Thoughts on recent MP KO's?

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by kiwisoccer, Aug 22, 2016.

  1. kiwisoccer

    kiwisoccer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Posts:
    172
    Trophy Points:
    67
    Likes:
    +3
    So with the recent release of KO MP Prime's and MP Seekers what are your thoughts?
     
  2. Noobimus Prime

    Noobimus Prime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Posts:
    1,193
    Trophy Points:
    197
    Likes:
    +1,135
    My first thought is that this should be posted over in the 3rd party section
     
  3. hendrijr

    hendrijr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2010
    Posts:
    1,567
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Location:
    Summersville WV
    Likes:
    +3,151
  4. OptimushedPrune

    OptimushedPrune Impressive Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2011
    Posts:
    13,225
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Likes:
    +7,605
  5. hendrijr

    hendrijr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2010
    Posts:
    1,567
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Location:
    Summersville WV
    Likes:
    +3,151
    But specifically I was wondering size. It says V class so I am assuming voyager sized(?).

    Edit-just saw your link. Thank you. Contemplating purchase now.
     
  6. Weezie

    Weezie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2014
    Posts:
    5,982
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Location:
    Somewhere in the Anglosphere
    Likes:
    +3,518
    My thoughts are happy :thumb 
     
  7. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Posts:
    52,184
    News Credits:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    467
    Location:
    South Central PA
    Likes:
    +144,035
    I know some people like KO's, and that's fine for them, but I don't see them as anything more than counterfeits that will never be worth more than the box they are shipped in.

    Some KO's are good quality, but in general, they's still knock-offs of the original. If you truly want a figure, pony up for the real thing.
     
  8. Hicks_Royel

    Hicks_Royel Hurts feelings being honest.

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2007
    Posts:
    17,850
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +19,857
    You know... unless the real thing doesn't exist.
    [​IMG]
    I have MP-10U and will soon have MP-10SG. I also opted to buy the KO MP-10R instead of a second official one because, well, I could buy a horse for the "pony up" price of a second real Red Bape. None have been a disappointment.

    Should the repainted BB7 Seekers ever see the light of day, I'll buy those too.
     
  9. hendrijr

    hendrijr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2010
    Posts:
    1,567
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Location:
    Summersville WV
    Likes:
    +3,151
    I'm fine with high quality KOs because I will never sell them anyway. But isn't any 3rd party technically a knock off anyway?
     
  10. Megatronus27

    Megatronus27 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2012
    Posts:
    3,479
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Detroit
    Likes:
    +1,399
    Not a fan.

    I don't quite understand the "I want the premium line, but I dont want to pay for it" mentality. The KOs arent really that much cheaper so its not like there is a huge savings anyway. It ultimately cheapens the line and makes the secondary market a crap shoot.

    I can see the value of KOing an out of print/obsolete figure from years gone by that will never be revisited by the true owner. I kind of see it like a patent. Patents run out and then anyone can make similar products.

    That said, Takara has done it to themselves when they charge $200 for a retooled Seeker. If they sold them at more reasonable prices with slightly better distribution, there wouldnt be a KO market.
     
  11. Starganderfish

    Starganderfish Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2015
    Posts:
    7,756
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Location:
    Australia
    Likes:
    +11,923
    This argument was valid 2 or 3 years ago but no longer really applies. KO MP Tracks and KO MP Road Rage are significant improvements over the official (rubber tires, tighter joints, better tabbing together) The KO MP Seekrs feature more die-cast and improved waist tab's.
    Even the KO MP-10 from a year or two ago featured a chest that tabbed together better.
    Additionally KO's of MP-08 are available in a larger size that many find desirable while MP-10 has been KO'd in both larger and smaller sizes, as well as multiple unique paint applications.
    KO Seekers are being offered in a range of deco's that the originals aren't available in.
    And finally, some of us aren't collecting a "premium line", we're collecting the best representation of a childhood memory. If I can get an MP Sideswipe for 1/3 the price of the Takara version, and it looks, feels and transforms identically, then I'm going to jump on that. I'm not a brand or label snob, I don't are who's name is on the sticker, I want the best bang for my buck, in terms of price, appearance and quality. Often KO's are superior in 2 out of 3 of those criteria and often as good as the third.
    And personally, I will be deadset amazed if any of these figures, 3P, official or KO are ever worth more than what we pay for them in the long run. The rare case of a limited run figure like Kronos or Quakewave may briefly hold a higher value but long term, they'll be replaced by something better. And with Takara happily releasing additional run's of every single figure, there is no rarity value for MP.
     
  12. CLM

    CLM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2004
    Posts:
    1,555
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Likes:
    +71
    Technically most of them would have had a better price automatically with better distribution. When it is decided to be a Takara Mall only or Hasbro Asia only the price is just stupid. When it is a general Takara Release it's fine for the most part.
     
  13. Slave IV

    Slave IV more wealth than you can imagine!

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2015
    Posts:
    22,399
    Trophy Points:
    327
    Likes:
    +21,552
    I think KOs are great, especially for figures I'm on the fence about. If I can get some of those characters for less money and better quality, I'm all for it. If there is a figure I think TakHas did a great job on and it's a character I want, then I will absolutely buy the official but so far, only 3 MPs have met that criteria for me (not counting MP-1).
     
  14. danny boy

    danny boy Banned

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2011
    Posts:
    2,925
    News Credits:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    257
    Likes:
    +134
    I always buy MP's on release which is the best option in avoiding KO's. If people can convince themselves that a KO is the real thing then more power to them. For me they may as well have the letters KO stamped on their forehead because I can't get past that fact. Also they're worthless in the aftermarket so there's no resale value.

    I run a pretty tight collection. Strictly Takara Tomy and Hot Toys only.
     
  15. Raiyuki

    Raiyuki Low Class Seeker

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
    Posts:
    6,116
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Likes:
    +1,913
    I don't mind it when it's unique decos but when it's identical to the real thing it pisses me off, especially when it comes out really quick after the real thing. It was annoying enough trying to navigate the minefield for getting an actual MP Tigertrack. Now we're getting KO's within weeks of release of something.
    Occasionally I don't mind like DOTM Striker Optimus since the secondary market price on him is ludocrous to begin with. But I would prefer at least the boxes be discernable from the real thing. TakasaTony was a great movie for the record.
     
  16. atomD21

    atomD21 Not made of sterner stuff...

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2014
    Posts:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    The Buckeye State
    Likes:
    +13,756
    I'm not opposed to KOs in the least. I'm sorry, but Bumblebee is not a $65-70 level figure. He is awesome, and I love mine, but if I had to pay full price when I was looking to get him, I would have gone KO without a second thought. And yeah, $110 for an MP seeker is way easier to stomach than $200. So while I think that supporting Takara is important, I'm not going to overpay (more than what I'm comfortable paying) for a figure just to go legit.
     
  17. OriginalFire

    OriginalFire Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2014
    Posts:
    8,163
    News Credits:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +3,588
    Need to do all the MPP-10 repaints
     
  18. the oaf

    the oaf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Posts:
    2,163
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Location:
    A state of limbo between London and NZ
    Likes:
    +3,064
    I did get a few KO’s when I first started collecting… mainly the Autobot cars and Decepticon cassettes… as I didn’t know any better until they showed up. Some were almost flawless (the Datsuns and Wheeljack), and some had a few tabbing issue (the Lambo’s and Rumble/Frenzy). Since then I haven’t bought any KO’s at all until now… the BB7 seekers. I already had three official seekers (Starscream, Sunstorm and Acid Storm), but was loathe to spend the best part of 150 quid apiece for Skywarp and Thundercracker when they pretty much just amount to repaints – it’s a shameless rip-off on HasTak’s part. 80 quid is far more palatable, and since getting Skywarp in hand, I have to say, the quality is actually far superior to the official figures I have – tighter ratchets and joints, better tabbing and far less of a flimsy feel overall. I already had Thundercracker pre-ordered, and have since also pre-ordered Nacelle, Hotlink and Bitstream (which we’ll never see official MP’s of) and now I’m just waiting for them to announce Ion Storm and Nova Storm and my G1 Seeker army will look complete. So by the end of my collection I’ll have 3 official seekers and 7 KO’s, and if BB7 keep up the level of quality, I’ll be more than happy with that. It could have been 5 official, but HasTak got too greedy… in fact, if the lower level of quality on the official figures starts to annoy me, I may even eventually go 10 for 10 for the KO’s.

    And before anyone mentions the coneheads… I’m not touching the official MP molds (official or KO) with a ten foot pole, as I think they’re hideous. I’m going the Toyworld route for mine.

    As far as my old KO’s? Well the cassettes are all getting replaced with official figures when I get the Soundwave Asian reissue anyway, but these will eventually be put into cassette mode in Soundwaves chest as I pick up MMC’s versions which are more in scale in “bot” mode with other MP figures (except the birds… maybe). I’m definitely going to get the official versions of Sideswipe and Red Alert as the chest just doesn’t tab into the abdomen properly on either, but I’m in no hurry to do that, and the hip joints on the Datsuns are getting a little floppy now, so I may well replace those at some point as well. Wheeljack and Bumblebee are perfect though, so I don’t see a need to replace the KO’s.
     
  19. treatment

    treatment Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Posts:
    5,503
    Trophy Points:
    282
    Likes:
    +6,845
    I don't usually mind KOs.

    I just don't think KOs should cost more than the official ones I get.

    The new KO Seeker (bb7 Skywarp) is more notably expensive than what I paid for my official TRU SScreamer. It's even way more expensive than my old MP-3 based Walmart Skywarp, which I got for around $30 back in the day.

    Some people will say the KOs are significantly cheaper than HasbroAsia's/TakaraMall's US$200+ Seekers. That is true, but those official shops are just official scalper-shops to me and I never bought anything from them. Anything is better than buying from those shops, afaic...
     
  20. EarthGBilly

    EarthGBilly Sucker for a GERWALK Mode

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Posts:
    850
    Trophy Points:
    207
    Likes:
    +959
    I don't own any direct knock-offs (identical to the official release) of existing HasTak figures, to my knowledge, but I don't have any problem with folks that pick them up.

    I do have several Third Party figures that are modified and/or improved versions of existing HasTak figures - namely, the oversized Wei Jiang figures.

    And, I have a few Third Party figures that are completely original moulds for characters that HasTak hasn't put out or the HasTak product was... well, lousy (looking at you, MP-09 - DX9's Carry blows you out of the water).

    I understand the mentality of "only official figures," I really do. And, in theory, I agree with it. In actuality, though, declining quality in some (some, not all) HasTak products, paired with rising prices, and topped off with (sometimes) ridiculously low availability, leads my eye to wander when it comes to my figures.