Impressive that this guy is even cheaper than the original Pexus version, despite the extra accessories.

MMC continues to have the most reasonable prices on the market!

 

Think Don's found out about a 3P toy of his design again.

 

I knew I'd seen it. That would be a decent exclusive. I'd also take a less saturated deco, maybe battle worn, using this as the default noggin.

 

Is he “weird” about 3P? I’m pretty sure Alex Milne and Nick Roche have always been pretty cool about the whole thing.

 

I gather that he’s a bit bitter about other people making money off his designs without his consent or compensation. It was mainly Hasbro I heard he was angry with, but it looks like 3p as well.

 

Whelp fourth version of this mold preordered and paid for.
This mold has officially become the one TF mold I have bought the most of, not to mention I would still be in for a Delta Magnus, and an Ultra Magnus version, SMDH.

 

Hasbro's who thing with his Bomber Megs kind of made him sour about the whole deal in general 3P or otherwise. He said he started to hate his Menasor design cause GT made the toys without compensating him like Hasbro did with Megatron.

 

To be fair, I get it. 3P is shady enough that I get crediting artists is probably not a great idea but most dont bother even giving a complimentary figure or even try to reach out behind-closed-doors to say "hey we're doing this, what do you think?" [not that its NEVER happened, because I'm aware of a small handful of instances]

Are they owed it? Myeh, not really. Legally? Especially not. But it'd be a nice courtesy. (Especially since most of us on both sides of comics and 3p companies are all fans of TF!)

i've paid for just about every 3P figure based on characters i've worked on. I, personally, think its super fun to have a figure from books i've worked on. But then, I'm only tangentially involved. Should someone straight up use one I designed maybe i'd feel different? (Though if someone plans on making a Nyx or a Skold please do reach out cuz i'd love to consult xD)

 

This mold is insane! Prime is so articulated. I couldn’t get the first release and not going to pass the second version, actually like the new head, more G1 colors and new weapons, even the Star Saber!

Instant preorder.

 

I don't think it would hurt anyone's overhead in any real way to give the artist who designed the thing you're making a freebie AND a little goodwill goes a long way.

I managed to get Hasbro to give Furman and Yanigher a free Jhiaxus each by speaking to Mark and their marketing/PR guy, but I shouldn't really have to do that should I? They definitely should have kicked Don, Andrew Griffith and Alex Milne a bunch of freebies or at the very least an 'inspired by' credit on the packaging.

Also, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE US NYX AND SKOLD FIGURES.

 

I'm ready to fight for the Skold army. That one should be high on the future figures list. Easy to repaint as Snapper too. Hurry up Hasbro.

 

My only big gripe with Optus Pexus was the head sculpt. I like the Stormbringer head much better— and the colors are nice— but I don’t know if it’s enough to warrant purchase when there’s nothing really new here to experience. Maybe if I displayed my figures, I might be more easily sold.

Or, I might impulsively order it just as a selfish indulgence, who knows?? A blue/black SB might be too tempting to resist.

 

Now I could be wrong, but crediting the artists might open them up to lawsuit because it implies that they took this specific design without permission and made it. Freebies maybe not so much, if at all.

 

That’s what I was thinking too. 3P companies might be trying to avoid having any kind of evidence of them knowingly using someone else’s design without permission should things go to court. Even gifting it to the creators could work against them.

 

I am not sure what artists expect really, 3rd party is illegal and does not follow proper protocol. It's also funny to see artists who work on 3rd party products mentioning that it's bad that the artist who made the original design doesn't get paid. Bitch, you are part of the problem!  

 

Had a nice discussion with RVDA and some others about this very topic in this thread about 12 pages back, including these posts:

I think what would be nice to have happen is for MMC to commission Don to do box art for R-48P, similar to how they commissioned an artist to do R-42C box art. But that's assuming that Don would be amenable to doing it at all (lots of good reasons why he wouldn't), and that there's enough time before release.

 

Decided to just order from PSX on the off-chance this extra head is a bonus there. Hope it's included, but I'm prepared for disappointment.

I wonder why they went with a different head for the final release. Seems like it should have been the default head.

 

The full prototype had it too, as did the renders, if it's not a PSX bonus it might've had some kind of issue and got cut.

Or being saved for another release like Delta or Toxitron and it won't be colored correctly so you can't swap it out like the mouth heads.

 

I mean it's supposed to be that the more you produce something, the cheaper it is to make further productions, but it doesn't always pan out that way...  

Off hand, I can think of one notable example where the artist who inspired a 3P figure was very much not happy to receive a copy of said figure based on their work, and that was Generation Toy's Gorilla, a stylized take on Optimus Primal.

And, I do get their resentment, which I think was that they were concerned that they might be blacklisted by Hasbro for being associated with a 3P, and/or they were mad that they didn't get a simple cut of the profits.  

Most of all, I always enjoy seeing you on the boards, and knowing at least some of the artists who continue to breathe life into our beloved franchise enjoy these illicit collectibles as much as the rest of us.  

Earlier in the summer, LazyAza hinted at an even more Scourge like version of Nox based on this side mold, and I am gunna hold out hope for that.

And, that could also be used to make a G2 Laser Optimus Prime, too, if you like that particular alternate headsculpt for Prime.

 

A Scourge variant would be cool.