The latest Gashapon news...

Alongside Converge, Mobile Suit Ensemble continues to stand strong. We have several new announcements on the Gashapon blog today. First out is the reissue of the very first retail set, which should be a welcome announcements for people who jumped on the train along the road. While you can still find some of the figures on the secondary market occasionally they are currently priced in the 2500-3000 yen bracket. Considering also that you may want to get a couple of the RX-78 figures to build and display the various G-P.A.R.T.S. configurations that you can build from the set. I expect these to sell like hot cake. The lead designer writes on the blog [as translated through Google]:

"イベント会場での限定販売でもない一般商品で行列ができるなんて普通あり得ないですからね・・・。5年たった今、シリーズが続いていることも、同じ値段で展開していることもすごいことですが、それだけこのシリーズが多くの人に愛されているという証拠でもありますね。この10年で値上げ・タイトル変更・仕切り直しなどがないシリーズはこれだけじゃないでしょうか？ちなみに、このシリーズ、もともと人気高かったですがシリーズがある程度円熟してきているにもかかわらず13弾以降ずっと伸び続けているちょっと異例なシリーズなので、まだまだ成長中という恐ろしいコンテンツだったりもします。"

"It's usually not possible to have a line with general products that aren't limited to sale at the event venue. Five years later, it's amazing that the series continues and that it's available at the same price, but that's proof that this series is loved by many people. Isn't this the only series that hasn't had price increases, title changes, or repartitions in the last 10 years? By the way, this series was originally popular, but even though the series has matured to some extent, it is a little unusual series that has continued to grow since the 13th bullet, so it may be a scary content that is still growing."


What follows next is a really strange paragraph where the corporate claws come out for all to see. Consider the following statement:

"ここで、少しだけネガティブな話もしておきたいのですが、モビルスーツアンサンブルは弾を追うごとに伸びているまだまだ成長期！なブランドです。最近は出荷もかなり増えてきており、ユーザーもどんどん増えてきている状況で海外でも大人気になってきており、ブームと言ってもいいくらいの非常によい状況ではあるのですが転売等々の的になったり、それに伴うトラブルもちょこちょこ見受けられるようになってきております。一部状況に関してはそろそろ看過できないなという部分もあるのでそのあたりに触れておきたいと思います。

MOBILE SUIT ENSEMBLEはカプセルは大量生産、高価格品もPBでなるべくご予約いただいた方すべての方が手に入るように生産キャパをしっかりとって～という形で転売等がなるべく成立しない生産環境を整えて展開しております。その中で通常弾のマシンによるカプセル販売以外の転売（詰め替えによるセットや袋単位での転売）が非常に目立ってきており、それによるトラブルも増えてきております。

バンダイとしての通常弾の公式な商品は「ガシャポンマシンによるカプセル販売」「箱売り商品のネット・店頭販売」のみとなっております。カプセルに関してはカプセルマシンでの販売品として各版権元より権利許諾を得て販売しており、商品卸先の代理店様へもマシンでのカプセル展開のみで販売をお願いしております。中身をばらして販売したり、セットにする、袋にまとめて売るといった弊社の想定・許諾外の販売とそれに付随したトラブルが増えているため、ここでアナウンスさせていただきます。

ここで、少しだけネガティブな話もしておきたいのですが、モビルスーツアンサンブルは弾を追うごとに伸びているまだまだ成長期！なブランドです。最近は出荷もかなり増えてきており、ユーザーもどんどん増えてきている状況で海外でも大人気になってきており、ブームと言ってもいいくらいの非常によい状況ではあるのですが転売等々の的になったり、それに伴うトラブルもちょこちょこ見受けられるようになってきております。一部状況に関してはそろそろ看過できないなという部分もあるのでそのあたりに触れておきたいと思います。

MOBILE SUIT ENSEMBLEはカプセルは大量生産、高価格品もPBでなるべくご予約いただいた方すべての方が手に入るように生産キャパをしっかりとって～という形で転売等がなるべく成立しない生産環境を整えて展開しております。その中で通常弾のマシンによるカプセル販売以外の転売（詰め替えによるセットや袋単位での転売）が非常に目立ってきており、それによるトラブルも増えてきております。

バンダイとしての通常弾の公式な商品は「ガシャポンマシンによるカプセル販売」「箱売り商品のネット・店頭販売」のみとなっております。カプセルに関してはカプセルマシンでの販売品として各版権元より権利許諾を得て販売しており、商品卸先の代理店様へもマシンでのカプセル展開のみで販売をお願いしております。中身をばらして販売したり、セットにする、袋にまとめて売るといった弊社の想定・許諾外の販売とそれに付随したトラブルが増えているため、ここでアナウンスさせていただきます。"

"Here, I would like to make a slight negative story, but the mobile suit ensemble is still growing with each bullet! Brand. Recently, the number of shipments has increased considerably, and the number of users has been increasing, and it has become very popular overseas. It is a very good situation that can be called a boom, but it is a target for resale etc. It is becoming more and more common to see troubles associated with it. Regarding some situations, there are some parts that cannot be overlooked, so I would like to touch on that.

MOBILE SUIT ENSEMBLE mass-produces capsules, and secures production capacity so that all those who have made reservations for high-priced products as much as possible can get it. We are developing. Among them, resale other than capsule sales by normal bullet machines (resale by refilling set or bag unit) is becoming very conspicuous, and troubles due to it are increasing.

The only official products of Bandai's regular bullets are "capsule sales by Gashapon machine" and "online and over-the-counter sales of box-selling products" . Capsules are sold on capsule machines with permission from each copyright owner, and we ask distributors of product wholesalers to sell capsules only on machines. We are announcing here because there are an increasing number of unanticipated and unlicensed sales such as selling the contents separately, making them into sets, and selling them in bags, and the troubles that accompany them. Please note that Bandai cannot provide support for purchased items other than the official sales method.

There are some people who are reviewing products as if they were purchased from regular distribution, such as "wholesale sales", but each distribution sells products as products for sale on machines. There is no such sales method on the legitimate route . We do not support such products for sale.

We are receiving more and more inquiries, such as when you purchase one bag, only a few MSs are included, or because a specific lineup has been removed, so we would like you to replace it, but please understand that we cannot respond. We kindly ask that you do not purchase any resale items other than the officially sold items.

This kind of sales method has a greater impact than the act of reselling so-called over-the-counter purchases , and it clearly damages the series, sales floor, and distribution. For example, we do not allow resale, but if an individual reseller buys up, the goods sold at the store will flow to the store and then sold and digested, so profits will be generated at the retail store as well. I am. Of course, because it is profitable, retailers do not narrow down orders, but purchase and develop products after considering measures, etc., and if sales are strong, we will increase the number of purchases for expansion. On the other hand, when it comes to reselling sets and bags like capsules, it is an act of seriously rounding each sales floor and sucking up all the shares of agents and retailers who replenish the products. Yes, if this becomes rampant, each agency and retail store that is seriously developing will have to reduce the purchase quota and the expansion at the store. It will also affect the expansion to rural areas and detailed sales floors. There are some parts that we have not dealt with, and there are environments where we have not completely crushed them, but we do not accept any resale activities as Bandai, so we purchase from the official sales method so that many people can enjoy the product. I would appreciate it if you could."


I will stay my tongue this time, but I think that Bandai might do well to consider the plight of their would-be customers, especially those poor sods overseas that they do not care about... :)


Moving on, we do have a couple of interesting new releases on the horizon. First out is EX36 which is a planned double pack containing the GP02A Physalis and the Xamel. This will be a great release and I am hopeful we will see these crop up in Converge +Plus before long too. We also have a teaser picture of the Full Armor ZZ Gundam with no further comment, perhaps we can see a FAZZ too?


Stardust Memory is currently making waves across all the figure lines. While I have mixed feelings of the same figure being released more or less in parallel across Converge, Mobile Suit Ensemble and Senshi Forte I won't complain as long as the series keeps going. Speaking of Senshi Forte, turns out the series hasn't given up the ghost quite yet:

We already saw the Wing Gundam Zero and now Senshi Forte 15 will feature the Wing Gundam together with the Gundam Epyon. It will be interesting to see if they manage to squeeze in a Leo into the mix. Apparently work is already underway on Part 16 as well, so let's hope the series will stay alive.


Lastly we are reminded that pre-orders for Mobile Suit Enseble EX35 closed today... I wasn't even aware of it being a thing. I really wish you wouldn't havre to thrawl through multiple sources to find release information. The figure itself is one of those massive Advance of Zeta designs, the TR-6 Queenly. I hadn't heard of this design before but it looks to be recycling parts of the TR-1 Gigantic Arm Unit figure from last year.

Gundam Converge SB : SCV-70 White Base

In spite of the difficult situation on the pre-painted figure market the Gundam Converge brand seems to thrive and grow. The last couple of years have seen on average around fifty different figures released each year and the series show no signs of stopping so far with 20 something announced for 2022 already. On top of that, 2021 has also seen the introduction of two off-shoots from the already diversified Converge product family. The larger +Plus figures debuted in January and in August it was time for another premier; the Converge SB or Space Battleship series.


I am really curious (and honestly a bit skeptical) about how this new SB brand will be developed. The White Base was already released "in-scale" in 2018 as a gargantuan toy that I had zero interest in buying, but the new pocket-size SB concept really appeals to me. I had no idea what to expect from this first release so it was with a bit of excitement that I dug into the box.


The dreary (and honestly rather flimsy) black and white box itself looks like a bland Converge CORE P-Bandai thing which leads me to believe that the volume Bandai expected to sell must have been quite low. The P-Bandai price of ¥4950 certainly doesn't help either. Inside we find two bags of parts protected with some extra bubble wrapping and of course the Shokugan chewing gum.


While I didn't know exactly what I was going to find I did let out a little sigh of disappointment when I realized that this is not going to be a classic soft plastic Converge figure. No, it is one of those model kit-crossovers made in sturdy hard plastic. This is of course is great for maintaining crisp and straight detail on things like fins and guns but one of the charms of the Converge line has always been the soft and chunky aesthetic and this is something a bit different. Notice by the way how the parts are numbered on the runners but there is no assembly introduction leaflet included (or printed inside the box) which seems an odd thing to skip. The photos from different angles on the box still make assembly a quick affair but it seems to me like a really curious omission.




I have to give it to the designers, this figure looks great. There are some imperfections in how some of the parts line-up but as a whole that has always been part of the Converge experience. I am not too thrilled about the stand to be honest, the figure is simply laid to rest upon it meaning it will fall off as soon as you begin handling or moving it. I would much have preferred a simple peg hole in the bottom of the hull compatible with the already perfected Assault Kingdom action bases which would have given you a lot of freedom in determining how to pose it. Right now the White Base will sit perfectly level on a large black base. I would have thought a clear base more prudent, especially if you would like to elevate it to sit above your mobile suits figures for example. Oh well, you will get to figure that part out yourself.


The colour applications - often enforced through parts-separation - is great, the underside of the hull is even better looking than the top-side. The rich detail will be a good starting point for people wanting to panel-line or further repaint the model.


Check out the nice detail on the bridge section. The sculpting work on this figure requires some real appreciation.


We have a couple of gimmicks and options to go through as well. Beyond the opening and closing hangar bay doors (on both sides) we also have some option parts for the various armaments carried by the Sphinx-like White Base. Each of the two yellow circular hull sections can be posed with its Twin Mega Particle Cannons exposed or closed. In addition, each cannon sits on a peg and can rotate horizontally. On the ship's "forecastle" we have options to deploy its main 580mm twin gun as well as six of the ship's twin-gun AA emplacements.


In addition to the option parts you can also remove the side panels from the two hangar bays for a look inside. A lot of effort has been spent on the detail of the hangar bays and they look absolutely superb.


With all the attention to detail inside the mobile suit hangars - even including repositionable shackles for the mobile suit's feet - it seems an odd choice not to include even the simplest of mobile suit figures to go inside. I mean even a tiny rigid all white Gundam figure would have gone a long way and I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to paint them up. I guess maybe if the SB series takes off we can look forward to a CORE metal color version with mini-figures for twice the price...


Conclusion

I am not yet sure what to make out of the Converge Space Battleship series. As far as I am aware there hasn't even been any announcement of a possible next ship in line? It wouldn't at all surprise me if sales are weak (especially considering the rather steep price) and that the SB series will disappear quietly into the night but I do hope we will see more of it. For now, I would treat this as a one-off novelty item and plan accordingly.

Bandai Spirits / Banpresto Mobile Suit Gundam Lalah Sune

This will be a quick one. I recently got my hands on one of the latest Bandai Spirits/Banpresto Gundam-themed prize items. Not sure what is up with the dual branding, I thought Banpresto was transformed into Bandai Spirits? Anyway, as you can see from the rather sparse packaging it is simply labelled "Mobile Suit Gundam". Being a prize item this would typically be found in the local arcade and we have a blue JAIA logo on the top as well indicating claw machine use. The box doesn't feature the typical cut-outs on the sides for the machine to grab on to but perhaps the machines are more sophisticated these days...


The Lalah figure is made available in two versions. The A version in standard colours and a B version named the "Glitter" variant and is supposed to mimic Amuro's vision of her. Sounds more like a cheap marketing trick if you ask me. I will be quite content with the standard version only so the alternate figure will not be seen in this review.


According to online sources the figure was apparently released into the arcades in mid-October and I have seen multiple copies over at Mandarake already, typically selling for around 1300 yen. The Lala figure is apparently supposed to spearhead a new line of prize figures so it will be interesting to see what might follow, hopefully something more interesting than your stock Amuro and Char for the umpteenth time.


The character design is quite old and simplistic and this makes for less complex parts. As you can see this is really basic, the figure comes fully assembled and includes a really bland circular base and a support for the lifted leg. The latter is useful if you intend to display the figure for longer durations to keep it from warping but for this photo session we won't need it.


Simple character designs can present a real challenge for a 3D-modeller to properly capture its soul but I think this sculpt is done well. A big flowing one-piece doesn't exactly make for a lot of interesting detail and the seam lines at the sleeves are a bit distracting but the face, neck and hands look really crisp. Not sure what is up with that blank stare though...


Apart from garage and resin kits there are pretty much no figures of Lalah Sune save for a few really small and old Gashapons. That fact alone coupled with the low price makes it a great opportunity to fill that slot in the line-up.

Mobile Suit Ensemble EX 30 : O.M.N.I. Boosted Man Team

2021 has seen a string of excellent Mobile Suit Ensemble releases, both in the basic retail sets and the EX-line. Out of all of them this is the set I had been looking forward to the most. By a large margin. While we are drowning in Freedom and Strike variations we very rarely get to see much of the extended Gundam line-up from the Cosmic Era. The set was released under the Premium Bandai program in August with a very intimidating price tag of ¥9350. On the other hand, Bandai wants almost ¥5000 for a Strike Freedom or Gundam Virtue alone, but for this crazy money you really expect something special.


The peculiar "Boosted Man" designation on the cover is seen in Gundam media here and there. What is referred to is a crew of experimental pilots that have undergone special training and conditioning, including medical implants, somewhat akin to what would be called cyber-newtypes in the Universal Century timeline. Referred to as biological CPUs each of the O.M.N.I. pilot team is paired with a particular experimental mobile suit from the Earth Alliance's second generation designs. The machines have wildly different profiles and characteristics and feature some of the best looking mobile suit faces of all time.


While the Earth Alliance finally got their mobile suit program up and running the task of piloting these new war machines proved taxing for the average pilot and so the Biological CPU research is aimed at increasing pilot skill, aggression and survivability in battle. The first generation test crew, whose personal records have all been deleted, are entering battle in a strange mental state and are all highly addicted to Gamma Glipheptin. Pilots are administered these drugs in smaller doses to ensure their cooperation as the withdrawal reaction is extremely painful.


Besides the superb front cover the packaging style also does a nice little nod to the title cards of the mobile suits as the show up in the television series introduction.


As usual the box is jam-packed with contents and an instruction that has to be folded to fit inside. The basic figures are all very typical standard Ensemble figures although they feature some special parts that take up a lot of room and three large bases.




GAT-X133 Calamity Gundam


The Calamity is of fine pedigree, tracing its root to the GAT-X100 series which includes the Strike, Duel and Buster. While the previous three are pretty traditional designs the Calamity has larger energy cells and new Trans Phase Armor that increases flight duration compared to the weaker Phase Shift Armor of the first generation machines. Like its predecessors the machine lacks flight capability and its pair of 125mm Beam Cannons give it excellent long range and anti-air capability. Hidden in its chest sits a 58cm high energy cannon "Scylla" that keeps any would-be enemies away and the loadout is rounded out by a hand-held 337mm Bazooka.


The colouring of the components is overall quite nice. I would recommend filling in the gaps in the chest armor to make its 3-effect stand out well. The shield could also benefit from some yellow paint for the three thrusters that sit around its top side, I may go back and try to paint it later. The back-mounted Beam Cannons are of course very heavy but I had little problem having the figure stand upright without a base but any dynamic poses are of course out of the question without a base.


The Calamity is piloted by Orga Sabnak, stage two enhancement implants. He is the de-facto team leader of the trio although no semblance of structure or organization can be traced as each pilot more or less acts at his own discretion. Like the others he turns into a crazed monster on the battlefield, recklessly and carelessly spreading destruction around him. In his spare time he can be seen relaxing with a book in hand. Apparently he has a soft spot for young adult novels...






GAT-X252 Forbidden Gundam


The Forbidden Gundam has a very different profile compared to the Calamity. While its frame is based on the GAT-X207 Blitz, the Forbidden trades the Mirage Colloid stealth system for a sophisticated and highly effective energy deflection armor that makes the machine extremely resilient since it simply can shake off both physical and energy attacks. Its weapons are still just as brutal. Besides the terrible Nidhoggr scythe it also has access to pair of 88mm Railguns and a backpack mounted Plasma Induction Cannon. The suit needs to transform into its High Speed Assault Form to access these more powerful weapons and lacks any powerful handheld ranged weapons.


Some really nice components for the Forbidden here. The two sub-arms for the shields take up a lot of room in the box compared to how tiny they are when assembled.


The Biological CPU for the Forbidden, Shani Andras, is at the stage four implant level which presumably makes him the most attuned (or messed up) of the pilots. His personality is reserved and brooding and he usually prefers and he seems to live inside his head disconnected from the world around him, often with a pair of headphones shutting out society. His fighting style somewhat resembles his personality traits in being less deranged and more deliberate.


Spotting the Forbidden Gundam in its mobile suit mode is actually quite uncommon. This typically only happens when the machine is landed on the ground or not in need of its ranged weaponry.


The transformation of the Ensemble figure into the High Speed Assault mobile armor mode involves removing the head and then tilting the backpack forward over its shoulders and then re-attaching the railguns to face forward. It works quite well although the figure can't really match the flair of the 2D animated figure with its graceful limbs and freedom from actual mechanical constraints. :)


It is difficult to recreate the Forbidden Gundam's iconic sweeping scythe or shield wall but I think the Ensemble figure works well and does accomplish what it sets out to do.






GAT-X370 Raider Gundam


I saved my favourite for last because oh man, do I love the Raider. Its X300-series designation places it in the highly transformable family of the GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam. Designed for high speed and maneuverability in atmospheric flight its name implies the mission profile of the machine, striking quickly and decisively and then dodging out of harm's way. The Raider also has a really cool blue variant called the GAT-333 Raider (Full Specification). The X370 is supposedly a semi-complete form of the Full Spec machine lacking its large wing unit. The Full Spec Raider hails from the SEED-MSV line and can be glimpsed briefly in SEED Destiny sequel.


While its colour scheme is less spectacular than the other two machines it has stylish red trim on various parts of its body. Two external weapons are included; the dual barreled shield cannon that attaches to the side of the arm and a peculiar semi-ranged melee weapon in the form of a spiked mace attached to a long anti-beam coated controlling cable. Its more menacing high energy weapons are usable only in mobile armor mode.


The Biological CPU of the Raider Gundam is the completely psychotic stage three implant level Clotho Buer. He is truly insane and lives for the fight. In his spare time he keeps the adrenalin flowing playing shoot 'em ups on a portable gaming console. Like the other pilots of the Boosted Man trio his given name refers to one of the 72 demons described in the Ars Goetica. It would appear that O.M.N.I. has completely erased the identity of these men. Clotho Buer's file as well as the Raider make a cameo appearance in SEED Destiny when Z.A.F.T. raids the Lodonia research facility where the earth alliance is developing its Extended program, which is a further refinement of the process seen in SEED. And on a side note, why Athrun Zala reacts when seeing Buer's face on a monitor I don't understand, surely the two never met?


I just want to take another moment to point out that Buer and Raider have an awesome combined animation of their respective faces, you can really see how the two have become one. The Raider also has by far the coolest Gundam face in general. :)


Deploying the Mjölnir Spherical Breaker. A rocket-boosted steel ball that can punch through even Phase Shift Armor. The long control cable has protective coating that enables it to be used as a shield by spinning it really fast like a helicopter rotor (ok, this is really dumb). The Ensemble figure can either store the unused mace on the front skirt or equip it to a handlebar. We get a fairly generous length extension bar to represent the cable when the weapon is deployed, enough to create some interesting dioramas at least.


The beast weapon of the Raider however, is its Zorn short-range 100mm high energy cannon which fires from the mobile suit's mouth. This is just insanely cool and I think Bandai missed a trick here. I would really have liked an option face plate and a glowing effect part, here I am messing about with the METEOR beam saber accessory and a pair of unfortunate Senshi Forte Z.A.F.T. mobile suits.


In mobile armor mode the mobile suit leans forward transforming into a bird-like form. Its two enormous claws normally stored on the side skirts swing forward and down and resemble birds legs but each claw also holds an Ahura Mazda short range Plasma Cannon for additional fire-power. The double barreled cannon seen on the suit's right arm in mobile suit mode somehow ends up on the left arm after the transformation, not really sure how that works.


Transforming the Ensemble Raider figure into its bird-form involves removing the arms and keeping the shoulder components only, which are then attached at a 90 degree angle. The claws are repositioned forward and the head has an extra peg hole at the back so that it can be reattached facing forward. It looks kind of strange when viewed from the side but looks alright head on. You can of course attach the head facing downwards as well. The action base has an extra stand with a shaped peg tilted 90 degrees to allow the figure to be lying flat in mid-air. A second smaller stand is intended to prop up the head but I had trouble figuring out exactly how Bandai intended for it to work so I just left it out as it is not important for a quick photo shoot anyway.


Two bonus pieces are included to emulate the pair of 76mm machine guns that deploy from inside the Raider's shoulders. I'd hate to maintain this thing as it looks insanely complicated.


Since the Calamity Gundam lacks flight ability the Raider is designed to carry it on its back into the combat zone. This can also be achieved with the Ensemble figure. While it would be difficult to balance a figure on the Raider's small wings and back a small extra stand is included to connect the two figures together via the standard action base peg hole on the Calamity. You should be able to use this for other mobile suits too of course since these are standardised components but be careful not to damage them since they can be quite fragile.


I have to say that the look of the two Ensemble figures piled on top of each other looks a bit uncomfortable, especially when you know how mean the real 2D version looks. Due to the tall base of the Raider it also becomes a bit tricky if you want to set up a battle scene since the opponent will also need to be propped up from the ground quite far. After the review I just switched my Raider back into mobile suit mode and from that it will never again stray.







As usual I do not like the large footprints provided by the Ensemble action bases so here is the designated place in the review where I whine about those a little bit. When possible, I always look at options based on the very dynamic Assault Kingdom stands which allow for an incredible range of poses and can be combined to create larger bases for multiple figures at once.


And yes, speaking about fragile parts. The special base for the Raider's flight mode is very thin and sits very tightly in the socket of the mobile suit. Even though I tried to be really gentle some amount of force will have to be applied to get the damned thing out again and after gently wiggling it in small movements the plastic snapped and lodged inside the socket. Absolutely useless design and I can only thank the small fortune that I do not want to deploy the raider in its MA mode again because that would have made me furious.






Conclusion

In spite of a few annoying things - mostly to do with the bases - I find the O.M.N.I. Gundam team a superb Ensemble release. Since all of the machines operate highly destructive energy weapons a couple of translucent effect parts would have made for a really nice inclusion (oversized V2 Assault-Buster energy shield I am looking at you...), they don't have much in the way of hand-held equipment after all. Considering their high price I wonder just how many units have been made compared to more popular mobile suits so I wonder if this set will become a bit of a rarity, so I wouldn't sleep on it for too long.