New Masterpiece MP-10 coming in September

[Lord_Zed]

Yeah I'd also like to see a Galvatron toy, but oh well...

The existing Prime & Megs don't really fit in with the other MPs. I wouldn't be surprised if TT feels that there is a lot of future in the MP line, and thus needs to correct the first two molds to be proper frontmen for the line.

I still can't fathom what alt mode they'd give a Masterpiece Galvatron or Soundwave. It's not that I wouldn't want one; I just understand the challenge.

I think its more a case there are two scales in the MP line, one for Leaders like Optimus, Megs and Rodimus, and then another for everybody else. One might even argue that the smaller MP's Grimlock and the seekers are more detailed than there more cartoony but simpler larger counterparts too, so yeah perhaps this Prime belongs to the smaller sub group of MP's

MP-1 and Binaltech are what got me back into Transformers back in 2003. MP Convoy was a great achievement for Takara's designers and has been their flagship design for Transformers for alomst a decade. If they are creating a better flagship, then I'm looking forward to it.

Good point, I'm reserving judgement till I see the toy, speaking of Binaltechs I wonder how this guy will scale with Alternities and Deluxes. MP 1 Prime scaled well with the Binaltechs in Truck mode, untill your transfromed him, I know Prime is big, but he's not that big.

This Prime could go either way, not long ago Rodimus was tipped to be the best MP ever, and look what happned, perhaps this will be the oppisite.

Still I've only bought one MP Prime (MP1), If I had bought MP1 and the MP rerelease with Trailer, reapints, and that unmentionable knock off one then I'd be less than thrilled even if the new Prime is good.

[valkyrie_76]

Ill be interested in seeing the final product. I already have MP-01 and MP-04 but if this improves on both molds, then I might get it, maybe when Im over there.

[jaydisc]

I think a large, masterpiece scaled cassette-deck, or an alt mode consisting of a bot-on-his-hands-and-knees-with-a-cannon-coming-out-of-his-head would suck. I'm also inclined to think TakaraTomy agrees with me, or at least don't want to concede on those modes just yet. If I want alt-mode nostalgia, I'll buy G1. If I'm spending over $100 on what is supposed to be an incredibly articulated, detailed and complex transforming, I want an alt mode that consists of more than a box, as well as one that has the slightest bit of relevance in today's world.

I don't see Grimlock as the same, as the Grimlock character's premise was that he represented an out-of-date alt mode.

As said, I do think that Hasbro and TakaraTomy agree with this somewhat, which is why recent Soundwaves have been cars or trucks, Galvatrons have been tanks or jets, and Scourge is no longer a flying boat, and that doesn't just apply to Classics.

[Hursticon]

I think a large, masterpiece scaled cassette-deck, or an alt mode consisting of a bot-on-his-hands-and-knees-with-a-cannon-coming-out-of-his-head would suck. I'm also inclined to think TakaraTomy agrees with me, or at least don't want to concede on those modes just yet. If I want alt-mode nostalgia, I'll buy G1. If I'm spending over $100 on what is supposed to be an incredibly articulated, detailed and complex transforming, I want an alt mode that consists of more than a box, as well as one that has the slightest bit of relevance in today's world.

I don't see Grimlock as the same, as the Grimlock character's premise was that he represented an out-of-date alt mode.

As said, I do think that Hasbro and TakaraTomy agree with this somewhat, which is why recent Soundwaves have been cars or trucks, Galvatrons have been tanks or jets, and Scourge is no longer a flying boat, and that doesn't just apply to Classics.

Whereas I'm of the opinion that a large scale Futuristic Artillery Cannon or a Retro-Look Cassette Deck/Boombox would be awesome. I too think that TakaraTomy agrees with me, or just haven't found an effective budget for these modes yet. If I want alt mode nostalgia, I'll buy G1, but then as history has shown us, I'll also buy something brand new too. As I am expected to pay over $100 for decent quality 20+ year old un-articulated bricks, being asked to pay over $100 for a super detailed, engineered and highly articulated brick that has relevance to yester-year sounds far more appealing to me.

Grimlock, whilst based on an extinct animal, is a fan favourite character and leads me to my next point.

As I've alluded to, Hasbro and TakaraTomy agree with what is going to sell to which specific demographic - this is the reason why on mass consumed lines aimed at children, recent Soundwaves have been cars or trucks, Galvatrons have been tanks or jets, and Scourge is no longer a flying boat, and these approaches don't just apply to Classicsverse figures but all lines aimed at children.

The Masterpiece line is not designed for a mass child based consumer demographic, but rather an Adult collector based market and is hence not subject to the same alt mode rules that apply to other lines because at the end of the day no parent is going to purchase a $100+ toy that is far too complicated for their child - The box may say for ages 5 and up, but IMO that is purely to get major retailers to stock these items in the western markets.
(How many of us have ever heard of a parent buying a Masterpiece figure for their child, aged under 10? )

The Masterpiece line's design aspect has been a modern engineered transformation in order to achieve a more 80s TV Show Model accurate bot mode, since it's inception and this shows no sign of changing.
Personally, a Masterpiece Soundwave, box or not, would be Far Superior to yet another red and blue truck.

[jaydisc]

That's a very reasoned response. Cheers. And I do agree with this:

"I'm of the opinion that a large scale Futuristic Artillery Cannon or a Retro-Look Cassette Deck/Boombox would be awesome"

And that's exactly what I'm talking about. I think it must be a digression from the original alt-modes. Homaging too? Yes, also a must.

[UltraMarginal]

The Masterpiece line is not designed for a mass child based consumer demographic, but rather an Adult collector based market and is hence not subject to the same alt mode rules that apply to other lines because at the end of the day no parent is going purchase a $100+ toy that is far too complicated for their child - The box may say for ages 5 and up, but IMO that is purely to get major retailers to stock these items in the western markets.
(How many of us have ever heard of a parent buying a Masterpiece figure for their child, aged under 10? )

My Sister in Law's kids toy box had an Alternators Hound and Smokescreen in them when the kids were mabe 3 and 5 or about those ages. I was amazed at how easy it was to "re-assemble" and transform them into their respective alt modes. I don't know what they were thinking buying Alternators for kids that young.

I have enjoyed the entire masterpiece line, I am pretty sure there is little need for another prime. apart from that though, I think a Galvatron or Soundwave would be cool but I also think there would be other characters well served by the line, it's just becoming harder to me to say which they would be. so many characters are already getting a great treatment either through the Alternators/Binaltech line or just normal classics/rts etc.

I will be getting Rodimus, not so sure about MP10 if it is another OP. I almost view the Masterpiece line as a proof of concept line.
Like a concept car at a motorshow, except they make more than one. the tech in these is gradually filtering down into the cheaper lines of transformers.

Engineering that pushes the envelope sometimes pushes a little too hard, and perhaps they shoudl scale back a little on the pushing, MP01 was more conservative, it's lower complexity though made it much more accessible. MP05 is much more complex, pushing the envelope to the edge and it brilliant. Not having an MP09 yet, it looks to me from a distance that perhps this time they pushed a little hard and the envelope has a couple tears in it.

Things can be tested, and appear fine, but sometimes it's the Faster production lower tolerance product that shows a flaw or two that don't turn up in the initial low rate production model.

[Hereticpoo]

I think a large, masterpiece scaled cassette-deck, or an alt mode consisting of a bot-on-his-hands-and-knees-with-a-cannon-coming-out-of-his-head would suck. I'm also inclined to think TakaraTomy agrees with me, or at least don't want to concede on those modes just yet. If I want alt-mode nostalgia, I'll buy G1. If I'm spending over $100 on what is supposed to be an incredibly articulated, detailed and complex transforming, I want an alt mode that consists of more than a box, as well as one that has the slightest bit of relevance in today's world.

I don't see Grimlock as the same, as the Grimlock character's premise was that he represented an out-of-date alt mode.

As said, I do think that Hasbro and TakaraTomy agree with this somewhat, which is why recent Soundwaves have been cars or trucks, Galvatrons have been tanks or jets, and Scourge is no longer a flying boat, and that doesn't just apply to Classics.

I Agree with you on those points man. But as simple as those characters are I still would have been more excited about those than another OPTIMISE PROFIT PRIME.

Hell, Masterpiece Autobot Gears would've been more exciting!

[ITZTRU]

"I'm of the opinion that a large scale Futuristic Artillery Cannon or a Retro-Look Cassette Deck/Boombox would be awesome"

And that's exactly what I'm talking about. I think it must be a digression from the original alt-modes. Homaging too? Yes, also a must.

but every other masterpiece's alt mode has been a more detailed and more accurate G1 looking representation. If they start digressing from original alt modes then the original concept of the masterpiece line will change too. To me that would suck coz then we would never get a detailed Soundwave just coz it's not complex enough in terms of transformation. That would suck for me I'd love MP soundwave.

[jaydisc]

This is the exactly the conundrum I base my theory on. Does TT follow the current pattern and make a blocky cassette deck Masterpiece Soundwave, or will they choose a character with an alt mode with more presentable, Masterpiece value?

[ITZTRU]

Point taken. Well. They'd better come up with at least another decent decepticon soon! A new decepticon mold is due! And if this MP10 truly is another convoy, they BETTER NOT make MP11 a downsized version of Megatron! It's hard enough getting G1 representations of megatron into the country enough as it is!

Now that I think about it...that's probably whats gonna happen, if infact TT is trying to make all the MP's similar size to each other.

Lame.