TFW2005 Boards Member catz is bringing us good news… good news for Japan that is.
TakaraTomy is getting ready to distribute the “Preview” line of Transformers: Prime toys in Japan.
The toys are slated to release on December 28th and consists of:
Voyager (Priced 4000 Yen)
- TF Prime Preview Optimus Prime
- TF Prime Preview Bulkhead
Deluxe (Priced 2800 Yen)
- TF Prime Preview Cliffjumper
- TF Prime Preview Bumblebee
- TF Prime Preview Arcee
- TF Prime Preview Megatron
- TF Prime Preview Starscream
- TF Prime Preview Vehicon
Catz further mentions that there are no known differences from the Hasbro version except for a higher price point and doesn’t come in Waves.
Japan maybe getting ready to air Transformers: Prime after the success of Transformers: Animated.
Can’t wait to see how they handle the intro!
catz
thanks for the vote of confidence . come to think of it, should I sig this?
seekerblackout
….Go on. I'm not exactly going to buy Deluxe Megs,but I'd certainly like to see what potential the inevitable Voyager has . By held up,do you mean the review or when you will get Arcee? And how is BB? Sorry if I'm asking too much
Peaugh
Arcee keeps getting held up. I wish I'd managed to shoot those reviews of Megatron and Bumblebee at the Hasbro booth at TFcon. Megatron is EXCELLENT.
deathsheadII
shame theres no ratchet , wheeljack , knock out and breakdown ! the only ones i would be interested in getting
Feralstorm
Benny Hill music.
Moft
The "Preview" wave (consisting of Bumblebee, Arcee, Starscream and the deluxe Prime/Megatron pack) in the US is supposedly due out December 1st, but the rest of the revealed toys aren't due until 2012, rumored to be sometime in March.
The rest of the deluxe figures and voyagers look like they'll be hitting in Japan first.
Ribieconvoy
A. The Takara versions are the exact same as the Hasbro versions
B. The Hasbro versions will be released BEFORE the Takara versions
C. That is not Optimus Prime's final deco, just a photoshopped pic
D. Bulkhead looks GLORIOUS!
Apparently, catz is an all-knowing stock guru when it comes to Transformers. He's been supplying us with info like this for a looooooong time now, and it's always correct.
Transformed
I asked this question yesterday, but haven't seen the answer yet either. I've seen nothing here to confirm this report…
Ricochet
Where's the source btw? if it's reliable info, I'm so glad that we Japanese have a chance to see the "Prime" with our language…
Sumner Sturgeon
"Never released"? Uh, I'm not sure where you got that idea, but the toys you're talking about are some of the very first figures of what is supposed to become Hasbro's flagship franchise for Transformers. For them not to release them at all is an utterly absurd thought.
As for the Takara versions themselves, I can't see myself springing for them; I generally don't like spending upward of 50 bucks on something I can get stateside for 12, especially since there's not likely to be significant deco changes this time (as the original poster seemed to say).
JoeHavok
That Voyager Optimus Prime looks fantastic. I bet the Voyager Bulkhead will as well. I may have to look in to buying these Takara versions and not waiting for the US versions to come around as they may never be realeased by Hasbro.
Dinobot747
How true, how very true.
Ribieconvoy
Of course the ONE line that NEEDS metallic paint and chrome doesn't get it. I can imagine Takara saying "U mad bros?" in Japanese right now.
PoweredConvoy
Japanese toys are expensive yes, but obviously as the dollar becomes weaker the worse it gets.
Randy
Transformed
I wonder if the US dollar has much to do with anything. The prices of toys in Japan are generally expensive, regardless of them being American, Japanese or whatever.
Grandparents, the ones with the fatter wallets, are the ones most likely to purchase these high-priced toys for their grandchildren—I think many of the high prices Japanese toys carry are influenced by that. Some toys are made for collectors and they are priced accordingly.
Parents tend to buy their children the smaller and poorly built toys because they are, well, cheaper. My children’s friends are somewhat jealous of their situation because they have a lot more nicer toys—I don’t mind buying my children toys and neither does my family back home in the States who often sends toys as well. My children’s friends’ parents purchase their own children toys, sure, but not as often or as many.
I recall watching a segment on Kamen Rider good's targeting the adult collectors. The toy rep flat-out said products targeting the older, adult market carry a higher price point because no adult wants to be labeled for buying something made and priced for children. In order to set collectables and toys apart, many company’s give their collectables a higher price points to save the dignity of their sensitive shoppers I don’t know if other countries do it for this reason or not, but I would assume high prices on collectables is solely there for the fact that collectors have jobs; thus, have more money to spend.
Transformers is an old product; it has fans of all ages. With parents being a bit stingy (and the birth rate rather low here) I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of those buying Transformers in Japan are adults and not children.
SGTsoundwave
in regards to the intro, i don't think they'll change it cinematic-wise, maybe only the music.
process
Just play that scene backwards. Starscream's magic healing hand!
shroobmaster
I'd like to see how they would turn Starscream stabbing Cliffjumper into comedy!
SPLIT LIP
I very much doubt it. DOTM had very few new decos.
PoweredConvoy
Remember there was a time they'd be less than $40 and less than $28. My how the US Dollar has weakened over the last ten years.
Randy