Thanks to Gundam Guy (among others) we now know the Master Grade line will receive a Hyaku Shiki 2.0 and while that's quite great it does bring up some thoughts. First though pictures.
Slated for this coming May this new model kit will retail for 7,344 Yen or roughly $61.41, of course anyone expecting to make this purchase should expect to spend $70 or more. Based on early scans it appears the Hyaku Shiki ver. 2.0 will come with one beam rifle, two beam sabers, one beam bazooka and the Ballute System to mimic atmospheric reentry. This combination of accessories don't on their own justify the kits price and suggests that like the very first MG Hyaku Shiki this will also be a gold plated kit. If so this better be 100% undergated or all my excitement for this probably $75 kit will go out the window.
While Hyaku Shiki 2.0 is pretty awesome news it is a bit on the befuddling side. The announcement of this kit suggests Bandai are going to focus on the re-release of previously released kits, which is probably a direct response to the recent and still pending Japanese tax hikes. Honestly speaking this isn't a bad idea for Bandai, as there are a number of older kits that deserve an upgrade and this strategy allows the company to focus on producing kits guaranteed to sell.
However, if Bandai were going to re-release this kit and charge such a lofty price for it, why not release the Banshee Norn and Banshee Final Battle Ver to the masses (to say nothing of the Talgeese exclusives)? If the intent is to maximize profit it serves to reason that mass producing as many versions of those high demand kits as possible would be to the company's benefit? While I'm sure there are business decisions behind this strange behavior, I'll be darned if I know what they are. What say you readers anyone out there know or think they know the reasons? Sound off in the comments.
Slated for this coming May this new model kit will retail for 7,344 Yen or roughly $61.41, of course anyone expecting to make this purchase should expect to spend $70 or more. Based on early scans it appears the Hyaku Shiki ver. 2.0 will come with one beam rifle, two beam sabers, one beam bazooka and the Ballute System to mimic atmospheric reentry. This combination of accessories don't on their own justify the kits price and suggests that like the very first MG Hyaku Shiki this will also be a gold plated kit. If so this better be 100% undergated or all my excitement for this probably $75 kit will go out the window.
While Hyaku Shiki 2.0 is pretty awesome news it is a bit on the befuddling side. The announcement of this kit suggests Bandai are going to focus on the re-release of previously released kits, which is probably a direct response to the recent and still pending Japanese tax hikes. Honestly speaking this isn't a bad idea for Bandai, as there are a number of older kits that deserve an upgrade and this strategy allows the company to focus on producing kits guaranteed to sell.
However, if Bandai were going to re-release this kit and charge such a lofty price for it, why not release the Banshee Norn and Banshee Final Battle Ver to the masses (to say nothing of the Talgeese exclusives)? If the intent is to maximize profit it serves to reason that mass producing as many versions of those high demand kits as possible would be to the company's benefit? While I'm sure there are business decisions behind this strange behavior, I'll be darned if I know what they are. What say you readers anyone out there know or think they know the reasons? Sound off in the comments.
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