Now THERES a Fantastic idea! I was gonna get the Don Figeuroa Optimus Prime 3rd party figure, but it looks too finicky and the Generation Toys version that's a GOOD toy just doesn't have the same look as Dons art. I think if they did it right and tried to make it look like Dons art, assuming that's even allowed, it be a definite buy in my book. .... ... Somehow I don't really see enough ppl spending $300 on a Tarn figure that doesn't really look like Tarn, to make this successful line. Colors may change my opinion, idk. That said I still like it. I'm already on board for Drift (mainly bc one of my favorite "Classics" toys before the G1 craze starting with Combiner Wars, is my 2008 Generations Drift. He's my favorite deluxe from 2006 to 2012. I have all but 3 of the deluxes (missing Cheetor, Hot Shot, & Hound/Ravage)
Bandai's Metal Build series is similar to Flametoys' series. You can always grab the model kit version of a design, or shell out about $200 more for a metal-loaded, more detailed and drastically different version at the same scale. Not that I have anything against Kultur. I have him, and love him to bits.
A Lamborghini that doesnt transform is a model car and a robot that doesnt transform is an action figure. They look nice but the appeal to me about Transformers is how well they solve the problem of going between both modes and how good each mode looks afterwards. Its a task no other toy faces and is why I personally don\'t care for these as I would rather have a cool drawing.
As it was pointed out already, Hasbro/TT severely restricts third party companies like Sentinel, 3A, and Flame Toys as to what type of figures they can make using the Transformers license. If a transforming toy can be made at all, often the alt mode will be an off-the-wall one like a pen, or tablet, baseball cap, sneaker shoes, etc. The few times that HasTak allowed an official 3P to make a figure that actually transformed into a car was the one where it transformed into a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Very few and far between. Makes sense to me that HasTak would want to protect their IP and have "non-compete" clauses in the license usage. So you can't blame Flame Toys, Sentinel, or 3A for not making transforming TF figures because they legally can't do so. That being said, the details, materials, and sculpt of these non-transforming action figures cannot be denied, even if they can't transform. Things like LED lights, poseability (Drift alone here has more than 50 -- count 'em, 50! -- points of articulation), and paint -- again, the price tag should and does reflect all of this. I'd be hard pressed to find any official HasTak transforming figure to have even half the amount of PoA, for instance. Or having LED lights outside of older Leader class figures or odd-balls like MP-32/38 Optimus Primal. Obviously, there is a market niche that these non-transforming action figures are filling, otherwise they wouldn't bother making them. People really underestimate the popularity of non-transforming super robot franchises like Gundam in Asia and Japan. There are entire aisles if not floors dedicated to Gundam figures and model kits (most of which don't transform) in Japanese hobby stores and big box chains (like Bic Camera, Yodabashi Camera, etc.). And the tourists here (often hailing from countries like China, Korea, parts of Southeast Asia, etc.) buy all of that stuff up at Japanese retail from what I've seen. They can't get enough of 'em. If anything, it's Transformers that are the underdog at toy retail, just given how much smaller the displays and availability/distribution of transforming toys are compared to Gundam. So yeah, this Drift figure is appealing to that demographic as well as those folks familiar with IDW comics version of the Drift character. And I bet it'll be a hit, $300 price tag or not. But this is just my humble opinion as a gaijin living in Japan.
I think the sculpt looks beautiful and if it's as well-painted as Drift this could be an incredible display piece. The lack of transformation doesn't bother me at all for a high-end "art toy" like this, but what DOES bother me is that I'd have to sell my kidney and mortgage my house to buy the initial lineup alone.
I meant, they actually never showed him so obsessed with changing mode. I don't recall how many times he transformed in the comics, but I'm pretty sure they weren't a lot. It was an interesrting twist of the character, but it almost looks like they didn't know how to actually use it in the stories.
I think you don't understand the needs of the fanbase this caters to - which I understand, you're a transformer fan - because Saito summed it up with those three qualities, which are obviously very important to this marketsegment (plenty of transformers fans here as well who don't care about alt modes and/or transforming). If you think MMC's Tarn is better, all the better for you: it looks good, it's less then half the price (maybe a third, we don't know this one's price yet) and it transforms. But you can also turn it around: Kultur's altmode looks bland and is not worth all the design sacrifices made to it in order to be able to transform. Without the need to transform you can just get a vastly superior design on all levels.
I do understand the fanbase this caters to, it's just that I'm a big fan of the comics and I'm pretty familiar with Tarn's design, and the MMC is way more accurate in robot mode than this. For the last time, I'm not criticizing anyone who wants it, I just don't see the upside past metal content and possibly more articulation.
He actually transformed a ton in his first appearance for the little panel time he had, transforming when he needed to travel short distances and even transforming on top of Grimlock as an attack. Far more then the average MTMTE transforms! I really did believe that he could do it to an excess to the point of addiction. ... He then proceeded to transform maybe once in all his subsequent appearances.
Lol, that's what I meant: you still 'don't' understand their needs when you say '...past diecast and articulation'. This is not critique. Just literally (in your own words) you can't comprehend the three reasons even though they are very clear (and obviously important to the catered market). Taste and preferences are not a matter of 'seeing it' as you write it. Myself, I'm a transforming TF fan first and foremost and never had any interest in action figures so I don't usually bother with this stuff but...I am getting more attracted to the higher end stuff and 3P overall doesn't go there (companies like Perfect Effect and Gcreation do but that's less then a handfull of figures). edit: some errors in 1st paragraph
I know it was mentioned but shown.. you're right. He was rarely transforming lol. Well other than a panel?? Maybe lol
I'm still frustrated that the book never really followed up on that very original and intriguing idea. For as cool as Tarn looks, I feel like some of his later MTMTE appearances really let down the potential behind the character.
Having seen their Drift in person at SDCC, and seeing the details and the LED treatment, I couldnt believe how much better it looked than anything transformable I currently own, Masterpiece or 3rd party. I own Kultur, and Carnifex, well just about everything post Hearts of Steel stuff they've made really. MMC is my favorite 3rd party company easily. That said, it also means I own a transforming Tarn. I enjoy posting pics on IG of my favorite figures and characters and after seeing what they did with Drift, I can only imagine that Tarn with the glowing red eyes and purple energon accents with use of LED's will make shots like the one I took below, even more fun!!! THAT is why I want to own flame toys Tarn. That and because he's my favorite decepticon now, finally surpassing my childhood favorite Soundwave.
