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on the one hand there are the purists, Bandai pros who only swear by Bandai and who consider all other initiatives to be pale copies of Gunpla.
On the other side we have those who only make bootlegs, I put all the brands together for once and I am well aware that there are brands much better than others on the dark side of the gunpla. Generally it’s more a story of money than design…
When you see a Daban kit for $20 like the MG Astray red frame while Bandai sells it for around €50, the temptation is great...
Some time ago Mr. Katsumi Kawaguchi posted his opinion on this on Facebook and I think he is right on the whole.
For those who don't know Mr. KAWAGUCHI (seriously???), he works in Bandai's Hobby department, showing how to build Gunplas for quite a while now, and serves as Bandai's spokesperson for all things related Gunpla over the years.
Here the original post for those interested.
in green the words of Mr. KAWAGUCHI:
“はっきり言っときます。
。
海賊版だと知らずにアップロードしている人も申し訳ありませんが同様の対応をします。
I say clearly.
I do not have approval of a friend who has been posting pirated model kit on FB.
Model kit does not have the name “BANDAI” is not a GUNPLA.
Sorry some people are uploading without knowing's pirated, but I will be the same correspondence.”
I say it clearly:
I did not approve of a friend who posted a hacked model kit on FB.
A Model that does not bear the name “BANDAI” is not a GUNPLA.
Sorry, some people upload images of gunplas without knowing that they are bootlegs, but I send them the same message.
Otherwise here is the rest of his post:
“Quality of pirated model kits has improved compared to the old days. There is also a model kit not inferior, even in comparison with GUNPLA.
We licensee is going to have to strive to create a Gundam with the licensor.
Or more, which is a business, we contract with the licensor, we are selling the GUNPLA paying consideration.
It becomes the source to foster the consideration Gundam. Is produced as a source its consideration also new Gundam.
What I'm concerned about is to include it in by pirated model kit flows, such circulation is cut off.
It will ensure that pirated model kit becomes so many distribution, Gundam die out soon.”Translation :
The quality of hacked mockups has improved compared to before. There are also kits that are not inferior in comparison with GUNPLA.
We, the licensees, will strive to create a Gundam with the licensor of the GUNDAM.
Or more, which is a company, we contract with the licensor of the GUNDAM license, so we pay a fee consideration to this licensor for each GUNPLA sold.
What concerns me is including these pirated kits in the streams of Gunpla official, and in this case the flow of Gunplas official is interrupted
Because this will ensure that the pirated kit becomes so prevalent in distribution, that the official Gundam will soon disappear.
Here is the continuation :
“There is no change to being an unlicensed kit what the name of the BANDAI does not contain even Resin kit claiming to GUNDAM.”
Translation :
There is no change to being an unlicensed kit as the BANDAI name does not even contain a resin kit claiming to be a GUNDAM.
So much for his opinion on resin kits. Personally I love the resin kits I find them so detailed afterward I think that they play in a completely different category whether in terms of price and even experience in modeling, it's clearly not Mr. all the people who are going to get a resin kit for once…
“We're aware that there are a problem of price, is the problem of the corresponding support.
We think that it is an issue such as improvement of production system and so on we should overcome.
I am aware that there are many realistic issues and challenges.
It is that there is no way So if you reject us that cannot be eliminated current challenges. There is no enforceable against you guys for us.
However, there is no change in that it is a stance that rejects pirated model kit I am.In a variety of environments, and there are those who enjoy the model kit under various constraints is that I understand. It can't deny anyone.
However, even what benefits, it is that stance I would not tolerate the presence of a pirated of the model kit.
I'm not going to discuss the pros and cons of pirated model kit here I am.
It is the judgment of all of you is whether or not to accept me standing in such a stance.
I think that the “registered friends” of the FB is a thing like that.”Translation :
We are aware that there is a problem of price, it is the problem of the corresponding support.
We think that this is an issue like improving the production system, etc., which we should overcome.
I realize that many problems and challenges are realistic.
There is no way. If you reject us, resolve these challenges. There is no penalty against you for us (in case you take pirate kits)
However, there is no change in the fact that I am in a position that rejects pirate kits.
In various environments, and there are those who enjoy the Gunpola under various constraints, that's what I understand. It (the Hobby) cannot reject anyone.
However, even these advantages (I think he is talking about the advantages of bootleg), I would not tolerate the presence of a pirated kit from a gunpla.
I'm not going to discuss the pros and cons of hacked mockups.
It is your judgment whether or not to accept me in such a position.
I think FB “saved friends” are like that.
Clearly do what you want, just remember that every time you take a bootleg it makes less money for Bandai and therefore less money for the production of NEW models (the Rg Sazabi you think it was free to develop it? :p), then I'm like everyone else, I hate the fact that Bandai releases X colored version of the unicorn for example (...) or variants of Zaku and clearly we would all like to have other kits more fun, but again the money you spend on bootleg/copies of Gunpla do not help Bandai to develop new products and must make the molds of existing models even more profitable in order to compensate for the loss of income from bootleg brands.
Brief "Gunpla is Freedom” but choose wisely 🙂
For fun here is a twitch clip after building the DABAN MG Astray Red Frame
https://clips.twitch.tv/GiftedInventiveSpaghettiHeyGuys
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Answer
The thing is that in the end yes the kits are cheaper except that these kits will not pay for either the research or the rights whereas a derived product normally has a part redirected towards the creators here sunrise and therefore bandai but in a meaning the sale of derivative products allows us to continue the creation of anime as for example we see certain anime which sell a lot of derivative products which allows us to continue this said anime and not to stop it at episode 24 then that it's not the end of the manga/light novel or even worse of the episode and therefore it's not even an end of arc in these cases or it's full rush.
To conclude personally I will continue to only buy Bandai for 2 reasons firstly for the support of the rights holders therefore the continuation of the franchise (even if certain series make me angry ie seed (yes yes I am like that) age or even g reco) and then because I am not gifted with my 10 fingers so anything that requires paint or glue or anything else will prove very complicated hence the fact that it suits me the ease of the bandai kits (even if they abuse on some in terms of stickers whether in ridiculous quantity or size).