As a (so far) Bot Shots completist/addict, can I just say...... I REALLY hope the only difference between these and the US versions is the packaging. I don't want my stupid, irresponsible brain to be presented with the option of paying $20 to import, say, a slightly lighter Thundercracker with an extra stripe, or something. It can't be trusted with things like that.
Hopefully the Hasbro bot shots peg warmers from USA retail shelves. get removed from stores & then loaded up on a huge boat & shipped to japan. Takara can add a japanese sticker to the packages & sell them as is.
Indeed, this is news I've been dreading. I have this horrible image of myself shedding a tear as I click BUY IT NOW on a $80 Japanese exclusive variant of the seeker mold in a translucent black named 'Stormcloud' or something.
Prowl is the singular release other than Barricade and bumblebee doesn't have stripes by the looks of things.
I posted this on Allspark... But enh: Interesting... They're not branded as Transformers, and they don't even have proper names - just descriptions of the alt mode where you'd expect to see names (Literally "Patrol Car", "Yellow Sports Car", and "Military Vehicle"). That, combined with the two packaging variations... It does almost seem like they're trying to gather some data on how best to sell these. Wouldn't it be expensive, though, to put through such a small run? I guess if you didn't change the paint at all, it might not be so hard... But still, seems like a lot of trouble to go through for a mini test-release . So - those of you dreading wanting to buy these... Better hurry. If this is a test release, we may never see a full retail release of these
Although I think these are a fun idea and great for kid collectors as a way to get their feet wet in the world of TF's, they aren't Transformers in the traditional sense and therefore of little collectibility to me. Sure they flip form very minimally, but that's simply not enough for this collector. More power to those who adore these though. No hate for ya.
Depending on how they are priced in Japan I can see these going over well. They already have that SD look. Kinda remind me of the old TF Choro-Q toys...
S*** here comes the 10 different store exclusive BotShots that nukes the hell out of my "Complete" collection. Just find wave 5 to finish up and this rolls out
I've seen that logo before looks like a Choro Q or a Tomy toy car brand logo I've seen before. To small to tell though. I do wish that Hasbro had sold that blue Brawl as Tankor though.
I also posted this on the Allspark: They do have names.. they're just really small and in the corner, beneath the giant vehicle description text