Transformers Editorials News from Seibertron.com http://www.seibertron.com/news/index.php?f_cat=27 Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Website! en news@seibertron.com (Seibertron.com News) (c)2013 Seibertron.com Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:43:57 EDT Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:43:57 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/images/logos/seibertron-large.jpg Transformers Editorials News from Seibertron.com http://www.seibertron.com/news/index.php?f_cat=27 <![CDATA[Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article]]> Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:26:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/seibertron-treasures-the-armada-anniversary-article/26006/ caf9d60557efea96db189191a797b17e Cartoon News, Editorials, Site Articles, Toy News Transformers Armada was released. Join Seibertron.com staff members Blurrz, Counterpunch and Razorclaw0000, as they journey back a decade. They celebrate Armada in all of its fashion, as the trio critique the successful toy line, domestically as well as internationally, and show their passion (or disdain) for each figure.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


The calm before…

Blurrz: It’s hard for me to imagine that it was a decade ago when a cartoon captivated me like none other. While some find that this series was a grotesque shame on the Transformers brand, it shares a special place in my toy collecting heart for eternity. Transformers Armada entered into my life at the exact time - any younger and I’d really have no funds to tackle a competent collection, any older and I’d be trapped in the stigma of adolescent youth. I ask myself time and time again, if Armada had switched places with Energon or Robots In Disguise, wouldn’t I be as attached to it as with Armada? The answer is simply no, there’s this feel to Armada that I personally can’t fixate with in contrast to any other series.

Counterpunch: Oddly enough, I didn't much like Armada at first glance. I was buying RiD toys at the time. I jumped back into the hobby after several years of absence. RiD was where I expected the toys to be. Armada was...not exactly what I expected. I bought the toys way before I even watched the show. There were enough interesting molds going into wave two that my curiosity was piqued.

Razorclaw0000: I was working in a deli in the basement of my local Boscov's Department Store during my Junior year of college. I was just starting back into collecting, and had maybe a half-dozen figures, when I stumbled across Armada Starscream. There was something about the look, maybe the Anime-esque look, maybe the distinctive plane mode, and maybe the little Minicon that pushed all the right buttons.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


..the storm

Blurrz: When Armada hit, it was a bit of a frenzy and a rumble. I had to get the figures when they came out. When a new character came up open the screen, I just had to pick him up. That’s really no longer possible, as evidenced by Transformers Animated, whose character cast was too large to be put into a toyline, and Transformers Prime, in which their toys had a comparable delay time to any Blizzard product. There were relatively no store exclusives, and if there were, they wouldn’t be a show character. Despite how many antagonize the toys, one cannot question Armada’s unwavering availability and unlimited playability.

Counterpunch: Jetfire, Starscream, and Megatron were awesome enough that I began to wonder what the other figures were like. I ended up liking the line/concept/show before I even realized it. I began finding reasons to buy new and different figures. Even toys that were problems at the time, like Hot Shot and Sideswipe I found ways to justify purchasing, even if it was out of curiosity. I'm glad I did though, the figures were large and detailed. Though I couldn't put my finger on the issue at the time, in retrospect, what I really liked about these toys was how they reminded me of the late G1 figures that I grew up with.

Razorclaw0000: Blurrz brought up a great point. I vividly remember the releases of figures coinciding very closely with their on-screen appearances. It was so close, that I remember driving 20+ miles to pick up Side Swipe just to have him in time for that episode, that night. What a surprise that was...

Mischievous Mini-cons

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: The small guys were the stars of the cartoon show, and equally, the stars of the Armada toyline. Each bulk (bigger figure) came with a mini-con, and more importantly as we discuss, there was the release of the individual mini-con teams. 10 different teams, composed of 3, were released domestically alongside their variants.

For the Autobots and Decepticons in the Armadaverse, it was paramount that they control the three most powerful weapons, the Star Saber, the Skyboom Shield, and the Requiem Blaster. In toy form, that was the Air Defense Team, the Race Team and the Space Team, respectively, all capable of being wielded by any bulk with 5 mm peg hands. The Star Saber is combined from the parts of Jetstorm, Runway, and Sonar, all planes in some form or the other. While in fiction the Star Saber would be comparable to the Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, the planes don’t flush well together in toy form. Still they are aesthetically pleasing with their whites, bold blues and translucent plastic. They were repainted into their evil variants, the Air Assault team. However grey plastic replaced clear plastic, leaving much to be desired.

The impenetrable Skyboom Shield was composed of Mirage, Downshift and Dirt Boss. Speedsters and a SUV, the cars were colored with whites, yellows and greys, and featured pleasant articulation. Structurally the team makes a rather large shield, and is imposing on the likes of Jetfire, Megatron and Hoist, while laughable in the hands of Hot Shot or Side Swipe. They were repainted in imposing red and black colors, however their predecessor has much better character.

Lastly we have the Requiem Blaster, or in team names, the Space Team. Payload, Sky Blast and Astroscope all have individual colors, and aren’t exactly a trio of mini-con’s you’d normally expect to combine. The colors are not exactly the problem either, as the combined gun form is oddly flimsy, especially if your Astroscope is loose. All in all, out of the power weapon mini-con teams in Armada, the original Star Saber – the Air Defense team is my favorite and the superior!

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: The Land Military Team was the first set of Mini-cons I purchased. Bonecrusher, Knock-out, and Wreckage were all various forms of military style missile trucks. In many ways, they were the easiest for collectors to come to terms with as legitimate transformers. They look like the Micromasters of yesteryear and somehow avoid the goofiness other Mini-cons gained when attached to larger figures. You could almost view them as Targetmasters but they were actually decent figures in their own right both in robot mode and vehicle mode. I'd even recommend them today for someone looking at a place to start with Mini-cons. Honorable mentions go out to their uniform color scheme cousins in the Night Attack team, who in addition to having cool colors, have an awesome sinister name.

Then there's the unfortunate but somewhat necessary Street Action team. Ever wanted a bicycle Transformer, a skateboard Transformer? how about a moped Transformer? Me neither, but Highwire, Grindor, and Sureshock were core characters to the show. Now, Grindor is great. The others? Not so much... That being said, their ability to combine into Perceptor (in name only) was AWESOME. Perceptor, despite his limited articulation is legit. He's a cool concept and character I would not mind seeing a return of.

The Sea team is almost a continuation of the Street Speed team's advances in engineering. Waterlog, Oceanglide, and Stormcloud are all great little Transformers with solid transformations, great amounts of detail for Mini-cons, and useful joints. Their variety of colors across all releases will inevitably make it so that there is some version out there you like. Additionally, because of their missile launchers, they make for decent Targetmaster style figures just like the Land Military team did.

I keep talking about these pseudo Targetmasters but the Emergency team was the real deal. These were the guys everyone was waiting for, legitimate three-mode Mini-cons. Prowl, Firebot, and Makeshift were also interesting in that they were some of the few Mini-cons to make purposeful use of clear plastic. Even among those who hated Armada and Mini-cons, this team was almost universally loved for its versatility and ability to mix in with almost any line.

As for me, my recommendations on these would be the Japanese TRU exclusives for the Land Military team, the Universe 2003 versions of the Street Action team, the Powerlinx version of the Sea team, and the Micron Booster 2 versions of the Emergency team. I think I just like the color selection of those, not so much for any particular matching with larger figures.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: The Air Military team is another Targetmaster homage, with each member transforming into some type of weapon, all the emphasis here is decidedly more melee. Thunderwing transforms from robot to SR-71 style stealth jet, to a three pronged claw weapon. Terradive is the second member of the team, transforming from robot, to "flying wing" stealth bomber, to a "ninja star" or shield. Interestingly Terradive's port is actually on a swivel, allowing him to spin freely when powerlinked to a bulk. Finally, Gunbarrel rounds out the team, transforming from robot to cargo plane to six barreled gattling gun.

The Street Speed team has the dubious distinction of being the most articulated Mini-con teams produced, as well as toying with several copyright and trademark violations. Backtrack is almost completely a Cadillac XLR in a rather unrealistic shade of green. Oval continues the trend of mimicking real vehicles by transforming into a Saleen S7 in a muddy orange color. Finally, Spiral takes a stab at ripping off the Germans, with a deep blue Mercedes C-Class alternate mode. While the articulation was impressive for the time, all three figures can suffer from loose, floppy joints, and may have difficulty not falling apart completely. This is a team that is either loved or hated.

Next, the Destruction Team makes up for limited articulation by packing in some interesting play features, particularly with Cyclonus. Each figure featured a center roller which would activate some action feature when rolling along, and there was a small gear and clip mechanism which allowed them to dock to the underside of Cyclonus. Spinning the rotors would trigger the gear and cause the action to occur. Dualor is the most straightforward, transforming into a dual-barrelled reciprocating tank. His gimmick works well and he's impressively bulky for a Mini-con. Next, Drill Bit transforms into a giant, well, drill. There are some small issues to his design, however, as the body of the drill is blocked by his legs, which transform into the wheels and bed of the vehicle. The drill does spin quite well. Lastly, Buzzsaw does not actually transform into a saw. Instead, the vehicle is technically a "Bucket Wheel Excavator", and his rotating bucket/blade works extremely well.

Finally, the Adventure Team uses the same gimmicks as the Destruction Team, but unfortunately suffers from having gimmicks that don't make as much sense docked to Cyclonus. Dune Runner starts off the set as a dune buggy with roof mounted machine gun. This feature works well both in rolling and attached to Cyclonus, in theory, but minor tolerance issues prevent the gun from turning smoothly. Iceberg is the next figure in the team, transforming into a snow plow tank with opening and closing plow jaws. Again, minor tolerance issues prevent this gimmick from triggering on Cyclonus, but the vehicle mode is a lot of fun. Finally, Ransack is a green jeep with a real working winch. Unfortunately, the winch aspect doesn't work very well at all with Cyclonus, as a few short turns will have the length of string fully retracted.

Out of all the Mini-con three packs, the Sea Team is probably still my favorite, particularly with Waterlog's elegant transformation and real knees.

Sly Super-cons

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: With hindsight, the Armada super-con figures, or in modern terms - Deluxe class figures - aren’t exactly a breakthrough in Transformers toy technology. They aren’t going to hold much against the modern figures, such as the Classics or the Generations, but they have their own uniqueness to them. What they lacked in articulation due to their gimmick-based interactions with their mini-con partners, they made up in playability and overall ‘fun’.

Tackling the Autobot super-cons, we have the first wave release, Hot Shot. Hindered by the axle-bazooka system, Hot Shot still offers movement in the important areas, however he won’t be moving his head anytime soon. Being in the year 2012, we expect our Transformers to offer both great alternate modes, as well as robot modes. Hot Shot isn’t exactly endearing to that philosophy, but his mini-con partner Jolt interacts well with Hot Shot’s vehicle mode. Not the best figure on the Armada market and not one you’ll have a struggle with when trying to obtain it on the secondary market. Much like a handful of figures at the end of the Armada toyline, Hot Shot was repainted as Powerlink Hot Shot, homaging Generation Hot Rod. While this repaint doesn’t exactly increase the mold’s stock, it’s certainly a nice change for those who were tired of seeing yellow (get out of here Cheetor)

Armada Blurr also fits in to the same category as Hot Shot, as in he has a great vehicle mode, but his robot mode is still a few years behind. The Lamborghini-Ferrari-something can grow wings thanks to Red Bull and Blurr’s mini-con partner, Incinerator. In robot mode, the majority of his car bits are a massive backpack, and Blurr has limited arm movement and no knee joints. The colors are aesthetically pleasing, but alas, hindered by the mold’s interaction with Incinerator.

Next up to bat is what some claim to be the worst Transformer of all time. It’s funny that this figure also fits into the same category as Blurr and Hot Shot. Despite the lack of suitors for Armada Side Swipe (Not Sideswipe, please don't mix the two!), the young Autobot warrior features a rather sleek vehicle mode, and up to its release date in 2002, offered one of the most realistic alternate modes the Transformers fanbase had ever seen. Side Swipe even featured a fun and interactive powerlinking gimmick with his mini-con partner, Nightstick. However folding the car’s pieces and parts into robot mode yields a nightmare. Side Swipe has the chunkiest limbs, kibble, and clumsy articulation. The figure has a tendency to just not stay still. It surprises me that this figure has as many repaints as it does, and its character was even homaged in this year’s BotCon set. Well….. there are cults for worse things I suppose.

Smokescreen isn't a very popular toy, and I can’t wonder why. Yes, he does not exactly have the best articulation, and he’s a bit chunky, but isn't that what should be expected for the tough guy of the group? His gimmick is a large crane on his shoulder; it’s the saving grace and also the downfall of Smokescreen. Its size will likely topple the figure in robot mode unless you position it properly, but its interaction with the mini-con Liftor turns the crane into a massive sniper rifle! Smokescreen even has a working winch, which fits with the rescue vehicle theme. While Smokescreen is full of fun, his min-con Liftor is also worth a shot, the little guy is sturdy and is solid in both modes.

Next up is another underrated figure, Armada Hoist. Smokescreen’s character in Armada kicked the can, but he was then resurrected as Hoist. Hoist is a construction vehicle with a giant crane-claw, and his mini-con Refute is one of the tallest in the scale. Despite Hoist’s massive crane-claw, he has the best articulation of all of the deluxe figures, as he can actually bend his legs 90 degrees!

Rounding up the batch is Armada Optimus Prime. He’s got quite the hype as being a great figure, and yet I think it’s more because the bigger Optimus Prime had a lot of follies to it. To me, he’s not that great, but I get my panties in a bunch when it comes to scale and Armada figures. Optimus Prime, also known as Bendy Prime features good, all around articulation, and a fighter/gun mini-con partner in Over-Run. (No, not this Over-Run!) I’d recommend this figure, but you probably already have it, and if you don’t, there’s the Nemesis version which Razor will allude to. Out of the figures we have here, the best Armada Autobot Super-con would have to be Hoist. He’s all around dynamic and you’ll always love that sound when you hear his gear-joints bend! The mold is also worth it in his Cybertron Longrack remold or the rather lucrative BotCon Dinobot version.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: It seems that the Decepticon Supercons (deluxe figures) are up to me. These toys all feature an interesting if largely unnoticed design point: They are all asymetrical. It's not that obvious and it's not that big a deal but it's there. The idea was to show the Cons as being edgier in this manner. It kind of worked and if you examine the toys you'll pick up on the little cues that show it off.

The first wave of figures gave us Demolisher and Cyclonus. Now neither of these guys are going to go down in the annals of TF history as being marvels of engineering but they are interesting never the less.

Demolisher is perhaps the best Decepticon Supercon. His transformation is clean, he locks together, and while he doesn't have modern articulation, he still has a great number of useful joints. His...head doesn't rotate, so there's that. -_- To make up for it, Demolisher has perhaps the best integration of Mini-con to Bulk out of the entire line. His Mini-con Blackout is useful no matter what mode Demolisher is in and there is even a third mode to compliment all this. Demolisher even has a nifty and fully functioning gimmick to shoot Blackout across a table in vehicle mode.

To make this $10 marvel (yes, deluxes used to be huge and 30% less expensive) even better, he has several Macross-style bot configurations where his arms can fold up into artillery formations. It's a nice touch that really makes use of his missile firing gimmick.

Cyclonus is less awesome but perhaps equally interesting. He has the same articulation range as Demolisher and even as good a Mini-con integration but that's where the similarities end. Cyclonus seems to have been the starting point for an abandoned Mini-con gimmick that would pair geared Minicons up with Bulks who could implement those mechanics. (You can see on Hoist where this might have been implemented had it continued) So there are a whole host of Mini-cons who work only with Cyclonus. (Spoiler: They don't work well with him)

In vehicle mode, Cyclonus is kind of awesome. The helicopter is well done, the blades spin properly, and kids can hold it in a gun-style way for pretending he flies. All and all, a nice figure. His robot mode...not so much. His missile firing gimmick is hampered by the need for a Mini-con and he has what are in all honesty, stupid guns in his knees. Despite his joints, he is virtually impossible to pose in any meaningful way and his head looks like he's hiding in a turtle shell. So...yea. When people point at Armada with an accusatory finger, it's because of figures like this. You should still track one down though. He has a little gun that goes back and forth when his blades rotate and that...is very cool.

Late line Decepticons included Thrust and Wheeljack.

Thrust typifies all that was wrong with Armada. He has another, though this time criminally bad, abandoned mechanic. He has no real hands. He has a fake transformation. But...his vehicle mode is rather nice and his Mini-con is quite good actually. Thrust is even somewhat posable in robot mode if you can maneuver around his giant hanging cockpit.

I went there.

What happened with this figure is that he was essentially ruined by his gimmick. Though it is unobtrusive, all the engineering went towards its integration so several important things like...hands were factored out. Thrust is a loss and I would never recommend him to someone. But he's not a complete loss despite what I just said. The figure is very well detailed and the transformation is good if not a bit cheat-y. If you are completing an Armada cast, you could do worse than paying the $8 it would take to get this guy and have him standing majestically behind Galvatron with betrayal in his squid-eyes.

On the other hand, we have Wheeljack, who still holds up to today's standards in many ways. Wheeljack has simple and straightforward articulation and a simple but mechanically interesting transformation. He's large, detailed, and honestly quite well done. His Mini-con Wind Sheer is even pretty decent as Mini-cons go in design and shape.

Wheeljack turns into a slick black (or gray depending on your hemisphere) car. He has a M.A.S.K. style gimmick when you apply his Mini-con and God knows why we never got a red redeco of him. Some people might be turned away by his insignia, which shows off his faction change but I suspect more will be endeared by it. I only wish he had a larger and more pronounced Decepticon symbol.

For those who really like this figure, I suggest you track down the Japanese or Korean versions. The black and blue deco is easily nicer and more show accurate than the gray and yellow North American version.

Out of all these guys, I would recommend Demolisher. He's everything an Armada figure should be and I feel that he holds up very well after all these years, even if he has to turn his entire torso to look to the left. (but he can! He has a waist joint...)

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: Lastly, we have Unicron's Agents from both the cartoon and comics. Sideways is one of the two Mini-Con Headmasters in the line, but actually features two different heads. A futuristic, if chunky, motorcycle, Sideways transformed into an oddly articulated "ninja", but lacks traditional fist holes, knees, a waist, and features some odd arm articulation. Despite that, Sideways has a special place in my heart. His Minicons, Rook and Crosswise also exhibit the ability to merge into a single, surprisingly articulated, robot rider for Sideways' bike mode. This, combined with the campy Headmaster gimmick, grant Sideways a pass, from being a forgettable mess, to maintaining a place, to this day, on my shelves. An odd variant exists, with the factions swapped between both Mini-cons.

Next, Nemesis Prime is a sinister redeco of the Super-con Optimus Prime mold, which Blurrz has so elegantly described. Hot off their successes with RID Scourge, Hasbro and Takara wished to cement the idea of a "Black Prime" as more than just hyper-exclusive repaints in Japan. A monstrous beast in the show, Nemesis Prime sported a strange dark gray, teal, and dusty brown color scheme, punctuated by intense red highlights. In a twist of a pun, his Minicon is slyly named "Run Over", a corruption of Super-con Prime's Over Run. Because of Nemesis Prime's show nature, and a rare case ratio, this figure still commands a comparatively high price on secondary market, easily outpacing other Super-cons by two to three times. Micron Legend Scourge at first glance appears to be similar to Nemesis Prime, but virtually every color has been replaced. The main body is different. The reds are different. The details are different. Scourge is virtually impossible to track down at this point, and frankly the domestic version is heading there as well.

The Super-con line was filled out by four Beast Wars redecos, featuring dead Minicon ports molded in key places. All four sport decos significantly different from their Beast Wars personas, with darker tones. Cheetor is paired with Cliffjumper, a redeco of Ransack. Rhinox is also paired with another Adventure Team redeco, Armorhide, from the Iceberg mold. Terrorsaur completes the Adventure Team pairings, joining Ironhide, a redeco of Dune Runner. Lastly, Airazor gets her partner Nightscream from the Street Speed Team, a redeco of Oval. While absent from the cartoon, these characters feature prominently in the defunct Dreamwave Armada and Energon comics, making them a must for any fan of those series.

Out of all the Super-cons, my favorite is probably Nemesis Prime, because he was from a time when the idea was still relatively fresh, and I have a soft spot for figures that have puns in their name. Run Over is a great little guy.

Mighty Max-cons

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: Max-cons, or in today’s terms – Voyager Class – were bold, big, and sometimes were just annoying all together. If you were max-con or bigger, it was likely that you’d have light and sounds.p RED ALERT RED ALERT RED ALERT WEEWOOWEEWOO

Armada Scavenger, a character who homages the Decepticon G1 Scavenger, was first acknowledged as a Decepticon in the cartoon, but then switched sides to the Autobots. Everyone wants to be Counterpunch, eh? Just because Scavenger is bigger, doesn’t mean he deviates from the Armada super-con formula. At the heart of the figure, there is just a giant brick. It makes for a great truck, as Scavenger has a solid alternate mode – his mini-con Rollbar, if in robot mode, fits right into the canopy of Scavenger acting as the truck driver. You also have rolling treads and a moving scooper. This doesn’t exactly yield the brightest robot mode, as Scavenger doesn’t exactly have what we’d call ‘legs’. Still, as an Armada figure, it went big on the gimmick factor and is still a fun figure to toy around with.

Next up we have Red Alert, taking the form of a rescue vehicle. The mode is rather bland until you perch the mini-con Longarm on to the back of Red Alert, and thus begins the electronics: RED ALERT RED ALERT WEE WOO WEE WOO. Transformed, Red Alert offers a bunch of fancy gadgets and moderate articulation. He has interchangeable hand weapons, a chest disc-launcher, a giant shoulder gun/handheld gun, and RED ALERT RED ALERT WEE WOO WEE WOO. The mold’s repaint is Powerlinx Red Alert, exchanging the medic red and white with vibrant blue and orange. Still, the same old RED ALERT WEE WOO WEE WOO. Out of these two, I’d have to give it to Mr. Wee Woo for actually having legs and the best……. or annoying electronics in the line.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: I can't believe I didn't get to write on Red Alert...

More Decepticons for me. Seekers. Starscream, other Starscream, and Skywarp. Yes, yes...the package for Thundercracker says Thundercracker but by the show it was Super Mode Starscream.

These guys are the same so I'm not going to split the discussion up too much. This mold is very G1-esq to me. It's big, bulky, and has limited or fake articulation. The legs have a full range of front to back movement but no side to side movement. All versions of this guy will be standing at attention. Likewise, his arms have several points of articulation, none of which help to show that Starscream is a master swordsman in Armada.

This mold is a brick, but that's ok.

Jet mode is interesting. It's large and well detailed. It's perhaps one of the best Cybertronian jet designs we've seen. Mini-con integration on this figure is well done with two distinct ways to actively engage it's workings.

The primary gimmick on this figure is the flip out Null Ray cannons. As far as gimmicks go, this one is quite screen accurate but also one of the drawbacks the mold suffers from. Where as on-screen, Starscream has a flat back, the toy is forced to have a large backpack to accommodate the cannons. Were there a simple hinge back there to fold the whole thing down further, the toy would have been near perfect.

Now, this Starscream is a swordsman. His blade is quite interestingly stored in his left wing. Removing the wing arms him and gives that asymmetrical look once again that was discussed before. Now, the show plays off the whole sword thing much better than the toy but the gimmick is quite clever and truly unique. I wish his articulation gave him a bit more use of the blade or that the handle was placed differently but this is a very fun alteration to Starscream's usual character portrayal.

Let's talk interesting toy history here. The US and Japanese versions have two distinct differences. The US versions have a slanted nosecone. It's pointed down in the way that some supersonic jets have an angled nosecone. This was ultimately a safety thing. The angle allows the nosecone to collapse if your kid brother charges at you with Starscream pointed straight out as to avoid impaling you. The Japanese (and Korean) versions are straight and more accurate to the show.

The other significant difference is in the paint details and masking. The US versions of Starscream and Thundercracker do a really ugly version of masking on the symbols to just plop purple on there. The Japanese versions are painted, detailed, and lined. The difference is staggering. Further, the US version of Starscream is gray and the Japanese version is white(ish). YMMV depending on what you're willing to pay. Oddly enough, Skywarp, who got a US release and a very limited Japanese release in US packaging has the properly done and painted symbols.

Out of the the three US versions of this, go for Skywarp. He has the best paint decos, a unique, different, and quality Mini-con, and an interesting head sculpt that makes him anyone you might want him to be. If we're talking the best version overall in my opinion, I would say that the Japanese Super Mode (Thundercracker) Starscream is the best. The colors and deco just shine and the toy looks brilliant.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: Did someone order a brick? Featuring almost G1 levels of articulation, Overload was the last original mold Voyager for the toyline. With only shoulder, hip, and head swivels, Overload still managed to be thoroughly impressive with his shoulder mounted missile batteries and giant fists ready to pummel any Decepticon into scrap. The toy’s articulation was scrapped to allow him to become a pair of giant shoulder mounted cannons for Superbase Prime. His third mode is a large launchpad/trailer, which can carry Jetfire and be towed behind Prime’s trailer, creating a massive convoy of Autobot might. Overload was also one of the first modern toys to include the iconic transformation noise we’ve all come to know, love, and subsequently despise as it’s included in dozens of figures over the years. Finally, Overload featured a unique interaction with his Mini-con, Rollout. Instead of having a typical transformation, with Rollout activating some feature, Rollout became the head and chest of Overload, unveiling a proportionate head and slotting into a giant cavity in the main body.

As with the Super-Cons, the Gigacon range also feature a Beast Wars remold and redeco, in the form of “Predacon”, a repaint and slight retool of the Transmetal Megatron mold, with added Powerlinx hard points. The figure features arguably the best deco of that mold, in rich greens, browns, and grays, with a dash of orange for visual pop. Predacon is also notable for coming with two Mini-cons, Side Burn and Skid-Z, which round out a full team of Street Speed redecos with Air Razor’s Nightscream partner.

Out of all the Max-Cons, the Starscream mold still has a soft spot for me, as it’s the figure I originally discovered in that dark Boscov’s basement and set me on the path to the raving lunatic completionist I am today.

Gallant Giga-cons

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: Space shuttle Transformers are few and far between and yet for their lack of numbers, Armada Jetfire certainly makes up for it. Jetfire epitomizes the ‘White Knight’ character, as he gallants in with his wings, engines and massive blaster. His mini-con Comettor is specific as it acts as Jetfire’s landing gear in alternate mode. Combined with his shield and Comettor, Jetfire can roll out on the ground, as well as fly without it. Jetfire also has droppable missiles, but they are rather bland. Amidst transformation, you’ll find that Jetfire’s blaster/rifle has been blessed or cursed with electronics, a countdown sound, the G1-Autobot blaster sound, and if a mini-con is attached, a blaster sound. Now fully transformed, Jetfire has a bunch of nice hawk-like aesthetics, and is full of character. My personal favorite with Jetfire is his ability to yield all of the power weapons (Blaster, Saber, & Shield) at the same time, with two of the weapons in his hands and the last of the trio perched on his wings. Jetfire also has the ability to bolster the power of Optimus Prime by combining with him, but we’ll leave the question of ‘who wears the pants in the relationship’ for later on. Jetfire was repainted under the Powerlinx Banner into a combination of blue and grey, homaging Jetfire’s pre-Transformers origin (Macross/Robotech). Overall you can’t really go wrong with a Jetfire figure, whether it’s in Armada, Energon or Cybertron.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: I'm lucky in that I get to talk about my favorite Armada figure, Megatron.

Imagine Megatron taken to a samurai extreme. He'd be a ruthless killer, willing to do anything or step on anyone to get to his ends, and all of this would be bent around a form of honor that somehow, only he and his rival understand. That's Armada Megatron. Now, the cartoon version is a bit hammy but the comic version...now there is a villain.

I dream of a TF comic where Armada Megatron goes around to different multiverses killing off the Megatron in that world Highlander style. I digress.

Megatron actually has a good range of movement in his top half. He even has bicep swivels that most people don't know about due to how tight the joint is. His lower half is another thing entirely. He is essentially immobile below the waist. Now he can combine with Tidal Wave but...honestly, that's a mess.

His tank mode is perhaps the best H-tank this side of Generations Warpath. The transformation is clean and there's not really any kibble in either mode. He can hold, store, or capture Mini-cons in virtually any part of his alt mode. Additionally, there are two different ways to fire missiles out of this mode, both of which work well.

Robot mode has several gimmicks but coolest of all his his hidden shiv in his hand. Even if this Megatron is close to losing a fight, there's always a chance you'll get shanked. Megatron has perhaps the most useful Mini-con ports for attaching extra Mini-cons and not looking ridiculous. Spots on his arms and legs as well as his back allow him to hold 4-5 of the little guys and look perfectly balanced.

In looking at this mold, I would recommend Megatron over Galvatron. Megatron's color scheme is classic and well balanced. You can always pay a little bit extra and get the Japanese version for the improved faction symbols too. Galvatron in his US colors is a nice figure but it is still a white and lavender color palette and many people will not have a place for that outside of an Armada shelf. Of note, the Japanese version of Galvatron has a more accurate color scheme but that one is actually white and pink-ish purple. He's considerably more difficult to come by when compared to the US version of Galvatron.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: Tidal Wave rounds out the Giga-Cons, and has the dubious distinction of having even less meaningful articulation than Overload! However, don’t let this brickish brute fool you; Tidal Wave is an imposing addition to anyone’s collection. Comprised of three naval vessels – an aircraft carrier, a hovercraft, and a submarine-ish thing, Tidal Wave combines in a similar fashion to Beast Wars Neo Magamatron. Each vessel lacks an individual robot mode, but instead combines to create either a giant warship, or the robot mode of Tidal Wave. One of the tallest figures in the line, with the exception of Unicron, Tidal Wave can raise his arms, and that’s it. The legs are articulated, but only laterally, so if you’d like to have Tidal Wave doing the splits, you are set.

Tidal Wave also features the ability to combine with the Megatron mold, creating a set of overpowered arm gauntlets and a booster pack to compliment Megatron’s already absurd cannon mode. Paired with the smallest Mini-con, Ramjet, Tidal Wave is large enough to accommodate a fully functional elevator on the deck of the aircraft carrier to deploy Ramjet.

Tidal Wave also features a second, also dubious, distinction. He is the most different in deco from the Armada and Micron Legend releases. While the Armada version looks like a crayon factory accident, with olive green, gray, neon red, purple, gold, and dark gray, the Micron Legend deco simplifies to a lush purple, softer orange, and grays, unifying the decos between the three vessels, and building a beautiful palette of destruction.

If you like big, chunky, feature filled figures, Tidal Wave has should be on your purchase list. A word of caution, however… all the Armada and Micron Legend versions of this figure feature a design defect in the “armpits” that will fire the missiles accidentally and constantly. This flaw is fixed in the sublime Energon deco.

Garry Chalk Optimus Prime

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: By itself, the Optimus Prime figure is about the size of an Ultra figure, and I’m sort of lethargic and depraved to say anything good about it. The only thing that this version of Prime has on the deluxe version is his size and how it fits in with the rest of the scale for Armada. Out of all of the Armada figures, Optimus was hit the hardest when it comes to gimmicks, as they force him to not do anything else. Prime is one of the most static modern-day large Transformers. However when he takes the 1+ Mushroom, which Counterpunch is about to talk about, he gets a little better.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: Optimus has several versions of powered modes and in a way they became the symbol for any kind of Prime combiner mode. First off, Prime has the ability to combine with his trailer. What's really cool about this is the way in which you can have the trailer auto-transform for the merge. There is an infra-red light signal that cues the trailer to mechanically reconfigure for this mode. Prime then forms the upper half. Once combined, there's only limited arm movement and a head turn. It's more about stature and the fact that you can have the trailer reconfigure itself rather than making a bigger more posable prime. There's also a light gimmick that extends into his gun if positioned properly.

On top of this, you can attach Overload as a massive gun battery atop his shoulders. The instructions basically have you cram in on there but there is a series of latches that make it surprisingly secure. I have a hard time imagining who Prime needs this kind of firepower to go up against. Overload as a gun system looks like some kind of mass-murder machine...

Additionally or apart from Overload, Prime can combine with Jetfire who replaces the trailer and becomes a set of winged legs, presumably for flight mode. Don't be fooled, there is no added posability here but he does look damn cool with all of these units combined into one Supreme Optimus.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: Sparkplug is Prime’s Minicon, homaging both the G1 human by name, and very clearly Bumblebee by appearance, complete with the iconic horns on his tiny head. Transforming into a highly generalized Lamborghini, this mold remains one of my favorites today, with its clean lines and surprisingly complex transformation.

Undefeated Unicron

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: To this day, I still think of Unicron as a Transformers piece that is unrivaled. He’s menacing, loading with articulation, gimmicks and is a Transformers figure that everyone needs to own in one form or the other (Energon/2010/Amazon Exclusive). I remember getting Unicron for Christmas back in ’03, and it was a thrill to receive. I still remember the agony of having to hack him open from the jumble of twist-ties he was trapped in. He’s also got a really well engineered mini-con named Dead End, in which his mass appearance in the cartoon resulted in an increase in popularity and a penchant for Dead End to be army built.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Counterpunch: Actually during the time of writing this article, we're in the middle of packing for yet another move. I have my four Unicrons out, ready for packing and my wife comments on them, "I remember when you got that and how impressive it was. I never thought we'd see a Transformer that big again...and you have four of him now." She was right though, Unicron was a big deal when he came out. It's almost a "you had to be there" thing at this point. Funny thing for me is, I'm not sure we'll ever see a Transformer this big again considering how things are going.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Razorclaw0000: This guy was it for me. He cemented my love for the character and the awful chaos he represents. With the creation of this figure and the accompanying fiction across both the Unicron trilogy and the Universe 2003 line, my quest to collect all things Unicronian began. Years later that awful quest morphed into the disease of completionism, but Unicron was the dark seed that set me off.

The Legend of Micron

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: While Takara had their own toy line in with Beast Wars II and Neo, it was never until Armada, or in Japan – Micron Legend - that every Takara figure started to have their own differences in contrast to Hasbro figures. With two piles to pick from, Transformers collectors started to change their collecting habits. Takara’s Micron Legend focused more on show accuracy, and with that I have to say my favorite variant would have to be Blurr, or in Takara terms, Silverbolt. Silverbolt’s deco gives a new feel to the figure, as his yellow-stained windows are now red. Even his micron Incinerator, now called, Turbot, features a new deco. It’s just these little things that made Micron Legend deserve a second glance from me, and now I’m proud to own a majority of the Micron Legend figures.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


Counterpunch: I've spoke a bit about this in my post but for me the most interesting difference between the Hasbro and Takara releases is Tidal Wave. It's a complete change in colors and really manages to give the big guy a color scheme that screams "death bringer". As a dark horse candidate, I'd mention Jetfire who's ML color swaps are simple but brilliant.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article



Razorclaw0000: As CP alluded to, Jetfire destroys his domestic counterpart by replacing the “heat scorched” white with the most crisp and pure white ever seen on a toy. The figure gleams in gorgeous brilliance. I’m also a fan of the “crystal” standard/deluxe Optimus Prime mold.

The I In Team

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article

Blurrz: Blind packs, new decos, exclusives and the sort. Micron Legend went full force with their mini-con friends, and to this day I’m still trying to track down every mini-con that has been released by Takara. My counterparts are jerks. way ahead of me in that race, but I still have a fair share of little guys. Out of all of the Micron Legend variants, I have to say that my favorite would have to be X-Dimension Glide, whos blend of black, white, orange and chrome come together in a beautiful combination. Glide is a part of the X-Dimension Air Military team, and his teammates are gems as well! No don’t mind me as I start to cry myself to sleep as Counterpunch and Razorclaw0000 brag about their favorite micron.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


Counterpunch: I will be forever grateful as a fan of Microns to JRFitzpatrick for setting me up with my Linkage Microns. I remember them when they came out but did not understand their relevance until later. The fiction tied into these guys and their simple but balanced color choices really work for me.

Honorable mentions go to Atlas and Rod who are wonderful vibrant redecos of Sparkplug.

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


Razorclaw0000: The Aqua Raider team, a DVD repaint of the Sea Team, is stunning in rich dark bluish grays that compliment Nemesis Prime exceedingly well. Also, the X-Dimension Destruction team gets a nod for the luxurious metallic orange and teal paints that would fit in with any modern United figure. Finally, the Micron Booster Emergency Team repaint, in all of its “Minty Fresh” glory delight me, with emerald transparent plastics.

The Aftermath

Seibertron.com Treasures: The Armada Anniversary Article


Blurrz: When Armada was done, I was taken aback by the fact that it was finished. I went on a Transformers hiatus and skipped Energon -> Cybertron -> Classics, and didn’t get back to the hobby until the 2007 Movie. The fact that there weren’t any mini-cons anymore was a big disappoint on my end. As long as I continue collecting Transformers, Armada/Micron Legend will be my favorite line, and I’ll cherish every little bit. The fact that lines like Power Core Combiners and Takara’s Arm Microns continue to carry the Armada banner thrills me beyond words. Armada begets a lot of distaste, but as I hope we’ve alluded to – there’s diamonds in the rough.

Counterpunch: I didn't like Armada at first but it was the line that got me to try and have everything in hand before making a solid judgement on a figure. I would come to love the large and simple designs as they were a straight call back to the G1 figures I grew up with. It's really the mark of my collection in a way because while I started back with RiD, it was Armada that got me to complete my first line. I still have one piece to grab though. Eventually I will find a Micron Legends Black Convoy to replace my US version. I may be holding out on finding him though so that I still have something fun to hunt for at Botcon. lol, I'm stupid. I know.

Razorclaw0000: I am a Mini-con and Micron collector, through and through, dedicated enough to even collect the minor variants between Armada and Micron Legend. With a count somewhere in the 500 area, I’m swimming in Microns, Scrooge McDuck style.



-END-



(Thanks to tfu.info and the lens of Counterpunch for additional images)

So, we leave the floor to you, the members of Seibertron.com. How does Transformers Armada resonate with you? ]]> <![CDATA[Interview with Transformers Comic Writer James Roberts]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 22:45:29 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/interview-with-transformers-comic-writer-james-roberts/23945/ 1f2c7b38e1c0e70662e654be4b753546 Comic Book News, Editorials Craveonline.com has posted an energetic and informative interview with James Roberts of MTMTE and many other iterations of the Transformers comic universes.

The scribe talks to CraveOnline in-depth about how he's made Transformers more new-reader friendly than ever, and his big plans for the future. I could fill you in on his opinion and thoughts of the new parallel story arcs in More Than Meets the Eye and Robots in Disguise..... Or, perhaps this excerpted quote will suffice: Roberts refers to TF:MTMTE as "an unholy hybrid of Dark Star, Justice League International, Doctor Who and Arrested Development. Heck, you can throw in Magnolia and X-Files in there too. And Community, for that matter. Essentially, MTMTE is what happens when a superhero team book collides with a space opera sitcom."

This conversation covers topics from Last Stand of the Wreckers up the next issue of More Than Meets the Eye. With some good inside info and some nice artwork taken from multiple issues, this is an interview worth checking out. Click here to view it click the picture of Mr. Roberts below!

Image]]> <![CDATA[Transformers More Than Meets The Eye Issue #1 Review]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:45:04 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-issue-1-review/23723/ 01a83d78bb0894a6d135bfa855861fac Comic Book News, Editorials, Reviews
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I have recently had the privilege of reading IDW's More Than Meets the Eye issue 1, and I have to say WOW. The plot continues from the stand alone issue: The Death of Optimus Prime. The story so far: the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons is over, and after the matrix is used to purge its polluted core, the planet Cybertron reverts to a primordial state and sends a message to thousands of non-affiliated transformers: “come home”. The planet is once again teeming with life and chaos. As the newly appointed leader of the Autobots, Bumblebee must manage a populace that not only despise the Great War, but its warriors, Autobot and Decepticon alike. The planet is now inhabited by former enemies and civil unrest over an "illegal occupation of Cybertron" by the Autobots, and the political scene is set.

The ranks of the surviving Autobots has been tremulously split by the decision to stake out into the galaxy in search of The Knights of Cybertron. The brash revolutionary Rodimus, has convinced 208 Autobots that their time as warriors is over. That their sacrifice has been made and that it is time to seek out glory that has been lost. Promises of Cyberutopia and the ancient Knights of Cybertron are enough to convince many former Autobot warriors to join the crew of The Lost Light.

Included in this exodus are familiar faces, like Ratchet, the Autobots Chief Medical Officer. Finding no fit time to inform Bumblebee of his decision to leave, it is during the autopsy of a "Burning-Monk" protestor that Ratchet confides in Bumblebee the truth of his aging. Bearing witness to a being who transformed himself for weeks, constantly, until it killed itself, Ratchet admits he, like so many warriors, are aged, and tired. Being war torn for countless cycles, Ratchet has decided to join the Lost Light in hopes of not only repairing lost Cybertronians, but in hopes of finding his replacement - a new medic to take up his title.

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One by one, Autobots board the Lost Light. Bumblebee and Prowl find themselves bitterly watching the launch. The crew includes Ultra Magnus, Drift, Chromedome Brainstorm and many more Cybertronian patriots. This ill fated ship, The Lost Light, takes on their first three injured 'bots even before launch, when Chromedome, Ratchet and Rewind stumble across an encounter between Whirl and Cyclonus! Unbeknownst to them, the brawl between ancient enemies erupted from a case of mistaken identity. Cyclonus, who appears to embrace the peace between the two factions, detects a very familiar energy signature, belonging to Scourge. As he pauses from his flight, he discovers something very strange. Twisted in the style that Roche and Roberts established in Last Stand of the Wreckers, Whirl, the exiled Wrecker, is found talking sweetly and openly to the spark fragment of one of the Sweeps. In a demented desecration, Cyclonus finds himself invading Whirls private world. Enraged, the former Wrecker pursues Cyclonus, all the while ignoring his pleads for peace. Shortly after Cyclonus attempts to defends himself, he his slammed to the ground, offline, with his aggressor ready to finish him off. This is where Ratchet and the others discover the brutally one sided conflict and attempt to step in. Whirl has lost his connection to reality. He is mad and aims to confront those who intervene, when up from the ground, comes an explosion. Poor little Tailgate had fallen through unstable ground trying to reach the Lost Light before take off. The fall disabled him from moving, so he decided that an energon explosion might help his chances of rescue.

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In a behavior I would not have expected, Prowl and Bumblebee have plotted some sort of interference for the crew of the adventure ship. An explosion immediately after take-off hurtles the doomed ship through space and time, tearing the ship open. Many Autobots are hurled into space. A nearby remote planet is chosen to set down onto to make repairs and to begin retrieving the lost crew members. Rodimus is only in the very beginnings of his great quest and he faces the hardships of leadership and loss once again.

At the end of the book, is a series of cryptic, and static filled messages. Warning of future shortcomings and wrong decisions made by the leader and crew of the Lost Light. With no indication that the message was received, it may not have mattered at all.

This series is set to run parallel with fast approaching, Robots in Disguise. MTMTE will continue to follow Rodimus and the crew of the Lost Light. While RID will transcribe the on-goings of Cybertron and the civil unrest and intrigue that besets the remaining Autobots and their new leader, Bumblebee. Both series are years in the making as they continue the story of Generation One by bringing us to the end of the war. The return to Cybertron. And it is not the golden paradise one might have imagined. Rather, it is an unstable place with a new government and a mass of inhabitants that know very little of the struggle. The stage is set for political blowout in a post war world full of former enemies and new threats!

In conclusion: awesome. I have come to expect nothing less. This series my not be for everyone, however, I found it appropriately politically charged. Given the election and the US troop draw down, the book seems to emulate much of our current society. It also had several references for you G1 fans.]]> <![CDATA[2Fast 2Blurrious - Treasures of the 2007 Movie Toy Line]]> Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:19:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/2fast-2blurrious-treasures-of-the-2007-movie-toy-line/22317/ a632f6109ff0f78c73e393ef7482c71b Editorials, Movie News, Site Articles, Toy News Dark Of The Moon toy line in full swing and many new Transformers collectors asking questions such as "Which movie characters should I buy?", I think it’s fitting that I take a look back at the toy line that started it all.

In May 2007, the first toys to accompany Michael Bay’s first live-action film were released. The movie aesthetic was not to the liking of veteran fans, but that certainly did not dismay the new wave of collectors from causing the great Transformers drought that year. While many of the characters featured in the 2007 film have superior figures from the Revenge of the Fallen or Dark Of The Moon lines, much credit is not given to many of the hidden gems released in 2007 and 2008. Yet despite the popularity of the 2007 Movie toy line, many new movie collectors have seemed to link "ROTF Leader Optimus Prime > 2007 Leader Prime" with "ROTF> 2007", and the latter, I assure you is not something I’ll agree with it.

It’s more than just 2007 being Skidsless and Mudflapless, it’s the fact that the 2007 toy line was able to take that CGI on screen and turn that into plastic form. It set the foundation for ROTF and DOTM to build on. The revenue produced from the toy line is one of the reasons why we’ve had 3 toy lines per annum for the past few years. But no, to me, the 2007 toy line is more than just a revenue or precursor success, there are actually some fine figures in the line that many collectors have overlooked and should have in their collection. Let’s begin, shall we?


Arcee (Deluxe)

The femme fatale was a shoe-in to be in the 2007 film, but was replaced by Ironhide in early production. Thank goodness, I had enough problem getting the fembot in the drought and it would not have helped if she was an on-screen character! Out of all the movie-verse bikes, this is the best figure. Scale, a category that I don’t care about, can be thrown out of the window. Many complained about her inability to stand straight, but she is no ROTF Sideswipe, and unlike the bike fembots of the ROTF line, at least she has feet. She has the body dimensions that is categorical of females of any sentient species, and that is also a part that the ROTF fembots lack. Think the face lacks feminity? Well the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree when looking at her ROTF brethren.

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All the power to those who have the ROTF bike sisters in their collection, because I understand those who wish to have what’s on the silver screen transplanted on to their shelves for ‘movie-accuracy’. But this is the superior Arcee. Already have a movie-verse Arcee? Call it another name then! There’s enough fembot names to go around; Lancer, Greenlight, Flareup, and Flamewar are examples. Whether it’s pink (original, battle damaged), black (Takara retail exclusive), or generation one themed (Wonderfest ’08 convention exclusive), I think this is a mold that every movie fan can appreciate.

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Dropkick (Deluxe)

Well this guy totally isn’t in here because his biography is freaking hilarious, as he is the first movie-verse Transformer to be portrayed as emo(tional). No, his figure is rather enjoyable. The mold might not be very high in regards to collectors following the popular trends, but I’m not one to conform. Dropkick has a tad bit of kibble in the backpack area, and suffers from the dreaded ‘chicken legs’. It is more of the little things that make Dropkick one of my favorites of the 2007 line. In vehicle mode, the flatbed cover can be removed to reveal the back of the truck, which has ample space for you to fit in a scout figure. (Hardtop sniping while riding on Dropkick is legit). While having a Decepticon logo on your vehicle is hardly a robot in disguise, Dropkick seems to have put some thought into it. Ingenious to have the symbol tattooed on the top of your hood and roof – Mr. Antisocial went to Decepticon school and realized that there aren’t too many Autobots that can fly in the Bayverse.

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The robot mode is an aspect that I like from my Transformers, a sturdy, well-engineered figure that isn’t going to fall down after being placed. There’s just a lot to Dropkick in robot mode that I like, parts that fold in and out, weaponry, and just that feel that you’re holding a Transformer, not an action figure. His main weapon is rather clumsy, but that is more or less forgotten by the two double-barrel guns he has under his forearms. A quality figure that is a great addition to your Decepticon ranks, or Autobot ranks with his 2007 repaint, Salvage, who is also a piece that I’d highly suggest. The figure was also released in the ROTF toy line under the name of Blowpipe (Really Hasbro?), for those into blue Transformers. But who’d buy that Tupac for a near identical version of Sideways?

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Cliffjumper (Deluxe)

Why not Bumblebee, you ask? Toy wise, there are much better Movie Bumblebees released after the 2007 toy line, and discussion about the other two movie lines are for another day. And If I get my way, editorial discussion on Bumblebee will be avoided entirely. But despite there being other Bumblebee figures out there, the 2007 Camaro Concept figure is actually a masterpiece in its own right. It also happens to be the only Movie Deluxe Cliffjumper we have up to now. For those wondering what’s up with the teal on Cliffjumper, Salvage, and Black Arcee, that would be the Allspark Battles sub-line of the 2007 line. Cool name. Terrible execution, as many repaints were slaughtered with copious, unadulterated, and ridiculous amounts of teal. (Check out Target Exclusives - All Spark-Enhanced Bumblebee, Brawl, Barricade and Jazz for good laughs). Luckily for Cliffjumper, his vehicle mode was left untouched from the teal, and what we get is a beautiful Red Camaro Concept. What I generally like from vehicle modes of Transformers I collect, especially the movie-verse, is for them to be spot on. And at the time, the Camaro Concept had one of the best looking vehicle modes, losing out to that sleek Corvette Stingray when ROTF rolled in.

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Robot mode has alot of articulation for a movie figure, and while it may feel like a caveman compared to the future incarnations of Bee, it is still a stand up figure. The Gun/Blade that Cliffjumper wields almost makes Mechtech look like it’s ancestor. The gaudy teal of the Allspark Battles looks far from tacky on Cliffjumper, instead highlighting some of his aesthetics and adding a bit more flare to his colour scheme. The only beef (New York cut, Medium Rare please) I have with the figure is his shoulder pads, which have fallen off as many times as I’ve said eh. Bottom line, it's the movie-verse. There are explosions, big guns, and Decepticons flying everywhere as plot-armor Autobots blow them into pieces. And this is Cliffjumper. The bot who has got enough weaponry to make explosions and blow up plot-armor Decepticons to bits. Get him!

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Longarm (Deluxe)

The vehicle modes of Autobots seem to be losing their flair in recent years. It`s a lost art for many under Optimus Prime`s command, as their vehicle mode’s function appears only to look sleek, stylish and appeal to the newer wave of Transformers fans. For Movie Longarm, it’s different. Yes, he’s in this line because he’s the tow truck that Mikaela drove in the movie. But it’s his design, his working tow, and robot mode of the figure that makes this a brute, blue-collar working Autobot. Yeah, he’s a bit chunky, and he probably walks slow, but who said all walking robots of destruction need to be agile?

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If Transformers played Hockey or Football, Longarm would be the grinder or hard hitter of the team. His face looks like he’s wearing a helmet, and the way his chest is stylized makes it look like he’s wearing armor. In a Transformers universe catering to Michael Bay’s explosions, Longarm’s got the gun to rule all guns. Eye light piping is magical, and the transparent back lights on the tow are well placed. Many Classics-verse fans delving into the movie-verse toys for good ‘homages’ would have likely picked up Longarm’s ROTF repaint, Hoist. But from a personal standpoint, a two-pack with G1 deco Mixmaster is not worth the trouble as Longarm is the better use of the mold.

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Evac (Voyager)

What I like the best of Evac, and his mold predecessor Blackout, are that they are great representations of their respective movie-verse forces. Blackout the Decepticon, who like most Decepticons, looks mysterious, has a dark color scheme, and takes the form of a militaristic vehicle. Evac the Autobot, who like most Autobots, has a chivalrous, flamboyant bright color scheme, has a nonchalant Autobot symbol screaming "come at me bro", and has the face of something that would protect mankind, not destroy it. This is more about Evac being a gem, mainly because Blackout is a popular character that everyone likely owns already in the original, Premium, or Grindor versions. Plus there’s always that little little, completely unlikely smidgen of hope that Hasbro will make a Leader Class Pave Low Heli.

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Don’t get me wrong. 2007 Evac is no DOTM Skyhammer(because Skyhammer is very good), and it’s also no ROTF Evac (because that mold is avoid avoid avoid) but this is still one mean Helicopter. The Allspark Battles teal is very heavy on the Voyager class figure, but that is contrasted by the figure’s vibrant orange. What was once Scorponok included with Blackout, is a lifeboat for Evac. And unlike Scorponok, the lifeboat can be wielded by Evac as a blaster. Evac shows that despite whatever mold you start off with, a vibrant paint job and different head sculpt can turn your evil helicopter full of death into a lifesaving, search and rescue vehicle. Movie-collectors, help your Autobots out, they are especially low in air force.

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Stockade (Deluxe)

Stockade gave me a lot of trouble because he was competing with 2007 Landmine for a spot in this editorial. Both figures have great alternate modes, and both figures have robot modes that are somewhat ruined by the gaudy teal. Luckily for Stockade, I feel that his ROTF repaint Gears is inferior to the original, and unluckily for Landmine, try ROTF Armorhide instead. I have said many times that vehicle modes of figures in the movie-verse need to be spot on. Stockade is phenomenal. Painted grill, painted wheels, clear windows everywhere, headlights, backlights, an actual sunroof, and painted door handles. Girl, it looks real. His Decepticon symbol is painted in normal purple, and not silver like the majority of movie-verse Transformers.

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Robot mode does not offer as much as the vehicle mode in terms of looks. Stockade has the foot soldier demeanour. Short, stocky and built. He’s got this extending arm gimmick, like Barricade and Bonecrusher, but it’s pretty lame. The teal is a bit too much for a Decepticon transforming from a Black SUV, but blame it on the dark, got you off the mark, blame it on the a a a a a allspark. The photo below makes him look like kibble city, don’t worry, it’s not that bad.

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Final Battle Jazz (Deluxe)

It’s a figure of your favourite character before he gets ripped in half by Megatron. Not as grimm as the mold’s fate. Don’t get me wrong, the Human Alliance Jazz with Lennox figure is fantastic and if you haven’t already, get it. *Gets back the scale that I threw out the window in regards to Arcee.* I just don’t think Jazz was that large in the movie (not going to actually check), so the Deluxe size is where it’s at. The reason this dude is on this list is not because Jazz is unpopular, but I feel that this variant is obscure. For this version to come out only for it to be snubbed a handful of times with Premium, ROTF Smokescreen and DOTM, is just not right.

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Not much to see in vehicle mode, as it’s nearly the same. Robot mode on the other hand is pretty cool. You’ve got detailed battle damage on his head and legs. It’s like energon is gushing out of those areas. Really slick paint apps, and it’s a shame that future "Battle-Damaged" figures ended up failing in comparison to FB Jazz. The best part of the toy, is the weapon. The trans-crapper sword that all the other versions have is a joke to this ‘Crescent Cannon’. Heck, buy this toy just for the weapon, and then put it on Premium Jazz. That’s what all the cool kids are doing.

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Brawl (Leader)

It’s rather odd for me to put a Leader Class figure on a ‘Hidden Treasures’ list, but Leader Brawl seems to be forgotten under the pile of other Leaders released in ROTF and DOTM. For those new collectors out there, Brawl is a figure that you really can’t miss. The 2007 Leader Graduating Class includes Optimus, who was done better in ROTF, and Megatron, who’s probably the worst Leader figure of all three movie-lines. If you want this character in your collection, it’s Leader or bust. The Deluxe class was a travesty and pales in comparison to this behemoth. Sure the figure is not at the Masterpiece level, since there’s no working treads, but it has a lot of articulation for a Transformer with a tank mode.

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When Transformed, it’s not all there either. The figure’s not as crisp as 2007 Leader Prime, but it’s still not as chunky as 2007 Leader Megatron. There’s a lot going on in the weaponry department, and what’s underrated about the figure is that it takes the CGI to heart. Sure, kibble is there, but it’s not like it wasn’t there in the movie either. This beauty is a steal right now on the secondary market, and is certainly worth it in either his original colors, or his ‘Deep Desert’ version if you dig them Tusken Raiders or Jawas.

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Incinerator (Voyager)

Who? Incinerator’s rather obscure and completely forgotten in some cases by the ongoing movie fanbase. He’s got a full-time membership to the 'no hands club' along with Voyager Starscream, but don’t let that mere flaw deter the credibility of this Decepticon. If I can recall correctly, he is the first big Osprey helicopter since Beast Machines. The vehicle mode just feels compact, solid and it almost seems like he can fly! (He won’t. No matter how much Energon you drink, he actually won’t!)

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The teal is awful on this figure, but I can't complain, I'm a Blurr fan after all! The fin hands are actually pretty cool if you think that he's wielding them. Robot mode is stocky, and I really dig how his chest is formed. He's got clown feet, but he won't fall over because of the back stand that he is. The figure just look so funky, and yet one look at the spinning blades of death reminds you that this is a ruthless killing machine made out of a mountain of metal. The Takara domestic black version of this figure contrasts the Hasbro's grey, and both are great additions to your Decepticon arsenal.

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With that, you have my bias opinion on the 2007 line figures that did not get as much limelight compared to other toys of more popular characters. Some honorary mentions here, and I’ll start off with Rescue Ratchet, as he has the best colors of all the Voyager Hummer repaints. Try to complete your movie-verse seekers in the Voyager Class size with 2007 G1 Starscream, 2007 Thundercracker, and ROTF Skywarp. The DOTM Deluxe idea is just way too small for movie seekers.

Agree to disagree with me? Who are your favorites of the 2007 line, and do you feel any figures have been overlooked by the popular eye? Leave your opinions by commenting below!

~Blurrz



2Fast 2Blurrious is an editorial series written by Seibertron.com staff member Blurrz, and is not responsible for the amount of money you will spend on Transformers in the next few hours. Nor is it responsible for your partner's shopping spree with your card because it's his/her turn after you spent an absurd amount of money on 'kid's toys'. ]]> <![CDATA[Transformers Dark of the Moon Moscow Premiere: photos]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:33:06 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-moscow-premiere-photos/22106/ 1ccc127dd29badbc47aafd1b1d0c6fb9 Editorials, Event News, Media, Movie News
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Image]]> <![CDATA[Transformers Dark of the Moon Moscow Premiere: photos of the event and of the Linkin Park concert]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:50:45 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-moscow-premiere-photos-of-the-event-and-of-the-linkin-park-concert/22104/ d76d7990151aee0f01091721dd399a67 Editorials, Event News, Media, Movie News, Press Releases Firstly we'll start off with a video, a video of the Premiere and the Linking Park concert.

We'll be bringing you more of this event, so stay tuned.]]> <![CDATA[2Fast 2Blurrious - Common Q&A For Dual Model Kit Optimus Prime and Bumblebee]]> Fri, 20 May 2011 19:12:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/2fast-2blurrious-common-qa-for-dual-model-kit-optimus-prime-and-bumblebee/21704/ f83cc8c8999ff2a41b061b5af71376f9 Editorials, Movie News, Toy News Takara Tomy's upcoming Dual Model Kit series. For those who don’t know, Takara is going to release kits for Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The buyer will receive a package with a robot skeleton, and will have multiple sprues and instructions to put their robot masterpieces together. The duo of Autobots are set for release in Japan on June 25th.

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Since these are expensive products and this is the first time many of you here will be exposed to building kits, we thought it would be a good idea to answer some of the likely questions many of you will ask. Hopefully all of you will know what you’ll be getting into with your purchase, or perhaps our words of wisdom will lean you into the direction of these kits not being for you. So without further ado, shall we?

Q: Will I need paint for the Model Kits?

Blurrz: Straight up answer, no. These sets are a bit different from your regular kits. Some of the pieces are pre-painted (i.e. Optimus Prime’s flames). Maybe you’ll need paint to highlight some features of Optimus Prime or Bumblebee, but if you don’t paint or customize Transformers, then no need to start now.

Robofreak: You don’t need paint, but if you want to add some extra flare, then paint away! From what I’ve seen, the kits do come pre-painted, but where’s the fun in that? If you’re up for the challenge I’d recommend hitting the hobby shop and buying some paints, primer, and masking tape. I’m a Tamiya paint fan myself because of how easy it is to fix mistakes if they occur. I could go on for a while about different paints and mixing, but I think that would be an article in itself. If you need to know more about paint then feel free to stop by Transtopia and some other art sites to learn about paint. You can even PM me. I love these kind of questions.

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Q: Do I need glue to assemble them?

Blurrz: No. It’s nice to have handy, but it’s not necessary. For example, if Bumblebee’s armor on his arm keeps coming loose, etc.

Robofreak: As Blurrz said, you don’t really need it, but I would heavily recommend it. It will help reduce the risk of losing parts.

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Q: What tools should I have on hand while building the kits?

Blurrz: (Nail)clipper and file. Since the snap-on parts are off sprues, you’re going to need force to pull them off. And since you might be left off with some plastic residue after pulling your parts off sprues, a file is good to even out the figure’s surface. For those wishing to have more of a nicer look on their kits, I suggest a Gundam marker, to help bring out the features.

Robofreak: If I catch anyone using their hands to twist these pieces out, I will smack you. Now that that’s over with, a nail clipper and file will work fine for removing the parts and sanding off the sprue nubs. However, I would like to encourage anyone taking these kits on, to go to the hobby shop and buy a set of nippers. They are specially designed with a flat edge to reduce the amount of sprue sticking out of the cut piece. I would also recommend some jewellers files that you can get at any hardware store. They’re thin and you won’t risk sanding more than you want as much with them.

Q: How good will the instructions be?

Blurrz: Well I’m glad someone wants to use instructions! If you don’t, you’re going to be lost. Gunpla instructions are a lot different from let’s say ‘Lego’. They tell you where each piece goes exactly and sometimes gives you the sequence in which pieces need to be placed. Keep your eyes on those instructions at all times! One silly mistake and you might be spending half an hour trying to pry off a piece that shouldn’t be there.

Robotfreak: Robofreak: Instructions are great, but I’m going to doubt that the instructions for these kits will be as refined as the Gunpla instructions. I’m basing this off how vague most of the TF instructions have been as of late. One thing that I will encourage is to lay all the parts out on a desk or something so that you can see exactly where everything goes. Basically make an expanded view of what goes where. Here’s a picture of a Gundam Astray Red Frame I built a couple years ago and the first thing I did was trim all the parts and lay them out exactly where they should go on the mech. It helped me get familiar enough with the parts to where I didn’t need the instructions to identify the many little pieces. As you can see in the picture, everything is layed out and not a jumbled mess of parts.

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Q: Will there be stickers with these kits?

Blurrz: We haven’t seen anything yet, but I’m guessing we’ll get a little sticker pad. Maybe for the eyes, license plates and GMC/Chevy logos. Not good with applying stickers? Trust me, it’s better than trying to paint eyes…

Robofreak: You want to talk about painting eyes Blurrz? Take on an anime figure and that will make a robot eye look easy. So far, nothing on the Prime and Bumblebee kits shows stickers, but I’m going to guess that we might see a couple. If there are any, I think the only one that would be worth anything would be the license plate.

Q: Any other tips in regards to building these kits?

Blurrz: Make sure everything flushes well. If some piece is sticking out, it’s because you didn’t file down the plastic, or didn’t push the piece in far enough. These pieces are engineered to stick together, so it’s all up to the builder!

Robofreak: Test fit! Test fit! Test fit! I cannot stress that enough. Always doublecheck the instructions and make sure you know what’s going where. For those feeling slightly brave, the parts do use pegs. If it’s anything like a Gunpla kit, you’ll be able to cut the pegs at a slight angle on the tip which will allow you to fit the parts properly. However, this method will require that you use glue afterwards to ensure everything stays where you want it.

Q: How tall are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee?

Blurrz: They’re going to be huge! Okay, you’ve got a better answer, right robofreak?

Robofreak: I may have an answer, but I could be wrong. From what I’ve seen of the kits and have gathered on pics, they appear to be 1/35 scale. (Shout hooray all you military modelers) That should put Prime at about 10-11 inches and Bumblebee should be about 6-7 inches. We’ll know more once we see the official release.

Q: How much time will it take to build these?

Blurrz: For a first time kit maker, I wouldn’t even put a time limit in hours, but I’d give a good afternoon or evenings work. Bumblebee should be smooth sailing, while Optimus Prime might be a bit tricky as he has more than a handful of sprues to deal with.

Robofreak: Time is relative to how much effort you’re going to put into it. If you want something you can fiddle with think it cool, then probably an afternoon. If you want to take it the extra mile and do all the painting, weathering, and awesome detail work (maybe even do a diorama?) then the project can take a lot longer. I’ve been known to spend weeks on a single kit so your results may vary depending on what you want out of the project.

Q: Do these transform? If not, how come?

Blurrz: Does yellow snow taste like lemons?

Robofreak: You have 2 options. It can either transform or it can look good. If you want something that transforms, the kit may not be for you. Generally, transforming kits can be a pain to deal with and sometimes don’t look as good as you want. If you want something that looks great, then go for the kit and have an awesome display piece.

Q: Why are these so expensive compared to regular Transformers toys?

Blurrz: That’s a really good question, and I can’t say because they are imports. These are a little bit more expensive than their Gundam brethren that are the same size. But still, for what we’re getting here, pre-painted plastic, and sprues with multiple colors on them, I just have to admit that we’re getting a steal with these kits.

Robofreak: Considering the amount of money, I’ve dropped on model kits over the years, I think these are rather cheap. Especially after dropping $150 on a anime resin figure that requires a whole lot more than just snap assembly.


Q: Is Dual Model Kit better than Robot Replicas? Trans-Scanning Series?

Blurrz: These are a 100 times better than Robot Replicas because these figures have articulation. Bumblebee and Optimus Prime are different sizes, and not the same! I could see comparisons with the 2007 Trans-scanning series, but even then, those were pretty awful. Both BB and Optimus Prime were the same size, and their alternate modes were garbage. I have to give credit to these Model Kits, because despite having no alternate mode/transformation, they are going all out in how the robot mode looks and feels.

Robofreak: I don’t own any of the Robot Replicas or Trans-Scanning figures if that answers the question. The difference between these kits and the Trans-Scanning is that the focus went into the robot mode instead of worrying about it transforming. For that, I’m much more interested in them and will be buying them.

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Q: Will the Dual Model Kit series survive? Who do you think will be in the next installment?

Blurrz: To see Transformers finally take that extra step into Gunpla territory is very impressive. Perhaps the Kabaya Candy toys were a little test in the water for Takara. I honestly think that if you’re a Transformers fan, and you enjoy building Lego, you’ll have a lot of fun with these. Sure, they’re nothing compared to a Deluxe Class Bumblebee and ROTF Leader Prime, but they are far from being gimmicky and useless compared to their previous non-transformable predecessors. In terms of future kits, I think Takara Tomy will go with the opposite side of the spectrum, perhaps countering with Megatron and Starscream. Or perhaps they’ll follow up with more of the Autobot cast, in Ratchet and Ironhide. All I know is that I’ll have something different to fix, rather than just the odd broken spark of a fembot on Cybertron. :KREMZEEK:

Robofreak: It’s going to depend on sales. If the kits don’t sell, then we won’t see the line expand. Sadly, economics plays a huge role in this. All I can say is that if you like the way they look, then buy them. The sales will really help determine what Takara does with the line.


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Robofreak's Astray Gold Frame

So there you have it toy collecting Bots and Fembots. We hope our insight was informative and helpful, and that you enjoy the Dual Model Kit series! If you have any more questions along your path to build these kits, reply to the topic, or shoot a PM to me or Robofreak.

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Blurrz's Exia - Terminate all unnecessary Autobots!

The Dual Model Kits are available for pre-order at sponsors BigBadToyStore and Hobby Link Japan (Prime/Bumblebee)

All the best,
Blurrz and Robofreak]]> <![CDATA[The Science and Madness Behind Transformers Power Core Combiners]]> Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:10:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/the-science-and-madness-behind-transformers-power-core-combiners/19812/ 6db61f1b94468c22f01583af2aa8c217 Editorials, Reviews, Site Articles, Toy News
The line itself has caused a lot of anguish among Transformers fans the past few months. I've watched forum topics pass by and by. I've tried my best to get a grasp of the situation, and understand the opinions of my fellow collectors. Ultimately I land at the question - How has it come to this? We're in the 21st century, and we've got an entire toyline that's seemingly worse than Armada Side Swipe.

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While I originally planned to do a review of the first wave of Power Core Combiners for Seibertron.com, that's something that no collector needs. An essay formed from my single opinion is nothing compared to you going around Seibertron.com, looking at photos of the figures or asking the general community of their opinion on a figure. It's really simple, toys are attractive to people because of their aesthetics. No one should be detered from buying a toy that they like from photos, because of one person's opinion. Especially not from a guy with hairy hands, playing around with a Transformers figure for 10:00 on Youtube with a low quality camera.

So what am I here to do? I'm here to convey the idea of Power Core Combiners. To let you know that it's more than just the toy, but also a movement. If you're not liking the sentence you just read, you probably might not want to read the rest of this article. You likely know me well already - I'm a crazed collector of Transformers: Armada, a Blurr fan, and I'm not exactly one to go along with popular trends. But no, this is not blind love for Power Core Combiners, it's a bit more like tough love. Whether you're laying the smackdown on these toys, or you love them to death, they're still just toys. And that brings us to the start of my discussion.

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Toy. Toys. [toi]. Looking it up in the dictionary, obviously you'll find a definition. A bunch of English nonsense, but there's a key phrase - "for children or others to play with". I'm sure you've heard of this all before, but for those who haven't, Hasbro's target audiences are within the definition. The children, and others, which are us Transformers fans. While I wish that us Transformers fans were pushing Transformers in the direction we wanted to, it's just not there. Even if Jon Doe dishes out one grand on Transformers every month, a kid and their ever affectionate parents outnumber us. We humans just can't stop making babies. Then there's Live Action. The 2007 Transformers Movie did not only include explosions from Michael Bay, no, it exploded the Transformers into the stratosphere, and it's a fair guess to assume that alot of kids jumped on the bandwagon.

To the movie toyline in particular. Leading up to the years before it, Transformers was always a singular toy line. Everyone had to go through the disco colors of Generation 2, the clashy colors of Universe, and the cool to me, but probably not very cool to you, Transformers Armada. Now in recent years we've had collective lines sharing the Transformers name under Hasbro's brand. In 2008, there were Movie toys, Universe/Classics 2.0 and Transformers Animated. Respectively we designated the figures under the different sections of the Transformers fanbase, for the movie fans, for the faithful Generation One fans, and for the kids. But there's a big problem here. In no way should Transformers Animated should have been designated towards the children population. Yes, it was a morning cartoon, but the toys were intricate puzzles. They require a force and memory, things that some young children have yet to develop sufficiently. To top it all off, Transformers Animated probably had the worst quality control in the history of Transformers. Loose hands, sloppy paint application, basically the works. Not only is that a huge turn off for us Transformers collectors, but when a kid doesn't like, or can't even play with the Transformers toy, that opens a huge can of warms. The parent's likely going to deem Transformers for being too difficult for their son or daughter. And while the majority of some Animated figures were completely shoddy, it still was successful because of it being part of a cartoon! Fans had to complete the 'cast' or get the toy of their favorite characters. Even to this day, people are demanding figures for Animated characters that have yet to receive one!

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Fast forward to 2010. It's the same as 2008 - Hunt for the Decepticons for movie fans, Generations for the G1 fans, and Power Core Combiners for the kids. I ultimately feel that Hasbro deemed that the Animated toyline was a failure, and in order for a 'kid toyline' to be successful, Power Core Combiners had to simplified. There's alot of playability, the line is really aimed for children...

..And just like Transformers: Animated and everything before it, the line has it's own cartoon! Hasbro's got the business down pact, a kid watches Huffer and his best buddy Caliburst blast down Smolder and Chopster. Then after the show's over, the young boy kindly asks his mother to take him to the toy store. Both figures are purchased so he can re-enact their battles all over the carpet floor. Wait.. something's not right there. Ah yes, I got it wrong. The kid buys a comic book, and sees Bombshock with the Combaticons, shooting down Skyburst and the Aerialbots.. Wait that's not right either.

Utterly Dumbfounded. It's been 3 months and I still can't get over the fact that Power Core Combiners has no connecting media. Not only is having no related cartoon for a major toy line breaking the trend, but having a toyline by itself is just silly to me. A single appearance in in Cyber Missions doesn't count either. Even reading Transformers Ongoing #11 got me interested in buying Generations Red Alert, Movie Firetrap (Brawn) and 2010 Takara Predaking. But for the PCCs - No toyline, no comics, no nothing. There's nothing to save this line if it's ratings fall. Compound this entire situation with the fact that the year 2010 yields no Transformers movie and no Transformers cartoon till Quarter 4 - I just see it's more likely for a child to be interested in Star Wars, Ben 10, or Iron Man. Even if a kid is a Transformers fan, I personally believe that the Movie line and Generations are alot more appealing than PCCs.

The last nine paragraphs have led to my conclusion of this situation - Transformers Power Core Combiners have purely been marketed out for children. Personally I believe that Hasbro is using this to test out if a kid-only toy line can suffice. I just don't see that this project is going to work well. An entire toyline made out of Activators wouldn't work either. Yes, maybe Power Core Combiners could work, but not at this time. Maybe in December, when it's Christmas time and toys are bought up more than fast food. Maybe next year, when Transformers 3 comes out and the Transformers buzz is back. But in the Summer of 2010, competing externally against Star Wars, Iron Man, GIJoe, and internally against Generations and Hunt For the Decepticons - PCC's at the bottom of the league, and they traded away their first round draft pick. I just don't see that there's any hope for this line.

Power Core Combiners have been engineered for younger fans, I just don't see how 21st Transformers Technology can make PCC 5-Packs look like antiques compared to their superior Generation One brothers. Is that wrong? Certainly not, I'm sure younger fans and children will enjoy these toys due to their low cost and for the reasons stated above. But to us, to the older fans, to the experienced, Seriously Hasbro? I can't even consider myself as old, but this line is a complete turn off to me - an Armada collector. These Mini-cons are a shadow compared to Targetmasters, Headmasters, and Armada Mini-cons. My fellow Seibertron.com staff member Counterpunch, a man who collects almost everything, is flabbergasted at this line.

I can put words as to why this line was created, to how we got to this point, but I've got nothing in the English dictionary to describe these toys. So, Mamma Mia! I did say that with this article, I would make sure that no one would talk bad about Power Core Combiners at BotCon 2011. I'm sorry if I came off with the intention of making your opinion of these guys to be positive. No, just let your anger and hate out now.


~Blurrz
Seibertron.com News Crew]]> <![CDATA[Transformers candy has dangerous amounts of lead!]]> Mon, 9 Aug 2010 03:31:37 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-candy-has-dangerous-amounts-of-lead/19507/ 946b5706ba9d1f64bc458b8855ef7bc8 Editorials, Media, Movie News Click here to read the article on the Orange County Register. We have a short excerpt for you:

Not that this candy looked that appetizing to begin with, but if you have "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Crunchy Candies in your house, get rid of it.

The California Department of Public Health discovered that one lot of the candy had excessive levels of lead, which can be harmful to the brain development of children. Pregnant women (not the target demographic of the movie or the candy, surely) who have eaten the candy, or parents of children who have, should consult a physician immediately, CDPH said in a statement Friday.


So yes if you do have these, don't eat them or give them to anybody, especially not children and throw them away!]]> <![CDATA[Ark Addendum: Birthplace of HATE!]]> Tue, 3 Aug 2010 12:42:12 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/ark-addendum-birthplace-of-hate/19455/ 4884972feff8b872b8c405e520268cb6 Cartoon News, Editorials Disciples of Boltax with a triple page special of the Ark Addendum. This time it is the laboratory of none other than the infamous Dr. Mark Morgan! What you don't know him? Well that was the angry little flash bag that weaponized the Hate plague in the Return of Optimus Prime!
Spoiler warning: Optimus Prime returns.

Just click the preview image to see the full sized version!

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Stay tuned to seibertron.com for all your Transformers related news!]]> <![CDATA[Auto Assembly 2010: Huge Hasbro Giveaway! And news on Challenge At Cybertron gift set!]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:04:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/auto-assembly-2010-huge-hasbro-giveaway-and-news-on-challenge-at-cybertron-gift-set/19398/ e0d8594ab60a544d75924d54388cb3e5 Collectables, Editorials, Event News, Press Releases, Toy News
Auto Assembly is teaming up with Hasbro again this year for some fantastic competitions this year that will blow everyone away!!

In the past couple of years we have had displays that have included displays of some of the curent toy ranges on offer in the UK and the unveiling the UK's first lucky draw toy that was produced in 2008. But for Auto Assembly 2010, it's going to be awesome...

This year, Hasbro have generously supplied us with no less than THIRTY sets Of the eagerly anticipated Challenge At Cybertron boxed set featuring Universe Cyclonus, Galvatron and Rodimus! This set is not being released in the UK and at the moment, it's not even released in the US and when it is, it will be a Target exclusive!!

To be in with a chance of winning one of these, you MUST be pre-registered for the convention. We will then be holding a random prize draw and 30 lucky winners will be chosen, and winning tickets will be inserted into the attendee packs that you will collect when you arrive at the convention. If you find one, bring it to the Registration Desk to claim your prize!!

If you haven't already booked, there's still time to be in with a chance to win one of these great sets of toys and be entered into some of our other draws that we will be announcing soon...!

To find out more about Hasbro's involvement and some other things they are doing, watch the official announcement video here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9jh9MQ1PUU

Tickets are selling fast for the convention and if you want to be a part of this and the prize draw you need to book quickly! Every day we are setting a new attendance record so why not hurry and be a part of Europe's biggest Transformers convention.

* * *

The convention is taking place over the weekend of Friday 13th - Sunday 15th August 2010 at the Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England. There will be Friday and Saturday evening programmes that are exclusive for weekend attendees and the Saturday evening will play host to a massive musical party, costume competition, and the script and disco / karaoke.

We have frozen the ticket prices for the convention from Auto Assembly 2009 and full weekend tickets are £45 for adults and £35 for children, students and senior citizens, with under 5s admitted free. Family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) are available for £145. One day tickets for Saturday have sold out, but one day tickets for Sunday are still available and cost £25 for adults, £18 for children, students or senior citizens and under 5's as always are free. However as they are limited, if you want to come along for just the day then you need to book NOW!

For more details on the convention, to see a full list of all the guests and activities taking place over the weekend, or to book your tickets, visit the website at www.autoassembly.org.uk

We hope to see you all in August 2010.

The Auto Assembly 2010 Team

Web: www.autoassembly.org.uk
Youtube: www.youtube.com/autoassembly
Twitter: www.twitter.com/auto_assembly
Forum: http://autoassembly.proboards.com
Email: autoassembly@aol.com
Tel: +44 (0)7860 948296

Auto Assembly 2010 is sponsored by www.transformertoys.co.uk and www.transformersanimated.com whose generosity have made Derrick J Wyatt, Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster's appearances at the convention possible.

Auto Assembly 2010 is also sponsored by:-

Science Fiction Collectables - www.sf-collectables.co.uk
Toyz And Gamez - www.toyzandgamez.co.uk
Big Bad Toy Store - www.bbts.com
3 Darths Comics - www.3darths.co.uk
Hobby Link Japan - www.hlj.com
Robot Kingdom - www.robotkingdom.com]]> <![CDATA[Toys R” Us Masterpiece Grimlock Pre-Order: Why Yours Might Get Cancelled!]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:10:27 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/toys-r-us-masterpiece-grimlock-preorder-why-yours-might-get-cancelled/19386/ 61021eb9e67a7c277e0f07f832180db1 Collectables, Editorials, Toy News
Toysrus wrote:Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for placing your recent order with us.

We wanted to inform you that there is a delay in fulfilling the item listed below in your order. Please accept our apologies for this delay.

At this time we do not have a ship date for the item. If you choose to wait for the item to ship, you do not need to contact us, and we will continue to process and ship your order as soon as we can. Please note, your credit card will not be charged for the item until the order is shipped.

Order Number: 7458964407

Delayed Item: 8601623E
Description: Exclusive Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock Action Figure
Quantity/Price: 1 @ $49.99

If you would like us to cancel your order, please call our Customer Service department at 1-800-869-7787, and we will be happy to promptly provide you with a full refund.

30-Day Policy
If the item(s) is not shipped by 08/27/2010 the item will be automatically cancelled and your credit card will not be charged, and/or your money will be refunded.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this delay.

Sincerely,

The Guest Service Team
Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com



Stay tuned to Seibertron.com for all your Transformers related news!]]> <![CDATA[Transformers War for Cybertron hits retail!]]> Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:53:05 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-war-for-cybertron-hits-retail/18981/ 7bab988c356fde0979e2d0f6e656e5ff Editorials, Game News, Media, Press Releases And to "celebrate this day Activision has sent us this Press Release:

TRANSFORMERS™: WAR FOR CYBERTRON

HITS RETAIL SHELVES NATIONWIDE



Highly-Anticipated Action Shooter Defines New Chapter in the TRANSFORMERS Universe



Santa Monica, CA – June 22, 2010 – The legendary conflict between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS has come to a head, as Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Transformers™: War for Cybertron has landed in retail stores nationwide. Developed by award-winning High Moon Studios and based on Hasbro’s legendary TRANSFORMERS property, the game allows players to become the ultimate TRANSFORMERS weapon in the final, epic war set on the TRANSFORMERS home planet of CYBERTRON. Complete with full online co-op and a variety of deep, competitive multiplayer modes including the ability to create your own TRANSFORMERS character for the first time ever in a video game, Transformers: War for Cybertron is the title fans have been waiting for.



“Transformers: War for Cybertron has absolutely been a passion project from day one, a true reimagining of the franchise that transports gamers straight to the core of the TRANSFORMERS universe,” said David Pokress, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Players will experience full online co-op along with several deep multiplayer modes while they can create their very own TRANSFORMERS character and compete head-to-head with their friends.”



“Hasbro is thrilled to see the highly anticipated Transformers: War for Cybertron game come to market based on our iconic TRANSFORMERS brand,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Digital Media & Gaming at Hasbro. “Working closely with Hasbro, Activision has delivered an outstanding game that explores a story within TRANSFORMERS mythology that hasn’t been explored this deeply before and will become canon within the lore. This is truly an exciting format to experience a new, action-packed and visually stunning telling of an important part of TRANSFORMERS history.”



Transformers: War for Cybertron takes players to the final moments of the grand civil war that will determine the survival of the entire TRANSFORMERS race. Fans will be able to explore the TRANSFORMERS war-ravaged home planet in full 3D environments for the first time, armed with a diverse arsenal of high-tech weaponry and the ability to convert instantly from robot to vehicle form at any time as they engage in heart-pounding battles on land and in the air in this gripping, third-person action shooter. Complete with several multiplayer modes, Transformers: War for Cybertron allows gamers to play through story missions with their friends in drop in/drop out online co-op, and also create their own TRANSFORMERS character for competitive head-to-head multiplayer modes, choosing among four distinct character classes, personalizing their character’s look and selecting from a huge variety of weapons, skills and abilities. Additionally, the game introduces Escalation, a four-player online co-op mode that allows gamers to fight together as their favorite AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS against increasing waves of enemies utilizing strong teamwork to survive.



Transformers: War for Cybertron is rated “T” (Teen – for Violence) by the ESRB and is available now on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.



Also available today are two distinct games developed by veteran studio Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo DS™, Transformers: War for Cybertron AUTOBOTS and Transformers: War for Cybertron DECEPTICONS. Each title allows players to fight for control of the TRANSFORMERS home planet through eight unique story missions and 30 intense arena challenges. At any point, gamers can change form from robot to vehicle and will have access to 30 characters across both skus, ten of which are exclusive to the DS platform. Additionally, fans can challenge their friends to high-stakes multiplayer matches using local wireless connectivity and wager one of their unlocked TRANSFORMERS characters on the outcome and winner takes all. Both DS games are rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and older – for Fantasy Violence) by the ESRB.



Additionally, Transformers™: Cybertron Adventures for the Wii™ is also available at major retailers. The game is distinct from but follows a similar storyline to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and PC versions of the game. Developed by Next Level Games and built from the ground up for the Wii platform, the title allows players to fight for CYBERTRON through two unique AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON campaigns that feature an action-packed mix of rail shooter gameplay levels in robot, driving and flying modes. A second player can join the battle by taking control of an extra reticle that can attack enemies for added firepower throughout the campaign. The game is rated “T” (Teen – for Fantasy Violence) by the ESRB.



Press kit assets are available for download at www.activision.com/presscenter. For more information, visit www.TransformersGame.com.



About HASBRO

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2010 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.



Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements:

Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as “outlook,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimate,” future,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “project,” “remain,” “scheduled,” “set to,” “subject to,” “upcoming” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Publishing’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms, declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, industry competition including from used games and other forms of entertainment, litigation risks and associated costs, rapid changes in technology, industry standards, business models including online and used games, and consumer preferences, including interest in specific genres such as music, first-person action and massively multiplayer online games, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors, and third-party developers, including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and developers that can create high quality “hit” titles, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities and potential challenges associated with geographic expansion, and the other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.



###



HASBRO and its logo, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2010 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Game © 2010 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.



All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.


Join the discussions in our video games forum!
Stay tuned to seibertron.com for all your Transformers related news!]]> <![CDATA[Seibertron.com Reviews TFCC Dion]]> Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:12:07 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/seibertron-reviews-tfcc-dion/18888/ 141fd578392bc58bf8af2e2e6d7c06b4 Editorials, Reviews, Toy News
Dion’s namesake traces back to an episode of Generation One, where the Arielbots traveled back in time to a Cybertron in the past. Dion was a Autobot dock worker they met, but if you know Generation One, I probably need go no further. Dion would receive a Japanese E-hobby exclusive based on him as a redeco of Wheelie, but this new Dion uses Universe (2008 - 2009) Hotshot’s mold, or more precisely, the Japanese Henkei version. He is also part of the Elite Guard, and is intended as a part of the 2009 Botcon “Wings of Honor” set.

Image
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With that said, Dion is a pretty sharp little car. The paint applications are very detailed, although as indicated by stock photos, he has one flaw: On each side of the car there is a Autobot insignia that is placed closely to the door hinges. As such, the upper corner of the emblem is missing. It’s a little bit glaring, as this is somewhat of a focal point on the toy. The side windows are also painted, but it is a color very close to the rest of his windows and blends nicely.

This was my first experience with the newer Hotshot mold, so I was unfamiliar with his conversion from alternate mode to robot mode. On a somewhat humorous note, the transformation begins with his head between his legs, although it is surprisingly not too difficult regardless. I find it’s a much smoother transformation than some of the other figures from his era, such as Sunstreaker, requiring less “massaging” or so to speak.

Image

It’s very much a subjective assertion, but in robot mode he’s just pleasing to look at, and for once I feel his visor is very cool looking. Best part: it’s clear, so you can see his face through it. Speaking on the mold details, the sculpt is highly detailed, but what’s also nice is that there are enough paint applications to really bring out everything. He does however have a lot of kibble, especially on his shoulders, but it doesn’t hinder him much in terms of articulation, which is one of the nice parts of Henkei tooling. The other nice part is the inclusion of guns, which in the case of this mold aren’t chrome for the first time.

Image

He also comes with Cop-Tur, who is a little more novel than Dion is. Cop-Tur would be one of the few Go-Bots references we’ve seen recently which includes Fracture, Deadlift, and the unreleased Backtrack. He is very interesting in that respect and a creative use of the tooling.

Image

Unfortunately, Cop-Tur stops being good past that. The mold itself isn’t the best, with problems including that he can’t even stand up straight. To stand the figure you practically have to hunch him over like an old man, due to the proportioning of his weight. He is very top-heavy, and to make matters worse his feet are like small stilts. Because of the few parts he is made of, it doesn’t ever feel like you’re done transforming him, and speaking in general, the mold is a total downgrade from the original Jolt that came packaged with Armada Hotshot. He’s a nice bonus, but that’s about it.

Image

My last complaint would be that he doesn’t look good on Dion at all. It’s more a problem with Dion’s mini-con port, but he looks very simply tacked on. There’s little reason to ever combine/ powerlink them since it would just take away from Dion’s general look.

My closing remarks: Dion himself is a great toy, and a nice way to work Hotshot’s likeness into a “Neo-G1” collection. He has flaws, but most are a carryover from the tooling used. All in all, I recommend him to collectors of Classics style toys, and also to the people who are into novelty Transformers.]]> <![CDATA[Generations Drift's repaint will be: BLURR!]]> Thu, 1 Apr 2010 13:08:51 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/generations-drifts-repaint-will-be-blurr/18183/ abb0af044ab75ddbe840352a70ab06da Editorials, Media, Press Releases, Toy News Parry Game Preserve have received their Hasbro Q&A answers and one of them is a real killer!
Preserve: At Toy Fair this year, a Classics 3.0 Drift was shown. Has a redeco/retool been planned for this toy at this time?
Hasbro: Yes, we have planned a redeco for this item. So to beat you to your next question, it will be Blurr. We have tooled up a new head and weapons for him and let us say, he looks awesome!

So all Blurr fans can already look forward to a new Blurr!

To see the full Q&A just click here.

To see seibertron.com's ow Q&A answers just click here.

Stay tuned to seibertron.com for all your Transformers related news!]]> <![CDATA[Transformers Figures in Top 5 properties of 2009]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:35:00 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-figures-in-top-5-properties-of-2009/17852/ b13a306c495422e65bd9db945be776d4 Company News, Editorials, Media, Toy News posted an article notating all of the toy manufacturers that will be present at the annual convention.

The one thing that the news story seems to focus in on is how toy companies are in the process of switching your everday toylines into entertainment properties. According to the report, 25 percent of all toy sales are in direct relation to licensed properties such as Iron Man and Shrek. These sales were down 27 percent in 2009 from 2008's reported earnings with the exception of Hasbro's Transformers. Sales for Transformers were up over 20 percent from the sales connected to the original 2007 film, helping Transformers become one of the Top 5 properties in 2009, according to the NPD.

Seibertron.com will have continuing coverage on Toy Fair 2010, being held in New York this weekend, so keep your optics locked, right here at Seibertron.com, your Ultimate Transformers Resource!]]> <![CDATA[Game Informer Takes on High Moon in Transformers Trivia Showdown]]> Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:13:00 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/game-informer-takes-on-high-moon-in-transformers-trivia-showdown/17525/ 3faa9621e6138f60954510a26cf310e1 Editorials, Game News, Media, People News posted a video of staffers of GI versus High Moon's Dave Cravens, Cinematics Director of the game, in a Transformers Trivia Showdown!

Who wins this battle, you'll have to watch the video to determine that, but it is comforting to see that one of the main people behind the creation of the already highly anticipated game is a Transformers fan first. Check out the video here.

Keep your optics locked right here at Seibertron.com for all the latest news on Transformers War For Cybertron!]]> <![CDATA[Game Informer to give month long coverage of War For Cybertron]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:13:00 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/game-informer-to-give-month-long-coverage-of-war-for-cybertron/17499/ 6abca73bc43bed9d34834436b0fd7c22 Company News, Editorials, Game News, Media beginnings of the Transformers brand and character profiles from the games.

Phil Kollar of Game Informer Magazine, has taken the task on of covering the Transformers franchise's next video game and has posted some great info, like today's profile featuring none other than Heroic Autobot Leader Optimus Prime, who in actuality, has yet to claim the mantle of Leader.

Check out the exclusive profile pics of "Big Red" below:

Game Informer to give month long coverage of War For Cybertron

Game Informer to give month long coverage of War For Cybertron

Seibertron.com will be posting updates on the coverage Phil and the crew at Game Informer post but you can keep tabs on all the action by clicking here.]]> <![CDATA[101 Year Old Man buys Transformers Bumblebee Edition Chevy Camaro]]> Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/101-year-old-man-buys-transformers-bumblebee-edition-chevy-camaro/17434/ 7c33821aa6f8a530dcdfebca9ecada55 Editorials, Movie News, People News Robots in Disguise. It would seem that that wonder and amazement has no limitations as to how old one can be in order to be a fan.

In a video posted on YouTube.com, Virgil Coffman, a 101 year old man living in Illinois, is reported to have purchased a new 2010 Transformers Bumblebee Edition Chevrolet Camaro.

"Best thing about it is the handling of it."



Mr. Coffman stated that he loved the appearance of the car and new that it was the one he wanted, having owned over 40 cars in his 101 years of life.

I don't know about you Seibertronians, but if I make it to 101 years old, I want to be just like Virgil Coffman.

Seibertron.com, your Ultimate Transformers Resource.

--------------------------------------------

If you're interested in purchasing a new Camaro, please contact Kevin Yzquierdo for more information. Shameless plug ... Kevin is the father of Ryan Yzquierdo, the owner of Seibertron.com.

Kevin Yzquierdo
Sales & Leasing
810-953-1766 Direct
kevin@alserra.com

Al Serra Auto Plaza
Chevy-Buick-Hummer
Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC
Kia-Nissan-Honda]]> <![CDATA[Transformers Nominated to National Toy Hall Of Fame Class of 2009]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:05:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-nominated-to-national-toy-hall-of-fame-class-of-2009/17053/ 7d9709c4ea6c7ccb3efb44c63139b805 Company News, Editorials, Toy News inducted into the Toyfare Hall of Fame. Now, on the heels of an amazing release of the live action films sequel, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, we get news of another possible induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame!

Thanks to fellow Seibertronian and Transformers fan Mathew Henderson, we get word that Transformers was nominated as one of the twelve finalists to be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York in November. Only two of the twelve inductees will get the honor and just getting nominated is no easy task. Here are some of the stipulations, taken from the Strong National Museum of Play, home of the Hall of Fame:

• Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered)
• Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations)
• Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play)
• Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design)


While we can only hope that Transformers finds its way into the National Toy Hall of Fame, we can be extremely pleased that it was given a nomination for it. For a full list of inductees, click here. You can visit the Strong National Museum of Play and see all the inducted toys by clicking here.

Seibertron.com will keep you posted on the Class of 2009 Toy Hall of Fame induction so keep your optics locked, right here at Seibertron.com, Your Ultimate Transformers Resource!]]> <![CDATA[Bumblebee to pace 2009 Inaugural Hasbro Children's Hospital Fundraising Walk]]> Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/bumblebee-to-pace-2009-inaugural-hasbro-childrens-hospital-fundraising-walk/16993/ 21f62f0810ac10af256b58c3a0fe1d33 Company News, Editorials, Event News, Media, Movie News, Press Releases
On October 4th, 2009 at 11:00 AM, Hasbro Children's Hospital will be hosting its inaugural "The Walk: Hasbro Childrens Hospital" Fundraising event. All walkers are welcome to join the event that will be paced by none other than Bumblebee, the first official 2010 Chevy Camaro.

Walkers and their teams from all over Rhode Island and southeastern New England will be able to choose two-mile or five-mile strolls along the scenic and pedestrian-friendly paths by the rivers in historic downtown Providence. While the walkers share a common goal -- enhancing Hasbro Children's Hospital's care for kids -- many will have personal reasons for their involvement.


Timothy J. Babineau, M.D., Rhode Island Hospital's president and chief executive officer, says, "We decided to start this walk in addition to our very successful annual gala. This event will allow members of our community, who prefer to support a different type of activity, to help the young patients at Hasbro Children's Hospital. It's easy for anyone to get involved and be a part of The Walk."

Check out all the details by clicking here.]]> <![CDATA[Andy Schmidt talks new IDW Transformers Continuum with USA Today]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:43:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/andy-schmidt-talks-new-idw-transformers-continuum-with-usa-today/16956/ 5aba3a53d7478c328d97aa7130dcaa56 Comic Book News, Company News, Editorials, Media, People News Transformers Continuum.

The interview covers the basic groudwork of the newest IDW story arc, while treating us to some artwork of artist and fan favorite Don Figueroa.

Check it out by clicking the link below and then tell us what you think by clicking Discuss this topic above.

IDW editor Andy Schmidt is in USA Today and spotlights the upcoming ongoing comic book.]]> <![CDATA[Paramount 2nd Highest For Summer Films, ROTF credited with 45% of the earnings]]> Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:24:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/paramount-2nd-highest-for-summer-films-rotf-credited-with-45-of-the-earnings/16926/ 2d362bcefcdd9ee5153ed892ac26c0e5 Company News, Editorials, Media, Movie News Transformers Revenge of the Fallen hit $400 Million USD domestically, making it the top grossing film of the summer. More news reports that the massive gross earnings taken by the hit sequel are more significant than we think.

According to a report posted on Variety, Paramount Studios claimed the second highest grossing film producer, raking in $884 Million USD for the summer of 2009 with ROTF pulling in a whopping 45% alone!

Other films such as the Star Trek revamp and GI Joe: Rise of Cobra assisted in the overall earnings, but it's plain to see the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen was much bigger than anyone anticipated.

One can only imagine the budget that will be awarded the third installment of the movieverse franchise with this new revelation.

Keep your optics locked, right here at Seibertron.com your Ultimate Transformers Resource.]]> <![CDATA[Disney/ Marvel Deal will have no affect on HASBRO Channel]]> Sat, 5 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/disney-marvel-deal-will-have-no-affect-on-hasbro-channel/16892/ 73259aa48bac9a21e9e8e8d1d2d4fdc8 Cartoon News, Company News, Editorials, Media Pawtucket, R.I., home of Hasbro, Inc., its stated that the recently announced Disney purchase of Marvel won't have any negative affects on the Hasbro/ Discovery Communications Joint Venture.

According to the article, "Hasbro landed a five-year licensing agreement in 2006 with Marvel that allows the nation’s number-two toymaker to sell Marvel-based puzzles, games and action figures. Marvel will receive $205 million in royalty and service-fee payments from Hasbro."

Hasbro spokesman Wayne Charness stated that licensed Marvel characters are not the things that the company could use to make new shows out of. "They certainly are only one of the many potential sources for TV content,” Charness said.

Analyst suspect that the new Joint Venture may bring forth such new renditions of fan favorites such as GI Joe, My Little Pony and other cartoon franchises.

Hasbro has been showing much success in the entertainment division with the two whopping success films for the Transformers franchise and GI Joe: Rise of Cobra, which is doing so well in theatres that the sequel has been approved with the same cast.

Seibertron.com will keep you posted on any new developments in this story.]]> <![CDATA[FCC Content Filtering Inquiry sets sights on Transformers Films]]> Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:07:00 EDT http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/fcc-content-filtering-inquiry-sets-sights-on-transformers-films/16834/ 23c039b57770cacc8261cbff155dd249 Editorials, Media, Movie News arstechnica.com, Matthew Lasar reported that the Federal Communications Commission has submitted an inquiry to the public asking for feedback on how well parental blocking devices for television are working, sighting the Transformers films advertisements as a possible violation of said devices.

In a nutshell, the FCC is looking to enforce the rule that MPAA films rated PG-13 or above are not marketed towards children under 13 years of age, thanks to a response given by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood gave based on the inquiry "[to] the extent to which inappropriate commercials [are] aired in programming viewed by children and on possible solutions to this problem". In the report submitted by the FCC, both Transformers and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen were cited as examples on how such parental blocking devices such as the "V-Chip" weren't regulating such content and allowing children to view said commercials.

Congress has asked the FCC to supply them with a compendium of every content filtering device available. The FCC has until the end of this week, August 29th 2009, to supply the report.

You can read the article in its entirety here.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know by clicking Discuss this topic above.

Seibertron.com, bringing you the most complete news in the Transformers Universe.]]>