Saw the picture today and a little shocked to find out how similiar it is to some other product:

Here is a picture from the news thread. As you can see that numerous small panels assemble the playset.

Now another hobby of mine is gundam models and here is something produced by Kotobukiya about two years ago.

Basically it is a playset with about 10 different varieties. Each set is capable of combining with other sets to form a bigger set. You can make it into something like this:

Costwise each Kotobukiya set costs about $8. However, there is KO on the market which costs around $2-3...

So my suspicion is that igear uses either the kotobukiya playset or the KO ones (i would go with Kos) repaint it and give a little modification and pass it on to us fan as a "new" product...

For those interested, here is a link for info on Kotu playset:
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Do you have a link to these sets - I'm not really familiar with them but at a passing glance (by the pics you posted) the floor panels to the left of Prime are similar to this Gundam kit; otherwise there's quite a bit more added on.

 

What are these IGear play sets? Are they like plastic scenery?

 

I actually own all 10 of the Kotobukiya chain bases, although they are kinda similar in very basic design to the I-Gear set, they really aren't the same. The I-Gear set is much smaller scale(the interchangeable squares, I mean) just from first glance alone.

I don't believe that I-Gear is going to use copies of these for their Ark model and would be pretty shocked if they did. Believe me, I would catch if they did, I have enough of these things to know. But stranger things have happened, I just really doubt it though.

 

Those Kotobukiya sets look great! How well do they scale with Alts/BT's?

 

I though the comparison was quit obvious that it wasn't even worth mentioning. It'd more the evolution of an idea then a rip off of it. Man I would love if the ark set was modular and you could keep adding on to the base and take up a whole book case or something.


Also I didn't know there was a knock off whats the quality and where do i find it?

 

You can build them as tall or as wide as you want, so they are in scale with whatever you want really. I use mine with my Chogokins.

 

I wanna see the KO ones.

 

You asked me the exact same question when I used them in my comics here.

I want those Igear set pieces. When are they supposed to come out?

 

Mind like a sieve: that's a grad student for ya. If it's not related to your thesis, it's all through-put data  
Where can one buy MSG Chain Link Bases in North America?

 

I couldn't find anyone to buy from here in North America and believe me I looked. I bought all 10 chain bases from HLJ.