The Energon Pub

megatronus wrote:These guys are very reminiscent of the Stunticons - maybe the FP team that designed them helped or were hired to assist in the design of Quantron. None of FP's current lines (WB, FX, LER) seem to have quite the same look as Causality.

Indeed, I think it was mentioned, quite some time ago, that there is a relationship between MT and FP, with the sharing of designers and engineers, if memory serves. I believe some of the other 3P companies have some similar relationships. But it has been a while since this has come up.

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:These guys are very reminiscent of the Stunticons - maybe the FP team that designed them helped or were hired to assist in the design of Quantron. None of FP's current lines (WB, FX, LER) seem to have quite the same look as Causality.

Indeed, I think it was mentioned, quite some time ago, that there is a relationship between MT and FP, with the sharing of designers and engineers, if memory serves. I believe some of the other 3P companies have some similar relationships. But it has been a while since this has come up.

That's why I bring it up - they have definitely been rumored to have a good working relationship, i.e. sharing designers, etc.

Just wish that could be or confirmed or not. Oh well.

Great job on the gift set box art. Love the G-1 grid lines in the art.

Peaugh review of Blindfire .

vangelus reviewed lightspeed as well.

gotta say, im liking these more and more every time i see them.

shajaki wrote:vangelus reviewed lightspeed as well.

gotta say, im liking these more and more every time i see them.

Yeah, after seeing the reviews I'm actually starting to like them as well. I've been on the fence with these guys since the beginning and now I'm starting to lean towards getting them again. I still hope another company comes along and does a more G1 show accurate set of the Technobots/Computron though because there are still more than a few things that are bugging me about it. I still really wish that their not-Afterburner looked better though. His alt mode is way off IMO and his bot mode has some major issues, especially those things they're trying to pass of as hands. Those remind me of a Has/Tak Legends/Cyberverse figure, not what I'd expect from a third party.

Anyway, I probably will end up getting this set. I just wish it wasn't such a difficult decision. Maybe reviews of the rest of the figures and the combined mode will change my mind.

I can't wait for these guys.

Let's see if I can get these two side by side. I'll post this in both the Warbotron thread and the MakeToys thread



Well, it looks like they will probably not go side by side unless I do it as one file. Maybe if I get some time later...

I'm guessing that these will be scramble city? It looks like Warbotron has the traditional configuration (according to TFWiki) and animation pictures I found on Goggle Images. Yet, many toy images have the arms swapped. Interesting.

Well, I think size is going to be what matters for me on this guy. I am probably still going with MakeToys, but Warbotron does offer me the opportunity to spread out the cost over several months to maybe a year. I like both aesthetically, so that's not a factor for me at all. Decisions, decisions...

Good to see them together. The Warbotron one's impresive... but just WAY too big and overall more expensive.

xyl360 wrote:I still hope another company comes along and does a more G1 show accurate set of the Technobots/Computron though because there are still more than a few things that are bugging me about it. I still really wish that their not-Afterburner looked better though. His alt mode is way off IMO and his bot mode has some major issues, especially those things they're trying to pass of as hands. Those remind me of a Has/Tak Legends/Cyberverse figure, not what I'd expect from a third party.

i get what youre saying. i guess the reason i love quantron so much is because i had no real connection to computron. i only had lightspeed and mr.drillguy as a kid and only vaguely recall what the other three even look like. im also a big fan of updates, and not perfect representations. and i can except a LOT of change for characters i dont even know

shajaki wrote:

xyl360 wrote:I still hope another company comes along and does a more G1 show accurate set of the Technobots/Computron though because there are still more than a few things that are bugging me about it. I still really wish that their not-Afterburner looked better though. His alt mode is way off IMO and his bot mode has some major issues, especially those things they're trying to pass of as hands. Those remind me of a Has/Tak Legends/Cyberverse figure, not what I'd expect from a third party.

i get what youre saying. i guess the reason i love quantron so much is because i had no real connection to computron. i only had lightspeed and mr.drillguy as a kid and only vaguely recall what the other three even look like. im also a big fan of updates, and not perfect representations. and i can except a LOT of change for characters i dont even know

Yeah, I could accept some changes I guess, there's just certain key things I associate with the Technobots (based on their appearances in the show) and the lazy things Maketoys did with some of these guys' limbs and transformations is really bugging me. Not worth the premium price if you ask me, even if they do combine. These aren't even up to FP's standards. At least with the not-Stunticons, the bot modes looked decent (even when they were way off from the show models like their not-Deadend was). I could live with it because they still looked like cool bots in a somewhat G1 animation style, but these guys really sacrifice their bot modes for their alt modes in many cases, and their alt modes are way off for at least a couple of them. Maketoys really could have nailed these and for at least a couple of them, I thought they did an outstanding job, but there are just too many of the figures that are jacked up and too many alt modes I don't like and too many issues I have with the combined mode for me to drop the $300+ on it, especially when I know that other companies already have Computron/the Technobots on their radar (like TFC and Warbotron).

I have absolutely ZERO connection to Computron, but somehow Maketoys' Quantron keeps screaming "Nexus Prime" and I am slowly generating my own idea of toys for classics-style 13 Primes. This guy should make for a nice Nexus. Hasbro's take on the character was a mess.

xyl360 wrote:Yeah, I could accept some changes I guess, there's just certain key things I associate with the Technobots (based on their appearances in the show) and the lazy things Maketoys did with some of these guys' limbs and transformations is really bugging me. Not worth the premium price if you ask me, even if they do combine. These aren't even up to FP's standards. At least with the not-Stunticons, the bot modes looked decent (even when they were way off from the show models like their not-Deadend was). I could live with it because they still looked like cool bots in a somewhat G1 animation style, but these guys really sacrifice their bot modes for their alt modes in many cases, and their alt modes are way off for at least a couple of them. Maketoys really could have nailed these and for at least a couple of them, I thought they did an outstanding job, but there are just too many of the figures that are jacked up and too many alt modes I don't like and too many issues I have with the combined mode for me to drop the $300+ on it, especially when I know that other companies already have Computron/the Technobots on their radar (like TFC and Warbotron).

i guess its just a matter of personal taste. i actually just poured over a pile of pics of the bot modes, alt modes, and combined mode. and honestly the only thing i dont like is their afterburner. he'd be perfect to me if it werent for that one member.

and i think FP to just as many liberties with their stunticons. their wildrider and breakdown were the only truly G1'esq figures to me. i was actually pretty let down with the rest of the team. i got their WR and BD when they were first released and was blown away. i didnt actually get the other two until just before motormaster was released and they really fell short. dragstrips terrible feet, and dead ends hood chest (why wasnt he modeled after the first two ??) killed my buzz. and motormaster looked good enough, but awkward kibble and overcomplicated.. everything.. made me sad. combined he looks phenomenal, which is how he'll be displayed so i quickly let go of my misgivings.

but i like quantron together and separately so much i want two. but such craziness isnt in the budget

shajaki wrote:

xyl360 wrote:Yeah, I could accept some changes I guess, there's just certain key things I associate with the Technobots (based on their appearances in the show) and the lazy things Maketoys did with some of these guys' limbs and transformations is really bugging me. Not worth the premium price if you ask me, even if they do combine. These aren't even up to FP's standards. At least with the not-Stunticons, the bot modes looked decent (even when they were way off from the show models like their not-Deadend was). I could live with it because they still looked like cool bots in a somewhat G1 animation style, but these guys really sacrifice their bot modes for their alt modes in many cases, and their alt modes are way off for at least a couple of them. Maketoys really could have nailed these and for at least a couple of them, I thought they did an outstanding job, but there are just too many of the figures that are jacked up and too many alt modes I don't like and too many issues I have with the combined mode for me to drop the $300+ on it, especially when I know that other companies already have Computron/the Technobots on their radar (like TFC and Warbotron).

i guess its just a matter of personal taste. i actually just poured over a pile of pics of the bot modes, alt modes, and combined mode. and honestly the only thing i dont like is their afterburner. he'd be perfect to me if it werent for that one member.

and i think FP to just as many liberties with their stunticons. their wildrider and breakdown were the only truly G1'esq figures to me. i was actually pretty let down with the rest of the team. i got their WR and BD when they were first released and was blown away. i didnt actually get the other two until just before motormaster was released and they really fell short. dragstrips terrible feet, and dead ends hood chest (why wasnt he modeled after the first two ??) killed my buzz. and motormaster looked good enough, but awkward kibble and overcomplicated.. everything.. made me sad. combined he looks phenomenal, which is how he'll be displayed so i quickly let go of my misgivings.

but i like quantron together and separately so much i want two. but such craziness isnt in the budget

Yep, it definitely is a matter of tastes, and I fully agree on Afterburner. That's probably a lot of what's coloring my opinion of these guys as well because he is the worst one and he also happens to be by far my absolute favorite Technobot, so any 'updated' Computron I buy for third party prices MUST have a kick-ass Afturburner .

FP's liberties didn't bug me so much simply because the bot modes still looked good/didn't look cheap and they looked like they belonged in the set. MT's Afterburner looks like a crappy KO or as I said before, a cheap Has/Tak Legends figure or something. He looks out of place, even among the other figures in this set.

I also hate what they did with Lightspeed's combined form. There was no reason that car needed to turn inside out to form a foot. They also screwed up Afterburner's appearance in limb mode. The two wheels are supposed to be on the side of the arm, not angled at the top (at least that's how I have mine) and it doesn't look like they can be moved in MT's version (though I might have to wait on reviews etc. to verify that).

Just as an FYI, this is the same designer who did FP's M3, as well as MT's Green Giant.

I actually REALLY like their Afterburner... I don't think the G1 design has aged well and I like how they went with it. And his rocket pods and sniper rifle turn into a warhammer. That's just baller.

It's definitely not as purposefully G1 as Warbotron's effort, but that's fine by me. I MUCH prefer more updated, IDW-y designs.

xyl360 wrote:Yep, it definitely is a matter of tastes, and I fully agree on Afterburner. That's probably a lot of what's coloring my opinion of these guys as well because he is the worst one and he also happens to be by far my absolute favorite Technobot, so any 'updated' Computron I buy for third party prices MUST have a kick-ass Afturburner .

FP's liberties didn't bug me so much simply because the bot modes still looked good/didn't look cheap and they looked like they belonged in the set. MT's Afterburner looks like a crappy KO or as I said before, a cheap Has/Tak Legends figure or something. He looks out of place, even among the other figures in this set.

I also hate what they did with Lightspeed's combined form. There was no reason that car needed to turn inside out to form a foot. They also screwed up Afterburner's appearance in limb mode. The two wheels are supposed to be on the side of the arm, not angled at the top (at least that's how I have mine) and it doesn't look like they can be moved in MT's version (though I might have to wait on reviews etc. to verify that).

ahhh kay. i understand now. i was kinda confused cause i think you and i have pretty similar tastes. i like this figure a lot more than you apparently, but i actually agree with most of your nitpics

if afterburner is the one you want to love most, i can see why youre so ho-hum about this set. and im with you on his arm mode, im really hoping it the wheels dont *have* to sit like that. also, it is strange they made lightspeed do all that for leg mode. but i have a thought: it seemed like unnecessary and useless engineering, but maybe he does all that so that he can actually incorporate an arm mode? cause im assuming they can all either be an arm or a leg in the full spirit of a scramble city combiner.

There is no scramble city on Quantron. You can probably switch the two legbots, but the two armbots aren't switchable as the hands do not have the same connector.

shajaki wrote:

xyl360 wrote:Yep, it definitely is a matter of tastes, and I fully agree on Afterburner. That's probably a lot of what's coloring my opinion of these guys as well because he is the worst one and he also happens to be by far my absolute favorite Technobot, so any 'updated' Computron I buy for third party prices MUST have a kick-ass Afturburner .

FP's liberties didn't bug me so much simply because the bot modes still looked good/didn't look cheap and they looked like they belonged in the set. MT's Afterburner looks like a crappy KO or as I said before, a cheap Has/Tak Legends figure or something. He looks out of place, even among the other figures in this set.

I also hate what they did with Lightspeed's combined form. There was no reason that car needed to turn inside out to form a foot. They also screwed up Afterburner's appearance in limb mode. The two wheels are supposed to be on the side of the arm, not angled at the top (at least that's how I have mine) and it doesn't look like they can be moved in MT's version (though I might have to wait on reviews etc. to verify that).

ahhh kay. i understand now. i was kinda confused cause i think you and i have pretty similar tastes. i like this figure a lot more than you apparently, but i actually agree with most of your nitpics

if afterburner is the one you want to love most, i can see why youre so ho-hum about this set. and im with you on his arm mode, im really hoping it the wheels dont *have* to sit like that. also, it is strange they made lightspeed do all that for leg mode. but i have a thought: it seemed like unnecessary and useless engineering, but maybe he does all that so that he can actually incorporate an arm mode? cause im assuming they can all either be an arm or a leg in the full spirit of a scramble city combiner.

Hehe, yeah. I really did flip-flop on this one, so it's not like I totally hate it. I even had it preordered for a bit, but the more I looked at those aspects of it, the more they got under my skin (plus the look of the combined mode chest/torso; that still bugs me to no end as well ). I can't say that there aren't some really great things going on with this set, because there are in my opinion. There's just a few too many things that I consider significant about the Technobots/Computron that they screwed up for me to be willing to pass them the $300 or so to own them. Generally speaking, cost really isn't a factor for me (I'm the guy who buys 2 of every TFC not-Predacon and just dropped close to $2000 (and counting) on Justice League/Justice League Unlimited figures), but I would feel really dumb giving them that much money for something that's going to annoy me more when I look at it than it's going to make me smile/glad I own it. That's really what it comes down to. It just needs to do just enough to make me grin, and this set just doesn't quite get there. It definitely comes close in some areas, as I said, it's not a completely junk set or anything. There's just enough of those major and minor nitpicks to add up to more cons than pros for me, that's all.

TheGrognard wrote:Just as an FYI, this is the same designer who did FP's M3, as well as MT's Green Giant.

I actually REALLY like their Afterburner... I don't think the G1 design has aged well and I like how they went with it. And his rocket pods and sniper rifle turn into a warhammer. That's just baller.

It's definitely not as purposefully G1 as Warbotron's effort, but that's fine by me. I MUCH prefer more updated, IDW-y designs.

It could have been designed by the creators of Takara's current MP line and I still would think it looks like crap. IDW does not equal using halves of a shell or whatever for hands like those on Afterburner, nor does it equal inexplicably splitting his 2 wheels in 2 halves (last I checks, 2 wheeled vehicles could still be 'futuristic' and even 'IDW'; seen Chromia lately?). It's not a matter of making these guys more 'IDW', because that's something I wouldn't mind at all. I'm fine with stylized designs. What bothers me is that at least 2 of the guys on this team just look downright cheap and lazy. I don't think anyone looks at this and says "Gee, Hasbro sure did give Starscream some 'IDW' styled hands there!":

*cough*TronHomage*cough*

Sorry, might have a summer cold going on there.

I think based on their choices, and as a "Classics" reimagining, they did a fine job. Given the Tron Light Cycle, I like the clever way they split the wheels to give that G1-ish look in combined mode.

I fell in love with this mold at the beginning. Have you seen the size of his bow?

Agamemnon wrote:Let's see if I can get these two side by side. I'll post this in both the Warbotron thread and the MakeToys thread

My favorite aesthetic of the Two is The Maketoys Computron.

About the only thing, I like on the Warbotron Computron is the wheels on the Gestalt feet.

xyl360 wrote:It could have been designed by the creators of Takara's current MP line and I still would think it looks like crap. IDW does not equal using halves of a shell or whatever for hands like those on Afterburner, nor does it equal inexplicably splitting his 2 wheels in 2 halves (last I checks, 2 wheeled vehicles could still be 'futuristic' and even 'IDW'; seen Chromia lately?). It's not a matter of making these guys more 'IDW', because that's something I wouldn't mind at all. I'm fine with stylized designs. What bothers me is that at least 2 of the guys on this team just look downright cheap and lazy. I don't think anyone looks at this and says "Gee, Hasbro sure did give Starscream some 'IDW' styled hands there!":

If you don't like it, don't buy it. There's no reason to come into the thread for it and bash it just because you don't want it. The AOE Voyager Hound (one of the best reviewed, most sought-after, hardest-to-find-in-retail figures) does the same exact thing with his hands. So it's not like there's some kind of objective "this transformer sucks" thing you've stumbled upon and you have to let the world know about it.

Gestalts are hard to get right, because it's a set of triple changers. Very rarely are people going to be equally happy with all modes.

Last time I checked forums are meant to give your opinion.

It doesn't mean you have to agree with him.

I for one agree with xyl360 about the hands and split wheel on afterburner.

Hell, I also hate the head they gave him.

Luckily he'll be displayed in combined form so it doesn't bother me to much,

but it would have liked it if they where different.

TheGrognard wrote:If you don't like it, don't buy it. There's no reason to come into the thread for it and bash it just because you don't want it. The AOE Voyager Hound (one of the best reviewed, most sought-after, hardest-to-find-in-retail figures) does the same exact thing with his hands. So it's not like there's some kind of objective "this transformer sucks" thing you've stumbled upon and you have to let the world know about it.

i dont think he was doing that. go back and read, he likes some parts of it but afterburner is a sore spot. and his nitpicks have been echoed too (i know i agree).

so chill.

Are there any more video reviews? I have only seen two vehicles on YouTube and thought more were done at ComicCon.