The Energon Pub

Va'al wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Hey guys and gals, just wondering about next year's generations figures. Hasbro confirmed 16 deluxes right? And we have seen 8 of them so far which will make up Superion and Menasor. Do we assume the other 8 will also be combiners?
If the answer is yes, then I wonder who it would be and since I don't read the current comics, I wonder: who are the hotter combiners right now? I was always partial to Predaking and Devastator and would love to have upgraded versions of those, but they are both decepticons so at my luckiest only one of these would be part of the Combiner Wars.

Defensor and Devastator were recently confirmed to be in the Combiner Wars comic storyline, though many are doubting if Devastator would be getting a toy or if a toy could be feasibly pulled off, what if Scrapper being dead and Prowl now being the head.

Does the fact that Devastator is made up of 6 and not 5 transformers weaken the chance as well?

From what we've seen, it looks like combiners are made of six figures: Voyager torso, four Deluxe limbs, one Legends er.. part/chest/thing.

So maybe there's a cheat around it..?

They could make two Deluxes instead of one Voyager for Devastator's torso. Hook would form the upper torso or a leg, and a new Generations Prowl could also form the upper torso/head. Long Haul would then form the lower torso/crotch area.

ZeroWolf wrote:I meant the prime/Magnus thing as a joke really, IDW comics have opened up to referencing other continuities but I doubt they would put in the awesomeness that was omega prime from RiD, Hasbro themselves have probably forgotten it exists as well.

I think it's less forgotten ans more deliberately buried, since they don't have the rights to the show and they're giving the new show its name, which seems like a sign that they don't expect it to ever see the light of day again.

What are the odds they'll reuse that Leader Thundercracker mold to make Starscream and Skywarp?

ZeroWolf wrote:I meant the prime/Magnus thing as a joke really, IDW comics have opened up to referencing other continuities but I doubt they would put in the awesomeness that was omega prime from RiD, Hasbro themselves have probably forgotten it exists as well.

At first glance, I thought that you may have been thinking what I was thinking, that is, what if they repainted combiner optimus prime white and used his combiner ports for ultra magnus armor that could transform into his car carrier. Just wishful thinking as this might not be considered combiner wars themed but maybe in hasbro plans for 2016.

coybrafett wrote:At first glance, I thought that you may have been thinking what I was thinking, that is, what if they repainted combiner optimus prime white and used his combiner ports for ultra magnus armor that could transform into his car carrier. Just wishful thinking as this might not be considered combiner wars themed but maybe in hasbro plans for 2016.

you could be on to something... id buy it!

Hmmm but what would be the IDW angle be? Unless the um armour is transferred to a new bot who resembles prime (or could be prime himself painted to honour the fallen Magnus.)

ZeroWolf wrote:Hmmm but what would be the IDW angle be? Unless the um armour is transferred to a new bot who resembles prime (or could be prime himself painted to honour the fallen Magnus.)

There would not have to be an IDW angle. This could simply be what the original g1 magnus was. He was an optimus repainted white with his armor transforming into his car carrier.

ZeroWolf wrote:Hmmm but what would be the IDW angle be? Unless the um armour is transferred to a new bot who resembles prime (or could be prime himself painted to honour the fallen Magnus.)

Or the Magnus Armor could be damaged and rebuilt, and made capable of combining with Optimus Prime, with Minimus Ambus given some upgrades and forming the head of Omega Prime.

Or they could retool the cab robit to resemble Minimus Ambus. He'd be horrendously out of scale, but it would work for me. Or, continuing the theme of having Legends Class combiner components, Hasbro could make a Legends-scale Ambus as a Headmaster for the white Prime that we're inevitably going to get from this toy line. Then they could make Magnus Armor and sell it at a (roughly) Leader Class price point.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Hmmm but what would be the IDW angle be? Unless the um armour is transferred to a new bot who resembles prime (or could be prime himself painted to honour the fallen Magnus.)

Yeah, the IDW angle would make this tricky.

Unless... unless they were to make it as just a toy-only thing done for fun and pure play value.

This.

Transformers has always been driven as a franchise by the toys. If you can make a cool toy, then make it. I'd love to see a new Omega Prime (I have him on my windowsill right now actually), especially if it means we get a new UM.

Same with Devastator. They don't have to go the IDW prowl route- they could just do a modern update of the classic Devastator, like they're doing with Menasor and Superion. Kids won't care, they'll just see it and think "Whoa, construction vehicles that turn into robots and combine into one huge robot? Awesome!". They could easily make the torso out of 2 deluxes (like the classic figure) and have the other Constructicons be done in the same style as the other combiner limb-bots, complete with SC-style cross-compatibility. Hopefully they'll be able to work the feet into the individual robots like with the old version...

Delta Magnus wrote:Same with Devastator. They don't have to go the IDW prowl route- they could just do a modern update of the classic Devastator, like they're doing with Menasor and Superion. Kids won't care, they'll just see it and think "Whoa, construction vehicles that turn into robots and combine into one huge robot? Awesome!". They could easily make the torso out of 2 deluxes (like the classic figure) and have the other Constructicons be done in the same style as the other combiner limb-bots, complete with SC-style cross-compatibility. Hopefully they'll be able to work the feet into the individual robots like with the old version...

Bu then, that wouldnt be coming soon, because they already confirmed 16 deluxes for that line, meaning 4 times 4 deluxe limbs.

Delta Magnus wrote:Same with Devastator. They don't have to go the IDW prowl route- they could just do a modern update of the classic Devastator, like they're doing with Menasor and Superion. Kids won't care, they'll just see it and think "Whoa, construction vehicles that turn into robots and combine into one huge robot? Awesome!". They could easily make the torso out of 2 deluxes (like the classic figure) and have the other Constructicons be done in the same style as the other combiner limb-bots, complete with SC-style cross-compatibility. Hopefully they'll be able to work the feet into the individual robots like with the old version...

Bu then, that wouldnt be coming soon, because they already confirmed 16 deluxes for that line, meaning 4 times 4 deluxe limbs.

Unless... unless they were to make it as just a toy-only thing done for fun and pure play value.[/quote]


Transformers has always been driven as a franchise by the toys. If you can make a cool toy, then make it. [/quote]


It has almost always been toy first story later.
I'm lovin all this Ultra Magnus talk. They could just make a trailer that does all the things it needs to. Bam! Leader class!
But,
As I said in an earlier post. I can see it now. Repaint the Stunticons as G1 guys, i.e. Dragstrip/Mirage, Breakdown/Sideswipe,etc. Box them with Prime as an exclusive, and you have - G1-icus, Autobotimus Prime, Ultra Classicus?
It may sound cheesy, but when I was 10, I sat wishing I could combine my G1s like that. As if combining was some new upgrade for all bots to enjoy.

Actually, the generations line has been heavily tied into IDW. Even the Menasor and Superion are tied into IDW what with Combiner Wars coming soon. Selling them just as does happen but something like this...it'll be storyline based or get created into the story...thus creating a full circle.. After all, the IDW comics are packed in for your convenience.

True, very true.
I thank IDW for digging into the past for characters so I can have my updated G1 toys. Plus the comics are great. I've just recently started reading them. Lots to catch up on.
A lot has changed since Hasbro took the design lead from Takara, but one thing that hasen't changed at Hasbro is, they can and do whatever they want whenever they want..
and they do. Lucas Syndrome.
Thundercracker is a great example. Cool toy. Can't wait to see him.
But, as a toy, kind of out of left field. Right?

Well, it makes sense if you think about it. It lets them make a new toy with minimal new molds, it ties in with the IDW design and fiction, and on top of that it gives us a Thundercracker actually in scale with Deluxe cars.

I do hope Takara takes the lead again with the toy design though. Their engineers seem to be a lot more competent than the Hasbro team, and they seem to be less focused on simplifying things. If you look at some of the best toys to come out of the franchise (the MP line, ROTF Optimus, pretty much all the original RID molds etc) they're all designed by Takara. The only case I can think of of Takara doing really bad jobs is with some of the early Armada toys, which was largely due to Hasbro rushing them along.

In any case, I really want to see Takara take control of the toy design side again. I think it could lead the toyline back into a golden age.

Agreed. You don't commission Picasso to paint a Rembrandt.
Takara were the masters. I've always been a Takara fan first, then Transformers.
People are going to laugh, but Beast Wars says it all. How are you going to make a giraffe turn into a bad ass robot? Oh. Thats how!
Don't get me wrong. Hasbro has carried the torch really well. The designers are all old Takara fans I'm sure.

This confirms my original point. Toys first, story later. Until the mid 90's Hasbro was importing toys from Japan and making a story around them. Beast machines was the beginning of the role reversal.

That being said I'm happy that Hasbro and IDW have aligned. Its great to have a current story line to pull from.

Delta Magnus wrote:Well, it makes sense if you think about it. It lets them make a new toy with minimal new molds, it ties in with the IDW design and fiction, and on top of that it gives us a Thundercracker actually in scale with Deluxe cars.

I do hope Takara takes the lead again with the toy design though. Their engineers seem to be a lot more competent than the Hasbro team, and they seem to be less focused on simplifying things. If you look at some of the best toys to come out of the franchise (the MP line, ROTF Optimus, pretty much all the original RID molds etc) they're all designed by Takara. The only case I can think of of Takara doing really bad jobs is with some of the early Armada toys, which was largely due to Hasbro rushing them along.

In any case, I really want to see Takara take control of the toy design side again. I think it could lead the toyline back into a golden age.

I remember an interview discussing the design process for the upcoming Brainstorm and it seemed like Hasbro and Takara worked really hand in hand for the entire process. The design did not seem one sided at all, for that figure at least. Also, a quick question for you guys, was the Transformers Animated Toyline designed by Hasbro or Takara? Because as I continue collecting, it is the one toyline I feel s the most consistent for stellar designs and engineering (and everything points towards Hasbro being the main party behind it).

And if that is the case, then is the last Takara designed toyline Cybertron/Galaxy Force (aside from what's exclusive like Alternity) ?

Good question.
I think the design process has been hand in hand since Armada. Where Takara does the technical aspect, transforming, tooling, etc. Depending on the line, either party does the conceptual and character design. Brainstorm looks sweet BTW.
Im glad you brought this up cause this discussion got me wondering the same thing about Cybertron/Galaxy Force.
During Animated I was off on a Clone Wars or Playmobil tangent or something. I was still picking up Generations, and I still scooped up a good hand full of Animated. Their design is like no other.
I don't know who started that line. If I had to guess, I would lean towards Hasbro. First clue, not a lot of 5mm pegs. What studio did the Cartoon? That's probably where the process started. Great character and toy design though.

I think Cybertron IS the last Takara started line. I mean those guys are so Japaneses looking, and I LOVE IT! They are one of my favs. Dripping with 5mm pegs so my Micromen can climb all over 'em.

I'm wondering how the Tomy buy out has/will effect all things transformers. Will we see more original lines, or will it all go to the "cloud". There is GO! Anybody seen those? They are cool in a strange and wonderful Japanese way.

...and just to stay on topic. I'm excited about Combiner Wars.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Thundercracker is a great example. Cool toy. Can't wait to see him.
But, as a toy, kind of out of left field. Right?

Well, he's currently a notable character in IDW, having been brought into focus since the conclusion of All Hail Megatron in 2009. He's sorta become something like the G1 equivalent of Beast Wars Dinobot, only minus switching sides (he's remained a Decepticon despite having occasionally provided some aid to the Autobots).

See. I'm looking at it from a toy line perspectve.
TC sounds cool.
I am not new to TFs, but I am to IDW. Wheres a good place to start? Those goofy "movies" have left me starving for good story. Wreckers is on the way in the mail. I picked up the 1st collection of RID. It's starting out cool. Dark Cybertron isn't really doin it for me. Of course I just got those with the toys, and it's hard to pull the story out of those, since they're not numbered. Where does Thundercracker fit in? I like Dinobot.

Cool.
I dig the design evolution that happened over the course of The Unicron Trilogy. I know a lot of folks deem those lines to kiddy or simplistic, but they are cool looking robots.

Do you know what year Tomy bought Takara? Just wondering about the correlation between movies and buy out.