Takara Masterpiece Combiners (Sit Down Saturday)

[@gurrengravion8557]

Apart of the things mention on the video I can think of three reasons MAYBE they will go with Raiden: 1) Maybe Takara is afraid that third party "salted" the combiner market and people will not buy another set of 5/6 robots of a team they already own just because is the official release.Hence going with something that is almost unexplored. 2) Raiden is easier to engineer that a Devastator or a Bruticus because all the all mode are basically boxes, which also will work well with a modular combination. 3) Japanese audience, not only is Raiden more popular in that country, but there is also a big "Train Otaku" culture in there. Basically train fanboys that buy a lot of thing related to locomotives and railroad.

[@dare2727]

great points

[@scottcontois3957]

All good points.

[@rugalheidbernstein9944]

Price is my biggest concern. Seriously if MP-44 Optimus Prime was expensive, I'm scared to see the price of an official MP combiner team.

[@conflicthorizon]

My thoughts exactly. I also don't like the way Hastak is doing the MPs.

[@williamkious5349]

You only need one kidney...

[@johnwayne4142]

So to base it off mp44 would be incorrect mp44 is so much because of the trailer and extra the one to base it off of would be the mp45 nemesis at 250 for the base figure assuming it's more plastic for the feature let say that increases the price by at leadt 50 to 100 so more closer to 300-350

[@nullproxy9639]

@@johnwayne4142 The trailer and accessories still dont justify that price tag at all

[@Mechanic618]

Can't believe I'm saying this but I don't even want Takara to do combiners, I just want the 3Ps to do theirs. Those are more than sufficient masterpiece combiners. Takara's design aesthetic, price, and quality have all continued to decline year over year, and it is to the point now where I wouldn't want them to announce figures that might slow down or change 3P plans to avoid competing with Takara.

[@RID01S]

Agreed

[@soundshock9357]

To your opinions but am a buy it because of how dumb the 3p transformers look plus I been dreaming of this

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

If Raiden becomes reality: it's a suprise to be sure, but a welcomed one

[@johngavin1175]

I can hear wallets and bank accounts sobbing

[@pedrinmora8956]

Do you know if has a land Cross Figure at the same size of combiner wars figures ?

[@KingofPotatoPeople]

I think MP Raiden is totally plausible. Trains and locomotives in general are a huge part of Japanese culture, I think it’s much less of a gamble - for a Japanese market - than we outside of Japan May think. In fact I think Raiden is very likely a stepping stone to Devastator as a natural arch enemy. Tamara aren’t thinking of an international market here, I believe.

[@basicfacekick]

That MP Devastator "gift set" would be a heck of a thing, I might go in on that. But realistically I'm priced out of the MP market.

[@lesserz6310]

I hear that, just got thinking about the prices myself. Starting to keep going up. If they bought designs from a 3rd party creator, might see more characters and lower prices. It's what did from Diaclone days when they just slapped robots together from all over the place.

[@TONYRENDE]

I just want the damn reissue lol.

[@TONYRENDE]

@Cripout247 because I want a g1 figure that we never got a chance to own without importing and spending over $1000 Canadian on eBay

[@LordNexus193]

Same,I know it doesn't look good but I want a reissue of Raiden so bad.If Takara do that,it could lead a open door for more G1 Japanese characters to be reissued like Star Saber.

[@Mechanic618]

01:55 Bandcamp or Soundcloud. Both allow download options and either donation-style pay-what-you-want or purchase options.

[@lindaboreham3633]

One time..,at bandcamp

[@brian-brink]

...”supposedly” crowdfunded a Unicron... Hahahaha! Love it!

[@shadowwolfie85]

@Rowseatingstank trashassBoxingTV Perhaps, but how much is a turd really worth even it's a limited run.

[@glassjar7814]

Ironically this video popped up on my homepage when news of the trains is becoming more into fruition

[@unoriginalname6604]

I just want some love for my boy Raiden.

[@botindisguys6531]

I’d love to see this character done. When I started collecting, my initial focus was Masterpiece and combiners. This type of lesser known offering would be a great addition as would some others! I’m excited!

[@JimmyHauser]

If they want to stay true to the cartoon aesthetics they are going with, then they better include an alt mode flight stand with Raiden.

[@thugg4lif]

Should just rename these Saturday videos to “house cleaning with Bobby”

[@MtgVeteran]

The original Raiden toy was designed alongside the original Devastator toy, they both came from the Diaclone line, that toy, not the character, but that toy holds a more historical place from Takara's designers point of view. So it makes sense that they start here and do Devastator next before doing any of the scramble city combiners. The toy releases matter more to the toy developers, alot of them are their babies, they get to have their cake and eat it too making everyone rebuy figures after a toon accurate colored version is released bc they know we will.

[@astromotive6047]

Takara be *raiden* that profit away from Zeta like....Choo Choo!

[@TripChebook]

Puns make me laugh harder than they should.

[@nemorge9347]

I think a big reason of why Raiden was chosen is for the same reason we're getting a Lio Convoy and a Burning Convoy, Takara is now tackling the Japanese Continuity. And Raiden is one the most important combiners in that continuity, so it makes sense. Because at the end of the day, Takara is a Japanese Company and not an American. That explains why we didn't get Frank Welker voice clips with MP-36 or David Kaye voice clips for MP-43, we got Japanese voice clips because Takara, I think, prioritizes first Japanese Collectors and then American Collectors. And the rest of the world is well...

[@jeremypickard2372]

Devistator is the badass of all time. I am 44 and love G1 grew up on G1 and he was my 1st combiner. He was the only combiner when I got him. Took me few months to even complete him with all the constructacons. Plus he should always be bigger cuz there are 6 not 5 and the vehicles are twice as big as cars or whatever.

[@3starstar]

I think you don’t have to think too complicated. Takaratomy is a Japanese company and the Japan market is the first priority they always consider. Train is one of the most important culture in Japan, therefore choosing Raiden is not a surprise move at all. That’s nothing to do with 3rd party what so ever.

[@SentinelBayReviews]

Weren't there rumors that Takara does the Raiden in cooperation with some Japanese train companies as some sort of marketing stunt? Would actually be the most convincing explanation to why they picked this niche character.

[@saeklin]

I'm surprised they haven't already done a masterpiece Devastator. Fans have been asking for it since the whole masterpiece line began, and when Alternators came out, everyone wondered why they didn't apply the same level of engineering and price structure to a set of realistic Constructicons.

[@NinjabillReviews]

Great topics, I agree with most of what you have mentioned. I also will say this ..I think you are looking at your what is a "popular" combiner from an American perspective (understandably so). Having even a basic understanding of how another culture thinks about their passions is tricky business on the best of days for anyone not of that culture. The Ressha Otaku is a ravenous and large community in Japan. Trains are a very large part of Japanese daily lives. So IF it happens, it will be very well received. I am not saying that that community is any more or less than our own, but I am saying that Takara will market to a Japanese audience without considering others first, that is how they do business, it is always how they have done business and it should surprise no one at this point. That might make for an interesting topic of its own, does Takara/Tomy care about other regions when making decisions of what they release? it would be my strong guess, that no, no they do not.

[@ahchiu9]

While Raiden is not the most popular combiner (even though I am one of those big Raiden fans), I can see a couple of reasons why it may happen. There can be a lot of shared engineering within the limbs. The train modes can still be visually distinct while still sharing a lot of parts. For a first venture into an MP combiner, this may be the cheapest option from an RND standpoint. Trains are huge in Japan which will give it crossover appeal and I can totally see someone bringing this up in a pitch meeting. Making an official crossover product with the train companies (a common practice with Japanese toys), Takara would get to share a lot of the costs with them.

[@predaking2wings]

love the idea of making a combiner and put all in one box with all the pieces, not buying each one separate!!

[@dustyyshellz1320]

Watching this the day of your review of MP shouki and yeah bad choice rang true like a phone on your birthday

[@lukabazookastj9462]

10:30 MP Star Saber was not to scale so I agree with that. Seeing Raiden again though would be badass but they better keep that more lean bot build he had.

[@ericobarrera6580]

Devastator would definitely be the way to go, especially when they can get a G2 version out of it. As for scale, Takara is about scale; but for the Bot Modes, not the Alt Modes. But I would just love for them to flesh out all the Autobot Cars and Mini Bots first. Then issue a New Grimlock mold and work on the Dinobots, before getting into the Combiners.

[@KatosKollection]

You absolutely nailed my current state of "settling". There are characters that I want representations of that I'm willing to settle on just to have them on the shelf. Just watched your Transform and Roll Out Agent Meister (Hova) I'm likely to grab him soon. Excellent conversation, brother 🤘😁🤘 I also agree that it's very possible that we have misinterpreted the whole MP Raiden thing.

[@TP3_5]

Great topic this morning, I would like to see the Raiden first, but we all would go crazy over a Devestator box set in the mp mold and scale! Hell, why not a takara predaking set?

[@Quetzalcoatlus_northropi]

If this is a masterpiece Raiden, I wonder how Takara will decide the aesthetics of it. Considering that the trains will be licensed they'll probably have to make realistic train modes and with the combiner being made of big train parts it wouldn't be able to fit into Takara's toon aesthetic. We can only wait and see.

[@kobaltblueknight]

Masterpiece scale is a spectrum. Some figures are scaled to vehicle mode. Some are scaled to robot mode. If they came out with a masterpiece city bot, it would likely be scaled to legends; at the largest. Most likely, a Raiden masterpiece set would be scaled to robot mode, not to vehicle mode.

[@TrypticOwen]

I think it'll be a CHUG. Obvious next choice after Piranhacon. Possibly resculpting Alpha Bravo? Maybe describing it as 'masterpiece' is more marketing than a reference to the actual MP line?

[@leyenda6149]

What's the most you ever spent on all pieces of a combiner, including parts forming and upgrades? For me it's

[@SentinelBayReviews]

800 for Constructor. Bought him in pieces cause bo green box set available at that time. At least it's the V1 ^^

[@Casey-ez2ko]

My first thought was that I was glad they are going to get their combiner kinks/mistakes out of their system before they tackle Devastator.

[@lesserz6310]

True a MP Raiden would be aimed towards a smaller fan base...but so was MP Star Saber. I think they should focus on more MP Decepticons. There are hardly any. I would have thought they'd have tried triple changers before rebooting all these 2.0 or toon accurate colored figures. I think MPs may be seeing their final days.

[@lowellmartens6135]

My biggest fear about Takara doing combiners is the thought about how incredibly high the price would be. Maybe not the $500 per character the one watcher fears, but most likely still too high. As far as parts-forming, I would guess they would try to do a all in one version, but I agree with you that a Raiden does not seem the logical choice. Thanks for the conversation.

[@edpistemic]

The combiner Takara could hook me the most would be Predaking.

[@RBrown803]

On top of all the reasons mentioned, this may be an opportunity to put something out in the Japanese market that is a testbed on an MP combiner. The feedback from this figure could be transferred over to the more critical releases (e.g., Devastator).

[@williammckinley1035]

Price wise, it would be more logical that each train be around $100, making the set around $600. If it is sold as a box set, that would be around that price range, making it the most expensive tranformers set in the Masterpiece line. As for why they are doing this, it does make sense. Trains are more popular in Japan and the Masterpiece line was designed more for the Japanese market. They tried that here in the US and was not really received well. It sold well in TRU, but with it going belly up, the Masterpiece US line went with it. The other place that sold MP US figures was at Walmart, but in the end, Walmarts just clearanced them out, they never sold at the higher end ticket prices the MP line was designed for. Just as a recent example, Siege Jetfire. They hit Walmart shelves and a week or two later, they were clearanced out at $45. Only Target has the balls to carry higher end figures, but eventually those get clearanced out.

[@daddyofthepaddy]

Takara Tomy’s robot bullet train line Shinkalion is selling very well domestically so all the connections with Japanese Railway Companies are already established, they have the whole train to robot engineering down using modern tooling. Japan is fanatic about trains...why not?

[@TheMrJDizzle79]

Thanks for the zeta proto. I hadn't seen that. I definitely think Takara is doing one of two things. Trying to bury Zeta, OR they want to do a combiner nobody else has really touched yet or recently. There are multiple Menasor and Bruticus out. Superion has two solid choices as well. They know everyone has Constructor. That leaves Predaking, Abominus, Computron or Raiden. Factor he was Japanese only, it could almost be a like a love letter to the japanese fandom as he was "their" combiner.

[@josemers6324]

I wonder if Takara has been buying some of these 3rd party figures and re-engineering them. Example: Badcube Sunsurge and then Masterpiece sunstreaker was release. Hound is next, Megatron came and went.

[@StuandBeyond]

My thought is they’ll keep it in the Titan class like Devastator and Predaking(yo keep the price down), BUT have the licensing endorsements from the train manufacturers and make a Takara Tomy Mall exclusive.

[@luchajon8480]

I had the exact same thought about Zeta Toys.

[@jeroenmeester9528]

I think they really are going to release this Raiden, I think they'll release him as individual figures for about $200 each, they'll probably be a bit smaller than MP-10 and have way less accessories and a simpler Transformation, this is ok because they always were simpler, I hope they'll come with the appropriate Diaclone figures. With the vintage there was a part that could be taken off from each train, they'll probably use that part for the partsforming of the combiner mode and the trains will be quite hollow and larger than the bots in comparison.

[@soulcraft_84]

Maybe they are just down to release everything? They have that Diaclone reboot line as well... it might just be all one thing to them: celebrating their history.

[@N1thunderfan]

I feel as though they are going with raiden first because they are testing out the waters in combiners. Compared to a toon accurate devastator, the raiden design is much simpler by far. And if they don't do a great job with it, it won't upset too much if the fandom as not many are fans of raiden. Plus besides zeta, no one else has done or proposed a raiden so it's fresh waters with no competition. Now weather or not they can get it out before 3ps get theirs out is another question, but I do think the choice makes sense.

[@michaelcassello2458]

i completely agree that Devastor should be Takara's first mp combiner. I really want to see this Raiden combiner happen. I feel after people see the price of a Takara combiner ,they will think Fanstoys,Zeta, even TFC Toys combiners are a bargain!!! Really don't want to see another 3p bruticus combiner, zeta and mmc changed the game.

[@alphaprime8880]

I am with you on this one, a Devastator wod do well, definitely better than a Raiden. Raiden is most certainly a strange place for them to start but they do get a lot of pull from the Japanese market, thus we got an MP Starsaber so it definitely doesn’t surprise me. Maybe Takara have looked at the combiner offerings so far and thought ‘can we afford to take the risk on putting ANOTHER MP Devastator out’. I don’t think I will 100% believe this is coming until I see a test shot of one of the Train bots. Thanks for doing this bro, really enjoyed your thoughts on this one

[@Manuel_B.]

8:30 actually Star Saber was the most successful Masterpiece Transformer (in Japan, where Transformers Victory aired), but we haven't gotten the Victory Leo because the third party company jumped on it and it was good (I bought one too).. so that may have ruined the market for an official Victory Leo.. not the other way around.

[@CrimsonRaptors]

Great video! A G1 Reissue Raiden, yes, going to happen. Like G1 Overlord and G1 Liokaiser, the Trainbots are rare (officially) and a reissue is money in the bank. Now, see.I was hoping that Raiden would be in Generations scale, as they'd be great for use in my Stop-Motion Animations. Plus they'd be a perfect fit as Voyagers or Deluxes, maybe even a Titan class (sans Scorponok) to work with EarthRise in the War for Cybertron Trilogy. However, Masterpiece scale is Takara knowing their market, flat out. We, overseas, are not their primary market, but even so, there's no 3rd Party Competition for Raiden. And, you brother this up, but I agree, I think that it's funny that Zeta teased their Raiden (Moonwalker I think it was called) and then they screwed up and did the whole Zeta Unicron vs Haslab Unicron. They poked the bear, and it transformed into a Lion. and Takara and Hasbro are going for Zeta's jugular, making an official Raiden, lmao! What's even great about an MP Trainbots set, is that it'll be in scale with the Combiner Wars Titan Class Devastator (which was rumored to be an MP Combiner but Hasbro usurped it from Takara for use in the CW line). Matthew Deluxe Baldwin showed a picture with the possible Takara mockup next to Titans Return Predaking in his video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYmxmHRqqcaAqpI The picture, clearly, is not Zeta's and I don't think Toyworld is ever going to make theirs, despiting considering it. You can tell the great sclupt differences just in the foot itself and compare to the photos you showed of Zeta's. This is going to be crazy, but I'm all in on the Trainbots. "No matter the cost." Even at Titan scale. Keep up the great work, Bobby, mack! =P

[@JimmyHauser]

I find it extremely difficult to believe that takara’s bean counters are going to let the designers, or even marketers, spend money on revenge against zeta.

[@cannonp1]

Maybe they are getting some funding from the Japanese metro companies, which is making the product fairly risk free.

[@AltronT]

Honestly I don't see Takara being committed to a large project like a combiner team, after all Takara gave up on the MP Brave line and hasn't even attempted an MP Victory Leo. But most importantly Takara has priced themselves out of a job, third party is running circles around them, so in the end Takara is just too afraid to take risks and they will never put out the figures people want.

[@schlitzy-1031]

I'm all in on Fans Toys combiners. I'm not a fan of the direction Takara has gone in with their figures lately. Super toon accuracy and super expensive isn't what I'm looking for. I'm very curious how Takara would approach an MP combiner but I doubt very much I'd be tempted to purchase one. I hope they do one...or a bunch. Itll be fun to watch from the sidelines.

[@iamtheomnimonkey]

I think they are gonna do Raiden as their next Titan Class combiner in the W.F.C. Earth Rise or for the 3rd W.F.C. which will come after Earth Rise. I expect a little parts forming and I expect combiner kibble on the leg bots similar to the Titan Class Predaking. I expect total combined cost to be $120 to $220. If they do Raiden as a MP I expect the individual bots to scale with Prime in bot mode & that train mode scale will be whatever works. I expect major parts forming for combined mode. I expect total combined cost to be $1,200 to $1,500. They just priced Nemesis Prime (no trailer & less accessories) at $250. For me I'm on the fence for either route. I'm not a big fan of Raiden but I love combiners.

[@fernandoflores3161]

Takara is too proud of their engineering to use excesive partsforming.

[@animatedCHUG]

Thats what MP36 Megatron and MP44 Prime have taught us

[@semipro900]

I love Predaking, but Menasor needs his just due

[@travissall]

I’ve been wondering since MP Ultra Magnus when we’re going to see the first MP combiner. The longer it goes, the more I’m thinking we may not see it, in terms of a Devastator type set, Raiden though, makes perfect sense. FAR less complex with the alt modes just rectangular cubes that lend well to becoming limbs. They just really need to engineer two modes, one with some built in articulation for elbows and ankles. This is going to sell at insane rates on the Asian markets! It wouldn’t shock me if it wasn’t made available really to the western markets at all, and I don’t think they’d lose much in terms of sales revenue vs shipping, marketing etc to get the set over to the west. Personally, I think Takara looked into combiner sets and determined the return on investment was not enough to pursue. Considering the cost that goes into a regular two mode transforming figure, adding engineering for a third mode (added parts count as well) now multiplying that by 5 or 6 and expecting collectors to pay their current rates for the set, its a pretty easy risk reward calculation and they are a low risk company like you said. I also have a thought that the combiner wars Devy box set shows all of this and was possibly them dipping a toe in to see how the water was, choppy and cold to say the least.

[@thebrandonrobert5693]

If there is an MP Raiden, I will shit my fucking pants. But in all seriousness, if Takara Tomy is going to make a combiner, it should be Devastator. He was the first G1 combiner and seeing as how they're on the verge of being done with all of the original G1 characters, Devastator would make the most sense.

[@chrisandrew9840]

So two things; 1)Likewhat everyone already said,Japan loves trains, but also 2) the usual line we get is "bad guys don't sell as well" in the JP market. Now this is some grounds for debate(we have gotten the entire 84 retail line up(half of it twice over), but I think the well is rying up as far as what Takara considers marketable 'Con sat an MP pricepoint. The idea of a complete 84-86 MP line from them is long over, I think. At this point, its becoming more of an "best of" line across series. Plus I think that Takara's audience isn't necessarily as grounded in what was popular in the cartoon; look at the Diaclone reboot, a pricy collectors line without any media tie-in. Raiden will sell there on the merit of being a cool train robot.

[@mark4flair376]

I think an MP combiner, especially a Raiden, is going to be way too cost prohibitive for most. The limbs would be 150-200$ each + a 200-300$ torso bot, that's 800‐1,000$. I would probably be in for a Devastator and they might tempt me with the other main combiners, but a Raiden, that's a pass for sure.

[@YasapYaakov018]

Good video, personally I don't care about Raiden, however you made a good point, If Takes goes forward with a MP Raiden, I suppose each train would be around MP inferno scale. As far as Zeta is concerned I just want that Unicron, not sure how I feel about thier version of predaking. But remain optimistic, as time goes on we shall. see.

[@aaronmauer7225]

I would not be surprised if takara is gunning for zeta but I honestly would go for the zeta cause of the track record with combiners and it will be affordable

[@joey159213]

Zeta is a speck to Takara on the grand scheme of things. Idk if they would go there , but it is a interesting theory. As their 1st combiner is an odd choice , but I think it would only sell because it's takara's 1st combiner , and I think that's a big moment within itself so people will buy it. With this said come on!! NO DEVISTATOR???? wtf

[@sandmanbiden9301]

I think raiden has the potential to sell well in japan due to the big train culture japan has.

[@GodParticleZero]

A takara MP devastator would be my holy grail. I loved their combiner wars version

[@Eseres80]

If Takara did a MP combiner it would be fantastic!!! However! I do see some potentional downsides to this, which one of the is the pricetag. Considering the prices on MP-44 and 45, a MP combiner would be waaaaaay expensive for most collectors. If we stick to the idea of a MP Devastator, which will be six figures in total, this will be a total armageddon on anybodys wallet. Let's do the numbers. If we imagine about 400 bucks for each individual figure, we'll end up paying 2400 bucks for the entire set, not including shipping, etc... Some people might be able to afford buying one figure every two months, while others may be pretty far away from even that. If we're talking only two figure each year for three years, that would work out better for more people, but still be expensive enough for alot of people to being able to afford it. And thats if the figures are sold seperate. What if Takara decide to release the combiner as a complete set? Thats 2400 bucks all at once, which will make it totally impossible for way too many collectors to buy. This will result in a production of a toy that could potentionally ruin Takara, and that could be the end of the official MP line. With this in mind I don't think that Takara will ever venture down the combiners lane. Further more, I think you're onto something as far as which combiner that would be most effective to start with. A Devastator/Bruticus would excite a lot of people because those are well known characters. This train combiner... Not so much I think. The Takara MP figures are expensive enough as it is already, and a lot of people have jumped off the official MP train and gone 3rd party because of the high prices. A official MP combiner would be totally out of the question for too many people. Bills to pay, food on the table, a thing called "family" and all that stuff that is called "a life" that most people have... I don't see how enough people would be able to afford getting a Takara combiner to justify the production of it. And thats why I believe that we'll never see an official MP combiner any time soon! I love the idea of having one, but for now its just a really expensive dream and nothing else. Sorry for the long comment, and congrats to those who made it all the way through :)

[@officerbarbrady8387]

My favorite combiner is Defensor. And I'm not sure what the best version of him is to get

[@8474Starscream]

Awesome content. I don't see Takara doing an MP combiner.....and I'd they did Raiden wouldn't be the first.

[@danielhirst5353]

I think Takara will do a little bit of partsforming with the chest plate and hands on Raiden. Probably not much else. Could not agree with you more on the character choice though. Devastator would be a sure sell, and would sell on the reissues for a long time to come. Same thing with Bruticus. I don’t think any aesthetic sacrifices will be made by Takara. As of late, that’s not their style. Slavish toon all the way. As for scale, everyone seems to focus on real world scale, but the animation seldom reflects that. For instance, there are several shots with Seekers flying beside Megatron and Soundwave, and their jet modes are only a little bit longer than Megatron is tall. And I believe the MPs reflect that scale. For the record, I have not seen anything with Raiden in it, so if there’s a point of reference for scale, please let me know.

[@inflewence]

I would definitely fork over a G for a Dev gift set!! I wasn't aware of Raiden until I started back collecting as an adult, so I'm not that connected. He's cool though but I just told myself I will stop buying shit that looks cool and only stuff I'm connected to.

[@edoggz20111]

They choose Raiden as a test because it's a sample design of trains. I rather have Devastator or finish all of the car bots. There so many other important characters to do...

[@tonytck]

Goodnews it just gonna be a combiner wars style

[@Qc4073]

I would like a official Bobby Skullface tin foil hat

[@Manuel_B.]

Takara Tomy is a Japanese company. And Raiden has a cult following in Japan, where Headmasters aired. And seeing how Star Saber was the most successful release, Raiden is safe bet.. They have anime, manga and super sentai based on trains.. its very popular in Japan.. they're not obliged to do what we want... it will be a rare figure and that will be enough for people to want it outside of Japan

[@Xingularity]

Still hoping for a Masterpiece Predaking.

[@KevinBirtcher]

If true, maybe Takara are getting outside money to help off-set the production cost. From a Japanese cultural fund, for instance, or whoever is behind the exhibition.

[@antoniovistcoatis1541]

Raiden is cool but, not for me if they put that out I think it will flop. I agree Devastator is definitely the most popular combiner. I would be curious to see some Takara MP combiners however, I suspect the price point would be out of control and for me not worth switching out my current figs.

[@NathanSimmonsSworn]

My bet it is a Siege Raiden vs a MP.

[@LucasTigy2]

i feel like raiden might just be the easiest to start with since trains are fairly simple as a vehicle. they're long boxes that can hide a robot inside while also bending to become limbs. i also wonder if maybe it's more popular than we think in japan, or maybe it's because it's a "gap in the market" due to no third party raidens being out yet.i feel like it can't go above 1000 or they'll lose everyone, but based on it's original design, i would say it could pull it out with little to no parts-forming so i'm thinking they can go around 600 depending on other accessories. i really look forward to this as combiners are a primary component of my collection and i'm curious to see how they do it.

[@martin7684]

Raiden is a six bot combiner just like devastator, Raiden is a diaclone toy just like devastator. If this Japanese figure sells well then me may see devastator if they share engineering.

[@PopePlatinumBeats]

I never heard of Raiden until i started collection... he was never on the american show when i stopped watching in 87 ish? last combiners i remember from the G1 show was Computron , and Abonimus

[@Thetazord]

I don’t understand why you hate that Bumblebee so much. He looks and feels leaps and bounds better than any other Bee there is out there. I really hope they make a Cliffjumper that is made in the same way as mp-45 Bee.

[@jeremypickard2372]

P.S. raiden is the dude that shoots lightning out his hands on the game so hope they don't waste a release on that shit

[@cowskullbeefeater]

If it is true I kind of think Raiden is a good choice for "shared engineering" with the leg bots and arm bots having similar combinations. I could also see combiner parts being incorporated into the design seen as the feet, hips and head were on the g1 (unlike devastator) that would just leave the fists to incorporate. I wouldn't be surprised if the rail companies were adding some kind of funding to the mix as well, we've seen no end of takara promo items such as the watch prime or cellphone and shoe transformers etc

[@jon9550]

Takara dipping their toes in the MP Combiner market by starting with one of the most obscure combiners seems like a bad business move. I know Takara caters to the Japanese toy market, but it they did Devastator the Japanese market would eat it up, as would the UK and US markets. From a business perspective you want your products to have the widest potential customer base. Maybe Takara is afraid against going up against all of the 3rd party Devastators out there. That market is pretty well served. If they don't think they can do something as good for a comparable price maybe they think it will hurt sales. Another possibility is that "Masterpiece" Raiden might be MP in the way Combiner Wars Devastator was an official stand-in for MP characters that they knew would be too expensive to do. If we got a Combiner Wars style Raiden it would make sense to skip Devastator because Devastator has been done.

[@mikeh1840]

How prescient. Battle of the Unicrons history repeats itself with the Raidens. Except no-one seems excited about the TT version.

[@HAGZ0483]

They're doing it for their own market, japan loooves trains, so takara will attract non tf fans buyers over there. Also, the market is flooded with devastators, bruticae and menasors so a wildcard like Raiden sounds more appealing.

[@allhailmegatron8043]

I’m good with any MP combiner coming out as I would probably get them all. But, I would love to see a Monstructor done. I know FT did one a long time ago, but since then he seems to be the one always looked over.

[@cyclonus69]

In for Raiden then must have Liokaiser!

[@brenoferreiraferreira4409]

1- I believe there is a big chance they'll do it, if I understood correctly they announced it as a Masterpiece release so there is no reason to believe they wont. 2- I don't believe that Raiden would be the smartest choice looking at it through a selling to the TF fans point of view, they would sell Devastator much easier to that audience. 2.1- For other kind off buyers that aren't big TF fans a combiner made out of locomotives may seem more elegant, more appealing, more intellectual then one made of construction vehicles, especially in Japan. 2.2- Engineering wise it seems easier to present a good MP combiner made out of locomotives, transforming a parallelepiped shaped object into 3 different forms should be way easier then vehicles or mechanical creatures. 3- I don't think they will use parts forming, the engineers and designers that work for Takara are geniuses, not that the Third Party ones aren't but... 5- I think they should do Devastator but that is only because I can't relate to any one of those other combiners, I don't even know them all. Is there a Beast Wars combiner? I would like to see them deal with that ;) 6- The paying part is the hardest part but more then $250 each and I'm out, the fair price would be around $100 to $150 for each never more. I hope I've answered all your questions, cya Mr. Skullface.

[@DolkkarToyznstuff]

I'd pay for an MP Raiden, at the most around $200-$250 per bot, but I think first I'd like to see them do a Defensor, Abominus, etc, While I agree Devastator would be the best choice for Takara financially, (which is why they're in business of course) I think it might be too obvious, especially with the current 3rd party offerings. Either people are totally happy with TW and Gen Toy and see no need to pick it up or... we'd start seeing a lot of those 3rd party offerings hit Cybertron Cafe, etc. With Takara's current prices, I think the previous might be more probable. Only time will tell and the proof is in the pudding as it's said. Thanks for the fabulous post as always.

[@toyshanger8945]

I am exactly on the same reason with Bobby here. People still saying it has nothing to do with zeta and claiming raiden is very huge in Japan. My problem is that if raiden is that popular, why no effort to release during United warriors period? A lot of lame excuses saying is Hasbro but Takara could do their own exclusive.

[@williamkious5349]

Is it possible that the Japanese transportation interests would front the cost of a masterpiece combiner, thereby removing that hurdle for Takara?

[@janejones3170]

I quite collecting cause price and they are not coming out with stuff to finish my g1 to set.

[@harryruffin1548]

Lots of thoughts going on right now. The idea of raiden being mp-50 just seems like a poor decision, I’m not expecting too much, but this seems like the wrong thing to do. But as you said, it’s just a rumour and for all we know, mp-50 could just be a repaint or a 2.0 of a previous figure, we’ll just have to wait and see. The idea of Takara and hasbro getting back at zeta toys is a funny thought and it could quite possibly be true. Can definitely say I’m hyped for what’s next. Ps: I can’t believe mrs skullface let you keep the horn, didn’t expect it to last as long as it has already.

[@robertban871]

Astrotrain wouldnt be 70 feet long or whatever. its obviously only season 1 characters that adhered to a vehicle scale thing, as soon as they added mini-bots that turn into midget tanks, hovercrafts and attack jets they threw it all out the window

[@keithtwombley]

As someone going back and forth on dropping 500 on toyworld, I'm definitely in for $200/each Takara MP Devastator.

[@PaulSpurgeon]

I think Takara doing a MP Raiden is a dumb idea, and I think they’re doing it to kick sand in Zeta’s face because of the Unicron exchange.