Pokemon 20th Anniversary Edition Nanoblock Review

It is not new by now that I have clumsy hands and some problem with spatial processing. That's right, I am one of those who can't assemble an IKEA furniture or Lego set accurately. Hands up if you can identify with me! 

Usually I will:

1. Get excited about an assembled product

2. Purchase a set for myself

3. Unpack the set

5. Sort out the parts

6. Attempt to assemble the set

7. Think that I have assembled the product

8.  Realised I have made a mistake or I have a missing part

9. Attempt to backtrack and/or look for the missing part

10. Sit in a corner of my house and weep at the unfinished product

BUT, but things are kind of different now. If you are following me on my Instagram (@sgtoydude) or this blog, you would realise that I have experimented with MOCs Lego sets and dabbled in bootleg brick sets. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, I believe I am now ready for greater things. Or rather smaller things. Much smaller things. I am now ready for Nanoblock! Or at least I think I am.

Anyway, I received the Pokemon 20th Anniversary Edition Nanoblock as Christmas present and I would like to review it!

Before I do so, here is a friendly advice on your first Nanoblock set:

A. Identify a stable surface to work on your Nanoblock set. Please, please do not build your sets on a bed. They are called Nanoblocks because they are really tiny!

B. Open the set to empty the content of an instruction manual and 2-3 packets of bricks. There may be more packets of bricks if the set is bigger or more complex. Try not to throw away the packaging as I found the visual reference extremely helpful.

C. Open each packet of bricks and sort them accordingly. Ok, just to be specific, sort them by shape and colour. We usually sort the bricks so it makes the assembly process efficient.

 

Sorted Nanoblocks

 

D. Like cooking, you don't dump all the ingredients at one go. So when you are following the instructions, it is effective to just select what you need for each step and focus on those. 

Pick out the bricks by steps

 

E. Take time to review each step of your build so you don't have to remove layers of bricks to correct a mistake. It is extremely frustrating to backtrack and correct a mistake with bricks so tiny.

F. Adjust the bricks to the right position. Unlike Lego, Nanoblock bricks have a tendency to slide along the groove. It's hard to visualise that so basically just make sure each piece of brick is tightly secured at the right position.

G. Don't panic if you find that you have many leftover bricks. As someone who started with Lego, I panicked when I saw the leftover bricks. Self-doubt will creep in and you need to stifle that voice. The toy company is just being thoughtful because it is no secret that tiny stuff go missing!

Pikachu!

Charmander!

Squirtle!

Bulbasaur!

This is where things get interesting. In the instructions, you are told to set aside bricks so you can log onto a website and key in the codes for a secret Mew building instruction! I am sure we can google for that but it was fun to manually visit the site and input the codes. 

Mew!

 

The beauty of the anniversary edition is in its faithful replication of the original Pokemon game sprites! Yes, they are rough on the edges and monotonous in the colour department but that's what fuels the nostalgia! I also appreciate the secret instruction gimmick because getting a special legendary Pokemon usually involves an external source apart from the game purchased.

I think by now you are also curious about how Nanoblock fares against Lego. Other than the tiny bricks, the assembly process for Step 1 is very tedious as it requires precision of alignment to add a layer of bricks over the foundational layer. The bricks tend to get moved around a lot due to the brick design and building process. You simply can't apply brute force to keep everything together. Some of the parts, like Pikachu's ears and tail, are fragile in its connection as they are connected very narrowly to achieve that slim and proportionate shape. They are certainly meant for display and not moved around during play.

Overall, I am very pleased by the amount of engagement available from such tiny sets. They are not too difficult but it is clear that they are targetted at mature brick builders.  What's better for me is the little space required for display. Connect with me to share your opinions and I certainly love to connect with other Nanoblock collectors. :)

 

 

To "cheong" or not to "cheong" (Part 2)

Previously, we discussed the rise of bootleg brick toys and possible reasons for Lego collectors dabbling in bootleg brick toys. Not too long after that post, we also received news that "the Lego Group has filed civil actions in China against the manufacturer and distributor of Lepin." (You can read up more at http://brickset.com/article/23648/the-lego-group-takes-action-against-clone-brand-lepin) Please check out the link and read through the comments posted by users as they are both informative and entertaining.

 

What goes behind the scene in the creation of Lego minifigures and sets that justify the prices we are paying? As a sucker of Lego encyclopedias, here is a non-exhaustive list of the design process for minifigures:

1. Brainstorming

2. Sketches

3. Designing

4. 3D rendering

And we are not even talking about set design process which requires much more work! Of course, we also have not mentioned licensing, marketing, safety tests, manufacturing, distribution and etc. In short, it is highly intensive and extensive for a series to be rolled out which racks up costs for the company and leading them to price their products accordingly. But then again, prices are debatable as they respond to demand and supply in the pursuit of profit. I mean no one is out to create toys just to please children and collectors. We can't be that naive.

 

So what really are the issues here? I think the issues here have to do with the need to  protect intellectual property and address the perceived value of the toys. The reality is that if majority of consumers go for bootleg brick toys, we will eventually lose newly designed sets because it is no longer profitable or incentivising for the company to design and manufacture new series. Duh! 

 

Lego also needs to address the perceived value of their products. Look, not everyone is going to buy encyclopedias to read up on your design process and appreciate the creative and laborious process (unless you continue to include awesome exclusive minifigures in them). Yes, you might have established an image of a premium brand and a cult following of loyal fans but such perception changes over time and location. The very fact that bootleg brick toys are thriving suggests something very wrong with the perceived image of the genuine products. Look deeper into the issues.

 

We also need to have a clear understanding of the differences in design and quality between bootleg and genuine Lego brick toys. Don't be afraid to expose bootleg for inferior quality! For example, are they durable like the genuine products? Are they toxic? Do the bricks hold well together? Are the printing good for play or accurate to design? Most Lego fans actually contribute to bootleg sales because they bought sets and figures to figure those questions out. By addressing these questions, you also safeguard casual collectors or buyers new to the product who can't differentiate the bootleg and genuine products. An official guide would really help!

 

By the way, since the post was first drafted, we have seen a race by bootleg companies to release UCS sets rapidly. Until the legal proceedings are completed, the bootleg sets will continue to gain exposure in the market, especially China, where the bootleg companies dominate. 

 

 

To "cheong" or not to "cheong"

To "cheong" or not to "cheong" (Part 1)

 It is no secret by now that some fans of Lego dabble in bootleg brick toys. Before hardcore fans scream blasphemy, let me explain more on this observation and some proposed reasons for this rising trend. Oh, by the way, to buy a "cheong" product is a local slang for getting a bootleg. I need to make a clear statement that I do not support bootleg products and I also do not purchase bootleg products for the purpose of resale. Any bootleg product purchased were done with the intention to understand the products in its quality and design in order to share that information with collectors.   

By now, bootleg brick toys have already established themselves in the international market. Initially, companies in China produced bootleg Lego minifigures from existing popular superhero licenses such as Marvel and DC. Later on, minifigures from other licences like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Minecraft were added too. Somehow, the opportunistic companies noticed that fans were keen on characters and variants of designs not produced by Lego due to licensing and branding issues. They went on to release "original" variants  and minifigures based on exclusive events as well. The introduction of small sets centered around adding accessories for minifigures such as the Hall of Armour for Iron Man and even weapon racks/stand for Lord of the Ring and Star Wars minifigures.  

In recent years, bootleg brick toys companies hopped onto Lego sets, mostly starting from Star Wars: The Force Awaken to other Marvel and DC sets. We also see sets based on Lego's retired and even existing sets. In short, the bootleg companies are going after sets, especially big sets that were sought after and at the end of the line for production.   

So what are some possible reasons for the rapid rise of the bootleg companies?  

  1. Advancement in technology for toy manufacturing   

From design to production, advanced technology were utilised to clone and customise existing designs to capture minute details and the companies were able to produce bootlegs close to the original design in large quantity, at a very low cost. They were also able to improve their products to the point which the current printing and quality of bricks are very close to that of Lego. Bear in mind they are not exactly the same in terms of quality, but still close and getting closer with each new release. 

  2. Responsiveness to demand   

Believe it or not, the buyers from China's domestic market can just be as or even more demanding than overseas buyers. Most of the toy seller earn by selling high quantity of product and they aim to receive positive feedback on online social sale/purchase platforms in order to chalk up more sales. As such, they do look into feedback from buyers to improve on the next product quickly. If you think about it, they can do so in such breakneck speed as they copied the design and only have to work on the manufacturing process as most feedback revolves around the quality of the finished product. Furthermore, once they know of popular character variants not produced by Lego, they will sweep in to design and release these variants quickly.    

  3. Improvement in accessibility to bootleg toys   

From Amazon to Taobao, we see that buyers are able to access online sale sites that were exclusive to domestic markets because of shipping. Mail forwarders and 3rd party purchase companies have stepped in to meet the needs and buyers can easily purchase bootleg toys without even stepping out of their home. Online sellers are also providing preorder services to consolidate orders for bootleg products so they can negotiate for bulk discounts and save on shipping costs.   

  4. Low prices   

In many asian countries, Lego products are sold by licensed resellers. I do not know how it works exactly but basically we are paying way above the retail prices for Lego bought in western countries. Furthermore, products reach our shores much later from the released dates and in very limited quantity. You can sense the frustration when you are reading this and understand how it plays out. Parents who do not know the brands and products well may just purchase bootleg brick toys because they are cheaper and readily available. What is the price difference? A bootleg brick set may be as low as one tenth of an authentic Lego set of the same design. And readily in stock.   

What about Lego fans? Do they buy bootleg brick toys too? This is where it gets interesting. I believe some do. Based on my interaction with some Lego fans, they purchase bootleg brick toys too.    

  A. Low prices   

Huh? Again? Lego collectors often view bootleg brick toys as inferior but the low prices allow them to buy the bootleg brick toys to experiment with them. Some of us can't bear to open the authentic Lego products because of the rising resale value in our market. Bootleg brick toys allow one to enjoy the process of building sets without opening the precious mint in condition boxes. You can also enjoy exclusive sets and figures without breaking the bank. With the release of EOL sets, fans of Lego can also get their hands of EOL sets that they may have incredible difficulty in hunting down.    

  B. Re-creating scenes for play and photos   

 As bootleg companies released variants not available from Lego, you can get hold of characters to re-create scenes for play and taking incredible photos that are closer to shows and comics. This is enough to make geeks wet their pants when the character hold a certain place in their hearts that outweighs their loyalty to a brand.   

  C. Improving quality    

Even at low prices, most fans of Lego still keep a wide berth from bootleg brick toys because of the perceived poor quality. It may hold true as the quality control is definitely not as good as authentic Lego toys. However, as the quality of bootleg brick toys is improving and online reviewers are providing detailed positive feedback, many are swayed to purchase them. Also remember point A and B?        

Conclusion 

While there are dedicated communities around the world who are loyal to Lego, much can be said for bootleg brick toys too. However, there are also those who are on the line, dabbling in bootleg brick toys with a clear sense of value and worth attached to the authentic and bootleg products. They don't mix both up and they certainly do not display bootleg because of the love, pride and value attributed to the authentic products. There are outcries among Lego fans for the company to do something about the bootleg companies but until then, we will continue to see them in the market. In the meantime, it does not mean I support bootleg brick toys. I think it is a wake up call for Lego to step up on their game and also do something quickly about their involvement with the asian markets and fans who are growing frustrated.

In the next entry, we will review some sets from a couple of prominent companies and compare them with authentic Lego sets too.      

 

Review- Titans Return Wave 1 Deluxe Scourge, Blurr, Hardhead & Skullcruncher

So, like I shared earlier, I do not have an immense wealth of knowledge and experience with Transformers toys and their long history. When I approach Transformers toys, I come from the perspective of an adult collector who appreciates the toys for what they are- the details on the molding, poseability, paint job, complexity in transformation, the quality of material used, and the value of money that I feel I get out of the fun derived from the toy.  

Based on the factors mentioned earlier, I need to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun that I got out of Transformers Titans Return Wave 1 Deluxes! What we have here are individual figures and characters that collectors can go for without shelling out a lot of money. Unlike Combiner Wars which requires you to get the entire wave to form the combiner, Titans Return is wallet-friendly as you can stop at any character/figure that you like. Of course, nothing is stopping you from getting the entire wave but you can always go slow and wait for them to go on clearance discount. It is better to have a complete character than to be stuck with a partial combiner! 

  Scourge

 

Scourge- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Fracas

 

Scourge- Alt Mode

 

Pew!

Blurr    

Run, Blurr, RUN!

 

Headmaster Hyperfire

 

Blurr- Alt Mode

Hardhead  

 

Hardhead- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Furos

 

Hardhead- Alt Mode

Skullcruncher  

 

Skullcruncher- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Grax

 

Skullcruncher Alt Mode

Without repeating too much of what have been going on online, the most significant problem of Wave 1 Deluxes are the gaps and spaces in the underside of the arms and legs. I understand that the space may be necessary to fit parts during transformation but at least cover them up properly! It is mind-boggling that most of the figures utilise thin plastic flaps to cover up parts in the key design of the series but they weren't consistently utilised. This flaw is pretty damaging as the figures look terrible from the side and let's not even look at them from the back. I can already imaging 3rd party companies releasing upgrades to plug the gaps.

On the plus side, the transformation of the figures were intuitive and fun! I will highly recommend this wave to children and even those who want to start their very own Transformers collection. The transformation of the figures were easy for someone like me who cannot follow visual instructions and I am sure most of you will fare better. The figures generally have good articulation for poses but were severely hindered by the gappy limbs.

The modern and updated design is a big hit for people who like the cartoon and comic designs too. Pretty sure this is a much better entry point for old and new fans than Transformers movie toys... But before I start ranting, I must say that the paint job on the figures were really clean and neat! The colour scheme stayed true to the G1 designs and before you go on to say that they are plain and bare, please note that stickers will be released to add details on the figures. A bit lazy? A cost-saving move? I don't know for sure. But I must say I am starting to grow fond of pasting stickers on my toys and I wouldn't mind if the quality is good. 

I just want to say that I truly appreciate the consideration of play and fun catered for the younger buyers. There is so much interaction available for the headmasters and figures in different modes. It's a good reminder we don't always have to pay exorbitant prices to 3rd party companies for the fun we can get out of toys. I am not against 3rd party products but I am strongly against what we are paying these days. Of course, that's about expectation that differs with people. Oh well, another topic for another post. Anyway, thanks for reading and keep a lookout for more updates on toys from same wave!

   

Our journey so far... On Instagram and blogging

Unknowingly, this blog has went beyond the 21st entry! While it is not a big number, it is a good time to take a hard look at where we are and how things are moving forward.

So about Instagram and blogging...

I am kind of hitting 1900+ followers on Instagram over at @sgtoydude, but what does that mean? Truth be told, it means a lot to me in terms of the connection that I have made with people since the account was created. My close circle of friends don't exactly support the toy collection as it is still viewed as something mature adults would not do. Much less having followers on  an Instagram account on toys. However, I really enjoy posting pictures of the figures that I have and going into discussions with collectors from all over the world. I did not enter the toy-collecting scene early like most of the other collectors that I have spoken to. I am also not in as many social media platforms and communities as some are. In short, I am a small-timer in the hobby of giants. You get the reference to giants? You know, like Transformers and giant robots? Anyway, many have been gracious and kind in sharing their advice with regards to maximising the enjoyment of toy-collecting when this hobby is extremely heavy on the pocket and time.

Blogging is a platform for sharing my thoughts and I know most people on Instagram don't read. Actually, I am also not too sure who visits this blog but the viewing traffic shows people poping by. Hopefully they didn't come over here by mistake. But the fun and kick of this blog is really just releasing the stuff that goes on in the head and verbalising them to people who are following that writer's voice. Erm, believe me, I am not crazy! 

Are you chasing after numbers?

Believe me, while I am incredibly flattered even with this number of followers and readership, I am not here for the numbers. It's about self-awareness. Repeat after me, self-awareness. We have seen young people going into social media and calling themselves 'social influencers'. Let's face it, I am not a somebody. I am just a regular dad who happens NOT to grow up in terms of his choice of hobby and I just managed to connect with like-minded people. 

Are people persuaded to buy something just because I took photos or wrote a review? 

Of course there were people who did that! In collecting terms, we call it poisoning. Does that mean anything? Nope! I am not given free products to review and I may probably not be good enough because I am not a somebody in the media industry or someone with having over thousands and thousands of followers. Does that bother me? Nope! I mean it's nice to receive free stuff. Who doesn't like free stuff? I have received gifts but mainly from other collectors that became friends. Do I receive perks? Kind of. Some discounts here and there from sellers and having sellers to help me to hold on to preorders. Some share my Instagram and blog with others.

Does that mean I rave about a product or toy shop?

Obviously not. I always try to appreciate the positive qualities of products or services. If it's bad, you will hear it too. We don't need to criticise a product in order to sound honest in our opinions. I just hate to be another one of those who rant excessively on your feed on a product or service.

So what's next?

In this day and age, it's not difficult to get followers and readers. I don't say that in a way which devalues my followers or readers. I meant it in a sincere way that acknowledges my insignificance in a industry where people actually make a living out of the pictures and blog entries. 

But moving forward, it's about posting pictures of toys I like and sharing opinions on toys and the hobby because I truly enjoy what I do. If free stuff comes along, why not? If it doesn't, I will still enjoy this hobby for what it's worth. It has survived a relatively long time compared to the many hobbies I had when I was growing up and it has taken up a significant part of my house's design (my wife and daughter has to live with that). 

I will continue to look at toys from a casual collector's perspective. Why? I think one of the main thing that puts people off toy-collecting is the immense amount of information online and the geeky community that may seem intimidating. Sometimes, it's the simple and concise information or opinion will help someone pick up a toy.

If you have something to share or question for me, feel free to connect with me over Instagram @sgtoydude, email or comment below! 

 

Review- Titans Return Sentinel Prime

The wait is finally over! Thanks to the community at the Planet Iacon - Singapore Transformers Fans Unite Facebook group, we have information that Titans Return Wave 1 has hit our shore last Thursday. Having reviewed the prototype/test shot of Blaster earlier, my interest for the series was piqued. From the pictures released online, the figure that had me all curious was voyager class Autobot Sentinel Prime with Infinitus. Before I go on, I know the same mold will most likely be used for Astrotrain, just as much as we were sure that Blaster's mold will be used for Soundwave. 

I would also like to address that because Hasbro Singapore does NOT send me stuff, these are independent opinions about the product. I don't rave about a toy for free products. I genuinely try to appreciate the works of others and I also understand that no product is and will ever be perfect. You are entitled to your opinions as much as I am entitled to share my opinions. :)

Front of the box

We are getting similar box packaging with those from Combiner Wars. Off the bat, you will notice the awesome box art of the headmaster Infinitus hovering above the torso of Sentinel Prime. This headmaster-hovering-about-the-torso artwork is consistent with other packaging design of the wave.

Back of the box

The back of the box provides a short description of Sentinel Prime and how Infinitus aids him in battle. I appreciate the simple summary of the transformations for the headmaster and different modes. It is also made known that you can purchase other bots from the same line to swop the headmasters around. Kind of like the swopping of limbs from Combiner Wars. 

 

Out of the box

I want to make it known that I do not enjoy removing the figure and weapons from the tray. It is a pain for an excited fan to cut the tough bands that were holding the content onto the tray. I am always panicky when I have to cut those bands with precision to prevent scratches on the paint. 

Bot mode

Sentinel Prime comes in the fiery-angel-of-justice shades of orange and red that seems to blind the enemies before he strikes! Jokes aside, the wings form a backpack makes him a little back heavy. The tips of the wings also hinder how far you can tilt the knees back when you pose the figure. It does help that the design of the feet allows you to tilt forward and backward which support the figure well enough for most poses.

Headmaster- Infinitus

 

Piloting!

 

Pew! Pew! Pew!

 

Headmaster Infinitus shares a striking resemblance to the overall design of Sentinel Prime. It is reminiscent of G1 Headmasters when you fold and unfold the headmasters to get them into the desired modes. Like I mentioned in the earlier review on Blaster, the fun part for children having this toys is the interaction you get between the headmasters with the modes and accessories! It is fun when your imagination can multiply the value of play with just a figure from the wave.

 

Shuttle mode              

The shuttle mode is a gem as it resembles the design of the Ark or other space shuttles in the Transformers universe. In the process of transforming this figure, I noticed that there is a similar design idea going on for Sentinel Prime and Blaster- Hasbro is heavily utilising plastic flaps to enhance the visuals of the figure without adding a lot of plastic in terms of volume. The plastic flaps help to cover gaps in different parts of the figure to ensure that they do not LOOK cheap and skeletal. This is a pretty smart move to hook children and most collectors as they can essentially nail the aesthetic of the figures without complex design in terms of molding and engineering. 

 

Space Train Mode?

 

This has to be the weakest mode of the figure. It's basically splitting the legs and turning the torso to straighten the arms out. And of course, unfolding of more flaps! I don't get the space train concept since essentially it kind of functions similarly to that of the space shuttle? One can argue on the physics on space travel or loading capacity for both modes but the space train mode is really redundant here. Or it's just disguising as a highly weaponised train on the railway? Erm. Ok...

  

Overall... 

This is not a sponsored post. I may like it more while some of you may absolutely hate this figure. We don't have to agree. I must still say that I stand by this figure despite of the weak train mode. I may even like this more than Blaster as Blaster's base mode hollowed the figure into a series of flaps. If you also look at the deluxe figures and leader class Powermaster Optimus Prime, there are lots of gaps in the under part of the arms in a cost-saving move.   It is highly inconsistent when Hasbro opted to use flaps to cover gaps and left the arms 'holey'. 

 

Updates!- 28/06/2016

This month has been a pretty busy month as my little girl is on school holiday. Like most parents in Singapore, you make the best of the school holiday to spend more time with your child during this period before going back to the hustle and bustle of routines. I was also tied up with hosting guests from overseas which meant less time for the hobby of collecting, reviewing or taking pictures of toys.  

If you are reading this or following me on Instagram, you will notice a shift in the subjects of the pictures. Yes, that's right! Lego! Before I go any further, I just want to make it clear that I am NOT abandoning Transformers! In fact, like other Transformers fans, we are eager for Titans Return! Having reviewed the prototype/test shot and actual product of Blaster earlier, my anticipation level is sky high. Like my rants earlier, I am running out of space at my home and the 3rd party releases are really not my thing.  Anyway, before I go way off topic again, here are some reasons why I am going into Lego even though I am late in the game:   

1. Minifigures are cute!

   

Disney Lego Minifigure Set

Yes, I know I started on my minifigures collection before this series but this has to be the strongest case for my point!    

 

2. Minifigures are easy to store and display!

   

Lego Minifigure Door Display

  

This is as space-saving as it gets for my toy display. My Transformers collection took up more space than this. And for the sake of my argument in case my wife reads this, we have received surprisingly awesome feedback from guests on this display. Hehe!   

3. Building Lego sets is therapeutic!

  

Ford Mustang

Here is a background to my history with building toys. I generally mess up when I have to build toys. I remember numerous projects when I was missing parts or the screwups with the stickers. I am also very bad with pictorial guides. Don't ask me why. I have no idea at all. But, I was pleasantly surprised that I had no such problem with Lego. In fact, I enjoy playing an episode of whatever show that I am following and work on a Lego build. Granted, the X-wing, Big Bang Theory set or even the Ford Mustang are simple, but I know it was a kind of a breakthrough from my fear of building toys.   

4. It is fun to use the minifigures and sets to tell stories!  

 

Captain America: Civil War

I am still learning the ropes on storytelling but I LOVE the works that I had come across so far on Instagram. I mean so long as you have the characters and bricks needed, the possibilities are endless.     

5. Connecting with a different fan base!  

 

Connecting with people!

I think one of the most enjoyable part of collecting toys is to connect with other toy collectors. It just make the collecting so much more fun and there is really so much to learn from one another.  If you are reading this, I would also enjoy chatting with you on toys! Comment below or follow me on Instagram! :)