The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

Aha! I found my quote:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=102338&p=1742649&hilit=nosecone#p1742649

Also, people say they would like the rest of Computron to be released but I dont. This scattershot is terrible. I dont want to just own a to called Computron, I want to own an actual nice computron toy with a nice nosecone and not the crappy brawl repaint they showed for ramhorm with the teeny tiny nosecone.

I do hope to get a computron since he is the coolest combiner but I dont want him looking like anything they are offering.

So yeah, I would be singing the very same tune.

[o.supreme]

Hasbro's mindset seems to be more about making their products look "good" instead of "bad", even if it doesn't look accurate to any preexisting media of the past. Whereas Takara's mindset seems to be more about making their products look "right" instead of "wrong", even if that ever results in a bland/under-detailed look that favors the use of solid coloring and ignores sculpted detail instead a colorful/detailed look that uses less solid coloring and makes use of said detail.

For better or for worse, Hasbro goes for what looks "cool" to them , while Takara goes for what looks "correct" to them.

I can accept that explanation with the exception that Hasbro should consider the fact that what they think is "Good", is not always what the fans think is "Good" it is always subjective.

Additionally, Takara wanting to do things "Right" does not always mean they will come away with an inferior product. I appreciate all the comparison videos on Youtube, as we can see there is not always one producer that is 100% better than the other. Both have positives.

But everyone has their own preferences. TT Unite Warriors just appeals to everything I like about the line more than Hasbro's CW, but I recognize just as many fans may feel the opposite.

That being said however, I go for uniqueness overall and my entire collection is a mix of both lines. I have the UW sets as I love the packaging of the sets, and I have purchased CW one-offs and original characters. I have also purchased Hasbro's G2 sets as they don't appear to be getting a UW release.

And all that being said, Computron will be the first combiner that I purchase entirely both from Hasbro & TT because they are both so unique.

[Agamemnon]

Well, Hasbro makes toys for kids. Sure, they obviously care about fans, to an extent. But, the focus is still to sell toys to kids. (Well, to sell toys to kids' parents...)


And to make money....

[Edit] And not to seem like I am attacking o.supreme, I am with you in general. I am also buying both to mix and match...

[Sabrblade]

I can accept that explanation with the exception that Hasbro should consider the fact that what they think is "Good", is not always what the fans think is "Good" it is always subjective.

And how! Both of Hasbro's TR Fort Maxes look downright hideous to me compared to Takara's Legends Fort Max.

[william-james88]

Well, Hasbro makes toys for kids. Sure, they obviously care about fans, to an extent. But, the focus is still to sell toys to kids. (Well, to sell toys to kids' parents...)

Takara's Target market is the exact same.

[Kurona]

Aha! I found my quote:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=102338&p=1742649&hilit=nosecone#p1742649

Also, people say they would like the rest of Computron to be released but I dont. This scattershot is terrible. I dont want to just own a to called Computron, I want to own an actual nice computron toy with a nice nosecone and not the crappy brawl repaint they showed for ramhorm with the teeny tiny nosecone.

I do hope to get a computron since he is the coolest combiner but I dont want him looking like anything they are offering.

So yeah, I would be singing the very same tune.

You think Computron's the coolest combiner?
Not disagreeing with you or anything, I'm just kinda interested to know why

Also to be fair, the Scattershot is really good. ... aside from torso mode. It is stupid they put so much effort on the vehicle mode and robot mode head instead of the torso mode and combined head, but hey, the vehicle mode at least does look like a very nice update.

[william-james88]

Aha! I found my quote:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=102338&p=1742649&hilit=nosecone#p1742649

Also, people say they would like the rest of Computron to be released but I dont. This scattershot is terrible. I dont want to just own a to called Computron, I want to own an actual nice computron toy with a nice nosecone and not the crappy brawl repaint they showed for ramhorm with the teeny tiny nosecone.

I do hope to get a computron since he is the coolest combiner but I dont want him looking like anything they are offering.

So yeah, I would be singing the very same tune.

You think Computron's the coolest combiner?
Not disagreeing with you or anything, I'm just kinda interested to know why

Also to be fair, the Scattershot is really good. ... aside from torso mode. It is stupid they put so much effort on the vehicle mode and robot mode head instead of the torso mode and combined head, but hey, the vehicle mode at least does look like a very nice update.

Not a huge fan of the vehicle. I much preffer in G1 how the ship has width throughout and takes on a cone-type shape. It also wasnt a robot lying underneath a flying object. A new mold reflecting the original Scattershot like CW Silverbolt does with G1 Silverbolt would have been really awesome.

As for why I think he`s the coolest. Well, like you, I find it really fun how Computron is very much of his era and what people thought "futuristic" would look like. He has all the components of that, one is even a Tron lightcycle
Plus everything is very varied. He has both land air components but with an extra sci fi twist. Every component is very unique that way and completely different from one to the next. Yet their sci fi look unifies them all under one theme. That is why he is my favourite, design wise. He is a love letter to the techno future of the 80s with entirely distinctive components that are all unified thematically at the same time.

[o.supreme]

To be honest, I have enjoyed the CW/UW line overall it actually got me back into purchasing toys after a 10 year hiatus. The only things I would have changed were:

1: Make Devastator from 6 Deluxe class toys rather than 6 Voaygers, to make his size basically the same as all the others. I mean Devastator is an amazing toy, its "bigness" I'm sure kids love, it just doesn't fit with the others at that scale however.

2. Create animalistic robot molds so we could have Predaking, Abominus, & Piranacon. I mean, whether out of cost saving measures, or whatever reason, I am fairly impressed that Hasbro & TT were able to *mostly* faithfully recreate most of the G1 Gestalts with a little retooling of just a few basic molds, and a few new combiners to boot. But to have those other three as well would round out the line nicely.

3. G2 Defensor - I know technically its not "too late", but still I doubt this is happening. But if since Hasbro decided to roll out the G2 line (and they did Menasor) I just wish they would have finished it. I know the whole Deluxe/Legends Groove thing was a bit of a logistics SNAFU, but, worst case scenario, now that we have a Deluxe Groove, they could offer it with G2 Defensor, and just give Legends groove another name, or heck even just call him Groove II. Its not like the idea of having two Transformers with the same name is completely unheard of.

[Wolfman Jake]

I honestly don't care what they're excuse is, it doesn't justify painting superion's head red and trying to pass it off as someone new - especially on the heels of 'betatron' and since so many people already have superion himself; maybe they should've just given the combiner a new head

To be fair, the original G1 Computron head looked a lot like Superion's head at first glance anyway:

Hasbro's scheme would have worked rather beautifully too, if it wasn't for one big mistake. They sculpted Superion with a mouthplate, like his media appearances, instead of with a mouth, like the G1 toy. Derp! If Hasbro had gone with their usual "toy accuracy" instincts, we wouldn't be in this problem, but then again, I'm sure a lot of people would have been upset with Superion not looking like the cartoon.

[Sowndwave76]

It does come with an extra legends figure and its targetmaster. And it has updated feet and hands.
And if you dont get it, you miss out on a totally new take on a modernized Strafe which has a Hasbro exclusive Headsculpt and new tooling.
...

Thats all I got.

Not arguing, and your points are completely objective.
But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.
The new hands and feet are better than the others, but that doesn't make up for the other issues.
Even with a new headsculpt, Strafe's bot mode is very wrong to me, mainly because of how the face has been colored, along with the lack of red and addition of orange. I'm somewhat surprised there aren't more people complaining that there's too much white.

In terms of some things that have been mentioned that are subjective:
I don't buy Hasbro's statement in context to Computron. Seems like "looking into the future yada yada" was a bit of a stretch in terms of this set.

I've said this multiple times now; when these are the first real updated versions of these characters from G1 --no matter how much you like or dislike G1 stuff-- how would you not want the opportunity to have 1 updated figure of each character that looks true to the original?
And if you don't like the look of the original characters, how do you not understand that it's very justified to release at least 1 updated version of a character that IS accurate to the original look??
I understand the opinion that UW paint apps are too plain...
But what do you expect?? This isn't the 4th, 3rd, or even 2nd round of G1 updating for these characters (I personally don't count most of the previous non-combining releases as true updates).
I've also mentioned before that these current figures aren't 100% true to G1 characters as is because there have been plenty of changes with the molds in and of themselves.
Not complaining about the molds, but with those changes, I do expect colors to be relatively accurate to the original characters if it's the first real updated version.
It's why I didn't care either way about the CW Autobots. At this point, fine, good, change them some. Previous lines have already released really decent versions of these characters.
This is where Hasbro's Tehcnobots & Computron are lacking... Too many liberties with colors, and overall the molds being used aren't great. And that's a lose-lose combo imo.
Lastly, I don't understand people's need of so much/many colors... Outside of cartoon accuracy, figures like UW Strafe, Vortex (and the list goes on and on and on), look so clean and awesome with simple color schemes...
More colors just for sake of more colors may cost a bit more, but a lot of times looks cheaper imo. Random placement of extra color doesn't say good design to me.
And in some cases like Hasbro Strafe and Afterburner, you end up with colors like an orange face and chest, and a green windshield... ??? How that's better just because it's more color is beyond me. Another case of this is the fushia/dark pink of Hasbro's Computron chest and face.
Yeah, another color, but I'm sorry that doesn't look good. I'll even say it just doesn't look as good as it probably could. Extra colors like those don't enhance or improve the mold designs one bit.

[fenrir72]

It does come with an extra legends figure and its targetmaster. And it has updated feet and hands.
And if you dont get it, you miss out on a totally new take on a modernized Strafe which has a Hasbro exclusive Headsculpt and new tooling.
...

Thats all I got.

Not arguing, and your points are completely objective.
But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.
The new hands and feet are better than the others, but that doesn't make up for the other issues.
Even with a new headsculpt, Strafe's bot mode is very wrong to me, mainly because of how the face has been colored, along with the lack of red and addition of orange. I'm somewhat surprised there aren't more people complaining that there's too much white.

In terms of some things that have been mentioned that are subjective:
I don't buy Hasbro's statement in context to Computron. Seems like "looking into the future yada yada" was a bit of a stretch in terms of this set.

I've said this multiple times now; when these are the first real updated versions of these characters from G1 --no matter how much you like or dislike G1 stuff-- how would you not want the opportunity to have 1 updated figure of each character that looks true to the original?
And if you don't like the look of the original characters, how do you not understand that it's very justified to release at least 1 updated version of a character that IS accurate to the original look??
I understand the opinion that UW paint apps are too plain...
But what do you expect?? This isn't the 4th, 3rd, or even 2nd round of G1 updating for these characters (I personally don't count most of the previous non-combining releases as true updates).
I've also mentioned before that these current figures aren't 100% true to G1 characters as is because there have been plenty of changes with the molds in and of themselves.
Not complaining about the molds, but with those changes, I do expect colors to be relatively accurate to the original characters if it's the first real updated version.
It's why I didn't care either way about the CW Autobots. At this point, fine, good, change them some. Previous lines have already released really decent versions of these characters.
This is where Hasbro's Tehcnobots & Computron are lacking... Too many liberties with colors, and overall the molds being used aren't great. And that's a lose-lose combo imo.
Lastly, I don't understand people's need of so much/many colors... Outside of cartoon accuracy, figures like UW Strafe, Vortex (and the list goes on and on and on), look so clean and awesome with simple color schemes...
More colors just for sake of more colors may cost a bit more, but a lot of times looks cheaper imo. Random placement of extra color doesn't say good design to me.
And in some cases like Hasbro Strafe and Afterburner, you end up with colors like an orange face and chest, and a green windshield... ??? How that's better just because it's more color is beyond me. Another case of this is the fushia/dark pink of Hasbro's Computron chest and face.
Yeah, another color, but I'm sorry that doesn't look good. I'll even say it just doesn't look as good as it probably could. Extra colors like those don't enhance or improve the mold designs one bit.

Agree with your frustrations. Despite the limitations of the original G1 figs, each one of the teams were really unique.Betatron or Scatershot is kind'a half ass effort. I mean, Hb gave the body new fist and feet and head but not a new combiner head?

But the recent updates are the "best" (Takara) with what we got.with it having the best presentation wise. That or we get the 3x price of the 3rd party versions of Computron (which looks equally awesome but very pricey )

[william-james88]

Awesome post soundwave! And mine was just in jest of course since I am also getting UW Computron. Although I thought that if one person would get both it would be you since you seemed to have fun with the idea of owning 2 different takes on Bruticus. But maybe its because Hasbro's was better realized as an homage. Which brings me to this...

Outside of cartoon accuracy, figures like Vortex (and the list goes on and on and on), look so clean and awesome with simple color schemes...
More colors just for sake of more colors may cost a bit more, but a lot of times looks cheaper imo. Random placement of extra color doesn't say good design to me.

I had some trouble with Takara's vortex. The rotors are awesome, but the light blue at the sides was a bit off to me. I hated taht bright yellow on Hasbro's more though. Now thats a random colour. But I ended up with hasbro's because it was just so damn cheap and I got to appreciate the colour scheme. Not the yellow, but the rainbow chest is awesome. Sure, its more colours but unlike other examples listed, its not for the sake of more colours. I like homages and smart design and while I am 100% ok with Takara going all out on show accuracy, I think its just as cool when hasbro goes full toy accuracy (like if they did what with Afterburner instead of whatever they did). And they do it with vortex. They turn his stickers into nice detailing and go all ou on replicating the colours and their layout. I found it really cool.



I also really love what they did with Dragstrip, that was a smart update which still stayed true. I wasnt too fond of Takara colouring some parts black to imitate wheels. The wheels arent there so why not make the most of the mold thats given. Anyways, just wanted to say that while I give all the merrit and money to Takara when its a job well done, I like doing the same with hasbro when they do something cool too, like with Vortex' toy accuracy.

[Sowndwave76]

:APPLAUSE:

Awesome post soundwave! And mine was just in jest of course since I am also getting UW Computron. Although I thought that if one person would get both it would be you since you seemed to have fun with the idea of owning 2 different takes on Bruticus. But maybe its because Hasbro's was better realized as an homage. Which brings me to this...

Outside of cartoon accuracy, figures like Vortex (and the list goes on and on and on), look so clean and awesome with simple color schemes...
More colors just for sake of more colors may cost a bit more, but a lot of times looks cheaper imo. Random placement of extra color doesn't say good design to me.

I had some trouble with Takara's vortex. The rotors are awesome, but the light blue at the sides was a bit off to me. I hated taht bright yellow on Hasbro's more though. Now thats a random colour. But I ended up with hasbro's because it was just so damn cheap and I got to appreciate the colour scheme. Not the yellow, but the rainbow chest is awesome. Sure, its more colours but unlike other examples listed, its not for the sake of more colours. I like homages and smart design and while I am 100% ok with Takara going all out on show accuracy, I think its just as cool when hasbro goes full toy accuracy (like if they did what with Afterburner instead of whatever they did). And they do it with vortex. They turn his stickers into nice detailing and go all ou on replicating the colours and their layout. I found it really cool.



I also really love what they did with Dragstrip, that was a smart update which still stayed true. I wasnt too fond of Takara colouring some parts black to imitate wheels. The wheels arent there so why not make the most of the mold thats given. Anyways, just wanted to say that while I give all the merrit and money to Takara when its a job well done, I like doing the same with hasbro when they do something cool too, like with Vortex' toy accuracy.

First off, thanks. And again, I appreciated you pointing out the objectively good points of Hasbro's Comp. I will consider getting Strafe if I see him in a store and he looks better than what I think he currently does. I want to see that headsculpt up close.

I agree about Hasbro's Vortex. The paint apps on the body are awesome! I completely dig that Hasbro replicated a sticker design with the paint. But again, that yellow on the arms... WHY??!?!
Now Hasbro's Dragstrip I'm not a huge fan of. I wish that red-violet was just a red. Even a shade of red. That raspberry/plum color is fairly random imo.
At the same time, while I like TT's better overall, I agree the about the faux wheels... Not the best choice. Okay idea since it kinda makes sense. But bad result.

I wish I did like Hasbro's Comp.... I'm not against the versions being different. Even a lot different. But I don't see spending roughly $90 for something I don't feel is worth $90.
Like I said in an earlier post, if anything, I'll be tempted to get a second UW set.

[Sowndwave76]

Agree with your frustrations. Despite the limitations of the original G1 figs, each one of the teams were really unique.Betatron or Scatershot is kind'a half ass effort. I mean, Hb gave the body new fist and feet and head but not a new combiner head?

But the recent updates are the "best" (Takara) with what we got.with it having the best presentation wise. That or we get the 3x price of the 3rd party versions of Computron (which looks equally awesome but very pricey )

That's a stronger point than people probably think... A new headsculpt would've been a big positive.

And I still remember seeing that third party Comp for the first time... Very cool and very impressive.

[Sabrblade]

But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.

What about Scrounge when it comes to Scrounge himself?

[Sowndwave76]

But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.

What about Scrounge when it comes to Scrounge himself?

If he and his shuttle buddy were sold as a legends class figure, I'd pass.
A tiny shuttle and his big brother wheel... No thanks.
I get the shuttle turns into his special hand. But still, no thanks.

What do you think about him?

[Sabrblade]

But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.

What about Scrounge when it comes to Scrounge himself?

If he and his shuttle buddy were sold as a legends class figure, I'd pass.
A tiny shuttle and his big brother wheel... No thanks.
I get the shuttle turns into his special hand. But still, no thanks.

What do you think about him?

Though I wasn't alive when Scrounge lived and died back in February of 1986, when I finally got to experience his tragic death, I was as moved as any 1986 fan was and came to understand how fans really took to him. This Scrounge toy may be a retool of Cosmos, but it truly is a toy that has been a long time coming, 30 years in the making.

Though many (myself included) would prefer it to be available on its own, that we're finally getting a full-fledged legit toy of an obscure nobody like Scrounge for the first time in 30 years, even as a component of a larger combiner boxed set, and from Hasbro proper and not from something like the Club, is nothing short of a miracle.

For many, he is the primary reason that folks are even considering buying Hasbro's Computron at all, which just goes to show how powerful and memorable his tragic end really hit home with all these people. For these fans, it's not a matter of whether Scrounge even belongs as a component of Computron or not, or even if his being included with the Technobots makes any kind of sense or not. It is instead a matter of people having wanted and waited for an official toy of G1 Scrounge for three decades, and by golly they are gonna do whatever it takes to finally get their hands on it. And that is some admirable passion.

[Sigma Magnus]

Huh...never thought of it that way...

...also, why are random words being turned into green eBay links? Or is it only glitching for me?

[Sabrblade]

...also, why are random words being turned into green eBay links? Or is it only glitching for me?

It's an eBay rover bot at work.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Huh...never thought of it that way...

...also, why are random words being turned into green eBay links? Or is it only glitching for me?

It's glitching for everyone. It is being tended to.

[fenrir72]

But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.

What about Scrounge when it comes to Scrounge himself?

If he and his shuttle buddy were sold as a legends class figure, I'd pass.
A tiny shuttle and his big brother wheel... No thanks.
I get the shuttle turns into his special hand. But still, no thanks.

What do you think about him?

Though I wasn't alive when Scrounge lived and died back in February of 1986, when I finally got to experience his tragic death, I was as moved as any 1986 fan was and came to understand how fans really took to him. This Scrounge toy may be a retool of Cosmos, but it truly is a toy that has been a long time coming, 30 years in the making.

Though many (myself included) would prefer it to be available on its own, that we're finally getting a full-fledged legit toy of Scrounge for the first time in 30 years, even as a component of a larger combiner boxed set, is nothing short of a miracle.

For many, he is the primary reason that folks are even considering buying Hasbro's Computron at all, which just goes to show how powerful and memorable his tragic end really hit home with all these people. For these fans, it's not a matter of whether Scrounge even belongs as a component of Computron or not, or even if his being included with the Technobots makes any kind of sense or not, it is instead a matter of people having wanted and waited for an official toy of G1 Scrounge for three decades, and by golly they are gonna do whatever it takes to finally get their hands on it. And that is some admirable passion.

I remember that Into the Smelting Pool which introduced the next gen of TFs,Kim de Mulder's inks sucked and it wasn't until Akin/Garvey took over that the artwork began to shine but the story itself was quite tragic (simple yet delivered a sense of pathos and loss.........hear that current comic book writers? I'm looking at y'all! Just tell a good story and none of those hot button issues storyline gunk gimmicks which gets you only 50,000 + sales over the near millions back in the 80s and 90s) that it affected many a reader since (and thats just for a comic designed to sell toys.those were the great marvel years indeed).

So, people having been waiting for Scrounge, now's the chance and maybe try reenacting the scenes in the comic now that Straxus too has been released.

[Sowndwave76]

But I don't give a shite about Scrounge or the embryo-shuttle when it comes to Computron. I just don't. Some may call those "extras" or "bonuses", but I call them unnecessary and almost gimmicky. They don't do much of anything for the set or the combined figure.

What about Scrounge when it comes to Scrounge himself?

If he and his shuttle buddy were sold as a legends class figure, I'd pass.
A tiny shuttle and his big brother wheel... No thanks.
I get the shuttle turns into his special hand. But still, no thanks.

What do you think about him?

Though I wasn't alive when Scrounge lived and died back in February of 1986, when I finally got to experience his tragic death, I was as moved as any 1986 fan was and came to understand how fans really took to him. This Scrounge toy may be a retool of Cosmos, but it truly is a toy that has been a long time coming, 30 years in the making.

Though many (myself included) would prefer it to be available on its own, that we're finally getting a full-fledged legit toy of an obscure nobody like Scrounge for the first time in 30 years, even as a component of a larger combiner boxed set, and from Hasbro proper and not from something like the Club, is nothing short of a miracle.

For many, he is the primary reason that folks are even considering buying Hasbro's Computron at all, which just goes to show how powerful and memorable his tragic end really hit home with all these people. For these fans, it's not a matter of whether Scrounge even belongs as a component of Computron or not, or even if his being included with the Technobots makes any kind of sense or not. It is instead a matter of people having wanted and waited for an official toy of G1 Scrounge for three decades, and by golly they are gonna do whatever it takes to finally get their hands on it. And that is some admirable passion.

If this is the case and that many people are truly wanting this character, then I am really happy that Hasbro has made this happen. I get that with both figures it's probably no longer just a Legends class figure, but it is too bad that this couldn't be released on its own.

edit: So Scrounge will be available separately??

[Sowndwave76]

Huh...never thought of it that way...

...also, why are random words being turned into green eBay links? Or is it only glitching for me?

It's glitching for everyone. It is being tended to.

I was about to ask this same question.

[Sabrblade]

edit: So Scrounge will be available separately??

Not that any of us have heard.

[Sowndwave76]

edit: So Scrounge will be available separately??

Not that any of us have heard.

But Hasbro's Technobots will be sold individually, right?
So who would he come packaged with???
Considering the new hands and feet that will come with the limb figures, I wonder if he will be sold separately.

????