End of September is when the pre-orders go up, or when it comes out? Also, will they have it at stores lke TFScource or Age Three and Up? Sorry, i usualy buy Takara, and this would be first time for a Hasbro.

 

No one knows for sure when it will be released. More information will undoubtedly come from Botcon and/or SDCC. Since the MP line is currently an exclusive to TRU, the only way other retailers can stock them is by buying up TRU stock. And since they don't work for free, they will pass the savings on to you.

 

i believe it's a toys r us exclusive and thats probably the only place that that you can pre order at least for the retail price and not some huge mark up i dunno if end of sept is pre order or release

 

Chiming in with random MP-related thoughts...

I just caved and ordered MP-13, 15, and 16 from BBTS as a hedge against not being able to find the Hasbro version/find it at a decent price. Obviously I wish I had kept my $160 preorder instead, but my money situation wasn't all that hot 6 months ago. With any luck the TT versions will hold their value and I can sell them off if needed down the road.

I'm really looking forward to Acid Storm for some reason.

I'm really looking forward to the Datsuns for obvious reasons. I have no idea if there's a real reason behind it, aside from just looking the coolest to me out of the three, but Bluestreak has me drooling. A blue version is a no-brainer at some point, probably a silver one too. Repaints are our friends!

I'm very curious to see what they do with Smokescreen. Deco-wise, I'm kind of hoping for a few unobtrusive sponsor logos. Going full-billboard at that scale would just look cluttered and messy IMO. The same goes for a potential Mirage/Wheeljack/Jazz.

Speaking of, it's good to hear that TT is still pursuing the "tough" licenses. I still don't think they're ever going to budge VW or Porsche, sadly.

I'm pulling for Megatron as 20. I'd get a Galvatron, but he's not a priority. I'd LOVE a MP-10 based Ultra Magnus, but I think that might be waiting on a larger variety of cars to show him off with.

I'm ready for some official Minibots.

 

Hopefully we've just got two more weeks of conjecture and anticipation as pass time on this thread before a proverbial fire gets lit under it with Masterpiece news from the Tokyo Toy Show. The prospect of even a tease for MP-20 would be exciting, though to play it down, we may only get a look at MP-19 in some stage of development, at east a prototype or test shot. As I'm looking forward to Smokescreen (plus Prowl and Bluestreak), this doesn't bother me. Still, if we do learn about MP-20 and beyond, it will be good to see how this corresponds with Takara's plans from an interview earlier in the year.

With or without the rumoured MP Mirage (and the youtube hint corresponds fairly well with the timing of the Toy Show), there seems to be an intention to crank out early Autobot car characters. That is, as much as the pace of producing and promoting Masterpieces will allow. Another reason to pace their releases a bit will at some points be for the sake of variety; that's a lot of Autobots mostly of a similar size. So I can see why Takara has held back MP-11 based versions of at least Skywarp and Thundercracker, which they could release at their leisure, really.

 

Yep, I totally agree. As far as the Seekers, I'd imagine if for no other reason the Masterpiece team is just about tired of them. I mean, I'm a Seeker fan, but my Masterpiece shelves are pretty much still Seeker shelves.

These Autobot cars are something most of us have always wanted. For TakaraTomy not to continue down that route would totally baffle me. As far as time goes, VW/Porsche need the time to come to their senses. Or else!  

 

after hasbro acid storm i hope either takara or hasbro do skywarp and ice storm then my seekers will be complete

 

Ice storm would be nice... though he's terribly obscure. I dare say, though, that I'd be happier buying another "new" character using the mold than Skywarp right away.

 

I still want a purple clone seeker. They've been in more episodes than Sunstorm and other Rainmakers combined.

 

Yes... the drone would be awesome as well. I'd have to hope Hasbro makes it though and since I'm hoping, make it a Wal-Mart release where they overstock again like with Skywarp so eventually I'll chance across the clearance shelf of $15 MP-Drones.

 

Yeah, I agree. IMO TakaraTomy is going to churn out the 1984 cars first. The only characters that may jump the gun is either Galavtron or Ultra Magnus.

 

Yeah, Bumblebee and Jazz are the guys I want the most, if only to resolve the licencing issue. I will breathe a sigh of relief if I actually see them. That said, I do like a lot of third season characters, and the good thing is you can sit on those guys while aquiring licenses, knowing most of them won't need any and can be developed whenever.

 

Glad to hear they're pursuing the licenses. I'm sure there's SOME point where an agreement can be made. If it's only due to a company policy, that's something there can always be an exception made. No one should ever think its impossible. Just gonna take some time.

We should all buy stock in VW. Then, as stockholders demand that the company NOT waste money-making opportunities or face a class-action suit.

 

I agree, it's not impossible, just highly unlikely. Although the moral compass of many a company can twitch if the right deal/right amount of money is offered. Question is how far will TT go to secure the license? For example a VW Bee without any weapons?

 

BB rarely ever used a gun on the cartoon. His original toy didn't have one either. So why not just have the MP as a transforming beetle into a robot without a gun or weapon?

 

Yep, that works for me. Bumblebee didn't use a weapon that often and if it came with a 'Spike' figure instead then that would be perfect. Who knows what stipulations VW made in the past when TT were trying to make a BT/Alt Bumblebee but if guns were an issue couldn't they just be left out?

 

All this talk about MP Bumblebee...you guys ever wonder, even if he's licensed, how he's going to be released?

As a super deformed car? As a regular MP car [like Sideswipe and Prowl] that compresses down for robot mode?

If they want a superdeformed car, why even go for the license?

 

The VW beetle is a pretty small car so while robot mode might end up a little bigger than people like it should be quite a bit shorter than the other MP cars.

 

We can always shapeways a gun for 'Bee, or no doubt Dr Wu would fill the need.

 

Because even as a SD car, it's still easily recognizable as a VW bug. From what I understand from enterlaw, if someone can say "yup, that's a bug alright." TT can be screwed.