The Energon Pub

When the TF movie ended I cried my little eyes out. So sad for a little kid at the time. Of course now I think the movie was pretty epic. Well, much of it anyway.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:When the TF movie ended I cried my little eyes out. So sad for a little kid at the time. Of course now I think the movie was pretty epic. Well, much of it anyway.

For me, one of the most epic scenes (not counting the first half hour, since that was all super-epic) was Hot Rod fighting the mecha octopus and saving Kup. Kick Axe playing behind, the great art and animation, Hot Rod being a bit of a badass....magic.

Jesterhead wrote:Congrats everyone, you've all talked me into watching the '86 movie tonight!

I'll prolly end up watching it tomorrow, afternoon while dealing with laundry. and mebbe roll into live action Tf movies 1+2 after that.

DTR69 wrote:There are some people who get by in life by settling for less and some people who strive for pefection. So if you loose you're hair would you wair a wig, or would you leave it bald. I personaly would leave it bald. And it's the same here. I have no desire to own a accurate upgrade of Rodimus's campavan, unless it actually transforms. The reason it's so seamless is becuase there is no transformation to the campavan. If you call fliping the rear of the car up and swinging the windshield and hood over, to more or less cover everything up. They have used hot rods wheel arches so they can technicaly say that it does convert to a campavan.

You go on and on about those wheel arches. Is that all you can focus on? Seriously, there's more to the figure than it's wheel design or it's trailer design or it's transformation. The wheel arches? Really? Geez. >_<

And no one's settling by buying this. No one. If we were to buy a gutted version that basically did nothing, that would be settling. Taking a figure that's lacking all of it's accessories, paint, and things of that nature? That would be settling. God Neptune is a good example of this. That is settling, this is not.

DTR69 wrote:I'd rather something that technicaly transforms, and sacrafice some of the alt modes looks than a plastic shell that just covers things. After all it's meant to be a transformer. If hot rod docked with the trailer, all that would be different is the hood wouldnt be so short, so what if it doesnt look exactly like the original G1 toy, at least it would be functional, it would have been alot easier too.

This section is just whining to whine. It does transform, just not the way you expected or want. (I'm not sure that what you want is possible at this point.) Whining to whine, I say.

DTR69 wrote:And if I had the tools I could create a Master Piece TF. Alot of people can, and alot of people do, you're empty threats are pointless. I'm a designer so I'd say I'm pretty good when it comes to the needed thought processes.. Everything so far I have thought about this figure has turned out to be true. I still thinks it's a great figure, but I still feel cheated. I never transform my figures on display, but I know they can, and thats what counts.

No one threatened you! What the hell are you talking about?? This is what I said:

Autobot032 wrote:I want to see YOU give us a Masterpiece capable of doing both modes, and I want to see it now. C'mon, you can do it. It's easy!

And I said it because your post was bordering on the ridiculous, so my response was ridiculous. There was no threat and nothing of that nature was implied.

Oh, and you're a designer eh? I love it when people use that tactic to find their way out of an argument. Considering you type alot instead of a lot and thats instead of that's, I sincerely doubt you're an engineer. You demand perfection out of others but I've yet to see it come out of you.

Save the bullcrap argument for someone who gives a damn, because I don't. You're entitled to your opinion, but you're going overboard with it. And I was okay until you crossed a line... No one threatened you. No one. Keep it up and I'm going to report you. I've had it with you.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:So I guess Unicron, Big Convoy, G1 Roddie, RID Sideburn, and all the other TFs that require either shells or signifigant add-ons are all only technically transformers as to "real" transformers who, I assume, don't use any of those things.

Interesting distinction there.

Good point and examples, but don't waste time making these posts. You'll be talking to a brick wall.

I really fail to see the problem some have with this Masterpiece. Hot Rod robot mode - check, Hot Rod car mode - check, Rodimus Prime robot mode - check, Rodimus Prime winnebago mode - check, all screen acurate - check. So they had to cheat a little to make Rodimus, so what. Point out a great looking triple changer that looks great in all three modes, this toy has four modes. Let's face it the animators on the show used cheats all the time with Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime. Hot Rod doesn't even transform the same way twice in the movie.

I have a valid complaint about this figure: It is pretty clear it will not be to scale with MP-01/04 Optimus.

Now, having said that, I actually think the fault lies with Masterpiece Optimus. In hindsight, he is simply too big, making it cost prohibitive to make other figures in scale with him. The Masterpiece Seekers and Grimlock are too small by comparison.

I speculate Takara did not anticipate the success of the line, nor did Takara plan in advance which characters they would make. Hindsight is 20/20. What's done is done.

This Roddy looks great. If the American version indeed does not have a trailer, then I will definitely by both Takara and Hasbro's version.

Trikeboy wrote:I really fail to see the problem some have with this Masterpiece. Hot Rod robot mode - check, Hot Rod car mode - check, Rodimus Prime robot mode - check, Rodimus Prime winnebago mode - check, all screen acurate - check. So they had to cheat a little to make Rodimus, so what. Point out a great looking triple changer that looks great in all three modes, this toy has four modes. Let's face it the animators on the show used cheats all the time with Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime. Hot Rod doesn't even transform the same way twice in the movie.

The problem I have is that there are two canopies in Rodimus' alt mode. And that the Rodimus canopy/hood gets left behind and isn't integrated into the robot mode at all. Keep in mind I'm being very picky here lol.

Now of course this is all based on the speculated (though likely) transformation.

Jesterhead wrote:The problem I have is that there are two canopies in Rodimus' alt mode. And that the Rodimus canopy/hood gets left behind and isn't integrated into the robot mode at all. Keep in mind I'm being very picky here lol.

Now of course this is all based on the speculated (though likely) transformation.

Well do you object to all of the other times such transformation "tricks" have been done before? Do you object to the fact that both Classics Prime and Masterpiece Prime have two grills? Do you object to Binaltech/Alternator Track's bot mode which has a fake car roof and windshield on his chest?

Such "tricks" are often necessary compromises considering the impossible constraints the designers are working with.

The windshields for Hot Rod and Roddimus's vehicle modes are different shapes. Just what else could the Takara engineers have done? The only alternative would be to resort to detachable kibble, which is less creative and would draw even more complaints from fans.

I wish they would have found some way to make Rodimus much bigger than Hot Rod. But, you know what? I recognize they had difficult choices to make. In order to achieve my wish, they would have had to compromise on something else and the final product may not be as good as what they have now. Overall I cannot complain with what they have done.

My only REAL complaint about the Masterpiece line concerns the Seeker Hip Kibble. I really do think they could have integrated the tail fin and vertical stabilizer into the back or into the leg somehow, much like iGear plans to do with the coneheads.

revengeofstarscream wrote:
Well do you object to all of the other times such transformation "tricks" have been done before? Do you object to the fact that both Classics Prime and Masterpiece Prime have two grills? Do you object to Binaltech/Alternator Track's bot mode which has a fake car roof and windshield on his chest?

While I agree with you that they are sometimes necessary, I do object to them, and greatly dislike them. It doesn't stop the figure from being a good toy, just personal preference.

revengeofstarscream wrote: The only alternative would be to resort to detachable kibble, which is less creative and would draw even more complaints from fans.

As I said earlier, yes I would rather something along these lines.

I think a detachable canopy is a terrible idea. Vital parts of the alt mode shouldn't be losable, IMO. Plus, the shape of the vehicle would still be wrong. So, not only would you have to cheat by having a parts swap, it still wouldn't really work. Not as well as this does.

In the end we have 4 modes done perfectly. Or 3.5 is you don't have too much distinction between Hot Rod and Rodimus. There's some nit picks ... Roddy's long face, this "double canopy" thing, but those in no way lessens the great engeneering in the figure to give it all the modes nessasary to make an excellent MP Roddy.

If this was just Roddy, I'd be disappointed because the trailer would HAVE to hide his untransformable legs. But they took that same crappy transformation concept and make it work. He's practically perfect in all three modes.

I take it you are not buying it then if you are that dissatisfied with the final product? Well, that means there is one more extra on the shelf for those that love it and are more than satisfied with the final product.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Vital parts of the alt mode shouldn't be losable, IMO.

G1 Starscream and his boy The Seekers, along with Omega Supreme and a number of other G1 figures would like to have a word with you.

Burn wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Vital parts of the alt mode shouldn't be losable, IMO.

G1 Starscream and his boy The Seekers, along with Omega Supreme and a number of other G1 figures would like to have a word with you.

...

I actually prefer Neo G1 figures for just that reason. Well, that and better proportions, really...

*ducks for cover*

HEATHEN! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
I got dibs on his collection!

Why can they just make a Jazz or a devastator already. It would be so awesome to have a seven series release for dev.

If they make a Masterpiece Devastator, in scale, they will have to commit to at least six more Masterpiece figures, make all of them as prototypes to make sure the combination works and then bet on the fact the majority of customers will actually buy it. It is a big gamble on TakaraTomy's side. I am not saying I wouldn't like one, I am not sure it is feasable.

He hasn't been released yet and everyone is quarreling over the figure? Wait for the official release then criticize!

Well said fenrir72, have an energon goodie. Has there been any official confirmation on how we make Rodimus Prime in alt mode? The only transformation shots we have are speculated animations and a couple of seconds of changing it from Hot Rod to Rodimus Prime.

Trikeboy wrote:I take it you are not buying it then if you are that dissatisfied with the final product? Well, that means there is one more extra on the shelf for those that love it and are more than satisfied with the final product.

As I said several times earlier, I think this is a great toy. Not once did I say I was dissatisfied with it. I will definitely be purchasing one. A minor imperfection (to me of course) isn't enough to stop me from buying. It just doesn't make it an absolutely perfect toy.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I think a detachable canopy is a terrible idea. Vital parts of the alt mode shouldn't be losable, IMO.

While I think the parts swapping canopy/hood/fenders is a great idea, I never once said that everyone else should also agree with me. I'll be keeping the box of this bad boy, and I believe that I wouldn't lose the additional parts that easily. They will be safe and sound either in the box, or attached to the toy.

And yes, I'm aware that what I want might not even be possible. TT has done a pretty amazing job already, I was just hoping for that little bit more to fit my exact taste in TFs (and really, isn't everyone?). Now, I'm no designer, so I'm not going to claim that I could, or even stand a chance at producing a better MP Rodimus.

fenrir72 wrote:He hasn't been released yet and everyone is quarreling over the figure? Wait for the official release then criticize!

Yeah, it's true that we are squabbling over minor details of a speculated transformation, but we need something to occupy our time before we can get our hands on this next year!

fenrir72 wrote:He hasn't been released yet and everyone is quarreling over the figure? Wait for the official release then criticize!

What are you crazy? What else are we suppose to use the internet for other than quarreling over toys?

Download PORN?

@ Burn

It's just that there's no pleasing people. In a somewhat non related topic, when SOC Taisho Daimos was released, some people were complaining "Oh, they switched heads to make it anime accurate" "booooooo short cut, fail!"

Here, by implementing the "illusion" or should we say it "More than Meets the Eye" principle of Hotrod's Cavalier mode to Protector Rodimus Prime mode, we get so called experts crying foul.........there's simply no pleasing people.

I for one, regardless of what the critics say, will also get one (the Takara version). My TFs are only single buys (as in only one figure per character and not doubles) and I choose my purchases wisely, there will always be design flaws, it's a part of any engineering effort.

I challenge the naysayers to not purchase this upcoming engineering work of art......or do I say it "Dare" the naysayers to avoid Rodimus like a plague.

fenrir72 wrote:
I challenge the naysayers to not purchase this upcoming engineering work of art......

That's not a challenge I'm willing to accept lol!

Now back to the fig. I've been reading about the need for an MP Galvatron against this Rodimus. Well G1 Galvatron (especially the anime correct color version)is more or less the same height so we can now "recreate" the iconic "This is the end of the road Galvatron...." scene

fenrir72 wrote::lol:

Now back to the fig. I've been reading about the need for an MP Galvatron against this Rodimus. Well G1 Galvatron (especially the anime correct color version)is more or less the same height so we can now "recreate" the iconic "This is the end of the road Galvatron...." scene

I'm really, really hoping for a matrix to come with him. Those chest panels are pretty darn convincing! I can just imagine it now!

baahh bah bah baaaahh...You got the touch...

Am I the only one that saw that picture of the inner packaging tray back when Roddy was first revealed? Cos that had a clear storage space for the matrix in it.


I'll see if I can find the pic.