SEED continues to hold on to that love in Japan. This is why we're getting a Providence kit next instead of an IBO Master Grade.
IBO makes sense, because it's good and new. "New" tends to win lists unless its bad.
First, G, and 00 are too high. 8th MS is too low. Zeta needs a spot. I'd probably go with 0083 too
yusss 0083 needs to be on there. i need that rg gp-02a... someday....
looking at history of sales in japan, most hero merchandise sell well and non hero merchandise become shelf warmers.
IBO MG will come out but i believe bandai is a master at marketing and will use IBO's hero popularity to strengthen interest in weaker lines and introduce new lines to milk it before pumping out a MG
i doubt bandai could convince anyone sane to buy a $150+ hi-resolution Barbatos kit if a cheaper MG version was available. but starving people from MG and releasing ultra popular hero mech in an expensive kit line that bandai wants to sell, impulse crazies might bite.
thank you P-bandai for manipulating us all the time with those little silly weapons and effects.
within the same reasoning:
MG Justice needs to come out but Bandai teased Justice while simultaneously announcing MG Providence. Providence needed be released first being it wouldn't do that well being a non-hero kit and wouldn't sell on it's own. but if they tie it to a hero kit announcement they have an chance to gain more interest.
i hate Bandai for this but it's been working on me and alot of people:
Bandai would take the most popular item, print 300 copies and then wait 3-5 years to reprint them. in-between, fans who missed the initial run will wait for an announcement on a reprint, bandai introduces less popular items which get maximum exposure bc people are hanging on bandai's every word for a reprint. by the time bandai finally introduces a reprint, they got so many new sales of other items from the same line that would normally be shelf warmers. this is coming from a huge collector of Metal Build Gundams and Bandai Macross.
if anyone has been keeping up with the Metal Build line: MB
F91 is coming out this May. everyone wants this but i heard bandai limited the distribution severely... it's going to be a bloodbath to get one. the thirst is real. congrats to those who were able to pre-order one successfully. amazon cancelled mine.
Seven Sword has never been reprinted and commands 700 bucks.
00 Raiser Trans Am is 2,400 bucks!! damn you bandai... reprint these please!
