The Masterpiece Appreciation thread

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Superquad7, Oct 1, 2012.

  1. Cracka J

    Cracka J judas in my mind TFW2005 Supporter

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    I dunno how well you can monitor sweatshop labor to the point of preventing leaks. It's going to happen, but it's also another reason to play the game early, get your product locked in for a good price, and be sure that it's authentic if that's what you want in your collection.
     
  2. Jazz Meister

    Jazz Meister Well-Known Member

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    Gotta. I though I missed something.
     
  3. Master Blaster

    Master Blaster Banned

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    Maybe, in that context, but I just don't see comparing the two lines as appropriate any more. New MP is pretty far removed from old MP.


    I wonder when the Datsuns will start dropping into baskets, any bets? 28th? 30th? So close!
     
  4. zfarsh

    zfarsh Big Penguin Chief

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    My new MP display. I am loving my MP-03 much more now. The only seeker from the new mold that i would really want is thundercraker, dont like the others at all. Also, the only other seekers i would like is Thrust. Always wanted those, more Thrust than Thundercraker though. I like the new way i put the sword on Grimlock. Next MP will be Smokescreen, unless i go for hex (debating).
     

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  5. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    That's your own personal fanon. Which is fine, but not reflected in the numbering, packaging aesthetic or naming of the line. So when someone refers to the "Masterpiece" line, have a little self-awareness and realize they might be basing it on the labeling on the box, rather than your personal definition.

    >AM<
     
  6. Master Blaster

    Master Blaster Banned

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    Uh, no that's not fanon, the line rebooted with MP10 and every figure released thereon is produced by the same, but different, designer.

    The two lines are different, that is more than obvious.


    I like how you say the boxes are still the same and the numbering continues (which is true), but totally ignore how the figures have a different aesthetic, different target, a different scale, etc etc etc. Cherry picking to back up....what exactly? You just sound like a jerk to me.
     
  7. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    And yet, it's still called Masterpiece, which is the only thing that matters when deciding what's a Masterpiece and how often/quickly Masterpiece figures come out. Aesthetics has nothing to do with it. Is it a Masterpiece? When did it come out? Boom.

    >AM<
     
  8. Yeled

    Yeled Grimlock is King

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    I don't think that's MB's personal fanon. Its pretty clear from all the evidence and the actual words of the lead designer that what MB described is exactly what happened. When Hasui-san took over they introduced new goals into the line: consistent scale, clear G1 aesthetic, playability. In other words, bring the G1 world from the screen and comics into the toy line. None of these things were important in the overall line before MP-10. And they started redoing characters who didn't fit into the new line: MP-10 and MP-11 fixed older figures who no longer belonged. And of course they changed course in terms of releasing "secondary" characters like MP-12 and the other cars.

    Sure, the marketing team didn't rename the line or start a new numbering system. That's a marketing decision. But the designer rebooted it. And I put a lot more stock in the goals and intentions of the lead designer than I do in the marketing people.

    Now, do some of the earlier figures still fit? Sure. MP-9 looks good as Rodimus. I still think MP-8 is fine (though technically he is too small). But those are personal choices. But make no mistake. Figures starting with MP-10 and on are part of a different line than what existed before.
     
  9. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    Once again, none of this matters. They could start putting Energon figures in there. It's still the Masterpiece line. Until they change the name, they're all Masterpieces. The aesthetic was already changed when they introduced MPM-01 and MPM-02 - they were Masterpieces as well.

    I go by what's on the box. If you want to go by something else, that's your business.

    And the original point still has not changed. Masterpiece 1.0 or Masterpiece 2.0 or whatever modifier or differentiator you want to apply to make your personal definition feel more comfortable... the release schedule has been cranked up. There are more being released now than ever before. And apparently, the person you people were making fun of for saying that they were coming out too quickly, is uncomfortable with that pace.

    >AM<
     
  10. scubaboy31

    scubaboy31 Digital Gypsy

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    Ah. This old arguement rears it's ugly head.

    The way I see it, it's one line. One set of numbering, same packaging... there's not been any 'reboot' in the proper sense so much as a change of focus onto lower tier characters as well as a new Prime. Remember, there was no 'proper' release of Starscream in G1 colours in the line until MP-11 so he's not so much a redo as another version of the character.

    So yeah there are new goals and direction, but it's still the same line. Even the opinion of the designer is still opinion. He isn't Takara in it's entirity. If they brought on a nother designer tomorrow and kept the same goals would it be a new line? If anything MP-10 being heavily promoted in pictures alongside MP-9 and using that height as the basis to set the new scale means that the two directions for masterpiece slotted together pretty seamlessly.
     
  11. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    ↑ This.

    >AM<
     
  12. Grimmjow

    Grimmjow Blastcage

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    Yeah, many people see MP10 as the start of an unofficial reboot, but I see it as more of a transition to greatness.
     
  13. FatherDeth

    FatherDeth Well-Known Member

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    It's still the MP line. That's a fact. In the end, it's everyone's own decision on how they want to display them. Common sense shows that MP-01 is extremely too tall to go with the likes of Rodimus, Grimlock, and the rest of the crew. It's also obvious due to costs that the designers realized they made a mistake and so "scaled" back the line. It's not a bad thing. I just display my larger MPs stand alone.
     
  14. Danilko

    Danilko Well-Known Member

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    I don't share your opinion. Mp line in my head is the top engineering and screen accuracy that toy can have give or take few gimmicks . MP's before mp10 were definitely that, top of the line figures in their own time therefore they are Masterpiece. And putting certain figures from mp10 onward into better scale is nothing more than "evolution" of the line itself which can be seen in other TF lines too. :) 
     
  15. Master Blaster

    Master Blaster Banned

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    Oh, so you're one of those people. Suit yourself. Hope you enjoy your own personal fanon.

    As an aside, people disagreeing with someone =/= make fun of them, don't be so melodramatic.


    Some people just like to argue semantics (not you, the other guy ;p). It may not have been so official so as to slap a new moniker and numbering system to it, that'd be pretty silly anyway since these are still the ultimate versions of these characters (to date), but it's undeniable that a reboot of some form has happened. The problem with saying that the new and old lines slots together seamlessly is that not all of them do; MP01-MP07 range from not at all to debatable (depending on your feelings of the old vs new seeker molds and relative importance of cartoon accuracy of them against the new line), and the way the old line figures worked and their targets were quite different. More about the engineering than cartoon accuracy like it is now.

    Doesn't make them any less Masterpieces, just means the two groups really don't quite fit together as a whole. The line does of course blur starting with Grimlock.
     
  16. Yeled

    Yeled Grimlock is King

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    Well, it is an evolution, yes. But as MB said above the two sides of that evolution don't fit together. You yourself note that its the top engineering plus screen accuracy, except none of the seeker molds before MP-11 were trying to be screen accurate. Neither was MP-2. Nor MP-5. Screen accuracy can only really be found in the two Prime releases (MP-1 and MP-4), MP-8, and MP-9. So four of nine. And none of those characters scale with each other.

    The fact remains that if you go by the new set of goals for the line as espoused by the current designer, only MP-9 fits (and only as Rodimus). None of the others truly do. Its fine if people want to include them in their displays and collections, of course, and some of those figures are great as stand alone pieces. But they break either scale or aesthetic/screen accuracy.
     
  17. Spark Extractor

    Spark Extractor Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    Well, my fanon is backed by TakaraTomy, so yes, I do enjoy it.

    So, you genuinely don't think this...
    ...is laughing at someone? There isn't even any "disagreeing" here. It's all making fun.

    The semantics came from everyone else. Clearly, the guy was talking about how many are coming out these days, yet no less than 3 people jumped on him as if he was talking about the elapsed time, making snide cracks for their own amusement based on the semantics of "lightning fast release schedule".

    I explained this quite clearly, and got leapt on myself, when this - unrelated, irrelevant nonsense about reboots and new aesthetics - happened. I said again and again that it was not even the point: there are more now than ever before, and the dude is not comfortable with this rapid pace. Yet look at the mess you've turned this simple, personal feeling into.

    So, looking at me for "argu[ing] semantics" is flat-out misplaced. You brought the semantics, based on enforcing your own preferences, and wouldn't let them go. Let the guy be uncomfortable, if he is. Whether you agree with his reasoning or not.

    >AM<
     
  19. darthJMZ

    darthJMZ Well-Known Member

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    I honestly didn't mean any harm and apologize for coming across that way. That's just the way I talk and just meant I was surprised with the lightning fast statement. I tried to put a smiley after it. I just love MPs and this thread and again apologize, that's not how I meant it.
     
  20. Angel Magnus

    Angel Magnus Well-Known Member

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    Honestly, I assumed it was a simple misunderstanding about what he meant, which is why I felt it was worth politely explaining what I believe he was talking about. What I object to more is the derailing that occurred when I get told, effectively, that it's invalid for someone to feel overwhelmed by the number of figures carrying the word "Masterpiece" on the box, compared to 18-24 months ago, because of the technicality that the newer MP-10 is a different size and aesthetic than MP-01.

    I can relate - I collect MPs almost exclusively now simply because I haven't had a chance to get back to rebuilding my G1 collection. I'm not complaining, because that was my choice of focus. But I've never had so many pre-orders, release dates and final payment amounts to juggle simultaneously. I wound up making a dedicated TF calendar on iCloud just to keep track of it all.

    >AM<