The Energon Pub

Sowndwave76 wrote:I won't be at all surprised if we get a SS86 Soundwave in '24.

Assuming this SS86 Soundwave isn't a completely new mold, it would help justify making more cassettes.

As long as the included cassettes aren't the same as the Netflix release it would be nice, go with two unknowns since most are after the big guy as a priority. Then leave known ones like Ravage and Lazerbeak to Core class releases, preferably a 2-pk to cut down on wait time. Or Release him with 4-5 cassettes like they have in the past!

I don't see why SS86 would need to be a new mold, the Netflix version is as G1 looking as you can get.
That said, as with anything there are likely some improvements that could be made. My question is are there enough people out there wanting a new mold for Soundwave?

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I won't be at all surprised if we get a SS86 Soundwave in '24.

Assuming this SS86 Soundwave isn't a completely new mold, it would help justify making more cassettes.

As long as the included cassettes aren't the same as the Netflix release it would be nice, go with two unknowns since most are after the big guy as a priority. Then leave known ones like Ravage and Lazerbeak to Core class releases, preferably a 2-pk to cut down on wait time. Or Release him with 4-5 cassettes like they have in the past!

I don't see why SS86 would need to be a new mold, the Netflix version is as G1 looking as you can get.
That said, as with anything there are likely some improvements that could be made. My question is are there enough people out there wanting a new mold for Soundwave?

It would have to be a new mold or complete new deco to get around Walmart's exclusivity

ZeroWolf wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Why does SG Soundwave have a sweatband?

He's wore it since 08, I've long since forgotten why.

He's basically 80s Cartoon Michelangelo in personality.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I won't be at all surprised if we get a SS86 Soundwave in '24.

Assuming this SS86 Soundwave isn't a completely new mold, it would help justify making more cassettes.

As long as the included cassettes aren't the same as the Netflix release it would be nice, go with two unknowns since most are after the big guy as a priority. Then leave known ones like Ravage and Lazerbeak to Core class releases, preferably a 2-pk to cut down on wait time. Or Release him with 4-5 cassettes like they have in the past!

I don't see why SS86 would need to be a new mold, the Netflix version is as G1 looking as you can get.
That said, as with anything there are likely some improvements that could be made. My question is are there enough people out there wanting a new mold for Soundwave?

It would have to be a new mold or complete new deco to get around Walmart's exclusivity

It wouldn't need to be a new mold because Exclusivity doesn't last forever. That said a simple retool could also work to get by it if it's longer than the standard timeframe, and like I said swap out the Cassette(s) to different character and it's considered different enough. Being that they don't seem to use decals anymore a slight redeco could also work to give him a more G1 look and also be different.

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I won't be at all surprised if we get a SS86 Soundwave in '24.

Assuming this SS86 Soundwave isn't a completely new mold, it would help justify making more cassettes.

As long as the included cassettes aren't the same as the Netflix release it would be nice, go with two unknowns since most are after the big guy as a priority. Then leave known ones like Ravage and Lazerbeak to Core class releases, preferably a 2-pk to cut down on wait time. Or Release him with 4-5 cassettes like they have in the past!

I don't see why SS86 would need to be a new mold, the Netflix version is as G1 looking as you can get.
That said, as with anything there are likely some improvements that could be made. My question is are there enough people out there wanting a new mold for Soundwave?

I don't see why we need a SS86 Soundwave anyways. We have gotten 3 Soundwave releases over the course of WFC and the first year of Legacy, and considering how many uses both those molds have got, I really hope we don't do the same dance.

I really don't think we needed to do it again like with Ironhide, and I feel like Soundwave has been done good, and the fact that the core cassettes are still compatible with those previous Soundwaves at least to me say they intend to keep those uses active

But when the most G1 version that’s been released in a long, long time was a difficult to get exclusive, I think it’s really easy to justify.
Sure, the Legacy version is “cleaner”, but its the same non-G1 mold as the original Siege release.
I personally don’t even count the SG figure…
I know it’s “Soundwave”, but in enough ways, it’s not.
I really like this character, & yet I have absolutely zero interest in the SG figure.

Since they can’t make a G1 Megatron, seems unlikely they’ll put a new Shockwave or Astrotrain in SS86, on top of the fact there aren’t ever enough Decepticon releases, they should give us a retooled, greeble-free, G1 accurate Soundwave in this subline.

This idea is 50x better than the Coronation Starscream they put out.

Personally I think the Netflix version works well as a TF:TM representative. And like D-Max said, we already got 3 Soundwaves, not counting the SG figure. And yes, technically they're all different, but they represent the same character.

So cassettes, yes. Soundwave? No. At least not yet. We have others who need attention.

Though, being a Marvel fan, I would love a Legacy/Selects comics version who is purple, using the Netflix mold.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Personally I think the Netflix version works well as a TF:TM representative. And like D-Max said, we already got 3 Soundwaves, not counting the SG figure. And yes, technically they're all different, but they represent the same character.

So cassettes, yes. Soundwave? No. At least not yet. We have others who need attention.

Though, being a Marvel fan, I would love a Legacy/Selects comics version who is purple, using the Netflix mold.

This is what I was going for yes. We got Siege, Netflix, and Legacy Soundwave. All 3 are G1 Soundwaves. SG and the Soundblasters are different, I don't count them towards the G1 Soundwave count. Heck, I just realized we also had TR and the Bee movie retool of that figure that all count as G1 soundwaves as well.

we have gotten 3 good soundwave molds, 2 seeing 2 releases, in my mind, he should be done for a while. Considering the number of post-1986 cons that still need done, I think he can wait his turn again.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Personally I think the Netflix version works well as a TF:TM representative. And like D-Max said, we already got 3 Soundwaves, not counting the SG figure. And yes, technically they're all different, but they represent the same character.

So cassettes, yes. Soundwave? No. At least not yet. We have others who need attention.

Though, being a Marvel fan, I would love a Legacy/Selects comics version who is purple, using the Netflix mold.

That comics version is probably the only way to get round the Exclusive nature of Netflix SW ala goldbug and technically they could put him in Buzzworthy as well.

The reason people keep asking for a direct re-release of Netflix Soundwave is because Covid made that figure as rare and hard to come by as a BotCon figure.

Scalping was definitely an issue as well. I saw Prime with the 2 BM from the same assortment/case several times, never saw Soundwave however.

Yeah, I worked for Wal-Mart in 2020 and saw both Soundwave and Prime repeatedly while stocking. I thought about getting all of them to sell later but decided not to be a jerk. So I just got 1 of each for me.

Any time I feel like kicking myself for missing out on the extra money I just remind myself how it feels to be on the other end. And then I also think about the probability that some scumbag scalper got the ones I left anyway.

Also, a bit off topic, I have a question: as many different Soundwaves as we've gotten, should each of them get their own set of cassettes or are most fans ok with loaning cassettes from 1 Soundwave to another, assuming they fit in his chest and also fit the aesthetic?

While I don't feel we need yet another Soundwave that is one reason why SS86 exists and is still going so Hasbro can market more repacks, not to mention the fact that Netflix Soundwave was almost impossible to find and very expensive. I think one reason why Hasbro did revisit Ironhide fairly soon was due to the Amazon Exclusive fiasco, and the Siege mold not really being the best mold for a G1 version.

All honestly I'd rather they get a better version of Astrotrain out like they attempted to do with Blitzwing, I also want a proper Hound more than any reissue. As that would seem more likely than waiting on Hasbro to try and work a way a round licensing/Exclusivity to reissue VW Bee. Plus I'm not exactly a fan of Hasbro right now with what happened to Cosmos, maybe it is or isn't their fault but I blame them for making him an Exclusive in the fist place because they notoriously seem to always have issues with distribution

I'm fully on team We-Don't-Need-Another-G1-Soundwave, especially since I could easily foresee Hasbro being cheeky about it and putting out this hypothetical SS86 Soundwave at Leader class to pack cassettes with him....and one of them would almost assuredly be Buzzsaw in an attempt to coax a purchase out of everyone who's already been buying SW since Siege because oh look they finally made the Buzzsaw people have been complaining about not having for years!

Rodimus Prime wrote:Also, a bit off topic, I have a question: as many different Soundwaves as we've gotten, should each of them get their own set of cassettes or are most fans ok with loaning cassettes from 1 Soundwave to another, assuming they fit in his chest and also fit the aesthetic?

If they can standardize the cassette size going forwards so that all new cassettes can fit in the chests of the current SW molds, that is the best case scenario, as anyone with an older SW or older cassettes can pick up a new SW/cassette and not have to start over, while Hasbro still gets to keep one of the most popular TF characters on the shelves for new fans to grab. Will Hasbro actually do that? Who knows.

Note: this is of course having to exclude any SW design who's companions don't actually turn into cassettes, like Prime SW.

Till-all-R1 wrote:I also want a proper Hound more than any reissue.

Have you not been to the Buzzworthy Bee thread since mid-October and you thusly don't know about SS86 Hound, or do you just not like the looks of that figure and want them to try again?

No I don't generally keep track of that line as it very few and far between I'll get anything from it, Goldbug is one of them along with Silverstreak. I had heard Hound would be in that line so I wasn't terribly excited since there's no existing mold to repack.

After just checking that thread, yeah no, not my style at all and looks too "kiddie" looking like something form one of the kids line. No real definition going on with the grill/lights/bumper areas and who picked that shade of green? If that's what the final figure looks like then I guess I'll be going Houndless for another decade or so...

Isn't that just a render, though? Not actual pics of the actual figure?

Rodimus Prime wrote:Isn't that just a render, though? Not actual pics of the actual figure?

Correct.

I definitely don’t count Siege Soundwave as a G1 Soundwave, because the intended alt mode isn’t anywhere close…
It’s a pretty big stretch to say the cleaned-up Legacy release is another version.
Those aren’t even close to the differences between the Siege & ER Ironhide figures.
And again, other than the NF figure, no other “modern”, mainline update of Soundwave has been very good.

If Ironhide can have Siege, ER, & SS86 figures, then a character like Soundwave definitely deserves similar treatment.

Sowndwave76 wrote:If Ironhide can have Siege, ER, & SS86 figures, then a character like Soundwave definitely deserves similar treatment.

And he got it. Siege, NF, Legacy and SG.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:If Ironhide can have Siege, ER, & SS86 figures, then a character like Soundwave definitely deserves similar treatment.

And he got it. Siege, NF, Legacy and SG.

While not sane size class, he also got a core release in Kingdom, so that's a lot of Soundwave.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:If Ironhide can have Siege, ER, & SS86 figures, then a character like Soundwave definitely deserves similar treatment.

And he got it. Siege, NF, Legacy and SG.

While not sane size class, he also got a core release in Kingdom, so that's a lot of Soundwave.

Still, I consider the Netflix remold of Soundwave in the same vein as the Earthrise remold of Ironhide/Ratchet. It's just "good enough" but far from perfect. For me, a proper G1 Soundwave should be remade from the ground up so that he looks good on ALL sides without any Siege "hands-me-downs" or "scars".
I want a "real" Mini-MP Soundwave.

In the meantime, my Siege Soundwave with upgraded shoulders to be able to transform into a "tape deck" is perfect for the "Legacyverse".

It's been a while since I handled Soundwave and he's inaccessible to me right now. Was there anything terrible about him being descended from Siege? I don't remember being offended by anything other than feeling ripped off since I thought Siege would claim these characters for a while.

They need to make all the main tapes for both Blaster and Soundwave. I don't think we need a new Soundwave mold, but a re-release would be a good idea.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's been a while since I handled Soundwave and he's inaccessible to me right now. Was there anything terrible about him being descended from Siege? I don't remember being offended by anything other than feeling ripped off since I thought Siege would claim these characters for a while.

They need to make all the main tapes for both Blaster and Soundwave. I don't think we need a new Soundwave mold, but a re-release would be a good idea.

The back of his tapedeck mode is a mess that look like the Death Star's surface.
Plus he still have the "landing gears" of the spaceship on his arms.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's been a while since I handled Soundwave and he's inaccessible to me right now. Was there anything terrible about him being descended from Siege? I don't remember being offended by anything other than feeling ripped off since I thought Siege would claim these characters for a while.

They need to make all the main tapes for both Blaster and Soundwave. I don't think we need a new Soundwave mold, but a re-release would be a good idea.

The back of his tapedeck mode is a mess that look like the Death Star's surface.
Plus he still have the "landing gears" of the spaceship on his arms.

Yeah the landing gear/struts and waffling from Siege are the biggest problems for me. But what I am really waiting for is a Soundblaster from the Netflix mould. I will gladly trade my Siege Soundblaster in for that. Even better would be what people mentioned here a few times; getting a remould to remove the landing gear at least. I prefer Soundblaster for my collection. I thought that maybe since people say the Walmart license is why Netflix one doesnt get re-released, that we would get a Soundblaster repaint at least.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:If Ironhide can have Siege, ER, & SS86 figures, then a character like Soundwave definitely deserves similar treatment.

And he got it. Siege, NF, Legacy and SG.

Again, all 4 of those figures are based off of 2 molds.
The Siege and Legacy figures are only slightly different.
And the mold itself isn’t a proper G1 representation.
Neither is the SG figure.
This isn’t opinion, this is all fact.
Not to mention, half (2 of 4) of those versions have been exclusives.

So if we’re talking legit G1 incarnations, we’ve had 1.
One and a half if you’re willing to count the Core figure.

And as others have said, between the greebling, waffling, & stupid landing gear, there is definitely an opportunity & justification for a better version.