The Energon Pub

I think I'm gonna hold out for this one personally. It's cleaner, hardly any kibble and price is probably gonna be a lot cheaper

https://youtu.be/ykXrKvD5kRc

Dominus Prime wrote:I think I'm gonna hold out for this one personally. It's cleaner, hardly any kibble and price is probably gonna be a lot cheaper

https://youtu.be/ykXrKvD5kRc

It's only 18" tall, boasts a non-accurate planet mode & non-accurate transformation, and is made by a company known for skimping on quality.

Enjoy.

I also think that Zeta's offering looks way too smooth looking but that could just be the lack of paint but still the lack of detailing makes it hard to consider.

To me Zeta is making a pretty low move releasing this right now. Yay competition I get it but seriously, vultures. Just sayin’ not trying to get too snarky about it but I can’t help it, it just seems like a lame move. That’s too bad.

I do have to admit that Hasbro's planet mode is the best. I just like Zeta's for the robot mode. Is it a lame move on their part to release this in the shadow of haslab, yes. But let's be honest. Who wants to pay that price for haslab?

Stargrave wrote:To me Zeta is making a pretty low move releasing this right now. Yay competition I get it but seriously, vultures. Just sayin’ not trying to get too snarky about it but I can’t help it, it just seems like a lame move. That’s too bad.

Snark away!

Please bare with me gang I’m just venting in general:

It’s not even an official product and with the size it’s like, why.

And again with it coming out right now they have to prey on Hasbro sales and heat for their Unicron.

They can’t even sell this on its own merit. People are opting for this because it’s cheaper let’s be real. Everything else is a concession. I get it.

Ah, it just bugs me. Know what I mean?

Stargrave wrote:Please bare with me gang I’m just venting in general:

It’s not even an official product and with the size it’s like, why.

And again with it coming out right now they have to prey on Hasbro sales and heat for their Unicron.

They can’t even sell this on its own merit. People are opting for this because it’s cheaper let’s be real. Everything else is a concession. I get it.

Ah, it just bugs me. Know what I mean?

It's not even real competition as they're just leeching off the ip. Zeta want to impress me they should make their own character up who shares nothing in common with unicron other then robot to planet. In fact I wish all 3p did that. The world needs more transforming robot franchises.

ZeroWolf wrote:It's not even real competition as they're just leeching off the ip. Zeta want to impress me they should make their own character up who shares nothing in common with unicron other then robot to planet. In fact I wish all 3p did that. The world needs more transforming robot franchises.

That's the real shame, understandable for business of course but in the end these companies are making success not necessarily because of themselves and their own hard work but because their banking their profits off of someone else's IP by taking advantage of those who want Masterpiece or Chug versions of characters that Hasbro hasn't made yet or in this case trying to undermine the official company by making a version that's banking on people to get it on the draw that it's a "cheaper" alternative.


I prefer upgrade kits/accessory packs because they actually expand on what Hasbro does and are intended for one to actually get the original official product, I've gotten a couple of weapon stuff for Siege figures such as Ironhide for arm cannons and they actually help make those products more fun.

This may just be me, but I think we're giving too much exposure to a third party, unlicensed product in this discussion thread, which is supposed to be dedicated to an official Hasbro crowd-funded product. Maybe the discussion on this "competition" should be kept to the third party boards and threads?

Even doing a Primus (Pramoose?) would be more original.

Grumble... I’m an old man grumbling that’s all

I’m just such a fanboy I admit it. I’m in the stands with my horned helmet on and Unicron team face paint and giant foam finger. Go Unicron!

Dominus Prime wrote:Who wants to pay that price for haslab?

No one WANTS to spend money, but given everything we've seen / know about it, I am satisfied that I am getting my money's worth. That's the important thing.

Dominus Prime wrote:

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I think I'm gonna hold out for this one personally. It's cleaner, hardly any kibble and price is probably gonna be a lot cheaper

https://youtu.be/ykXrKvD5kRc

Maybe there is less Kibble but those tumours growing out of his neck are one hell of an eyesore.

I'd be happy to move this Not-A-Cron discussion to a different thread, but I think that it's important to note the effect it's having on our true Chaos Bringer. Most of the time the 3rd party representations of a character don't really mess with the release of the official ones, just because they are for different markets most of the time. Since those characters appear much more regularly than the event that is Unicron, I think it's fair to say that the announcement of ZetaCron at this time is a little scummy. I myself have purchased a couple of 3P's myself, and I've enjoyed them immensely. I do fear, though, that this ZetaCron is riding on the back of the HasLab hype, and is directly affecting their numbers. If that's the case, I really do see the potential of Hasbro finally putting the hammer down on third party figures after all this time if Unicron fails, which would be most unfortunate for collectors in general.

third party or not, if they opened up a reliable way for europe to order then the numbers would be up. Relying on promoting at comic cons where people are going to be hunting and spending money on the one thing they want or the thousands of exclusives leaves little money to go on unicron.

Stargrave wrote:To me Zeta is making a pretty low move releasing this right now. Yay competition I get it but seriously, vultures. Just sayin’ not trying to get too snarky about it but I can’t help it, it just seems like a lame move. That’s too bad.

Considering this Zetacron answers almost all of the problems a large portion of the community has had with Haslabicron from day one, its hardly a 'low move'. People buying this, for the most part, were not going to buy Haslabicron anyway, and those who were, were going to be very unhappy with their purchase. The big guy will fail, or succeed, solely on its own merits. As it should be. Zeta is just making some very disappointed people happy. That's a good thing.


Just my two cents, though I'm not sure its worth that, seeing as I find both figures far too large for a practical display, not to mentioned far overpriced.


That's the other thing people; as far as I know, Zeta has not put out a price. That thing could very well be $300 to $500. Maybe factor that in?

william-james88 wrote:

Dominus Prime wrote:

xjmbcmpjzsk31.jpg

I think I'm gonna hold out for this one personally. It's cleaner, hardly any kibble and price is probably gonna be a lot cheaper

https://youtu.be/ykXrKvD5kRc

Maybe there is less Kibble but those tumours growing out of his neck are one hell of an eyesore.

That is one flaw that I have a hard time getting over. The boy was almost perfect...

On a side note, Magic Cube "Optimus" and TE-01 OP Leader didn't stop MP-44 in the slightest. So if HasLab Unicron don't get through, it will be it's own failure.

But MP-44 was a committed project, one that 3P’s had to jump on to make a profit from their blatant ip theft but very different scale price and all around circumstances.

Stargrave wrote:But MP-44 was a committed project, one that 3P’s had to jump on to make a profit from their blatant ip theft but very different scale price and all around circumstances.

Price difference? Not by much. MP-44 is absurdly expensive and the most expensive TF yet. But people still bought it. Imagine if MP-44 was the Haslab crowdfunded thing. The Haslab Unicron would be the same if it was a normal release. It's really not everyone who can or are willing to get that 600$ Unicron. And if some drop it for the smaller Zeta, it's because they didn't really wanted the big guy in the first place.

So, no. Zetanicron cannot "steal" any Haslabicron orders. Most likely many Zetanicron buyers will still back Haslabicron too.

If Haslabicron fail, the fault would be Hasbro's and Takara's alone for their weird tactics. Blaming anything else is moot.

Sabrblade wrote:

EunuchRon wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:Speaking of budgets, my washing machine just broke. If only they could make Unicron bigger, available straight away and be usable as washing machine
I'd settle for him being a usable waffle maker, clean clothes arent as important as waffles.

Here's a nice picture of Unicron's waffle!

Ew, it's so moldy it's turned purple!

The Big U ain't a picky eater. Galvatron was also purple!

I do hope the Haslabcron gets made, even if I can't afford him. The Zetacron... same thing. I don't think he'll be hurtin' the Haslabcron tho. If I had the dough I'd get him just for the sweet planet mode.

I mean I'd get the Haslab Unicron for the planet mode.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Stargrave wrote:But MP-44 was a committed project, one that 3P’s had to jump on to make a profit from their blatant ip theft but very different scale price and all around circumstances.

Price difference? Not by much. MP-44 is absurdly expensive and the most expensive TF yet. But people still bought it. Imagine if MP-44 was the Haslab crowdfunded thing. The Haslab Unicron would be the same if it was a normal release. It's really not everyone who can or are willing to get that 600$ Unicron. And if some drop it for the smaller Zeta, it's because they didn't really wanted the big guy in the first place.

So, no. Zetanicron cannot "steal" any Haslabicron orders. Most likely many Zetanicron buyers will still back Haslabicron too.

If Haslabicron fail, the fault would be Hasbro's and Takara's alone for their weird tactics. Blaming anything else is moot.

Do you not think that the numbers for backers decreasing after the announcement of Zetacron is indicative of some of those backers for the HasLab jumping onto the Zeta ship? I mean, in the end it comes down to personal preference as for what you want your figure to have, but i don't think you can say that they didn't "steal" backers. If people didn't have an alternative Fake-a-cron to go with, would they still have begrudgingly stuck with the official release? Assuming that is their reason for changing over/cancelling (and not something like finances, space, or just lost of interest as being alternatives.) I can think of two very important questions we need to be asking in terms of these two figures (and granted this may be more of the subject on a different thread, but it still does relate to HasLab Unicron.)

1. Does this release actually affect the number of backers the crowdfunding is getting? I mean, how many people do we know have switched over to the 3P option because they prefer it (I guess I'm asking if this thread's forum-goers have specifically switched over.)

2. If the HasLab Unicron does end up failing (please don't let that I happen, I need this figure in my life) do we think Hasbro specifically will blame this Zetacron? I think it's certainly a possibility that we need to consider, as well as the repercussions if Hasbro finds that to be the case.

I get that these questions may be taking the discussion away from the specific point of HasLab Unicron, but I think they're still relevant to him.

Stargrave wrote:But MP-44 was a committed project

Exactly. And also based on an existing character that's had MANY iterations over the years. I would go so far as to ASSUME the R&D on him was significantly less than Unicron.

Yea they are. Bout the only problem I have with the design.