Transformers Combiner Wars Fan-Built Victorion - Pre-Order Up At ToysRus.ca

I wonder if this release date is any indication of when the MAYHEM begins!?!?!

Noideaforaname wrote:Plus, for me, using fiction to justify toys feels backwards. If I don't like a figure, I don't like a figure; whatever story isn't going to change that. (mind you, I'm not even the type that *has* to buy characters I like)

But they've been using fiction (be it bios, comics, or cartoons) to explain things about the toys since 1984.

Burn wrote:From the get go I've never been a big fan of this set, as a "female" combiner they don't look overly feminine. But hey, whatever.

Over time though it's grown on me, even talking to Va'al for his opinion and last night I just casually browsed to Premium Collectables to see how much the set would be ... and found it was on sale for $129.95AU, so I bit the bullet and ordered it.

Probably regret it once she arrives but eh, **** it.

I'm proud of you Burn. I eagerly await your inevitable opinion!

Burn wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:I eagerly await your inevitable opinion!

You're ugly and you smell funny.

And here I even just took a shower.

Sad.

Toys should be able to stand on their own merits without needing fiction to justify them. A bad toy is a bad toy, even if you write an awesome story about it (Prime Airachnid comes to mind). Using twin helicopters for Victorion was a decision that was bound to cause some consternation in the fandom, and no amount of fictional excuses is going to change that.

Bronzewolf wrote:Primus, who Transformed it like that and thought "Oh, those arms look totally normal, and not mistransformed at all!"

Have to love those Hasbro employees who pose these figures. Helicopter arms are the best configuration IMHO.

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:Plus, for me, using fiction to justify toys feels backwards. If I don't like a figure, I don't like a figure; whatever story isn't going to change that. (mind you, I'm not even the type that *has* to buy characters I like)

But they've been using fiction (be it bios, comics, or cartoons) to explain things about the toys since 1984.

I think he just meant that as mature fans, some of us have outgrown that and I am in that boat. I can look past the marketing and just see the toy for the mwrrit I personally give it. Fiction explaining a toys existence won't sway me to buy it more. And in reverse I don't need the fiction to back up a new character or feature for me to buy it. For instance the idea of beast bot hybrids that turn into vehicles in RID is all I need to buy the toys.
I knew I wanted a thunderhoof toy the moment I saw that character model, didn't matter what he did in the show.
And a headmaster galvatron doesn't matter as long as it looks good and is a well done toy. But that's just me.

That's nice to hear, but a lot of the appeal in these toys that helps to make them successful is that they actually represent characters with personalities and backstory that's conveyed by their on-package bios and/or supporting media. Said bios help to set the Transformers apart from competitor products. If all it takes for fans to buy these is if the toys look cool, regardless of the character itself, that's sounds fine on paper, but kind of makes it seem like the toy bios are superfluous rather than the integral aspects that they've been for most of the brand's history. I recall a time from 2001-2004 when the first RiD toyline, the Armada toyline, the first Universe toyline, the Energon toyline, and the Alternators toyline were all mostly devoid of on-package toy bios, with bios for most of the toys in these lines being confined to Hasbro's online website, which was very unpleasant given how sporadic Hasbro's website would update its bios section with new bios for more characters and even take down some for others. If not for the cartoons of the time (which were VERY hard for me to catch on TV back then), many of these toys would have been characterless nobodies, and some of them still are even to this day.

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:Plus, for me, using fiction to justify toys feels backwards. If I don't like a figure, I don't like a figure; whatever story isn't going to change that. (mind you, I'm not even the type that *has* to buy characters I like)

But they've been using fiction (be it bios, comics, or cartoons) to explain things about the toys since 1984.

I think he just meant that as mature fans, some of us have outgrown that and I am in that boat. I can look past the marketing and just see the toy for the mwrrit I personally give it. Fiction explaining a toys existence won't sway me to buy it more. And in reverse I don't need the fiction to back up a new character or feature for me to buy it. For instance the idea of beast bot hybrids that turn into vehicles in RID is all I need to buy the toys.
I knew I wanted a thunderhoof toy the moment I saw that character model, didn't matter what he did in the show.
And a headmaster galvatron doesn't matter as long as it looks good and is a well done toy. But that's just me.

That's nice to hear, but a lot of the appeal in these toys that helps to make them successful is that they actually represent characters with personalities and backstory that's conveyed by their on-package bios and/or supporting media. Said bios help to set the Transformers apart from competitor products. If all it takes for fans to buy these is if the toys look cool, regardless of the character itself, that's sounds fine on paper, but kind of makes it seem like the toy bios are superfluous rather than the integral aspects that they've been for most of the brand's history. I recall a time from 2001-2004 when the first RiD toyline, the Armada toyline, the first Universe toyline, the Energon toyline, and the Alternators toyline were all mostly devoid of on-package toy bios, with bios for most of the toys in these lines being confined to Hasbro's online website, which was very unpleasant given how sporadic Hasbro's website would update its bios section with new bios for more characters and even take down some for others. If not for the cartoons of the time (which were VERY hard for me to catch on TV back then), many of these toys would have been characterless nobodies, and some of them still are even to this day.

Isn't the fiction created by the bios, along with the cartoon back in the 1980s, one of the reasons pointed to for the Transformers brand being so popular for so many years? (More looking for confirmation than a direct question to any poster in the chain above. ) I know that as a kid, I not only wanted Megatron because he turned into a cool toy gun (back before that was dangerous to kids) but because I liked the cool bad-guy aspect of his personality. I have seen some posters comment on how much they want Rewind and Chromedome because of what has been established in the IDW fiction. Then there are the comments of a desired Prowlestator, Headmaster Sunstreaker, and other examples. So, I'd argue that, at least for some, the established (and establishing) fiction is an important part of collecting these figures. I, personally, like to see Hasbro's story ideas, even if I end up discarding them for my own head cannon. That's the beauty of these toys, in my opinion. We each can appreciate them in any way we want. It sparks the imagination, and that's why I love the brand (and hated the idea of some sort of aligned continuity).

In particular, with these lovely ladies, I love how they incorporated the scramble city concept into the specific abilities of Victorion. It has me thinking about how all of the combiners benefit from various configurations. Personally, I think this is a gimmick that could have been taken more advantage of in the cartoons for some great stories.

Noideaforaname wrote:*shrug* All I know is my favorite TF toys have next-to-nil fiction while my favorite TF characters have toys I'm avoiding like the plague.

One of my favourites is Decepticharge which has no bio to his name (which is in itself just a placeholder name). I like him because he is really just a toy and doesnt live beyond that concept. he also happens to be an amazing toy, which is great considering that is where he begins and ends.

And Sabr, I completely get it, but even as a kid, I never cared for the bios in the back of my beast war toys. I just wanted Beast Prowl because he looked awesome (never did get him though). However, I did find the tech specs pretty neat.

And Agamemnon, while the fiction behind TFs is part of the factor for the brand's longevity, it is not all there is to it. I say that because GI Joe got the exact same treatment in the 80s rejuvination of that Brand (Marvel Comic, plus show) but those characters have not had the same kind of success as TFs since.

Prowl4 wrote:

Autobot N wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:Be calm lads no need to pre order. This thing will soon be on clearance.

I have to disagree with your snarky jab at Victorion, as (at least where I live) Combiner Wars figures are rather rare, with most of them (save a few Scattershots and Skywarps at a Walmart) having been bought already. I anticipate Victorion to sell the same way.

As for the implied meaning of your post, I also disagree there. It actually manages to look pretty good, and I really like the common color scheme. I also like that they removed the lipstick from shades copter girl Stormclash (though I have no idea why). The sword looks freakin' awesome, and I really like the whole combine-to-form weapons thing. Also, as Optibotimus said in his review, the amount of paint on them almost makes it seem more like a Club figure than a retail release.

What surprises me is how much I like this, considering I hated it when it was first announced.

As I said it'll go on clearance eventually.

Given that I haven't seen a single CW item stay on the shelf for more than a couple months, I doubt that.