The Energon Pub

I hate playing with my "naked" Magnus hahaha. Actually, I can't stand seeing my "city commander" without his imposing armor. As we all know Fansproject already created an armor for him (as well as for prime and nemesis prime). But these add-on kits had become too costly for the common collectors (like me) who didn't capitalize on getting these kits when their prices were still on the near leader class price ranges. These kits also come with their KO counterparts and their prices, although cheaper, still fetch high amounts in hobby shops. Being KOs they still have a lot of mold issues which still doesn't make them perfect.

Now here's my question... Is it already time for HasTak to release an official version of the armor?

And why not? Fans had already been clamoring for it since Hasbro released the UM-Skywarp 2pack set. Maybe they are already fed up (actually not that fed up...) with the constant white prime repaints. They do want a look to differentiate him from Prime (like in Animated ^^).

We need an official HasTak version right now. Something close in a voyager price range? Or better yet, a reissue of the Magnus figure with a trailer! How cool will that be! Sell it in a wave of reissues (Mirage, Sunstreaker, Smokescreen, etc.)!

Yeah, I know. Hasbro won't release this armor just because fans want it. Every release should have a reason! Below are the factors (I think) they need to consider before they release this add-on:

1. Character Familiarity - The main target consumers of toy companies are kids. Period. Will kids identify the Ultra Magnus armored form image and will they ask their parents to buy this figure for them? Maybe... if they are huge fans of G1 (that is why this series needs to be shown again hahaha) and if they are readers of the Transformers: Ongoing comic book (with designs based on their G1 look). Seeing the trend of Transformers in popular culture nowadays kids will rather ask their parent to buy another Bumblebee repaint. There is a bigger chance to sell the WFC version (if the kids played the game) or if they would be introducing a version of UM in Transformers: Prime with G1 based designs. We need to reintroduce this version (trailer becomes armor and attach to robot to make powered up form) to kids via different media but based on the current trends nowadays we might just get a somewhat movie sentinel prime design instead.

2. Price - The bigger the bot the more costly it gets. And in today's economy a high tag price is a no-no! Let's say Hasbro will be reissuing the UM figure (voyager price), the trailer could be priced the same due to the amount of plastic and design involved to create it. So, a reissued Magnus + armor might be around in the leader class toy price. Will parent easily shell out this kind of money?

3. Design complexity - Does HasTak have the creativity to create an armor in the 1st place? I do not want a cheap a$$ Fairy Prime armor design. But they did manage to pull off a great (but still needs improvement) Jetwing prime. How hard can this be with HasTak's current toy designers? Why not reverse engineer and improve the current design of Fansproject if they can't think of anything. Maybe they just need to add some kind of gimmicks (weapon/electronic/etc.) to catch the interest of the kids.

What do you guys think? Do we need an official Ultra Magnus Armor? Besides the armor what else do you think (add-on, character, etc.) needs an official HasTak version? How about Sixshot? Headmasters maybe?

As a matter of fact, an armor for Classics Ultra Magnus was considered before his release, but potential costs and possible final price got in the way. It's not like Hasbro to sell add-ons or, as how they would possibly see it, "incomplete standalone sets" as parents would rather buy a single complete figure than accessory pack that's basically useless without a figure to interact with it. The US market is not right for it.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:As a matter of fact, an armor for Classics Ultra Magnus was considered before his release, but potential costs and possible final price got in the way. It's not like Hasbro to sell add-ons or, as how they would possibly see it, "incomplete standalone sets" as parents would rather buy a single complete figure than accessory pack that's basically useless without a figure to interact with it. The US market is not right for it.

Not to put them on the same playing field, but if you go into certain stores right now, you will see shelves full of Kung Zu armor sets that do not include the Zu for less than $1, and that is in stores like Target and BJ's Wholesale, not even discount retailers.

There is no way hasbro is going to sell a stand alone armor set in stores for an almost 10 year old toy. On HTS is a possibility, ala Mattel's Matty Collector, but Hasbro doesn't seem to see that as a viable sales avenue.

What if Hasbro put these "add ons" for sale on the website? Could be an option for them instead of worrying about distribution to stores and the such. Just like every other 3rd party has done with relative success.

They need to u[ the ante a bit in that department and take the adult collector market seriously. IMO

monstergrotusque wrote:What if Hasbro put these "add ons" for sale on the website? Could be an option for them instead of worrying about distribution to stores and the such. Just like every other 3rd party has done with relative success.

They need to u[ the ante a bit in that department and take the adult collector market seriously. IMO

AFAIK, HTS exclusives have always been recolors (or reissues); not new molds. I am guessing that their Web site just doesn't have a history of doing the kind of volume that would be required to justify new molds.

An upgrade set from Hasbro just isn't going to happen; you're better off pinning your hopes on a re-reissue of the Fansproject armor. The only way I see official Hasbro armor happening for this mold is if the white Prime were reissued along with the armor. But if that idea was tossed for the original release due to cost issues, it still seems like quite a long shot.

I think our odds of seeing an armored Ultra Magnus derivative of MP-10 are better than those for ever seeing official Magnus armor for the Classic Voyager Prime mold. (Though that, too, may end up being too expensive ever to see a Hasbro release.)

I know i may have opened possible logistic can of worms with the idea of Hasbro having an online collector based market much like 3rd party companies have done or Mattel ie: MOTUC. And i know the subject has been brought up before.

I'm sure that i will be quickly schooled by those more savvy than myself as to why it's not a viable approach for Hasbro to do it themselves but it just seems like the right way to go IMO.

You only have to look at those 3rd party companies as an example to see that there IS a market there. Small, yes. Exclusive and limited, yes. but it's there. It would just further intrench the longevity of TF's as a "collectable" franchise. Least that's how i see it after the 10 beers i've just had! yar

--B-- wrote:There is no way hasbro is going to sell a stand alone armor set in stores for an almost 10 year old toy.

Not to nitpick (as I agree with you) but the Classics line is 5 years old next month. 10 years ago was Armada, for all that was.

We are almost guaranteed to see the MP-10 later as a Magnus repaint. And the designer posted a concept of the mold wearing the G1 armor as a teaser, so that is at least in the works over there. But let's be clear on one thing: that trailer will not will not see retail in the States. It simply will never happen. We'll get a white Prime, sure, but that's it.

Classics is lost, as much as I hate to admit it. Though I'm still expecting either a white DOTM Deluxe Optimus and a blue DOTM Voyager Sentinel. Or a 2 pack of of both if we're lucky. That's the Ultra Magnus I'm expecting