The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

Well, as it should come out first, pre-order tt's, and wait to see what deal's you can get on the hasbro one, it could very likely come out at a time like memorial day or 4th of July when they have a 10%, 15%, or 20% deal going, that, combined with the free shipping you should get along with it, would make it a worthy choice, then you simply cancel your pre-order.

But its not jsut about the money sometimes. Even if you find a Hasbro Computron for 80$, an inferior toy will always remain an inferior toy. And if you end up caving and eventualyl buying the Takara one after everyone marvels about it, not only would you end up paying secondary market prices (which are worse for Takara items than hasbro items) but you would have lost 80$ because you bought the Hasbro one first.

And if saving money is what really speaks to you then think of it this way. If you dont get Takara's now, it will be at least 250$ to get that set in 3 years (new, and this is being conservative). So think of buying it now and thus saving mney you wont have to spend later. Think of how lucky you are to be able to get it at this price now. New fans come in all the time. Imagine that poor fan who comes in in 2017 because of the new Titan that is heavily mediatized and gets smitten by these gorgeous combiners and is stuck paying secondary prices? We are lucky not to be that guy. We can get this gorgeous combiner now for the best price possible, which is only 35$ more than the Hasbro one (sounds like a deal to me), and that 35$ is not even because of the upgrades but only because BBTS has to ship this guy from japan. There is so much value and beuty here, I could cry.

[Kurona]

Well, as it should come out first, pre-order tt's, and wait to see what deal's you can get on the hasbro one, it could very likely come out at a time like memorial day or 4th of July when they have a 10%, 15%, or 20% deal going, that, combined with the free shipping you should get along with it, would make it a worthy choice, then you simply cancel your pre-order.

But its not jsut about the money sometimes. Even if you find a Hasbro Computron for 80$, an inferior toy will always remain an inferior toy. And if you end up caving and eventualyl buying the Takara one after everyone marvels about it, not only would you end up paying secondary market prices (which are worse for Takara items than hasbro items) but you would have lost 80$ because you bought the Hasbro one first.

And if saving money is what really speaks to you then think of it this way. If you dont get Takara's now, it will be at least 250$ to get that set in 3 years (new, and this is being conservative). So think of buying it now and thus saving mney you wont have to spend later. Think of how lucky you are to be able to get it at this price now. New fans come in all the time. Imagine that poor fan who comes in in 2017 because of the new Titan that is heavily mediatized and gets smitten by these gorgeous combiners and is stuck paying secondary prices? We are lucky not to be that guy. We can get this gorgeous combiner now for the best price possible, which is only 35$ more than the Hasbro one (sounds like a deal to me), and that 35$ is not even because of the upgrades but only because BBTS has to ship this guy from japan. There is so much value and beuty here, I could cry.

It really doesn't work out that simply, though - not in the slightest. For the simple fact that a person's monetary situation can be very very different with only a year's difference; someone who can't get Takara Computron for the price it's at now might easily be able to get it at the doubled aftermarket price a few years later. Unless you're in a very stable position monetary-speaking that you can be sure you'll still be in for a while, I find this argument rather flawed and generalizing.

[ZeroWolf]

Will, I have to ask, how much is takara paying you for this constant selling

I kid, but sometimes people will just want to get local.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

and the paint work does not fail to disappoint.

So you DON'T like how they look painted? Or did you misspeak and mean "does not fail to impress" or something along those lines?

Sorry about that, yeah that was an error. Fixed now. thanks!

[william-james88]

Will, I have to ask, how much is takara paying you for this constant selling

I kid, but sometimes people will just want to get local.

I just like offering different view points people dont always consider which I constantly do. You would be surprised how much goes into everyone of my purchases. I want to guarantee that I will not regret anything I get.

And the fact that I can never guarantee I will get something locally does change things. Canada not getting gen Arcee (THE toy to ge that year) was a real hard blow which made me rethink things. Plus there is the fact that this is a totally different toy from hasbro's. Compared to the Takara one, that Computron looks as much to me as G1 computron than the Beat Wars Elephant looks like G1 Ironhide. But yeah, to each' own.

It really doesn't work out that simply, though - not in the slightest. For the simple fact that a person's monetary situation can be very very different with only a year's difference; someone who can't get Takara Computron for the price it's at now might easily be able to get it at the doubled aftermarket price a few years later. Unless you're in a very stable position monetary-speaking that you can be sure you'll still be in for a while, I find this argument rather flawed and generalizing.

I dislike when people use their own predicaments to generalize so I am very thankful that you brought this up and corrected when I ws doing what I usualyl dislike seeing. And yeah, that is an angle I did not think of. I was only looking at the nominal value of money, not how much 10$ seems from person to person. That is an excellent point man, so thanks!

[ZeroWolf]

Will, I have to ask, how much is takara paying you for this constant selling

I kid, but sometimes people will just want to get local.

I just like offering different view points people dont always consider which I constantly do. You would be surprised how much goes into everyone of my purchases. I want to guarantee that I will not regret anything I get.

And the fact that I can never guarantee I will get something locally does change things. Canada not getting gen Arcee (THE toy to ge that year) was a real hard blow which made me rethink things. Plus there is the fact that this is a totally different toy from hasbro's. Compared to the Takara one, that Computron looks as much to me as G1 computron than the Beat Wars Elephant looks like G1 Ironhide. But yeah, to each' own.

It really doesn't work out that simply, though - not in the slightest. For the simple fact that a person's monetary situation can be very very different with only a year's difference; someone who can't get Takara Computron for the price it's at now might easily be able to get it at the doubled aftermarket price a few years later. Unless you're in a very stable position monetary-speaking that you can be sure you'll still be in for a while, I find this argument rather flawed and generalizing.

I dislike when people use their own predicaments to generalize so I am very thankful that you brought this up and corrected when I ws doing what I usualyl dislike seeing. And yeah, that is an angle I did not think of. I was only looking at the nominal value of money, not how much 10$ seems from person to person. That is an excellent point man, so thanks!

Oh I get it completely also I use beast wars iron hide as stantor, as that mold was called in beast wars II. I always thought that was pretty hokey.

[Microraptor]

Will, I am about 90% sure you win this round. Unless Hasbro can wow me for the money I'd save (shipping people, I get terrible shipping prices) I will get this version. He is amazing

You should be able to get free shipping from hts if they have that deal there at that time (they have it almost year-round I believe) or you could go tfsource, get the $150, get free shipping and get rewards points...

I was more referring to the hasbro version. I know I can get him with free shipping at the standard $100 mark, and with shipping or from sites like TFSource the takara version comes out to at cheapest $135. And I also know I can most likely get the hasbro one for even cheaper with some deals. So unless hasbro can prove to me that their Computron is worth getting and worth saving the at least $35, I will hunt takara's down, because theirs is vastly superior.

The hasbro version has Scrounge, his targetmaster buddy, and far superior hands and feet.

[william-james88]

The hasbro version has Scrounge, his targetmaster buddy, and far superior hands and feet.

Yup, but we have to ask ourselves, what is more important in a combiner:

The toys that combine together
Or the extras
?

[Kurona]

The extras.
We're kind of HasTak's whores that way.

[Diem]

The hasbro version has Scrounge, his targetmaster buddy, and far superior hands and feet.

Yup, but we have to ask ourselves, what is more important in a combiner:

The toys that combine together
Or the extras
?

If only it was that simple.

Hasbro:
Cheaper
More traditional hands/feet
More accurate Afterburner
Bonus figures

Takara:
FAR more accurate Strafe
FAR more accurate Nosecone
Awesome weapon hands/feet
Combining weapons
Bonus coin

[william-james88]

The hasbro version has Scrounge, his targetmaster buddy, and far superior hands and feet.

Yup, but we have to ask ourselves, what is more important in a combiner:

The toys that combine together
Or the extras
?

If only it was that simple.

Hasbro:
Cheaper
More traditional hands/feet
More accurate Afterburner
Bonus figures

Takara:
FAR more accurate Strafe
FAR more accurate Nosecone
Awesome weapon hands/feet
Combining weapons
Bonus coin

You'll have to remove 2 fromthat list. Firstly, Takara's only comes with a coin if you buy the Hasbro Asia version from Robot Kingdom. That coin is exclusive and doesnt come with the actual Japanese version.

Also, "cheaper" is only dependent on where you are and if either country distributes in your area. The hasbro version is way more expensive in Japan, it will cost 200$ there. So if they were to write a list, "cheaper" would be under the Takara one. And someone in australia who gets neither has to look at shipping otions for both. If you are comparing prices, be fair and compare the actual prices. Takara's price at retail is 100$ plus shipping, SAME as Hasbro. Your list cant be applied generally otherwise.

Also, how is Afterburner's green windshield more accuate?! It reffers to nothing.

[Kurona]

Being a bit more serious; in my case at least, I find both versions to be pretty great - there's grievances I have with both versions but things I like better than the other with both versions to the extent they're pretty equal for me. So the extras do end up being the tipping point... and those hands/feet look great and mean I won't have to buy the PE kit, plus when are we ever gonna get a Scrounge again?

[Diem]

You'll have to remove 2 fromthat list. Firstly, Takara's only comes with a coin if you buy the Hasbro Asia version from Robot Kingdom. That coin is exclusive and doesnt come with the actual Japanese version.

Also, "cheaper" is only dependent on where you are and if either country distributes in your area. The hasbro version is way more expensive in Japan, it will cost 200$ there. So if they were to write a list, "cheaper" would be under the Takara one. And someone in australia who gets neither has to look at shipping otions for both. If you are comparing prices, be fair and compare the actual prices. Takara's price at retail is 100$ plus shipping, SAME as Hasbro. Your list cant be applied generally otherwise.

Also, how is Afterburner's green windshield more accuate?! It reffers to nothing.

Ah, I didn't know the coin thing. Strike that from the list!

As for the cost thing, I definitely understand what you're saying, but Europe and Australia are both paying more for Unite than for CW (using Kapowtoys and premiumcollectables.com.au as my admittedly limited case samples). And as much as I hate Americocentrism I'd imagine most readers live in North America or one of those continents.

Hmm, for some reason I had it in my head that Hasbro Afterburner was orange-r. How disappointing.

[SureShot18]

It bugs me a little that Nosecone is the only one with barely any red while the other ones have red as their main color.

[william-james88]

As for the cost thing, I definitely understand what you're saying, but Europe and Australia are both paying more for Unite than for CW (using Kapowtoys and premiumcollectables.com.au as my admittedly limited case samples). And as much as I hate Americocentrism I'd imagine most readers live in North America or one of those continents.

Hmm, for some reason I had it in my head that Hasbro Afterburner was orange-r. How disappointing.

Well at least it is orange, unlike takara's (which is still quite screen accurate depending on the episode). My big beef with hasbro is the green in the windshield. It isnt toy accurate, show accurate or anything accurate. it is super strange and takes away from the accuracy it would otherwise have.

[Sowndwave76]

I will get over Afterburner not being more of a Yellow-Orange color very quickly,
with how great overall this set looks.
I personally think when some of these figures (meaning TT versions) do have larger (relatively speaking) areas of one color, it can actually show off more of the characteristics and details of the form of the mold.
It's a double positive for me (and others I'm assuming) because it's usually more show-accurate, and it eliminates the addition of random, almost confusing "filler" color, such as a green windshield for Afterburner.

I get it's all personal preference, but as I looked at pics again, I still can't believe how mashed-up the colors of Hasbro's version are.
Just the Computron torso alone... And I'm still not convinced the hands and feet actually match ANYTHING else.
No, I don't expect nor want combiners to match-up like Victorian...
But there is definitely a whole range of "happy medium" on the spectrum of Hasbro Comp and Victorian with cohesive colors.

With now having seen color images of the individual bots,
in terms of appearances, UW Computron is clearly the better version imo.

[Sowndwave76]

Wanted to add I'm super impressed with the Technobot head sculpts...
Which is a hugely important aspect of a figure for me.

[Kurona]

As for the cost thing, I definitely understand what you're saying, but Europe and Australia are both paying more for Unite than for CW (using Kapowtoys and premiumcollectables.com.au as my admittedly limited case samples). And as much as I hate Americocentrism I'd imagine most readers live in North America or one of those continents.

Hmm, for some reason I had it in my head that Hasbro Afterburner was orange-r. How disappointing.

Well at least it is orange, unlike takara's (which is still quite screen accurate depending on the episode). My big beef with hasbro is the green in the windshield. It isnt toy accurate, show accurate or anything accurate. it is super strange and takes away from the accuracy it would otherwise have.

It's not completely about accuracy, though - CHUG has largely been about redesigning and adding new elements to the characters, whether from other incarnations or completely original. Takara's where you go for accuracy to any specific thing.

[xMXUx]

As for the cost thing, I definitely understand what you're saying, but Europe and Australia are both paying more for Unite than for CW (using Kapowtoys and premiumcollectables.com.au as my admittedly limited case samples). And as much as I hate Americocentrism I'd imagine most readers live in North America or one of those continents.

Again, that is not completely true and depends on the country itself. For me living in Switzerland and having to order CW Computron from Kapow Toys, due to exchange rates and shipping costs, the CW version will cost me more than importing the UW version directly from Japan.

[william-james88]

As for the cost thing, I definitely understand what you're saying, but Europe and Australia are both paying more for Unite than for CW (using Kapowtoys and premiumcollectables.com.au as my admittedly limited case samples). And as much as I hate Americocentrism I'd imagine most readers live in North America or one of those continents.

Again, that is not completely true and depends on the country itself. For me living in Switzerland and having to order CW Computron from Kapow Toys, due to exchange rates and shipping costs, the CW version will cost me more than importing the UW version directly from Japan.

I will chime in myself. If ever Hasbro ends up not distributing a specific toy in Canada (as was the case with Generations Arcee and Chromia), it is always cheaper to import from Takara than to buy from BBTS due to the exchange and shipping (shipping from japan costs the same if not cheaper than shipping from the US).
All to say that "cost" changes from person to person and thus is not indicative to being on a pro and con list. "Price" can be because it is standard and unwavering from direct retailers. And in this case, the "Price" is pretty much the same.

It's not completely about accuracy, though - CHUG has largely been about redesigning and adding new elements to the characters, whether from other incarnations or completely original. Takara's where you go for accuracy to any specific thing.

I agree fully and the fact that the mold itself isnt a perfect homage to G1 means that the deco can also be an update instead of a full homage (as was the case with all the Menasor components). But I was replying to Diem who stated that one of the reasons to get the Hasbro version was that afterburner's colours were more accurate and, as you point out, Hasbro is looking to add new elements that werent there before.

In the end, people can choose what they want and there doesnt need to be a perfect reason. It could be that for people one is cheaper and thats perfect. But generalizing things doesnt work, especially for these combiners that are essentially totally different takes on a character.

[Logan.]

After Swindle, another great Rook remold^^

[steals_your_goats]

After Swindle, another great Rook remold^^

I wouldn't really call that a great remold. All they did was give it a new head, slap treads and a drill on it, everything else is the same.

[Kurona]

After Swindle, another great Rook remold^^

I wouldn't really call that a great remold. All they did was give it a new head, slap treads and a drill on it, everything else is the same.

I mean, honestly, it does what it set out to do and accomplishes a very different silhouette. Nosecone has been the biggest thing to try and sway me from Hasbro's version because the molding is just so excellent; if I could get him individually I so would. It's easily one of the best uses of this mold.

[Logan.]

I wouldn't really call that a great remold. All they did was give it a new head, slap treads and a drill on it, everything else is the same.

Yes, Swindle was a heavier remold actually^^

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Well, with the reveal of the Hasbro version in whole, I am still on the fence. Hasbro for me is much cheaper that takara. Hasbro to me has the better looking Strafe. Takara has the far better individual modes for the other 3 limbs, but the issue with that Nosecone to me makes for a bad looking leg with that massive lump below his knee, whereas the combined Hasbro Nosecone makes for such a better silhouette even if the individual is complete crap. I also love the new tooling on Scattershot that is evident on Computron. So yeah, that's where we stand. I will display these guys combined pretty much all the time, so it really comes down to those versions, and both have ups and downs.