The Energon Pub

Sabrblade wrote:I ask what world would you have had this Decepticon hail from because it's part of this year's theme. Each of these five is from some other world than they one they've all found their way into. Packrat's from Beast Wars, Battletrap's from Dreamwave G1, Stepper's from the Shatteredverse, etc. etc.

Still besides the point - I simply do not like Shattered Glass. I refuse to go down the rabbit hole of what universe to draw from, because this rule or assumption that each character must originate from a different universe is arbitrary, and in my view does more to limit the possibilities here than expand them.

Sabrblade wrote:That's part of the fun when it comes to Axiom Nexus stories. You can take just about anyone from just about anywhere and put them together in a story that's mostly limited by one's imagination alone. It tickles the fancy of those who played with their toys as children in a mixed manner with no regards to series or continuity or franchise or anything, playing with their toys how they wanted to rather than being dictated by the fiction, all for the sake of having fun.

And now we have a fictional setting that takes that kind of play pattern to a whole new level as a loving tribute to it.

When I first saw the pictures I thought of transformers generation 2 Gobots. The one that shoots water and changes color

I wouldn't mind more Shattered Glass interactions.

The good thing about BotCon figures is if you like them, and can't go, then you're in luck because someone who goes and gets the set might not like the figures you like and they'll be selling them.

I hate shattered glass. Its simply just too super heroish for me. When I think of shattered glass, I think of Spiderman vs. Venom. And when I was a kid, there was a superhero cartoon that I cant remember the name, but featured Superman, Wonder Woman, Aqua Man, (and Batman I think) as a team. One episode featured a alternate universe version of the same characters but evil in darker colors and they fought. A similar plot happened in Gargoyles when a group of evil clones were created and squared off against the good gargoyles. Once again, they looked the same but in different colors. So "shattered glass" is nothing new in the non-robot superhero world. Thats why I prefer it be left out of the transformers world. It just doesnt click with robots in my opinion.

Well yeah, a mirror universe is not a new idea (see here: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... orUniverse). Nonetheless, it's a popular what-if scenario because there's a lot of fascinating possibilities in a world where everything is the opposite of what the audience is used to. That said, I think it works better as a fiction than a toyline, especially since at this point all the big players have been reversed and now they're just reversing smaller characters. Admittedly, though, this is coming from somebody who's not in the Club, has never been to Botcon, and has never read any TFCC fiction. My interest in a toy who is supported by fiction I've never read is minimal, but I can't say for sure I'd feel the same if I was a reader. I don't know if you're a reader or not, X, but either way it seems that Shattered Glass doesn't resonate with you (no pun intended) and I can respect that.

I'm kinda sick of Shattered Glass. In the beginning, it was an interesting enough story idea, but now it just seems to be an excuse to fill out toy lineups when Botcon can't think of anything else. Given there's so many characters to revisit with new toys or the possibility of creating totally new characters, SG repaints have just become lazy.

That Bot wrote:Well yeah, a mirror universe is not a new idea (see here: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... orUniverse). Nonetheless, it's a popular what-if scenario because there's a lot of fascinating possibilities in a world where everything is the opposite of what the audience is used to. That said, I think it works better as a fiction than a toyline, especially since at this point all the big players have been reversed and now they're just reversing smaller characters. Admittedly, though, this is coming from somebody who's not in the Club, has never been to Botcon, and has never read any TFCC fiction. My interest in a toy who is supported by fiction I've never read is minimal, but I can't say for sure I'd feel the same if I was a reader. I don't know if you're a reader or not, X, but either way it seems that Shattered Glass doesn't resonate with you (no pun intended) and I can respect that.

Operative word there being "scenario". In pretty much all other fiction, the "heroes are bad and the villains are good" scenario only hangs around briefly.
Except in Transformers where it keeps getting revisited. And honestly, it was never really a good idea to begin with.

Between Cloud Rodimus, Generations Springer, and now BotCon Battletrap, that mold is growing on me.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Between Cloud Rodimus, Generations Springer, and now BotCon Battletrap, that mold is growing on me.

What about Sandstorm?

shajaki wrote:

shockblast2 wrote:Someone on the news crew wrote this article?

Since it's news, yeah it was written up as news. That's shocking? So far all there is (of Battletrap) is our gallery teaser and screencaps of the video. Not sure why anyone would complain about this.

Rated X wrote:Shouldn't we be getting the new reveal instead of pics of last weeks reveal ?

Can't control how and when FunPub releases things. But there's *supposedly* a new reveal video slated for today.

That is not what I meant. I wasn't referring to the story itself. Nor was I referring to the articles chosen as news.

After 30 years of fatherly Prime and underdog yellow Bumblebee and upstart Hot Rod and (for the most part) characters playing their expected roles... Shattered Glass was a fantastic twist to throw into the Transformers universe. Knowing that Botcon has to re-use molds, it's a great way to deliver the big names we love in a new exciting plot, character, and deco.

If you disagree, go check the prices of the box set and main characters on eBay. It IS a popular theme and set, though admittedly divisive.

I understand if you're sick of it, but 1.5 years compared with 30 years of retreaded story.... I'm afraid SG is still on it maiden voyage or sophomore year. Pretty darn fresh.

IMHO.

I've no complaints seeing a couple of new SG characters this round.

RiddlerJ wrote:I'm kinda sick of Shattered Glass. In the beginning, it was an interesting enough story idea, but now it just seems to be an excuse to fill out toy lineups when Botcon can't think of anything else. Given there's so many characters to revisit with new toys or the possibility of creating totally new characters, SG repaints have just become lazy.

Yep. That is why they created it to begin with. Just another excuse to use the same molds to sell you product at inflated prices.

Ok, now only the Boss and Bounty Hunter remain. Let's recap what we have:

1.) the Boss will most likely be based on something from Dark of the Moon with 62811 (June 28 2011, movie premier) and something else with 484 (4-84, 48-4, 4-8-4, or "DHD" even).
2.) the Bounty Hunter could be based on something from BotCon 1996
3.) the Boss and the Bounty Hunter will have new tooling/heads

Looking at the size of the eggs, the Boss could a Voyager and the Bounty Hunter a very compact Deluxe. Plus, we still have that War/Silas Breakdown we kinda saw:



New head and presto: a Dark of the Moon Megatron look-a-like with a humanoid in his chest:



Anyone?

Throwing in a movie character seems odd to me. Those seem like they are their own universe. Too "live-action" to interact with the more cartoon worlds.

I miss getting sets where there was a very clear visual theme. (I guess this years's is that really nice blue that is used as an accent color.) I really like at least box set to match, instead of being a collection of misfit toys. While that's a great way to give a nod to different fans (beasts, sg, etc.), I'm always hoping every couple of years they'll put out a set with a really heavy-handed theme.

I keep holding my breath for some set where all the figures are black and white, or decorated as competing country themed race cars for some big race, or glow in the dark.... something that really ties them all together by look.

I think the best they've nailed that... definitely the Animated Stunticon, Beast Wars and G2 sets. The others to me seemed more to lean on inclusion of some excellent characters, but came across less "themey."

But I digress.

I'm LOVING that they are redoing old 3H figures. I hope they complete the set. I think that's a fantastic nod to the fans who have interest in the older figures but cannot afford them because of their scarcity. I almost see this as the theme for the recent past, and that's not a bad thing.

This years are looking really good... really excellent mold choices and well executed head sculpt. Warming up more to SG Stepper after I realized he almost has a Hot Rod vibe to him. Not a bad thing. Might be the reason they were wanting to do that execution of him. On the shelf, it may stand in as that orange car color scheme guy.

gothsaurus wrote:Throwing in a movie character seems odd to me. Those seem like they are their own universe. Too "live-action" to interact with the more cartoon worlds.

They've done it before with TFSS Circuit, who was not G1, but a splinter Movie Universe (the Titan Magazines to be exact). Besides, it may only refer to the inspiration behind the body, but not the character.

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Between Cloud Rodimus, Generations Springer, and now BotCon Battletrap, that mold is growing on me.

What about Sandstorm?

Is it the exact same mold? No retools? I don't own any of these figures. Yet.

Yeah, I can see how it might work with an obscure character... but for a heavy hitter like Megatron walking out of the movie and into the Botcon set... it would feel weird.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Between Cloud Rodimus, Generations Springer, and now BotCon Battletrap, that mold is growing on me.

What about Sandstorm?

Is it the exact same mold? No retools? I don't own any of these figures. Yet.

Pretty major retool, but he is my favorite of the bunch. His modes fit together much better, he has cooler looking vehicle modes, and his chest can even properly fit Springer's sword (though the knees make it hard to fit it in there). The only gripe I have with the mold is that lately, when I put him in vehicle mode, the pieces on his shoulders get stuck and are very hard to get out.

While I understand that Botcon has to have its own "sandbox" apart from Hasbro (ie. universe/timeline/nexus), I DO wish there were less focus on it — like, if it weren't a plot point. It's a really distracting and confusing element to throw into a story. I want to see less nexus numbers... and more focus on the characters and stories (because those...and the figures... have been great.)

I'm reminded of the KISS "Keep it Simple" slogan.

gothsaurus wrote:Yeah, I can see how it might work with an obscure character... but for a heavy hitter like Megatron walking out of the movie and into the Botcon set... it would feel weird.

A megatron with a classics body and a DOTM head would be the most stupid thing funpub ever came up with. I really hope they dont disgrace the breakdown mold in that fashion.