The Energon Pub

Seibertron wrote:

Stormtalon wrote:Thanks. I did read that a few pages up, but couldn't figure out how to work it in with the joke. I wasn't trying to be critical of the photo gallery, just a bit silly.

I got you!

I only learned about the name switches when I was researching the characters to post the galleries. I knew about Vega and M Bison, but didn't know about the others who had name switches.

If I remember correctly, the name switches was at first because Capcom USA wouldn't take any chances about the obvious reference with the boxer's "M. Bison" name. Then this boxer named "Vega" sounded daff so Barlog had to enter the dance.

I learned about this almost 30 mother fokking years ago in the EGM magazine. Back when video games magazines were relevant and good.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Stormtalon wrote:Thanks. I did read that a few pages up, but couldn't figure out how to work it in with the joke. I wasn't trying to be critical of the photo gallery, just a bit silly.

I got you!

I only learned about the name switches when I was researching the characters to post the galleries. I knew about Vega and M Bison, but didn't know about the others who had name switches.

If I remember correctly, the name switches was at first because Capcom USA wouldn't take any chances about the obvious reference with the boxer's "M. Bison" name. Then this boxer named "Vega" sounded daff so Barlog had to enter the dance.

I learned about this almost 30 mother fokking years ago in the EGM magazine. Back when video games magazines were relevant and good.

That, plus Capcom felt that the name "Vega" wasn't intimidating enough for the main villain. Frankly, they could have just added the word "Lord" to his name and call him "Lord Vega" to give his name that extra intimidation element, since the Japanese version would have likewise referred to him as "Vega-sama" in a similar fashion.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Way too expensive for me, but I love the novelty. Best figures are M Bison and Chun Li. Ken is not great but it works. Ryu is horrendous. He should have had a different head.

This is basically supposed to Transformers cosplay so changing Prime's head out for someone else would have never worked.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Way too expensive for me, but I love the novelty. Best figures are M Bison and Chun Li. Ken is not great but it works. Ryu is horrendous. He should have had a different head.

This is basically supposed to Transformers cosplay so changing Prime's head out for someone else would have never worked.

Emerje

If that's the angle, why not?

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Way too expensive for me, but I love the novelty. Best figures are M Bison and Chun Li. Ken is not great but it works. Ryu is horrendous. He should have had a different head.

This is basically supposed to Transformers cosplay so changing Prime's head out for someone else would have never worked.

Emerje

If that's the angle, why not?

Because then there'd be nothing about it recognizable as Prime. May as well be Octane.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Way too expensive for me, but I love the novelty. Best figures are M Bison and Chun Li. Ken is not great but it works. Ryu is horrendous. He should have had a different head.

This is basically supposed to Transformers cosplay so changing Prime's head out for someone else would have never worked.

Emerje

If that's the angle, why not?

Because then there'd be nothing about it recognizable as Prime. May as well be Octane.

Emerje

That makes Prime a bad cosplayer though. If at least a sticker for the mouthplate featuring a pair of lips drawn in crayon was included, it would have been hilarious and on point with the whole "cosplay" idea.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Way too expensive for me, but I love the novelty. Best figures are M Bison and Chun Li. Ken is not great but it works. Ryu is horrendous. He should have had a different head.

This is basically supposed to Transformers cosplay so changing Prime's head out for someone else would have never worked.

Emerje

If that's the angle, why not?

Because then there'd be nothing about it recognizable as Prime. May as well be Octane.

Emerje

That makes Prime a bad cosplayer though. If at least a sticker for the mouthplate featuring a pair of lips drawn in crayon was included, it would have been hilarious and on point with the whole "cosplay" idea.

If anything, Machine Wars Optimus Prime would have worked better

Also, the backstory has the four TF's take on the powers and fighting styles of the SF characters, which happens to be one of the very few instances in Japanese lore that treats Headmasters the US way.

TBH, the characters being Prime, Megatron, etc make them less desirable for me, so I just headcanon them to be Ryu and co. operating the bodies of the TFs. Doesn't quite work with Arcee, but whatever. There aren't a million Arcee crossover toys. Kind of makes me wish they had used the Blur retool ... even though I think Arcee is the most successful one as a toy.

As for Prime's head not being enough like Ryu's, I kinda think it is? It just has to the feeling of Ryu - a quiet, stoic warrior, which I think it does. The faceplate giving a lack of expression actually works in it's favor for me. That's something some of the older crossover toys did poorly; often robotizing appearances making them look like a weird cyborg and not a TF.

Gotta say, one thing I always appreciate about the galleries here are the detailed comparisons. You're never left wanting.