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Shin ATproof
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:10 am |
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Good lord.
The Gunbuster/Diebuster movie prices are still an eyesore.
Yeah, I hope this union will lead to a future reduction in prices for Gunbuster, Diebuster and Super Robot Wars some time down the line...a moderate reduction would suffice. |
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Zin5ki
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Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 2185
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:25 am |
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| abstract-alchemist wrote: | | Bandai Ent. must learn from the liquidation of Bandai Visual that the sales model in Japan does not work here. |
Agreed. It would be strange if Bandai Ent. couldn't still profit from these classic series if they sold them at their competitors' prices. |
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melonbread
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
Posts: 314
Location: UK (London)
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:10 am |
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| Well it looks like Gunbuster 1 might get a re-release (probably WITHOUT the edits). I don't know why Patlabor isn't there though - that was apparently one of the very best BV releases quality-wise. |
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CCSYueh
Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 1913
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:39 am |
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| Quark wrote: |
Yes, but I don't live in Japan. As such, I am used to R1 pricing. Other companies are releasing series, with six episodes a disk, that cost on average about $10 less than what Bandai Visual is trying to charge for two episodes a disk. Not only that, but Diebuster has no dub, and no extras. In comparison to other R1 anime DVDs, this series should cost about $25 a disk - MAX.
When I can buy a 26 episode series that has a dub, that has extras, and possibly an art box for approximately half the price of what Bandai Visual is charging for 6 measly episodes, no dub, no extras, and no art box, I'm going to gripe. |
This is what I've never understood on the whiners side.
If I want to eat a plate of Tony Roma's ribs I'll be happy with a McDonald's McRib sandwich because it's lots cheaper?
Why should I buy...Girls Bravo or some other title I have NO interest in just because I can get the WHOLE SET for under $50? I've been wanting Haruka for ages. The owners want $30 a pop for it, I can get that down to $20, of course my choice is go for it or not. It's their bat & ball. They set the price.
Why are you all treating all anime as if it's interchangeable? I can get a season of Supernatural for about $35. I paid $75 to get Brisco County. So what if I could get 2 seasons of Lost for that price? I don't watch Lost. Why would I buy it JUST because it's cheaper? I want Brisco. I want Supernatural. I'm not going to buy Bones just because it's on sale this week for half off, ooo. I'll wait for the best price on the titles I want.
Champagne tastes on a beer pocketbook? |
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Xenofan 29A
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 374
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:42 am |
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Diebuster's DVDs did have extras. In fact, they were much better than those on most anime DVDs. And again, the comparison to TV episode prices is irrelevant. Or at least, it should be. OVAs should cost more money. Higher quality is worth more, and one episode of Diebuster has more frames of animation than two episodes of a lot of anime TV series. The FLCL DVDs were a good way of pricing OVAs for an american market, but people complained anyway. I'll admit that $40 is a tad pricy, but $30 would be absolutely reasonable. And after discounts at Rightstuf, that's what I paid per disc anyway.
On the other hand, I have complained, and will continue to, regarding most of BV's other pricing. While it's still lower than the Japanese, their prices on TV series and movie discs were not sold at rates I consider reasonable. I think that the prices on the Patlabor movies along with both Gunbusters were just fine. |
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Crawly
Joined: 19 Feb 2006
Posts: 204
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:04 pm |
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| CCSYueh wrote: | | This is what I've never understood on the whiners side. If I want to eat a plate of Tony Roma's ribs I'll be happy with a McDonald's McRib sandwich because it's lots cheaper? |
You're missing the point. BV's overall quality isn't so much better than their competitors that it's worth the extra money to the majority of people. You're also using two extremes as examples when the reality is actually somewhere in the middle. Also, for a lot of folks the lack of a dub for no discernible reason other than BV's arrogance, coupled with low episode counts, makes BV's releases the McRib sandwich and Viz's Naruto Tony Roma. No, the shows aren't always interchangeable, though sometimes they are. Let's face it, Haruka is a Fushigi Yugi wannabe and FY is the better of the two. Haruka is just more "been there, done that." Doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable, but it does make it more interchangeable than some other shows. Other shows that can be had for a low price, good quality, and a high ep count per purchase.
But I'm all for gouging the folks who will pay these prices for a first run of discs. Just so long as they put out reasonably priced releases later down the line for everyone else. Which is what I see happening now that BE has taken over. |
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bglassbrook
Joined: 29 Aug 2006
Posts: 529
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:27 pm |
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| Crawly wrote: | | But I'm all for gouging the folks who will pay these prices for a first run of discs. Just so long as they put out reasonably priced releases later down the line for everyone else. Which is what I see happening now that BE has taken over. |
Right, though I am interested to see what they do with it in another year, by which time I hope the brand becomes more an extension of their own rather than just continuing as BVU-Classic. |
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CCSYueh
Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 1913
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:37 am |
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| Crawly wrote: |
You're missing the point. BV's overall quality isn't so much better than their competitors that it's worth the extra money to the majority of people. You're also using two extremes as examples when the reality is actually somewhere in the middle. Also, for a lot of folks the lack of a dub for no discernible reason other than BV's arrogance, coupled with low episode counts, makes BV's releases the McRib sandwich and Viz's Naruto Tony Roma. |
Naruto is better than Demon Prince Enma?
Naruto is better than Super Robot Wars?
Sorry, I'm in the Bleach is better than Naruto camp & I say SRW & Enma are both Prime Rib compared to Bleach's Philli Steak Sandwich. (Naruto is a kids meal)
I'm talking the content of the original product as I pointed out between Lost & Brisco County. SRW & Haruka are titles I pined for due to the killer VA cast, but never expected to see on these shores. Since I've been looking forward to the killer Japanese Voice Actor casts, I could give a rat's rear if these are dubbed any more than MB dubbing yaoi (a lot of the VA's in yaoi also pop up in SRW & Haruka. Rai in SRW & Akram in Haruka is Ryotaro Okiayu who was also in the 2nd volume of No Money. Kouki Miyata is in Haruka & Bleach as well as a good amount of yaoi. Takehito Koyasi is in SRW, Bleach & a lot of yaoi. Toshiyuki Morikawa is in SRW, Bleach & a lot of yaoi. Shinichiro Miki is in SRW, Haruka & a lot of yaoi...I probably would only listen to a dub if it were an English cast I liked & it would be after listening in Japanese as I did One Piece-Kappei Yamaguichi is in One Piece, SRW & some yaoi.)
So I'm saying the basic product of Naruto is more akin to McDonald's which I find bland & flavorless. THe sauces add all the flavor to their burgers just as the English Dub adds a bonus to Naruto. I put buying Naruto on hold around box 4.
| Crawly wrote: |
No, the shows aren't always interchangeable, though sometimes they are. Let's face it, Haruka is a Fushigi Yugi wannabe and FY is the better of the two. Haruka is just more "been there, done that." Doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable, but it does make it more interchangeable than some other shows. Other shows that can be had for a low price, good quality, and a high ep count per purchase.
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I will admit Akane was a tad annoying with her Moses "I'm not all that" bits this time out, but she has yet to reach Miaka's pigout annoying levels & we've yet to get the endless "Miaka!" "Tamahome" exchanges. We have yet to see half the Guardians drooling over Akane yet.
Let's face it, you obviously like Watase. I have learned to stay away from her stuff--it's hard because she does draw nice guys but I know I will be so pissed off I won't be able to finish the story by the half-way point so I fight all urges to get involved with any more of her stuff. Tamahome always gets the girl.
Let's face it-Fushigi Yugi is just a take on the Hakkenden story which is far, far older. One can even argue it is a variation on Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs only the Dwarfs are now guys, mostly hot.
Let's face it, we're getting more character development much earlier in Haruka than we did in Fushigi Yugi. Was Nakago anything more than a big bad manipulator until very, late, almost the end? Have we already-first dvd, learned Akram's people were shunned & ridiculed making the battle between the ignorant racists residing in the capital & the minority "demons" far more realistic?
I don't want other shows.
If I want Haruka, I should settle for Fushigi Yugi? (I do have all of the animated Fushigi Yugi, though) If I want Angelique, I should settle for some other crap someone licenses? I was sort of hoping since Haruka & Angelique are both Neo Romance titles that if Haruka sold well, they might consider Angelique. So because I want Angelique, I should settle for Petite Princess Yucie because it's a similar plot? Why would I settle when Yucie is in no way, shape or form close to the VA cast & character designs of Angelique?
| Crawly wrote: |
But I'm all for gouging the folks who will pay these prices for a first run of discs. Just so long as they put out reasonably priced releases later down the line for everyone else. Which is what I see happening now that BE has taken over. |
Realistically Bandai can't drop prices now. Some of us have already pre-ordered this stuff so they'd lose money plus it'd be somewhat disrespectful to drop the price now.
They might do that 2 yr deal they do with their other titles so that in another year Enma might drop.
On the other hand I netted myself an extra 3 hrs sleep because I was able to drag the teens away from Comic-con last yr at 10 or so instead of staying for the 1AM showing of Enma 2 nights running & that had to be worth the extra $10 or $20 per dvd. |
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Strephon
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 176
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:15 pm |
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| Teriyaki Terrier wrote: |
We are in a bad recession people, I don't expect prices to drop, I see them to increase instead. |
If no one's buying a product because it's too expensive, increasing prices won't help. The more people can afford a product, the more potential sales there are, and the reduced profit per unit can be more than offset by selling more units. (This is especially true in this situation, where dropping prices would be a sign of goodwill that would help overcome the grudge many hold against BVUSA.) |
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GATSU
Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 8419
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:32 pm |
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Xenofan: | Quote: | | Doesn't anyone complaining about the price for Diebuster here know that the entire thing would have cost $300 in Japan? That's $50 per episode. |
Yes, and Advent Children with the Red Statue and the Madhouse anime was almost $400, but we still got the anime for $50. What's your point?
| Quote: |
And again, the comparison to TV episode prices is irrelevant. Or at least, it should be. OVAs should cost more money. Higher quality is worth more, |
It's debatable whether Diebuster would be considered higher-quality, and not just a cynical cash-in. But, assuming yhour argument is correct, shouldn't they be charging less for a sequel to an anime which wasn't that popular in the first place-especially considering they're trying to market it to a new generation?
| Quote: | | The FLCL DVDs were a good way of pricing OVAs for an american market, but people complained anyway. |
But they still bought the dvds, because they liked the show, because the company promoted it. Bandai Visual did little to make me interested in their OVAs.
Yueh: That's a really lame analogy, because you only paid slightly more for Brisco County, but you essentially got the same deal. And you can get it significantly discounted to offset the higher price. That was not the case with most BV titles. And Tony Roma's gives you a plate. not just charges you a fortune for one rib.
| Quote: | Naruto is better than Demon Prince Enma?
Naruto is better than Super Robot Wars? |
Probably the latter's accurate. Unless they use licensed mecha, there's no real point.
| Quote: | | Since I've been looking forward to the killer Japanese Voice Actor casts, I could give a rat's rear if these are dubbed any more than MB dubbing yaoi |
That's great, but you don't represent the market here.
| Quote: | | Let's face it-Fushigi Yugi is just a take on the Hakkenden story which is far, far older. One can even argue it is a variation on Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs only the Dwarfs are now guys, mostly hot. |
I've said it borrows from Neverending Story myself. But FY at least does something. Haruka is all about the characters discussing their pasts with one another.
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Realistically Bandai can't drop prices now. Some of us have already pre-ordered this stuff so they'd lose money plus it'd be somewhat disrespectful to drop the price now. |
Sure, they can. They can even pay you the difference. But they won't, because they're trying to put the blame on the company, and not the plan.
Last edited by GATSU on Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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HellKorn
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 1384
Location: Columbus, OH
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:45 pm |
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| GATSU wrote: | | Sure, they can. They can even pay you the difference. But they won't, because they're trying to put the blame on the company, and not the plan. |
| ANN News wrote: | | However, Bandai Entertainment told retailers that the label is just starting, with "more announcements following in the months to come." |
There just might be, y'know, the slightest chance that the above statement implies that Bandai Entertainment will eventually lower prices on the products to reasonable levels.
If nothing else, at least wait until AX and see what comes out of the Honneamise panel. |
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CCSYueh
Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 1913
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:18 am |
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Their typical trick at Bandai is after about 2 yrs there's a price drop--be it a box set or a classic or signature line.
If their goal is to try to keep it closer to the Japanese releases, they could run with the higher prices initially & then price lower after a couple yrs.
| Quote: | | Probably the latter's accurate. Unless they use licensed mecha, there's no real point. |
I don't know licensed mech from unlicensed, but there are some interesting mech in this title. Cybuster's cool, Shu's is killer, Bian's looked killer. ...You want to see the other mech, buy the original titles or get the games.
I know I'm having far more fun with SRW than any Gundam title. Gundam politics make my brain glaze over from the simplicity.
| Quote: | | I've said it borrows from Neverending Story myself. But FY at least does something. Haruka is all about the characters discussing their pasts with one another. |
But that aspect isn't copied over into Haruka, is it? Haruka is closer to InuYasha's down the well. There's a fun little shonen title called Zenki that is, as I recall, older than Fushigi Yugi & Haruka where the characters wind up in the Heian period from the present day in one season. Interestingly enough it's also about a priestess who subdues & controls a demon (Although Zenki is cool. He has a small power conserve form which was voiced by none other than Kappei Yamaguchi who played a certain dog demon controlled by a priestess)
Not to mention all the alternate world stuff like Magic Knight Rayearth, Escaflowne, Gulliver's Travels, & HG Wells stuff like Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Meaning anime borrows heavily from a lot of stuff. None other than Akira Toriyama commented he used to lunch with a couple other manga-ka & they'd steal ideas from one another.
| Quote: | | But FY at least does something. Haruka is all about the characters discussing their pasts with one another. |
I see more Hakkenden in Haruka than Fushigi Yugi myself.
WHat does FY do?
Watch Miaka stuff her face?
Watch the thrilling drama "Miaka!" "Tamahome!" "Miaka!" "Tamahome!" "Miaka!"?
Watch half a dozen guys drool over Miaka?
"My sister died! I have to dress like a girl!"
We don't see one guy's family wiped out.
We don't see another guy's sad past romantic triangle. We don't watch a half dozen guys die over a stupid jealous friendship between 2 schoolgirls?
| Quote: | | That's great, but you don't represent the market here. |
I thought there was a whole slew of fans who are purists & prefer subs, It's the only way they air them at Comic-con unless it's a dub-only track provided by the studio. The yaoi fangirls may wish for a dub, but most I know are incredibly vocal about supporting the company bringing us our stuff even if most yaoi anime comes here from Media Blasters sub only.
If my choice is sub-only or nothing, I'll go sub obviously.
| Quote: | | Yueh: That's a really lame analogy, because you only paid slightly more for Brisco County, but you essentially got the same deal. And you can get it significantly discounted to offset the higher price. That was not the case with most BV titles. And Tony Roma's gives you a plate. not just charges you a fortune for one rib. |
$75 IS the SALE PRICE for Brisco. It's a niche title from WB's old days so the only people interested are the 5 people who watched WB back then & Bruce Campbell fans. They had it at Best Buy once, but I haven't seen it there for awhile. I got mine from Amazon.
And excuse me $35 for Lost is half the cost of Brisco, not 35+35=70, right? So one could get 2 mass popularity titles for the 1 niche title Brisco.
So how is the analogy of 1 niche title (Brisco County) costing double a popular mass title any different from a niche anime title like Haruka or SRW? MB is charging $19 list for sub-only BL 3-4 eps. BV wants $30 for sub-only 3 eps of Haruka. MB seems to have stopped even bothering with the little color insert-open up & one gets just the dvd for one's money. Haruka & SRW both give us nice little booklets with cast or staff comments.
And I managed to preorder all of Haruka for $18 per volume so there are sales to be had. |
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GATSU
Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 8419
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:33 am |
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CCS: | Quote: | I don't know licensed mech from unlicensed, but there are some interesting mech in this title. Cybuster's cool, Shu's is killer, Bian's looked killer. ...You want to see the other mech, buy the original titles or get the games.
I know I'm having far more fun with SRW than any Gundam title. Gundam politics make my brain glaze over from the simplicity. |
Fair enough, but the company also got some Gundam.
| Quote: |
But that aspect isn't copied over into Haruka, is it? Haruka is closer to InuYasha's down the well. |
That doesn't help Haruka much, since most people can't stand Inu Yasha, anymore.
| Quote: | | There's a fun little shonen title called Zenki that is, as I recall, older than Fushigi Yugi & Haruka where the characters wind up in the Heian period from the present day in one season. Interestingly enough it's also about a priestess who subdues & controls a demon...Not to mention all the alternate world stuff like Magic Knight Rayearth, Escaflowne, Gulliver's Travels, & HG Wells stuff like Journey to the Center of the Earth. |
If you wanna be technical, the FY manga pre-dates all the non-Western stuff you mentioned.
| Quote: | | I thought there was a whole slew of fans who are purists & prefer subs, |
There are plenty of sub-only fans, just not sub-only fans willing to pay for genre titles which have limited appeal.
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$75 IS the SALE PRICE for Brisco. It's a niche title from WB's old days so the only people interested are the 5 people who watched WB back then & Bruce Campbell fans. They had it at Best Buy once, but I haven't seen it there for awhile. I got mine from Amazon. And excuse me $35 for Lost is half the cost of Brisco, not |
That's kind of the point I was making-that you can get it from Amazon. So you're not paying much more than you would for Lost.
| Quote: | | MB is charging $19 list for sub-only BL 3-4 eps. BV wants $30 for sub-only 3 eps of Haruka. MB seems to have stopped even bothering with the little color insert-open up & one gets just the dvd for one's money. Haruka & SRW both give us nice little booklets with cast or staff comments. And I managed to preorder all of Haruka for $18 per volume so there are sales to be had. |
If most of that company's anime was as "cheap" as Haruka, then they wouldn't be absorbed into BE. |
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