Takara Transformers Prime Arms Micron AM-01 to AM-06 and MP-11 Starscream 2.0 In-Package Images

Seems like we are required to put on the stickers for the Deluxe robots ourselves too!? Kidding here!?

Anyone else think Takara's taking the cheap route out with the build-your-own-minicon approach?

i can see customizers and model kit fans enjoying these figures, the stickers approch gives those whod prefer to paint the figures to match thier ideal looks a chance to do so without having to remove what on already.

as for the minicons, come on hasbro, blindbag and put these things out individually

Referring to the artwork on the front of Ratchet's packaging: does he have a double right forearm? It doesn't look quite right.

And how naked does he look without the stickers? I agree with what grimdragon2001 says about giving customizers the option to do the figures right, but when you're paying premium for these Takara versions I'd like it to be right straight out of the box.

So, Takara aren't even taking the chance of letting the customer even SEE what they're buying before they've bought it!!!!

Woo.. can't wait for this weekend, since I pre-ordered all 6 of them, gonna not use the stickers though. And I kinda gotten over the 'craters'.

I literally "WTF!?" when I read this news...Are you kidding me!? Here's some thing to prove Takara is getting dumber :-

1) Box packaging - Seriously we cant even see what we buy!? I mean I know you can ask the store employee to open it but it will just be annoying for them and for us to have them open it up for each of the deluxes -.-...

2) Minicon building - Wow serious!? Now we even need to start building our own TF(s)? I am utterly speechless...

3) Stickers - We even need to put the stickers ourself!? Wanna know why I rarely buy gundams? Because I hate putting stickers. If you mess up just a tidbit it would look horrible on the figure -_-...

4) Overprice - So we pay for this figures with alot of money and let's see what we have to put up. Cant see the figure,we have to build the minicon ourselves and finally we need to apply stickers!?

Well it's official people. Takara is finally getting dumber than Hasbro. I totally didnt expect this to happen so soon...

PS : R.I.P Takara. You had your good moments. We will miss ya.

Wakarimasen...

The model builder in me is slightly intrigued by these, but to be honest, the sheer price of importing these figures makes it not really hobby material for someone like me who's barely making it paycheque to paycheque.
That said, all the official images still make these stickers look like crap.

I'm also really not liking how the characters' individual weapons available in the Hasbro releases are seemingly absent from these releases in favour of Microns who transform into something vaguely resembling the character's onscreen weapon. This poses problems especially for the types who dual wield.
Take Ratchet, for example. US Figure comes with two blade weapons, Japanese comes with one, granted that one is also a Micron, but if you want to have him with two blades, you either need to buy a second one, or wait to see if these things eventually do get a Micron Booster or similar release.

Takara, I'm all for a company taking a property they've been dealing with for many years and doing something different with it, but this whole thing just screams bad idea to me. I hardly think this is a move that's going to spell downfall for either the brand, or the company, but I just hope they get through this quickly so we can all forget about it, and move on.

BTW if you go to their facebook page you can see the rest of them unpacked and the stickers. Since the stickers are also a hot topic. People are discussing about:

1. Stickers
2. Weapons (Not coming with the Hasbro ones)
3. The port holes aka Craters

Even though Im getting all the Takara's ones, I feel that this is a missed opportunity for them too. Microns ftw though.

I'm a bit torn on the microns being DYI.

On the one hand, I buy so many unassembled figures already(wargames, Lego, Halo megabloks, Kreo), I feel a bit hypocritical for not liking the fact that I need to assemble them.

On the other hand, other than the aforementioned Kreo sets, it's not something I'm used to doing for my Transformers collection, so I fell like it's something that should have been done at the factory.

As for the sticker, IF I ever end up buying this Skywarp, he's ending up on the painting table between whatever batches of Skaven I'm working on at that time.

I kinda like the boxes and the idea of the stickers. That stuff really reminds me of G1, and I think that's what Takara was shooting for here.

As for having to assemble the microns, it's not a deal breaker for me. They look quite simple so it should be on par with building Fansproject's Superion armor to put it in combined mode (which was quite easy).

Call me an oddball, but I'm actually quite jealous of the Takara versions. My only complaint would have to be the sticker apps and that Megs is a deluxe... hopefully our Eastern brethren will get a proper voyager. That said, I LOVE the arms microns way better than the crap powerizer weapons our voyagers are getting (save for voyager Megs), and they are better alternatives to some of the weapons our deluxes got, such as Cliffjumper's engine gun/hammer. Bumblebee's and Rachet's look great to me even though they only come with one. And I actually love the idea of building my own toy... It'd be great if Hasbro released these later as a group or something.

Site sponsor Robotkingdom has provided another pictorial update on MP-11 Starscream Version 2.0. These images give us a look at the latest Masterpiece figure freed from his cardboard prison, and show off his new coronation set and mold modifications. Check out the images mirrored below, the figure is scheduled to start shipping on the 31st!

Seems somewhat different than what we saw in earlier pictures. I'm pretty sure the face wasn't this dark. Just comes to show you cant trust photo editing. Im also very disappointed to see there's no stand included for jet mode, lets hope some 3rd party company can step in and make that happen.

I'm liking all the little differences between this and the first version in addition to the cape and crown. I never used the stand myself, but I guess it's too bad it's missing. Ditto the more realistic missiles.


Still, all I have right now is the green version. The G1 colored version of that was just never different enough for me to go out and buy ... in that respect the iGear one was tempting. But this one is even moreso.

I wonder how this compares to their first prototype. The prototype for this version showed all new sculpted parts on an existing toy, so they must be different.

edit: for your consideration ... MP Starscream version 1:

http://fantofan.jp/news/mag/figureking/fk100-3.jpg
http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=5983

So it looks like it's mostly just the first version. Except for, maybe, the feet. Even the null rays look like they were from version 1 Starscream.

Great comparision pics between the original MP Screamer and the "New Leader". It's fun looking for all the little tweaks made for the new version, but I'm so glad we're finally getting a new pilot. I'm not too pleased with how the dome of his crown turned out, but I'm looking forward to getting this set in-hand.

MP-11 looks really good. Too bad it's not still available through amiami or I probably woulda bit at their 9530 JPY price...or maybe it's a good thing it wasn't available. Guess I'll have to wait for a BBTS sale or US release. It's just too bad they didn't do it this way the first time around...

Also curious if there's been any improvement to the wing hinge. Those pieces were too damn fragile on the other versions.

Also pt II why is Sunstorm cheaper than Starscream on yahobby.com? Weird...

WTF I thought the stickers where only for the Microns?!

Other than that and the lack of weapons I like everything about these, the packaging is awesome.

I may pick up some of the Micron boosters if they are also unassembled.

Definately looks like an improvement over the original MP figure. I'm sorely tempted by the glory of Starscream.

Is it me or does MP Starscream 2.0 look grayish in those photos?

Thats cool but not $150 cool...

ZenPrime wrote:Is it me or does MP Starscream 2.0 look grayish in those photos?

A little bit, yeah. He was never supposed to be white, the G1 toy is a very light grey.

I'm really impressed. So much that I wish I didn't already have MP-03 so I could justify getting this one. The remold is much more extensive than I expected. Interesting how they executed the null-ray attachment. I like the 'holographic pilot' too. I do miss the realistic missiles and the stand, but I feel the extras it does come with are nice. Perhaps the finish looks a little cheap compared to original versions of the mold, but that's a minor nitpick.

*sigh* One more MP I can't afford.

ZenPrime wrote:Is it me or does MP Starscream 2.0 look grayish in those photos?

It's not just you...nor is it just the photos. He is a light gray.

The tail fins hanging off the hips of mp3 starscream was awkward.. as were the pieces around the shoulders.. mp-11 is how starscream should have been made in the first place, with the fins as part of the legs..

i will say however that the paint on the mp3 takara starscream was superb.. it looked like battle damage / wear.. however one can say this looks more... cartoon accurate?

Huh, I really am liking the Takara Prime figures, but I can't justify paying 3 times more for figures I already have.

So... much... wasted... packaging plastic

Seriously, there is no reason for that much packaging. Put the cape behind Starscream, the shoulder pads and crown on the left under his wing and there you have it, about a third of it saved. That is where most of the cash is going to go for those importing him, the size of the box. As for the toy, I love how they handle the Null Rays, this is the first G1 Seeker that you don't have to unplug them to attach to the arm or wing. I still don't like the large pointed ends to the wings but I realise it was impossible to do otherwise. I'm not convinced this warrents a second purchase though. I'll wait till Peaugh does a review to see how it compares.

Here's hoping he ends up on sale in Argos for £20 like Skywarp!

Yeah, it's cool to compare the MP Starscream differences side by side. I love the pearly blue paint, which is consistent with the pearly paint job the other two seekers got. But I too am surprised with the dark face. I am hoping it is a lighting issue.

This is really nice update for MP Starscream, those kibble were gone and its more neat G1 accurate figure so far. Now, how much it will cost for that changes?

OK, yesterday I was really exited about buying MP-11, mostly because my MP-03 has a broken wing, but after these pictures I totally changed my mind.

It looks really cheap in these pictures compare to takara's ones.
It seemed to me that the red and blue colors were actually paint, in takara's pictures, but I see on this pictures that is only red and blue plastic.
And it doesn't come with his stand, I've been using the stand of MP-03 since the first day.

Well, I will use the money on the 1/60 macross frontier alto custom renewal version. Which I found some days ago in an store near my job.

I prefer to buy an used seeker (version 1) to fix the broken wing of my MP-03 and paint the other in some sunstorm color scheme.

Nice changes to MP Starscream. Definite buy if I didn't already have the US version.

Not really diggin' TakTom's approach to the Prime figures at all. Glad I am able to score Hasbro's...

WHAT!!!??? No space rubies embedded in a 14kt gold crown? For SHAME Takara!

In all seriousness though, I love these images. All the mold differences are awesome, and I hope they fixed the awkward neck/head ball joint too to increase head articulation.

I'd be bummed if there were no stand included if and only if the feet weren't remolded - it looks like we should be able to pose Starscream better now that all his weight won't be on those wobbly thrusters. I can live without good "in-flight" displays if we get better OVERALL posability.

Can't wait til TFsource ships mine out with my also long awaited Beelzeboss Goldbug Kit! Total win!

Trikeboy wrote:So... much... wasted... packaging plastic

Seriously, there is no reason for that much packaging. Put the cape behind Starscream, the shoulder pads and crown on the left under his wing and there you have it, about a third of it saved. That is where most of the cash is going to go for those importing him, the size of the box.

They probably did it to keep the standardized size of the MP boxes. Most of them have similarly sized boxes so far.

Mykltron wrote:Here's hoping he ends up on sale in Argos for £20 like Skywarp!

Please let me know if that happens!

I realize it's accurate to most animation, but I absolutely despise that the Decepticon logos on Starscream's wings end up upside down in robot mode; I'm considering replacing my present U.S. edition Masterpiece Screamer with iGear's Traitor simply so I can put the damned faction logos on it myself in a manner I find more pleasing.

(It wouldn't be quite so annoying if Hasbro hadn't decided to put the faction logos on the US MP Starscream oriented one way, and the US MP Skywarp the other, so it's really noticeable if you display them together.)

MP-11 looks good but I'm not sure I can say it looks "better" than the previous incarnation. I like the fact that the hip kibble has been removed but MP-11 doesn't have the sleekness that the other does IMO. I also don't care for the darker shade of gray on the face. Other than that, Im sold haha. I will be happy to have this in hand.