The Energon Pub

[ZeroWolf]

If hasbro release both the new blast off and Groove, I would place my money on them being renamed (maybe given a bio that relates to the others)

[fenrir72]

Still no love for Vortex? At least remold him to have a vulcan canon on his "nose cone" or Make him look like a Hin-D too!

Don't forget Vortex! As Rated X also mentioned, give him a 4 rotor blade accessory he deserves and make it a melee weapon.

[william-james88]

Isvthis really a rumor. We already know hes getting a new mold from takara

Any source to back that up? As far as I know, this is the first hint at this.

As they should. Just because the space program is dead doesn't mean shuttles aren't uncool to kids... I didn't grow up in the '60s and I still thought they were bitchin.

You talking about Shuttles? Cause shuttles were around in your lifetime (if the 1996 is any indication) and only began in the 80s. Or did you think the space program in the 60s (like the lunar landing) used Shuttles?

Words can't express how jacked I am for this. Bravo TT

As I am but there are 2 things I am wondering: wht colour will the chest be (I preffer the grey) and will it be exclusive again? I can stand whatever the color will be but I wont be happy if this takara only mold is once again a damn TTmall exclusive.

[Seibertron]

I'm patiently awaiting the announcement of platinum edition combiner wars gift sets, done up properly with their cartoon accurate color schemes, paint apps, or stickers with their accessories (such as the Constructicons) or with the correct team member like Groove and Blast Off. It's got $$$$$ written all over it.

[Sabrblade]

I'm patiently awaiting the announcement of platinum edition combiner wars gift sets, done up properly with their cartoon accurate color schemes, paint apps, or stickers with their accessories (such as the Constructicons) or with the correct team member like Groove and Blast Off. It's got $$$$$ written all over it.

If there are going to Platinum Edition combiner giftsets, I think we can expect the first one to be Generation 2 Superion, based on that one pic we saw before here - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ion/32840/

[fenrir72]

I'm patiently awaiting the announcement of platinum edition combiner wars gift sets, done up properly with their cartoon accurate color schemes, paint apps, or stickers with their accessories (such as the Constructicons) or with the correct team member like Groove and Blast Off. It's got $$$$$ written all over it.

Given the public reaction to Devs "super package all in one set", let's hope the domestic market would also be as accepting as they are on Devs.

Btw, did the FOC Bruticus set sell well? Or did the component parts fair better separately?

[misfire19d]

The shuttles are now retired however, I think having an orbital space capable vehicle is very combat effective for communications, recon and raining hellfire and brimstone down on enemy positions from space. I was at the Hasbro panel at botcon and got a little irked when some kids with marketing degrees started talking about "combat effectiveness" in their decision to justify another repaint. But that's for another discussion thread.

[Robogeek1973]

I'm in for two TakTom Bruticus boxsets if they do indeed make a new mold Blastoff.

[fenrir72]

The shuttles are now retired however, I think having an orbital space capable vehicle is very combat effective for communications, recon and raining hellfire and brimstone down on enemy positions from space. I was at the Hasbro panel at botcon and got a little irked when some kids with marketing degrees started talking about "combat effectiveness" in their decision to justify another repaint. But that's for another discussion thread.

You're serious no?

[MemphisR56]

I pulled the trigger on buying the Hasbro defensor before the UW protectobots were revealed.

I wish I'd got that version instead to be honest.

But at least now I know to always wait to see the takara version before I choose.

Got my pre-order on for UW Devastator, and I held out to see takara's bruticus first before deciding to pick up the Hasbro run. I'm so glad I did now.

#BASEDTakara


I feel a little bad for hasbro honestly. They're clearly making decisions with these figures to save themselves money, and by Takara doing these retools and upgrades, Hasbro looks stupid. Like... I honestly think it's costing them sales from the collectors market, which is clearly the demographic that they aim to hit with these figures...

...I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly decided that they had to work a little harder.

[megatronus]

I pulled the trigger on buying the Hasbro defensor before the UW protectobots were revealed.

I wish I'd got that version instead to be honest.

But at least now I know to always wait to see the takara version before I choose.

Got my pre-order on for UW Devastator, and I held out to see takara's bruticus first before deciding to pick up the Hasbro run. I'm so glad I did now.

#BASEDTakara


I feel a little bad for hasbro honestly. They're clearly making decisions with these figures to save themselves money, and by Takara doing these retools and upgrades, Hasbro looks stupid. Like... I honestly think it's costing them sales from the collectors market, which is clearly the demographic that they aim to hit with these figures...

...I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly decided that they had to work a little harder.

The progression from FOC Bruticus to CW Bruticus is Hasbro deciding they had to work a little harder.

How quickly we forget...

I don't think Hasbro is losing too much of the collector market - only so many people are willing to fork over the money for Japanese imports. Many people are quite taken by jet Blast-Off, even though a new head really should have been sculpted for him.

[MemphisR56]

I pulled the trigger on buying the Hasbro defensor before the UW protectobots were revealed.

I wish I'd got that version instead to be honest.

But at least now I know to always wait to see the takara version before I choose.

Got my pre-order on for UW Devastator, and I held out to see takara's bruticus first before deciding to pick up the Hasbro run. I'm so glad I did now.

#BASEDTakara


I feel a little bad for hasbro honestly. They're clearly making decisions with these figures to save themselves money, and by Takara doing these retools and upgrades, Hasbro looks stupid. Like... I honestly think it's costing them sales from the collectors market, which is clearly the demographic that they aim to hit with these figures...

...I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly decided that they had to work a little harder.

The progression from FOC Bruticus to CW Bruticus ISN'T Hasbro deciding they had to work a little harder?

How quickly we forget...

I don't think Hasbro is losing too much of the collector market - only so many people are willing to fork over the money for Japanese imports. Many people are quite taken by jet Blast-Off, even though a new head really should have been sculpted for him.

Harder is a relative term,
that doesn't mean that I don't think they're working hard already, or that I don't appreciate combiner wars. To be honest, I've always advocated for these figures on this board.

I would appreciate not having words put in my mouth.

[ZeroWolf]

To be honest I'm quite pleased with hasbro going the route they went (I now want fiction to pick up that baton and make these new characters enduring to me) new characters in established teams is always welcome in my book.

[MemphisR56]

I agree, I love Rook, Alpha Bravo and Offroad. I'm actually hoping that they make a 4th additional character so I can create a full combiner team of newbies.

I just don't really want those to be at the expense of missing out on a character who's already an established part of the team.

Rook *is* great, and it's good that we're getting a little freshness injected into the G1 universe rather than trying to subsist it on pure nostalgia, but I don't recall him even getting a namecheck in the comics that introduced him, or any lines. So it still sort of feels like groove was displaced for the sake of a character who shows up in group shots and doesn't do anything, or have much personality outside of his character bio. So hopefully we'll see more of him in IDW in the future.

[megatronus]

I pulled the trigger on buying the Hasbro defensor before the UW protectobots were revealed.

I wish I'd got that version instead to be honest.

But at least now I know to always wait to see the takara version before I choose.

Got my pre-order on for UW Devastator, and I held out to see takara's bruticus first before deciding to pick up the Hasbro run. I'm so glad I did now.

#BASEDTakara


I feel a little bad for hasbro honestly. They're clearly making decisions with these figures to save themselves money, and by Takara doing these retools and upgrades, Hasbro looks stupid. Like... I honestly think it's costing them sales from the collectors market, which is clearly the demographic that they aim to hit with these figures...

...I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly decided that they had to work a little harder.

The progression from FOC Bruticus to CW Bruticus ISN'T Hasbro deciding they had to work a little harder?

How quickly we forget...

I don't think Hasbro is losing too much of the collector market - only so many people are willing to fork over the money for Japanese imports. Many people are quite taken by jet Blast-Off, even though a new head really should have been sculpted for him.

Harder is a relative term,
that doesn't mean that I don't think they're working hard already, or that I don't appreciate combiner wars. To be honest, I've always advocated for these figures on this board.

I would appreciate not having words put in my mouth.

I was posing an incredulous question (edited to be an incredulous statement) - not trying to put words in your mouth.

Sorry if it came off that way.

[MemphisR56]

I was posing an incredulous question (edited to be an incredulous statement) - not trying to put words in your mouth.

Sorry if it came off that way.

No biggie, I sort of re-read my post after responding and I can see how it could be read as a bit of an attack on Hasbro. It's cool.

[misfire19d]

The shuttles are now retired however, I think having an orbital space capable vehicle is very combat effective for communications, recon and raining hellfire and brimstone down on enemy positions from space. I was at the Hasbro panel at botcon and got a little irked when some kids with marketing degrees started talking about "combat effectiveness" in their decision to justify another repaint. But that's for another discussion thread.

You're serious no?

oui

[william-james88]

I agree, I love Rook, Alpha Bravo and Offroad. I'm actually hoping that they make a 4th additional character so I can create a full combiner team of newbies.

I just don't really want those to be at the expense of missing out on a character who's already an established part of the team.

Rook *is* great, and it's good that we're getting a little freshness injected into the G1 universe rather than trying to subsist it on pure nostalgia, but I don't recall him even getting a namecheck in the comics that introduced him, or any lines. So it still sort of feels like groove was displaced for the sake of a character who shows up in group shots and doesn't do anything, or have much personality outside of his character bio. So hopefully we'll see more of him in IDW in the future.

Well your fourth member could be Hasbro's slingshot since Takara's will be different (probably an actual space shuttle). And as for Rook, well there was this guy called Rook in the fiction, if that helps in any way.

[megatronus]

I agree, I love Rook, Alpha Bravo and Offroad. I'm actually hoping that they make a 4th additional character so I can create a full combiner team of newbies.

I just don't really want those to be at the expense of missing out on a character who's already an established part of the team.

Rook *is* great, and it's good that we're getting a little freshness injected into the G1 universe rather than trying to subsist it on pure nostalgia, but I don't recall him even getting a namecheck in the comics that introduced him, or any lines. So it still sort of feels like groove was displaced for the sake of a character who shows up in group shots and doesn't do anything, or have much personality outside of his character bio. So hopefully we'll see more of him in IDW in the future.

Well your fourth member could be Hasbro's slingshot since Takara's will be different (probably an actual space shuttle). And as for Rook, well there was this guy called Rook in the fiction, if that helps in any way.

That Rook looks like the lovechild of IDW Swerve and IDW Tailgate.

Not sure how I feel about that...

[Sabrblade]

And as for Rook, well there was this guy called Rook in the fiction, if that helps in any way.

As Jelze once pointed out, that Rook is gray, not white.






And a different character.

[Optimizzy]

I get more Hasbro stuff that takara stuff cause well...I grew up with them being Hasbro toys. I don't collect Japanese transforming robots, I collect Hasbro transformers. I guess that's what I mean. Hasbro has a different goal in mind when they make stuff than takara does. Honestly I think they both want to please the fans they just do it in different ways.

Also, it's easier for takara to see what we want when Hasbro releases its product 6 months earlier. Takara gets to hear the criticism.

[william-james88]

As Jelze once pointed out, that Rook is gray, not white.

And a different character.

I am well aware, I just wanted to show that there is a Rook in the fiction somewhere already. They didnt just take this name out of the blue

Also, it's easier for takara to see what we want when Hasbro releases its product 6 months earlier. Takara gets to hear the criticism.

This always strikes me as odd whenever someone brings it up. It assumes that a production cycle is quite short. Takara released a teaser for Ultra Prime/Optimus Maximus before Hasbro ever revealed the figures. Instead I think it makes more sense to look at both companies as having different objectives and catering to different markets (which is true on both accounts). The collector market is a bigger chunk of Takara's Transformer market than Hasbro's.

[william-james88]

Look what I just bought:



That's 142.75$ US and the shipping will be an extra 35$ US, so about 175-180$ US total shipped.

So, like most things this year, the toy itself costs me the same as the Hasbro version locally, the premium I pay for takara is simply the shipping cost.

EDIT: Here is the link if others want what is currently the best deal on UW Devastator http://www.anime-export.com/product/26544

[Jelze Bunnycat]

As Jelze once pointed out, that Rook is gray, not white.

And a different character.

I am well aware, I just wanted to show that there is a Rook in the fiction somewhere already. They didnt just take this name out of the blue

I wonder what came first: the design of the helmet, or the name.

[Sabrblade]

As Jelze once pointed out, that Rook is gray, not white.

And a different character.

I am well aware, I just wanted to show that there is a Rook in the fiction somewhere already. They didnt just take this name out of the blue

A few Rooks, even.