The Energon Pub

by **G.B. Blackrock** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 9:49 pm

Dagon wrote:
Easy Tiger wrote:Silverbolt seemed a weird mold choice at first, but...

If you turn him around in jet mode and stick guns in his hands, you've got the beginnings of a vaguely lobster/crawfish silhouette.

I wonder, given what they've done with Ram Horn, if this is the angle they'll take. If so, then

It doesn't seem a little stupid to turn a toy around or use a fan mode as the alt mode for a convention exclusive figure? The fandom that often freaks out over mistransformed figures in stock photos thinks it would be acceptable to half transform a fire truck or turn a jet backwards and have that count as an official transformation?

Generally speaking, I agree. I'm sure I'd have found the fan modes suggested for the Hot Spot mold very off-putting if FunPub had used them. Sometimes, it works, though.

Indeed, I still prefer the alternate "hooded" transformation for Runamuck and Runabout over the official transformation that give both characters Wheeljack's wings, which don't suit the characters.

(For those who haven't seen that transformation, here: http://blackrockstoybox.blogspot.com/20 ... rmers.html )

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:20 pm

Seibertron wrote:I agree with this. The themes haven't worked for me for quite a while. I'd like to just see good figures and have the themes tossed out the window. I think the Beast Wars set from 2006 and the Shattered Glass set from 2008 were the only sets that I thought the theme was good a really good fit for.

While I dont have them, the set I like best would be the stunticon set using animated molds. The retools and decos are really nice there and it gives us toys of these characters in that universe/theme.

Sabrblade wrote:In all honesty, guys, what else could they have done? The fans wanted 2016 to be a Beast Wars set to honor the 30th anniversary

Getting a little ahead of ourselves are we?

All in all, I dont mind this set for existing. I just dislike the price and way its distribution is handled (which is a totally different issue), and I feel that a lot of negativity might stem from this. Since this is supposed to be special, and costs a special price, we expect more and are quite critical. If this was released as a 3rd wave of combiner wars for 2016 I dont think there would be much of an argument aside from the fact that it's reusing the same molds again. I know I would buy them at general retail price, these are fun characters to have.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:23 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:In all honesty, guys, what else could they have done? The fans wanted 2016 to be a Beast Wars set to honor the 30th anniversary

Getting a little ahead of ourselves are we?

Stupid typos! :BANG_HEAD:

Post has been amended.

News Credits: 1 · by **Lucky Logician** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:51 pm

Sabrblade wrote:I can understand the feeling of redundancy in their giving us another Pre-Beast Tarantulas so soon after the last one (I myself wish they had gone with another agent like Onyx Primal), but considering how the mass audiences familiar with Beast Wars most probably only know of the cartoon and are not as versed in the more obscure non-show Beast Wars fiction, the choice of show-character Tarantulas over some non-show nobody is, as I said, likely the safest route they could have taken. Ergo, a recognizable character is likely more appealing to most people than someone either completely unknown or someone known only to the TFWiki crowd.

Safest route? They literally pulled 5 random guys out of their butts for last year's box set. Mass audiences don't buy Box Sets; fans buy Box Sets. FunPub is making the Tripredacus Council and Ravage as 4 of the figures in set. Fans aren't going to pass on this set because they 'never heard of Onyx Primal.'

I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.

Sabrblade wrote:Yes, not everyone is going to be happy with the results (not everyone is ever always happy with the BotCon sets), but they tried with this one, and tried more than usual since we're getting a whopping five new headsculpts as opposed to the usual one, two, or three. .... Just... Please understand what was trying to be accomplished here.

New headscupts does not equal "trying." Botcon 2006 (Dawn of Future's Past) had 3 headscupts and is one of the most popular sets. Botcon 2008 (Shattered Glass) had a whopping ZERO new headscupts and is probably the most expensive set to get at this point. A good, solid theme is what really gets fans going; not headscupts.

Sabrblade wrote:In all honesty, guys, what else could they have done? The fans wanted 2016 to be a Beast Wars set to honor the 20th anniversary, while Hasbro evidently wanted it to be a Combiner Wars set (as Fun Pub did state at this year's BotCon that they're now working closer with Hasbro in having Fun Pub's projects align more with Hasbro's plans).

Let's just be honest here. You can defend FunPub's decision-making all you want. But this all boils down to their hands being tied by Hasbro. Hasbro has committed their factories to pumping out two years worth of the same figures. Why screw up production by throwing a bunch new molds into the mix?

by **G.B. Blackrock** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 11:23 pm

Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.

Wow, that's harsh....

New headscupts does not equal "trying." Botcon 2006 (Dawn of Future's Past) had 3 headscupts and is one of the most popular sets. Botcon 2008 (Shattered Glass) had a whopping ZERO new headscupts and is probably the most expensive set to get at this point. A good, solid theme is what really gets fans going; not headscupts.

Differences of opinion aside, the assertion that BotCon 2008 had no new head sculpts is just factually incorrect. Both SG Jazz and SG Goldbug had new head sculpts, and that's just the box set.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 11:28 pm

G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....

Yeah, it's not like Fun Pub kicked a puppy or something.

Unlike certain other fellows:

News Credits: 25 · by **SW's SilverHammer** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 11:34 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....
Yeah, it's not like Fun Pub kicked a puppy or something.

Unlike certain other fellows:

You're right, kicking a puppy would actually make them more likable. I mean it's not like cobra commander had a website so poorly made it resulted in multiple instance of credit card and identity theft. Yes that was a low blow. No I don't care.

by **Genericon #378** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:05 am

Um.....am I the only one who absolutely detests the BotCon toys revealed so far? Do we need a Ravage deluxe? We just got a Tarantulas, and that one is still better. Why is Cicadacon a jet, and why the hell is he red? Ramhorn looks the best out of all of them, but that's not saying much. Sea Clamp.....this is the worst one yet. Why couldn't we make him a new mold? Or at least make him from a mold that actually looks anything like a damn Lobster? What's next, First Aid repainted neon green as an homage to movie Ratchet? I shouldn't say these things. They might happen later.

by **Nemesis Maximo** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:52 am

Sabrblade wrote:
Nemesis Maximo wrote:Yay, another use of that torso mold.
Well, it is the best one.

And besides, what torso mold that Fun Pub can use hasn't been (or won't be) used over and over? (Sky Lynx is too far away to use).

I would have loved to see the Club pull a Unicron using the OP/MM body.

Now I know most people hate it, and although I agree that it has it's shortcomings, there are a few reasons I think this could work:

1. The Combiner torso has a vaguely Unicronian appearance, with the horns and the opening chest a la Armada.

Actually, that's all I got for the list. But the Club could add a new head and some claw feet and be aces.

by **Easy Tiger** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:26 am

Dagon wrote:
Easy Tiger wrote:Silverbolt seemed a weird mold choice at first, but...

If you turn him around in jet mode and stick guns in his hands, you've got the beginnings of a vaguely lobster/crawfish silhouette.

I wonder, given what they've done with Ram Horn, if this is the angle they'll take. If so, then

It doesn't seem a little stupid to turn a toy around or use a fan mode as the alt mode for a convention exclusive figure? The fandom that often freaks out over mistransformed figures in stock photos thinks it would be acceptable to half transform a fire truck or turn a jet backwards and have that count as an official transformation?

Fair enough.

If that's how you feel, I strongly suggest not looking too hard at Ram Horn

I can't really answer the second question. The fandom is about as far from a single unified entity as you can get...

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:09 am

Some people are suggesting the skylynx mold would have been beter for sea clamp and i dont get it. How would it work if that mold doesn't have a robot mode? It just has a vehicle, dinosaur and torso mode.

Website · by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:57 am

G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....

Harsh, but true. Beast Wars basically saved the franchise and is still regarded as one of the best damned series, rightfully so. It deserves SO much more than what it's getting, this included.

News Credits: 174 · by **Hellscream9999** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:22 am

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:
G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....

Harsh, but true. Beast Wars basically saved the franchise and is still regarded as one of the best damned series, rightfully so. It deserves SO much more than what it's getting, this included.

That's pretty much how I feel, but hasbro is still celebrating G1, it's feeling a little stifling :roll:

I still wonder if the toy colors would have looked better on these guys

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:44 am

Hellscream9999 wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:
G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....

Harsh, but true. Beast Wars basically saved the franchise and is still regarded as one of the best damned series, rightfully so. It deserves SO much more than what it's getting, this included.

That's pretty much how I feel, but hasbro is still celebrating G1, it's feeling a little stifling

I still wonder if the toy colors would have looked better on these guys

I think the main problem here is that it is much easier to improve on a G1 toy than on a beast wars toy. Nostalgia for the original toys and durability aside, most would say that the CHUG figures are an improvement over the look and articulation of the G1 toys. You cant say the same about Cheetor though. The club just released an old waspinator beast wars retool last year and it didnt seem dated in the least. Same with takara releasing Primal last year.

I would also say that Hasbro's attempt at a CHUG G2 Dreadwing pales in comparison to the original. Their Armada updated though, I feel, are all superior to the original toys. Including the minicon combiner.

News Credits: 174 · by **Hellscream9999** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:21 am

william-james88 wrote:
Hellscream9999 wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:
G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Lucky Logician wrote:I'm sorry, but no. Double Tarantualas is absolutely unforgiveable. Period.
Wow, that's harsh....

Harsh, but true. Beast Wars basically saved the franchise and is still regarded as one of the best damned series, rightfully so. It deserves SO much more than what it's getting, this included.

That's pretty much how I feel, but hasbro is still celebrating G1, it's feeling a little stifling

I still wonder if the toy colors would have looked better on these guys

I think the main problem here is that it is much easier to improve on a G1 toy than on a beast wars toy. Nostalgia for the original toys and durability aside, most would say that the CHUG figures are an improvement over the look and articulation of the G1 toys. You cant say the same about Cheetor though. The club just released an old waspinator beast wars retool last year and it didnt seem dated in the least. Same with takara releasing Primal last year.

I would also say that Hasbro's attempt at a CHUG G2 Dreadwing pales in comparison to the original. Their Armada updated though, I feel, are all superior to the original toys. Including the minicon combiner.

Well yeah, armada was an abomination :SICK:

No poseability and an over-reliance on a gimmick made it a paltry series, I think I only ever got the universe ransack (an awesome mold), Unicron, and most of the mini-cons, the normal figures had no appeal to me, as most were dumb lumps that couldn't move >:oP

As for BW, I agree on the whole, most - outside of the cast - don't need updates, but that doesn't excuse hasbro from ignoring the anniversary - as I guarantee, they won't hesitate to celebrate the movie anniversary - because 'G1' :roll:

That said, I think a re-engineering of the original o/p and megatron wouldn't hurt and would be easy to modify. Give megs an arm with removable tail, and give o/p a show accurate beast mode head.

While they could just re-release others (manterror, snarl, and scourge immediately jump to mind as figures I regret not getting) and say 'here you go, thanks for supporting us to this anniversary' 'cuz, really, feeling the slap in the face from hasbro right now, considering it saved the franchise :BANG_HEAD:

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:36 am

Hellscream9999 wrote:
That said, I think a re-engineering of the original o/p and megatron wouldn't hurt and would be easy to modify. Give megs an arm with removable tail, and give o/p a show accurate beast mode head.

We did get that though:

News Credits: 174 · by **Hellscream9999** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:11 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Hellscream9999 wrote:
That said, I think a re-engineering of the original o/p and megatron wouldn't hurt and would be easy to modify. Give megs an arm with removable tail, and give o/p a show accurate beast mode head.

We did get that though:

Well, then it should be even easier to incorporate that into the ultra class mold shouldn't it >:oP

(but, uh, fix the monkey arms first)

News Credits: 33 · by **TF_JW** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:33 pm

And now... Seaclamp!

The final digital mock-up can bee seen on BotCon.com:

http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/bc16exclusives.cfm

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:35 pm

Genericon #378 wrote:Do we need a Ravage deluxe?

His Beast Wars Metals toy was a Deluxe.

Genericon #378 wrote:Why is Cicadacon a jet,

What other Combiner Wars Deluxe mold would you have him be?

Genericon #378 wrote:and why the hell is he red?

Because he was red in the show?

His body physically glowed red. All three of them did.

Genericon #378 wrote:Why couldn't we make him a new mold?

Because Fun Pub is a publishing company and not a toy manufacturing company like Hasbro and TakaraTomy?

Genericon #378 wrote:Or at least make him from a mold that actually looks anything like a damn Lobster?

And which Combiner Wars mold would that be, exactly?

And why would he be a lobster on a Pre-Beast Wars Cybertron? Were you just as dissatisfied by all the 2006 toys being vehicles instead of animals?

News Credits: 461 · by **mooncake623** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:44 pm

The Transformers Collectors Club just revealed via their official Botcon site, that Predacon General Seaclamp will be a repaint of the yet to be released Scattershot retooling of Silverbolt! Check out the final digital mock-up mirrored below and remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates!

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:53 pm

The BotCon Twitter has something to say about this new headsculpt - https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/659372098146672641

Two things. Seaclamp's is the UGLIEST head we have ever sculpted. That said. It turned out BEAUTIFULLY!

by **YoungPrime** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:55 pm

1 little, 2 little, 3 little repaints....

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:58 pm

YoungPrime wrote:1 little, 2 little, 3 little repaints....

Remold. New headsculpt.

Cicadacon's the only redeco.

News Credits: 402 · by **Mkall** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:58 pm

I'm really not into this set. The last set I was detesting this much was Machine Wars and I came around on it.

This set though...

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:05 pm

I thought I might like this. I don't. Nothing I've seen about these toys makes me really care about them. Ramhorn looks neat. The other four just exist.

Any Beast Wars mega-fans just totally stoked by this set? I like Beast Wars, but don't love it so much as to pore over all the content like I know some do. Curious what the take on these is from that perspective.