Next two Masterpiece toys for Australia

[griffin]

Hot on the heals of the Deluxe Stinger update (coming here in March), comes some news that is hot off the presses from Hasbro Australia.

The first of the next two Masterpiece toys from Japan (via Hasbro Hong Kong) will be Star Saber in March at ToysRUs.
Price is yet to be revealed, but when it is, it will be included here.



The second new Masterpiece that should end up at ToysRUs mid-year (to be confirmed) is the reissue of MP-10 Optimus Prime (the black box Japanese version being released in Japan in May).

After asking Hasbro Australia why the October reissue in Hong Kong of the Hasbro version of Masterpiece Optimus (clear box version) didn't come here with all the other Masterpiece imports from Hasbro Hong Kong, I was told that they didn't know about it. So I told them about the upcoming Japanese reissue, and a day later they get back to me saying that they will be ordering it (details to be confirmed later).



That's pretty good of them, to take on board a suggestion and act on it so quickly. (I've been mentioning it to them for a couple years now, about how that mould could sell here every couple years, based on its popularity in its first release and being the iconic Transformers character and Masterpiece toy.)

Since this one is so sudden, it might be some time before we get any date and price details, but given the 2-ish month delay of other import figures from Hasbro HK, this one is likely to be here around July.
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[GoktimusPrime]

I can now reveal that MP Star Sabre was the third translation/adaptation job that I was doing for Hasbro. However, the English bio is completely different and unrelated to the Japanese one. The Japanese bio is based on Star Sabre's appearance in Transformers Victory, where he was -- character-wise -- basically a clone of Optimus Prime (re: flawless heroic saviour archetype). The English bio is based on IDW Star Sabre, where Star Sabre is an incredibly dark character.

In the Japanese booklet, Star Sabre's function is "Autobot Supreme Commander." For the Hasbro version, his function has been changed to 'Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord' (at times abbreviated to 'Tyrest Accord Enforcer' or just "Autobot Enforcer" in different parts of the booklet). Japanese G1 tech specs don't have mottos, and I only had access to the booklet and not the tech specs card (so I have no idea if TakaraTOMY have newly created a motto for him), but the motto I created for the Hasbro version is "Quidquid facio sancitur divinitus.", which is Latin for "Everything I do is divinely sanctioned." -- and yes, I have written the motto in both Latin and English (as I did for Stinger ).

More reveals to come.

[bassbot]

I can now reveal that MP Star Sabre was the third translation/adaptation job that I was doing for Hasbro. However, the English bio is completely different and unrelated to the Japanese one. The Japanese bio is based on Star Sabre's appearance in Transformers Victory, where he was -- character-wise -- basically a clone of Optimus Prime (re: flawless heroic saviour archetype). The English bio is based on IDW Star Sabre, where Star Sabre is an incredibly dark character.

In the Japanese booklet, Star Sabre's function is "Autobot Supreme Commander." For the Hasbro version, his function has been changed to 'Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord' (at times abbreviated to 'Tyrest Accord Enforcer' or just "Autobot Enforcer" in different parts of the booklet). Japanese G1 tech specs don't have mottos, and I only had access to the booklet and not the tech specs card (so I have no idea if TakaraTOMY have newly created a motto for him), but the motto I created for the Hasbro version is "Quidquid facio sancitur divinitus.", which is Latin for "Everything I do is divinely sanctioned." -- and yes, I have written the motto in both Latin and English (as I did for Stinger ).

More reveals to come.

I think this is very bold and excellent of you to go this route! And also, just another day of Goktimus making news...
http://tformers.com/hasbro-australia...5793/news.html

[griffin]

If the word "translated" wasn't used by Goktimus on the Facebook announcement, this wouldn't have drawn out the trolls or confused non-Australians, who are going off about it not being a translation of the Japanese character.
Next time, maybe use something like "new westernised bio", or something less confusing.

The instructions may be translated, but the character bio is completely original (from legit source material).

Maybe future bios of Japanese characters should just stick to being translations or re-writes of that Japanese version of the character, if the original Japanese character is more popular than a lesser known American version... and leave Hasbro America to create something "Western" IF they ever release the toy in their market.
Because when you think about it, the IDW Star Saber is so obscure, it doesn't warrant a Masterpiece toy, but the Japanese Star Saber does warrant a Masterpiecec toy. (and the design isn't based on the IDW design)
Did you discuss the direction of these with anyone first to see if this was a good idea to not write up the more well-known version character that the toy is based on?
If not, maybe a quick word with one or two people (you are allowed to talk to by Hasbro) first to see what would be more desirable to the target market of these toys.


And what is with the latin on all of them?
You might as well put Mayan on it, or any other obscure language to the target market of these (Australians).
Why not just use Cybertronian if you are going to have the English under it?

[Defcon]

I think going with the Japanese character version, would be ideal. But its ok to alter it to share some traits from IDW. I am not really familiar with either version of the character unless I look it up on wiki. I think the use of Latin for the character is an odd choice. I'm curious how does the motto sound when translated in Japanese?, but I think the Latin worked a lot better with Ultra Magnus. I look forward to reading the Bio.

[Lint]

This is great news. I like that TRU have seen sense in bringing asian imports to the Australian market and more importantly in a timely fashion! Gives us more options really and I am feeling less pressure to preorder on sight.

[griffin]

This is great news. I like that TRU have seen sense in bringing asian imports to the Australian market and more importantly in a timely fashion! Gives us more options really and I am feeling less pressure to preorder on sight.

That's what it boils down to... having another option, or backup if something was so popular you miss out on a pre-order, and the secondary market price shoots right up above our retail price. By the time it is released here, you should have exhausted all your other options, to then buy locally if you have no better choice.

Plus, there is the reassurance of easy refund or exchange if anything is missing or broken... something that is difficult or impossible from online sources.

And I'm not advocating buying these at full price, or reject cheaper imports for it. Wait for a sale if you prefer to buy the local version, as the sale prices are what they work out for an acceptable profit margin... making the regular retail prices a bonus for them.

[Jetfire in the sky]

If the word "translated" wasn't used by Goktimus on the Facebook announcement, this wouldn't have drawn out the trolls or confused non-Australians, who are going off about it not being a translation of the Japanese character.
Next time, maybe use something like "new westernised bio", or something less confusing.

The instructions may be translated, but the character bio is completely original (from legit source material).

Maybe future bios of Japanese characters should just stick to being translations or re-writes of that Japanese version of the character, if the original Japanese character is more popular than a lesser known American version... and leave Hasbro America to create something "Western" IF they ever release the toy in their market.
Because when you think about it, the IDW Star Saber is so obscure, it doesn't warrant a Masterpiece toy, but the Japanese Star Saber does warrant a Masterpiecec toy. (and the design isn't based on the IDW design)
Did you discuss the direction of these with anyone first to see if this was a good idea to not write up the more well-known version character that the toy is based on?
If not, maybe a quick word with one or two people (you are allowed to talk to by Hasbro) first to see what would be more desirable to the target market of these toys.


And what is with the latin on all of them?
You might as well put Mayan on it, or any other obscure language to the target market of these (Australians).
Why not just use Cybertronian if you are going to have the English under it?

+1

I have no interest in the comics but a huge interest and collection of Japanese exclusive G1 toys with SS being one of my long time favourites, and in my little brain the cartoons/G1 tech specs should have heavy influence on primary canon.

Anyway I still think it's wonderful that Gok got the job to translate the instructions and write bio's. You will never please everybody but don't take constructive criticism to heart, you are a minor celeb in TF world now

[Deonasis]

I can now reveal that MP Star Sabre was the third translation/adaptation job that I was doing for Hasbro. However, the English bio is completely different and unrelated to the Japanese one. The Japanese bio is based on Star Sabre's appearance in Transformers Victory, where he was -- character-wise -- basically a clone of Optimus Prime (re: flawless heroic saviour archetype). The English bio is based on IDW Star Sabre, where Star Sabre is an incredibly dark character.

In the Japanese booklet, Star Sabre's function is "Autobot Supreme Commander." For the Hasbro version, his function has been changed to 'Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord' (at times abbreviated to 'Tyrest Accord Enforcer' or just "Autobot Enforcer" in different parts of the booklet). Japanese G1 tech specs don't have mottos, and I only had access to the booklet and not the tech specs card (so I have no idea if TakaraTOMY have newly created a motto for him), but the motto I created for the Hasbro version is "Quidquid facio sancitur divinitus.", which is Latin for "Everything I do is divinely sanctioned." -- and yes, I have written the motto in both Latin and English (as I did for Stinger ).

More reveals to come.

Gok mate, please read this as my thoughts and not an attack.

Why bring in the Latin? I know it is a personal touch but the motto is a big thing and I see no connection to the language.
Why write up a 100% G1 inspired toy with the bio from IDW comics? That is like "translating" the upcoming APS-01U Optimus Prime with his bio from Animated or was it Wheeljack or Shockwave who created the dinobots? If a Victory Leo is created you may be writing off your own bat to tie-in the IDW Star Saber to him.

Yes the flawless heroic saviour archetype has been done before but someone still manages to create pretty good Optimus bio's for his many releases.

Still glad you got the Hasbro gig though and I still think you are a top dude. The coolest thing i think is that you are creating variants with your work and there is a collector type (as you know) who will be tracking down Gok's transformers.

Mind you i read many posts loving what you have done so what do i know eh?

[griffin]

Working for Hasbro is everyone's dream... but is it more curse than blessing?