is 3rd party over?

[mrluthor]

I think they are here to stay as long as there is collectors like us around they will be here. Hasbro/Takara make good figures but some third party stuff makes them look inferior. I tend to buy more third party figures than official figures. The quality is getting much better too with most third party figures. We are also getting retooled Oversized KOs of figures like MP10, MP08X and the Bayformers that look great and have good quality. The worse thing about these figures is the wait time it takes for them to be made.

[Blurrz]

Nah... for the MP stuff maybe. But there's just too much content out there for HasTak to cover solo.

[roballan]

No chance.

I think Takara releases recently are geared toward at least causing collectors to think along these lines. So we'll probably see a 3P contraction where only the better 3P companies survive. And this is good- there is some 3P product that gives alternate manufacturers a bad name.

But even when you look at forthcoming product, I wouldn't necessarily say Takara offerings are better than 3P. I think MP Shockwave *appears* to be on-par with Quakewave. That said, as of this writing, I still prefer Quakewave. MP Ironhide is another interesting beast. I actually dislike the face sculpt and some aspects of the body in general. It might be a step up from the iGear bots I have now, but I'm not convinced of it and it's not enough of a difference to make me want to shell out MP money even if it is slightly better in the end. I'm content with the Ironhide that's on my shelf.

There's room for both. I think an accelerated release schedule that's somewhat designed to impact 3P sales might be a good thing and leave of us with less junk out there.

[Slayback]

3p toys are totally done. All hail takara tomy and hasblo. Better grab up all the 3p stuff now because it'll all be gone soon.


Yah. No. I cant see the purpose of even asking the question. Youre looking at companies that have different designs and skills. Tbeyre producing items that are more than just your average toy. The people who collect them -are collecting because they find it prettier and more adult than the gear that comes out from hasbro and taktomy. It is like saying well mercedes makes a damn fine car... so why should anyone else bother trying? People like choices and alternatives.

[CAF]

My 3rd P list for the future are
Quakewave
the rest of the Dinobots
the insecticons
X-Transbots Megs

So that's 9 of em.

[Buhawi]

You can also buy/resell and make money out of those impatient ones. The trick is the timing.

I'm sure some of us already do that. Just look at their sales threads. or like some, cycle toys around at the right time.

3Ps just the toys for it.

But I know I don't. It's hard to part with most toys. Even doubles/triples.

[Pascal]

Originally Posted by Blurrz

But there's just too much content out there for HasTak to cover solo.

This.

[down_shift]

Don't hold your breath for Jazz any time soon. I mean, he's an obvious character to do once the legalities are worked out.

But from what I hear, he's not coming down the pipe any time next year.

[CAF]

Anyone ever hear if this TR-01 Masterpiece-styled Jazz ever did come to be from the company Transform and Rollout?

[timcrook]

Most official MP toys maybe better than the 3rd party counter parts but for classics/chug collection, official toys have to have compromises due to price constraints.