Haslab Victory Saber

[griffin]

Am I the only one who thinks that the line between Generations and Masterpiece is getting really blurred?

Probably due to the better computer programs being used these days designing Transformers toys, the engineering and sculpting for Generations toys is surpassing many of the earlier Masterpiece toys... and when it comes to character toys like Victory Saber and Trainbots, the toys could go in either category... to the extent that if they had done a Masterpiece Victory Leo toy, would there really be a need for this Haslab version? It's size, complexity and detailing is Masterpiece quality... so why not just call it a Masterpiece.
It almost feels like it just comes down to the type of plastic being used (hard/glossy for MPs vs soft/dull for Generations) to differentiate Masterpiece from the more complex Generations toys.

[Bidoofdude]

I think the styling of this Star Sabre is quite different to the MP, the vibe is different. I think the quality of Generations toys has gone way up, as has the attention to cartoon accuracy, but there is still a vibe difference to the modern MPs. They still look and feel ultimately like toys.

Given the higher frequency of characters in CHUG and the surprisingly not uncommon occurrence of major QC problems in recent MP releases, I wouldn’t be shocked if more and more people are jumping ship. They’ve been turning the price dial for MPs up to a pretty ridiculous level too. I still think both have their place, but MP is being outpaced at an alarming rate.

[1AZRAEL1]

I seen a few people selling their MP collections because these new releases are pretty much mini masterpieces. And I tend to agree.

[DELTAprime]

Why do I get the feeling the Micromosters will turn up in another pack in the future if they don't get included with Star Saber?

I have seen a few people selling their MP collections because these new releases are pretty much mini masterpieces. And I tend to agree.

I'm thinking of doing exactly that. MPs have become so complex, expensive and fragile that I really don't like the line anymore.

[1AZRAEL1]

It's especially evident with the BW MP, I love the look of them, but they feel too fragile and we've seen damage to Megatrons hips. I don't think I'll sell my MPs, but with the new expensive rehash of characters of late, I'm less and less buying MP

[philby]

I've been feeling like that for a while now, that maybe some MP these days are basically a bit larger and more expensive prototypes for a generations figure

I was surprised when they announced this, I thought the character was from the Japan only series originally? Not something I thought would have a lot of appeal but it's cool they could crowd fund it and it worked

[philby]

Why do I get the feeling the Micromosters will turn up in another pack in the future if they don't get included with Star Saber?



I'm thinking of doing exactly that. MPs have become so complex, expensive and fragile that I really don't like the line anymore.

I still haven't tried transforming Hound I feel too worried about cracks and it would be so fiddly. Sunstreaker and Megatron were annoying enough at times.

[griffin]

With less than 3 days to go, the number has passed 14,000 which means the toy will have its iconic big gun... but still needs a little over 5,000 to get the rest of the extras, most of which the toy needs to be considered complete (specifically the gun and shield).

I would imagine that the numbers in Japan will be added at the end, and will push it past 20,000... but other countries like ours would already be added weekly.

[griffin]

On youtube is a video about the designer of this version of Victory Saber, who happens to be the one who designed the Masterpiece Star Saber toy... and no surprisingly is a big fan of the original character and toy.

Some bits that were typed up here...

• Some short clips of both Star Saber and Victory Leo, explaining their origins in the G1 Japan Transformers Victory cartoon and their popularity in Japan.
• The scale plan was to make Star Saber as a Leader Class toy and Victory Leo as a Voyager class figure.
• The combined Victory Saber mode should be as tall as Masterpiece Star Saber.
• Yuki-san gives a brief explanation about why Star Saber design looks like a traditional Japanese “Super Robot”.
• The first original G1 Star Saber sketches are shown (designed by Takarshi Kunihiro) which was leaning more towards a Diaclone design.
• Then, we appreciate the second Star Saber sketches, revised by Kunio Okawara who was the Mech art director of the show. He modified the design to a more heroic anime robot style.
• Yuki-san was impressed with Star Saber when he was a kid, so he was excited when he was assigned to design Masterpiece Star Saber, and now HasLab Victory Saber.
• He mentioned he regretted that a Masterpiece Victory Leo was not released in the Masterpiece line.

[Sinnertwin]

Am I the only one who thinks that the line between Generations and Masterpiece is getting really blurred?

Probably due to the better computer programs being used these days designing Transformers toys, the engineering and sculpting for Generations toys is surpassing many of the earlier Masterpiece toys... and when it comes to character toys like Victory Saber and Trainbots, the toys could go in either category... to the extent that if they had done a Masterpiece Victory Leo toy, would there really be a need for this Haslab version? It's size, complexity and detailing is Masterpiece quality... so why not just call it a Masterpiece.
It almost feels like it just comes down to the type of plastic being used (hard/glossy for MPs vs soft/dull for Generations) to differentiate Masterpiece from the more complex Generations toys.

No, I'm of the same opinion
The bread and butter figures being released today put some of the MP's to shame, like SS86 Hot Rod vs his MP incarnation. As Bidoofdude pointed out price is another factor which makes the retail releases even more desirable.