I owned 20th Anniversary Prime (the good one with battle damage, not the cheap orange fiasco with the talking base) and truly enjoyed him more than the MP-01. I also bought the JustiToys trailer, and it was fantastic as well, and I would have been fine with keeping it, buuuut....

 

Sadly, I lost my TFs, but when the chance to replace Prime came up (and I had to, I mean, come ON), I opted to buy MP-04. It was EXPENSIVE. $330 on eBay, and that was after watching prices. This was about 6 months ago. I got my original 20th Anniversary Prime for about $60, put the quality chrome replacement stacks on him for about $15, and got the J-i-T trailer for about $70. In my opinion, Hasbro/Takara should have released it to begin with, so I was fine with giving J-i-T my money for stepping up and delivering quality material. So I originally spent roughly $150 for the same thing that now costs over twice as much with scalping prices... but what's a nerd to do?

 

The J-i-T trailer is also painted better, but the MP-04 is painted with more detail. The rear wheel area of the J-i-T trailer is blue, while the official one is gray. In my opinion, if you already have the MP-01 or 20th bot, get the aftermarket trailer and pass on MP-04.

 

And honestly, I prefer 20th Prime over MP-01 anyways. I don't like the gray gun, and I think the battle damage actually makes the knee joints look more genuine and realistic.

 

The communicator art is different on the robot, that's about it from MP-01 to MP-04. And no battle damage, if you have 20th Anniversary Prime.

 

I've not had any QC issues, but I've found that the chest doors on MP Prime gets a little more misaligned the farther down the production chain due to mold deterioration. I trust Takara's quality generally though, and I have all the MPs except for MP-02 (and no longer have MP-01/20th Prime, but vouch for their awesomeness). I even like Greenscream for what he is, although it does irk me that the colors were so off. Between MP Skywarp and MP US Starscream, Skywarp's paint apps are much classier and detail-oriented, and that's thanks to Takara.

 

The MP-04 can be found for $250 all day long, and i've been watching them lately myself as you can find them for $200-220 a LOT lately. It's the only MP I don't have, and while I like the JIT trailer, I think the takara trailer will be the one that is the actual standard - so I'm probably going to give in and get it. I'm just not in a hurry and i'm having fun trying to find it for $200 or under. It pisses me off, because I coulda had it the other day for $190, but I was out with the family and got home 2hrs too late to put the bid in. Someone got it for $183. DOH!

 

I did just recently give in and get the MP-02 also. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. Paid too much for it at $250 -- but that's it's market value right now. Heck, outside of $330+ scalpers that are out of the country - you can't even find the darn thing right now.

 

I don't have the 20th Anniv prime tho - I have the MP-01. When given the choice between hasboro and takara, i've mostly gone with takara. It just seems like an odd-ball, that doesn't fit in. In fact, I just recently ordered the G1 colored Starscream also - but it was only because they came out with the Takara version - even if it is pretty much the same thing. At least it now fits in the line, instead of just being an oddball. The 20th Anniv is tempting because of who he is, and the difference of battle damage, but so far - i've passed.

I've actually grabbed all of the Masterpieces, which means I have MP-01-MP-06, 20th An Prime, DVD Prime, and WalScream. And I don't regret it one bit, I amost went ahead and ordered the Japan USA Edition WalScream, but determined that it wuold be as redundant as grabbing the Aussie Target Ex MP-02 Magnus...the only difference being a sticker on the outside of the box, and as picky as I am, it wasn't enough to decide it was a "different" toy.

 

MP Prime x4 - MP-01, MP-04, 20th, DVD Ed.

MP Magnus - MP-02

MP Starscream x2 - MP-03, WalMart MP Starscream

MP Megatron - MP-05

MP Skywarp - MP-06

 

...eagerly awaiting the MP-07 Thundercracker, and would kill to get a new mold. We had been getting 2 MPs a year, but the way things are looking, Thundercracker is going to be our only offering to the MP line this year. I want MORE!!!

The MP-04 can be found for $250 all day long, and i've been watching them lately myself as you can find them for $200-220 a LOT lately. It's the only MP I don't have, and while I like the JIT trailer, I think the takara trailer will be the one that is the actual standard - so I'm probably going to give in and get it. I'm just not in a hurry and i'm having fun trying to find it for $200 or under. It pisses me off, because I coulda had it the other day for $190, but I was out with the family and got home 2hrs too late to put the bid in. Someone got it for $183. DOH!

 

I did just recently give in and get the MP-02 also. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. Paid too much for it at $250 -- but that's it's market value right now. Heck, outside of $330+ scalpers that are out of the country - you can't even find the darn thing right now.

 

I don't have the 20th Anniv prime tho - I have the MP-01. When given the choice between hasboro and takara, i've mostly gone with takara. It just seems like an odd-ball, that doesn't fit in. In fact, I just recently ordered the G1 colored Starscream also - but it was only because they came out with the Takara version - even if it is pretty much the same thing. At least it now fits in the line, instead of just being an oddball. The 20th Anniv is tempting because of who he is, and the difference of battle damage, but so far - i've passed.

 

Yeah, I was jumpy and bought the MP-04 when it wasn't rereleased to the AU market. Personally, I do think it's the best package deal, and I would have probably gotten it before if I hadn't bought the single-Optimus by himself. I still can't understand why they couldn't include roller, I'm sure it was tied up in costs somewhere, but I don't see why we didn't get it. That is my ONLY complaint about MP-04. I am miffed that I overpaid for it, but at least I still have it. It's the way to go if you can afford it.

 

I'm glad Takara finally released the full vehicle, despite being about a year and a half late. I don't think they anticipated people's dedication to Prime's trailer.

 

And one thing I don't get: WHY did Japan not adopt "Optimus Prime" as a name? It's probably one of the most badass names in toy history, and they call him "Convoy"?

Because Convoy is Japanese for Optimus Prime! :P :)

 

P.S.: If you're asking why the Japanese never called this toy "Optimus Prime" in the first place back in G1, there are a few reasons for that.

1/ "Optimus Prime" doesn't roll off the Japanese palate as well as Convoy does. Japanese is phonetically a lot simpler than English, using primarily syllabic consonant clusters (Japanese has approx. 110 phonemes whereas English has 1800+). A typical Japanese speaker would pronounce "Optimus Prime" (four syllables in English) as 「オプティマス・プライム」/o'pu'ti'ma'su/ /pu'ra'i'mu/ (nine syllables in Japanese!). Convoy on the other hand in Japanese would be 「コンボイ」 /ko'n bo'i/ (four syllables in Japanese). Aside from having less syllables, it just rolls off the tongue easier in Japanese.

2/ "Optimus Prime" sounds cool to speakers of English and other languages with a significant Latin influence because we can recognise it as meaning "the first and the greatest." Japanese isn't rooted in Latin, so the impact is somewhat lost on most Japanese kids.

3/ The original Diaclone toy for Optimus Prime was called "Battle Convoy," so 'Convoy' was kinda taken from that. The "Battle Convoy" name was later used for Laser Optimus Prime in G2. :) But speaking of which, G2 Gobot Optimus Prime was actually called Optimus Prime in Japan - all nine syllables of it! The live action movie (and toyline) in Japan also retained all the characters Anglophone names instead of their Japonic names. e.g.: Optimus Prime is called Optimus Prime instead of Convoy and Bumblebee is called Bumblebee instead Bumble, Jazz is called Jazz instead of Meister etc.

 

But Masterpiece Convoy is based on the G1 Optimus Prime character, who in Japan was always called Convoy - so it makes sense for them to retain that name. Just as it makes sense for Hasbro to call this toy "Optimus Prime" for their market.

And knowing is half the battle.

 

I sit next to a Japanese guy at work, who isn't really into Transformers, but we actually carry on similar discussions about Japanese/English differences. Both being designers, he's found that the differences in the language makes it vastly different to design typography in Japanese than in English. Has to do with the differences in characters, etc. Which is one reason why a lot of Japanese design still has English in it, apparently?

 

I still think "Convoy" is a less-awesome name, and odd that the Japanese couldn't come up with something a bit more awesome. Or settled for "truck" as his name.

I mean, Megatron is still "Megatron" after all... And sounds quite badass no matter what language it is spoken in.

 

I assume "Autobot" doesn't translate, so that's why they're "Cybertrons", and the "Decepticons" are "Destrons", but I also find it weird that both factions are from the same planet, yet the good guys are the "Cybertrons" and the bad guys something else. In the US, they're both Cybertronians.

I've actually grabbed all of the Masterpieces, which means I have MP-01-MP-06, 20th An Prime, DVD Prime, and WalScream. And I don't regret it one bit, I amost went ahead and ordered the Japan USA Edition WalScream, but determined that it wuold be as redundant as grabbing the Aussie Target Ex MP-02 Magnus...the only difference being a sticker on the outside of the box, and as picky as I am, it wasn't enough to decide it was a "different" toy.

 

MP Prime x4 - MP-01, MP-04, 20th, DVD Ed.

MP Magnus - MP-02

MP Starscream x2 - MP-03, WalMart MP Starscream

MP Megatron - MP-05

MP Skywarp - MP-06

 

...eagerly awaiting the MP-07 Thundercracker, and would kill to get a new mold. We had been getting 2 MPs a year, but the way things are looking, Thundercracker is going to be our only offering to the MP line this year. I want MORE!!!

 

 

I've got MP-01 and MP-02 jsut came in the mail today. For someone who hates Ultra magnus, he is quite impressive. I have resolved that I will get the MP-04 - he is just plentiful enough that I'm in no hurry. I'm hunting for a MISB deal. I want to get him for under $200 with s/h. lol He can be gotten for $220 all day - I really shouldn't care about the $20 (which I don't) it's just a reason to delay after having spent so much on TFers this past month. LOL That way I can actually justify it in my mind, when I save.. *gasp* $20. LOL.

 

I am not so sure I can talk myself into the Hasboro 20th Anniv Prime or the DVD prime tho. I'm not a prime collector - just the MP line, and consider that to be more so the TAKARA line. Thus MP-01 and MP-04 are the only real MP primes "to me."

 

Due to the 'battle damage' who knows - i might get weak on the 20th Anniv Prime eventualy - but I havn't heard a compelling enough arguement at all for the DVD prime.

Oh, except for the stand, which I'll admit could be cool to display on, DVD Prime is almost KO quality to me.

 

The colors, the lack of the chroming, the blue gun... Sheer ass.

 

I think I had a soft spot for 20th Anniversary "battle damaged" Prime because my girlfriend got it for me and it revived my passion for Transformers (about the time I got Alternator Smokescreen, perfect timing for both lines), but I'll admit I do like the "shading" that the knees have. I never liked the stomach blast, but the shoulder scorch marks made sense. I kind of like Prime having some wear and tear on him.

 

But I'll also admit, having MP-04 rocks too. It was worth over-paying for it. MP Prime was actually rated as #1 toy the year it was released, I believe, and it should have been (Either way, it was rated #1 toy at some point). It was 20 years in the making, and totally worth the money put into it.

Which is one reason why a lot of Japanese design still has English in it, apparently?

It's because Japanese people see English as an exotic foreign language. They don't really care what it means. :P Kinda like some Westerners who like the look of Chinese or Japanese script, but may not care about what it means.

 

For example, imagine walking around wearing a T-shirt that read: 「私のホバークラフトは鰻がいっぱい」, especially if you slapped some generic animé looking character and chopper flames with it. Most folks might think it was a pretty cool exotic looking shirt. All the while completely oblivious to the fact that your shirt reads

"My hovercraft is full of eels." :P

 

 

I still think "Convoy" is a less-awesome name, and odd that the Japanese couldn't come up with something a bit more awesome. Or settled for "truck" as his name.

I mean, Megatron is still "Megatron" after all... And sounds quite badass no matter what language it is spoken in.

Beauty is in the eye, or in this case the ear, of the beholder. :)

"Optimus Prime" sounds cool to an Anglophone ear and palate, but for the Japanese it's "Convoy."

Megatron just happens to appeal to both Anglophone and Japonic markets. Pikachu is called Pikachu in both Japonic and Anglophone markets, but many other characters have different names. e.g.: Koduck is called something like "Psyduck" in the English version.

 

And the same thing happens to a lot of animé that is brought over to Anglophone markets - we also change names too.

e.g.: Astroboy's original name in Japan is Atom.

Tranzor Z --> Mazinger Z

Usagi --> Selena (Sailormoon)

Satoshi --> Ash (Pokémon)

Tenshinhan --> Tien (Dragonball Z)

Mach Go! Go! Go! --> Speed Racer

Space Battlecruiser Yamato --> Starblazers

Dairugger XV/Hundred Beast King Go-Lion --> Voltron

Gatchaman --> Battle of the Planets/G-Force

 

And let's look at how Hasbro changed a lot of Japanese TF names when they brought them over for the Anglophone market. I'll use CR vs RiD as an example (as it was a franchise that originated in Japan first):

+ Fire Convoy --> Optimus Prime

+ God Magnus --> Ultra Magnus

+ God Fire Convoy --> Omega Prime

+ Gigatron --> Megatron (I personally don't see why Gigatron couldn't have worked for the Anglophone market)

+ Mach Alert --> Prowl

+ Shuttler --> Mo-Vor

+ Wild Ride --> X-Brawn

+ X-Car --> Crosswise

+ Brave Maximus --> Fortress Maximus

+ Artfire (whose colours are a homage to G1 Stepper, G1 Artfire's Targetmaster counterpart) --> Hot Shot (G1 reference lost)

+ J-Five, J-Four & J-Seven (their names are references to their alt modes, e.g.: J-Five transforms into a Nozomi 500 bullet train) --> Railspike, Midnight Express & Rapid Run (no alt mode references in their Hasbro names)

 

...the fact is that Takara and Hasbro will decide on what to name their Transformers based on what they think would be more appealing for their respective markets.