Finally…a real Optimus Prime to display with your Transformers Classics/Universe!

The 12” Masterpiece Optimus Prime was by far the best Optimus Prime design IMO. The problem is he’s too big to display with the Classic/Universe toys. He really only works with the larger scale Alternators.

The Classics Optimus Prime missed the mark IMO. I understand that Megatron had to be drastically redesigned due to gun toy laws. But there was no reason for Optimus Prime to have been so drastically different from his classic image. Yet all the rest of the Classics/Universe figures look pretty darn sweet.

In steps 3rd party custom toy company iGear to fill in the void. They’re making a Masterpiece Optimus Prime to scale with the other Classics/Universe figures. They've even given him an additional head that looks more like the classic cartoon. I hope all the detail doesn’t make him too fragile when scaled down. If he turns out to be as cool as he looks I’ll have to get him. I’m sure he’ll be crazy expensive but I’m going through some of my stuff to see what I can sell so I’ll have the money whenever he’s released. This is the Optimus Prime I’ve been waiting for.

http://www.igear.tf08.net/?page_id=186

One thing that disappinted me with the Masterpiece version was the lack of finger articulation. This one seems to be correcting the few errors MP-01 had and looks awesome.

*sigh* I guess I'll be dipping into my bank account for this one

Thanks for the heads up

I've never had a problem with the Classics Prime so if I get his guy I'm not quite sure where he'll end up. He might just be placed alone somewhere unless I do a full display of only Optimus Primes.

Very nice!

if it's got the same transformation as the MP version..and if the price isn't retardedly high...i'll get this guy.

I have a feeling it is going to be retardedly high. I am guessing $50-$75 range. I am interested in getting this guy even though I already have the Masterpiece Prime.

That Optimus Prime look so sweet, the best Prime figure out no doubt!

I got the Hybrid Style Optimus Prime and that was so expensive for a 4 inch MP Prime. If this prime is a good price then I will be all over it. Hopefully it will be compatible with the Fans Project trailer.

But speaking of being all over it, wouldn't Hasbro/Takara be all over iGear?

Not sure, really... TheFallen.

Hasbro's legal department is far, far more liberal than Mattel's, and has allowed for not just more freedom to it's licensees, but to its fans as well.

These kind of custom-projects by the fans pop up all the time, and they seem to sell a few pieces too. I'm not sure what Hasbro's view on this is, they've never made any official kind of statements.

I'm guessing they view it sort of like fan-art, as long as there aren't any big production-runs? A sort of necessarry evil to keep fan-interest at a constant high, or something.

Originally Posted by Predabot

I'm not sure what Hasbro's view on this is, they've never made any official kind of statements.

I'm guessing they view it sort of like fan-art, as long as there aren't any big production-runs? A sort of necessarry evil to keep fan-interest at a constant high, or something.

I'm sure I read on a Hasbro Q&A recently that they were fine with accessories & non-transforming stuff they would never make, but had some concerns with some of the newer stuff coming out - probably stuff exactly like this.

Originally Posted by byinfernoslight

I'm sure I read on a Hasbro Q&A recently that they were fine with accessories & non-transforming stuff they would never make, but had some concerns with some of the newer stuff coming out - probably stuff exactly like this.

Exactly. To those not familiar there's a company called FansProject that up to now have dome remarkable accessories for Transformers already put out. At a Q and A Hasbro said they loved what FP was doing, however they were pushing the limit as to what Hasbro and their legal team could put out.

This was after FP showed they were planning to release fully transformable figures and not just an add on kit for them.

Being that this is Optimus (The flagbot of Transformers) I can see iGear at least being on Hasbro/Takara's radar now but hope they let them and FansProject continue what they're doing.

i wonder if it has more to do with a takara/tomy thing then hasbro. Because this is more of a replica of the takara prime then hasbros prime...not entirely sure how much that would play into things...but....as you said JT, it's probably gotten hasbro/takara's attention now

Rather than pressing legal actions, it would be more profitable for Hasbro to just get on the band wagon and start making these things themselves. A proper Voyager sized G1 Optimus Prime should already have been made. Impossible Toys shouldn’t be making a transforming G1 Arcee because Hasbro should have already made one.

Originally Posted by FAKER II

Rather than pressing legal actions, it would be more profitable for Hasbro to just get on the band wagon and start making these things themselves. A proper Voyager sized G1 Optimus Prime should already have been made. Impossible Toys shouldn’t be making a transforming G1 Arcee because Hasbro should have already made one.

Quoted for Truth

This looks really nice...too bad it is so expensive. According to the website, it costs $95 (click here for more information).

Still, it would look nice standing next to my MP Prime. I may have to crack open my checkbook for this one

Originally Posted by FAKER II

Rather than pressing legal actions, it would be more profitable for Hasbro to just get on the band wagon and start making these things themselves. A proper Voyager sized G1 Optimus Prime should already have been made. Impossible Toys shouldn’t be making a transforming G1 Arcee because Hasbro should have already made one.

I wonder ifthat's why they allow some of this stuff, as they have no intention of making it themselves but (aside from transforming figures and such) these accessories actually increase hasbro and takara's sales - I mean who is going to buy a trailer for prime with no prime? so with that model in mind it helps hasbro/takara without costing them a cent in production and they don't have to take the risk or try to sell a bigger ticket item to toy stores. not only that Hasbro would be 100% in their legal right to but the toy themselves and make 'bootlegs' of these and sell them themselves, that option is always there if they wish and they save $$ as they don't have to create these from scratch.

Originally Posted by Cosmo

This looks really nice...too bad it is so expensive. According to the website, it costs $95 (click here for more information).

Still, it would look nice standing next to my MP Prime. I may have to crack open my checkbook for this one

Sadly that's about the price that I had expected. If it were around $50 I'd seriously consider buying it. Spending $100 when you can still find the full sized one for around that price is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by FAKER II

Rather than pressing legal actions, it would be more profitable for Hasbro to just get on the band wagon and start making these things themselves. A proper Voyager sized G1 Optimus Prime should already have been made. Impossible Toys shouldn’t be making a transforming G1 Arcee because Hasbro should have already made one.

A proper G1 Prime WAS made already. Many times over. Just because it wasn't ZOMG NOSTALGIA Prime all over again, but an updated, modernized version doesn't mean the legal one isn't 'proper'.

Also, Hasbro knows what they're doing. They got a marketing department. They got research departments. They know what's good for the line, and what they need to do with their budget for the lines. Classics don't get a release unless that mold gets at least one repaint, due to budget restraints. Those restraints are lifted for the 'main line' of the year (TFA, Movie, etc), but not for a side line like Universe or Classics.

Also also, Hasbro HAS TO sue these people. They are FORCED to do so by IP law. If they do not, then they can lose the rights to do the characters themselves. It's not a very good situation for them.

Originally Posted by krosfyah

I wonder ifthat's why they allow some of this stuff, as they have no intention of making it themselves but (aside from transforming figures and such) these accessories actually increase hasbro and takara's sales - I mean who is going to buy a trailer for prime with no prime? so with that model in mind it helps hasbro/takara without costing them a cent in production and they don't have to take the risk or try to sell a bigger ticket item to toy stores. not only that Hasbro would be 100% in their legal right to but the toy themselves and make 'bootlegs' of these and sell them themselves, that option is always there if they wish and they save $$ as they don't have to create these from scratch.

The accessories are in a grey area of the legal arena. But either way, with such a limited production of the accessories, it doesn't impact their sales in any major way. Who's going to buy a trailer for Prime with no Prime? No one. But the people who would have bought the trailer for Prime, would buy the Prime no matter what. Besides, much as fans hate to hear it: Their money doesn't really matter. Hasbro doesn't care if 10,000 25+ year olds go and buy a Prime, because their goal is to sell a million units to retailers. Hasbro gets their money from selling to TRU, Target, etc, not from selling to us.

Also, Hasbro is under something called toy safety laws. They can't just take the molds of FansProject stuff and release it themselves, even if FP gave it to them. They still have to pass safety standards.



It's really ironic that a completely illegal bootleg is the 'real' Prime, when the one we got is one of the best Prime toys of all time.

Originally Posted by Cosmo

This looks really nice...too bad it is so expensive. According to the website, it costs $95 (click here for more information).

Still, it would look nice standing next to my MP Prime. I may have to crack open my checkbook for this one

It works out to be $115aud not including shipping. It cost me close to the same for City Commander from FansProject. I will probably get the iGear Prime

Originally Posted by Tifaslover

Besides, much as fans hate to hear it: Their money doesn't really matter. Hasbro doesn't care if 10,000 25+ year olds go and buy a Prime, because their goal is to sell a million units to retailers. Hasbro gets their money from selling to TRU, Target, etc, not from selling to us.
.

not quite, they do care if WE buy their products because if we don't buy from TRU etc, TRU and co don't buy from hasbro. But that shows how the accessories can be allowed in that grey area and even encouraged (or at least enjoyed) by hasbro (not talking about characters just the accessories) as I said Hasbro doesn't have to try to sell bigger, costlier toys to TRU etc if these companies are filling in the blanks. Hasbro saves money on production, packing and shipping, they save hassle of selling higher price point toys to retailers and the retailers sell their product at a good rate because as we agreed no one will buy a trailer without prime, but they will buy a prime without a trailer. so these accessories can only help their product move off the shelves which makes both the retailers and Hasbro happy.

That being said yeah they'd have to put the kibosh on this prime. it looks great and it seems fans want it, but I can't see it making it. this is the headline character, not some cast off nobody that hasbro never intended to make or an accessory that doesn't matter much to them. Hasbro should cease and desist this and make it themselves. the fans want it and hasbro can sell it for a lot less.

I seen this at another E-tailer and hes still abit expensive for my taste. I'd love to have him but if the price lowers I might consider one.

Originally Posted by Cosmo

This looks really nice...too bad it is so expensive. According to the website, it costs $95 (click here for more information).

Still, it would look nice standing next to my MP Prime. I may have to crack open my checkbook for this one

For that price, I hope it's not easily breakable.

I will be preordering one of those for sure very soon. Does anyone know if he's going to be painted or not?

Originally Posted by krosfyah

not quite, they do care if WE buy their products because if we don't buy from TRU etc, TRU and co don't buy from hasbro.

Well, yeah, sort of. I mean, you're right. But, on the other hand, only sorta so. The adult fan community that buys product at retail is such a niche market for a retail release line, that they barely show up on Hasbro's radar. No matter how many fans are on forums saying how much they love TFs (or, it seems, in the case of TF forums, how much they hate everything current!) there's still 99 times more people buying on impulse, for kids, relatives, charities, etc. We're just too small to really impact the retail on any major level.

That said...it's frankly quite a miracle the Classics lines were put out in the first place, and going to be restarted again once RotF is done. I mean, theoretically, they're for "us", but kids have been buying a large amount of Classics figs to make the line very worthwhile to Hasbro.

Originally Posted by Grimbot

For that price, I hope it's not easily breakable.

Well, it IS a knock off, so, the quality's definitely not up to real standards. Might not break easily. But it'll be easier to break than a Has-Tak TF.

Originally Posted by King Moss Man

I will be preordering one of those for sure very soon. Does anyone know if he's going to be painted or not?

If it's a garage kit, not very likely. Garage kits are traditionally done in gray plastic and painted and assembled by the purchaser. Since it's a Transformer though, it's likely not a garage kit. It's likely a fully completed toy with some sort of paint job. As to the quality of the paint job, that's open for debate, but chances are it'll have a paint job.

Assuming that it even comes close to coming out. Which isn't really likely. Hasbro and Takara probably have already filed the paperwork for cease and desist and potential lawsuits for this. I'd be surprised if they let it get into production and release stages.

This figure sold out when it was first released. It has been so popular that a second run with added extras has been initiated and is currently available for preorder here

PP01 - Faith Leader with MP08 Grimlock


2nd version PP01 - Faith Leader


And the rumoured PP02