The Energon Pub

News Credits: 462 · Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:05 pm

Well, the Grimlock, Strafe, and Slug Evolution 2-Packs are at least out as of at least last month.

News Credits: 37 · Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 pm

Had to drive 3 states away to find Strafe. My Toys R Us used to have a bunch of them, and I saw a bunch at a Walmart a few weeks ago, but I went back to all those places, and none of them had him. I went to the closest place I could find that had him.

Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:12 pm

Ok cool thanks JelZe GoldRabbit and ScottyP! I don't suppose there's any word on a deluxe Stinger or maybe a leader Galvatron is there?

News Credits: 462 · Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:15 pm

TransformersFan89 wrote:Ok cool thanks JelZe GoldRabbit and ScottyP! I don't suppose there's any word on a deluxe Stinger or maybe a leader Galvatron is there?

Nope. No word at BotCon.

News Credits: 251 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:04 am

Sabrblade wrote:
TransformersFan89 wrote:Ok cool thanks JelZe GoldRabbit and ScottyP! I don't suppose there's any word on a deluxe Stinger or maybe a leader Galvatron is there?
Nope. No word at BotCon.

We might get something at San Diego Comic Con this year, but as of yet, nada.

Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:23 am

That is one helluva awesome looking figure. That gun should attach on his face, though, if not that sucks, big time.

News Credits: 6 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:45 am

Only figures I have so far are Crosshairs, Scorn, and Drift. Surprisingly little complaints. I just got Drift, and boy is he tons of fun. So many nice tight joints and a simple yet effective transformation. He doesn't deserve all the hate. He's a Samurai Bughatti for christ's sake, what's not to love?

I mean, I love robot Samurai too though, and reminds me quite a bit of some incarnation of Yoshimitsu so I'm really tempted to make him commit seppuku but that's just messed up, what is wrong with me?

News Credits: 1235 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:06 pm

The behemoth Stomp & Chomp Grimlock is available to order at ToysRUs.com for $79.99. Click here to see the order page.

You can also get him at HasbroToyShop.com for $79.99 or Kre-O Dinofire Grimlock for $39.99. Below are our in-hand images of both items.

News Credits: 5 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:19 pm

Really can't see spending 80 bucks for that

:MAXIMAL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/KirbyForce1 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:22 pm

Kre-O Dinofire Grimlock?

News Credits: 34 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:23 pm

indarkestknight wrote:...Isn't he supposed to have a hook hand?

*confused*

Sadly, no.

News Credits: 13 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:33 pm

STngAR wrote:Really can't see spending 80 bucks for that

I know. It looks cheap. If I had to give it a price, I'd say $29.99. But as time goes on, things will get more expensive. Soon, a gallon of gas could cost $20. I hope gas companies won't raise the price after the making of this post.

News Credits: 251 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:18 pm

Superwheeljack wrote:
indarkestknight wrote:...Isn't he supposed to have a hook hand?

*confused*

Sadly, no.

Though I wouldn't be surprised if a third party group made a hook accessory that just snapped over his hand.

News Credits: 123 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:07 am

OptimalOptimus2 wrote:
STngAR wrote:Really can't see spending 80 bucks for that

I know. It looks cheap. If I had to give it a price, I'd say $29.99. But as time goes on, things will get more expensive. Soon, a gallon of gas could cost $20. I hope gas companies won't raise the price after the making of this post.

I don't care how good the joke is (and this one wasn't spectacular)... text never needs to be that small.

News Credits: 13 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:12 am

megatronus wrote:I don't care how good the joke is (and this one wasn't spectacular)... text never needs to be that small.

I wasn't trying to joke.

News Credits: 5749 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 11:36 am

We have new official images of Takara Tomy's Transformers: Age of Extinction Dual Model Kit (DMK03) Optimus Prime via Amazon Japan. The kit looks quite impressive and offers a very screen accurate and articulated version of the latest incarnation of Optimus Prime. Check him out in the series of images mirrored below:

News Credits: 12 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:03 pm

...Dayum. That looks pretty sweet. But seeing that, I think it's safe to say that expecting an accurate transforming version of this design is kinda unfair. I mean, by the looks of things this transformation defies the laws of physics. There's no way they could make an even remotely accurate version without major partsforming. And you all know what I think of partsforming.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:53 pm

Looks great. What's with all the silver though? Is that supposed to be the silver knight Optimus? I'm assuming that idea got dumped at the last minute, because in the film I didn't notice any change in color on him. Unless it's just really subtle.

Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:19 pm

Ok thanks! Do you think we'll be seeing any human alliance figures for Age Of Extinction?

Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:32 pm

Delta Magnus wrote:...Dayum. That looks pretty sweet. But seeing that, I think it's safe to say that expecting an accurate transforming version of this design is kinda unfair. I mean, by the looks of things this transformation defies the laws of physics. There's no way they could make an even remotely accurate version without major partsforming. And you all know what I think of partsforming.

And THAT'S why I don't really care for this knight design for Optimus. It's neat and all, but it's impossible for designers to work around that in ways that aren't bulky awkward shell-forming. There's really nothing to indicate that he's a truck outside of the smokestacks, so he's near unidentifiable as a Transformer.

Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

News Credits: 4889 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:45 pm

Shuttershock wrote:
Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

I am really looking forward to owning EM Prime then. I am simply waiting for that Evolution 2 pack to come out since I dont have either of those molds yet (looks like it will be in a while).

News Credits: 12 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:25 pm

Shuttershock wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:...Dayum. That looks pretty sweet. But seeing that, I think it's safe to say that expecting an accurate transforming version of this design is kinda unfair. I mean, by the looks of things this transformation defies the laws of physics. There's no way they could make an even remotely accurate version without major partsforming. And you all know what I think of partsforming.

And THAT'S why I don't really care for this knight design for Optimus. It's neat and all, but it's impossible for designers to work around that in ways that aren't bulky awkward shell-forming. There's really nothing to indicate that he's a truck outside of the smokestacks, so he's near unidentifiable as a Transformer.

Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

Indeed. I do tip my hat to the designers for trying to make the design unusual, refreshing and not obviously an upscaled and heavily detailed toy, but it is a pain for those of us who want a decent figure of it. Granted, the increased simplification of the AoE line doesn't help (at least with the very large toys; the Deluxes and some of the Voyagers look same as usual) but really, I doubt even Studio Half-Eye could make an accurate transforming version of that (although I wouldn't put it past them considering they made "perfect transforming" versions of Gunbuster and Gurren Lagann).

On the plus side, this could help push forward the toy engineering/mech designing arts, so to speak. For a similar example, look at Evangelion; the lithe, organic designs were considered too difficult to render in toy form and thus Gainax were bombarded with requests to make them more toyetic. However, Gainax refused to give on the designs, and the series went on to basically rewrite the rules of anime. Plus, they eventually got a toy contract with Sega and several years later there are now lots of good Evangelion figures. So, Eva and its radical designs changed not only the anime industry, but the toy industry too.

Not that the live-action Transformers movies are up to par with Eva of course, but you get what I mean.

Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:27 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Shuttershock wrote:
Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

I am really looking forward to owning EM Prime then. I am simply waiting for that Evolution 2 pack to come out since I dont have either of those molds yet (looks like it will be in a while).

Seems to be the right way to go. I haven't even considered the leader class, mainly because it's to pricey to be a big, kibble strewn mess.

Moreover, once again at that size Optimus doesn't have anyone to challenge him at that size. Galvatron is a shell-forming voyager and Lockdown (the PRIMARY antagonist of the movie) is a tiny deluxe. And it's not even like the other Lockdown toys where he unfolds to be taller than a voyager.

Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:42 pm

Delta Magnus wrote:
Shuttershock wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:...Dayum. That looks pretty sweet. But seeing that, I think it's safe to say that expecting an accurate transforming version of this design is kinda unfair. I mean, by the looks of things this transformation defies the laws of physics. There's no way they could make an even remotely accurate version without major partsforming. And you all know what I think of partsforming.

And THAT'S why I don't really care for this knight design for Optimus. It's neat and all, but it's impossible for designers to work around that in ways that aren't bulky awkward shell-forming. There's really nothing to indicate that he's a truck outside of the smokestacks, so he's near unidentifiable as a Transformer.

Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

Indeed. I do tip my hat to the designers for trying to make the design unusual, refreshing and not obviously an upscaled and heavily detailed toy, but it is a pain for those of us who want a decent figure of it. Granted, the increased simplification of the AoE line doesn't help (at least with the very large toys; the Deluxes and some of the Voyagers look same as usual) but really, I doubt even Studio Half-Eye could make an accurate transforming version of that (although I wouldn't put it past them considering they made "perfect transforming" versions of Gunbuster and Gurren Lagann).

On the plus side, this could help push forward the toy engineering/mech designing arts, so to speak. For a similar example, look at Evangelion; the lithe, organic designs were considered too difficult to render in toy form and thus Gainax were bombarded with requests to make them more toyetic. However, Gainax refused to give on the designs, and the series went on to basically rewrite the rules of anime. Plus, they eventually got a toy contract with Sega and several years later there are now lots of good Evangelion figures. So, Eva and its radical designs changed not only the anime industry, but the toy industry too.

Not that the live-action Transformers movies are up to par with Eva of course, but you get what I mean.

I see your point. However, the main difference here is that the Eva (to my knowledge) do not transform, and have the luxury of having more lithe forms with ball joints.

Now, I'm not saying that they have to transform to be Transformers toys. I'm aware of Action Masters, Pretenders, Revoltech, Robot Heroes and those God awful plastic bricks they make now a days. I'm just saying that Optimus Prime's knight-mode model was never meant to logically become a truck, just a sleek robot. While this is perfectly serviceable with these Dual Models, it has made every other toy that has had to transform be a cluttered, back-heavy kibbled mess that is about as far removed from the screen design as possible. If a screen-accurate transformable toy did exist, such a thing would be Metroplex-scaled, break apart into dozens if not hundreds of panels and hinges, and would be a price point that not even Fansproject would be willing to commit to.

This might be the wrong place to talk about engineering aesthetics, but it's been a pet peeve about this "knight" design for me for a long while now.

Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:24 am

Shuttershock wrote:Credit where credit's due, EM Optimus is an engineering marvel. True, his arms might be a little skinny, but his robot mode is condensed, tight and impressively poseable.

What's really impressive is it's so simple, he basically turns inside-out. Hound even transforms in a similar way. I don't know why they didn't take that approach with leader Optimus and Galvatron.