The Energon Pub

trence5 wrote:Hey look folks,

Sorry I'm late, but I have neeeeeever seen this one before so I gotta ask, is this "an" Optimus Prime?


If so he does look like that unused GI Joe vehicle/Optimus Prime mash-up Don Figueora created years ago

Yes that is where the inspiration for this figure comes from.

I don't really see a problem with pricing to break even or even fund future projects (as long as they actually happen). They put a lot of hard work into these things and deserve some return. Even the ones based off unused designs impress me for coming from a single piece of art with no real information of the in between, or in some cases the end product.

Still, I agree the bubble is likely to burst. You have to wonder how many are just using the $80+ mark to see if they can? (I'm looking at you, iGear). Some cases of response are already out there. I've seen a lot of smaller items at more reasonable prices hitting the big leagues. CorbotV's lovely War Axe, Headrobots is staying 30 and under, even FansProject's Sidearm and CC gun (what? It still counts as embellishing existing toys).

Overall, I expect FansProject & others will likely ride out unscathed. Or rather, they had better; a genuine 3rd party presence must survive. What do you think brought about this little renaissance from HasTak? You think they're going to continue on this level if 3rd parties suddenly died back to non-entities? The only weapon Hasbro has really taken from them is giving neglected characters proper toys. Besides that, they'll always have a role with unused toy/character designs, additions to existing toys, and good old additional weapons.

As for Xovergen; I've gone back and forth on preordering this set a dozen times. It is an interesting design. More so, since I'm not a Joe fan and couldn't care less about accuracy. I'm really drawn to the green version as a unique character. But the price and forced pairing is just wrong, especially on their first product, with the preorder set up oddly fast to release, almost like when movie studios deny reviewers early showings.

Flux Convoy wrote:FP didn't take years to ramp up. They made a few quality items before people really latched onto them with City Commander. Not fighting or arguing, just stating facts. By the by, this isn't just BBTS selling as a set, it's Robot Kingdom as well. So no, I don't believe it's BBTS mandating here.

Though another online seller Kapow Toys is selling each one seperately, so I'm still not sure.

Either way if it's mandated or not, selling them as a pair is rubbish.

I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

Dead Metal wrote:I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

Are you sure BBTS sold the Cliffjumper upgrade as a retail product? I know they've had a few go through their vintage dept, but that was long after the initial release and the secondary market value had already set in.

Yes they did, they had pre-orders for it.
They also put up that ridicules high price after 7 pre-production pre-assembled special editions in collectors boxes where sold on ebay to help finance the final run.
That's also why FP would only supply the City Commander if the store in question actually sold it at the recommended price point.

Dead Metal wrote:Yes they did, they had pre-orders for it.
They also put up that ridicules high price after 7 pre-production pre-assembled special editions in collectors boxes where sold on ebay to help finance the final run.
That's also why FP would only supply the City Commander if the store in question actually sold it at the recommended price point.

Interesting.

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

trence5 wrote:Hey look folks,

Sorry I'm late, but I have neeeeeever seen this one before so I gotta ask, is this "an" Optimus Prime?


If so he does look like that unused GI Joe vehicle/Optimus Prime mash-up Don Figueora created years ago

Yes that is where the inspiration for this figure comes from.

Wow, I'm really a geek aren't I?

Dead Metal wrote:I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

BBTS has updated the preorder page that the two pack is entirely "due to case pack requirements from manufacturer". Oh, fyi, and it's SUPER limited. Which is funny because this pre-order is still open while the mass produced Windcharger is sold-out because I wasn't fast enough.

Requiem Prime wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

BBTS has updated the preorder page that the two pack is entirely "due to case pack requirements from manufacturer". Oh, fyi, and it's SUPER limited. Which is funny because this pre-order is still open while the mass produced Windcharger is sold-out because I wasn't fast enough.

Dude BBTS is lying, the makers themselves list the two figures as completely separate sets, even stating that the green one is the more limited version.
BBTS lied back with the Cliff upgrade justifying the $150 as being due to the high cost of getting it and the limited nature, just to have FP reveal that the set was supposed to be sold at $30, this included the retailer expenses and profit!
We already know of one store that sells them as single sets.

Dead Metal wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

BBTS has updated the preorder page that the two pack is entirely "due to case pack requirements from manufacturer". Oh, fyi, and it's SUPER limited. Which is funny because this pre-order is still open while the mass produced Windcharger is sold-out because I wasn't fast enough.

Dude BBTS is lying, the makers themselves list the two figures as completely separate sets, even stating that the green one is the more limited version.
BBTS lied back with the Cliff upgrade justifying the $150 as being due to the high cost of getting it and the limited nature, just to have FP reveal that the set was supposed to be sold at $30, this included the retailer expenses and profit!
We already know of one store that sells them as single sets.

Damn, my sarcasm must suck. Anyhoo, if you were referring to Kapow Toys, I found their home page has been hacked by some jerk. The links in this forum to the actual toys are still fine, but I don't think I'm brave enough to register with them right now.

Requiem Prime wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I believe Xovergen has fallen victim to what I call the BBTS pricing effect.
Their website describes them as being two separate sets an that the green one is an exclusive, eg limited.
BBTS noticed that there is a high demand to have this green one so they decided to only sell it in a two-pack set, and now other stores will do the same, just like when BBTS decided that the FansProject Cliffjumper upgrade set should cost 150 instead of the 30 set by FansProject.

BBTS has updated the preorder page that the two pack is entirely "due to case pack requirements from manufacturer". Oh, fyi, and it's SUPER limited. Which is funny because this pre-order is still open while the mass produced Windcharger is sold-out because I wasn't fast enough.

Dude BBTS is lying, the makers themselves list the two figures as completely separate sets, even stating that the green one is the more limited version.
BBTS lied back with the Cliff upgrade justifying the $150 as being due to the high cost of getting it and the limited nature, just to have FP reveal that the set was supposed to be sold at $30, this included the retailer expenses and profit!
We already know of one store that sells them as single sets.

Damn, my sarcasm must suck. Anyhoo, if you were referring to Kapow Toys, I found their home page has been hacked by some jerk. The links in this forum to the actual toys are still fine, but I don't think I'm brave enough to register with them right now.

Oh yes sarcasm over the internet generally sucks, especially if the subject has been taking as much caffeine as me

3rd party toy maker Xovergen has dropped by and updated us with some news images of upcoming Supreme Tactical Commander Grand Patriot.
These images show the box design of the toy, comic, box size comparison as well as toy size comparison.

Check out the images below:

























Seibertron, Ultimate Transformers Resource!

I'm glad they painted those translucent guns, looks much better.

So why cant those 2 SEPARATE boxes be sold SEPARATELY?

regardless, I cant wait to see if they are worth it.

kapow toys had these guys seperate and combined for preorder. Ive ordered both (by choice) but may sell one or keep it MISB. Dont know the score with BBTS, but theyre the only company ive ever had issue with for pricing and delivery as an international customer, their 'only available in two pack deal' was bull. if kapow toys (a much smaller company) was getting enough figures to go seperately, then im pretty sure bbts would. Maybe its a tactic to make sure all the packs sell and they arent left with an abundance of one colour. Either way Kapow has my respect, theyve been utterly fantastic.

the figures themselves look decent, im paranoid that the plastic doesnt look too sturdy (i dont know why) but im looking forward to gettin these and FP protector in the next few weeks. And seconded about the guns, much sleeker now they arent flourescent lol

90 - 180 bucks for a MINOR step up from the classics...pass. I was really interested in the green one, but they really aren't that special.

I'm not even sure why it's no go sign for me for this set. Even RK willing to sell separately for reasonable price but it probably best to wait for the review up before making any hash decisions.

if they were bigger i could see why every one is going crazy for this but as of now i dont really see what the big deal is

Still miffed that BBTS wouldn't sell the toys separately.
After looking at the new pictures, I'm still not sure why they are being grouped together; they don't come in the same box or anything. Maybe they'll get their act together after the new year... when my wallet isn't running on empty...

Anyway; I am glad to see that the blasters are NOT entirely translucent plastic. They kind of remind me of the Gears of War 2 Accessory Set from TFC Toys, and that's not a bad thing.