of sleep or amount i paid for Prime.

Good to mix with fans from out of Oz, and lots of fun.

Things that could have been better , bigger shop area. More activities.

Mervin said that originally there were meant to be fireworks, laser show and other things, But insuracnce would not have covered it.

There was alot of unused space.


8 outta 10 for me

and 9 outta 10 for the ride.