The Energon Pub

[Autobot N]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but BBTS has lowered the price to $135.

[william-james88]

Oh man, this is confusing. I think BBTS is just putting a random price like they did with MP Shockwave, just to secure preorders. I say this because Toy Dojo has this for 134.99

http://www.toydojo.com/transformers-uni ... -gift-set/

I hate when retailers arent being straight with us. I just want to know what my options are so I can plan the right budget and get a sense of what I am going to do.

Check your email.

Oh man, ok people, listen up good news to you all, here is what we just got from BBTS:

Looks like a pricing error actually – we’ll get it adjusted to $134.99 shortly, apologies for the confusion!

Too bad though, I spent a good 5-10 mins writing that Hasbro Asia message above, and now its all for nothing. Well its still good news to us all. Its a non exclusive

[steals_your_goats]

Oh so it's not an exclusive? Who knew

[william-james88]

Oh so it's not an exclusive? Who knew

I am glad its not an exclusive. But there wasnt any indication it was or wasnt before this price since there have been no japanese listings yet.

Sorry if I was disrespectful before, though I didnt mean to be. But to me, all is well that ends well.

[steals_your_goats]

Oh so it's not an exclusive? Who knew

I am glad its not an exclusive. But there wasnt any indication it was or wasnt before this price since there have been no japanese listings yet.

Sorry if I was disrespectful before, though I didnt mean to be. But to me, all is well that ends well.

It's all good, but now that we have confirmation of it being a non exclusive I guess the stalking of anime export has begun.

[Seibertron]

Too bad though, I spent a good 5-10 mins writing that Hasbro Asia message above, and now its all for nothing. Well its still good news to us all. Its a non exclusive

Patience is a virtue.

[Hellscream9999]

Not gonna lie, I rather loathe these sets (both computrons) for how different they are from one another, I wonder if habsro could've made more changes if they hadn't included scrounge and his targetmaster and a new head for scrounge. If this is the case, I ask myself, why was he included in the first place then? They could've used the budget and parts count from him and given us new chest panels and combined mode head, god f$%k this whole scenario

Gotta say though, if he doesn't get a new canopy, nosecone is gonna look like crap

[Sigma Magnus]

...now that I think about it, HasTak's really gotten their money's worth with the Silverbolt mold, haven't they?

[ZeroWolf]

Not gonna lie, I rather loathe these sets (both computrons) for how different they are from one another, I wonder if habsro could've made more changes if they hadn't included scrounge and his targetmaster and a new head for scrounge. If this is the case, I ask myself, why was he included in the first place then? They could've used the budget and parts count from him and given us new chest panels and combined mode head, god f$%k this whole scenario

Gotta say though, if he doesn't get a new canopy, nosecone is gonna look like crap

That's the part that confuses me about hasbro release, what links scrounge to computron?

I know takara market their goods to kids still, but the Japanese market is quite strange with a big collector presence so, while hasbro have said that collectors make up to 30% of their sales, I wonder if that's the same for takara.

[william-james88]

It's all good, but now that we have confirmation of it being a non exclusive I guess the stalking of anime export has begun.

And I will be stalking Nippon Yassan. Gonna get this guy to come to me by boat.

...now that I think about it, HasTak's really gotten their money's worth with the Silverbolt mold, haven't they?

Hell yeah they did. Wow. 4 uses. Although I find the fact that they sold the single scatershot torso at retail a really cheap move.

Gotta say though, if he doesn't get a new canopy, nosecone is gonna look like crap

The G1 toy doesnt look like much, I dont think this one will look worse. It's pretty cool they gave him threads.

[Sigma Magnus]

...now that I think about it, HasTak's really gotten their money's worth with the Silverbolt mold, haven't they?

Hell yeah they did. Wow. 4 uses. Although I find the fact that they sold the single scatershot torso at retail a really cheap move.

A really cheap move that my cousin fell for. Can't wait to see the look on his face when I have Computron...

[william-james88]

I know takara market their goods to kids still, but the Japanese market is quite strange with a big collector presence so, while hasbro have said that collectors make up to 30% of their sales, I wonder if that's the same for takara.

The "collector" term is misleading. Hasbro actually just said "fans" and decided to include kids 10 years old and up (including us older fans). So that 30% includes 10 year olds and 12 year olds and the like, so its not a "real" 30%.

And I dont know about Takara aside that, as you said, all I know is this: "In past series, the target ages were small children and their fathers, but the age group which is actually able to enjoy transforming toys is 7 ~ 9 years old."

I personally feel that the collector market would be higher in japan, but I dont think thats why Takara is going all out with this line. I think its actually because they themselves are fans (Yuki, who presented this toy was around since Beast Wars) and simply want to give the best product. Almost like they owe it to themselves.

[ZeroWolf]

Thanks will for answering it's good to know that the fans were able to get to these positions to do this work.

[william-james88]

Thanks will for answering it's good to know that the fans were able to get to these positions to do this work.

Yup, and on the hasbro front, John Warden is a big Transformers fan too. Hence all the homages to G1 lately.

But when it comes to Japan, I just love reading interviews, they have such pride in their work. The guy who designed MP Lambor and MP 10 was working on that 3 step RID Grimlock from last year and he was talking about his design process with as much passion as he would a more collector oriented toy. He just wanted the toy to have a fun transformation for kids.

I think what I loved the most was when I read that the Takara designer who made TAV/RID Warrior Bumblebee decided to have Bumblebee's chest be under the roof of the car as opposed to directly under the car (like the other RID deluxe toys) because that would mean that you,d have to rotate the waist during the transformation. It wasnt needed, but he thought that would be a cool step to add to the transformation and make it more fun and dynamic. And he's right. When I look at all the love and passion takara designers put into that TAV line, I get a little sad that it is put on the sidelines by collectors. It is as fun and inventive as the Generations line, if not more (since it has more unique and diverse transformations).

Sorry got carried away a bit there, I just love these toys and its nice to know that our passion as fans is shared by those who make them.

[Robogeek1973]

I'll be getting two Computrons from TakTom for sure.


I'm also glad to see that I was right about the price being incorrect this morning. Someone from another site was arguing with me about it this morning, so I take satisfaction in knowing I won that debate.

[grimdragon2001]

Pre-ordered Computron, hopfully ill be able to do this, maybe also get something else to get the free shipping going. *fingers crossed*

[ZeroWolf]

Thanks will for answering it's good to know that the fans were able to get to these positions to do this work.

Yup, and on the hasbro front, John Warden is a big Transformers fan too. Hence all the homages to G1 lately.

But when it comes to Japan, I just love reading interviews, they have such pride in their work. The guy who designed MP Lambor and MP 10 was working on that 3 step RID Grimlock from last year and he was talking about his design process with as much passion as he would a more collector oriented toy. He just wanted the toy to have a fun transformation for kids.

I think what I loved the most was when I read that the Takara designer who made TAV/RID Warrior Bumblebee decided to have Bumblebee's chest be under the roof of the car as opposed to directly under the car (like the other RID deluxe toys) because that would mean that you,d have to rotate the waist during the transformation. It wasnt needed, but he thought that would be a cool step to add to the transformation and make it more fun and dynamic. And he's right. When I look at all the love and passion takara designers put into that TAV line, I get a little sad that it is put on the sidelines by collectors. It is as fun and inventive as the Generations line, if not more (since it has more unique and diverse transformations).

Sorry got carried away a bit there, I just love these toys and its nice to know that our passion as fans is shared by those who make them.

Don't be sorry, it's nice to hear things like that, though it makes me wonder how many of the tfs are designed in the west compared to the east.

[kurthy]

...now that I think about it, HasTak's really gotten their money's worth with the Silverbolt mold, haven't they?

Hell yeah they did. Wow. 4 uses. Although I find the fact that they sold the single scatershot torso at retail a really cheap move.

A really cheap move that my cousin fell for. Can't wait to see the look on his face when I have Computron...

I'm very glad I read TF fan sites like this now, otherwise I would have fallen for it, too.

[william-james88]

I'll be getting two Computrons from TakTom for sure.
I'm also glad to see that I was right about the price being incorrect this morning. Someone from another site was arguing with me about it this morning, so I take satisfaction in knowing I won that debate.

As someone on the losing side of that same debate, I can sympathise. There has been no rhyme or reason to which releases become exclusives, all we know is that the US importer prices change depending on the type of release. And yes, so far we know they are exclusive when they are revealed (which wasnt the case here) but its all so fresh in an ever changing game of rules that it wouldnt have surprised me if this was indeed an exclusive. The price was a pretty good give away. Of course anyone who argued that he would be more expensive because of the amount of retooling was drinking some funky cool aid (that has nothing to do with it) but I saw none of that on this board, we have smart people here

In the end, I am sure that guy is as glad as me to be wrong.

Don't be sorry, it's nice to hear things like that, though it makes me wonder how many of the tfs are designed in the west compared to the east.

Thats an interesting answer too. There are 2 design stages for the toys: the product design (how the toy looks) and the engineering design (how the toy transforms). The majority of toys since Beast Wars had the product designs done by Hasbro and then those designs are sent to Takara for them to do the engineering (figure out how to get from the robot to the alt mode that Hasbro drew). Sometimes Hasbro does both parts (Energon Grimlock), and sometimes Takara does both parts (the MP line, CW Devastator and Gen Arcee) but these are more exceptions to the natural way things are done. So in the end, in the majority of retail releases, the design is handled by both parties for those 2 different design aspects. Since I am in the hobby more for the transforming toys aspect, I tend to pay more attention to the engineering side, which is takara, and hence why I have all these fun stories to tell

[Ultra Markus]

if the takara tommy version wasn't so much different i would really wouldn't care but this is so much more
i think i know which computron i'll be after

[fenrir72]

The 3rd party issues are equally awesome but the TT price oint is the deal breaker plus it's anofficial plastic crack!

[kurthy]

Does it look like Scattershot might have a two-part gun like Hotspot and then you can plug on the other bot guns for Computron's gun?

Also, I'm wondering if Nosecone's front is the back of Rook and vice versa, then the drill folds over to what would be Rook's backend.

[SureShot18]

Does it look like Scattershot might have a two-part gun like Hotspot and then you can plug on the other bot guns for Computron's gun?

Also, I'm wondering if Nosecone's front is the back of Rook and vice versa, then the drill folds over to what would be Rook's backend.

Yeah it certainly seems like it. But unlike Defensor's it actually looks like a cool gun and not a stick.

A slightly different transformation would be neat way to make him even more different than Rook but I think it probably just folds forward.

[kurthy]

Does it look like Scattershot might have a two-part gun like Hotspot and then you can plug on the other bot guns for Computron's gun?

Also, I'm wondering if Nosecone's front is the back of Rook and vice versa, then the drill folds over to what would be Rook's backend.

Yeah it certainly seems like it. But unlike Defensor's it actually looks like a cool gun and not a stick.

A slightly different transformation would be neat way to make him even more different than Rook but I think it probably just folds forward.

Just looked at the blacked out images with the alternative modes again, it does move to the front of Rook's mold.

[Mindmaster]

...Consider my interest piqued. Shame that I'll have to miss out on Scrounge, but I can get over it.

-That is the Scattorshot we needed. 'Nuff said.

-No surprises on Afterburner.

-Was actually hoping Lightspeed would be from Wheeljack; wanted a version of Wheeljack that wasn't Wheeljack, if that makes sense.

-Strafe from what appears to be Blast Off is a surprise. I was expecting Air Raid like Hasbro's, but this is okay with me, too. Kinda wanted to experience Blast Off without getting the rest of the UW Combaticons, anyway (see above).

-Nosecone from Rook is a good idea, too. I really do love that mold and will eat anything using that mold up.

Would be freaking bomb-tastic if Takara decided to take the initiative and make an Abominus from scratch to match Computron. 100% unlikely, but still.