The Energon Pub

I love everything but the face.... and I suppose, even though i hate the face, i can learn to live with it, because the rest is so darn awesome. but the face? ick.

Silent_Magnus wrote:

Bonger wrote:
You know what I always wonder?

Whenever a company hits on a formula that works and makes them popular, they run with it, work it to death.

It always seemed to me, that right since the beginning Hasbro has been doing the oppoosite. Series 1 and 2 of G1 are what made TFs hit big first time around. Yet, since series 3, they have been trying to change TFs especially the way they look.

I'll give you that the lack of articulation of G1 would not fly today. However, the realistic alt modes and especially the head molds from G1 were, imo, far superior to what we have seen since then.

And it only gets worse. It is unfortunate. Might as well slap some masks and capes on the the TFs while they're at it.

Like Fury, I really hope the show wins me over. If not, well, money saved! Never a bad thing as these days the number of TFs I have are starting to creep me out. Kinda like a claustrophobia thing I think.

No offense, but maybe you are in the wrong hobby?
If you seem to dislike a majority of the franchise I think something is wrong.


ALso I think those are teeth not lips on starscream,
or maybe it's just a wonky picture.

Eh, maybe I'm just not the OCD Lemming Hasbro wishes I was?

Is that lipstick?

*giggle*

I'm very disappointed by this figure and Bumblebee from the Animated line so far.

I full well acknowledge that the toys look to be excellent representations of the media.

These don't look to be too much better than what energon had to offer and this time around, there is really no arguing that the line is directly geared towards children.

Classics was good because not only did it update G1 in splendid ways, but it followed the aesthetic value set forth in AEC very well. These toys do not appear to do so.

For the record, I think that Jet alt mode looks inferior to any seeker style from Armada, Energon, Cybertron, or Classics.

I don't doubt these will be good toys. I don't doubt they will be innovative. I don't doubt that I will buy a few.

However, as someone who has supported every line produced over the past 5 years, I may be looking at drawing the line. Not to be melodramatic about it of course. I was afraid that the animated style would end up becoming the sculpting style from the beginning.

BotCon gave me some hope that this would not be the case. Now seeing these samples, I just don't know.

We'll see if this is a case of me being afraid of change or just genuinely not liking the 'look' that this line will offer.

Counterpunch wrote:I'm very disappointed by this figure and Bumblebee from the Animated line so far.

I full well acknowlege that the toys look to be excellent representations of the media.

These don't look to be too much better than what energon had to offer and this time around, there is really no arguing that the line is directly geared towards children.

Classics was good because not only did it update G1 in spledid ways, but it followed the aesthetic value set forth in AEC very well. These toys do not appear to do so.

For the record, I think that Jet alt mode looks inferior to any seeker style from Armada, Energon, Cybertron, or Classics.

I don't doubt these will be good toys. I don't doubt they will be innovative. I don't doubt that I will buy a few.

However, as someone who has supported every line produced over the past 5 years, I may be looking at drawing the line. Not to be melodramtic about it of course. I was afraid that the animated style would end up becoming the sculpting style from the beginning.

BotCon gave me some hope that this would not be the case. Now seeing these samples, I just don't know.

We'll see if this is a case of me being afraid of change or just genuinely not liking the 'look' that this line will offer.

I think your afraid.....chicken!!!.....BWACK BWACKKK BWACKKK BWACKKKK BWAAAAACKKKKKkkk!!! AFLAC!!!!!


AH HA!! last we met I was but the learner, Now I am the master!! -Darth Vader-

Not bad. The painted teeth and smirk reminds me of the movie when he tosses Megs out into space. I'm still passing on this whole line though. I need the money for G1 and some of the other molds look like a$$.

I've been reading through a lot of the other boards on this figure, the concensus seems to be general disappointment.

Not even the usual blunt nerd-rage that follows release pictures of this kind...

interesting.

Starscream certainly isn't my favorite design/figure from TFA and I can totaly see why the cartoon stylings, particularly around the face, rub some fans up the wrong way. However on a whole I'm really excited by the prospect of this series and line of figures.

The fact that many fans are disapointed doesn't bother me either, I've always liekd what I like and refused to let other infulence that. Besides I predict most fan will do a U-turn and get onboard with it when they realise that no amount of moaning is going to change anything, just like they did with the movie.

Yours AK

Alex Kingdom wrote:The fact that many fans are disapointed doesn't bother me either, I've always liekd what I like and refused to let other infulence that.

Yours AK

I think most adult fans are able to regulate their behavior in a similar fashion. My statement wasn't to create some group think pattern, but to relate that what I have seen as far as reactions by fans, is indifference.

At least when people were getting angry over movie designs, they were debating the course of action. What I have seen as reaction by a lot of fans is more to the lines of a 'meh' type statement.

The way I see things, not caring is maybe the more dangerous fan reaction to new product.

i finally see where they got the head for the target-exclusive starscream. talk about wackaroni.

OOh, I can't wait to add him to my SS collection!

Counterpunch wrote:

Alex Kingdom wrote:The fact that many fans are disapointed doesn't bother me either, I've always liekd what I like and refused to let other infulence that.

Yours AK

I think most adult fans are able to regulate their behavior in a similar fashion. My statement wasn't to create some group think pattern, but to relate that what I have seen as far as reactions by fans, is indifference.

At least when people were getting angry over movie designs, they were debating the course of action. What I have seen as reaction by a lot of fans is more to the lines of a 'meh' type statement.

Actually I think the reaction to the movie lines was well founded and understandable. the inital impression, and as we learned from some recent postings and titles, Impression is everything and can lead to ideas and wrong assumptions... but the intial impression was that the movie was to be a live action G-1, with the script leaks and all, and the inclusion fo Sam Witwicky, I totally understand the fan reaction.. this was the first time they were to see Transformers in a live action movie.. which was supposed to be based on the G-1 era..

these toys are in a totally different setting, they are not G-1, though have similar influences, but are in a way presented in a media that is different from the past previous lines.. reactions to this wether good or bad is moot.. but I completely agree with CP on this one statement with regards to the animated toys...

Counterpunch wrote: The way I see things, not caring is maybe the more dangerous fan reaction to new product.

that is more scarier to a toy company then a bunch of hating..atleast with that there is exposure and people's interest is drawn in.. thses toys just garner a simple.. MEH.. and that's about it..not a good sales forcast, at least on the collector's end.. though. kids may love them..

They really messed up the smirk on this one, and he looks like he's actually wearing pants. Not to mention the arms look like they are backwards, hopefully that's a mistransformation in the pic.

No Thanks Hasbro!

Its the end of Transformers as we know and love them.

Will we take to the new look? Time will tell.

lanzajr26 wrote:They really messed up the smirk on this one, and he looks like he's actually wearing pants.

I think it matches the character of starscream pretty well,
I like it much more than the Masterpiece smirk.

Whoa! Who kicked Starscream's chin so hard, it grew like Pinocchio!!!

lanzajr26 wrote:They really messed up the smirk on this one, and he looks like he's actually wearing pants.

Like Movie Voyager Thundercracker and Movie Voyager G1 Starscream?

Deceptiwho? wrote:Did anyone notice he has those gay Jetfire collapseable feet. God I hate those!

At least he has something of a high-heel shoes to wear to the dance floor.

Once again, it seems that we as collectors are completely forgetting that we will not be buying the majority of these figures. The face is a little off, yes. He's cartoony, yes. He's SUPPOSED to be cartoony. Today's target audience seems to prefer kinda goofy looking: the redesign in "The Batman", "Ben 10's" rather odd look, etc. It seems that, while our generation preferred realism (as evidenced by our love of Alternators/Binaltech and the original series), today's discerning children- the target audience,BTW- seems to prefer that more cartoonish, fun look; almost a caricature type of styling. FOr what this figure is, i think it's well done and really rather like it; it's a caricature- a re-imagining, if you will- of the MP Starscream that the kids will enjoy. In all, the sneer is there and the figure oozes the CHARACTER of Starscream. It may not look like what WE want it to look like or expect from Starscream, but it does the job for what it is.

megatroptimus wrote:

lanzajr26 wrote:They really messed up the smirk on this one, and he looks like he's actually wearing pants.

Like Movie Voyager Thundercracker and Movie Voyager G1 Starscream?

Yup, those toys stink too.

What about MP Skywarps bizarre face! Looks like somebody stamped on his foot.

First-Aid wrote:Once again, it seems that we as collectors are completely forgetting that we will not be buying the majority of these figures. The face is a little off, yes. He's cartoony, yes. He's SUPPOSED to be cartoony. Today's target audience seems to prefer kinda goofy looking: the redesign in "The Batman", "Ben 10's" rather odd look, etc. It seems that, while our generation preferred realism (as evidenced by our love of Alternators/Binaltech and the original series), today's discerning children- the target audience,BTW- seems to prefer that more cartoonish, fun look; almost a caricature type of styling. FOr what this figure is, i think it's well done and really rather like it; it's a caricature- a re-imagining, if you will- of the MP Starscream that the kids will enjoy. In all, the sneer is there and the figure oozes the CHARACTER of Starscream. It may not look like what WE want it to look like or expect from Starscream, but it does the job for what it is.

Like fashion, it cycles back and forth.

That's some serious chin Starscream's got going on there! ROFL

Yuck.

I'm quite happy with my classics thankyouverymuch.

Ravage XK wrote:What about MP Skywarps bizarre face! Looks like somebody stamped on his foot.

Thankfully I don't have to see it since I display him with the alternate face. No such luck with Animated Starscream, unless you want to put a paper bag over his head.