New Titan Returns figures revealed!

[doublespy]

Interview (in Japanese) with the designer of Fort Max:

http://hobby.dengeki.com/reviews/205331/

I can't enough of Hasui's sketches.

And now I feel bad for Hasui knowing that he designed Fort Max. If there was a way to improve on what it is now within budget, he would've done it. I'd like to read what he thinks of this project when someone translates the article.

[GoktimusPrime]

And now I feel bad for Hasui knowing that he designed Fort Max. If there was a way to improve on what it is now within budget, he would've done it. I'd like to read what he thinks of this project when someone translates the article.

But that's pretty much the case with every toy and the reality of being a toy designer. Every figure has a tight budget which they have to stick with. If they'd made the toy according to everything that Hasui wanted, then it would've blown the budget and the toy might cost $500, which wouldn't sell in commercially viable quantities to justify the cost of development and production. Transformers has been this way since the 1980s, it's nothing new or surprising. e.g. one of the prototypes for the Diaclone Battle Convoy toy (original Optimus Prime) featured longer antennae, longer smokestacks, the "Freightliner" logo sculpted on the actual front grille, as well as being able to attach the rifles onto the shoulders. These features may have been dropped in the final product due to budgetary reasons. We know that Ginrai was simplified for Powermaster Optimus Prime to conform to a lower price point (similar to how Combiner Wars Computron is a cheaper version of Unite Warriors Computicon, but is also notably cheaper), and the prototype for Godbomber was also a more complex toy - being less of a partsformer than the final product - but Ono Koujin has stated in an interview that this was abandoned due to budgetary reasons.

[doublespy]

True. But this is not just any regular toy. A modern take on Fort Max is hardly the character they will ever have a chance to revisit. It's similar to Titan Devastator, where Hasui even said in the interview that he felt like that was the closest he'll ever get to designing an MP Devastator. And he had to drop a lot of ideas to meet budget for the Generations version. Luckily they were able to put the extras in the UW release. But not so lucky this time as the TT Fort Max has virtually no extra feature. I echo what a lot of people have said, it's "a missed opportunity".

It is also extra sad that Hasbro demanded Fort Max to re-use a certain number of parts from the Metroplex mold. And probably a substantial amount of budget went into making sure the Headmaster gimmick works.

But that's pretty much the case with every toy and the reality of being a toy designer. Every figure has a tight budget which they have to stick with. If they'd made the toy according to everything that Hasui wanted, then it would've blown the budget and the toy might cost $500, which wouldn't sell in commercially viable quantities to justify the cost of development and production. Transformers has been this way since the 1980s, it's nothing new or surprising. e.g. one of the prototypes for the Diaclone Battle Convoy toy (original Optimus Prime) featured longer antennae, longer smokestacks, the "Freightliner" logo sculpted on the actual front grille, as well as being able to attach the rifles onto the shoulders. These features may have been dropped in the final product due to budgetary reasons. We know that Ginrai was simplified for Powermaster Optimus Prime to conform to a lower price point (similar to how Combiner Wars Computron is a cheaper version of Unite Warriors Computicon, but is also notably cheaper), and the prototype for Godbomber was also a more complex toy - being less of a partsformer than the final product - but Ono Koujin has stated in an interview that this was abandoned due to budgetary reasons.

[GoktimusPrime]

Sure, but Hasbro's insistence on reusing the Metroplex mould is most likely to recoup from the costs of R&Ding the Metroplex mould in the first place, thus making Metroplex relatively more affordable. There's not a whole lot more in terms of redeco potential for Metroplex (Metro-Titan is quite obscure, even in Japan). It'll be interesting to see if HasTak can figure out a redeco for Trypticon.

[Bidoofdude]

Sure, but Hasbro's insistence on reusing the Metroplex mould is most likely to recoup from the costs of R&Ding the Metroplex mould in the first place, thus making Metroplex relatively more affordable. There's not a whole lot more in terms of redeco potential for Metroplex (Metro-Titan is quite obscure, even in Japan). It'll be interesting to see if HasTak can figure out a redeco for Trypticon.

Gigastorm retool?

[Lord_Zed]

The limitations of making toys at a viable price point for mainstream consumers has always been a necessary part and parcel of collecting. Copyright implications aside, it's why I'm glad there burgeoning 3rd party industry making higher budget collectors transforming robots.

Sure, but Hasbro's insistence on reusing the Metroplex mould is most likely to recoup from the costs of R&Ding the Metroplex mould in the first place, thus making Metroplex relatively more affordable. There's not a whole lot more in terms of redeco potential for Metroplex (Metro-Titan is quite obscure, even in Japan). It'll be interesting to see if HasTak can figure out a redeco for Trypticon.

Put a dinosaur head on the Metroplex body? Make him a dino-scorpion?

[doublespy]

Sure, but Hasbro's insistence on reusing the Metroplex mould is most likely to recoup from the costs of R&Ding the Metroplex mould in the first place, thus making Metroplex relatively more affordable.

Yeah that's just them being greedy. Between all the different Metroplex versions they put out, "recouping R & D costs" had probably been taken care of before they decicided to do Titans Return

[Seraphim Prime]

It is also extra sad that Hasbro demanded Fort Max to re-use a certain number of parts from the Metroplex mold. And probably a substantial amount of budget went into making sure the Headmaster gimmick works.

My understanding is that it was Takara that suggested that they could use Metroplex parts to reduce design costs for unique parts, and bring those savings into other, more significant areas of Fortress Maximus, and thus achieve a more recognisable design than if it had been designed from scratch.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Couple of video reviews, one for Powermaster Prime and another for Loudmouth. Not in English though.

[Lord_Zed]

I'm excited by Powermaster Prime, yet the Hasbro one looks so cheap. Come on Takara give us a proper painted Jinrai.