The Energon Pub

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Need to see more of this before I pass my nay or for comments.

It seems you've already condemned this product/company earlier in the thread:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Don't approve of Former HasTak employees ripping off HasTak's TF property by creating 3rd party Updates TF toys. Don't approve because these guys signed and broke contract agreements, Broke and ignored confidentialities, Received Special inside company training in the art of the TF toys process. Know company info.

Colour me interested. If someone can actually make the Pretender concept work I'll be very impressed.

Also good to see previous HasTak employees doing their own thing.

Cool to see what these guys are up to, but these aren't interesting to me as a Transformers collector in the slightest. These are action figures. Why this isn't in the general Non-TF Toy Discussion area is beyond me.

ScottyP wrote:Cool to see what these guys are up to, but these aren't interesting to me as a Transformers collector in the slightest. These are action figures. Why this isn't in the general Non-TF Toy Discussion area is beyond me.

I would say because there based off transformers characters .

I like the fact they don't transform iv'e said few time in random threads that this is what i wanted (articulated action figures) if pretenders were ever made so i can't wait to see the end result and i'm definitely up for buying if they pull them off .

Autobot Genocide wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Cool to see what these guys are up to, but these aren't interesting to me as a Transformers collector in the slightest. These are action figures. Why this isn't in the general Non-TF Toy Discussion area is beyond me.

I would say because there based off transformers characters .

I like the fact they don't transform iv'e said few time in random threads that this is what i wanted (articulated action figures) if pretenders were ever made so i can't wait to see the end result and i'm definitely up for buying if they pull them off .

In a recent interview with Rik Alvarez. Rik complains in the interview about how HasTak's is creating more non-transforming TF toys and less Transforming TF toys. If Rik was so upset about non-Transforming TF toys, Then I gotta ask, why is Rik creating a entire toy line of non-Transforming robots?

Tsutsukakushi wrote: In a recent interview with Rik Alvarez. Rik complains in the interview about how HasTak's is creating more non-transforming TF toys and less Transforming TF toys. If Rik was so upset about non-Transforming TF toys, Then I gotta ask, why is Rik creating a entire toy line of non-Transforming robots?

While we differ on many opinions in this forum, I gotta admit that your raise a very excellent question that Scaleface should seek the answer to since he seems close to the source on this.

Mkall wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote: In a recent interview with Rik Alvarez. Rik complains in the interview about how HasTak's is creating more non-transforming TF toys and less Transforming TF toys. If Rik was so upset about non-Transforming TF toys, Then I gotta ask, why is Rik creating a entire toy line of non-Transforming robots?

While we differ on many opinions in this forum, I gotta admit that your raise a very excellent question that Scaleface should seek the answer to since he seems close to the source on this.

Well technically, this looks like it's a Pretender homage with a transforming mini-robot core rather than a straight-up non-transforming figure. Obviously a normal-sized Transformer in a shell/suit wouldn't work, so instead he's going for a "Transformer piloting a huge suit of armour" thing (which I really dig). Either that or it's actually a completely original design to "test the waters" so to speak (like that guy making the home 3D printed figures reinforced in a vapour bath that Vangelus reviewed). Also, he's probably referring to stuff like the Hero Mashers and those horrible, horrible Titan Heroes (AKA Jumbo Machinders except even worse).

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Need to see more of this before I pass my nay or for comments.

I am told they are stretching reveals out to TFcon Chicago later this month. So this week expect another artist to be revealed and maybe some more drawings. Prototypes at TFcon, where we will se them. This company has actually been around quietly working for over a year. So they have some physical product to show us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT3I1rh11vY

Some adult content in the rest of the show. Interview starts at about 18 minutes in.

Rik talks about his hire and leaving of Hasbro, mentioning the events of the Hub channel and the Battleship movie, how his whole Haslab department was let go after Botcon 2012. They were responsible for making story bibles, art work and pitches for things like the Fall of Cybertron game, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction and TFPrime.

He then talks about how the retail stores are pushing the toy companies to make very cheap, simple, kid friendly toys, which is nice for kids, but then teen and adult collectors are left with no one developing for them... which is where small independent companies can fill the void.

Rik briefly talks about IP. He mentions that Hasbro isn't giving him any special scrutiny. While his companies designs are original, that there are no 100% original ideas, everything is somewhat derivative. He says since his people worked at Hasbro, they know just where IP lines need to be drawn and not crossed with their own designs.

He talks briefly about the Head Shots. He says he named Vol 1. Mad Wing is named after Rik's daughter.

There will be fiction for this series, and they will announce who is writing it at TFcon. There will be bio cards, and possibly more fiction depending on what they can afford.

The Kickstarter will be making two initial figures, and those figures will be in Kickstarter exclusive colors. You can probably get the same figures later in retail in different colors, but if you want the exclusives, contribute to the Kickstarter. When the Kickstarter launches they will have about 10 characters designed, plus repaints and Head Shots.

Some talk about why GI Joe has nearly disappeared (blame it on Halo and Call of Duty being more realistic, and Hasbro not willing to go there with GI Joe).

PWTT has hired one fan artist, will be announced later.

Thanks for the summary, Scaleface! May listen to the whole thing myself later.

Thanks for sharing the link, Scaleface. That was definitely 25 mins worth of my time to listen to (and I believe others, even anti-3rd party folks, would enjoy hearing Rik's comments).

I think I want to support this company, so time to wait for more info.

Rik Alvarez was interviewed in episode 125 of TFYLP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_fCVNxw13s

Sadly the audio is VERY choppy. Sometimes it was hard to follow as there are words missing from the audio, and sections went quiet, but I did my best to follow it.

Starts with Rik introducing himself. They talk about design constraints working for big companies. What we are seeing from PWTT was designed a long while ago, leading up to the Kickstarter. One host wanted to see spring loaded gimmicks. Rik says they won't have giant gimmick weapons, which are for kids, like Mech Tek. They will have detail and 5mm ports which are worked into the design, not obvious eyesores like Armada.

The tech drone on Astroblast is made up of a shield, rifle and backpack for the big robot. They become a jet or a robot, and are assembled like a BMOG.

The hosts couldn't seem to get that Rik can't call them homages to TF characters, calling it a Pretenders line and asking for a Metalhawk. Rik says he doesn't know who that is... but did say he has a cool jet character coming.

In fiction the tech drones are robot companions. There is a big writer coming that will make people take this company seriously. The tech drone can swap parts?

There might be something like build-a-figure coming. 10 characters are coming. There will be additional repaints and Kickstarter exclusives. (example: Astroblast in green and orange). There may be licensed toys in 2016, but right now no plans for a vehicle or play set.

Talk about them announcing Ken Christiansen. They go over his experience. Mark Wong, who did Minimates and Thundercats. Big TF fan. Steve Redinger, who gets work done fast. Was at Hasbro for 28 years. There was talk about how Hasbro let people go with no reason or warning who loved the company and it's lines.

Rik says they want to keep the price of the figures as affordable as possible.

(Audio then cuts out completely for a bit.)

They ask about Rik's best memories at Hasbro. Rik talks about his work on an MMOG from China. He made a bible for it.

(more technical difficulties)

Rik talks about a meeting that went very late in China.

Rik is a huge Beast Wars fan, but his favorite character is Optimus. Asked truck or monkey? Truck, but Rik credits Beast Wars with keeping Transformers alive. Rik says he liked the Vehicons in Beast Machines, and that's why he got them into TFPrime, because he wanted Decepticon army builders.

Play With This Too will offer art to the fandom. They asked for fan artists to email them. They want to reach out to the fans. They are thinking of having fans design head shots.

TFYLP asks how they plan to distribute. After the Kickstarter they plan to sell through the usual online retailers, who have already reached out to them. TFYLP asks if they will do a Matty Collector subscription service, and Rik says it would be a logistical nightmare, so no. Asked if they will do convention/store exclusives... they have already been approached asking for those. They just need to get through the Kickstarter first.

Every major character will come with a tech drone, except maybe some troop builders.

TFYLP asks how the tech drones change. Whip has 5mm ports. Rifle becomes nose piece of jet. Shield makes the wings and chest. TFYLP wants to know if the tech drone "parts forms"... Rik wants toys that look cool posing, parts forming doesn't bother him if done correctly.

Looking at Desolataur, it will have ball joints and hinges. It will be 6 inches tall. The heads pop off, and you can swap them with a He-Man or (word missing) character heads.

TFYPL asks about the name Skull-FCKR. They think it looks like Predator or Diablo. Rik made the name. Madwing is a pilot named after his daughter. Head Shots Vol 2, TFYLP says Xando looks like a hammerhead shark alien. Rik wants to have head packs, like some companies make weapon packs. The hands on his figures will be interchangeable, and there will be a 5mm port hand (I asked for that!)

They ask Rik what he thinks of other companies. He has a lot of "indy toys", he mentions Scoria, Quakewave and KFC tapes.

TFYLP asks Rik about preventing defects at Hasbro. Rik didn't do that at Hasbro. When PWTT has a defective part (which can happen to anyone) how will they address it? They will do the best they can to make it right.

Check out PWTT's social media pages, and they will be at TFcon Chicago with reveals.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

I'd love "troop builders" to be tech drones, not 6 inch figures, as I want lots of those guys. Give me a 4 pack of tech drones that can be assembled into limb extensions that boost 6 inch figures into a super-mode. I'd also love to see some BMOG designs just fall into the PWTT fiction, because the BMOG are supposed to be spread out into different dimensions, so they should be in the PWTT universe too. I don't mind parts forming, as long as all the parts have a place in every mode. I think of it as "combining" the backpack, gun and shield combine into a robot, what's wrong with that? I do hope we see some non-humanoid designs (big figures or drones). 5mm hand ports could lead to Trap-jaw/B.A.T. style weapon hands. I also wouldn't mind seeing homages created by parts swapping by the fans. For instance if someone put together an orange and green 6 inch body, you could swap on the head from a MOTU Man-At-Arms. Seems like with enough swappable parts and recolors, fans could make their own homages of anyone... I'd love to make guys who looked like Earth Corps, Man-Tech, Centurions, Pretenders, Spaceknights of Galador, etc., by mixing and matching parts rather than having each figure be a specific homage to them.

My ideal update HasTak or 3rd party Pretender would be the Mega Pretenders route. Where the Pretender shell was Voyager scale and was able to transform into a alt mode. With the inner robot being Legends or minicon scale. The inner robot would transform back and forth, then combine with the pretender shell.

For the animal pretenders like Carnivac, Catilla, Chainclaw & Snarler. Would like to see updates toys done in the Mega pretender, Beast Wars route. Where the animal shells transformed into voyager robot modes. with inner cavities to fit a legends or minicon annimal that transforms into a 2-3 inch robot mode. Maybe the inner robot could ride the animal pretender shell. maybe the inner robot could also transform into a Targetmaster for the Pretender shell robot to wield.

Also liked the HasTak evolved Shell+robot fusion pretender toys like Generations Thunderwing and HFTD Bludgeon. My only complaint with Generation Thunderwing is, I wish the toy was Voyager or Ultra Scale.

Admire Rik for doing all these interviews and keeping fans well informed on his projects. This is something I wish other 3rd party companies would provide.

think this idea of Rik's, is what some veteran fans did not want to get seen done with updated Pretenders toys.

Negatives, of having the inner robot being a parts former. the pretender shell being a non-transforming he-man action figure.

Think some fans wanted updated Pretender toys to go Either the Mega pretender route or the Evolved Shell+robot fusion HasTak Generations Thunderwing and HFTD Bludgeon toy routes.

I respect the fact Rik is going round doing these interviews letting the fandom know from scratch whats going on now and what the future holds , i think it's a smart move as it keeps the interest constantly growing , i suspect if there was no promoting from these guys they would have fell flat on deaf ears with the project being non transforming figures .

I personally can't wait to see some test shots hopefully TFCon shows us some goods .

As for MOTU style ? that's something i can get into , even though i don't own any classics due to the fact i would end up wanting every one of them (like i had as a kid) it gives me another option to collect something in that aesthetic .

Damn it now i want some MOTU Classics

I liked what was done with Bludgeon and Skullgrin. A hybrid of the outer shell design for robot mode and the inner robot's vehicle mode for the alt-mode.

Delta Magnus wrote: Obviously a normal-sized Transformer in a shell/suit wouldn't work,

Now then, now then. I could see that being quite villainous.

craggy wrote:I liked what was done with Bludgeon and Skullgrin. A hybrid of the outer shell design for robot mode and the inner robot's vehicle mode for the alt-mode.

Delta Magnus wrote: Obviously a normal-sized Transformer in a shell/suit wouldn't work,

Now then, now then. I could see that being quite villainous.

Great interview.

I don't know...yeah they kinda look like Pretenders, but depending on the comic book storyline... it could give off a completely different vibe that doesn't make you think of Pretenders at all.

I think that is the point. Physically they are updated Pretenders, but the story will be done completely different from either the Hasbro or Takara take on the characters. So while the Astroblast toy is an homage to the Cloudburst toy, the Astroblast CHARACTER is not much like the Cloudburst character. It helps establish them as their own thing legally.

Just like with MMC's guys. Their fiction gives the members of Feral Rex a completely different background, which not only is a nice extra for fans, but also a good way to cover their butts.

Oh yeah because I trust Hasbro employees more then anything I don't care about what reputation thry had while on a team if they want respect it's time to earn it by really impressing us and earning our trust like MP-01 Did.

Fun thing is this line is NOT just Pretenders, it's homages to lots of things, they are just opening with Pretenders homages.

We have seen their versions of Cloudburst, Skullgrin, Bombburst and teasers who indicate maybe Metalhawk and Grimlock.

We have seen Deep Earth Explorer, who is Liquidator from the Inhumanoids, Skull-FCKR is from Diablo and Xando is from Last Starfighter. What other series will we see from them? Centurions? Man-Tech? He-Man? They had hinted at a green and orange character in an interview, could have been Man-At-Arms.

Updated Centurions would be boss!

Where, oh where would I make shelf space for that ... Hmmmmmmm

PWTT posted some teasers for a reveal that's coming at TFcon Chicago 2014. Lots of people are saying it reminds them of Pretender Grimlock.

Just tweeted from Play With This Too is a new teaser for an upcoming figure, I think he wants to drink you BLOOD.

If this is who I think it is, he should be a highly articulated 6 inch figure with numerous heads, hands and weapons. The weapons should combinie into a Tech Drone partner.

As seen in the photo BOMB on the design chart for Desolataur, this bat-like monster will BURST on to the scene at TFcon, probably tommorrow at the third party panel.