Theres the 3 flagship characters, 1 mantis variant, 6 brain variants, and the all new pirate and frankenghost. Then theres suits for henshin toys, and the obake dog. and the SB Skull Kuns. Plus those bigger things I dont like thinking about. That's how deep SB rolls at the moment, and I'm cool with that. Pretty good for a company that is coming up on 5 years running. Why ask why, indulge or don't. Gargamel keeps it much more dynamic in terms of different characters and universes/themes. Might be the answer to shop around the different companies to fix the urge for sculpts than to knock one for what its putting out.

woah, I am not knocking anything. just asking what people think that is all. I come from a background of collecting variety and this is somewhat different in my experience. I see people with one figure with 10+ different variant colors. I just don't have the money to spend this way, and also worry that one day I will wake up and that figure would not appeal to me as much, then I will get really depressed

my mistake, comparing a catalogue of toys to a pantone color guide seems like you're calling them shitty. and 1 million variants is a bit of a hyperbole, which I took to be derogatory, because I just needed to count my fingers to wrangle all the variants that exist into mind. I get the feeling if I was like, yeah, they need more new sculpts I'd get a +1.
on a sidenote, I was making a constructive suggestion, humouring your biased question. Answering "It's just you" would've been the discourteous way of doing it. I was suggesting there is enough variety for most of the fans here, and aside from that, is there no essence to things? I mean what SB produces is what SB is for whatever its worth, Gargamel produces tons of shit, so I found SB/Gargamel to be invalid, and I know nothing of CCP/etc etc so I didn't touch on that.

not meaning to be negative... but if these will be producing different colorways after 2 years... I think that would be stretch it a bit. i respect gargamel and bounty hunter most for creativity.

Good, if they keep doing whatever do whatever it is you are gonna do whenever you're gonna do it. I love your "Bwana whats up you're cool but this particular toy sucks". I mean express yourself however you want but dont expect people to react positively all the time. 'Hi ma'am, I like your dress but your kid looks like a fucking monster' an opinion none the less, maybe its the truth, but there is taste involved in how you go about things.

I'd rather have 3 cool sculpts that come in a ton of different colors than have like 15 different designs.

as a matter of fact, every time toy companies keep making new sculpts, I usually like them less and less with each successive one. for instance, I'm not really a fan of the obake dog at all. and I only think the skull pirate is so-so. but I could look at a shelf full of skullbees in like 50 different colors all day long.

I do my best to avoid colorways, but I totally understand and agree with you. I think it's an issue of quality over quantity.

taste involved? you mean tact? i don't get your "example"

i love most of Bwana's work. not everyone likes everything an artist creates, each to his own. but can i not share this on a forum that is supposed to be open minded?

By your negativity and tongue lashing on this thread, your reply is hypocritical. Why do you jump to extreme conclusions?

i didn't like papastroyer colorway as much and I am sure others buy the colorways that they like, what would others think? maybe the pic on ebay didn't do it justice? Could you have said "But I love this variant, and here's a nicer pic that is truer to the real color, rethink?"

if being tactful is what you promote, then could have simply replied as saying I beg to differ instead of taking this abrasively. why do people on this forum always frown upon others who just share their opinion about toys?

i think Bwana would not take this in a bad way, no?

I never thought of it that way. But I guess I bought all the colorways of KAWS Pushead companion... so I understand what you mean.

So I take it Kidclam, that you basically woke up one day found your way here declared Japanese vinyl is cool and I want want want gimme gimme gimme without doing one bit of research on the companies or what is out there and what they have been releasing? Just declared yourself to be way keen on this new Japanese toy thing.
There is so much more to Jananese vinyl that what it looks like on a shelf. As Hottrod said, there is history and respect to what's gone before. There's craft. There is plain appeal.

Try looking beyond what it's worth and if it matches your decor today. Actually look into the toys you say your now a "fan" of. And I don't mean simply starting a new thread here.

Moriachi, it seems like I pissed you off, and given the replies you gave me on the other post that you are starting to be bias.

For the record, in Hong Kong there is not that much appeal for these figures, and toyshops do not sell them, well not yet. So we don't have stores like Super7, or magazines that talk about this. Or a community for this. I am following threads and asking questions as a "Fresh Meat" or whatever you want to label me as so that I can know where to find stuff to buy and collect. And this has spread the network of sites that talk about this. I am a fan of these figures, I spend hours on the internet looking for it, but I am not trying to prove anything other than looking for more info and asking questions.

I won't post any more stuff now, I'll just read. Sorry to be in your way boss.

I'm gonna buy Mori a drink!

give him a prize too while you're at it.

dude, i live in NY, and buy alot of my stuff from japan. i shop at S7 when i can, and guess what??? its on the other side of the country.


Most of us here get everything shipped from overseas. if i can get it from S7 (just becuase its there doesn't mean it has what you want, (much props to S7, but they can't please EVERY SINGLE collector, all of the time) i do.

international boarders don't mean much when it comes to toys.
unless you try to get them from cuba. LOL

you are living in dream land if you think its somehow easy just because you live in america (last i checked, we don't produce the desired toys here)

we have to be sharp on sources and watch like a hawk. just like EVERYONE ELSE.

taste? do I mean tact? First off, try and respond to my direct criticisms of what you wrote and how you could possibly intend for it to represent your 'true' feelings on the subject. I stick to my first two posts, because the post that started this thread is not looking for opinions, its meant to be provocative.
I can't speak for Bwana, I don't know him, but you tell me why he cares that you like Steven and aren't too hot for the 'stroyer? How is it different from my analogous comment to a lady with an ugly kid? Why should someone care what you think? Do you find people like you when you give them a positive and a negative off the bat?
SB needs new sculpts, Bwana needs to stay away from Stroyers. We need to agree with you, or bronze your dissenting opinion because its totally valid. Even though you refuse to use the search function on this board to learn something about JP vinyl.
+1 to anyone that said anything to the effect of like something for what it is and don't think about it too hard

Are you serious?!!!!!!!!!!
It's about the money ! Why would a company want to go to the expense of sculpting a new toy, make new molds, packaging and marketing when all they have to do is issue a new seductive colorway using the same old mold to a ravenously hungry mob who think nothing of dropping $100+ on ltd color variants....You can't tell me that nobody's noticed yet that you're all buying the same toy over and over again ?
Go vintage ! The price of vintage is now so close to what some of these new vinyls are going for, there's no excuse not to get into the old stuff. When you buy vintage you're buying history . The new stuff ? you're buying marketing.

Is it envy? I feel like this is Quiz Show and some people "just watch the money". If the toys were $1 would it be different? It may be that $100 is an aggregious amount to some, but I'm buying the toys, not buying the price tag. How do I get them for less than everyone else is buying them for? I'd buy them if they were $1. I won't stop buying them at S7's price, regardless of increase, because increase in price is just another way to divvy up limited goods. After manufacturing, importing, taxes and all that bull the money is very modest. I firmly believe S7 and SB both are not in it for the cash. There is an endless variety of far more lucrative jobs than toy manufacturing/distributing.

for me, the reason I don't really collect vintage even though I LOVE most of those characters, is because of condition. most of those toys were opened and played with because you know, they were toys and kids had at them. with the new stuff I buy, I really try to always buy brand new or at least in just opened condition. I recently sold a very sought after piece because I bought it and recieved it and it had a little scratch in it. but most bullmarks and the like I've seen are all faded and missing paint and banged up (for good reason), but I can't necessarily get past that.

I know I'm a weirdo, but if I'm paying that much money for something, I want it to be as close to perfect as I can. also, I honestly think I have slight OCD.

Ummm, Skylar . . .
I think we all do or else we wouldn't be here. Incidentally, I'm the same way w/ toys - that's why my friends' children are closely monitored when they come over. Weird and selfish? Perhaps. But that's just me.

Skylar-
Ever hear of MIB vintage ? There's tons of vintage toys out there that are perfectly mint in condition. But you've got the OCD right on the money... Most of us seem to suffer from it, (myself included) It is an obssesion ! And those savvy marketers have tapped right into it.
Deemranks.
Hate to disillusion you... It is about the money, it's called business.
Ltd issue ? a limited toy is only limited by the number of pieces the manufacturer dictates. The limited "cache" of these vinyls is imposed upon you by the manufacturer and or vendor and is a completely controlled artificial inducement.

I like multiple colorways, I like good sculpts and new sculpts(if they are good).

I dont like shitty colorways of shitty sculpts.

Akumaizer, I'm not going into the metaphysics of creation with you, you gloss over that if the commodity doesn't connect with the prospective buyer, no transaction takes place.
So if they produced colorways/variants for several years, then their audience increases many times almost overnight, and they keep on keeping on, what gives?
I think of business as something more substantive than jp vinyl, like what Carnegie, Gates, Noriega et al. are/were engaged in, the stuffed governed by Anti-Trust laws and Rico.
Vintage vinyl, while taken out of its original context nowadays, was the stuff of real marketing, businessmen who tried to get it in every household in Japan as well as Hawaaii, tv shows, spinoffs, etc etc. like the state of shonen type manga, were every feasible angle of marketing is covered, cereal included.

in response, I personally don't often see vintage stuff for sale MIB. maybe I should start looking because I would certainly like some of it!

as far as the second point and it being a business, I can't deny that it is. I can't deny that the creators of these toys probably want to make some money off of it (wouldn't you?) or at least break even. what's wrong with them wanting to get something out of it when they put a lot in and it's often a 2-3 person operation at most?

as far as it being artifically controlled, I can't argue with that either. but it's no different than the concept of designer clothes or any other kind of item sold at a "boutique" it's limited nature and elusiveness is part of the appeal, at least to some people. many people get a thrill out of having something that not anyone else can easily get - it might seem silly that they feel special from that or something, but such is the case. I don't see there being anything wrong with that. would I still like these toys and buy them if they were large production runs? yes. do I think it would be as fun and as special? probably not.

but I also don't necessarily see that as being a money issue. it's usually on the secondary market when things get crazy. most of these toys sell for pretty reasonable retail prices in Japan, it's just because we either have to get them second hand or through a store that has to pay shipping and taxes and whatnot on top of it, so there is considerable mark up.

but when I spend $200 on a hard to get Secret Base figure, I'm pretty sure the same 7500 yen or whatever went to Secret Base and the rest went to some auction sellers pocket.

but then again, I don't always have a problem with that or else I wouldn't be willing to do it.

at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter to me (or I think to many here), whether or not the companies are making lots of money off of us. I personally hope they are, because then they'll probably keep doing it and making more toys for me to enjoy, which is the important part, I enjoy it, whether they're barely scraping by or they're buying brand new cars.

Well here's a couple more of my two cents....
Vintage vinyl was produced for the masses, and was produced for children to be used and enjoyed by children, not adults.
The major difference is that many of these toys are now being consumed by adults, and as much as you might disagree, are elitist in nature. (yet another of its attractions) The original (now, vintage) toys were first and foremost cheap and crude facsimiles of kaiju that could be viewed on TV shows and in movie theaters, they weren't priced out of the reach of their intended audiences. Weren't priced at a premium that precluded actually playing with them, scuffs and writing on the feet be damned! These things were meant to be played with first rather than simply "acquired".
Vintage Bullmarks and the like weren't astronomically priced, nor were they released in bazillions of colorways, and even adjusting for inflation the majority of vinyls released these days simply don't warrant the price (IMHO) and more importantly (to me anyway...) there's no history, no soul, to back any of it up. It's all pastiche, a lot of the clear vinyl toys that are produced these days are a direct homage to cyborg vinyls and Henshin/Shonen Cyborgs of the 70's, they look cool, are cool, but where's the history ?
I can only think of one vinyl toyline that could possibly come close to this (dont laugh, ah... you're going to anyway..... My Little Pony... how many freakin' my little ponies are there ?! Bazillions ! how many molds are there...what, 3 ?.....What does an average my little pony figure cost retail ?
Perhaps they should release a clear my little pony with paper and pipe cleaner inserts and call it my lil' cyborg....

so Akumaizer, i assume you don't have any M-1 or Marmit toys?
I dunno but i wouldn't mind having all the variants of the Chibull Seijin or the Matango - specially the M1 - just to list a few
call it artificial indulgement or marketing or elitism or whatever you can't deny toys are so damn cool.
and i love vintage stuff as well.