Once this is confirmed MP so that nobody can say otherwise, let the Devastator hype train begin.

 

I don't think that's necessarily true. We are probably not considering how popular trains are in Japan.

I would be more inclined to agree if the rate of releases had increased, but the extremely slow pace of these is probably the biggest factor ensuring that we'll never get that complete of a lineup, unless that changes of course.

 

Will this Combiner (and all future MP Combiners) be sold as individual pieces or as one piece like CW/UW?

I'm all for MP Combiners, but sold as individual pieces.

I still believe all of the other rumored car MPs are just around the proverbial corner, as well.

 

If this is indeed in the same style as the current Masterpiece main line, then I will be both hyped and terrified about how much I will need to budget going forward. If it is just another masterpiece ‘sub-line,’ I’ll be less than thrilled that it may portend that we may get something other than a to-scale Devastator or some other combiner. I can see the advantages that Takara would have going this way, but I think it would disappoint a fair number of Masterpiece fans, both here and in Japan. As weird as it sounds, I’d rather have an uber-expensive proper Masterpiece Devastator than something that has been compromised in some way. Let’s wait and see what happens in the next 24 hours. It’s certainly the best speculation fodder we’ve had in a long time!

 

They've sure gone and picked the most obscure, least popular combiner to make a first MP out of. If cost and demand were ever truly limitations behind the lack of official MP combiners, it sure isn't now. Not to put down Raiden or anyone who likes the character or wants an MP of him. But Takara will surely not be able to get the same sales on this as they would with Devastator, Superion, Menasor, Bruticus, Defensor, Predaking, Computron, Abominus...

I'd genuinely love to know their thinking behind making Raiden their first choice to be testing the MP combiner waters.

 

It makes perfect sense for TakaraTomy's target market, which is Japan.

Raiden was popular and (model) trains are huuuuuuuge in Japan.

 

And if he's successful Raiden =Devastator which again fills the diaclone itch /Transformer fans and that very small niche that lose their stuff over construction vehicles.

 

And their model trains are much more expensive than the stuff available in the US. How much are healthy kidneys going for these days?

 

LET THE SLAUGHTER BEGIN!

 

Considering they've done nothing but release Diaclone-era characters over the past couple of years, I'm not sure how the dream of more Diaclone-era characters is not supported.

Which are not "real" MPs? Or you're meaning this will be another subline within MP. If he gets, like, a "MP-EX" designation, does that change things?

Well, Devastator, anyway.  

Amen.

I don't think time is a factor for Takara here. If it takes twenty years, then that's how long it takes. It will be interesting to see how Raiden is sold. If he's six separate releases over at least six months, or if he's all in one box at one time.

 

I think this is a fantastic point. Raiden sells well, proof for combiner market. If it sells poorly, it was a passion project for the fans.

My gut is I don’t see this project tanking. I think it’s the opening of a whole new realm for Masterpiece.

 

Takara sells a bunch of transforming trains already under the Shinkalion brand, they are not super expensive. I guess this will be like a Shinkalion combiner.

 

Yeah, but they’re not Masterpiece figures. If this Raiden comes out as a straight Masterpiece, they’ve got to keep it within the lane of current MP pricing.

Now, if they’re going to do a subline like @Sinestro00 suggests, that frees them up to do the MPM thing, say, meaning lower cost on their side and lower price point to test the waters for a full MP combiner.

 

I could absolutely see them doing combiners at a smaller scale. Heck, that would be G1 accurate as that's exactly how it was with the original toys.
To be honest, I would actually prefer that as I (and many Japanese fans with me) have limited space XD

 

Remember, the Masterpiece brand was used on a couple of Zoids, too. It is quite possible that Takara Tomy do not think that word means what we think it means.

Trains are basically the only way to commute in Japan, and it's a train special show. The show opens today so let's hope we get details soon!

 

It would be weird to have Masterpiece figures out of the current scale though. I get space concerns (I recently had to clear space to move my Omega and Devastator to a different shelf), but I just can’t see a full-fledged MP at a smaller size.

That also runs counter to a lot of what they’ve said about Masterpieces though. Takara doing Raiden as a non-Transformer branded MP would probably work for a smaller scale gift pack (and I think you’re right about train appeal there), but they’ve been pretty consistent about what a Masterpiece is the last couple of years. It’d be odd for that to change suddenly.

 

Been a hot minute since I've played the MP Speculation game, but Raiden has me ecstatic, to say the least. I would have NEVER guessed that Raiden would have been first, but this is one of the things that makes Transformers fun nowadays. I've always felt that once we got the Encore Fortress Maximus that the sky's the limit. Now, we're literally getting a flying train as part of the MP line!

Yeah, see above!

Now, this is something I have contended for a few years now. One of the main next steps for TakaraTomy and the MP line is reckoning out well figures with multiple modes. We've seen it in Rodimus Convoy, but that's really been it for the most part. Triple-changing figures where all three modes have to look good is a major hurdle as well as a combiner with good stability/etc. We've seen several 3rd parties do it several times over now. TakaraTomy are well past their mark for this now.

One of the main differences between the Trainbots and the Buildrons (Constructicons) is the Buildrons have much stronger individual robot modes, and could support individual releases much easier. I really think we're gonna get Raiden all in one swoop as a set.

I wouldn't go that far, and I think makes too many leaps, really.

As already said, model trains are pretty big in Japan. I can totally see this being HO scaled, as this is the most common scale of model railroading. Here's a chart for reference if you're unfamiliar (or you just want to check it out):

Raiden is a popular character in Japan, but more importantly, trains are popular in Japan.

Having said that, I think much of the spirit of your post is certainly true that Masterpiece celebrates the prehistory and origins of the TRANSFORMERS brand, but I wouldn't go so far to say that this aspect is the only thing the line celebrates. The show characters prove this. The last two releases are celebrating the cartoon show character models and appearances, not their pre-TF roots necessarily.

While we've gotten Cordon, I'm still waiting on the red deco of Sunstreaker, for one thing. I still think that'll get made at some point, as that's a simple redeco, and it gives TakaraTomy a chance to give some identity to their very first creation.

With all of that said, I just wanna restate how much this announcement has excited me for the line again. This year has been one of the worst for me in terms of new releases from this line, and I'm glad we're getting something like this!

 

Wouldn’t that make them the same size as the original trainbots??? Surely they’ll want to go at least a little bigger for the MP

 

2018= 0 New G1 MPs
2019= 1 New G1 MP
2020, so far= 0 new G1 MPs

While there's been a plethera of remolds and repaints, new G1 character MPs have been very few and far between.
The last new G1 MP before Hound was Sunstreaker.
That's a timespan of 2 years between them.

I liken new G1 character MP releases to the proverbial carrot on a stick.

 

That's not entirely fair though. They redid Prime and Bumblebee for the 35th anniversary year, each with totally new designs. I realize that some people didn't embrace them, but they are new G1 molds whichever way you slice it. That's actually 3 in 2019.