just another line of repaints?. I mean if you take all the MP's both Takara and Hasbro we have gotten since MP01 back in 2002 or 03 then figure up how many repaints and re-releases then you will see it is a lot,and here are all of them I can think of,please post if I have missed any. MP01 Convoy/Optimus Prime/Ultra Magnus = 7 times with both Takara and Hasbro MP02 Starscream and repaints = 7 times of the old version MP05 Megatron = 2 of the original and now a gold chrome version MP08 Grimlock = 7 or 8 times but think its 7 MP09 Rodimus = 4 releases MP10 Optimus Prime 2.0 = 5 releases including the Neon Genesis EVO version MP11 Starscream 2.0 = I really can't remember maybe 10 or 11 MP12 Sideswipe = 5 or 6 with re-releases and repaints MP15 Datsuns = 5 releases MP20 Wheeljack = 2 releases including Exhaust repaint MP21 Ultra Magnus 2.0 with trailer = 1 release in a few weeks MP22 Bumblebee = 1 release also before long So by my calculations we are looking at between 57 to 59 releases of only 11 new mold characters,I just really think both Hasbro and Takara should give us fans some new figures since they have used the same molds for 4 or 5 years.But I may be jumping to conclusions since we have gotten lately 3 new figures with 1 repaint scheduled,so they may be planning to give us fans some new MP's to add to our collection,I sure hope so.
Keep in mind that a lot of the original S1 and S2 characters were repaints so given that the MP line is mainly G1 we're going to see that happen naturally. Also the MP line didn't have clear direction before MP-10; we wee seeing a release every other year with characters completely out of scale. Since MP-10, we've been getting about 4 releases a year with mostly new molds.
The Transformers have always been constructed with redecos and retools in mind, going all the way back to 1984. Masterpiece in particular is dependent upon these redecos and retools selling in order to sustain the line. The releases thus far have helped to fund new ventures such as Star Saber and the other new molds we do get. This line is very similar to how Alternators/Binaltech ventured out. Many got bored and tired of the several redecos and retools that came out, which hurt the line in the end. What remains for Masterpiece is how the approach will be different to keep fan interest and continue the line.
Um, dude...we'll have received 12 new molds (Prime renewal, Lambos, Soundwave, Laserbeak/Buzzsaw, Frumbles, Ravage, Ratbat, Fairladys, Wheeljack, Bumblebee, Magnus renewal, Star Saber) from September '11 through April of next year, and that's not even counting the exo-suit Daniel or the refurbished MP-11 Seeker mold. That's all in a little over three and a half years. We received only five molds (not counting the Offshoot Targetmaster that came with the Hasbro release of Rodimus) in just over seven years between MP-1 and 9. As has been mentioned several times in the MP Speculation thread and other threads, as Takara moves forward with the line, they're bound to run into characters that don't have the same redeco potential as the earlier, often-Diaclone/Microchange-based molds. There will still be redecos because they're vital to profiting off of individual molds, but NO, I don't think the MP line will become solely a "line of repaints" by any means. You're wildly overinterpreting the data you put forward.
I think a re-release of a figure is never a negative thing, it allows people that haven't bought a specific figure to buy one or to replace a lost/broken figure for those that have. It also has the added effect of letting the company earn more money from an already developed mould.
On top of that, re-releases don't count as actual redecos. It's...a re-release of the original figure, so those shouldn't even be counted regarding the numbers compiled in the original post, unless something like mold degradation from constant use is what's the concern.
you are absolutely correct. i don't see what happened to binaltech happening with masterpiece figures. each character who needs a new mold is getting a new mold, which is the way it should be, and will be the way that it continues (i don't know, but think it's safe to assume they're not going to do something like repaint wheeljack into sunstreaker). plus.. masterpiece repaints aren't along the same lines as "elite guard bumblebee".. or "stealth lockdown".. or "armored topspin".. and so on.. most of these repaints make sense and are different characters that are needed or wanted out of each mold.. MP01 and MP03 received a lot of repaints because, like it's been said, there wasn't a clear direction.. so, there was the sleep version of prime (which was cool), magnus, ghost starscream (which made sense and was cool) there was also thundercracker and skywarp, both of whom are needed. BUT.. since MP10 was released we've seen.. sideswipe/red alert, rumble/frenzy, prowl/smokescreen/bluestreak (each of those being retools with new heads) MP10 nemesis prime, and G2 sideswipe were also figures that people really wanted, and we have exhaust coming up, which again, is something people really seem to want and like SS7 said, it gives takara an opportunity to get more use out of a mold, which makes them more money, which means we get more new molds. you also have to realize that MP01 nemesis prime, MP8X grimlock, sleep convoy, sunstorm, tigertrack, soundblaster, silverstreak, and the BABE convoy are all either special editions or exclusives and not regular releases. takara most certainly isn't going to do something like turn IDW deluxe bumblebee into tailgate.. they wouldn't do something like that unless it makes as much sense as starscream into skywarp. so no.. the masterpiece line isn't anything like generations. the masterpiece line wants to release perfect editions of each character.. they're not just throwing a name on a repaint and saying "well, that's good enough".. something like that can work for generations, but the masterpiece line isn't like that, and the repaints prove that they're different rather than being evidence of them being similar.
