Masterpiece MP-23 Exhaust

[gamblor916]

Excellent news. I was just a bit worried there.

[drifand]

Guess this is flying under the table .

[Tober]

Updated deco

Article on TFW2005

[millhouse]

Updated deco

Lame.

[UltraMarginal]

I've got to admit, I'm pretty disappointed, the Homage is still there but it feels watered down. it's certainly not as striking, which I guess says something for the power of advertising.

[kaiden]

why did TakaraTomy bother changing the deco? the toy is being sold in Asian markets and should therefore be immune to the copyright issues in America.

the new deco really does look less striking. its almost tempting to commission someone to repaint it to the original.

[Trent]

why did TakaraTomy bother changing the deco? the toy is being sold in Asian markets and should therefore be immune to the copyright issues in America.

the new deco really does look less striking. its almost tempting to commission someone to repaint it to the original.

Takara's market isn't even Asia, it's Japan. The only place I'm aware that there was any pressure regarding this release was the US. So this is a VERY interesting development.

And yes, I am disappoint.

[GoktimusPrime]

why did TakaraTomy bother changing the deco? the toy is being sold in Asian markets and should therefore be immune to the copyright issues in America.

Philip Morris/Marlboro does exist in Japan.

[griffin]

Is it my imagination, or does the front skirting sticker say "GoodFlavor"? A nod to the Cigarette Brand perhaps?

I don't have a problem with the altering of the red deco, as it still implies the homage to the toy that wasn't even a Transformers toy originally anyway.
It's just like the modified "Sponsor Logos" that toys like Classics Mirage and even this one has had to use. Why aren't people complaining about those necessary modifications.

Im very confused by this. Everyone always says that TT doesn't really care about the foreign market

I think Goktimus was the only one who said that... but since TT sells to Japanese businesses that sell a huge chunk of stock outside of Japan, they aren't going to release items that their customers aren't able to sell to the bulk of collectors outside of Japan. Even Masterpiece & Encore Megatron toys were produced knowing that with an orange cap most foreign markets could still buy it from TT's customers (Japanese businesses).

With Exhaust, they've listened to their customers (Japanese businesses) who can't export the toy to countries like America, so they've modified it enough to be allowed. Otherwise, they may not be able to produce it if they have to rely on Japanese purchases (and a small number of collectors in other countries that could get one, or snuck one in).

[Sinnertwin]

Is it my imagination, or does the front skirting sticker say "GoodFlavor"? A nod to the Cigarette Brand perhaps?

it looks like a play on the branding of the car & the Goodyear logo too, and the Sidestream(?) on the rear wing looks like it's using the Marlboro font too, but i can't quite make it out.