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HasLab Transformers War for Cybertron Trilogy UNICRON!!!

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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby AcademyofDrX » Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:40 pm

I get why everyone is upset about the blue maw, and I don't know how much it will bother me in-hand, but it doesn't look bad to me when the teeth are extended. In that scenario, the contrast helps the teeth pop, and the inner mouth looks better darker even if it's depicted closed.

Not judging anyone else's disappointment, but the overall attention to detail and the fact that this was never shown as the intended design suggests to me that they wouldn't have done this unless there was a reason. Maybe that reason will never be definitely known or justified, but I don't think it's going to lower my excitement when he finally shows up.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Flashwave » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:00 pm

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AcademyofDrX wrote:I get why everyone is upset about the blue maw, and I don't know how much it will bother me in-hand, but it doesn't look bad to me when the teeth are extended. In that scenario, the contrast helps the teeth pop, and the inner mouth looks better darker even if it's depicted closed.

Not judging anyone else's disappointment, but the overall attention to detail and the fact that this was never shown as the intended design suggests to me that they wouldn't have done this unless there was a reason. Maybe that reason will never be definitely known or justified, but I don't think it's going to lower my excitement when he finally shows up.

Agreed on all points. I suspect after watching the assembly video that reason is something like "we couldn't get the paint mask to work and then have the paint survive the assembly process"
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Gauntlet101010 » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:29 pm

I think the reason is "crap, we're running out of time" thanks to COVID messing with everything.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby AcademyofDrX » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:33 pm

They could have simply delayed the release. It may have been cost or assembly or materials, or maybe it was an error. But I don't know that there's any value in speculating, and it went out the door like this, so it is what it is.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby alekese » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:55 pm

My money is on repeated use of the maw gimmick and repeated opening/closing the mouth causing paint chipping during testing, after molding decisions were already locked in, so hasbro had to choose between "I paid $600 for paint inaccuracies?!" fanboy bitching, and "I paid $600 dollars for this thing, and you couldn't even check to see if the gimmick would chip the paint first?!" fanboy bitching.

*edit:
That being said, I have no issue whatsoever with the maw not being accurate to a movie I have never and quite possibly will never see, and although the blue teeth look a little weird, it's not weird enough for me to be anything more than ambivalent about it. It is still completely eclipsed by my overwhelmingly giddy enthusiasm for my imminent giant honkin' chunk of plastic planet eater.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby AcademyofDrX » Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:48 pm

You've never seen the movie that introduces the character behind the $600 toy you just bought? I mean, my love for it is colored by nostalgia, but even with the caveats from being an '80s feature-length toy commercial, it still has some entertainment value.

I've begun to appreciate it more as an adult due to understanding the musical score better and seeing Floro Dery's designs. I'd hoped that the instruction manual for the figure would take a page from Lego's high-end products and feature behind-the-scenes details like concept art, but unfortunately that's not the approach they took. Maybe they don't have Dery's designs in reproducible quality, but they'd make for a great art book.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Sabrblade » Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:23 pm

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To clarify about the maw's change in color, the innermost part of the maw being changed isn't the problem. It's that the outermost part connected to the teeth is now blue when that part is supposed to be yellow/orange/gold. Hasbro apparently gangmolded those two parts so changing one changed the other as well.

In other words, the "throat" is what needed the darker color contrast, but not the "lips".

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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby o.supreme » Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:28 am

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
AcademyofDrX wrote:You've never seen the movie that introduces the character behind the $600 toy you just bought? I mean, my love for it is colored by nostalgia, but even with the caveats from being an '80s feature-length toy commercial, it still has some entertainment value.


Everyone has the right to their own opinions of course, but yeah it does seem odd to throw down $600 on a toy from a film you've never seen, and not even trying to when it is arguably the best animated Transformers piece of media period.

To.me that would be like saying you are a Star Wars fan and getting Haslabs sail barge, but you've never seen Return of the Jedi, and don't intend to....Of course it is ultimately your decision... just different is all...
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby blackeyedprime » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:11 am

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Pretty sure the mouth change is down to hasbro selling a $300 toy for $600 and not wanting to sell a $303 toy for $600 :p

End of the day it's going to be the best official Unicron for anywhere between another 15 to 65 years with him only semi likely to be revisited on the 50th anniversary upwards and no guarantees of the next Unicron being as good.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Dead Metal » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:48 am

Motto: "Don't do drugs, beer's cheaper anyway!"
I'm pretty angry by the unfinished nature of the maw, robot mouth and the hands, plus the wing stems on the shoulders having random unsymmetrical blue pieces trigger my preference for balance.

I've reduced my Tf collecting to almost nothing, just MPs and the occasional mainline thing that I find too intriguing to pass up. I got this despite the weaknesses it had during the campaign (obvious shellformer, the weird extra spike parts on the ring, the at the time unarticulated hands, the face, and the slight robot design changes from the movie and the colour being too bright.
The bot mode and especially the planet mode appealed to me to the point that I decided to break my rule for how much I'm willing to spend. The huge backpack for instance just reminded me of the awesome Beast Wars Neo prototype.

But damn, the unpainted teeth and the blue maw, just, well they just annoy me, it makes it look so damn unfinished. I wrote an email and basically just got a reply that tried to sell me on future projects like this. One thing is sure, I will never, ever do this again.

They hyped up the detail and the accurate maw to such a degree, that you expected it to look good in the end. But to them to just silently cheap out on such details on a 600 dollar toy is baffling.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby -Kanrabat- » Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:08 am

Motto: "Love it? GET IT!
It's that simple."
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Almost 1000$CAN total for this. Glad that I cancelled my order. It's still awesome, but not 1000$ awesome.

I'd love some smart-ass KO company to make an exact copy but downsized to the same size as Armada Unicron. Seeing both side by side would be pretty cool. Plus it would be way less expensive and much more manageable.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Gauntlet101010 » Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:44 am

AcademyofDrX wrote:They could have simply delayed the release. It may have been cost or assembly or materials, or maybe it was an error. But I don't know that there's any value in speculating, and it went out the door like this, so it is what it is.

They should have delayed it.

I doubt it's a materials error since they know what this is supposed to look like and could, presumably, plan for it. Plus the blue is the base plastic, so it's paintable. Could be cost, but in my mind that's tied with time. With more time to pull it all together they may have been able to fix it.

But, yeah, it is what it is. I guess the best hope is that Reprolabels can do something about it.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby ZeroWolf » Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:27 am

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For what its worth, I like it as it is now. Though I can emphasise with those who value cartoon accuracy. I don't, just give me a fantastic looking, and fun, toy.

(Also new and original designs wouldn't go amiss, but I take what I can get)
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby alekese » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:24 pm

o.supreme wrote:
AcademyofDrX wrote:You've never seen the movie that introduces the character behind the $600 toy you just bought? I mean, my love for it is colored by nostalgia, but even with the caveats from being an '80s feature-length toy commercial, it still has some entertainment value.


Everyone has the right to their own opinions of course, but yeah it does seem odd to throw down $600 on a toy from a film you've never seen, and not even trying to when it is arguably the best animated Transformers piece of media period.

To.me that would be like saying you are a Star Wars fan and getting Haslabs sail barge, but you've never seen Return of the Jedi, and don't intend to....Of course it is ultimately your decision... just different is all...
This is gonna be kinda rambly as I try to get multiple disparate thoughts out, but...

My not having seen the 86 movie but still getting unicron is a combination of several factors, but the largest is that for my entire life I have been in this brand for the toys first, and any ancillary media a distant second. My earliest cohesive transformers memory is burning envy directed at the kid who brought in their energon shockblast to kindergarten show and tell, but the handful of scattered minicons and spy changers i've rediscovered over the years attest that I was involved in the brand before that, albeit barely. I had transformers come in at a slow, steady trickle over the course of a decade, where they had to compete with bionicles, legos, and dinosaurs for precious few birthday and christmas present slots, but they were adored even when I wasn't old enough to be gentle, and even more so now once I was. Money got tight with the 2008 recession, and dotm starscream was my last transformer for several years. Around when titans return came out, I got my first job at toys 'r us, and after a few impulse buys it was like a floodgate opened. I had my own money. I could by my own transformers. Moving on to a better paying job when toys went under sealed the deal. The appeal had always been with the transformation for me, having a puzzle box that happened to also be a fully functioning action figure at the same time.

In regards to not having seen 86, a lot of that comes down to age and accessibility. 86 had celebrated its 10 year anniversary before I was even conceived. When the 2007 film came out, TF:TM was still over twice my age. I have vague memories of seeing unicron trilogy content, but I was young enough to not internalize what little I saw. It wasn't until 2007, with the advent of the live action movies and animated that I had reliable access to current transformers media. I watched and enjoyed the live action movies, animated and prime when my schedule would allow, but I was watching it because of the toys I owned, not buying toys to match the show. By the time I was old enough to have access to the knowledge that there were transformers and transformers media from before the unicron trilogy, it had aged to the point to where it was no longer something you could see casually, but something you needed to take the time to track down, and I had neither the resources nor inclination to do so. Even though I could probably track it down on one streaming service or another, my opinion of the movie and of G1 as a whole have been tarnished by the efforts of its most enthusiastic "advocates".

Despite being a lifelong transformers fan, there are times where interacting with the fandom feels like being an outsider. Even though the most egregious of "Geewun" sentiments are rare, there's still this atmosphere of elitism, or perhaps entitlement amongst enfranchised fans. There's this pervasive feeling born from a thousand different petty gripes, each one on its own dismissible, but coming together to paint a broad pattern, that the further something deviates from G1, the worse it is, and that by extension anything that isn't G1 is inherently lesser. 'Cyclonus is the wrong shade of purple,''What is with Kup's headsculpt,''He looks like a flying dorito,''Baynus,''TRUKK NOT MUNKY.' It's hard not to feel ostracized when the things you enjoy are criticized for not conforming to a pedestal that was already showing its age when one was in kindergarten. There's also this sentiment that occasionally shows up where anything that has an acceptable older alternative in their collection is denigrated as unnecessary, even, or perhaps especially if it isn't readily available to newer fans. When the selects shattered glass two pack was teased with "some of you might not of heard of this", the response upon reveal was 'who the heck hasn't heard of SG?' 'we already got these,' 'I was expecting an obscure G1 character,' when the only way to acquire SG figs firsthand was to already be an adult in the mid 2000's with enough money to attend conventions, and the only way to otherwise know they exist is to stumble across them on TFwiki like I did. It all combines into an atmosphere of negativity, where the overwhelming sentiment feels like 'I don't want this, therefore it's bad,' 'it's not good enough for me,' 'My opinions are the only ones that matter.'

This brings us back to G1, and TF:TM. I have not seen either of them. I have seen about ~5 minutes worth of disconnected 5-10 second clips used in promotional material, though I have had the entirety of the movie's plot spoiled through fandom osmosis. I have no emotional context, no nostalgia when I see footage of it. The only emotional connection I have to G1 is through the alienating entitlement of its fanbase. I am emotionally mature enough to recognize that I would be going into it with a massive chip on my shoulder. Were I to take the time to watch it, I would be going into it not with the perspective of 'what happens next,' eager to enjoy what others have before me, I would be going into it from the pessimistic viewpoint of 'what is so special about this to justify people being such entitled asshats about it?' leaving me primed to see it only for its flaws. Given that it is an 80's cartoonimercial series whose animation and writing both show their age, that is in no way fair to it, and I recognize that.

This finally brings us back to Unicron, and why I am as has been said, "throwing down $600 on a toy from a film I've never seen". The sail barge example is flawed, because Star Wars was always a movie before it was a toyline, and the toys only exist because the movie did. Transformers has, from the very beginning, been a toyline first, especially for me. It's not about the movie, because it was never about the movie, not really. The movie was about the toys, and the toys were what I was about. This $600 monstrosity is one of the capstones of the brand, being the largest first party toy ever, an achievement that is likely never to be taken from it. It will be the single largest toy I have ever owned, regardless of brand, and is everything I have ever loved about the brand scaled up larger than it ever has been. Combined with the once in a lifetime nature of its release, I refused to miss out on the chance.

In short, I got it because I wanted it, and I didn't need a commercial to convince me first.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby AcademyofDrX » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:45 pm

I hope my comment the other day didn't read as gatekeeping, any entry into the fandom is legitimate, as is any motivation for how you want to participate. I don't feel entitled to a justification for your choices.

I get the point about some things being valued by the community more than others. Participating in those dominant activities -- prioritizing the cartoon, or showing off comics continuity knowledge -- can seem like selling out, in a way, reinforcing the in-group trends, so I understand the instinct to be oppositional to that.

On the other hand, you might be closing yourself off from opportunities to enjoy other aspects of the media. That should still come from curiosity, though, not a sense of obligation or anything. I didn't watch the movie Titanic for years as a kind of protest against its ubiquity. At a certain point I felt like I was depriving myself for no good reason. I watched it, I hated it, but I was coming to it in a way I could judge it on its own merits. But that's a YMMV thing.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby o.supreme » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:45 pm

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
alekese wrote:The sail barge example is flawed, because Star Wars was always a movie before it was a toyline, and the toys only exist because the movie did.


Actually in this case it is accurate, because Haslab Unicron only exists because Transformers: The Movie exists. Unicron as depicted in other media (Armada, Prime etc...) have their own toys. Haslab Unicron IS TF:TM Unicron. If it was specifically designed after IDW or some other version of Unicron, then this conversation would be moot. But you like the toy, I get it, and that's fine. I love the Movie, not because it is a commercial, but because it is a great story...and coincidentally I have very few toys tied to that film, and none of them because of it, including Unicron.

Also as far as accessibility. If you don't want to purchase a DVD or BRD (I'm guessing because of your age you aren't into physical media), you can purchase digital copies of the film online for less than $10. But like you said, it's about the toys for you, and that is fine. You avoid this movie because you don't care to see it, not because you cant access it. To be clear, I'm not berating your decision, I'm just streamlining it for you.

Yes I am 45, and my memory of seeing TF:TM in the theaters is one of my greatest childhood memories, despite never having any of the toys specific to this film. My son who is almost 15 has seen all TF Media from the beginning thanks to me, and he enjoys all of it to varying degrees. I will never be "that fan" who dictates terms. You have your niche of what you enjoy, and that's fine. I choose to look at things differently. Whether it's comic books, anime or toys, I personally feel a great sense of satisfaction going back to the beginning of each and working my way forward chronologically to understand and take in it all, even if it was well before I was born. But again, that's just me.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby First-Aid » Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:01 pm

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alekese wrote:
o.supreme wrote:
AcademyofDrX wrote:You've never seen the movie that introduces the character behind the $600 toy you just bought? I mean, my love for it is colored by nostalgia, but even with the caveats from being an '80s feature-length toy commercial, it still has some entertainment value.


Everyone has the right to their own opinions of course, but yeah it does seem odd to throw down $600 on a toy from a film you've never seen, and not even trying to when it is arguably the best animated Transformers piece of media period.

To.me that would be like saying you are a Star Wars fan and getting Haslabs sail barge, but you've never seen Return of the Jedi, and don't intend to....Of course it is ultimately your decision... just different is all...
This is gonna be kinda rambly as I try to get multiple disparate thoughts out, but...

My not having seen the 86 movie but still getting unicron is a combination of several factors, but the largest is that for my entire life I have been in this brand for the toys first, and any ancillary media a distant second. My earliest cohesive transformers memory is burning envy directed at the kid who brought in their energon shockblast to kindergarten show and tell, but the handful of scattered minicons and spy changers i've rediscovered over the years attest that I was involved in the brand before that, albeit barely. I had transformers come in at a slow, steady trickle over the course of a decade, where they had to compete with bionicles, legos, and dinosaurs for precious few birthday and christmas present slots, but they were adored even when I wasn't old enough to be gentle, and even more so now once I was. Money got tight with the 2008 recession, and dotm starscream was my last transformer for several years. Around when titans return came out, I got my first job at toys 'r us, and after a few impulse buys it was like a floodgate opened. I had my own money. I could by my own transformers. Moving on to a better paying job when toys went under sealed the deal. The appeal had always been with the transformation for me, having a puzzle box that happened to also be a fully functioning action figure at the same time.

In regards to not having seen 86, a lot of that comes down to age and accessibility. 86 had celebrated its 10 year anniversary before I was even conceived. When the 2007 film came out, TF:TM was still over twice my age. I have vague memories of seeing unicron trilogy content, but I was young enough to not internalize what little I saw. It wasn't until 2007, with the advent of the live action movies and animated that I had reliable access to current transformers media. I watched and enjoyed the live action movies, animated and prime when my schedule would allow, but I was watching it because of the toys I owned, not buying toys to match the show. By the time I was old enough to have access to the knowledge that there were transformers and transformers media from before the unicron trilogy, it had aged to the point to where it was no longer something you could see casually, but something you needed to take the time to track down, and I had neither the resources nor inclination to do so. Even though I could probably track it down on one streaming service or another, my opinion of the movie and of G1 as a whole have been tarnished by the efforts of its most enthusiastic "advocates".

Despite being a lifelong transformers fan, there are times where interacting with the fandom feels like being an outsider. Even though the most egregious of "Geewun" sentiments are rare, there's still this atmosphere of elitism, or perhaps entitlement amongst enfranchised fans. There's this pervasive feeling born from a thousand different petty gripes, each one on its own dismissible, but coming together to paint a broad pattern, that the further something deviates from G1, the worse it is, and that by extension anything that isn't G1 is inherently lesser. 'Cyclonus is the wrong shade of purple,''What is with Kup's headsculpt,''He looks like a flying dorito,''Baynus,''TRUKK NOT MUNKY.' It's hard not to feel ostracized when the things you enjoy are criticized for not conforming to a pedestal that was already showing its age when one was in kindergarten. There's also this sentiment that occasionally shows up where anything that has an acceptable older alternative in their collection is denigrated as unnecessary, even, or perhaps especially if it isn't readily available to newer fans. When the selects shattered glass two pack was teased with "some of you might not of heard of this", the response upon reveal was 'who the heck hasn't heard of SG?' 'we already got these,' 'I was expecting an obscure G1 character,' when the only way to acquire SG figs firsthand was to already be an adult in the mid 2000's with enough money to attend conventions, and the only way to otherwise know they exist is to stumble across them on TFwiki like I did. It all combines into an atmosphere of negativity, where the overwhelming sentiment feels like 'I don't want this, therefore it's bad,' 'it's not good enough for me,' 'My opinions are the only ones that matter.'

This brings us back to G1, and TF:TM. I have not seen either of them. I have seen about ~5 minutes worth of disconnected 5-10 second clips used in promotional material, though I have had the entirety of the movie's plot spoiled through fandom osmosis. I have no emotional context, no nostalgia when I see footage of it. The only emotional connection I have to G1 is through the alienating entitlement of its fanbase. I am emotionally mature enough to recognize that I would be going into it with a massive chip on my shoulder. Were I to take the time to watch it, I would be going into it not with the perspective of 'what happens next,' eager to enjoy what others have before me, I would be going into it from the pessimistic viewpoint of 'what is so special about this to justify people being such entitled asshats about it?' leaving me primed to see it only for its flaws. Given that it is an 80's cartoonimercial series whose animation and writing both show their age, that is in no way fair to it, and I recognize that.

This finally brings us back to Unicron, and why I am as has been said, "throwing down $600 on a toy from a film I've never seen". The sail barge example is flawed, because Star Wars was always a movie before it was a toyline, and the toys only exist because the movie did. Transformers has, from the very beginning, been a toyline first, especially for me. It's not about the movie, because it was never about the movie, not really. The movie was about the toys, and the toys were what I was about. This $600 monstrosity is one of the capstones of the brand, being the largest first party toy ever, an achievement that is likely never to be taken from it. It will be the single largest toy I have ever owned, regardless of brand, and is everything I have ever loved about the brand scaled up larger than it ever has been. Combined with the once in a lifetime nature of its release, I refused to miss out on the chance.

In short, I got it because I wanted it, and I didn't need a commercial to convince me first.


This post is awesome. I especially enjoyed the "entitled asshats" section. I salute you, sir.

Transformers is about change, always has been. It's not meant to be static. Variety is the spice of life, but lately there hasn't been much variety in the line. What we are getting is rehashed, remade, and beaten-to-death fancandy. I really want to see something new, something unique...that CHANGE that the line is about. Instead, we are getting syndicated reruns for toys.

The Bayverse brought about an entirely new aesthetic to the line. They didn't nevessarily have to be blocky and "robot-y". They didn't necessarily have to have FEET. Hell, they didn't always even have necks, arms, torsos, whatever...but they were DIFFERENT. It was a change. Yes it made it hard to make toys but they still did it, and the studio series line improved the original attempts. Now, 13 years after live action, 25 years after Beast Wars, and 35 years after G1, it's time for something new...something completely original, not rehashed, rerun, or repainted. But think about it: what will happen if that DOES occur? Trukk not munkey all over again. It's not REAL Transformers. And, eventually, 1988-1994 will happen again. Let the change happen. Let's get something new up here. New modes, new characters, new stories. We have the technology.
It finally happened. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Yes, I cried.

-Kanrabat- wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
First-Aid wrote:Okay, did anyone else notice that we all get a wonderful shot of Starscreams crotch anytime he sits in that throne? That's unnerving. Couldn't they have put n extra flap in there? It's....weird.


Its kind of like Basic Instinct, but not in a good way...


Goddammit, now I can't unsee it.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby o.supreme » Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:07 pm

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
First-Aid wrote:Let the change happen. Let's get something new up here. New modes, new characters, new stories. We have the technology.


You do realize that asshats come in all ages. It's not only the people who don't like change, it's also the fans that say "It's not for you anymore".

Also I take it with all vitriol toward the perceived redundancy of the line, you absolutely hate the Haslab Unicron, since it is based on a design 35 years old now. That's fine, just making sure you are consistent.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby First-Aid » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:07 pm

Motto: "This won't hurt me a bit."
Weapon: Laser Scalpel
o.supreme wrote:
First-Aid wrote:Let the change happen. Let's get something new up here. New modes, new characters, new stories. We have the technology.


You do realize that asshats come in all ages. It's not only the people who don't like change, it's also the fans that say "It's not for you anymore".

Also I take it with all vitriol toward the perceived redundancy of the line, you absolutely hate the Haslab Unicron, since it is based on a design 35 years old now. That's fine, just making sure you are consistent.


Nope. I bought it. Mainly because it's really big. But I also see it as an absolutely perfect stopping point, and a perfect point for redoing everything. Kingdom is the end of the WFC trilogy. Cyberverse is ending. The LAMs are on "hiatus". Let's see what the brain trust can come up with. Unicron is a perfect period at the end of the sentence.

And he's even round and shaped like a period.
It finally happened. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Yes, I cried.

-Kanrabat- wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
First-Aid wrote:Okay, did anyone else notice that we all get a wonderful shot of Starscreams crotch anytime he sits in that throne? That's unnerving. Couldn't they have put n extra flap in there? It's....weird.


Its kind of like Basic Instinct, but not in a good way...


Goddammit, now I can't unsee it.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Rtron » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:10 pm

Motto: "Stop, please."
o.supreme wrote:
First-Aid wrote:Let the change happen. Let's get something new up here. New modes, new characters, new stories. We have the technology.


You do realize that asshats come in all ages. It's not only the people who don't like change, it's also the fans that say "It's not for you anymore".

Also I take it with all vitriol toward the perceived redundancy of the line, you absolutely hate the Haslab Unicron, since it is based on a design 35 years old now. That's fine, just making sure you are consistent.


I haven't seen much vitriol directed at the line by itself, but rather, at how we seem to always go back to the same well. Most people don't dislike G1. I think most of us who came after it was long dead actually really like the designs. Hell, Siege/Earthrise seem to have been a big success with "younger" adult fans. What post-G1 people dislike is how all-encompassing it's become. That everything has to fit G1. I LOVE the G1 robots, they're cool as hell! But I strongly dislike that it's the bar that every new Transformers is measured against, and how much it seems to force the brand to remain stagnant. The pushback every new idea gets is what's bothersome. Hell, even the movieverse is going G1 now. If there were any alternatives, it wouldn't be a problem. But there aren't, specially in fiction. Toy-wise, the situation is slowly getting quite better.

At least in 2018 the movieverse got into the Generations mix, and Beast Wars now too. That's a step in the right direction. But those are also reruns, we still need something completely new, something not yet fit for generations. The fossilizers are somewhat of a step in the right direction, but even those are just 5 molds, happening in the context of a revival of a 25 year old toyline. And I say that as a die-hard Beast Wars fan.

This is not just us 90's and 00's kids trying to be hip turbo revving young punks, it's a reality of all hobbies and business. If Transformers doesn't come up with something new soon, it will go the way of superhero comics: senile, boring and on life support. Nostalgia can only go so far.

Also, what's all this about berating the guy for not watching an old cartoon commercial? The dude just likes Unicron and has the money, let the guy be. It's not like he's missing out on a masterpiece of film, and even if he was, it would be his loss.

And after all this, Unicron Trilogy fans still haven't gotten anything but a few homages here and there. Going by how it was with Beast Wars, maybe they'll get something by 2031.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby First-Aid » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:42 pm

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:APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :APPLAUSE: :

;)^ \

You said it WAY better than I did.
It finally happened. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Yes, I cried.

-Kanrabat- wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
First-Aid wrote:Okay, did anyone else notice that we all get a wonderful shot of Starscreams crotch anytime he sits in that throne? That's unnerving. Couldn't they have put n extra flap in there? It's....weird.


Its kind of like Basic Instinct, but not in a good way...


Goddammit, now I can't unsee it.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby o.supreme » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:46 pm

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
Rtron wrote: Also, what's all this about berating the guy for not watching an old cartoon commercial? The dude just likes Unicron and has the money, let the guy be. It's not like he's missing out on a masterpiece of film, and even if he was, it would be his loss.


I never berated anyone, and certainly commercials were not part of the discussion (not sure where that came from), only the original film. I just asked a question. I just thought it was different for someone to pay $600 for a toy based on a character they have no connection to, I learned something new, and that is fine. If anything, I was name called, but I chose not to acknowledge that previously, in favor of taking the higher road and having an intelligent discussion

Rtron wrote:If Transformers doesn't come up with something new soon, it will go the way of superhero comics: senile, boring and on life support. Nostalgia can only go so far.


The comic book industry is suffering now because long time fans have stopped purchasing comics, and watching ancillary media because of drastic changes. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just a fact. I stopped buying IDW comics when the continuity ended in 2018 and sold all the ones I had. I don’t support IDW anymore, the same can be said for many fans. If some people like it that is fine, but if it fails, it’s not my fault because I chose not to support it.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Burn » Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:02 pm

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I've never understood why some people feel the need to make other people justify their collecting habits.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Rtron » Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:05 pm

Motto: "Stop, please."
o.supreme wrote:
Rtron wrote: Also, what's all this about berating the guy for not watching an old cartoon commercial? The dude just likes Unicron and has the money, let the guy be. It's not like he's missing out on a masterpiece of film, and even if he was, it would be his loss.


I never berated anyone, and certainly commercials were not part of the discussion (not sure where that came from), only the original film. I just asked a question. I just thought it was different for someone to pay $600 for a toy based on a character they have no connection to, I learned something new, and that is fine. If anything, I was name called, but I chose not to acknowledge that previously, in favor of taking the higher road and having an intelligent discussion

Rtron wrote:If Transformers doesn't come up with something new soon, it will go the way of superhero comics: senile, boring and on life support. Nostalgia can only go so far.


The comic book industry is suffering now because long time fans have stopped purchasing comics, and watching ancillary media because of drastic changes. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just a fact. I stopped buying IDW comics when the continuity ended in 2018 and sold all the ones I had. I don’t support IDW anymore, the same can be said for many fans. If some people like it that is fine, but if it fails, it’s not my fault because I chose not to support it.


I don't want to derail to much into comics, but I specifically meant superhero comics, which instead of moving forward, keep trying to recapture old glories, which they can't, because it's no longer that time. They aren't just alienating old fans, they alienate everyone, because the developments happening in the stories no longer matter, not even death. As for IDW, I'm very satisfied by the way the continuity ended, I think it "died a hero before becoming a villain". I'm just a bit dissapointed that the new one is just another retelling. It was just an analogy and this is not a comics thread, so I'll leave that there.

The movie is a toy commercial, as is all Transformers media, whether we like it or not, it's just that some are excellent commercials.

I'm sorry if I misunderstood you, tone can be difficult to read through text. It read as people berating a guy for not being into Transformers for the same reason older fans are. If that's not what you meant to say, then that's fine.

I do think Alekese would be doing himself a favor by looking up on Youtube the scene where Unicron transforms, as it is pretty awesome. But, it's up to him.

Edit: The toy also transforms just like he does on that scene, now that I'm watching it again! With the hand-pops-then-wrists-swivel thing and everything.
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Re: Haslab Unicron Discussion Thread

Postby Sabrblade » Sat Feb 20, 2021 12:40 am

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First-Aid wrote:Cyberverse is ending.
It's getting two TV movies.
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