Japanese website interview with TakTom designer Hasui Shogo on MP13 Soundwave

[Lord_Zed]

I dream of Jazz, but can they actually get the Porsche license? I thought it was off limits for war toys.

[Meangreen]

I dream of Jazz, but can they actually get the Porsche license? I thought it was off limits for war toys.

It should be worth noting that the same reason has been given for Bumblebee not being a VW anymore. However, The Volkswagen Group also own Lamborghini as well as Porsche and look what we got recently with Lambor.

[5FDP]

A MP Combaticon set would be pricey! If they're the same price point as most MP these days, we're looking at approx. $300 for the lot

[Bidoofdude]

Lambo is still its own company, even if they are owned by VW. They themselves still make the choices.

[Trent]

Lambo is still its own company, even if they are owned by VW. They themselves still make the choices.

This is true. However VW being the parent company would still set policy for Lamborghini and Porche. An example of how this would affect them is the Audi R8. Rather than let Audi develop their own engines for the R8 (Audi really wanted to) VW dictated that they use Lamborghini engines to save cash. Now whether or not a company develops engines for their car in-house or sources them externally is usually up to the the manufacturer themselves. If they have the budget then they can if they want. However VW stepped in and set a policy of using Lambo engines for 2 reasons: one is cost. While Audi had the budget, in VW opinion that money could be better spent elsewhere. 2nd reason is quality. Audi make quality engines. No doubt there, but Lamborghini also makes quality engines. Which would fit the R8 perfectly (Since it is based off the Gallardo platform). So not only are they saving development costs, they are putting a well known engine into an (at the time) unknown car. Instant street cred.

Of course this was all amusing because the Lambo V10s kept overheating in the R8 during hard testing and caught on fire. Melting the car (as shown below). So they ended up developing an in-house V8 anyway. Later they solved the V10 issue (but not before quite a few were apparently converted into very expensive puddles of aluminum. )



So what was my point again………

Oh yes. Even though Porche and Lamborghini are still their own companies and make their own decisions, every now and then the parent company can (and will) dictate a direction those companies must take. While we have gotten licensed TFs from Lambo, it does not necessarily mean that we will get them from Porche or VW. There may be factors that we are not aware of. And how do you know that Porche want to hand out a license? They may feel the same as VW supposedly does.

But in the end this is all speculation. I have no idea what MPs we may or may not get. But I REALLY want an MP Jazz.

End of my barely intelligible ramble.

[Hursticon]

*snip*

So what was my point again………

Oh yes. Even though Porche and Lamborghini are still their own companies and make their own decisions, every now and then the parent company can (and will) dictate a direction those companies must take. While we have gotten licensed TFs from Lambo, it does not necessarily mean that we will get them from Porche or VW. There may be factors that we are not aware of. And how do you know that Porche want to hand out a license? They may feel the same as VW supposedly does.

But in the end this is all speculation. I have no idea what MPs we may or may not get. But I REALLY want an MP Jazz.

End of my barely intelligible ramble.

Actually I thought it was quite an interesting history lesson.
I hear you on the MP Jazz though dude, that HAS to happen somehow - So too for Hound & Mirage.

[Hursticon]

For those still interested; SydneyY over at TFW2005 has just posted his translation of the very article that Doublespy brought to our attention - Some very interesting details & insight as always.

I love that Shogo Hasui takes note of all the animation errors found throughout the G1 cartoon!

[seespotrun]

A MP Combaticon set would be pricey! If they're the same price point as most MP these days, we're looking at approx. $300 for the lot

That wouldn't be outrageous for an MP-quality combiner. A Takara/Fansproject Bruticus would already set you back $260, and they're roughly scout-sized figures. More comparably, TFC's hercules would cost you $500 for a set, and other third-party combiners (TFC's Superion, MMC's Predaking, FansProject's Menasor, etc.) look to be in the same ballpark.

Of course, Takara should be able to make their figures cheaper than what third parties would charge; but if you're in the market for combiner teams, $300 for a Masterpiece combiner isn't a bad deal.

[5FDP]

That wouldn't be outrageous for an MP-quality combiner. A Takara/Fansproject Bruticus would already set you back $260, and they're roughly scout-sized figures. More comparably, TFC's hercules would cost you $500 for a set, and other third-party combiners (TFC's Superion, MMC's Predaking, FansProject's Menasor, etc.) look to be in the same ballpark.

Of course, Takara should be able to make their figures cheaper than what third parties would charge; but if you're in the market for combiner teams, $300 for a Masterpiece combiner isn't a bad deal.

Never said that it wasn't a good deal or outrageous, just pricey. $300 is still $300 regardless of what you're getting for it Anyways, this is all speculation at this point as I like to see what I'm buying before handing over any amount of money.

[canofwhoopass_87]

"To be honest, what I'd love to release most is Ultra Magnus."

woooo! UM for the next MP!