The Energon Pub

[shajaki]

only thing that bugs me, is why the secrecy? they unveiled superion and menasor however many months ago. if they have a (im assuming near completion) devastator, why not show us?

[fenrir72]

If a Dev does come up, I'd prefer him to be static and no scramble city style formation. And the size of, wellGenerations like Mirage and WJ. That's Voyager right?

Maybe strategic/practical use of die-cast on joints or the connecting mechanisms.

[Cobotron]

only thing that bugs me, is why the secrecy? they unveiled superion and menasor however many months ago. if they have a (im assuming near completion) devastator, why not show us?

Toy companies are CRAZY about non-disclosure. I worked for a small toy design and invention studio in Chicago for a bit. I've never worked in a more guarded and paranoid environment. Don't know why Hasbro would be worried about it. They own every IP and TM and CW related to TF there is, and it's not like these toys are "never before seen". They're re-imagined versions of old toys. It's just embedded in toy maker culture.

Plus, if they told us, we would have nothing to talk about for the next 6 months?


Pardon my ignorance, would anyone mind defining/explaining "scramble city"?
thanx

[Wolfman Jake]

Pardon my ignorance, would anyone mind defining/explaining "scramble city"?
thanx

It refers to the style of combiners featured in the 1985 season of the original Transformers cartoon. Superion, Menasor, Defensor, and Bruticus had a similar design of a larger, central figure being the torso and head of the robot, while the other four members form the arms and legs. However, you can make any of those four smaller robots any of those appendages (arms or legs), so each gestalt has multiple configurations. Plus, they were cross compatible, thanks to a universal system of ports and pegs, so you could mix and match from different teams. This wasn't advertised in the cartoon proper, but it was the crux of the Japanese only featurette "Scramble City," hence the moniker for this particular kind of combiner design. Scramble City also featured Metroplex and Trypticon. Interestingly enough, the original G1 Metroplex was ALSO compatible with the "Scramble City" combiners. There are various ways you can kind of stick them on to Metroplex's body for some kind of "powered up" mode. I think this is the result of the toys being designed for such cross-play compatibility for Diaclone. When Transformers took off, the toys were repurposed as new characters for the ever expanding franchise. Again, the feature wasn't emphasized by Hasbro, beyond Metroplex's instruction sheet, but it was given more attention when released by Takara.

[Cobotron]

Awesome.
Thanks Wolfman.

I now remember hearing that as the title of a cartoon.
Man I loved the cross compatibility of the old toys. As a kid, their modularity with Microman made them so cool to my brother and I.
I had no idea they were compatible with Metroplex. I gotta see how that worked.

[shajaki]

Plus, if they told us, we would have nothing to talk about for the next 6 months?

i spose

[Cyberpath]

It would have been pretty cool if the designers had given Motormaster small faux cab feet, modeled after the new truck mode. Unlike the original toy, nothing that extended too far from his legs.

Along with the box head, it's a prominent feature of his design, feels incomplete without it.

[ZeroWolf]

I'm skeptical of a voyager Dev but it would be wrong in a way not to expect him. Now could be wrong but it also makes sense that Dev would be a deluxe with a legends prowl that formed the head and crest.

Oh and another reason why hasbro could be hiding it is so that the third parties can't start trying to out do it. Well either that or they just want something really nice to reveal at the next toy show

[Evil Eye]

Honestly I was never a fan of G1 Motormaster's design. Quite aside from the scale issues, it just seemed uninspired. FP Diesel did a good job making it work but honestly I prefer the HasTak design, at least aesthetically.

What I'd like to see for CW Menasor is a 3P trailer add-on for Motormaster that transforms into a "repair bay" like his old toy did, and beefs up Menasor's combined mode.

Superion, though, looks amazing and I'm very torn between him, Uranos, and just buying the 3 other members of the Energon Aerialbots (I have 2 already, albeit one of them has a broken gun) and the FP addon.

What I'm really hoping for though is CW Piranacon. If they do, though, it HAS to have all 6 members and have the Scramble City/Targetmaster system where any limb-bot can become a weapon. Chances are they'll probably just make Nautilator a Legends-scale figure and have him become the weapon, which would kinda suck (although it would be totally understandable as the Targetmaster gimmick would be hard to engineer, and I'd rather they at least paid honage to it if the original gimmick is impossible to replicate).

[MightyMagnus78]

A leader Magnus and a new Generations Devi

[MemphisR56]

I'm willing to bet generous sums of money that Deluxe and Voyager waves 2 & 3 will be Defensor and Bruticus.

I'm going to need it, if RRP puts us at $85 per combiner, 150 dorrah for Devastator (probably), Leader class Magnus and Megatron, Voyager Optimus.... and then there's the legends figures, for which there are 5 currently announced. I'm looking at dropping nearly £700 on toys next year just from this line alone.

Curiously one of the guys who provided info in the TFW thread said later on "No it's not Prostator. But Don't count prowl out of combiner wars just yet"

Makes me think that there'll be a Legends Prowl that forms an alternate head. Whereas Devvy's own head.... Dirtboss? I always thought that if Animated continued he'd make up devastators head. That'd be an awesome nod.

After scamper, it wouldn't be unheard of for a legends toy to be a pack in extra in a Titan Class box.

[ZeroWolf]

Wouldn't it be funny if when they killed scrapper off they knew combiner wars was on the cards hence why the constructicons were a five man team

I agree with defensor being part of the second wave of releases.

Here's a good question, will we see the return of gift sets that have all four limbs, torso and legend partner of a particular gestalt? And how long till we get the crazy G2 redocos?

[shajaki]

Curiously one of the guys who provided info in the TFW thread said later on "No it's not Prostator. But Don't count prowl out of combiner wars just yet"

prostator??


so... taken with a grain of salt of coarse... we'll have a prime torso, that much we know for sure. and if prowl is part of CW, but not part of devastator, it could could give more leeway to the notion of a "prime+G1 car bots" combiner. which i assume would be retooled stunticons.

[MemphisR56]

Wouldn't it be funny if when they killed scrapper off they knew combiner wars was on the cards hence why the constructicons were a five man team

I agree with defensor being part of the second wave of releases.

Here's a good question, will we see the return of gift sets that have all four limbs, torso and legend partner of a particular gestalt? And how long till we get the crazy G2 redocos?

G2 Bruticus, G2 Yellowstator and Guard City would be instant buys for me.

Inevitable G2 Stunticons Box Set to follow. It will happen. Its just too perfect not to.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Why is everyone thinking Prime will have his own team? As it stands, he's merely a standalone extra. In fact, it's not hard to believe Motormaster is the actual original, with Prime as the retool, just released first (same thing happened with Alternators Smokescreen en Silverstreak).

[GuyIncognito]

Oh and another reason why hasbro could be hiding it is so that the third parties can't start trying to out do it.

That horse already left the barn. If Hasbro is making a 6-Voyager Devastator, it's an attempt to play catch-up to the multiple 3rd-party versions that have already been made.

[GuyIncognito]

Why is everyone thinking Prime will have his own team? As it stands, he's merely a standalone extra. In fact, it's not hard to believe Motormaster is the actual original, with Prime as the retool, just released first (same thing happened with Alternators Smokescreen en Silverstreak).

True, there's been no indication that OP will have a limb team.

However, I could see them doing an homage to this guy:

[ZeroWolf]

Wouldn't it be funny if when they killed scrapper off they knew combiner wars was on the cards hence why the constructicons were a five man team

I agree with defensor being part of the second wave of releases.

Here's a good question, will we see the return of gift sets that have all four limbs, torso and legend partner of a particular gestalt? And how long till we get the crazy G2 redocos?

G2 Bruticus, G2 Yellowstator and Guard City would be instant buys for me.

Inevitable G2 Stunticons Box Set to follow. It will happen. Its just too perfect not to.

No love for battle gaia? Just imagine a retooled metrotitan that had ports like the original metroplex so it could combine with team members or leaders

Jelze@ I think people are just expecting it, I'm wondering if storywise he'll combine with willing members of other teams to take down the big bad.

[shajaki]

Why is everyone thinking Prime will have his own team? As it stands, he's merely a standalone extra. In fact, it's not hard to believe Motormaster is the actual original, with Prime as the retool, just released first (same thing happened with Alternators Smokescreen en Silverstreak).

its just healthy conversation. all i was saying is that it could happen.

and i think the notion of motormaster being the original intent for the mold was stated long ago.

[Cobotron]

Curiously one of the guys who provided info in the TFW thread said later on "No it's not Prostator. But Don't count prowl out of combiner wars just yet"

prostator??


so... taken with a grain of salt of coarse... we'll have a prime torso, that much we know for sure. and if prowl is part of CW, but not part of devastator, it could could give more leeway to the notion of a "prime+G1 car bots" combiner. which i assume would be retooled stunticons.

No one listens to me.

I have said this twice now, but I love saying it. I predict with the use of Prime for a Voyager, they will do a team. Repainting the Stunticons as classics like Mirage, Sideswipe, etc.
It will come out 4th qt. as a Xmas time box set.
Makes me wonder if I should hold off on OP as a single Voyager.

When this happens, I'm gonna start a new thread called "Told you so".

At Botcon 2014, this was the first pic to surface, and the words Combiner Wars had not been heard yet.

It would have been pretty cool if the designers had given Motormaster small faux cab feet, modeled after the new truck mode. Unlike the original toy, nothing that extended too far from his legs.

I did always like his Mack truck roller skates. He is victom of sharing a mold.

I think some of this could be evidence that the Prime mold came first.

I know no one responds to my OP lead Autobot Combiner team because everyone thinks it's silly, but I have been dreaming of this since I was ten. Don't poo poo this old fella's dreams. It's all I have left.

prostator??

[shajaki]

When this happens, I'm gonna start a new thread called "Told you so".

no no cobo! what said was the rumor of prowl being in CW but not as devy, gives credence to your prime combiner theory

[Cobotron]

When this happens, I'm gonna start a new thread called "Told you so".

no no cobo! what said was the rumor of prowl being in CW but not as devy, gives credence to your prime combiner theory

BAM!
WORD UP, HOMIE!!!!!!

[ScottyP]

Oh and another reason why hasbro could be hiding it is so that the third parties can't start trying to out do it.

That horse already left the barn. If Hasbro is making a 6-Voyager Devastator, it's an attempt to play catch-up to the multiple 3rd-party versions that have already been made.

Or, there's the absolutely insane rumor that was making the rounds on Twitter last night that Hasbro bought TFC's Herc design and is going to release it themselves.

I don't buy it, but holy hell, that'd be a crazy scenario.

[Hero Alpha]

I can't wait to complete Menasor, he is my fav combiner. Although if that rumour is true about a gift set, 6 voyager Devastator is true it will be super sweet. I do hope they make a separate deluxe size Prowl that can be bought and added on somewhere, somehow. IDW is just killing it right now, everything Transformers they make is gold.

[Cobotron]

Or, there's the absolutely insane rumor that was making the rounds on Twitter last night that Hasbro bought TFC's Herc design and is going to release it themselves.

I don't buy it, but holy hell, that'd be a crazy scenario.

So many toy concepts are purchased from outside sources this wouldn't surprise me.
Is this how Hasbro will smash 3P?

This - "but holy hell, that'd be a crazy scenario."