The Energon Pub

Here is something interesting Amazon Japan listed a preorder for the Transformers Masterpiece Official Guide set to be released on 7/30/2014 for 3,024 yen. Not much information is currently available but one would assume it would cover the entire history of the Masterpiece line and all their releases and perhaps a sneak peak at what's to come in 2015? Keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates, plus the best galleries around!

Books like this are always a bit underwhelming, because you know they'll be completely outdated in 2-3 years.

megatronus wrote:Books like this are always a bit underwhelming, because you know they'll be completely outdated in 2-3 years.

While true it'll still be nice to have.

I still have my Binaltech Complete Guide ("complete" only up to BT-12 Overdrive) and it's still very cool.

Maybe in 2015 they will hopefully make masterpiece editions of UT OR RID characters to give them a new life

Masterpiece Beast Wars? Biggest shellformers ever!

atraus wrote:Masterpiece Beast Wars? Biggest shellformers ever!

I'm fine with shellforming with beast war characters if it's necessary, and hidden well in robot mode. Masterpiece Beast wars would be cool but I doubt that'll be happening anytime soon.

Would love to get my hands on a copy of this.
Hopefully Ryan or Saberblade will be able to provide a link for purchase of this down the line.

mooncake623 wrote:

atraus wrote:Masterpiece Beast Wars? Biggest shellformers ever!

I'm fine with shellforming with beast war characters if it's necessary, and hidden well in robot mode. Masterpiece Beast wars would be cool but I doubt that'll be happening anytime soon.

Yea - I'm sure the only way we'd see a Beast Wars MP anytime soon is if a BW character wins a fan poll, like Star Saber did.

Sounds nice even if it is only 96 pages.

Very interesting. I have been collecting all of the Takara Generations books each year, which includes the Masterpiece line. So I would only be interested if they offer new pictures, concept art, interviews, etc.

The page has been updated with the cover:

Courtesy of Amazon Japan we have the cover for the recently announced The Transformers Masterpiece Official Guide. The 96 page book is schedule to release later this month on the 30th and retails for about $30.00. Check out the cover mirrored below, which features a really nice group shot of Masterpieces Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Bumblebee, and Rodimus Prime.

That photo really shows up how stupidly large HotRod is. Would love to see a V2 that was *just* Hotrod without all the crap about it also being Rodimus Prime. I know the original G1 Hotrod toy was huge compared to the original "diaclone" cast, but the few moments we do see Hotrod and Prime together in the movie - hes not that huge.

Here's a quick follow up to our earlier cover reveal for the upcoming The Transformers Masterpiece Official Guide, we not have a peek inside courtesy of AnimeAnime. The book is due to release July 30th for around $30.00 USD. Check out the preview mirrored below:

I think this book is completely unnecessary being that the internet exists and will give you comprehensive information and videos of these figures.
Not saying books are pointless these days just that in this particular application of information the internet wins.

I figure they're gonna reveal SOMETHING we don't already know about the masterpiece molds.

MGrotusque wrote:I think this book is completely unnecessary being that the internet exists and will give you comprehensive information and videos of these figures.
Not saying books are pointless these days just that in this particular application of information the internet wins.

I think that's a pretty meritocratic statement to make about the value of books. Printed media, to many, has a certain intrinsic value and a sense of permanence that data on the internet does not have. That's the market for this book, folks like me that absolutely adore printed, touchable, high quality information that doesn't have to be looked at through a screen. Books like this are not meant to replace information that can be found online, they're meant to be a fun, enjoyable resource that captures information at a moment in time and keeps it in one compact physical spot.

How much information that was hosted regularly ten years ago is just plain gone now? Like it or not, the data we spill online is not as permanent as often perceived. Sure, it won't burn up in a fire or be eaten by moths, but it's also subject to as many different varieties and whims of fate as a book is.

Cyberpath wrote:The page has been updated with the cover:

Bee looks so tiny in the picture. His price even with Spike is hard to justify.

lol a bunch of pages with the same ten molds on each page.

Masterpiece Transformers: So expensive, you'll pay $30 just to get the catalog.

ScottyP wrote:

MGrotusque wrote:I think this book is completely unnecessary being that the internet exists and will give you comprehensive information and videos of these figures.
Not saying books are pointless these days just that in this particular application of information the internet wins.

I think that's a pretty meritocratic statement to make about the value of books. Printed media, to many, has a certain intrinsic value and a sense of permanence that data on the internet does not have. That's the market for this book, folks like me that absolutely adore printed, touchable, high quality information that doesn't have to be looked at through a screen. Books like this are not meant to replace information that can be found online, they're meant to be a fun, enjoyable resource that captures information at a moment in time and keeps it in one compact physical spot.

How much information that was hosted regularly ten years ago is just plain gone now? Like it or not, the data we spill online is not as permanent as often perceived. Sure, it won't burn up in a fire or be eaten by moths, but it's also subject to as many different varieties and whims of fate as a book is.

It's not a book. It's a catalogue. Also...i'm not denouncing "books" because the internet exists. I just think it's silly for this guide to exist in this format. Waste of good trees when it's all available on the interwebs in far more detail.

Amelie wrote:That photo really shows up how stupidly large HotRod is. Would love to see a V2 that was *just* Hotrod without all the crap about it also being Rodimus Prime. I know the original G1 Hotrod toy was huge compared to the original "diaclone" cast, but the few moments we do see Hotrod and Prime together in the movie - hes not that huge.

Rodimus Prime was that much bigger than Hot Rod and in scale with Optimus. And I think the masterpiece is of Rodimus.?

ScottyP wrote:

MGrotusque wrote:I think this book is completely unnecessary being that the internet exists and will give you comprehensive information and videos of these figures.
Not saying books are pointless these days just that in this particular application of information the internet wins.

I think that's a pretty meritocratic statement to make about the value of books. Printed media, to many, has a certain intrinsic value and a sense of permanence that data on the internet does not have. That's the market for this book, folks like me that absolutely adore printed, touchable, high quality information that doesn't have to be looked at through a screen. Books like this are not meant to replace information that can be found online, they're meant to be a fun, enjoyable resource that captures information at a moment in time and keeps it in one compact physical spot.

How much information that was hosted regularly ten years ago is just plain gone now? Like it or not, the data we spill online is not as permanent as often perceived. Sure, it won't burn up in a fire or be eaten by moths, but it's also subject to as many different varieties and whims of fate as a book is.

Yes indeed ... and on that note I just ordered this book from Amazon Japan earlier today. Looking forward to adding it to my Japanese book collection. There is always something cool to learn from these books.

MGrotusque wrote:I think this book is completely unnecessary being that the internet exists and will give you comprehensive information and videos of these figures.
Not saying books are pointless these days just that in this particular application of information the internet wins.

i agree that it's unnecessary.. but for different reasons.

i think it's just too early in the line for a book like this.. i mean, at least give us a definitive megatron or galvatron before something like this.

i REALLY REALLY hope there are some hints towards the future and maybe a hint as to what's next.

also, i'm surprised they aren't showing screen grabs from the G1 show since they (hasui) specifically stated that they're based primarily off of the cartoon and the real world vehicle.

this is still cool.. i just think it's too early.