HASBRO vs. TAKARA opinions?

[obakemono]

I just got a UN jazz. That in of it's self isn't a big deal, but it is however the first time since I've gotten back into collecting that I've had 2 versions of the same release, RTS and UNITED, and the more I compare them the more I wonder about the choices made between the two.

To preface this conversation I'm going to limit myself to the current RTS/GENERATIONS vs UNITED lines because the pessimest in me truly believes that takara/hasbro knows people are going to hate the new deluxe "mech tech" weapons and are transitioning people to expect the smaller deluxe sized figures when the mech tech weapons are eventually discontinued (hasbo has started the vehicals are smaller in the DOTM line BECAUSE of the weapons) and this is a different issue.

Now normally I look at the figures online and weigh the cost of a takara over the price of the hasbro releases, and in the past it was fairly strait forward, takara would always have more paint apps, more chrome and usually more accurate paint schemes, are the the diffences enough for the money? Done. But the most recent waves of figures have change the dance as it were. Gone is the chrome in favor of rich metallic (and G1) paint, the differences are far more glaring in alt mode (perceptor,blurr,jazz,tracks,lugnut as examples), and it seems at least to me that the takara versions are no longer minor upgrades to the hasbro versions but are now becoming the " high end prestige" versions of figures that are getting a short end at hasbro, the arguement could be made that of course there better because there more expensive, but if that were simply the case and hasbro just wants to keep prices down it raises the question as to choices they are making, as an example (of many) take turbo tracks, the RTS version has that tribal design on the hood, love it or hate it that's what hasbro made, it has no more or less paint than the more G1 accurate UNITED tracks hood decal so why didn't we get a version of that on the unpainted blue hasbro tracks? The stripes on jazz prove it can be done.

I suppose at the heart of it that's my argument here, has takara gone from the Japanese version to the "better" all round version? has hasbro been relegated to the "here you go kids" at wal-mart versions? There are exeprions of course (perceptors chrome) but not as many as there should be. I'd be very interested in hearing others opinions on this subject.

Thanks.

[CyberMnky]

No, thats ALWAYS a personal opinion... In some cases, one might refer one over the other but I wouldn't say that they're always the highend version.

[shockwing]

Takara is expensive but more work is done, vice versa for Hasbro

[Larkhainan]

Takara is marketed to a collector's market primarily, being a totally different sort of country, a different market, a different fanbase that have grown up with different standards. They cost slightly more to make and command a substantial premium. Getting away from subjective opinions on figures such as "I don't like the tribal flames" or what not, they are supposed to be more of a premium edition. Preference is up for debate, design intent is clearly not. Whether or not collectors overseas are supposed to be buying them, I can't say. Whether or not they're G1 accurate or straight up better seems to be entirely up to the whims of the engineer that does the finishing touches. If they were uniformly G1 accurate and designed to accent that, I'd assume they were. But it doesn't seem that way. So I don't know what Hasbro thinks about collectors and Takara stuff.

Re: MechTech, TT previews have shown their upcoming DoTM line is going to have it. While I agree with what you said (that they're going to cut down on the size of deluxes ultimately) I'm not sure what point you were hinting at. Also, the TT previews show at least two repaints of HFTD/ROTF toys with mech tech weapons, which really makes the issue funny.

[Hellboy]

I have not bought any Takara and aside from the fancy chrome apps are they actually better quality toys? Better plastic? Tighter joints? I've seen the Takara and Hasbro figures side by side (in package) and they appear to be pretty much the same mould-wise.

As fancy as the chrome paints or translucent parts look they aren't really what I consider the way Transformers should look. Hasbro's figures feel right for their price-point. Do Takara's?

[Echotransformer]

I embrace the difference...try to get Hasbro stuff on sale, and get the Takara for the 'premium' part of my collection...I don't handle the Takara toys as much, but the Hasbro stuff is pretty common and I even let my 4 year old son drive them around and try to transform them.

United Jazz, Tracks and to a lesser extent Kup, etc. are significantly better than the RTS versions...and I would argue that many of the Henkei were better representations as well...holding a Universe 2.0 Hasbro Ironhide next to the Henkei is like holding an orange up to an apple, if you get my drift.

Speaking of Drift, Takara must use denture cream on their plastic, because WHITE is WHITE, whereas for Hasbro toys white is white-ish with some brown and yellow thrown in.

--Echo

[justprime]

Firstly if you take into consideration the shipping cost pushing up the cost of Tomy TFs,.... even that out with the many produced By big H and (remember they come from the same part of the world)by sheer bulk Hasbro could chrome/paint and could sell here at a reasonable price same quality I prefer Tomy/Takara's product they seem to have less production problems,don't see alot in the postings...better qc? the metalic and chrome (majority of cars etc are in a satin matalic color,.. not many flat colors out there these days) appleals to me after the piss poor paint apps on the new blur I would gladly pay a little more for one in matalic paint...and the tomy tracks cool in that blue.even in the past the takara pieces had better paint apps that made them more applealing take the movie line 2007 prime takaras was chrome fine details painted in the Preimium prime here still had no chrome and lousy detail.

[Matrix_Holder]

I find myself leaning towards Takara for the look of the new TFs. I prefer the more G1 accurate versions that Takara produces but the cost is prohibitive to my spending limit on figures for my 1 MOC/MIB and one for display/play habit. The United Wreckgar is far superior to Hasbros for my collecting (G1esk) needs...same with WFC Megatron, Scourge and G2 Prime...which I hope to posses soon.

[Larkhainan]

Originally Posted by justprime

I prefer Tomy/Takara's product they seem to have less production problems,don't see alot in the postings...better qc?

I've seen lots of TT quality problems posted on /toy. Is there any reason to believe they're produced in a different plant?

[MrCHEESEMANn]

I love the Takara stuff-when I have the money to splurge or a figure is coming out who's character stands out to me with a little extra sprinkling of nostalgia.. Wheeljack was the first transformer I ever saw /played with.. so.. I spent on the pricey Takara one, for example. I'm far from a hasbro hater tho.. and maybe I'm in the minority, but I seem to have way more qc issues with my Takara figures.. Missing paint apps on Hot Rod (henkei) and wheeljack (one of his "inner car doors" is missing the silver- doh! )And Henkei Cyclonus in all his Lavander glory has a loose nose cone issue. the cost IS prohibitive tho when a great portion of the wave appeals to me.. I have the hasbro Jazz, and he's cool, but he's an example of hasbro being a lesser version of the toy in my opinion, very plain looking (especially in alt mode) compared to Takara version, but I can't afford to buy every figure in the wave AND pay double or triple for them.