The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5 · by **Convoy** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 12:35 am

william-james88 wrote:
Fortress maximus has just been reissued and is still available. And with these prices, this is the cheapest it would ever get:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11575&mode=retail

*points Megatron at head*

I jumped the gun.

*pulls trigger*

Ouch!

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:09 am

shajaki wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Shockwave7 wrote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TRANSFORMERS-INSECTICONS-G1-COMPLETE-3-BOXED-SET-MISB-REISSUE-SEALED-/171547379187?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f10545f3
These are ACTUAL G1s, not G1 re-issues. Did anyone pay $150 for them...? Surprise quotient=0.
No, those are reissues.
Both wrong

Those are chinese KO's.

Yup! Fake fake and FAKE!

News Credits: 33 · by **Amelie** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:11 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Fortress maximus has just been reissued and is still available. And with these prices, this is the cheapest it would ever get:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11575&mode=retail

And we're not going to see a stateside reissue of Fort Max, anyone remember the Drop Test?

Clickity the link above. Consider this "stateside" enough. If there would ever be a Platinum Fortmax at your local TrU, you'd have to pay at least 500$+taxes at the very least I bet.

That... might not actually be the case. Metroplex was of a similar size and a decent level of complexity and that was less than $200.

A smaller production run will push up the price - These Insecticons are probably produced in a limited supply and the price reflects it. If Fortress Maximus got a full retail, mass production release, it'd see a much lower price point than $500.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:44 am

Amelie wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Fortress maximus has just been reissued and is still available. And with these prices, this is the cheapest it would ever get:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11575&mode=retail

And we're not going to see a stateside reissue of Fort Max, anyone remember the Drop Test?

Clickity the link above. Consider this "stateside" enough. If there would ever be a Platinum Fortmax at your local TrU, you'd have to pay at least 500$+taxes at the very least I bet.

That... might not actually be the case. Metroplex was of a similar size and a decent level of complexity and that was less than $200.

A smaller production run will push up the price - These Insecticons are probably produced in a limited supply and the price reflects it. If Fortress Maximus got a full retail, mass production release, it'd see a much lower price point than $500.

Overquoting to point out that Metroplex WAS indeed mass produced and part of the main line. Thus the low price point.

At the base, Fortmax is much more complex than metroplex, have more parts, more accessories, have heavier plastics, and he even have diecast parts in it. That mean, at least 50% to 100% more expensive than Metroplex already. Also, being G1, he cannot and will never be part of the main line. That leave the Platinum line as the only option. Add the Platinum premium price point and TrU's "we sell higher" policy, and BAM! You get a very, VERY expensive Fortmax.

Conclusion: Fortmax will NEVER be officially released outside of Japan and anyone who want a Fortmax for a reasonable price, even including shipping, should consider buying the one on clearance at BBTS right NAO!

Like Trailbreaker83 on Facebook · by **Trailbreaker83** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:30 am

fenrir72 wrote:
shajaki wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Shockwave7 wrote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TRANSFORMERS-INSECTICONS-G1-COMPLETE-3-BOXED-SET-MISB-REISSUE-SEALED-/171547379187?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f10545f3
These are ACTUAL G1s, not G1 re-issues. Did anyone pay $150 for them...? Surprise quotient=0.
No, those are reissues.
Both wrong

Those are chinese KO's.

Yup! Fake fake and FAKE!

I apologize for my naivety, but how can you tell?

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:48 am

Trailbreaker83 wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
shajaki wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Shockwave7 wrote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TRANSFORMERS-INSECTICONS-G1-COMPLETE-3-BOXED-SET-MISB-REISSUE-SEALED-/171547379187?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f10545f3
These are ACTUAL G1s, not G1 re-issues. Did anyone pay $150 for them...? Surprise quotient=0.
No, those are reissues.
Both wrong

Those are chinese KO's.

Yup! Fake fake and FAKE!

I apologize for my naivety, but how can you tell?

The only official release besides the recent Hasbro versions is the boxed 3 Insecticons in a box+ energon cubes 2004 TFC series. The G1 grid box was never ever re-issued since the late 80s when it was just "released". Not counting the e-Hobby "Insecticlones"

Anyone selling in ebay the "re-issue" should just be honest and call them KOs.

by **Rated X** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:33 am

william-james88 wrote:As for the Dinobots, the molds are currently lost from Hasbro and Takara.

Hasbro/Takara has been beating that dead horse for years with Sunstreaker. It's gotten to be a pretty lame and lazy excuse that they use to avoid a little bit of extra work. If the KO guys can reverse mold G1 Sunstreaker and Dinobots, so can Hasbro/Takara. It's not rocket science.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:28 am

Rated X wrote:
william-james88 wrote:As for the Dinobots, the molds are currently lost from Hasbro and Takara.

Hasbro/Takara has been beating that dead horse for years with Sunstreaker. It's gotten to be a pretty lame and lazy excuse that they use to avoid a little bit of extra work. If the KO guys can reverse mold G1 Sunstreaker and Dinobots, so can Hasbro/Takara. It's not rocket science.

I do have a question about that (not to you X, I am quoting because I want to expand on your question).

Sure, making a new mold costs thousands and one would think that it can be quite an inhibitor on redoing a mold for the dinobots. However, not only do KO companies reverse engineer molds, they end up selling the finished products for cheaper (something Hasbro wouldnt have to do). And plus, like with a KO, these reissues would not have any engineering or designing costs involved. So how can the cost reverse engineering or restoring a mold be such a factor that would render a reissue from Hasbro impossible?

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:35 am

I don't think it would be impossible. I also don't think this is laziness on Hasbro's part, but I have no direct knowledge. I would look at it purely from a business perspective. What is Hasbro's ROI? If it is not significant enough, or worse, if it has a high chance to go negative...

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:53 am

Rated X wrote:
william-james88 wrote:As for the Dinobots, the molds are currently lost from Hasbro and Takara.

Hasbro/Takara has been beating that dead horse for years with Sunstreaker. It's gotten to be a pretty lame and lazy excuse that they use to avoid a little bit of extra work. If the KO guys can reverse mold G1 Sunstreaker and Dinobots, so can Hasbro/Takara. It's not rocket science.

Fair is fair. X has indeed a good point. Really? Given how engineering technology has improved by leaps and bounds and yet Tomy can't restore the mold?

Raiden and Devastar were very old molds back in the Diaclone (1982-83) days. Devs came out in 1984 and Raiden (TF retooled version), sometime 1988. Meaning, Takara could recreate and improve an old mold. Heck, it's like 2 to 3 years ago that they restored the Devastar mold (a good restoration at that and the added version 20A). Too bad about Bruticus as the mold has was not fixed properly.

With advanced Computer scaning technology, it's still impossible to release the Dinobots? The (this is NOT racial stereotyping) Japanese do have a strange way of doing business indeed.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:06 am

fenrir72 wrote:
Rated X wrote:
william-james88 wrote:As for the Dinobots, the molds are currently lost from Hasbro and Takara.

Hasbro/Takara has been beating that dead horse for years with Sunstreaker. It's gotten to be a pretty lame and lazy excuse that they use to avoid a little bit of extra work. If the KO guys can reverse mold G1 Sunstreaker and Dinobots, so can Hasbro/Takara. It's not rocket science.

Fair is fair. X has indeed a good point. Really? Given how engineering technology has improved by leaps and bounds and yet Tomy can't restore the mold?

Raiden and Devastar were very old molds back in the Diaclone (1982-83) days. Devs came out in 1984 and Raiden (TF retooled version), sometime 1988. Meaning, Takara could recreate and improve an old mold. Heck, it's like 2 to 3 years ago that they restored the Devastar mold (a good restoration at that and the added version 20A). Too bad about Bruticus as the mold has was not fixed properly.

With advanced Computer scaning technology, it's still impossible to release the Dinobots? The (this is NOT racial stereotyping) Japanese do have a strange way of doing business indeed.

Legal would also be a factor, not just money-wise, but also time-wise. Anything newly created would have to be registered with the patent offices and other institutions dealing with copyrights and that takes time (something that KO companies would by-pass).

If Ryan is right, and the molds have changed ownership via a factory buy-out (including stock like molds left behind), that would pose a problem. It could actually be considered copyright infringement if Hasbro were to recreate the molds to the exact specifications, while the originals are still owned by a different company via the above scenario.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:56 am

Griffin updated his post with more info.

What is SUPER interesting is that he splits his info between Gi reissues AND SDCC reissues at retail. That confirms at least that this is not a case of misunderstanding.

Platinum Edition.
It really is the year of the Gen1 reissues.
Myer exclusives - Seeker 3-pack, YOTG Optimus, YOTG Soundwave.
ToysRUs will have the Insecticon 3-pack, the Perceptor/Blaster 2-pack, Trypticon, aaaaand.... Dinobots. YES, Gen1 Dinobots multipack which I
hope is all five, and all in Gen1 colouring.
I guess all the popularity with Dinobots last year, it was finally worth rebuilding or reverse-engineering the original Dinobot moulds. Plus Trypticon
as another Dinosaur to sell off the hype of the Movie Dinosaurs.
(no sign of the Astrotrain/Blitzwing 2-pack here as it was not on the future store exclusive listing)

Some SDCC exclusives will be released in Australia this year. They weren't allowed to say what items (as SDCC and Hasbro America have to make the
official announcements by Press Release in a few months time)... but one will be a Transformers SDCC exclusive. These will be released through the
Sydney toy convention that has been on for the last two years, AND will have a second convention in Brisbane, that they are hoping to have on
display a small history of Transformers (using toys from my collection).
Details will be released later when finalised.

News Credits: 41 · by **Cobotron** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:05 am

Well, there you have it. G1 dinobots. :grin:

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:24 am

Cobotron wrote:Well, there you have it. G1 dinobots.

Carefully optimistic here

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:30 am

Cobotron wrote:Well, there you have it. G1 dinobots.

Yeah, costing 200$ for 5 or something crazy like that.

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:33 am

It's going to be an expensive year.... #-o

Maybe our positive thoughts worked? 8-}

At any rate, if this all comes to fruition, :APPLAUSE:

Has/Tak!!

News Credits: 41 · by **Cobotron** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:41 am

I'm glad that Hasbro feels the demand is high, but yes, the price will likely be as well.
History has proven, Dinosaur toys are a sure bet. But do kids want G1 toys?

I also can't help but wonder if this is a litmus test for future Classics style dinos. Here's some crossed fingers.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:49 am

Cobotron wrote:I'm glad that Hasbro feels the demand is high, but yes, the price will likely be as well.
History has proven, Dinosaur toys are a sure bet. But do kids want G1 toys?

I also can't help but wonder if this is a litmus test for future Classics style dinos. Here's some crossed fingers.

They dont and at those prices, parents wont buy them. This is clearly for collectors, just like the Encore series was/is.

Also, I would like to point out the following insanity:

Last year, I bought Platinum Predaking for 100$ cdn on walmart.ca.

This year, toysrus.ca is selling 3 platinum insecticons for 109$

This is crazy.

And they know it, hence why they already reduced the price to 82.47$. Still 30$ too expensive (I am not paying more than 50$ for this) but at least they are aware of how demented this price is. I greatly doubt this will move.

EDIT: Back to 109, these people are idiots

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:01 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Well, there you have it. G1 dinobots.

Carefully optimistic here

Same here.If this comes to fruition my G1 Seasons 1 and will be complete. Aside from Grimlock. Now I'll get the Dinobots and Conehead Seekers.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:03 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Well, there you have it. G1 dinobots.

Yeah, costing 200$ for 5 or something crazy like that.

Would still work out $40 a figure. You'd get 5 minty new Dinobot figures, and in the case of Swoop, that's a godsend. You know how fragile his wings are?

News Credits: 16 · by **It Is Him** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:35 pm

I'll believe the reissue dinobots and trypticon when I see them. Someone said there's be pictures, and we're still waiting on them.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:11 pm

It Is Him wrote:I'll believe the reissue dinobots and trypticon when I see them. Someone said there's be pictures, and we're still waiting on them.

Pics or they don't exist. Pragmmatic way of looking at it. Yup will wait for them as well.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:43 pm

It Is Him wrote:I'll believe the reissue dinobots and trypticon when I see them.

I feel this way about the Dinobots, but Trypticon I could see being possibly done since his mold hasn't been reported to be out of commission, and Takara used it for Gigastorm before.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:10 pm

It Is Him wrote:I'll believe the reissue dinobots and trypticon when I see them. Someone said there's be pictures, and we're still waiting on them.

He meant pictures of the event. Its a lesser version of what Seibertron got at the NY Toy Show. It was quite a letdown after the post he wrote. You can view the pictures here. I would have included them here but sadly they are not related to the topic (AAARRGH!)

Oh Shajaki, I read a post on the very first page of this thread saying you were excisted for the insecticons since you dont have them yet. Still excited ? :twisted: