3rd party transformers..

[liegeprime]

Im a bit of a resident of the "basement" hehehe ...

For me I is a case to case basis as well. Some figures that I got are quite good. Most of the 3rd party figures I got so far have been of good quality, the abs plastic materials tend to be sturdier and non cheap in look and feel. Having said that not all 3rd parties can be of good quality. There are hits and there definitely misses. I buy from figures to add on accessories, to even , shhhhh, ehrmemm eherrm KO stuff.... yeah I know it's why Im a basement resident along with HD hahahah...

Here's but a few of the 3rd party stuff I got...

Most of these I am pleased, some Im just ...meh it'll do- like the add on kit for Superion Maximus - at the time it was released it was, "okay gotta get that" but once Ive gotten it... it has flaws which in a way is because of the base figures fault and not really because of the set... another is the add on accessories for a more G1esque generations Roadbuster - the quality of the material is horrible and brittle... so yeah it's all a bit of hits and misses...

One figure in particular which is a real waste of a good idea - the concept is good and would've been awesome but the execution is very much lacking IMO

---- Sonicron - which I did a review as well

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...onicron+review
Im glad this was a cheap purchase - which I would say should've been cheaper with the poor quality of the figure or better yet they should've polished the execution first before deciding to release it, coz honestly it's a shame - it would've been awesome had the execution of the figure been more of better quality. Even his Cassettes are a hit and miss, while the not-Ratbat is good, the not-Ravage is meh - but then I lok at MP Ravage and a deep sigh comes to me...this is an MP figure? really?


Do I think these are priced well... no.... I still buy em though. A lot of em enhance an existing figure e.g. the FP trailer add ons for city Commander and the Not-Rodimus, a couple are great and better incarnations of characters that for some reason HasTakTom seem to pay no attention to... until it get's a third party treatment hehehe but there are times that the 3rd party kinda wins over the official one ...but generally I think the prices could be a tad lower... of course since it's all of limited number in production that's unlikely to happen...but yeah, generally the pricing for the 3rd party stuff are high and at times bordering on, "are you kidding me" high...just look at the Crazy Devy add ons

Will I keep buying them , yup I will selectively, as some figures HasTakTom just wont release for some reason beyond me - e.g. Generations Arcee, or if the character it was based on is one I really like but the official one just wont cut it or is just as pricey...e.g. Botcon Chromedome figure vs Function x-1.... of course if it was priced really high... then I can live without em.

Now for the ehreem KOs.... well some people don't approve... me Im flexible... e.g. Dino cassettes - will I be able to afford the original... don't think so, even if I can would I buy them - the price they go these days since they are rare is quite prohibitive... I could prolly buy a heaps more of other stuff, heck It is very well my plane ticket cost already so NO. So I settled for the KO...and am still hoping for a proper Encore version......till then the Kos stay




and of course there are the 3rd party stuff that HaTakTom would definitely not manufacture in such a scale at all ocz well, it's not their product at all so if we ever get these , thanks HasTakTom, if not, well there always the 3rd party for it - e.g.

Energon Cubes

[Gofigure]

Late to the party on the warbots

But got warbot springer mib on eBay for like $40 only a few weeks back. Thought it was a score and a half

Got assaulter today and not sea spray.

Also got igear autobots headquarters delivered today.....overwhelmed so haven't opened yet hehe

[Gouki]

Never understood the entitlement that these things bring. "Well Hasbro aren't doing it right now, thus they are awful and I must violate copyright."

Too many of them doing the same thing (often just because another group is working on it, it seems), no real quality checking, over complex or fiddly looking designs (plus the Dreamwave style they seem to be done in. thick, boxy, "bad arse")... yeah, I'm not a fan generally.

[Trent]

Never understood the entitlement that these things bring. "Well Hasbro aren't doing it right now, thus they are awful and I must violate copyright."

Yeah, can't say that has ever gone through my mind when I've bought a 3rd party TF. I see a TF, I like, I buy. It really is that simple

Too many of them doing the same thing (often just because another group is working on it, it seems), no real quality checking, over complex or fiddly looking designs (plus the Dreamwave style they seem to be done in. thick, boxy, "bad arse")... yeah, I'm not a fan generally.

You obviously haven't really seen MakeToys, MMC or FansToys figures then. And Takara's QC is soooooooooo much better. Generations Blitzwing, MP Rodimus, MP Lambos and MP Laserbeak are 4 recent shining examples of Takara's superior QC.

It really depends on the company. Obviously some are better than others. And some figures are better than others, same as any major toy company. Just because they are a big company doesn't mean that their products will be problem free. Just look at Bandai's Macross VF-171 CF. And they're the biggest toy company in the world. You'd think that for the price you pay for one of those it'd be perfect

[kup]

Never understood the entitlement that these things bring. "Well Hasbro aren't doing it right now, thus they are awful and I must violate copyright."

Too many of them doing the same thing (often just because another group is working on it, it seems), no real quality checking, over complex or fiddly looking designs (plus the Dreamwave style they seem to be done in. thick, boxy, "bad arse")... yeah, I'm not a fan generally.

Yep, you are clearly talking without any basis. It sounds as if you have never properly experienced 3rd party toys without a heavy ideological bias.

I collect because I like. The rule is: 'Whoever makes the best toy wins my money.' Too bad Hasbro often loses.

And as Trent said, yeah not all 3rd parties are at the same level but the better known/popular ones (MMC, Maketoys, FP, etc) are miles and miles better than Hasbro/Tak-Tom when it comes to material/Design/Quality control. Hell, even TFC could be said that is better than Hasbro and they are far from great.

Another plus is that often 3rd parties will gladly replace any faulty part by providing free replacements if a post production error is found. They will even cater to fan preferences (like Quakewave's under arm hose arm) for free including shipping.

It's fine if you are against 3rd parties for 'intellectual property infringement' reasons. You would often be on the 'right' about them from that point of view but don't make up stuff that are generalized and largely incorrect to put 3rd parties down.

[evandouglas86]

3rd party transformers..
What are people's thoughts on 3rd party transformers. While my view is they are fricking awsome, I could never afford them esp if you look on American sites, they seem to jack the price up more. Is the price stopping you? If not what else? What is the most you'd like to pay (without being too cheap) And if you already have bought them, were you 100% satisfied?

[CBratron]

Quality is all over the place. Not surprising when there are a couple dozen separate companies putting out anything from direct knockoffs to masterpiece grade originals.
I have Fansproject City Commander, Defender, Perfect Effect Motobot, Maketoy Green Giant and am happy with their design and material quality.