The Energon Pub

News Credits: 118 · by **megatronus** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:51 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
megatronus wrote:Wow... Seaclamp looks like he's missing his helmet.
What helmet?

You must understand the difference between the source material and the teaser for the toy we're getting. The teaser was in my post.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:53 pm

megatronus wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
megatronus wrote:Wow... Seaclamp looks like he's missing his helmet.
What helmet?

You must understand the difference between the source material and the teaser for the toy we're getting. The teaser was in my post. There's no way you're that obtuse.

They are supposed to be the same head design. The artwork just made it look a little more angular and blocky compared to the smoother and rounder cartoon model.

by **Genericon #378** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:55 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
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?

No Combiner Wars mold. Don't use the Combiner Wars molds. Cicadacon, well, it's in the name. Use a different mold. Who said they had to use Combiner Wars molds? The Breakdown mold is the worst Combiner Wars mold out there, and we really needed a Ravage that transforms into a Lamborghini.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:01 pm

Genericon #378 wrote:No Combiner Wars mold. Don't use the Combiner Wars molds.

Sorry, that's evidently what Hasbro wanted Fun Pub to do.

Genericon #378 wrote:Cicadacon, well, it's in the name. Use a different mold.

The idea behind Pre-Beast Wars figures is to give then altmodes that they had on Cybertron before becoming beasts. Or do you also dislike the BotCon 2006 toys?

Genericon #378 wrote:Who said they had to use Combiner Wars molds?

Hasbro, evidently, considering that they have final say on what Fun Pub can and cannot do.

Genericon #378 wrote:The Breakdown mold is the worst Combiner Wars mold out there, and we really needed a Ravage that transforms into a Lamborghini.

The Breakdown mold is also the only one with enough space in the transformation for the new headsculpt to not be awful. No other CW car mold has as much space for a head like Ravage's to both fit inside the body and be of a good size and sculpting. There really wasn't any other CW car mold choice to use for Ravage that wouldn't result in a botched headsculpt.

News Credits: 118 · by **megatronus** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:04 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Genericon #378 wrote:No Combiner Wars mold. Don't use the Combiner Wars molds.
Sorry, that's evidently what Hasbro wanted Fun Pub to do.

Genericon #378 wrote:Cicadacon, well, it's in the name. Use a different mold.
The idea behind Pre-Beast Wars figures is to give then altmodes that they had on Cybertron before becoming beasts. Or do you also dislike the BotCon 2006 toys?

Genericon #378 wrote:Who said they had to use Combiner Wars molds?
Hasbro, evidently, considering that they have final say on what Fun Pub can and cannot do.

Genericon #378 wrote:The Breakdown mold is the worst Combiner Wars mold out there, and we really needed a Ravage that transforms into a Lamborghini.
The Breakdown mold is also the only one with enough space in the transformation for the new headsculpt to not be awful. No other CW car mold has as much space for a head like Ravage's to both fit inside the body and be of a good size and sculpting. There really wasn't any other CW car mold choice for Ravage.

It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

by **G.B. Blackrock** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:08 pm

megatronus wrote:It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

No, seriously. There was a statement made by Pete on one of the podcasts that, while I can't quote it myself, has been considered strong evidence that the use of CW molds this year was a Hasbro thing.

We do know that FunPub and Hasbro are said to be working more closely under the new Hasbro administration, and there has been a stated desire to bring FunPub's offerings under closer alignment to Hasbro retail. That alone, could mean why we're seeing so much CW this (coming) year (as opposed to FunPub's past precedent for using molds going back across a wider span of years).

But all signs point to this being a Hasbro initiative more than FunPub's.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:12 pm

megatronus wrote:It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

I find this whole thing odd too. I get that hasbro has a say but did they really ask that BOTH TFSS and the Botcon stuff be all CW molds. Sounds a bit excessive for even hasbro.

News Credits: 13 · by **steals_your_goats** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:14 pm

Amidst all the negativity I'll say that I actually like this set. I wasn't sold on it at first but I like the head sculpts and I like the unified color scheme. In excited to see the combined mode head, I assume that'll be shown next week?

by **G.B. Blackrock** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:15 pm

william-james88 wrote:
megatronus wrote:It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

I find this whole thing odd too. I get that hasbro has a say but did they really ask that BOTH TFSS and the Botcon stuff be all CW molds. Sounds a bit excessive for even hasbro.

For what it's worth, it's possible the "greater alignment" (or however it was actually worded) concept is being taken farther than Hasbro expected, but I still expect that this is FunPub doing what they think they've been told to do (as opposed to simply choosing to go so far into CW territory all on their own).

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:47 pm

I quite like that sea clamp the more I see of it. I think given the conditions fun pub are working with, they've done quite well. I understand that it's not to everyone's tastes and that some people are being a bit unrealistic but it's a hit for me.

News Credits: 1 · by **Lucky Logician** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:52 pm

william-james88 wrote:
megatronus wrote:It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

I find this whole thing odd too. I get that hasbro has a say but did they really ask that BOTH TFSS and the Botcon stuff be all CW molds. Sounds a bit excessive for even hasbro.

It makes perfect sense for Hasbro to force all these CW molds on FunPub. The only changes being made at the factories are a couple of headmolds. Everything else is just pumping new colored plastic into the already existing assembly line.

Using the same molds causes near zero loss in productivity. That's probably why we're getting Scattershot for Seaclamp. They've already got the factory pumping Scattershots out. All they have to do is pour more red into the mold one day and Boom!, it's a Seaclamp!

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:56 pm

News Credits: 3 · by **Optimizzy** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:02 pm

For my first botcon...not getting the figures. Dang.

News Credits: 118 · by **megatronus** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:14 pm

Lucky Logician wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
megatronus wrote:It's far more likely that FunPun pushed the use of CW molds rather than Hasbro mandated them.

I find this whole thing odd too. I get that hasbro has a say but did they really ask that BOTH TFSS and the Botcon stuff be all CW molds. Sounds a bit excessive for even hasbro.
It makes perfect sense for Hasbro to force all these CW molds on FunPub. The only changes being made at the factories are a couple of headmolds. Everything else is just pumping new colored plastic into the already existing assembly line.

Using the same molds causes near zero loss in productivity. That's probably why we're getting Scattershot for Seaclamp. They've already got the factory pumping Scattershots out. All they have to do is pour more red into the mold one day and Boom!, it's a Seaclamp!

That's not a reason for Hasbro to push the molds on FunPub, it's a reason for FunPub to tack their figures on to Hasbro's runs. I would think FunPub would be the beneficiary of those production savings, not Hasbro.

News Credits: 13 · by **kurthy** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:27 pm

I would like Silverbolt's mode a lot more for other characters if the nose one could be separated from the body and have a 5 mm peg on it that could be attached else where. It would greatly help Cyclonus and Sea clamp.

by **Grahf_** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:43 pm

So I was thinking about what Sabrblade has been saying about Onyx Primal being in the combiner instead of Tarantulus. Maybe Onyx Primal is still going to be done but from Powerglide or Viper instead. That would work out pretty well.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:03 pm

Alpha Weltall wrote:So I was thinking about what Sabrblade has been saying about Onyx Primal being in the combiner instead of Tarantulus. Maybe Onyx Primal is still going to be done but from Powerglide or Viper instead. That would work out pretty well.

I dunno. I wish he had been made from Firefly, but I really can't see him working from the Powerglide mold without a new head, as his mouthplated Batman head is part of his known look. I just don't see them giving a new head to a Legends mold.

However, imagine if they had made Sea Clamp out of Powerglide, as Sea Clamp was the smallest one in the show and had his robe kinda shaped like Powerglide's vertical shoulder wings in robot mode. Then they could have made Onyx Primal be the torso out of Cyclonus or something. :-P

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:21 pm

From back a bit, I agree with Will. They really don't have much to work with and they honestly do a great job of making these characters with limited resources. I am still standing by my claims that this set is awesome

News Credits: 5 · by **alexison** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:46 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Doctor McGrath wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Genericon #378 wrote:Do we need a Ravage deluxe?
His Beast Wars Metals toy was a Deluxe.

I think that was his point man. We already have that toy.
By that logic, every BotCon 2006 toy of the same size class (or of comparable size class) as their original BW toy is unneeded.

Doctor McGrath wrote:Still don't agree with the decision to go red. Whether their bodies did glow red or it was bc of the light(with an animation error on the bodies), they were clearly not red when they walked into the room. I would have preferred those colors over bright saturated red.
So, a set of solid dark gray toys, then?

Yes, by that logic they are unnecessary. I think a lot of people feel that way about their deluxe Cannonball too. And yes, I'd go with solid dark gray over bright red any day of the week.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:53 pm

Doctor McGrath wrote:Yes, by that logic they are unnecessary.

Hence why his logic is faulty.

Doctor McGrath wrote:I think a lot of people feel that way about their deluxe Cannonball too. And yes, I'd go with solid dark gray over bright red any day of the week.

Solid gray figures with no color (besides gray)...

Yeah, that sounds exciting.

by **Genericon #378** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:53 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Alpha Weltall wrote:So I was thinking about what Sabrblade has been saying about Onyx Primal being in the combiner instead of Tarantulus. Maybe Onyx Primal is still going to be done but from Powerglide or Viper instead. That would work out pretty well.
I dunno. I wish he had been made from Firefly, but I really can't see him working from the Powerglide mold without a new head, as his mouthplated Batman head is part of his known look. I just don't see them giving a new head to a Legends mold.

However, imagine if they had made Sea Clamp out of Powerglide, as Sea Clamp was the smallest one in the show and had his robe kinda shaped like Powerglide's vertical shoulder wings in robot mode. Then they could have made Onyx Primal be the torso out of Cyclonus or something.

They gave new heads to Windcharger, Viper, Huffer and Warpath, so I don't see why they couldn't do it for Onyx Primal. Viper is also made from the Powerglide mold.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:55 pm

Genericon #378 wrote:They gave new heads to Windcharger, Viper, Huffer and Warpath, so I don't see why they couldn't do it for Onyx Primal. Viper is also made from the Powerglide mold.

That was Hasbro who did that, not Fun Pub.

I meant I can't see Fun Pub wanting to give a new head to a Legends class toy.

by **Genericon #378** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:56 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Doctor McGrath wrote:Yes, by that logic they are unnecessary.
Hence why his logic is faulty.

Doctor McGrath wrote:I think a lot of people feel that way about their deluxe Cannonball too. And yes, I'd go with solid dark gray over bright red any day of the week.
Solid gray figures with no color (besides gray)...

Yeah, that sounds exciting.

Better than bright red. Ravage and Tarantulas were ok, but I immediately got turned off by the sea of red, when we have had a lot of red characters in Combiner Wars.

by **Genericon #378** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:58 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Genericon #378 wrote:They gave new heads to Windcharger, Viper, Huffer and Warpath, so I don't see why they couldn't do it for Onyx Primal. Viper is also made from the Powerglide mold.
That was Hasbro who did that, not Fun Pub.

I meant I can't see Fun Pub wanting to give a new head to a Legends class toy.

If they can give a bunch of new tooling to Ramhorn, I'm sure they can retool a Legends head. Speaking of retooling, I'm appalled that they chose to not retool Cicadacon's head.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:05 pm

Genericon #378 wrote:Better than bright red.

How is drab, colorless gray better than red? Half of these toy are already gray so gray on gray would practically make them look like unpainted prototypes.

Genericon #378 wrote:If they can give a bunch of new tooling to Ramhorn, I'm sure they can retool a Legends head.

The didn't retool anything on Ramhorn besides the head. That drill isn't Fun Pub's handiwork.

And no, they likely wouldn't waste a new head on a Legends when the cost of doing so is equal to the cost of giving a new head to a Deluxe. They'd prefer getting their money's worth on a new Deluxe head than waste it on a new Legends head unless said new Legends head would be a darn good idea worth doing, and Onyx Primal from Powerglide would hardly qualify (no offense to Alpha Weltall for suggesting it).

Genericon #378 wrote:Speaking of retooling, I'm appalled that they chose to not retool Cicadacon's head.

Oh come on. Now you're just looking for things to complain about. Of all of the CW mold heads out there, that one is closest to any of these character's heads. It's practically dead on with the same overall helmet shape.