Tf prime hasbro or tfprime takara.

[GoktimusPrime]

but I tell them to stop bitching and moaning because you didn't complain at G1 when we did this

Yeah but there were a lot of things in G1 that we didn't complain about as much that we would be up in arms about if it happened with TF toys today.

e.g.:
+ Lack of articulation/poseability in robot mode
+ Lack of durability (G1/G2 TFs are much more fragile than most post-G2 TFs - many post-G2 TFs have parts that are designed to pop back on if they become detached - if a part of a G1 TF came off, you were usually screwed)
+ Lack of incorporation or self-containment of robot parts/accessories in alt mode. e.g. fists, weapons etc. that we had to set aside -- and were easier to lose. Imagine if they released TFs today with detachable fists that had nowhere to go in alt mode! That'd SUCK!

[kristofferrer]

Only thing I would mention about takara's version that in Hong Kong the price is only marginally more expensive.

If you haven't started collecting yet, its a great time to start. I have a feeling this series will be one of the most popular and will be hard to find toys in a year or so time.
(except bumblebee - there THOUSANDS of that toy around...)

I found that Takara toys were generally cheaper in HK than they were in JP (unless of course you went to those Kmart/Target stores in Japan where they sold United voyagers for $17AU).

I think this series will go up as well - i dont want it to. I've already noticed Target/Kmart smelling the trend of collectors and upping their prices to be on par with the Classics.

I really want to mix and match with Takara and Hasbro, though im not currently in the best position to splurge on the hobby as much.

I say go for whichever version you personally prefer and can get for a good price.

This is indeed an approach im going with. It's new for me as i've usually only stuck with one line. However, since value is a lot more distinct (i.e. different accessories with the toys), the mix and match approach "would be the most prudent course of action."

getting a good price is part of the fun

[KalEl]

Yeah but there were a lot of things in G1 that we didn't complain about as much that we would be up in arms about if it happened with TF toys today.

e.g.:
+ Lack of articulation/poseability in robot mode
+ Lack of durability (G1/G2 TFs are much more fragile than most post-G2 TFs - many post-G2 TFs have parts that are designed to pop back on if they become detached - if a part of a G1 TF came off, you were usually screwed)
+ Lack of incorporation or self-containment of robot parts/accessories in alt mode. e.g. fists, weapons etc. that we had to set aside -- and were easier to lose. Imagine if they released TFs today with detachable fists that had nowhere to go in alt mode! That'd SUCK!

This is like chalk and cheese, you cant really compare G1 toys to modern toys.
Technology alone makes that argument mute.

[SkyWarp91]

This is like chalk and cheese, you cant really compare G1 toys to modern toys.
Technology alone makes that argument mute.

Hey now, chalk and cheese are comparable. You can't eat cheese...

[GoktimusPrime]

This is like chalk and cheese, you cant really compare G1 toys to modern toys.
Technology alone makes that argument mute.

Absolutely - and just as one wouldn't apply modern standards on G1 toys, likewise I can understand that people wouldn't impose G1 standards on modern toys; hence why people are complaining about the TF Prime Arms Micron toys using stickers for added detail instead of paint apps, tampographs etc. which would be more acceptable by today's standards.

e.g. When Powermaster Optimus Prime came out in 1988 I didn't hear anyone complain that the Super Robot Mode was a "brick." In fact, I loved that toy... I still love it (I was just playing with it a few days ago ). In 2003 when Armada Optimus Prime came out, people did comment on the bricktastic Super Robot Mode, because by more contemporary standards people were expecting a more articulated super robot mode. After all, Fire Convoy (RiD Optimus Prime) has a more articulated super robot mode, and that toy came out 3 years prior. Of course, it was because Armada Optimus Prime's super robot mode sacrificed articulation/poseability for the electronic automatic transformation gimmick - but that was a common criticism of the Armada line; that many toys had engineering compromised because of gimmicks. The smaller and cheaper carded Armada Optimus Prime with no gimmick but greater articulation (aka "Bendymus Prime") proved more popular among fans.