Is there a chance that Hasbro will make MP Soundwave?

[ILikeSoundwave]

Is there a chance that Hasbro will make MP Soundwave?
I really want to get the Takara Soundwave but I seem to be low on money so is there a chance that hasbro will make one because it would be cheaper and easier to get and I would also much rather get the hasbro version because it would come to retail.

[Paulbot]

Almost certainly.

They released both MP Optimus Primes, Grimlock, Hot Rod, Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. Besides Megatron (gun issues) and some repaints they've released them all. They may not have all (or any of) the tapes but Soundwave's a hugely recognisable TF for them to sell as a store exclusive.

With the sellout success of the recent Optimus Prime and Thundercracker, TRU might even try to sell the Japanese version like they did with Ghost Starscream and Target did with Ultra Magnus and MP4 Prime.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Is there a chance that Hasbro will make MP Soundwave?
I really want to get the Takara Soundwave but I seem to be low on money so is there a chance that hasbro will make one because it would be cheaper and easier to get and I would also much rather get the hasbro version because it would come to retail.

Considering they have taken on other MP molds there is a good chance Hasbro will but it's all conjecture at this point. I am with you though, as much as I love Soundwave, the current price is just too steep for something which is essentially just a larger version of the original toy.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'd say that chances are they will. As Paulbot pointed out, with the exception of Megatron (for legal reasons) every other MP character has been released here (although Sydney mostly missed MP Skywarp, but other parts of the country did get him). Takara(TOMY) MPs usually have better colours*, but the local Hasbro prices are cheaper. Plus it's a lot easier to get customer service for toys when bought locally.

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*'cept for Starscream and Grimlock.

[Bidoofdude]

I certainly hope so.
I wouldn't mind if Hasbro released him with all the cassettes as one package. It would be a tad bit expensive but overall I think I'd like it.
I really want one too. Again, they could always get the Takara version, if TRU wanted to.

[GoktimusPrime]

Again, they could always get the Takara version, if TRU wanted to.

Not quite. Hasbro Australia must put the order through, TakaraTOMY will not sell their products to anyone else in a Hasbro market other than Hasbro themselves. It's because Hasbro and TakaraTOMY both have a contract that forbid each other from "crossing over" into each other's markets without consent. So previous Takara(TOMY) toys that have been released in Australia would have been done by Hasbro Australia, who then distributes the toys to retailers for sale. AFAIK the only way a retailer can bypass Hasbro is to directly import the toys themselves, but then the toys are subject to a host of import taxes, levies and duties that the Australian government slaps on it, which effectively doubles the cost of that toy. That's why Japanese toys and books at specialist import stores are so expensive compared to what you'd find at regular retailers.

At least... that's how it should work. Sometimes Toys R Us get greedy and jack up the prices of some of their toys so much, that it matches (or even exceeds) the cost of importing a Japanese version yourself. e.g. MP Ghost Starscream. TRU's prices for the Hasbro G1 reissues were initially so expensive that you could buy an imported Takara reissue from specialty import stores for nearly the same price (and cheaper if you just imported it yourself). Little wonder these toys shelfwarmed so badly. But most toys imported from Japan by Hasbro AU have been reasonably priced IMHO (MP Ultra Magnus, MP Convoy w/ trailer, Jetwing Optimus Prime etc.)

This is the way I see Masterpieces... if I really want it, I'll get the TakaraTOMY version. If not, I'll wait and see if Hasbro does it. Basically if I feel "I must have this toy!" then I'll get the TakTOM version, but if I feel "I'd like to have this toy, but I don't have to have it..." then I'll wait for Hasbro.

[Bidoofdude]

Actually, I'm having a vision of a lighter blue Soundwave, maybe slightly darker than the Hasbro MP-10. It actually doesn't seem that bad, but darker would be way cooler.

[GoktimusPrime]

A light blue Soundwave would be more similar to how he was coloured in the UK G1 Marvel comics. It wouldn't surprise me if TakTOM released a limited exclusive purple Soundwave, to match the way Nel Yomtov coloured him in the US G1 Marvel comics (similar to what they did that limited Grimlock repaint). Heh... imagine if they gave that limited version a variant head with a mouth.

[SkyWarp91]

Better question - is there a chance the average TF fan will even be able to get a hold of a Hasbro MP Soundwave when it comes out?

[Paulbot]

It wouldn't surprise me if TakTOM released a limited exclusive purple Soundwave, to match the way Nel Yomtov coloured him in the US G1 Marvel comics (similar to what they did that limited Grimlock repaint). Heh... imagine if they gave that limited version a variant head with a mouth.

Already imagined and digibashed (but they haven't done Hot Rod yet either and I think that would look much better than comic-accurate Soundwave).

Better question - is there a chance the average TF fan will even be able to get a hold of a Hasbro MP Soundwave when it comes out?

That would indeed be the real challenge. The price difference may not matter if the toy disappears as quickly as the latest Prime did.