If I'm not mistaken wasn't Mike of KOtoys an american based in China? I kind of assumed that would be his downfall after speaking with him ages ago. I also thought that he was getting the hammer because of his connections within the bootlegging community (ie he was directly in contact with the bootleggers and worked closely with them). On the site it appears that they will continue to sale third-party items according to the message on the front page.

 

The hammer's been threatening to drop (according to the white knights here on TFW) for years now. I'll believe it when I see it. HasTak's legal team may be able to target online retailers (such is the case recently with TFSource and iGear's Seeker clones) but venues such as eBay and others exist. And what's stopping iGear from closing up shop and opening right back up under a new name? I highly doubt the sky is falling here.

Back on topic, the PP05 van brothers are looking great! And don't look too shabby next to that anime-ish new MP Prime either. Their Rager prototype looks much bigger than I thought too. I hope we see photos of MP-10, PP05, Rager, and PP01 together in bot mode soon.

 

Poor you. Having no patience to wait for a toy must suck for ur wallet.

 

Yes, but KOToys IS in China. Go to their website now. It is a shameful shell of its former self. Bummer too. I wanted to buy the three Binaltech Hummer KO's. That Chimun whatever website is still up....for now.

 

Yes, but that was when Hasbro was busy raking in the movie money. They were full of it then. Now, they just lost a HUGE revenue stream I'm sure they miss.
The next step is to find other sources of revenue. Maybe they are planning to manufacture the stuff that has been unreleased and made by bootleggers? The only thing I do know is that they are doing it now. Hopefully KO Toys is the only casuality for a while, but I fear that may not be so.

 

Cannot wait to see the final product!

 

How are you inferring that Hasbro are losing any money at all? They can always make another movie sequel. In fact, I'd be surprised if they didn't go ahead and churn out another film based on the franchise given DOTM's box office returns. Besides, Hasbro still has the movie trilogy line of toys coming up in 2012 along with TF Prime toys. And KO Toys is a different beast than most 3rd parties. I wouldn't use them as a measuring stick for anything.

 

First things first, Prime is no movie line in terms of revenue. A small sliver. Second, they are not currently making much on the movie line. The movie toys are shelfwarming, Generations has been clearanced off, and the Blu Rays/DVD's have been on the shelves for months. That is a BIG chunk of lost revenue, my friend.

My prediction, the movie trilogy line of toys will be the next HFTD in terms of shelfwarming, and Prime has an isolated fanbase. Hell, I could have bought two deluxes at TRU last week for $10 and I passed. and I am a flake when it comes to holding back my urge to buy Transformers. Bottom line, I think there is a Classics 4.0 in the works for late 2012-early 2013 and some, if not all of the KO's being produced now will be in that line.

My prediction list

Inevitable Releases
Trailbreaker-Hoist Mold
Last Two Rainmakers and/or Sunstorm - Undying seeker mold, has to be Hasbro's biggest profit raker

Very Possible Releases
Reflector - Based on RTS Perceptor Mold
Ricochet - Based on RTS Jazz Mold
Some Decepticon Villain based on the Lugnut Mold
Rumble & Frenzy Scouts

Hopeful Releases
Arcee
Devastator

Never Gonna Happen but would be Awesome
Scout size redecos of all G1 minibots to pair with Windcharger and PCC Huffer

 

Inferring your own personal experiences, buying habits, and preferences does not equal HasTak's marketing strategy nor is it representative of their profit margin. I'm fairly sure it's poor business for them to churn out an entire line of unprofitable toys. If they weren't making money back on TF Prime and DOTM/Trilogy figures, they wouldn't be making them in the first place (or keep on making them well into 2012, for that matter). Besides, retailers like Walmart and Target are stuck with any possible overstock, not Hasbro (who have already been paid for the figures). I've said my final piece on this subject.

Back on topic, PP05 van brothers rule. Glad I already set aside my monies for both of them. =)

 

HFTD.......at best. Mark it down.

 

Scale in the G1 cartoon varied per episode. So that's hardly a decent place to start your referencing.

Anyway, very eager to see full color images of these guys, I think they'll be decent enough fill ins for my Alt Collection.

Edit:

That's the photo I was judging off of too. I know Classics Megatron stands a little higher than Prime, but Megatron works great with the Alts.
I admit Ironhide may be a little short to fit perfectly with the Alt lines 1:24, but I assume he'll still come with the eztra heads and I have a KO Hummer that I bet will work. And if push comes to shove, the head will still look better on a Scion than simply repainting Skids' head.

 

love this.. must have of 2012

 

Those tool look like they'd make a nice thing for Universe Wheeljack to use too.

I hope they make more of i-Huffer & i-Seaspray.

 

Oh MAN is that thing tiny! I gotta go back in the thread but I could have sworn I saw voyager dimensions listed somewhere. No? Yes? Either way too tiny for me. Laters!

 

It is Voyager height. they stand at 7" and are the exact height of Classics Voyager Prime. If you want them for an Alt collection then they are too small. They are just as tall, if not a tiny smidge shorter, than an Alt. This also means they have none of the bulk that would be required for them to fit with Alts.

Personally I think these are too small for Alts and too big and too different for Classics.

IF I do get these it will be to start a PP line but I need to hold off and see what happens. It may be too soon but iGear shows a lot and has put out little and it seems liek HasTak is starting to go after these groups (KOtoys). I would like these but time will reveal all in this situation.

 

Based on what? Personal preference?

The Seekers were just as tall as Prime in the cartoon (at least, enough for me - it varied, as we all know).

I'm in the Faith Leader/MP Grimlock/MP Seekers/Most Classics-sized Autobots camp, myself. These will fit in just fine. Yeah, they're a bit bigger than most of the other car-bots, but again, it was like that in the cartoon - and again, enough for it to "look right" to me.

 

iGear - PP05M - Medical Specialist

one color image - looks pretty cool

 

That's been there for awhile.

It's also a photoshop.

 

And I came with hopes u.u

 

I know these posts are old but they've updated the date to say:
2012-04-15