The Energon Pub

News Credits: 10 · by **Arctorro** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:40 pm

If this is the Preds then it'll be the first TFC combiner team I'll be passing on. MMC is getting my Pred money

I know a lot of people would like to see then do the Technobots, but I'd like them to do a version of the Stunticons

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:30 am

Yea, I think the Predacon ship has sailed.

I'd second a TFC release of Stunticons, but I'd prefer Computron or Defensor next.

News Credits: 10 · by **Arctorro** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:07 am

rpetras wrote:I'd second a TFC release of Stunticons, but I'd prefer Computron or Defensor next.

I'm hesitant about TFC doing Defensor after seeing those images ages ago of a combiner team from a Japanese show that they repainted and were trying to pass off as the Protectobots.

If the Stunticons weren't an option then the Technobots would be my next pick.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:54 am

Wait, so my joke guess was right!? People who could afford a TFC Predaking have already gone with MMC.

by **Wh33l Jck** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:56 pm

Dude on the right looks like the original Killbison toy.

News Credits: 2 · by **xyl360** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:19 pm

Eek, if this is Predaking, I may end up with 2 of them. TFC and MMC.

I'm hoping Ares, the god of war is a play on 'Combat' being another word (essentially) for war and it is the Combaticons.

News Credits: 1 · by **Sodan-1** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:00 am

TFC are kind of pissing into the wind if this is the Predacons. Both UniqueToys and MMC have a huge head start. Doesn't TFC pay attention to the rest of the 3rd party world?

Hercules is awesome. Uranos is a great piece of design work, but I don't get the same quality vibe from it. And TFC's dinosaur and rescue vehicle combiners flat-out suck. I don't even own a piece from MMC, but I'm fairly certain I'd rather put my money and faith in their standards of quality.

At the end of the day, wouldn't Cybertronian alt-modes void the "bestiality" part of their promotion? Suppose it could just be a reference to their G1 beast forms, but then again TFC have stuck pretty close to G1 when it comes to Hercules and Uranos (Blackbird the exception).

Wasn't there some concept art of a Terrorcon from TFC floating around a while back? I've got the feeling this isn't the first time we've seen the name Ares in reference to the company. I could see the big guy at the back being Hun Gurr, front left Cutthroat and front right.... Blot because of his bulk, but Rippersnapper from his twin back cannons.

What can I say, I'm at a loss I suppose. Just lots of out-loud thinking. Sorry.

News Credits: 1 · by **datguy86** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:46 am

If I had to conjecture - these are three different combiners. Front left is Computron and fulfills the "robot" aspect (based on the overall design). Front right is Piranacon and fullfill the "appetite for destruction" (based on the cannon design used). In the back is Predaking to fulfill the not-sexy-not-fun time "beastiality". I think those cannons are actually Predaking's wings placed straight back. Don't like the head, though.

News Credits: 10 · by **Arctorro** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:10 pm

Sodan-1 wrote:Hercules is awesome. Uranos is a great piece of design work, but I don't get the same quality vibe from it. And TFC's dinosaur and rescue vehicle combiners flat-out suck. I don't even own a piece from MMC, but I'm fairly certain I'd rather put my money and faith in their standards of quality.

I agree with everything you said there 100%. Herc = awesome, Uranos (what I have so far) = good but not in the same league as Herc, Dino/Rescue = ****. They started out strong and then lost the plot a little so I can't help thinking MMC's Predaking will be better.

Sodan-1 wrote:Wasn't there some concept art of a Terrorcon from TFC floating around a while back? I've got the feeling this isn't the first time we've seen the name Ares in reference to the company. I could see the big guy at the back being Hun Gurr, front left Cutthroat and front right.... Blot because of his bulk, but Rippersnapper from his twin back cannons.

It would be awesome if these are the Terrorcons, but why only show three? The image and wording have really confused things :BANG_HEAD:

datguy86 wrote:If I had to conjecture - these are three different combiners. Front left is Computron and fulfills the "robot" aspect (based on the overall design). Front right is Piranacon and fullfill the "appetite for destruction" (based on the cannon design used). In the back is Predaking to fulfill the not-sexy-not-fun time "beastiality". I think those cannons are actually Predaking's wings placed straight back. Don't like the head, though.

If you're right about three different combiners, then TFC are doing the smart thing. With all the gestalt competition getting their plans out early might make others think twice about making the same sets :-?

And if that is the case, then the one in back must be massive! :shock:

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:51 am

With RobotKingdom dropping MMC's Feral Rex, could this mean that TFC's Ares is their version of Predaking? It's been known that TFC works closely with RK.

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:19 am

daimchoc wrote:With RobotKingdom dropping MMC's Feral Rex, could this mean that TFC's Ares is their version of Predaking? It's been known that TFC works closely with RK.

Wha?? RobotKingdom dropped the best Predaking version to date?

Wow.

Just wow.

Maybe TFC will look amazing. They better get a move on if they want serious consideration (at least from me...)

by **NOS** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:51 am

Oddly enough, Robotkingdom still has UniqueToys Predacons up for order...

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:13 am

It may not have anything to do with a competing Predaking. If it were just that they'd just stop carrying MMC's Predaking, not their entire line.

FP cut off RK. Maybe MMC cut them off now. It's anyone's guess as to why.

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:25 pm

What I got out of talking with some of 3P people, MMC/FP/HR/MakeToys are all buddies, the rest of the groups are really at each others' throats and our money xD. Not surprised TFC is doing this, they combated MakeToys who are MMC's buddy w/ 3P Devastator, and now are doing the same to MMC w/ 3P Predaking.

It is shame, UniqueToys had alot of potential but if TFC enters the arena, then UT is beccoming the Sega Dreamcast of third parties.

by **Rated X** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:17 am

OK three predakings is really stupid.

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:26 am

New teaser from TFCToys' facebook page

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:31 am

Okay, the back cannons make sense now. They'll be feet on Predaking. That first one must be Razorclaw, with the seeker like null blasters going to the Predaking back cannons. It looks interesting that Rampage might have some small wings.

Alright, I'm committed to MMC, but I'll be keeping an eye on these. One last comment is that it appears all 5 members will be about the same height, with the legs being bulkier than arms. That would be an impressive engineering feat.

News Credits: 402 · by **Mkall** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:39 pm

MMC wins this round. Too late to the party TFC

by **NOS** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:47 pm

The way the wings look on Divebomb from the silhouette make me think the alt modes will be animal-like, but the other silhouettes, especially Rampages, make me think these will be vehicle alt modes. If so, it seems like a wise move market-wise considering the competition they're already facing, but I kinda doubt they decided to go that route.

I'll look forward to what they have to show off, but I doubt it will outdo what we've seen from MMC, especially in the eyes of G1-purists.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:51 pm

It wouldn't be much of a "bestiality" if these didn't have animal modes. Just sayin'. >:oP

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:45 pm

I love me some TFC, but so far I'm not seeing anything that will make me cancel my MMC preorders.

Agamemnon wrote:One last comment is that it appears all 5 members will be about the same height, with the legs being bulkier than arms. That would be an impressive engineering feat.

Not really, the G1 toy pulled it off.
It make for a squat bodied, very bulky figure, which totally worked for the character.

I'm curious about this set, but I do think it may be too late for these guys. They need to get some actual images out QUICK, or maybe they should table this one for a few years until the other Predakings have run their course.

by **NOS** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:56 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:It wouldn't be much of a "bestiality" if these didn't have animal modes. Just sayin'.

It could be just a hint to this project being Predacons and not necessarily that the alt modes have anything to do with actual animals.

IDW Predacons had vehicle modes, after all.

Hell, even pre-Beast Wars Predacons and Maximals had vehicle alts so, it isn't that far of a stretch.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:03 pm

I don't know anything about IDW's Predacons, but I doubt they're advertised as beasts if they aren't beasts. And neither IDW nor Beast Wars has anything to do with TFC.

I can see someone doing vehicle mode Predacons as a pre-Earth mode. But I don't see them being advertised as "beasts". Until I see better proof of this rumor I'm remaining skeptical.

by **NOS** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:30 pm

*shrug* Not saying it's likely, just brainstorming from what I see of the silhouette and keeping my expectations broad as it -has- been done before in comics such as with the Dinobots and Predacons even though these comic depictions had nothing to do with dinosaurs or predator-type animals. Same with Maximals and Predacons, their alt modes had very little to do with mammals or predators.

Are TFC directly connected with IDW or other producers that depicted these characters like this? No, of course not. Yet, you can't say TFC has come up with any original characters either.

Is it likely? No, probably not. I'm just saying those silhouettes don't seem very animal-esque with the exception of Divebomb.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:38 pm

There's a clear difference between story elements and toy advertisements. And TFC's toy advertisements hints at a beast combiner, not a combiner that used to be a beast but are now vehicles. And they COULD have advertised that. And it would have made sense.

I mean, it's entirely possible TFC doubly blundered in their advertisement and that they really do have vehicle modes. But it seems like it goes too far to assume that they did that just because we don't see anything recognizable in completely blacked out silhouettes. This if TFC we're talking about here. They won't hesitate to change anything on a figure.