The Energon Pub

[shajaki]

Site sponsor TFsource just dropped by to let us know the latest reveal and this is an exciting one. Just announced what is just announced is that MP-31 will be Delta Magnus, a homage to the original Diaclone Ultra Magnus! Not only that, but with this announcement we get pre-orders from TFsource themselves.



Remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates, plus the best galleries around!

[shajaki]

I think this is a good time to point out that MP Optimus Primal is in fact NOT designated as MP-31 (obviously)

[Glarryg]

Bought bought bought bought bought bought bought bought bought bought BOUGHT.

Now do a red Mirage.

Glarryg

[shajaki]

They'd have to do a blue one first there G-dawg

Also, it's been pointed out that MP-31 was named as Primal by a more reputable source. So it's likely that Delta's number designate is wrong

[Glarryg]

They'd have to do a blue one first there G-dawg

Yeah, you could do it that way, I suppose...

Also, it's been pointed out that MP-31 was named as Primal by a more reputable source. So it's likely that Delta's number designate is wrong

It's odd how some of the early Masterpiece redecoes that constituted new characters (like MP2 Magnus and the first versions of the Seekers) got new numbers. Lately, though, it seems like a straight-up new deco (like Tigertrack) gets a letter after the number, while it takes a retool (like Red Alert) to earn a new number. That said, it seem likely that Delta Magnus wouldn't be MP-31 unless there was some retooling involved, thus maintaining Munky's status as MP-31.

Glarryg

[shajaki]

Oh man... dont even get me started on the numbering system. I've read some long winded debates over what TT's reasoning has been, and even then I don't think a solid conclusion was reached. Good ideas, but nothing solid. All I can say is with the early MP's each getting number designates, is probably due to a lack of vision for the future of the line.

Back to DM though, I hope TT or a 3P makes a replacement face for him, giving him a mouth plate to distinguish him from UM like KFC did with their version. I thought it looked pretty bad-ass.

[Cobotron]

We all knew it was inevitable, but I wish I had had a clearer picture in my crystal ball. He looks awesome!
I guess i'll just stick with my Magnus for now.

[Rodimus Prime]

Why does a redeco get its own number? Why can't it be MP-22DM? It's not a new mold. I'm just curious.

[Glarryg]

That's what we've been discussing for most of this thread. It probably won't be number 31. There's just much point in changing the thread title until someone can confirm what it actually will be called.

Glarryg

[william-james88]

The Snakas Blog (Autobase Aichi) has just releasd a ton of high definition images of MP-31 Delta Magnus. These include comparison images with Masterpiece Ultra Magnus as well as images of the accessories he comes with. He comes with different faces which have different coloured eyes (Blue and Yellow). He also comes with a mini figure of Marissa Faireborn.

Hopefully, these should tide you over for a while.

[zodconvoy]

I didn't know it came with Marissa Faireborn. That makes it go from a probably not to a maybe. It's got a slightly higher chance than Star Saber did but no where near as high a likelihood as Primal.

[Sabrblade]

Also, it's been pointed out that MP-31 was named as Primal by a more reputable source. So it's likely that Delta's number designate is wrong

It's odd how some of the early Masterpiece redecoes that constituted new characters (like MP2 Magnus and the first versions of the Seekers) got new numbers. Lately, though, it seems like a straight-up new deco (like Tigertrack) gets a letter after the number, while it takes a retool (like Red Alert) to earn a new number. That said, it seem likely that Delta Magnus wouldn't be MP-31 unless there was some retooling involved, thus maintaining Munky's status as MP-31.

Oh man... dont even get me started on the numbering system. I've read some long winded debates over what TT's reasoning has been, and even then I don't think a solid conclusion was reached. Good ideas, but nothing solid.

The simplest answer is that new-character MPs that are sold at mass retail and not exclusives get their own numbers. All the lettered ones have been either exclusives and/or same-character-redecoed/remolded MPs.

The only one that seems to be an exception to this is MP-10B Black Convoy. I guess the marketing department didn't deem him different enough to get his own number.

[Cobotron]

What's the significance of Marisa Fairborn? It would have been really cool if he came with a Diaclone pilot figure instead.

And no Matrix hands, that I get.

[Sabrblade]

What's the significance of Marisa Fairborn? It would have been really cool if he came with a Diaclone pilot figure instead.

Marissa and Ultra Magnus teamed up in "The Killing Jar", but I guess she's coming with Ultra Magnus's redeco since Ultra Magnus already had Spike and Daniel come with him.

[galvatron00]

This is a recolor I never knew I wanted. I keep calling him Powered Convoy even though he's his own figure!!!!!! Curses!!

Oh well, unless he was $100 less, there's no way I'm getting him. shaj will get him, and pictures will be had.

[william-james88]

The simplest answer is that new-character MPs that are sold at mass retail and not exclusives get their own numbers. All the lettered ones have been either exclusives and/or same-character-redecoed/remolded MPs.

The only one that seems to be an exception to this is MP-10B Black Convoy. I guess the marketing department didn't deem him different enough to get his own number.

I dont think there's any logic to it.

MP14-C and MP-31 are both diaclone redecos and yet one has a new number and one doesnt (TFSource is no longer the only one reporting that number). I still find it odd how the heavily retooled Ramjet is simply MP11NR. He deserves his own number. Plus, what's with the N in NR?

[Sabrblade]

MP14-C and MP-31 are both diaclone redecos and yet one has a new number and one doesnt (TFSource is no longer the only one reporting that number). I still find it odd how the heavily retooled Ramjet is simply MP11NR. He deserves his own number. Plus, what's with the N in NR?

Clampdown and Ramjet are exclusives. Delta Magnus is not.

As for the N, it is short for "New Jetron", which is what the Coneheads were called in Japan.

[bvzxa]

Looks nice, I may get him. I don't collect many MPs, but I like what i see so far. I wish they recolor CW/Legends Ultra Magnus like this, and repaint Minimus Ambus into a Diaclone driver. That would be awesome too. I think once I go full on collecting MPs, I may have to backtrack and get the Daiclone repaints.

[megatronus]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

[william-james88]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

Would you care to share what you have problems with. I dont have that toy yet and was considering it (either him or Encore Fort Max)

[galvatron00]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

I didn't even realize those were the glasses eyes!! DANG IT TAKARA!!!! That's a 3rd Party move!!

[megatronus]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

Would you care to share what you have problems with. I dont have that toy yet and was considering it (either him or Encore Fort Max)

Sure. I whined about him a lot way back when he was released, and have no problem getting back on my soap box.

The lack of waist swivel really, really upset me. It's inexplicable that every other post-MP10 mold (besides the Seeker mold, of course) has a waist swivel except Magnus. It's a hallmark of modern articulation, and I sorely miss it. To add insult to injury, the designers have more or less admitted in interviews that Magnus was constrained by budgets, and it kills me this would be the case for a line of figures dubbed 'Masterpiece', especially since price points in Japan vary based on cost. In my mind, a few thousand more yen would have been worth that waist movement, and the admission that it was possible will forever make me wonder 'what if'.

I'm also bothered by the shoulder articulation and butt flap, but to a much lesser and forgivable degree - especially with the shoulders, the amazing transformation makes it almost worth it.

Magnus is a good figure - and more than that, a fun, transformable one - but he lets me down in ways that make it hard for me to describe him as 'great'.

Still, I'd pick him up over Fort Max, I think. But that's my MP bias talking.

[william-james88]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

Would you care to share what you have problems with. I dont have that toy yet and was considering it (either him or Encore Fort Max)

Sure. I whined about him a lot way back when he was released, and have no problem getting back on my soap box.

The lack of waist swivel really, really upset me. It's inexplicable that every other post-MP10 mold (besides the Seeker mold, of course) has a waist swivel except Magnus. It's a hallmark of modern articulation, and I sorely miss it. To add insult to injury, the designers have more or less admitted in interviews that Magnus was constrained by budgets, and it kills me this would be the case for a line of figures dubbed 'Masterpiece', especially since price points in Japan vary based on cost. In my mind, a few thousand more yen would have been worth that waist movement, and the admission that it was possible will forever make me wonder 'what if'.

Still, I'd pick him up over Fort Max, I think. But that's my MP bias talking.

You say that, and I am just about to order fort max. I feel that I would be more dissapointed to find that Fort Max ends up sold out everywhere than Magnus.

And I totally understand your need for waist articulation. I actually dont find it that crucial since it usually intercuts a design that leads from the abdomin to the thighs making any turn in the waist look odd (like with the new Hot Rodimus). I dont know if I am making sense here, but I dont like seeing the abdominal area move past the designated waist area. Like in the pick below:



So I usualyl rely on the thigh swivels more to achieve a similar pose. And hence my huge pet peeve is when a toy does not include thigh swivels. While the Legends Seeker mold got some praise, I really hate those toys for that reason. My first instinct when posing a toy is having them oriented a specific way and that is always achieved with the thigh swivel. So omitting it makes that toy dead in the water for me.

So yeah, all to say that I completely understand how the lack of what a particular fan may deem basic articulation can be a huge turn off

[hinomars19]

I'm excited for this - I have my problems with the Magnus mold, but this recolor is totally worth it to me. Especially since he comes with Magnus glasses face!

Would you care to share what you have problems with. I dont have that toy yet and was considering it (either him or Encore Fort Max)

Sure. I whined about him a lot way back when he was released, and have no problem getting back on my soap box.

The lack of waist swivel really, really upset me. It's inexplicable that every other post-MP10 mold (besides the Seeker mold, of course) has a waist swivel except Magnus. It's a hallmark of modern articulation, and I sorely miss it. To add insult to injury, the designers have more or less admitted in interviews that Magnus was constrained by budgets, and it kills me this would be the case for a line of figures dubbed 'Masterpiece', especially since price points in Japan vary based on cost. In my mind, a few thousand more yen would have been worth that waist movement, and the admission that it was possible will forever make me wonder 'what if'.

Still, I'd pick him up over Fort Max, I think. But that's my MP bias talking.

You say that, and I am just about to order fort max. I feel that I would be more dissapointed to find that Fort Max ends up sold out everywhere than Magnus.

And I totally understand your need for waist articulation. I actually dont find it that crucial since it usually intercuts a design that leads from the abdomin to the thighs making any turn in the waist look odd (like with the new Hot Rodimus). I dont know if I am making sense here, but I dont like seeing the abdominal area move past the designated waist area. Like in the pick below:



So I usualyl rely on the thigh swivels more to achieve a similar pose. And hence my huge pet peeve is when a toy does not include thigh swivels. While the Legends Seeker mold got some praise, I really hate those toys for that reason. My first instinct when posing a toy is having them oriented a specific way and that is always achieved with the thigh swivel. So omitting it makes that toy dead in the water for me.

So yeah, all to say that I completely understand how the lack of what a particular fan may deem basic articulation can be a huge turn off

If I may join in, chaps

I agree with megatronus about Magnus, I think the articulation on him overall is quite a frustrating step backwards.
However I also agree with Will, there are many good figures with no waist swivel that can still pull off that look because of the leg movement (CW Superion for example) However-that's what really let's the MP Magnus mold down-the leg movement is badly restricted. Couple that with the elbow joint making the arms look too short when bent, leaves him looking strikingly odd and clunky in 99% of poses.

Magnus is a big bot, he's no ninja, but still. The cost thing miffed me as well. This isn't just an MP-It's ULTRA MAGNUS! I'd happily have him be the only mold of his year, if it meant all of the expense went into something that really deserved it. Quality over quantity. I also disliked how he functions like the cartoon (transformation wise) but looks more like the toy. MP Grimlock got a lot of flack for being nothing more than an upscale of his G1 toy, and in terms of most of his trailer, Magnus is no different. That may sound odd, but It bothered me.

Delta looks nice, the colours match the mold better in that respect-you expect Delta to look more like his toy (Powered Convoy) He still has that clumsy and clunky aspect though.

[william-james88]

Delta looks nice, the colours match the mold better in that respect-you expect Delta to look more like his toy (Powered Convoy) He still has that clumsy and clunky aspect though.

Thats an excellent point. Only having the toy as a reference point takes away the criticism of him adhering too much to the toy rather than another media source