The Energon Pub

[galvatron00]

Like the inside of Soundwave's arms. He's got three speakers in each side. And some more stuff inside his back.

Which Soundwave?

MP-13.

[william-james88]

Like the inside of Soundwave's arms. He's got three speakers in each side. And some more stuff inside his back.

Which Soundwave?

MP-13.

Awesome, I have him (well a variant of the mold) i will check it out tonight.

[Cyberpath]

Yeah, it's fun and helps sell the illusion a bit more.

Shows the designer's dedication too, I guess.

[galvatron00]

Yeah, it's fun and helps sell the illusion a bit more.

Shows the designer's dedication too, I guess.

MP-13 unseen details.jpg

Show's how much I've transformed him..

You know what? I don't think I ever have!!

Megatron would blast me for it!!

[Bumblebee21]

Yeah, it's fun and helps sell the illusion a bit more.

Shows the designer's dedication too, I guess.

MP-13 unseen details.jpg

Show's how much I've transformed him..

You know what? I don't think I ever have!!

Megatron would blast me for it!!

you better be lying

[Cyberpath]

Show's how much I've transformed him..

You know what? I don't think I ever have!!

What?!?

You're in for a treat then. It's kind of a "journey transformation," like Ultra Magnus, if you know what I mean. (I can't articulate it. )

[galvatron00]

Show's how much I've transformed him..

You know what? I don't think I ever have!!

What?!?

You're in for a treat then. It's kind of a "journey transformation," like Ultra Magnus, if you know what I mean. (I can't articulate it. )

Yeah..I'm pretty sure I never have. I don't have any pictures of him in tape-deck mode, and his was shipped in robot mode! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge!! All of my other MPs have been transformed countless times!! I am disappointed..

[william-james88]

Show's how much I've transformed him..

You know what? I don't think I ever have!!

What?!?

You're in for a treat then. It's kind of a "journey transformation," like Ultra Magnus, if you know what I mean. (I can't articulate it. )

Yeah, I know what you mean. Its long but never tedious or frustrating, just fun, kinda like Leader Movie Starscream. My favourite part are those flaps on his shoulders that you dont quite see what they do until you get to them in the transformation. The feet are awesome too how they tab in the tapedeck mode.

[Ironhidensh]

I finally put my finger on what bugs me the most. Look at megatron's shoulders. They are rounded, because they are part of the gun barrel.




Megatron (this version) is supposed to have rounded shoulders, but 36 has flat ones. This only works if he transforms into a pistol with a slide that has a flat top, like a Glock.

......and now that I've said that, I really want a Megatron that transforms into a Glock. A Glock 19 to be exact, just like the one I carry. That would be bad ass.

Final judgment will be when the figure is in-hand, but so far the back doesn't bother me.

To me, this is a messy back:

[picture of MP-11 Starscream's back]

I agree, that back is messy, and it does bother me. The difference being, we don't have any other/better options for the seekers, we do for Megatron.

[Wolfman Jake]

Most Transformers figures, Masterpiece or not, aren't flattering from the back. It's quite a rarity when the engineers can pull off a really smooth looking back, with no kibble or big backpacks. Why is everyone so obsessed with robot booty anyway? I always have my figures displayed forward facing, you know, so I can see their fronts, the most important parts, where their faces are and all that.

[Seibertron]

Most Transformers figures, Masterpiece or not, aren't flattering from the back. It's quite a rarity when the engineers can pull off a really smooth looking back, with no kibble or big backpacks. Why is everyone so obsessed with robot booty anyway? I always have my figures displayed forward facing, you know, so I can see their fronts, the most important parts, where their faces are and all that.

I'd rather have kibble or backpacks than parts folding exposed. In the world of Transformers, it's kind of luck seeing the guts exposed, which looks half assed on this particular figure. It's going to happen (particularly with legs or arms), but we've seen way too many cool examples where panels cover up those exposed parts on too many occasions that I kind of expect some magic -- especially if they can figure out how to make Grapple and Inferno's ladder disappear -- I'd expect Megatron to have a more traditional looking upper shoulders and upper back.

I'm OK with a retail figure that costs $15 to $40 having some flaws, but this line is called "Masterpiece". If it's going to be a product line called "Masterpiece", then they need to "put up or shut up". We've waited a long time for this figure so to have some glaring flaw with not just his upper back but the top of his shoulders as well, it just strikes me as disappointing. He looks great from the front, but when I'm posing him in awesome action poses for the galleries here on Seibertron.com, I don't like when there are glaring flaws like that ... especially in the upper shoulder area that should have a defining "Megatron" look.

[Wolfman Jake]

Most Transformers figures, Masterpiece or not, aren't flattering from the back. It's quite a rarity when the engineers can pull off a really smooth looking back, with no kibble or big backpacks. Why is everyone so obsessed with robot booty anyway? I always have my figures displayed forward facing, you know, so I can see their fronts, the most important parts, where their faces are and all that.

I'd rather have kibble or backpacks than parts folding exposed. In the world of Transformers, it's kind of luck seeing the guts exposed, which looks half assed on this particular figure. It's going to happen (particularly with legs or arms), but we've seen way too many cool examples where panels cover up those exposed parts on too many occasions that I kind of expect some magic -- especially if they can figure out how to make Grapple and Inferno's ladder disappear -- I'd expect Megatron to have a more traditional looking upper shoulders and upper back.

I'm OK with a retail figure that costs $15 to $40 having some flaws, but this line is called "Masterpiece". If it's going to be a product line called "Masterpiece", then they need to "put up or shut up". We've waited a long time for this figure so to have some glaring flaw with not just his upper back but the top of his shoulders as well, it just strikes me as disappointing. He looks great from the front, but when I'm posing him in awesome action poses for the galleries here on Seibertron.com, I don't like when there are glaring flaws like that ... especially in the upper shoulder area that should have a defining "Megatron" look.

Well, just like Ironhide's and Ratchet's tire butts, there may be a reason a panel isn't included, from an engineering point of view, that we don't really understand. If someone gets a chance to interview some of the Masterpiece designers from Takara Tomy, maybe bring up these short comings (after praising them for magic like disappearing ladders) and ask why they happened.

Also...

Also not a fan of the crotch area with the robo vagina.

Please don't try to robot genital shame the Decepticon Emperor of Destruction.

[Emerje]

I agree with the commentaries about the legs, which look much better!! A little messy when looking at the back maybe... But since this is still a prototype, it's hard to judge fairly.
Count me in anyway!!

Just to let you know, this isnt a prototype. Its the final finished figure. There might be a slight change in paint apps but not more than that and nothing drastic. For all intents and purposes, this is the finished model to show fans what to expect when they preorder it.

This is a hand painted prototype. If you look real close you can see some paint wear and chipping.

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The actual mold won't likely change much, but it still seems early enough for tweaks, especially since the way magazine cycles work these photos are already probably a month old. He wont be out until next spring, that's half a year or more since these photos were likely taken, lots of time for changes. The final figure will be color molded rather than entirely painted which might clean up some of the panel lines. There's also still a possibility of a faction sticker sheet rather than tampos.

Emerje

[Bumblebee21]

somebody is very noticable

[Seibertron]

The actual mold won't likely change much, but it still seems early enough for tweaks, especially since the way magazine cycles work these photos are already probably a month old. He wont be out until next spring, that's half a year or more since these photos were likely taken, lots of time for changes. The final figure will be color molded rather than entirely painted which might clean up some of the panel lines. There's also still a possibility of a faction sticker sheet rather than tampos.

Emerje

There's always the possibility of an MP-03 Starscream change-up which looked very different from the initial prototype pics to the final product.

Make no mistake about it, MP-36 Megatron is still in the development stage. This is a prototype. It could be a finalized prototype. It could be a "hey let's see what people think so far" prototype. None of us work for Takara, but at this stage, this far down the road, it's a prototype.

[Ironhidensh]

[Kurona]

Yeah this really settles MP-36 as the best one for me. The other ones just don't quite capture the look as well.

[bodrock]

Agreed Kurona!!

[Cobotron]

I agree too. Each one has their merits, and their flaws. But none of the unofficials captures the proportions, posture, and gesture the way 36 does. In a resting, standing pose 36 just looks so impressive. The same with MP-10. Even just standing still at attention, he looks so good.

I find this most often to be the difference between all official MPs and 3Ps. There are a lot of really nice looking 3P MP toys out there, but they never capture the gesture the way the officials do.

Now if 36 came in the same deco as Despotron there would be no waffling in my mind. He would be pre-ordered faster then you can say, such heroic nonsense.

[galvatron00]

I agree too. Each one has there merits, and their flaws. But none of the unofficials captures the proportions, posture, and caricature the way 36 does. In a resting, standing pose 36 just looks so impressive. The same with MP-10. Even just standing still at attention, he looks so good.

I find this most often to be the difference between all official MPs and 3Ps. There are a lot of really nice looking 3P MP toys out there, but they never capture the caricature the way the officials do.

Now if 36 came in the same deco as Despotron there would be no waffling in my mind. He would be pre-ordered faster then you can say, such heroic nonsense.

But..grandpa pants!!

I guess it doesn't really matter, I'm ordering him whenever I get the email from my dealer

Seriously though. Grandpa pants. He's gonna tell the 3 MP Bumblebee incarnations to get off his lawn

We are sorely in need of more Takara Autobot minibots..

[Cobotron]

Grandpa pants!?!? I'm lost. Please explain?

EDIT: Ohhhh. Cause his slacks are so high waisted?

[Kurona]

More MP Minibots would be great because all of the 1984 ones aside from Bumblebee had a re-use in 1986; so like Inferno once it's confirmed you know you're getting at least two characters that aren't just a random recolour. Windcharger especially would be nice - Tailgate and Wipe-Out.
Still kinda surprised they haven't use Bumblebee for his three other recolours though - Glyph, Bug Bite, Volks... Glyph especially because damn does she need a good toy. I'd kinda like to see it go the Road Rage route with having more feminised proportions and Animated-inspired molding Now there's a reason I'd buy that mold.


ANYWAY. Back to the topic on hand... the more I look at Despotron the more I really don't like how he looks. I get what people are saying about the large legs looking powerful... but to me they just look kinda chunky and fat. Like he got really bloated and would have a hard time moving around. MP-36? Sleek, elegant but you still wouldn't want those legs slammed into your chest.
I will concede though that I do prefer Despotron's and Appolyon's gun modes though, even if their robot modes aren't quite there for me.

[Evil Eye]

Well Apollyon is a QC nightmare so he's out for certain and I just don't care for the way Mightron looks. So that's cut the choices down to MP-36 or Despotron. MP-36 is more cartoon accurate for sure, but that's not always a good thing. Despotron looks far more stylized for certain, but that's not always a bad thing either.

There's a few things MP-36 has in its favour:
>More cartoon accurate
>Better gun mode
>More accessories

Meanwhile, Despotron has the following for him:
>MUCH cleaner robot mode
>Better looking fusion cannon
>Surprisingly intuitive transformation
>Silver paintjob instead of that horrible dull grey

The proportions/accuracy issue, the slightly off gun mode and the lack of accessories are really the only bits Maketoys' effort definitively loses out on- and the proportions are definitely a subjective issue. I can see why people wouldn't like them, but personally I find them pretty cool. They give him a really powerful, animated (no not that Animated) appearance, somewhat reminiscent of his appearance in Devastation (except as a gun instead of a tank). So in terms of actual objective issues with Despotron, there's the not quite as good gun mode, and the lack of accessories.

Compare that to MP-36, who has a hideously messy side profile and back, hollow shoulders, a robo-vagina, a pretty unimpressive grey finish (which will probably just be plastic) and by the looks of things a seriously finicky transformation.

However, what really pushes Despotron up above MP-36 at the moment is that he's a known quantity. He's out and he's fantastic- a low risk purchase. If you buy him and MP-36 comes out great, then you've traded one great toy for another. You can always sell Despotron later if you really feel the need for an official Megatron, but even if you don't you've still got a really good Megatron. If you buy MP-36 and he turns out crap, then you've wasted your money on an inferior product that you'll probably have a hard time getting rid of. Dud MPs aren't unheard of- Tracks was widely agreed to be rather mediocre.

Honestly, if I feel the urge for an MP Megatron I'll probably get Despotron, unless MP-36 turns out to be somehow a million times better than anticipated- which given the look of the prototype I somewhat doubt.

[Ironhidensh]

I'll agree that 36 looks excellent as Megatron (aside from his feet ) maybe even the best representation of them all..... as long as you only look at it from the front.

When you are paying Masterpiece level money, gaps and panel lining to such an extreme are simply not acceptable. Takara cares more for main line figures (yes, I understand why, no lectures on business model needed) and it shows. I know loyalists will never agree, or acknowledge my pov at all, but Takara is no longer the best Masterpiece maker, IMHO.

[Wolfman Jake]

ANYWAY. Back to the topic on hand... the more I look at Despotron the more I really don't like how he looks. I get what people are saying about the large legs looking powerful... but to me they just look kinda chunky and fat. Like he got really bloated and would have a hard time moving around. MP-36? Sleek, elegant but you still wouldn't want those legs slammed into your chest.
I will concede though that I do prefer Despotron's and Appolyon's gun modes though, even if their robot modes aren't quite there for me.

Yeah, those thunder thighs are what I like to call "Mega Man legs." Overly thick, almost bell-bottomed shaped legs from the knees down with big clompin' feet. It works for cutesy super deformed robots, not so much for gladiators come tyrants.