The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:37 pm

Prime Unicron is so hard to balance on top of Haslab Unicron. Maybe if you used some sticky tack to secure it in place...

News Credits: 9 · Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:46 pm

IF I could get Rodimus for $50-ish, I'd sell the trailer for $10-$15.
I don't even want the trailer, and I want to spend $85 just to have Rodimus even less.
But having him for $35-$40 doesn't sound too bad.

News Credits: 10 · Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:06 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:IF I could get Rodimus for $50-ish, I'd sell the trailer for $10-$15.
I don't even want the trailer, and I want to spend $85 just to have Rodimus even less.
But having him for $35-$40 doesn't sound too bad.

And here I am about to buy a second one.

News Credits: 4877 · Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:30 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:IF I could get Rodimus for $50-ish, I'd sell the trailer for $10-$15.
I don't even want the trailer, and I want to spend $85 just to have Rodimus even less.
But having him for $35-$40 doesn't sound too bad.

If this exact same package for the same price was labelled as special edition "Gen MP" outside of the kingdom line, it would sell out like crazy.

News Credits: 1646 · Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:03 pm

I saw a Sweep tonight, so I can now say I have seen every SS86 figure at one point in time or another.

My store was also heavily laden in Kups and Blurrs. I counted 10 each stacked up on the peg and on top of the shelf. There were 2 Jazzes and 2 RotF Bees, but that was it for deluxes.

They also had a nice stock of Slug and Grindor. It was nice to see

News Credits: 9 · Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:07 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Sowndwave76 wrote:IF I could get Rodimus for $50-ish, I'd sell the trailer for $10-$15.
I don't even want the trailer, and I want to spend $85 just to have Rodimus even less.
But having him for $35-$40 doesn't sound too bad.

If this exact same package for the same price was labelled as special edition "Gen MP" outside of the kingdom line, it would sell out like crazy.

Maybe... But knowing what it is, I'd still wait for a sale, or pass it up all-together.
Which is most likely what I'll end up doing.

Sidenote... My Target FINALLY has been stocked this past week, week and a half.
It's easily, by far been the most TF I've seen in a store in YEARS. Honestly, I really can't remember how long it's been.
Cyberverse and Buzzworthy was abundant...
There were 2 Kingdom UM's, and THREE Galvatrons.
Tracks, Wingfingers, and a lone Shadow Panther.
Every, and I mean every Kingdom Core Class figure including 3 Soundwaves.
2 Blurrs, a Jazz, 2 Thrusts, then EIGHT Grindors, and SIX Slags.

I don't think Target was purposely holding this back until the first weekend of November...
It could have been a distribution issue.
But either way, damn, it was nice seeing a FULL TF section.

News Credits: 51 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:24 am

When I was at Target last on Wednesday, there was an entire endcap on I think one of the sporting goods aisles that was just full to the brim of Slags and Grindors, it was insane to see.

News Credits: 4877 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 10:33 am

Nemesis Primal wrote:When I was at Target last on Wednesday, there was an entire endcap on I think one of the sporting goods aisles that was just full to the brim of Slags and Grindors, it was insane to see.

Could you share a pic next time you go?

News Credits: 51 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 1:34 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:When I was at Target last on Wednesday, there was an entire endcap on I think one of the sporting goods aisles that was just full to the brim of Slags and Grindors, it was insane to see.

Could you share a pic next time you go?

Assuming it's still there, yeah. ;)^

News Credits: 12 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:37 pm

Review for Perceptor is up and he looks pretty cool
Head sculpt looks way better than in the product shots we saw when he was first revealed

The hard ratchet on the chest with transparent plastic seems pretty scary though. And his face just popping out in the back of the microscope mode is quite an eyesore. Some sort of panel wouldve been nice, like what Soundwave has. Love how big he is though

News Credits: 1 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 4:02 pm

Razorbeast88 wrote:And his face just popping out in the back of the microscope mode is quite an eyesore.

It seems like you could just turn the head around.

News Credits: 12 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 4:05 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:
Razorbeast88 wrote:And his face just popping out in the back of the microscope mode is quite an eyesore.

It seems like you could just turn the head around.

I hope so. Not sure why that wasn't tried in the review
Looks cool though I like the way the robot mode came out and I'm always happy to have more objectformers

News Credits: 9 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 9:49 pm

I'll definitely be looking for an upgrade kit for this guy.
But for the most part, I think his bot mode is very on point...
I appreciate that he has his original alt mode, and at the same time, this is a reminder as to why a vehicle mode has been used in the past... "Playing" with a microscope that doesn't really work or do anything isn't exactly the most exciting feature.

I'm still really looking forward to this release though.
He's probably going to end up being displayed with my '86 movie figures.

News Credits: 104 · Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:44 pm

I see the thief PVP put a review up for Perceptor.. Gotta love those reviews with stolen figs.

Razorbeast88 wrote:I hope so. Not sure why that wasn't tried in the review

He doesn't have the instructions?? I am sure the head can turn though.

News Credits: 101 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:47 am

Cyber Bishop wrote:I see the thief PVP put a review up for Perceptor.. Gotta love those reviews with stolen figs.

WILL YOU SHUT THE FU

Cyber Bishop wrote:He doesn't have the instructions??

Goddamit... #-o

News Credits: 1350 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:10 am

I love how people are treating pvp as if he was the one who personally went into the factory :lol:

My question about it would always be why Hasbro isn't seemingly doing anything about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but they could always go after the youtube videos via copyright strikes/ demonetisation. Yet they never do anything, almost like corporate hasbro don't care, even if some within the ranks do.

News Credits: 4 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:45 am

oh no some factory worker making $30 a day is stealing toys off the assembly line of a multi-billion dollar company and selling them to make some money on the side. The 5 or so dollars per missing figure that they aren't earning will surely bankrupt them, and it's not as though they produce dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of figures that wind up scrapped and never see the light of day for one reason or another.

News Credits: 101 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:34 am

ZeroWolf wrote:I love how people are treating pvp as if he was the one who personally went into the factory

My question about it would always be why Hasbro isn't seemingly doing anything about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but they could always go after the youtube videos via copyright strikes/ demonetisation. Yet they never do anything, almost like corporate hasbro don't care, even if some within the ranks do.

A point that stand is that too often, the video review can only be INCOMPLETE because of the lack of instructions and even some accessories in some cases.
So, I cannot consider these as "reviews" but I can consider them as LEAKS. Instead of rumors and pictures that get leaked, it's the toy itself.

So if Hasbro would be consistent to prevent the "thefts", they should also go after ALL kinds of leakers. But we all know that Hasbro is too smart to do that because leakers are the "secret marketing team" that works for free.
:-B

News Credits: 1350 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:50 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:I love how people are treating pvp as if he was the one who personally went into the factory

My question about it would always be why Hasbro isn't seemingly doing anything about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but they could always go after the youtube videos via copyright strikes/ demonetisation. Yet they never do anything, almost like corporate hasbro don't care, even if some within the ranks do.

A point that stand is that too often, the video review can only be INCOMPLETE because of the lack of instructions and even some accessories in some cases.
So, I cannot consider these as "reviews" but I can consider them as LEAKS. Instead of rumors and pictures that get leaked, it's the toy itself.

So if Hasbro would be consistent to prevent the "thefts", they should also go after ALL kinds of leakers. But we all know that Hasbro is too smart to do that because leakers are the "secret marketing team" that works for free.

That's been my belief for a while :lol:

News Credits: 4877 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 8:21 am

PrimevsPrime has a review up for Transformers Studio Series 86 deluxe Perceptor. This gives us a preview of the figure and our first in hand look. We have images for you to check out below. He is quite the sizable deluxe figure, from what you will see. This toy has been available for a while at a variety of online retailers for preordering and is still available. He is due out in Q2 of 2022.

News Credits: 17 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:57 am

ZeroWolf wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:I love how people are treating pvp as if he was the one who personally went into the factory

My question about it would always be why Hasbro isn't seemingly doing anything about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but they could always go after the youtube videos via copyright strikes/ demonetisation. Yet they never do anything, almost like corporate hasbro don't care, even if some within the ranks do.

A point that stand is that too often, the video review can only be INCOMPLETE because of the lack of instructions and even some accessories in some cases.
So, I cannot consider these as "reviews" but I can consider them as LEAKS. Instead of rumors and pictures that get leaked, it's the toy itself.

So if Hasbro would be consistent to prevent the "thefts", they should also go after ALL kinds of leakers. But we all know that Hasbro is too smart to do that because leakers are the "secret marketing team" that works for free.

That's been my belief for a while

I think Hasbro employees are sincere in their complaints about leaks during the official reveal livestreams. Hasbro doesn't need a "secret marketing team" when they have an actual marketing team. There are other industries that are incredibly protective of leaks, like the movie and game industries, but the knowledge is rigidly protected by NDAs and more compartmentalization of the information. Deals on external IP often extend these requirements throughout the production chain with potential penalties, so there can be explicit financial incentives to control the reveals.

Lego historically has been much better than other toy companies at keeping things under wraps, but their production process is more tightly managed than the big companies. The other major tools that Lego used in the past were things like watermarking catalogs and punishing media partners who published materials, but they have recently permitted media partners to cover leaks more openly, probably in part in response to the rise of YouTubers and others who get the info out there anyway. As for copyright / demonetization, I'm not a lawyer but I don't think they could. To my knowledge, physical objects don't have image rights, the media does. So if a Hasbro marketing video leaked, they could take that down, but if someone unaffiliated shoots their own video, that's the property of the person who filmed it. Box art images could be protected, but it would be difficult and counterproductive for Hasbro to take action against some people for their use and not others after they're released.

I'm an Occam's Razor guy, and in this case I think there's a very simple explanation: it takes a lot of effort and expense to limit leaks, and toy companies have limited tools available. If Hasbro could easily shut them down, they would, but their legal, marketing, and production teams have other priorities.

I know why people call PvP a thief whenever he posts but I don't know why we need to have this debate every time in response.

News Credits: 1350 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:14 am

I wouldn't be so sure regarding copyright, after all they did managed to successfully manage to derail the not-unicron 3rd party figure that was revealed, like a couple of days after, HasLab Unicron was launched (though the theory there was that they wanted to make an example of them because of the timing,as that same toy eventually did get released, just later then planned).

As to why the debate, who knows? Especially after people are told time and time again to drop it.

However, hopefully this new format can see the end of it.

News Credits: 17 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:27 am

ZeroWolf wrote:I wouldn't be so sure regarding copyright, after all they did managed to successfully manage to derail the not-unicron 3rd party figure that was revealed, like a couple of days after, HasLab Unicron was launched (though the theory there was that they wanted to make an example of them because of the timing,as that same toy eventually did get released, just later then planned).

As to why the debate, who knows? Especially after people are told time and time again to drop it.

However, hopefully this new format can see the end of it.

I thought about that Unicron case too. I never watched the video so I have no idea what the infringing material could have been. I don't think video images of an unlicensed toy based on protected IP, but in any event, I think it's a special case that's not a clean precedent for unreleased Hasbro toys. Hasbro could certainly file a complaint, but would it be upheld? Would it obligate them to go after all toy reviewers or risk being accused of not consistently enforcing copyright, which has broader legal implications? It's not what they can do, it's what they can do without prohibite effort and cost. Certainly going after YTers at all could have a potentially chilling effect on the rest of the community, even those who play by the rules. There are many types of costs to consider.

News Credits: 1350 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:14 am

Ip law seems to be vague and complicated, it's come up a lot on my other hobby, as well as discussions of its impact on the community (in that case youtube videos were removed and a series on there stopped out of fear of reprisals)

News Credits: 104 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:37 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Cyber Bishop wrote:I see the thief PVP put a review up for Perceptor.. Gotta love those reviews with stolen figs.

WILL YOU SHUT THE FU

Cyber Bishop wrote:He doesn't have the instructions??

Goddamit...