Rumor MP-15

[Sky Shadow]

Yeah, unlike Skylynx and Omega Supreme, they never did re-issue it.

Since Tomy designed Omega and Sky Lynx, those reissues and GADEP were the single great benefit to emerge from the TakTom merger/engulfment. Sadly, I fear the same will not be discovered about Shockwave.

[Sky Shadow]

P.S. This was a real image of Shockwave in the presentation, but Shockwave is not being released as a Masterpiece - it was a 'silhouette gag' from the designers as part of the Soundwave 'reveal'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxWYq...bedded#t=1412s

[kup]

Oh well. I guess it's up to the 3rd parties to give us an MP Shockwave.

[GoktimusPrime]

Would Takara's lack of ownership over the Astro Magnum mould really prevent them from doing an MP Laserwave? Can't they modify the design so that it approximates Laserwave, but is distinct enough so that it's not? (e.g. ROTF Sideways' approximation of an Audi R8). I mean, they were able to have other similar homages to G1 Laserwave with toys like Superlink Laserwave (Energon Shockblast), Binaltech Laserwave etc. Surely if they changed certain elements of the design they might be able to get away with it? <shrug>

[5FDP]

^ That's exactly what I think. A MP Shockwave isn't a reissue but a new mould.

[Sky Shadow]

The point of the G1 Masterpiece line is to update G1 toys with modern engineering. For Takaratomy to make what will be essentially a third party ripoff of the Astro Magnum mould would be similar to the same company making an accurate-looking Masterpiece Cy-Kill or Masterpiece Jetfire even though the original Bike Robo/Valkyrie moulds, patents and designs are owned by Bandai. Takara's Laserwave toys have never turned into anything that resembled Shockwave's altmode and even the upcoming Generations toy doesn't turn into a gun. There is no way that they'd be going headstrong into making a G1-accurate Shockwave without someone in the legal department going "um..." or "no".

[Decepticon]

Would Takara's lack of ownership over the Astro Magnum mould really prevent them from doing an MP Laserwave? Can't they modify the design so that it approximates Laserwave, but is distinct enough so that it's not? (e.g. ROTF Sideways' approximation of an Audi R8). I mean, they were able to have other similar homages to G1 Laserwave with toys like Superlink Laserwave (Energon Shockblast), Binaltech Laserwave etc. Surely if they changed certain elements of the design they might be able to get away with it? <shrug>

No, because the G1 fanboys will have a whinge saying its not accurate enough.

[5FDP]

The point of the G1 Masterpiece line is to update G1 toys with modern engineering. For Takaratomy to make what will be essentially a third party ripoff of the Astro Magnum mould would be similar to the same company making an accurate-looking Masterpiece Cy-Kill or Masterpiece Jetfire even though the original Bike Robo/Valkyrie moulds, patents and designs are owned by Bandai. Takara's Laserwave toys have never turned into anything that resembled Shockwave's altmode and even the upcoming Generations toy doesn't turn into a gun. There is no way that they'd be going headstrong into making a G1-accurate Shockwave without someone in the legal department going "um..." or "no".

Yeah, I don't see it. For example, comparing MP Megatron to his G1 incarnation is like comparing apples to oranges in that the only similarity is the name they share. They are completely different moulds, vastly different scales, and don't even transform the same way. Also, as far as I am aware, Hasbro owns the trademark 'Shockwave' so there are no issues there (it was used in Animated and more recently in DOTM).

A MP Shockwave similar to the design of the Palisades Shockwave statue - which was licensed, would be doable. Besides, whoever now owns the copyright for Astro Magnum (if anyone actually does) would not own the copyright for the 'generic space gun' design.

[griffin]

Yeah, I don't see it. For example, comparing MP Megatron to his G1 incarnation is like comparing apples to oranges in that the only similarity is the name they share. They are completely different moulds, vastly different scales, and don't even transform the same way. Also, as far as I am aware, Hasbro owns the trademark 'Shockwave' so there are no issues there (it was used in Animated and more recently in DOTM).

A MP Shockwave similar to the design of the Palisades Shockwave statue - which was licensed, would be doable. Besides, whoever now owns the copyright for Astro Magnum (if anyone actually does) would not own the copyright for the 'generic space gun' design.

You're talking about the Hasbro market, while Sky Shadow is talking about the JP market.
You are probably correct in saying that Hasbro could possibly release a Gen1-replica Shockwave (because they had the rights to it at one time)... But TakaraTomy wouldn't, because they never had the rights to certain toy moulds or likenesses (Shockwave, Dlx Insecticons, Jetfire).
This would mean that Hasbro could well do a MP Shockwave without any other company disputing any IP ownership, but it would be a Hasbro exclusive like MP Megatron was exclusive to Japan (for different reasons).
As Sky Shadow was suggesting, TakaraTomy may well get away with something modified enough (that didn't upset fans for being too different to the original), but there would be people in their legal department fighting them on it, to protect themselves from being sued for copying/profiteering from a toy design that wasn't originally created or currently owned by them.

It's like with the Henkei/Classics Jetfire toy being done to look like Skyfire in the cartoon - to avoid having the current owner of the Macross/Robotech toy claiming that Hasbro/TT were copying their Property, if it had looked anything like the original Gen1 Jetfire (in both modes).

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, I see what you mean - the issue isn't just the design, but also the distinctive likeness, which TakTOM don't have the rights to.

The point of the G1 Masterpiece line is to update G1 toys with modern engineering. For Takaratomy to make what will be essentially a third party ripoff of the Astro Magnum mould would be similar to the same company making an accurate-looking Masterpiece Cy-Kill or Masterpiece Jetfire even though the original Bike Robo/Valkyrie moulds, patents and designs are owned by Bandai. Takara's Laserwave toys have never turned into anything that resembled Shockwave's altmode and even the upcoming Generations toy doesn't turn into a gun. There is no way that they'd be going headstrong into making a G1-accurate Shockwave without someone in the legal department going "um..." or "no".

Perhaps go for a G1 Shockwave coloured Nerf gun (similar to how Classics/Henkei/United Megatron was a Nerf Maverick). I reckon that'd be heaps kewl.

No, because the G1 fanboys will have a whinge saying its not accurate enough.

True.