The Energon Pub

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Do you think we'll get a generations version of the TFCC combiner limb that showed up in the SG universe? It was originally an Energon combiner mold.

Probably not. The ideal time to have done that would have been back in Combiner Wars or in Power of the Primes. The latter especially since Nexus Prime is one of the Thirteen, which is what POTP was all about. But the current team at Hasbro doesn't seem to have any interest in that lore right now.

What about that leak long ago tr hat said we were getting Alpha trion and Orion Pax soon? Or the magic circle (with the thirteen logos) in the recently translated beast wars 2 comic. Or Cyberverse Alpha Trion?

Those guys aren't combiners.

I wasn't saying they are! They are PRIMES.

Then it's irrelevant. Chuck was asking about a Combiner guy, who also happens to be a Prime but is a combiner first and foremost.

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Emerje wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Emerje wrote:How could they not have anywhere else to put Flamewar if that's actually the case? They never came up with anything to replace the Legacy Beasts in Selects, she would have been perfect there. Really missed a chance to do SG Prowl.

Emerje

Yeah, it's odd. They have an entire Selects line made for niche redecos.

We haven't had a Selects announcement for months, and none of those have been Legacy molds. I haven't seen any Selects rumors beyond what's already been revealed. Pure speculation on my part, but one explanation would be that Hasbro is more committed to these themed retailer exclusive capsules. That would mean less product for the fan channel retailers, though they're getting the Joe collab.

Doesn't that sound a little too self serving since SG is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive? Cherry picking characters to be their own exclusive even though they don't fit into their own overarching narrative would be a very strange move to make.

Emerje

I think this is a case of fans taking product lines more seriously than Hasbro does, just like what happened with the Kingdom versus SS86 debates. Hasbro makes a certain number of figures, and those figures are divided up across multiple toylines and capsules, and they're grouped according to production considerations like budget as well as marketing considerations like narrative and theming.

I don't think picking a specific character or mold or tooling is any more self-serving than any other. They need product for many different kinds of retailers, and there are many reasons to allot the way they do. I also don't think it's strange at all, I mean, we've gotten Diaclone releases in Selects, Velocitron, Wreckers, and SG. Or at least, it's not any more strange than Kingdom Cyclonus and Galvatron alongside SS86 Scourge and Sweeps. I don't want to start that debate again, I just want to note that this isn't that big a deal from Hasbro's perspective.

I'm inclined to agree with this take being the most likely case, yeah, especially when one considers that the last Walmart exclusive line (Netflix) filled at least half of its slots with "screen-accurate" battle damage repaints of already-released WFC guys that I think we can all agree only existed for that line and wouldn't have been made otherwise. Velocitron is entirely new characters/designs that could have released through other avenues, but so far retains the same number of figures per wave as Netflix, those slots had to be filled somehow. We had/have leaks that Clampdown was originally planned for Selects, after all.

We do have Diaclone Trailbreaker (seemingly) getting revealed next week in terms of Selects, and there's always the possibility that there's more Selects/exclusives in the pipeline that just...haven't leaked? Both Flamewar and that Studio Series rerelease multipack were completely unheard of until we saw the pictures these past 2 days, and typically Amazon has been doing 2 different collections/waves of exclusives since ER but we've only heard of/seen 1 this year so far. We've also still got Fractyl, Packrat, Antagony, and the Omega repaint floating around in rumor I think.

I see these exclusive lines as following entirely different patterns

"Netflix" WFC Trilogy was nothing more than a transplanting of WFC retail figures into a line that only existed to promote the animated series with new decos. A few new characters got put in there, but it was a fairly low effort line.

Selects is a catchall for basically anything that Hasbro thinks up. No story, just something they can throw figures at when they have nowhere they really fit into.

Velocitron Speedia 500 is a story looking for figures. It's basically Selects with a story and some new figures. Not every figure has to be a racer, they can find a position for every random figure they stick in there (flagger, road crew).

Shattered Glass is a remake of an existing story and toy theme. All figures are loose modern remakes of the original figures or can be repurposed as such (Slicer). New additions should follow the same style as the rest of the line.

Of those last three, Flamewar makes more sense as a Selects figure or even a wave 2 Velocitron figure, two lines that are nothing but random slot fillers. We know Hasbro can make pretty abrupt changes, it's how the Selects Legacy Beasts ended up as Walmart exclusives or how Netflix Bumblebee became a Walmart exclusive after VW missed the approval deadline. This wasn't a case of being something they had to commit to. There is no need for Flamewar to be in the SG line looking line plain ol' Flamewar, she's taking a slot that could have gone to someone else that does fit. It's lazy. They should have done her up in Robot Masters Road Rocket colors, it even has flames on it and arguably looks more heroic, and kept the Flamewar name. Regular Flamewar could have ended up somewhere else later.



Emerje

Emerje wrote:There is no need for Flamewar to be in the SG line looking line plain ol' Flamewar, she's taking a slot that could have gone to someone else that does fit. It's lazy. They should have done her up in Robot Masters Road Rocket colors, it even has flames on it and arguably looks more heroic, and kept the Flamewar name. Regular Flamewar could have ended up somewhere else later.

I feel like this would have caused more annoyance/arguing while also being less profitable for Hasbro. People who are annoyed this release wasn't a more prominent SG character would still be questioning why there was a random Flamewar who never existed before instead of someone like Sideswipe, Rodimus, Grimlock, Seekers, the Insecticons, etc., and the people who are buying this because it is just regular Flamewar with the "wrong" logo would then be skipping and going "why did they make this when they haven't made a normal Flamewar". Making SG Flamewar be an SG Jazz-style play of "same colors just to get the character out there" is the better move.

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Emerje wrote:There is no need for Flamewar to be in the SG line looking line plain ol' Flamewar, she's taking a slot that could have gone to someone else that does fit. It's lazy. They should have done her up in Robot Masters Road Rocket colors, it even has flames on it and arguably looks more heroic, and kept the Flamewar name. Regular Flamewar could have ended up somewhere else later.

I feel like this would have caused more annoyance/arguing while also being less profitable for Hasbro. People who are annoyed this release wasn't a more prominent SG character would still be questioning why there was a random Flamewar who never existed before instead of someone like Sideswipe, Rodimus, Grimlock, Seekers, the Insecticons, etc., and the people who are buying this because it is just regular Flamewar with the "wrong" logo would then be skipping and going "why did they make this when they haven't made a normal Flamewar". Making SG Flamewar be an SG Jazz-style play of "same colors just to get the character out there" is the better move.

Why are we arguing about this. Sure, Flamewar may have no spot in the SG Line, but who cares. No one is forcing you to buy it if you don't want it. It's a good Flamewar, logo or not. Does it matter what spot it gets released in as long as it gets released?

You're missing the point, it's not about what we're getting, it's about what we're not getting: a proper Shattered Glass figure in the Shattered Glass line. Yes, it's a good Flamewar figure and I'm going to buy it, maybe even two if she's in the comics, but for now she's taking the slot of more prominent characters that make sense in this line.

Nemesis Primal, I don't actually want Flamewar in this line in any form, I'm just offering up an alternative they could have used if they insisted on using the character. Also SG Jazz isn't 100% the same as G1 Jazz, they'd never be able to pass him off as a G1 figure thanks to his logos and Hasbro hating stickers again for some reason. Even the 4 on his chest takes on new meaning as it also means death (shi) in Japanese.




Not that it would need a second use, it would just be SS Jazz with new logos and maybe a red visor and I would still prefer that over Flamewar!

Emerje

Weeeeeell I was lucky to score the Botcon figure at a decent price years back so for those that really wanted that figure and missed out or didn't want to pay serious money they can sub with the SG version.

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Emerje

Not that it would need a second use, it would just be SS Jazz with new logos and maybe a red visor and I would still prefer that over Flamewar!

Emerje

Sorry I'm so sensitive, but please SS86 dont forget that 86. If you do, you're literally asking for a nazi Jazz with death decals!

...Studio Series...
SS86 is a subline of SS.

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Burn wrote:

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Emerje

Not that it would need a second use, it would just be SS Jazz with new logos and maybe a red visor and I would still prefer that over Flamewar!

Emerje

Sorry I'm so sensitive, but please SS86 dont forget that 86. If you do, you're literally asking for a nazi Jazz with death decals!

...Studio Series...
SS86 is a subline of SS.

I'm sorry, but could you refrain from using the abbreviation? Look it up if you're confused. Say studio series or even stud ser, but please dont use the other.

Maybe take that up with Hasbro then, as they've been using it both as the basis for the numbering of the figures and as shorthand for the line during interviews/reveals and on social media since the line's inception in 2018. What you're referring to as "the other" is official terminology, hence why we all use it.

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:I'm sorry, but could you refrain from using the abbreviation? Look it up if you're confused.

Nope. And not confused. I'm well aware of what it ALSO stands for.

Just like Slag can mean molten metal or something you'd call a woman to disparage her. The English language is chock full of words that have multiple meanings.

Nearly every fan of Transformers understands that SS stands for Studio Series and wouldn't even remotely associate it The Schutzstaffel.

So no, unless it's against the forum rules I will not be refraining from using the abreviation.

Emerje wrote:

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Emerje wrote:There is no need for Flamewar to be in the SG line looking line plain ol' Flamewar, she's taking a slot that could have gone to someone else that does fit. It's lazy. They should have done her up in Robot Masters Road Rocket colors, it even has flames on it and arguably looks more heroic, and kept the Flamewar name. Regular Flamewar could have ended up somewhere else later.

I feel like this would have caused more annoyance/arguing while also being less profitable for Hasbro. People who are annoyed this release wasn't a more prominent SG character would still be questioning why there was a random Flamewar who never existed before instead of someone like Sideswipe, Rodimus, Grimlock, Seekers, the Insecticons, etc., and the people who are buying this because it is just regular Flamewar with the "wrong" logo would then be skipping and going "why did they make this when they haven't made a normal Flamewar". Making SG Flamewar be an SG Jazz-style play of "same colors just to get the character out there" is the better move.

Why are we arguing about this. Sure, Flamewar may have no spot in the SG Line, but who cares. No one is forcing you to buy it if you don't want it. It's a good Flamewar, logo or not. Does it matter what spot it gets released in as long as it gets released?

You're missing the point, it's not about what we're getting, it's about what we're not getting: a proper Shattered Glass figure in the Shattered Glass line. Yes, it's a good Flamewar figure and I'm going to buy it, maybe even two if she's in the comics, but for now she's taking the slot of more prominent characters that make sense in this line.

Nemesis Primal, I don't actually want Flamewar in this line in any form, I'm just offering up an alternative they could have used if they insisted on using the character. Also SG Jazz isn't 100% the same as G1 Jazz, they'd never be able to pass him off as a G1 figure thanks to his logos and Hasbro hating stickers again for some reason. Even the 4 on his chest takes on new meaning as it also means death (shi) in Japanese.




Not that it would need a second use, it would just be SS Jazz with new logos and maybe a red visor and I would still prefer that over Flamewar!

Emerje

Alas, The "New" Shattered Glass Jazz isn't nearly as distinct from his G1 counterpart as the original:



He really does just have VERY similar colors to the Studio Series design, with the biggest change bring a red visor instead of blue (The original SG Jazz still had a blue visor, oddly enough). He doesn't even have the altered advertisements or number.

I've just been using the Studio Series figure with a Purple Autobot brand slapped on him as a stand in, and he's pretty decently accurate.

Then again, he's just been relegated to background and seat-filler appearances, so maybe if we get a more focused shot someday, he will appear more different.

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:

Emerje

Not that it would need a second use, it would just be SS Jazz with new logos and maybe a red visor and I would still prefer that over Flamewar!

Emerje

Sorry I'm so sensitive, but please SS86 dont forget that 86. If you do, you're literally asking for a nazi Jazz with death decals!

NO.

And as an atheist I find your constant need to correct people on their religious and moral beliefs HIGHLY offensive, please stop. I've kept from getting into your asinine arguments, but I'm not going to be told what abbreviations I can use just to appease your own extreme and childish sensitivities. Lots of common things are abbreviated as SS like Social Security, Social Service, Stainless Steel, Steam Ship, Sesame Street, Secret Service, Sunday School, the list goes on. I suspect you lived a sheltered life and are probably socially awkward, just realize that the world is a lot bigger than you can imagine, it would do you better to be excepting of other peoples beliefs. Even your Pope visits with other religious leaders as equals.

Emerje

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:If Flamewar didn't take someone else's spot, that makes me feel better about her being in this line.

But still, original comment still stands: I wish we had gotten 1 more SG figure and maybe Flamewar next year

Would we ever know if she did?

ZeroWolf wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:If Flamewar didn't take someone else's spot, that makes me feel better about her being in this line.

But still, original comment still stands: I wish we had gotten 1 more SG figure and maybe Flamewar next year

Would we ever know if she did?

Thanks to the design team being so open about things there's a good chance we actually will some day.

Emerje

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Emerje wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Emerje wrote:How could they not have anywhere else to put Flamewar if that's actually the case? They never came up with anything to replace the Legacy Beasts in Selects, she would have been perfect there. Really missed a chance to do SG Prowl.

Emerje

Yeah, it's odd. They have an entire Selects line made for niche redecos.

We haven't had a Selects announcement for months, and none of those have been Legacy molds. I haven't seen any Selects rumors beyond what's already been revealed. Pure speculation on my part, but one explanation would be that Hasbro is more committed to these themed retailer exclusive capsules. That would mean less product for the fan channel retailers, though they're getting the Joe collab.

Doesn't that sound a little too self serving since SG is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive? Cherry picking characters to be their own exclusive even though they don't fit into their own overarching narrative would be a very strange move to make.

Emerje

I think this is a case of fans taking product lines more seriously than Hasbro does, just like what happened with the Kingdom versus SS86 debates. Hasbro makes a certain number of figures, and those figures are divided up across multiple toylines and capsules, and they're grouped according to production considerations like budget as well as marketing considerations like narrative and theming.

I don't think picking a specific character or mold or tooling is any more self-serving than any other. They need product for many different kinds of retailers, and there are many reasons to allot the way they do. I also don't think it's strange at all, I mean, we've gotten Diaclone releases in Selects, Velocitron, Wreckers, and SG. Or at least, it's not any more strange than Kingdom Cyclonus and Galvatron alongside SS86 Scourge and Sweeps. I don't want to start that debate again, I just want to note that this isn't that big a deal from Hasbro's perspective.

There's no doubt that Flamewar is GOING to be a part of the Shattered Glass narrative, since every figure has an accompanying comic book. While more or less "main" characters have been made up to this point, we could argue a few of them aren't really 'main' in the storyline, even if they're "main" characters in Transformers in general. This SG universe isn't beholden to the FunPub stuff, and they've really been making that clear since the beginning. Which is fine by me - It's an alternate universe of an alternate universe.

I personally buy the story that they had no place else to put her (save for Selects, which I do agree she was a shoe-in for) even though she was a much requested repaint of the Legacy Arcee. I was like, ooh Flamewar as soon as I saw the Legacy Arcee, which I still to date do not own as I planned on Flamewar being my example of the mold - before I knew about Road Rocket.

If we're to buy into the storyline that they had no room to put Flamewar in other lines and they couldn't do it in Selects, it actually makes me more apprehensive of what is going on with Generations Selects.

Emerje wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Emerje wrote:How could they not have anywhere else to put Flamewar if that's actually the case? They never came up with anything to replace the Legacy Beasts in Selects, she would have been perfect there. Really missed a chance to do SG Prowl.

Emerje

Yeah, it's odd. They have an entire Selects line made for niche redecos.

We haven't had a Selects announcement for months, and none of those have been Legacy molds. I haven't seen any Selects rumors beyond what's already been revealed. Pure speculation on my part, but one explanation would be that Hasbro is more committed to these themed retailer exclusive capsules. That would mean less product for the fan channel retailers, though they're getting the Joe collab.

Doesn't that sound a little too self serving since SG is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive? Cherry picking characters to be their own exclusive even though they don't fit into their own overarching narrative would be a very strange move to make.

Emerje

SG is not a Hasbro Pulse exclusive line, only the comic is Pulse exclusive. Hence why the images we got of Flamewar were from another retailer and not Pulse.

william-james88 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Emerje wrote:How could they not have anywhere else to put Flamewar if that's actually the case? They never came up with anything to replace the Legacy Beasts in Selects, she would have been perfect there. Really missed a chance to do SG Prowl.

Emerje

Yeah, it's odd. They have an entire Selects line made for niche redecos.

We haven't had a Selects announcement for months, and none of those have been Legacy molds. I haven't seen any Selects rumors beyond what's already been revealed. Pure speculation on my part, but one explanation would be that Hasbro is more committed to these themed retailer exclusive capsules. That would mean less product for the fan channel retailers, though they're getting the Joe collab.

Doesn't that sound a little too self serving since SG is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive? Cherry picking characters to be their own exclusive even though they don't fit into their own overarching narrative would be a very strange move to make.

Emerje

SG is not a Hasbro Pulse exclusive line, only the comic is Pulse exclusive. Hence why the images we got of Flamewar were from another retailer and not Pulse.

No, in the US and UK it's a Pulse exclusive. How In Demand Toys sells them at retail prices is anyone's guess (probably as a European market seller), but you wont find them on BBTS or TFSource at those prices (though TFSource does sell them with a massive aftermarket price hike). The comic is just another thing you get, the whole thing is exclusive.

Emerje

The Hasbro Pulse YouTube apparently streamed and has now uploaded the actual/official "reveal" for Flamewar:
Sounds like if anyone wants a real answer for why Flamewar is releasing here, they're gonna have to wait for Mark to answer it, since that's essentially what the guy in this video said. Interesting that they went over her now though, I wonder if they're going to talk about her more later or if they did this to get her out of the way.