The Energon Pub

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:47 am

Va'al wrote:Alpha Bravo is
not an option in Japan?
Let me ship some there.

He is a well made robot but I'm getting the JP version. So he can be a backup Aerialbot. Btw Val, can A B be transformed into a 3rd mode like PW?

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:50 am

fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:Alpha Bravo is
not an option in Japan?
Let me ship some there.

He is a well made robot but I'm getting the JP version. So he can be a backup Aerialbot. Btw Val, can A B be transformed into a 3rd mode like PW?

3rd mode like PW? What do you mean?

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:53 am

Va'al wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:Alpha Bravo is
not an option in Japan?
Let me ship some there.

He is a well made robot but I'm getting the JP version. So he can be a backup Aerialbot. Btw Val, can A B be transformed into a 3rd mode like PW?

3rd mode like PW? What do you mean?

A weapon.......targetmaster mode or a melee weapon? I'll probably get him sometime this June or when a Tomy version is released.

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:05 am

fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:Alpha Bravo is
not an option in Japan?
Let me ship some there.

He is a well made robot but I'm getting the JP version. So he can be a backup Aerialbot. Btw Val, can A B be transformed into a 3rd mode like PW?

3rd mode like PW? What do you mean?

A weapon.......targetmaster mode or a melee weapon? I'll probably get him sometime this June or when a Tomy version is released.

Oh! Alpha Bravo is a deluxe limb (arm/leg), robot and helicopter. Much bigger than Powerglide!

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:09 am

Va'al wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Va'al wrote:Alpha Bravo is
not an option in Japan?
Let me ship some there.

He is a well made robot but I'm getting the JP version. So he can be a backup Aerialbot. Btw Val, can A B be transformed into a 3rd mode like PW?

3rd mode like PW? What do you mean?

A weapon.......targetmaster mode or a melee weapon? I'll probably get him sometime this June or when a Tomy version is released.

Oh! Alpha Bravo is a deluxe limb (arm/leg), robot and helicopter. Much bigger than Powerglide!

So no fanmade third mode then. Bummer!

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:17 am

fenrir72 wrote:So no fanmade third mode then. Bummer!

It would be a fourth mode, but no. Not that I've seen!

News Credits: 3 · by **Samsonator** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:58 am

Rated X wrote:Instead they try to legitimize Alpha Bravo by photoshopping him into G1 cartoon screenshots. WTF ?

*raises hand* Ooh, ohh! I did that, that was me! :lol:

Seriously, though. As previously stated, expanding the lore and giving us new characters is a great idea, but new characters are hard to cement in people's minds when they're being added to a franchise that has such a long history, and so many characters already. What better way to make them important than to place them in combiner teams, teams where you need each member to make the combiner? Slingshot is still being made available to consumers, so really there is nothing wrong with Alpha Bravo. He's not a replacement so much as an alternate.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:58 am

Did anyone think Slingshot would actually be permanently replaced by Alpha Bravo?

I mean, no one thought that we wouldn't get all the classic teammates of each combiner, right?

It's just a marketing opportunity...

People buy the odd man out figure, rationalize it, then jump with joy when the OG figure is released. All the while they sing first, "How innovative!" then later, "How responsive to the fans!"

ffs >:oP

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:17 am

I'm still calling slingshot (+wild rider) out as exclusives. Can't see them having too wide an appeal to get a mass market release.

As for it being a marketing strategy, most probably, after all hasbro have been dealing with this fan base for thirty years now

so I think they know exactly what they're doing.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:14 am

fenrir72 wrote:
Rated X wrote:And you don't see Takara running to give all of Japan an Alpha Bravo, do you ? Takara hates IDW so much they didn't even bother doing a Skids for fans. They turned the mold into a character that wasn't even a transformer in the movie. And even that's better than Alpha Bravo...

Crosscut?

Platinum Edition Scrapyard Battle Rollbar, by Hasbro, later released by TakaraTomy stand-alone as an exclusive. And we don't know why TakaraTomy decided to skip Skids, nor how much they, as X claims, "hate" IDW, or how that would even factor in. Here's a little something: United EX Tankmaster's real identity is Grindcore, from the IDW comics.

Japan will get Alpha Bravo one way or another: via the Unite Warriors release of Guardian (Defensor) as Graze (Blades)

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:16 am

Do the IDW comics even get translated and released in Japan?

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:22 am

ZeroWolf wrote:Do the IDW comics even get translated and released in Japan?

I think they actually are! Sabrblade should know more about that.

News Credits: 3 · by **Samsonator** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:34 pm

Yeah, I don't buy that "Takara hates IDW" thing, either. It's a generalization, and it just doesn't jive with the nods Takara makes to the comics with things like the aforementioned Grindcore, giving Windblade a more comic accurate paint scheme, or repainting Legends Swerve's partner to resemble My First Blaster (even calling it such in their Legends comic strips)

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:02 pm

I think it's just different markets. Correct me if I'm wrong but Scoop wasn't given a Legends treatment yet and they released Goldbug with a face and not a battlemask in their United line (or whatever it is they call it before UW).

Same with Jhiaxus. So many characters and so little time and money to spend on. :sad:

by **Fox Thiagarajan** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:26 pm

My fav aspect of Alpha Bravo is the fact that Va'al could potentially bring this character to the top 3 fan favs of Transformers by sheer force of will. Seriously, I def tip my hat to you V for unflinchingly loving this figure so much. : )
And as for the hatred as it were-so be it. Personally, Bravo is a cool figure. Rated is free to hate any character for any reason as far I'm concerned.

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:53 am

Drift082111 wrote:My fav aspect of Alpha Bravo is the fact that Va'al could potentially bring this character to the top 3 fan favs of Transformers by sheer force of will. Seriously, I def tip my hat to you V for unflinchingly loving this figure so much. : )
And as for the hatred as it were-so be it. Personally, Bravo is a cool figure. Rated is free to hate any character for any reason as far I'm concerned.

Shucks.

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:48 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:Do the IDW comics even get translated and released in Japan?

I think they actually are! Sabrblade should know more about that.

I'm a little disappointed you think he knows more than I do on this. :-(

But, what I can say without stepping on toes, is that currently there is no official Japanese translation of IDW titles (other than fan scanlations) - that seems to be changing and there may be something coming out this year that starts filling a very demanding market.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:20 am

By your response Va'al I take it you know more about this then you're leting on?

News Credits: 1 · by **iguanabytes** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:32 am

I think rated X is upset because the initial release of Superion (Silverbolt, Firefly, SkyDive, **Alpha Bravo and Dragstrip**) cost him an arm and a leg

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:34 am

ZeroWolf wrote:By your response Va'al I take it you know more about this then you're leting on?

Definitely not.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:47 pm

iguanabytes wrote:I think rated X is upset because the initial release of Superion (Silverbolt, Firefly, SkyDive, **Alpha Bravo and Dragstrip**) cost him an arm and a leg

I see what you did there.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:29 pm

iguanabytes wrote:I think rated X is upset because the initial release of Superion (Silverbolt, Firefly, SkyDive, **Alpha Bravo and Dragstrip**) cost him an arm and a leg

http://youtu.be/gpaOy8b8X6A

News Credits: 3 · by **Samsonator** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:41 pm

iguanabytes wrote:I think rated X is upset because the initial release of Superion (Silverbolt, Firefly, SkyDive, **Alpha Bravo and Dragstrip**) cost him an arm and a leg

(Alpha) Bravo to you. :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 16 · by **It Is Him** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:18 pm

Wait whoa whoa whoa whoa. Hasbro still makes Transformers????

News Credits: 25 · by **Ironhidensh** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:50 am

Rated X wrote:It’s no secret I can’t stand Alpha Bravo. I hate the concept. I don’t care about IDW’s new wave storyline. Slingshot is alive and well in the minds of many G1 traditionalists. Obviously Takara seems to agree. And according to alleged TRU listings, Hasbro might be rethinking their decision and offering us a proper Slingshot and Wildrider too. So this thread is to spur a little debate about the character and his existence in the first place. This thread is not to talk about the quality or enjoyment of the toy. My whole beef with Alpha Bravo is the fact that he is replacing Slingshot. I would have no problem with him being introduced as a separate character. Hasbro could have saved Alpha Bravo, Offroad, Rook, etc. for their fan made combiner. But replacing the only Aerialbot that actually had a unique personality to accommodate a comic book storyline is a stupid move in my opinion. Every time Hasbro/designs a combiner, they always go one off with a limb just to piss off G1 fans. Last time for Bruticus we got puke and period blood colored Vortex. Even TF wiki doesn’t list which alleged IDW comic book the Alpha Bravo storyline can be found in. A few Alpha Bravo supporters list a particular issue, but flat out refuse to take some pictures of it or provide a link that show its contents. Why isn’t it in TF Wiki already ? If these Alpha Bravo fanboys love him so much, why don’t they add his back story and comic book pics to his bio ? Instead they try to legitimize Alpha Bravo by photoshopping him into G1 cartoon screenshots. WTF ?

So this is the place for Transformers fans to discuss how they feel about Alpha Bravo. Is he friend or foe ?

Wow. Damn man, have a beer and calm the **** down, m'kay?

I feel kinda bad for voicing my AB displeasure now.

For the record, I don't have a problem with Alpha as a character. My only displeasure is that he is a helicopter. If he was a jet, I'd welcome him to my Aerialbots its open arms, same as I have no problem with Off-road. It's not the end of the world, and I might just go on and get him in the end, just to avoid import prices.

Also, what the hell does this >:oP