The Energon Pub

I just went to my local TrU today and I found one strange UFO. It was a big-ass 40cm tall Prime Bumblebee figure. It was in a box and through the window, it was clear that that thing cant transform. It dont appear to have any articulation points whatsoever. As usual, the price could not be found. Also, it look really, REALLY cheap. I wouldnt have been surprised to see this kind of thing in some obscure Chinese Dollarama. But at TrU?

Unfortunately, I dont have the habit of carrying my camera so no picture.

Also, what's up with these Hotwheel like vehicles? With the robot mode printed under?

Appart the usual pencil case, lunch box and party gear, got or seen any official Transformers merchandises that just make you scratch your head?

-Kanrabat- wrote:Also, what's up with these Hotwheel like vehicles? With the robot mode printed under?

Your TRU is in the habit of carrying stock so old it's usually found at closeout stores? o.o Weird.

RAcast wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Also, what's up with these Hotwheel like vehicles? With the robot mode printed under?

Your TRU is in the habit of carrying stock so old it's usually found at closeout stores? o.o Weird.

No, these are not found at TrU. Walmart still have them.

Baffling TF merchandise? Anything other than actual transforming TF toys, frankly. All those masks, robot replicas, converting guns and Hot Wheels cars are just an excuse to cash in on the movie franchise's success.

IMO, anything other than transforming robots are unnecessary products.

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:Baffling TF merchandise? Anything other than actual transforming TF toys, frankly. All those masks, robot replicas, converting guns and Hot Wheels cars are just an excuse to cash in on the movie franchise's success.

IMO, anything other than transforming robots are unnecessary products.

Well, I dont mind common merchandising like party gear or lolipops. I draw the line with non-transforming toys that take up all that space in the toys ailses.

Yeah, I may sound like a whiny douche, but when I'm looking for some new FOC deluxes and all I see is just a few leftovers from wave one and the rest of the space is overun by cheap cosplay items... Well, you know that feel.

Don't get me starting with the 1980's Tyco Transformers racers that transformed (sort off like scales from Gobots)racing set. And Action masters too.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:Baffling TF merchandise? Anything other than actual transforming TF toys, frankly. All those masks, robot replicas, converting guns and Hot Wheels cars are just an excuse to cash in on the movie franchise's success.

IMO, anything other than transforming robots are unnecessary products.

Well, I dont mind common merchandising like party gear or lolipops. I draw the line with non-transforming toys that take up all that space in the toys ailses.

Yeah, I may sound like a whiny douche, but when I'm looking for some new FOC deluxes and all I see is just a few leftovers from wave one and the rest of the space is overun by cheap cosplay items... Well, you know that feel.

I'm fine with the key-chains, jewelry and candy myself, as long as it it's not a Transformers toy that isn't a Transformers toy, if you know what I mean.

I actually got this for Christmas once: Transformers: Animated Band-Aids. No joking.

I don't understand why they make transformers that don't transform. Annoying.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I actually got this for Christmas once: Transformers: Animated Band-Aids. No joking.

Still better than someone, somewhere, receiving Transformers themed child sized panties.

I still don't get BotShots.

SentinelA wrote:I still don't get BotShots.

What's not to get? They're like Bakugans, or Beyblades, or anything of that type, just Transformers characters.

Even if you ignore the comparison to Bakugan, they're chibified versions of your favorite characters! There really is a good deal to like with them.

RAcast wrote:

SentinelA wrote:I still don't get BotShots.

What's not to get? They're like Bakugans, or Beyblades, or anything of that type, just Transformers characters.

Even if you ignore the comparison to Bakugan, they're chibified versions of your favorite characters! There really is a good deal to like with them.

Also, they do transform. So, it's fair game.
What is starting to get on my nerves is this:
I repeat, ENOUGH WITH THE GODDAMN MASKS ALREADY!

I find the Kreo line quite baffling.

With that being said i believe it to be a successful "crossover" in comparison to Star Wars and the Marvel lines. Those are always terrible and forever will be in my eyes.

So in that regard i kind of respect Kreo because i respect Lego but i'm not completely sold on the hybrid of the two because they don't "transform".

Lego doing all these subline crossover sets that are designed to be put together only one way to achieve a predetermined design, in my opinion, underscores the original purpose of Lego and takes the creativity and imagination away from Lego as a whole. As it does to the concept of transforming robots.

As an adult collector....Kreo baffles me.

Kre-o sets really don't work for me, precisely because they don't transform. Built To Rule was an ugly line of Transformers robots (but a lot of fun for GI Joes) but at least they did change from one form to another, sort of.

The Kreon minifigures on the other hand? Fantastically cute.

I just remembered another one: shower gel, in bottles in the shape of Movie Optimus Prime. Sold in toy stores no less.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I just remembered another one: shower gel, in bottles in the shape of Movie Optimus Prime. Sold in toy stores no less.

I had Transformers bubble bath when I was a kid during G1. I also had Transformers undwerwear and a Transformers lunchbox and thermos. I also had that G1 Ultra Magnus voicebox thingy.

It's called merchandising folks, and every popular property has always done it and will always do it as long as it's profitable. If parents didn't buy the stuff, Has/Tak wouldn't license it or continue to produce it.

By the way, I had those transforming race track cars when I was a kid. They were awesome!

In fact, I bet plenty of us still buy into it. Any of you happen to own any TF themed T-shirts or ball caps or anything like that ?

xyl360 wrote:(...) Any of you happen to own any TF themed T-shirts or ball caps or anything like that ?

I must sheepishly admit that I bought a patch to sew on my leather jacket. Said leather jacket already have a Human Alliance patch sewed on. That patch came with the DotM Autobot Daredevil Squad set.

I'll have you know the shower gel I mention actually shelfwarmed pretty badly here...

And I do have my fair share of Transformers clothes (and of other IP), like a few months ago I bought a nice warm hoodie. I even have TF coloring books, but the epitome would have to be a Transformers Birthday cake for my 25th.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:(...) a Transformers Birthday cake for my 25th.

If it ever happen to me, I would feel an equal mix of shame and fanboy glee.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I'll have you know the shower gel I mention actually shelfwarmed pretty badly here...

And I do have my fair share of Transformers clothes (and of other IP), like a few months ago I bought a nice warm hoodie. I even have TF coloring books, but the epitome would have to be a Transformers Birthday cake for my 25th.

I had some TF caketoppers on one of my birthday cakes when I was a kid !

I currently have 3 black T-shirts with red on them and a black hoodie with the same .

xyl360 wrote:
In fact, I bet plenty of us still buy into it. Any of you happen to own any TF themed T-shirts or ball caps or anything like that ?

oh yeah! I have a couple of really nice TF tees from Urban Species. Their "Bots Attack!" in white, and "Megatron Strikes Back!" design in black. Fantastic.