Quote Originally Posted by Paulbot View Post
I know it's technically not third party, I guess, but something about FunPub outsourcing the creation of a figure (not just a head or some minor parts) kind of rubs me the wrong way. Haven't quite determined what exactly it is that bothers me but it feels a bit wrong.
They outsourced the development of the figure, which I would understand to mean the physical design of how it would work as a product. I'd imagine they still came up with the idea to do it and, as stated in the reveal video, clearly have input into what it will look like and the end product. So it's not like they completely outsourced it, and I'd think the actual factories doing the production are probably the same as do the others in the set. Plus, it's not even the whole figure; the actual repainted legion TFs were presumably designed by the same group that did the rest of the set. So it's not like it's been totally outsourced and now some other company that isn't Hasbro, Takara, or FunPub are making TFs everywhere.

More generally, I have to say that this year's set is one of the most desirable in recent memory, probably only matched by last year's set, which was then only really attractive because of Skorponok. But this set is made up of two of the best regarded Generations moulds of the last two years, one of the best regarded Universe figures, an otherwise unreleased in the west toy with accessories the same, and now an almost completely new toy. It's enough to make me want to source the set despite not going to the con, and my rule is I'll only get exclusives from cons I've been to (so that's a big fat zero so far). I think it's awesome.