The Israeli Transformers forum just reported that Proto-form Optimus Prime and Starscream hit the shelves in Herzelia, Israel: Direct Link (Hebrew contect - Pictures at the bottom) Mirrored: I can translate if someone is interested....
The Movie Toys On Sale In Toys Stores In Israel The New Transformers Movie Toys (Optimus Prime And Starscrem) Are On Sale In Toys Stores In Israel. Here Are Pictures I've Taken ( New Pictures From In The Toy Store): http://hydepark.hevre.co.il/topic.asp?topic_id=2176009 Have Fun, Hope You'll Like The Pictures, NEWGEN1.
Posted yesterday, I believe... but cool pics nonetheless. http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=127576
Update: Pics from one of the stores of the proto-form robots. It seems that only Prime and SS were imported so far, but maybe more will come later on: Direct pics link Heavy on big pics - Hebrew Contect
Haven't we discussed this before? It's a company based in America. Why is it so hard to understand the expectation that the merchandise produced by an American company be released in America first? It's no different than any other company located in any other country.
Yes. And? 95% of new Transformers toys are coming out in the USA first (unless we count Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the likes). Why is it so hard for you when, every once in a while, a new toy comes out in another country (especially since other countries often get shafted on Transformers toys altogether) first, to say: "Well, you deserve it for once."? Does every single fucking toy have to come out in the US of A before any other country in the world, and if it doesn't, it warrants a fatwa against both Hasbro and the country in question? I don't get it. All you Transformers fans in Isreal: Don't listen to the jealous Americans. I for once think you deserve it.
Let's focus on the point, shall we? Let's say the company is based in Europe and sells left handed widgets. Wouldn't logic and business sense state that the left handed widgets, regardless of their production origin, be sold in the European country in which the parent company is based? It has nothing to do with who gets 'shafted' or doesn't, it's simple business 101.
I kind of have to agree with 03Mach1, although it doesn't bother me nearly as much. I'm a patient man. You kind of undid your whole argument against Mach with "unless we count ..." because that's exactly what he was talking about. I don't mean to start a third World War here, but the Transformers IS an American franchise. When Germany comes out with some hot new product, it makes sense that it would be released in Germany first. If Germans were waiting for such and such to be released locally, but found out the same product was on sale in Belgium, they might be a little ticked off. Regardless, though, I guess it must be nice for the Israeli fans. Haven't they been having a big convention over the past few years? I have to admit, I don't follow that stuff much, as it doesn't pertain to my daily life. The good thing about this news is that we now know there are mass quanitities of the figures ready for retail, so we should be seeing them on all fronts pretty soon.