I think if Cliffjumper is a thing, they kind of have no choice but to follow up with Jazz/Meister. The assumption was always licensing, if it's not now then they really have no excuse. Personally I'm kind of hoping for Trailbeaker or Mirage, more TB since he's the last from the initial 5. Add in some gimmicks like being all in one with his laser arms and scanners, another sparkplug,and a gang of blast effects, he wouldn't make a bad #50.

Also so could see Soundwave 2.0 hurtling everyone with a massive layout and price tag like 44. Soundwave and his six redesigned cassettes, blast effects, Energon cubes, mini Soundwave with ravage, Megatron gun, maybe alternate heads for Soundwave a more rounder vs angular one.

 

If they've got the Porsche licence for Cliffjumper (if he's even happening, we still don't know) then I would imagine you're right and Jazz would follow soon after.

A Soundwave v2 that includes all his cassettes at MP-44s price is probably quite reasonable given modern collectable figure pricing. Soundwave himself I imagine wouldn't be as complex to engineer a toon accurate look but add in the cassettes (I've no idea how they could make them more accurate without upsizing them to give more real estate to design with). £330 would suit me for that package.

I think when people are getting frustrated at the price jump in Transformers figures we have to remember this is across all franchises. Yesterday I was in Forbidden Planet and they had teenage mutant ninja turtle figures the size of a carbot for around £70. Now I know Forbidden Planet tend to charge a bit more, but given they look like probably the most simple action figures to engineer I've ever seen, lacking complex joints, designs or paintwork, a current MP carbot at £100-120 seems like a bargain in comparison when you consider the design, engineering, paint, joints, accessories, increased play factor of having a robot and a vehicle mode etc.

 

While I'm not assuming anything here about Cliffjumper yet, I also am hoping the rumor pays off. That said, I am a little sad that, IF Cliffjumper happens, it's not happening a few years ago, when redecos were plentiful, because you could do so much more with him than even Bumblebee (yellow and MC blue, Hubcap, G2 Hubcap, Tapout). At this point, beyond maybe Hubcap, I doubt much would be made. Third parties aren't exactly embracing these options either (XTB did Hubcap, but no G2 Hubcap or anything else, despite cranking out other G2 stuff) so it's not like a dork like me that wants these options available can turn elsewhere in the meantime.

I figure G2 Megs is the only other plausible original G2 figure to get a MP, after Laser Convoy. Because Convoy, CR Laser Convoy, blah blah for him. While I would expect his odds were much less likely when the past was faster, the shift to fancier, premium attempts at characters with a slower pace may help G2 Megs' odds a bit more, as like you said, he could be a given year's big villain, dip back into that Megatron well with something Hasbro could actually sell too, maybe be a companion to a G2 Convoy from MP-44, crank out a Megastorm (especially if Takara's hesitant to do BWII Galvatron) down the line. I don't know if I'd predict it, but I could talk myself into it happening.

While I agree that price jumps are affecting more than just this line (Figuarts' SS renewal line is nicer than the standard SHF, but typically offers less accessories for more than what people used to pay, Generations & Movie TF lines have either shrunken or doubled in price depending on how you look at it, plenty of other lines are remaining the same or increasing in price while losing bang for their buck), there still comes a point where people decide price jumps are too much and bail as the line is less attractive at those prices. TF die-hards will stick around (bitch and moan about it, but stick around for the most part), but casual fans who just want something cool to put on a shelf or their desk? Car enthusiasts who are down for a transforming, licensed car, but not when it shoots past 10000+ yen/$100+? Transformers is not the biggest franchise in the world, and there's always the risk Takara prices themselves out of adjacent markets while antagonizing their die-hards. When people reach the point that they figure it's better to just not buy these things, it can be difficult to get them back, especially if prices aren't adjusted.

 

When MP-01 was released in 2003 and in 2004 as the 20th anniversary edition, I was sort of convinced we would get a G2 Megatron to accompany him. It made all kind of sense: a Megatron to fight Optimus that was not a gun (Hasbro), it could be released for the 10th of G2, TT could release it as Megastorm (10th anniversary of BW2), it could be repainted into several figures (Megatron, Megastorm, G2 Archforce, RiD Bludgeon, RM Reverse Convoy). It made all kind of sense, but it didn't happen.

And although it would make me very happy to get an MP of that mould, be it Megatron or Megastorm, I doubt it will happen. Even for a BW2 release: I think they'll make BW2 Galvatron if they're going to make a bad guy for Lio to fight.

 

I'd love to see G2 Megatron but it seems for the foreseeable future Takara is not interested in creating new molds that aren't based on an animation model. (Which gives me the sickening thought that G2 does have the primitive early 90s commercial CG animation...)

 

You know, I never really thought about this, but consider the outlay of $$$ as being the rate limiting step in the release of MPs.

MP-44 was a lot of money. Most people would not drop that twice or three times a year. To have another $300 USD+ MP in such a short period of time might tap out all but the deepest pockets. It's basically iPhone money every single year.

 

I'd like to avoid paying MP-44 prices moving forward. I really hope those big releases are spaced out substantially and that we can get them back under $300. Beast Wars Megs was under $300 on AMJ, right, or am I not remembering correctly?

 

Isn't that Hobby show suppose to be tonight?

 

Yes, but afaik Takara isn't listed as an attendee.

 

Wow, I think that TT no-show straight up deaded this thread ... they have blood on their hands!  

 

TT is never late, nor are they ever early.
They arrive with new MPs precisely when they mean to.
 

 

They're late with MPM-10 though.

 

Do we even have a clue who MPM10 is?

 

it could be anybody but Starscreams rumor is too outdated to be substantial and Ratchet's not until Janurary.

That's all I gather unless someone has a better insight to share.

 

MP-45 disagrees...

 

Mp-49 Rhinox
Mp-50 waspinator
Mp-51 tarantulus
Mp-52 silverbolt
Mp-53 transmetal Megatron

 

Yeeaaaaaahhhh, nah.

They’ll never do that many BW (or Ark crew) in a row with no group variance or repaints.

Also, Takara did say they want to do the first season of BW, and haven’t ever said anything about Transmetals or Fuzors. Doesn’t mean they won’t, but it’s a pretty long shot.

 

Wishful thinking really

 

Wonder if Takara people will may an appearance at NYCC this year because of Unicron. Wonder if CJ made that leaked listing because they plan on revealing him there.