The Energon Pub

[TimothyR]

i truly hate the fact that these aren't retail exclusives in the states.

non of the decent exclusives from this line can be found in stores here.. that's awful. oh well, i guess it just makes them that much easier to pass on.

maybe hasbro will learn from the mistakes they've made with this line.. but something tells me they won't.. they'll probably just get rid of the main line figures entirely for the next movie.

[Va'al]

And in further repaint exclusive news, check out the following video review from fellow Seibertron.com member grimdragon2001 of the Walmart exclusive two-pack of Bumblebee and Strafe, featuring a minor repaint of Legends Class Bumblebee from Revenge of the Fallen, and a blue version of Beast Wars Basic Terrorsaur!

[Va'al]

Toys'R'Us Canada may have just listed the pre-orders for the Transformers: Age of Extinction Breakout Battle set, but fellow Seibertronian gema has it in-hand - and has shared a pictorial review of Rollbar (and some shots of Optimus too) with us! You can find the whole piece on his blog, and some of the images mirrored below.

He might not be a popular choice and I doubt a lot of collectors would be looking for him. However, aside from the lack of paint on his head (and should've been a different head altogather), Rollbar is somewhat interesting in his own way...especially if you are a mold collector.

[Autobot032]

Imported the Takara Tomy version of the One-Step Stinger from HLJ and I have to say I'm more impressed than I had hoped.

He does have balance issues because he has no heels, plus due to the autotransformation, his torso weight pushes down on the legs and tends to make them bow a bit, plus his ONLY articulation is his forearms.

He's well built and sturdy. Nice, thick plastic used on this guy. He's almost as tall as Bumblebee (new version) and almost as long in vehicle mode, so he's really not too terribly out of scale. (That really helped me to like him.)

His robot mode is heavily detailed (molded) and has just enough paint apps to bring them out. (he could use more) His vehicle mode is gorgeous and looks nice next to the rest of the AoE toys. The Takara Tomy version uses a metallic/pearlescent plastic to really shine and show him off, while the Wal*Mart exclusive version is just a matte bright red plastic. (Not saying it's ugly, but the Japanese version is definitely prettier.)

I'm saddened that we're not receiving a reshelled Bumblebee to have a Deluxe Stinger, I'm saddened that the One-Steps are so limited in their range of motion and ability, but it looks good and might be the only transformable Pagani Stinger we'll receive in the line.

On that alone, I recommend picking him up. As a toy goes, it's great for a kid, not so much for a collector, so on that side of the issue, I can't recommend it. However, if you want a Stinger that looks like his movie self and transforms, then this guy is your only real option until someone at HasTak ponies up the dough to make a Deluxe.

[william-james88]

i truly hate the fact that these aren't retail exclusives in the states.

non of the decent exclusives from this line can be found in stores here.. that's awful. oh well, i guess it just makes them that much easier to pass on.

maybe hasbro will learn from the mistakes they've made with this line.. but something tells me they won't.. they'll probably just get rid of the main line figures entirely for the next movie.

Which other stores have these platinum sets in the states?

I actually HATE that they are exclusives in Canada, because that means that the boxes dont have to be in more than one language, which in turn means that they are available to everyone except for people in Quebec, like me. I cant even preorder these online since the shipping adress is in Quebec (he worst part is that the actual place they are shipping from is a warehouse in Quebec )

[Optimizzy]

Um...those prices seem way too inflated for what amounts to repaints. The autobot 5-pack includes 2 voyagers and 3 deluxes. That should be around $95. (25+25+15+15+15=95) I know there are slightly better schemes but...just feels like fleecing so I'll probably pass. Shame really. I really like them, but I also like to have SOME money.

[Sabrblade]

Um...those prices seem way too inflated for what amounts to repaints. The autobot 5-pack includes 2 voyagers and 3 deluxes. That should be around $95. (25+25+15+15+15=95)

You're forgetting the cost of the high quality premium level display packaging that also factors into these prices.

And the limited production quantity of these figures, making them even more expensive than the much more mass produced retail versions that are theoretically easier to come by.

[Optimizzy]

Um...those prices seem way too inflated for what amounts to repaints. The autobot 5-pack includes 2 voyagers and 3 deluxes. That should be around $95. (25+25+15+15+15=95)

You're forgetting the cost of the high quality premium level display packaging that also factors into these prices.

And the limited production quantity of these figures, making them even more expensive than the much more mass produced retail versions that are theoretically easier to come by.

Those are just excuses. Cardboard is not expensive and slight alterations on mold should not incur a 33% increase. Perhaps $10 more sure, but not $35. Sorry no.

[RiddlerJ]

If Rollbar was general retail, I'd get him. He'd make a good Generations Throttlebot. Maybe Freeway or Searchlight.

But not Rollbar though.

[Optimizzy]

If Rollbar was general retail, I'd get him. He'd make a good Generations Throttlebot. Maybe Freeway or Searchlight.

But not Rollbar though.

I'd like to repaint him as Runamuck and Runabout. Maybe use crosscut mold.

also on my price rant: If those are in Canadian dollars then the price is a little more justified. Still a few bucks more than I'd like but reasonable. I should have checked that before I ranted.

[NuclearConvoy]

Are the Dinobots included in that Dinobot set the fully articulated and decent toy ones or are they the smaller scale and shittier ones?

[Sabrblade]

Are the Dinobots included in that Dinobot set the fully articulated and decent toy ones or are they the smaller scale and shittier ones?

No Platinum Edition AOE sets contain anything but AOE Generations molds (Deluxes, Voyagers, Leaders), or in one case the AOE First Edition Optimus mold. To use the simpler toys in a collector-centric line would be counterproductive.

[welcometothedarksyde]

I reported these ToysRus listings several days ago. Maybe even on Friday or Thursday

[Va'al]

I reported these ToysRus listings several days ago. Maybe even on Friday or Thursday

Please make sure you also email us at news@seibertron.com, or we may miss posts that are newsworthy or at least worth of our attention! There is only so much we can do.

Do you have a link to the reports?

[william-james88]

Um...those prices seem way too inflated for what amounts to repaints. The autobot 5-pack includes 2 voyagers and 3 deluxes. That should be around $95. (25+25+15+15+15=95) I know there are slightly better schemes but...just feels like fleecing so I'll probably pass. Shame really. I really like them, but I also like to have SOME money.

The prices are in canadian dollars, so this amounts to part of the explanation.

It's actually 29.99 for voyagers and 16.99 for deluxes making it 111$, so the premium factor only amounts to 20$ more canadian.

If you guys want american dollars, this set will go for anything bewteen 100-115$ which may be more digestible in terms of the pricing's logic.

[TulioDude]

All of these packs look great!

[Autobot032]

Of course it would be the MOST expensive option to have a cohesive look for the Dinobots. SDCC set + Amazon Slog = Only uniform color scheme. The Platinum series doesn't even include the five G1 dinos, they put Scorn instead of Snarl. I mean, what the heck?

Ugh.

[Sabrblade]

Of course it would be the MOST expensive option to have a cohesive look for the Dinobots. SDCC set + Amazon Slog = Only uniform color scheme. The Platinum series doesn't even include the five G1 dinos, they put Scorn instead of Snarl. I mean, what the heck?

Ugh.

Is it so far-fetched that the Platinum Edition Dinobots set that strives for movie-accuracy would choose to go with the specific Dinobots who appeared in the movie (plus Slog, for some reason) and omit the ones that didn't (save for Slog, for some reason)?

Seriously, Slog's inclusion in this is the real baffler, here.

[OptimalOptimus2]

Rollbar's lack of paint on the head makes me want to rip all of my teeth out with pliers and sell them for $15 each.

[bassal]

Rollbar's lack of paint on the head makes me want to rip all of my teeth out with pliers and sell them for $15 each.

That's going too far. Don't let **** escalate.

[Autobot032]

Of course it would be the MOST expensive option to have a cohesive look for the Dinobots. SDCC set + Amazon Slog = Only uniform color scheme. The Platinum series doesn't even include the five G1 dinos, they put Scorn instead of Snarl. I mean, what the heck?

Ugh.

Is it so far-fetched that the Platinum Edition Dinobots set that strives for movie-accuracy would choose to go with the specific Dinobots who appeared in the movie (plus Slog, for some reason) and omit the ones that didn't (save for Slog, for some reason)?

Seriously, Slog's inclusion in this is the real baffler, here.

No, striving for film accuracy is not a far fetched idea. (In fact, it would've made the most sense.) It's also not the point I was trying to make, either. I'm trying to say there are no exclusive sets that have all the figures in a unified color scheme except the most expensive one, and the rarest. Even the general release figures aren't unified, except that they're all crazy colored and that sorta ties them together.

[mesh]

$179!!!!!!
That prime set better be made with gold. Why is it sooooo freakin expensive? the sideswipe figure alone is worth $16.99, prime is $69.99, and you're telling me the trailer is worth $92.00!!!!!?????
And to make things worse the Masterpiece Prime set from Hasbro was priced at $99.
$99!!!!!
And this set is worth $179!!!!!
Eat my stool!

[Sabrblade]

Why is it so hard to understand that Platinum Editions are uber expensive by nature?

These toys are as specially decoed as most BotCon exclusives, and those sets usually cost three times as much as these, yet few make a fuss over those prices.

What part of "high end, collector grade, limited production quantity, specially packaged, super detailed" exclusives is so difficult to understand?

Do I wish that they were more affordable? Of course. But I hold no expectations about that. Platinum Editions are simply of a complete different league than standard retail toys. They are not aimed at kids with cheap allowances, but at the adult markets with deep wallets and bank accounts who are willing pay such high prices to get what they want.

Don't like it? Don't buy it. Simple as that. It may sound elitist, but this line is pretty elitist in and of itself, and shows no signs of changing.

[TulioDude]

Don't like it? Don't buy it. Simple as that. It may sound elitist, but this line is pretty elitist in and of itself, and shows no signs of changing.

This.

[bassal]

Why is it so hard to understand that Platinum Editions are uber expensive by nature?

These toys are as specially decoed as most BotCon exclusives, and those sets usually cost three times as much as these, yet few make a fuss over those prices.

What part of "high end, collector grade, limited production quantity, specially packaged, super detailed" exclusives is so difficult to understand?

Do I wish that they were more affordable? Of course. But I hold no expectations about that. Platinum Editions are simplt of a complete different league than standard retail toys. They are not aimed at kids with cheap allowances, but at the adult markets with deep wallets and bank accounts who are willing pay such high prices to get what they want.

Don't like it? Don't buy it. Simple as that. It may sound elitist, but this line is pretty elitist in and of itself, and shows no signs of changing.

Words that every Transformers collector should live by.