The Energon Pub

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Gauntlet101010 wrote:By the way, I asked if the other "myster TF" was Blitzwing and they quickly corrected me. So I think it just might be a Blitzwing.

Broadside actually.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:29 pm

Mkall wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:By the way, I asked if the other "myster TF" was Blitzwing and they quickly corrected me. So I think it just might be a Blitzwing.

Broadside actually.

Then why did he react so quickly when I said "Blitzwing"?

Broadside is good too, though ....
*saves money for Springer*

http://www.youtube.com/user/Slayershoop · Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:13 pm

Wow this is awesome, Springer is probably a stand alone...Warbot screams broadside to me... Rodimus looks awesome... I don't know about the combiners though... but collector looks cool

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Dial up users beware.

While the onslaught of pictures are loading, I'll give you guys a brief summery of what else was covered on day 2 regarding FansProjects
--Collector (aka Wreckgar) is looking like a two-mech set, currently proposed is making one male and one female. This is done so that they can ride one another (double entendre is there)
--Currently they are debating which size is better for the as-of-yet unnamed warbot based off of Broadside. Big (he mimed about one foot tall!) would be in better scale, but smaller (voyager sized maybe) would be more affordable, both to the FansProject team and collectors.
--As it's been said before in the thread, the mini Megatron pistols and the matrix replicas will not see mass production. Not because of potential legal action though. It's because they just want to produce their own designs.

I admit some of these pics might not be of the best quality, but here's the more in depth shots Down_Shift and I took on day 2.

Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:03 am

starfish wrote:I mean, if Hasbro think FP are starting to step over the line, they could just sue them over the Magnus armour, or even the Rodimus armour. Sure, these are only add-ons, but add-ons that have the distinctive appearance of HasTak-owned property.

Erm, to be honest, the Rodimus armor only looks like Hasbro's IP in its "Winnebego" form. The robot mode doesn't look like the med/late 80's versions of Rodimus Prime in the slightest, except for head and color scheme, IMHO.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:51 am

Valandar wrote:
starfish wrote:I mean, if Hasbro think FP are starting to step over the line, they could just sue them over the Magnus armour, or even the Rodimus armour. Sure, these are only add-ons, but add-ons that have the distinctive appearance of HasTak-owned property.

Erm, to be honest, the Rodimus armor only looks like Hasbro's IP in its "Winnebego" form.

Erm, to be honest... isn't that enough? I mean, that Winnebago design isn't exactly based on a real-life vehicle now, is it? In other words, that truck was designed by Hasbro, and now FP are using that design without permission.

Slam-dunk.

Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:12 pm

After seeing these new projects by Fansproject, my bank account started screaming hehe. I really like these guys work, and I'll try to get most of their figures/kits, especially the combiner figure (even though I don't own G1 figures). The theme for the set is a good one. Might I suggest some alternate forms which could be used as well with this set such as a Diatryma (giant flightless bird), megatherium (giant sloth) or an arsinotherium (a rhino with two horns next to each other) instead of the bear, wooly rhino and deer (megaloceras?)

I wanted to add something about the argument regarding Jizai Toys. If I'm not mistaken Jizai Toys do produce show accurate G1 representation of Transformer characters, and if I'm not mistaken, they do so with the blessings of Takara-Tomy as they sell those figures during the Winter/Summerfest Wonderfest only. Another factor is that they have to produce and sell a limited number.

I do hope that Fansproject do not get any hassle from Hasbro and or Takara-Tomy as they are doing some great stuff, even though I was waiting eagerly for mini megs and the matrix of leadership.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:54 pm

Wow. A real Springer figure. A real, triplechanging Springer figure. THANK YOU FP! Spectacular! I wish you all much luck.

I am totally sold on that.

Most likely I'll be getting that Rodimus and Wreck-Gar as well.

Kudos to FansProject for giving us what Hasbro won't. If we're lucky, maybe this will make Hasbro realize/acknowledge that there is definite interest in these and other G1 characters.

If Hasbro finally decides to make a real (triplechanger!) Springer figure, or Rodimus Prime or Wreck-Gar, I'll be buying them too, despite owning FP's products, as long as Hasbro's versions are well made. So no loss on their part as far as I'm concerned, anyway.

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 19, 2009 4:42 am

Gauntlet101010 wrote:By the way, I asked if the other "myster TF" was Blitzwing and they quickly corrected me. So I think it just might be a Blitzwing.

I'm sorry, but that might be the dumbest thing I've heard since my mate said Crash Bandicoot was a dog because the game is developed by Naughty Dog. Maybe the guys at Fan's Project said "no" so quickly because it isn't actually Blitzwing. They're not going to great lengths to keep their projects a secret, especially when they name their version of Wreck-Gar "Collector".

Think about it mate, Blitzwing transformed into a jet fighter and a battle tank. Fan's Project's Warbot figure looks like it transforms into a jet fighter and something that very much resembles an aircraft carrier. It sure as hell isn't a battle tank. Jet fighter and aircraft carrier are indeed Broadside's transformations as pointed out by Mkall.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:02 am

After reading most of this tread I have one question...

Where did everyone get their law degrees from? :lol:

Why must these types of debates always occur? Hasbro will sue/not sue etc.

Just enjoy the figures while you can because something like this will probably not last forever.

Not to sound like an old timer but I remember most of the TF debates over the past 10 years.

Will RID come to america, Will hasbro reissue G1 figures, will hasbro sue reprolabels, etc etc

Everyone got all worked up over nothing. Hasbro is a huge company so I doubt they will sue. Can they sue yes? But why are they worried about some small company that sells figures and accessories to a market that loves to spend huge amounts of money on toys. Haven't we all come to the conclusion that hasbro's toys are made specifically for children? Children are not going to google "150 dollar trailer add on for Magnus". I have 3 nephews, 5,7, and 9 that could care less about FP. They want Animated Omega supreme and their Magnus comes with a Hammer.

side question but did hasbro even renew the Trademark for the original G1 springer figure? If its run out, anyone can produce it.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:54 pm

El Duque wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:
El Duque wrote:
Primacron's Little Helper wrote:I think the stuff that FanProject are developing is far more exciting than anything Hasbro is doing, although I guess we'll find out more on that at Botcon.

My thoughts exactly. Can Hasbro just subcontract these guys to do the Classics/Universe line for them.

I think they're getting really, really close to getting their asses sued honestly.

I know, I know...it's China...good luck, etc. But the number 1 toy manufacturer in the world has at least a bit of sway with the factories that could put together entire Transformer toys.

Additions, add-ons, accessories...those are all one thing. When Fans Project starts dipping into actual characters...I think we could end up seeing some claws from Hasbro.

I know that was in the back on my mind as well. So how does this work? Obviously these upcoming FP figures like Collector and Defender have an extreme and intended resemblance to Wrekgar and Springer, but they aren't duplicates of anything Hasbro/Takara has done and they have different names. What can Hasbro/Takara do? They don't have an exclusive patent on transforming toys. I'm asking honestly, not trying to be a smart ass.

Well it depends..
We see a lot of KO places making various things because hasbro/takara DID hold the patent to X figure, but after 20 years (from the filing date) the patent is fair game for anyone..

Google search on google patents: 4,516,948
I believe you will see one optimus prime owned by takara circa 1985..

However.. the patent and the construction of G1 optimus prime has been free game since 2005 (20 years since his patent).

Not every character has patents, but someone could go and make optimus prime to the T, or his trailer for that matter, and there isn't a darn thing hasbro really could do to them aside from sueing them if they step on their trademarks. However it seems in a lot of ways they don't own a lot of the trademarks anymore. Hotspot to Hotzone, Hotrod to Hot Rodimus seem to be good examples of this.

So a company could make exact replicas of a figure and just not give it the name, and there shouldn't really be anything hasbro could do in many cases. That's why we see constructicons name "I am engineering." With names like disguise instead of mixmaster.. Mix master is a name hasbro/takara I believe still owns.. It's in the movies, the video games, the new toys, etc. Disguise.. not so much.

So while FP COULD be treading on some thin ice, they could very well be safe as well. The only lawsuits that I think Hasbro really could do would be trademark suits at this point. As things like springer and wreck-gar are being completely fabricated out of something that FP has come up with on their own. And since they aren't named Wreck-gar or Springer, they really aren't infringing. I suppose their could be an argument if FP threw on autobot and decepticon symbols (which ARE trademarked still).. But if you've noticed with the commander sets they don't supply such things.

The only thing that I'm not terribly sure on would be the color scheme. I don't think they could really do anything about that either as long as the piece isn't different from the trademarked version of x character.. Right now Wreck-gar is a trash truck.. so they may be ok there too.

I can say this much though... The fact that FP says they aren't making any profit on it and use any money they make to fund their NEXT project.. That's not going to hold up in court if hasbro did have some overwhelming evidence against them.. The fact is they are still SELLING an item.. Therefore there is potential for infringement, whether profit is made or not.

I don't think hasbro would win against FP if they play their cards right, but I would be willing to bet that hasbro has enough money to shut FP down by dragging them through court case after court case if they had to... Sometimes that's how the big companies "win." Hopefully it doesn't happen though.

News Credits: 5 · Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:07 pm

Wow! glad I went back to find this gem of a thread!! Man, protector and defender look to be the most exciting new FP projects coming out of their line up. I am so excited!! good thing i went with trying to gather an full classics/henkei line instead of ROTF.. so much more rewarding this stuff is!!

News Credits: 2 · Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:27 pm

Wow, the close ups of the concept art amazes me. I love the Collector/Wreck-Gar concept.

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:22 am

Convotron wrote:Wow, the close ups of the concept art amazes me. I love the Collector/Wreck-Gar concept.

yeah his design looks pretty sweet, I think though the first few images done by the seibertron reviewer show some real clear pics of the new Protector Rodimus Prime upgrade armor coming from FP.. as soon as I get the G3 trailer in place I'm putting some cash aside for that protector armor..

News Credits: 2 · Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:57 am

When I saw the close up pictures of the Protector concept art, there was no question, no hesitation. Immediately I felt my bank account diminishing. With upcoming figures like MP Black Convoy and Skywarp, I'm going to need to keep re-evaluating my budget!

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:47 pm

yeah I have decided to for go the ROTF toy line for the time being, except the HA bumblebee I own.. I haven't bought any ROTF toys.. I have bought nothing but Henkei and classics..

I figure that the ROTF line up will eventually begin to enter a Premium line production, in which case I shall buy them, but for now, the priority is Henkei/classics and 3rd party upgrades..especially the G3 trailer, and the autobot ark base..

but I need to get the Rodimus figure, cause when the protector armor comes out, I'm all over that like white on rice!!

News Credits: 1 · Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:51 pm

While just about everything FP makes is gold, there's a few things I can see myself not getting.

Protector is a must. Springer is a big maybe. The tailer ... I think I'll get it after all. I was really on the fence, but the RotF line just isn't my thing and I can't see myself getting much more than I already have. That frees up some funds.

The rest? Well ....

News Credits: 5 · Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:36 am

Gauntlet101010 wrote:While just about everything FP makes is gold, there's a few things I can see myself not getting.

Protector is a must. Springer is a big maybe. The tailer ... I think I'll get it after all. I was really on the fence, but the RotF line just isn't my thing and I can't see myself getting much more than I already have. That frees up some funds.

The rest? Well ....

yeah i think what does it for me is that with ROTF there are only a few figures that appeal to me..Optimus (leader), Megatron (Voyager) and Possible Leader Star Scream and the HA series..other then that, I'm just not fond of the figures that hasbro has come out with recently..the paint schemes suck, or lack and there just isn't the level of quality you'd expect from a big budget movie toyline..

anyhow, with the FP stuff, the Superion Add on set is top notch, and the trailers so far are sweet.. I can not wait for the G3 and I am excited about the TF007.. if it gets released, I'm all over Henkei Classics, and could and would care less about the movie figures.. with Henkei classics.. I can full fill my G-1 fetish and also combine that with the New stories and ideas introduced by FP, and through IDW comics..

this figure armor upgrade, is going to rock!!!