The Energon Pub

hahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahaha
*gasp*
hahahahahahahahahhaha a
hahahahaha
ha *cough*
okay, so which one of you wants to sell me tc for a decent price now?

Okay, I’m lost here, but both look pretty good!

If I understand this correctly Thundercracker will still be exclusive, and somewhat rare. I suppose as long as its still rare that’s fine. Just may serve as a second chance as even on eBay he’s becoming hard to find.

GetterDragun wrote:I wonder if I can get my money from BotCon back. I won't be going to any more BotCons.

This sucks!!!

I can apreciate you feeling shafted here, alright, but say they did this with this years Shattered Glass set that had a thread with ebay auctions straight from the convention...

...would you still care!?!

Hell I haven't made a single botcon yet, but if all it is is a chance to get some crappy repaints, I can't see any point in going at all.

And don't give me all that BotCon Exclusives can only be bought at BotCon ****, cause BBTS had them too!

Exclusives get revisited just as often as figures get repainted now a days. Get use to it and thanks for the heads up about the rest of the events being a waste of time.

Those new Henkei look awesome!
They look more like Hentai to me then Henkei, yum, clear Prime? Who cares he looks freaking awesome! Thundercraker is, mine!
But I still want BotCon TT.

According to my japanese friend, preorders for these figures will open on 5/22 and run for about a month. They will make figures according to how many are preordered. There is no cut off number. If they get a lot of preorders, they will fill them.

I'm not sure how you guys are coming up with $150 or even $200 price points for these figures. Yes, they will be limited. But not as limited as say Wonderfest Arcee or Dark Convoy. Those figures were made with a set number of pieces and available only at the show. There is not set number to how many of these will be made. I'd wager we are looking at the typical markup for an import. It'll be double the price + shipping tacked on.

Liege Evilmus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:I wonder if I can get my money from BotCon back. I won't be going to any more BotCons.

This sucks!!!

I can apreciate you feeling shafted here, alright, but say they did this with this years Shattered Glass set that had a thread with ebay auctions straight from the convention...

...would you still care!?!

Hell I haven't made a single botcon yet, but if all it is is a chance to get some crappy repaints, I can't see any point in going at all.

And don't give me all that BotCon Exclusives can only be bought at BotCon ****, cause BBTS had them too!

Exclusives get revisited just as often as figures get repainted now a days. Get use to it and thanks for the heads up about the rest of the events being a waste of time.

Yeah, you'll have to excuse me, but that's a rather childish response. Aren't botcons about the joining together of fans from all over? Of getting a good deal on that figure you saw at the dealer table? Finding a rare figure you've always wanted? Getting together with other collectors to play GH and such?


These are toys man. Toys.

Liege Evilmus wrote:This sucks!!!

I can apreciate you feeling shafted here, alright, but say they did this with this years Shattered Glass set that had a thread with ebay auctions straight from the convention...

...would you still care!?!

Hell I haven't made a single botcon yet, but if all it is is a chance to get some crappy repaints, I can't see any point in going at all.

And don't give me all that BotCon Exclusives can only be bought at BotCon ****, cause BBTS had them too!

Exclusives get revisited just as often as figures get repainted now a days. Get use to it and thanks for the heads up about the rest of the events being a waste of time.

BBTS had the botcon exclusives because they bought them and resold them. They didn't get any special deal from Fun Pub. notice the the prices are way over the standard botcon price.

Also, BotCon isn't all about the exclusives and not everyone thinks they are crappy repaints. When I went in 2007, not only did I get a great set of toys, I met a lot of cool people and saw Stan Bush in concert.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:
This thing is going to be harder to get than BotCon Thundercracker...

Maybe so but it proves one thing.Bot-con rules do not apply to Takara.

And thats something I've been suggesting since Takara first announce that they were doing their own classic line.

And at the very least this opens the doors for Takara to make any Bot-con figure it wants to.

Not that there's many that I want but who knows what the future may bring.

Please read this:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38813&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=gentleman%27s+agreement

Pay attention to the info that Geekee1, Getter Dragon, and myself provide.

I'll answer any other questions on the matter and I say this without any ego; aside from a flat direct answer from either Hasbro (not happening) or FunPub (really unlikely) we're the best source of info on the matter. We spoke with Reps who explained the Hasbro, Takara, BotCon relationship and how things work.

So, yea...We're not just talking out of our asses on this one.

PrimeFan wrote:I'm not sure how you guys are coming up with $150 or even $200 price points for these figures.

Experience, That's how.

Just wait.

For every person waiting and willing to spend $50 to get these, there will be a bunch willing to spend $100, $150, even $200.

Why make a 10% mark-up when an online retailer can easily make 2-300% mark-up?

(and don't think they won't sell at those prices...)

Dealer wrote:

Liege Evilmus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:I wonder if I can get my money from BotCon back. I won't be going to any more BotCons.

This sucks!!!

I can apreciate you feeling shafted here, alright, but say they did this with this years Shattered Glass set that had a thread with ebay auctions straight from the convention...

...would you still care!?!

Hell I haven't made a single botcon yet, but if all it is is a chance to get some crappy repaints, I can't see any point in going at all.

And don't give me all that BotCon Exclusives can only be bought at BotCon ****, cause BBTS had them too!

Exclusives get revisited just as often as figures get repainted now a days. Get use to it and thanks for the heads up about the rest of the events being a waste of time.

Yeah, you'll have to excuse me, but that's a rather childish response. Aren't botcons about the joining together of fans from all over? Of getting a good deal on that figure you saw at the dealer table? Finding a rare figure you've always wanted? Getting together with other collectors to play GH and such?


These are toys man. Toys.

I fully understand Getters comments as someone who DIDN’T go to Botcon.

In essence, this is sad, people will see less incentive for going to Botcon and possibly end the convention. I frown upon TakaraTomys decision as not only a fan, but a collector.

If cheap enough, I may order it. Still, some part of me agonizes over this release. It’s not fair to those who went to Botcon, its not fair to Botcon.

I get the feeling that a greedy side of the fandom will cheer about this for a long time, another side, may just leave forever.

Shame on those who demanded this release, shame on Takara for going through with it and shame on Hasbro for allowing this to happen back in 06...

Shame, SHAME!

waaaaghlord wrote:And since I'm not entirely sold on the Universe Ironhide mould (but will probably pick up both versions anyway, doh!) there may well be a Botcon Ironhide and Ratchet in my future.

Universe Ironhide doesn't have nice hands.

cant believe im going to say this but i like that updated version of prime i always hated to see figures redone in a fashion style like that just to make more money but that prime works for me.

the others very well done there are few takara figures i dont like megatron for one but others i like skywarp thundercracker look very close to teh orginal animated version counterparts of them selves.

As someone who didn't go to botcon, but payed the extra to get the set, I am glad that these got a more general release.


Why should those not in the US suffer, so that the few can have what the many have always wanted?

I claim it greed on behalf of the few, who want their toys to remain highly sort after and expensive, even if it means the rest of the fandom can't have it.


It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?


It's childish. FOR SHAME!
Somehow, I expected better of a group of adult collectors.

PrimeFan wrote:According to my japanese friend, preorders for these figures will open on 5/22 and run for about a month. They will make figures according to how many are preordered. There is no cut off number. If they get a lot of preorders, they will fill them.

I'm not sure how you guys are coming up with $150 or even $200 price points for these figures. Yes, they will be limited. But not as limited as say Wonderfest Arcee or Dark Convoy. Those figures were made with a set number of pieces and available only at the show. There is not set number to how many of these will be made. I'd wager we are looking at the typical markup for an import. It'll be double the price + shipping tacked on.

I call bullshit. It's highly unlikely. Clear Prime it may apply to, being ehobby, but not a store exclusive like Thundercracker.

Dealer wrote:[color=#008000]
It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?

Please read the link that CP posted.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38813&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=gentleman%27s+agreement

Pay particular attention to where it states the status of the Classics line when FunPub was given the rights.

Please be informed before posting.

Liege Evilmus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:I wonder if I can get my money from BotCon back. I won't be going to any more BotCons.

This sucks!!!

I can apreciate you feeling shafted here, alright, but say they did this with this years Shattered Glass set that had a thread with ebay auctions straight from the convention...

...would you still care!?!

Hell I haven't made a single botcon yet, but if all it is is a chance to get some crappy repaints, I can't see any point in going at all.

And don't give me all that BotCon Exclusives can only be bought at BotCon ****, cause BBTS had them too!

Exclusives get revisited just as often as figures get repainted now a days. Get use to it and thanks for the heads up about the rest of the events being a waste of time.

Apparently you don't know what the definition of "exclusive" is. If this is what BotCon considers an exclusive, I'd much prefer getting an early release of a regular figure since you are getting an item early...which is something they can guarantee.

And that BBTS argument is pretty silly, what did they get, their own production run? Maybe e-bay sellers that sell BotCon stuff should make their own convention exclusives next.

And don't put words in my mouth, I never said the event was a waste, that's why there is a $10 ticket to get in. I paid for exclusives and they did not deliver. They should not market these items as such if they can not guarantee it.

Plus maybe people would have spent a few hundred bucks more with the vendors if they knew these "exclusives" would see a release outside of their intended distribution.

Dealer wrote:As someone who didn't go to botcon, but payed the extra to get the set, I am glad that these got a more general release.


Why should those not in the US suffer, so that the few can have what the many have always wanted?

I claim it greed on behalf of the few, who want their toys to remain highly sort after and expensive, even if it means the rest of the fandom can't have it.


It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?


It's childish. FOR SHAME!
Somehow, I expected better of a group of adult collectors.

I completely agree. For most of the people who are complaining about this, they just want to turn around and re-sell the Botcon figures for profit (which makes them appear to have no real attatchment to the toy in the first place). Transformer fans should want all their fellow collectors to have the chance to share in the joy of having any figure they want.

If the only reason you go to Botcon is for the exclusives, then it's in my opinion that you are wasting your time and money. Exclusives are not the only reason to go to Botcon.

If it's the profit you want, then you better go ahead and sell them puppies, because everyone is gonna get another chance to own some of them (at a lower cost) Some of you are just mad cuz you spent quite a bit for Botcon Thundercracker and now a better looking one is coming and other Collectors will get it instead. Don't be jealous, be happy for them.

Ok people, lets stay on topic here and not turn this into a flame fest.


Try to see both sides of the coin, and seriously think about what your gonna post before you post it.

If you're happy about the release fine, if not fine also, but lets not get crazy arguing over something that we have no control over.

And a BIG FYI: The Classics line was OVER, meaning TC, Thrust and Dirge would have never been ANYWAY, at the time Botcon released them.

DavidT wrote:

Dealer wrote:As someone who didn't go to botcon, but payed the extra to get the set, I am glad that these got a more general release.


Why should those not in the US suffer, so that the few can have what the many have always wanted?

I claim it greed on behalf of the few, who want their toys to remain highly sort after and expensive, even if it means the rest of the fandom can't have it.


It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?


It's childish. FOR SHAME!
Somehow, I expected better of a group of adult collectors.

I completely agree. For most of the people who are complaining about this, they just want to turn around and re-sell the Botcon figures for profit (which makes them appear to have no real attatchment to the toy in the first place). Transformer fans should want all their fellow collectors to have the chance to share in the joy of having any figure they want.

If the only reason you go to Botcon is for the exclusives, then it's in my opinion that you are wasting your time and money. Exclusives are not the only reason to go to Botcon.

If it's the profit you want, then you better go ahead and sell them puppies, because everyone is gonna get another chance to own some of them (at a lower cost) Some of you are just mad cuz you spent quite a bit for Botcon Thundercracker and now a better looking one is coming and other Collectors will get it instead. Don't be jealous, be happy for them.

So if you bought a car with an advertised 300 hp and it only had 150hp, you'd accept it? It's not about the value at all. I paid $40 for BotCon Thundercracker, I'm sure Henkei Thundercracker is way more than that. My point is how can you sell something called an "Exclusive" if you can't guarantee it's exclusiveness?

EDIT: BTW, if BotCon attendance was $270, and you got nothing, I still would have went because it was a good time.

First Gen wrote:Ok people, lets stay on topic here and not turn this into a flame fest.


Try to see both sides of the coin, and seriously think about what your gonna post before you post it.

If you're happy about the release fine, if not fine also, but lets not get crazy arguing over something that we have no control over.

And a BIG FYI: The Classics line was OVER, meaning TC, Thrust and Dirge would have never been ANYWAY, at the time Botcon released them.

Um, this thread is impressively civil, where has it gone off topic and turned into a flamefest?

GetterDragun wrote:

DavidT wrote:

Dealer wrote:As someone who didn't go to botcon, but payed the extra to get the set, I am glad that these got a more general release.


Why should those not in the US suffer, so that the few can have what the many have always wanted?

I claim it greed on behalf of the few, who want their toys to remain highly sort after and expensive, even if it means the rest of the fandom can't have it.


It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?


It's childish. FOR SHAME!
Somehow, I expected better of a group of adult collectors.

I completely agree. For most of the people who are complaining about this, they just want to turn around and re-sell the Botcon figures for profit (which makes them appear to have no real attatchment to the toy in the first place). Transformer fans should want all their fellow collectors to have the chance to share in the joy of having any figure they want.

If the only reason you go to Botcon is for the exclusives, then it's in my opinion that you are wasting your time and money. Exclusives are not the only reason to go to Botcon.

If it's the profit you want, then you better go ahead and sell them puppies, because everyone is gonna get another chance to own some of them (at a lower cost) Some of you are just mad cuz you spent quite a bit for Botcon Thundercracker and now a better looking one is coming and other Collectors will get it instead. Don't be jealous, be happy for them.

So if you bought a car with an advertised 300 hp and it only had 150hp, you'd accept it? It's not about the value at all. I paid $40 for BotCon Thundercracker, I'm sure Henkei Thundercracker is way more than that. My point is how can you sell something called an "Exclusive" if you can't guarantee it's exclusiveness?

That's why I said most people - not all

And Botcon Thundercracker is an exclusive, the new one has a different look to it, making it something else.

And the Botcon one is just a re-paint of Starscream and Skywarp. If you're gonna complain about a new re-paint of a mold then you should complain that Botcon made a re-paint. If you bought the Botcon one, then maybe you shouldn't have

Well, I'm going to add my views on this...

First of all, I'm a UK fan. I'm kinda neutral in this, as I must be just about the only TF fan in the whole world who couldn't care less about owning a Classics Thundrcracker. However, I'd like to make a few points.

1) All those who are warning of the high costs of Henkei Thudercracker seem to be those who already have the Botcon set. I can't help but think that their dire predictions of three-figure prices might be just be a manifestation of jealousy on their part. Certainly I've been able to get other Japanese exclusives (eg Pink Movie Arcee) without too much of a problem.

2) All those venting their ire at Botcon need to take a look at themselves. I heartly concur with previous posters who have stated that Botcon should be about the event itself, not the exclusive toys. Even if the Botcon set consisted of just a single crummy Real Gear phone, it shouldn't really matter. Botcon would still rank as the world's premier TF convention even without its exclusives.

3) To those who say "exclusives are just part of collecting Transformers, so tough luck" are being a tad harsh, I feel. Most TF exclusives are released in either Japan or the US. What about those of us who live in neither of these countries? Just think of all the exclusive US toys that have been released recently - the Best Buy Premiums, Target G1-deco Movie Jazz / Starscream etc. Not to mention the fact that the UK toys are double the US price anyway. So you US folks should really be happy with your lot, I'd say.

4) To those of you who want to import Thundercracker, I say: bloody good luck to you! Ignore the naysayers! Spend your money how you choose! Revel in your newfound opportunity!

5) And finally... "Shame on those who demanded this release, shame on Takara for going through with it and shame on Hasbro for allowing this to happen back in 06... Shame, SHAME!" That must be THE comedy post of 2008! Thanks for the laugh!

Dealer wrote:As someone who didn't go to botcon, but payed the extra to get the set, I am glad that these got a more general release.


Why should those not in the US suffer, so that the few can have what the many have always wanted?

I claim it greed on behalf of the few, who want their toys to remain highly sort after and expensive, even if it means the rest of the fandom can't have it.


It may not be fair to those that went to botcon (I couldn't care less. I'm glad others have the oppurtunity to get these two). But was it fair of botcon to steal away these two very popular characters?


It's childish. FOR SHAME!
Somehow, I expected better of a group of adult collectors.

I would think that a group of adult collectors wouldn’t whine like the five year old in TRU until they get what they want.

I didn’t want this to happen, but how does that make me greedy if don’t even own the darn things?

FYI the US is pretty big and just cause they have Botcon over here doesn’t make it any easier to get this stuff. If you have to fly over, so do some of us. I’d like to see someone walk from Georgia to Ohio or Texas. It must just be a wee little drive after all!

But the main point is, why would ANYONE have gone to Botcon for the set if they had known it’d be released two years later!?!?

It’s the greedy, self centered, thoughtless people who may end what could have been a fun advent.

DavidT wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

DavidT wrote:
I completely agree. For most of the people who are complaining about this, they just want to turn around and re-sell the Botcon figures for profit (which makes them appear to have no real attatchment to the toy in the first place). Transformer fans should want all their fellow collectors to have the chance to share in the joy of having any figure they want.

If the only reason you go to Botcon is for the exclusives, then it's in my opinion that you are wasting your time and money. Exclusives are not the only reason to go to Botcon.

If it's the profit you want, then you better go ahead and sell them puppies, because everyone is gonna get another chance to own some of them (at a lower cost) Some of you are just mad cuz you spent quite a bit for Botcon Thundercracker and now a better looking one is coming and other Collectors will get it instead. Don't be jealous, be happy for them.

So if you bought a car with an advertised 300 hp and it only had 150hp, you'd accept it? It's not about the value at all. I paid $40 for BotCon Thundercracker, I'm sure Henkei Thundercracker is way more than that. My point is how can you sell something called an "Exclusive" if you can't guarantee it's exclusiveness?

That's why I said most people - not all

And Botcon Thundercracker is an exclusive, the new one has a different look to it, making it something else.

And the Botcon one is just a re-paint of Starscream and Skywarp. If you're gonna complain about a new re-paint of a mold then you should complain that Botcon made a re-paint. If you bought the Botcon one, then maybe you shouldn't have

I fail to see what repainting has to do with this?

People are ignoring the facts I present, so let me define my point.

What defines an exclusive? The mold, the paint apps, the character, or all of those. I would say Thundercracker was a pretty well defined exclusive.

So now that we know that Thundercracker was an Exclusive, how exclusive was it? Was it limited in numbers, yes. Was it available only at a specific venue? Yes.

So if we clearly defined Thundercracker as an exclusive. How does releasing it in another venue and increasing the quantity make it an exclusive?

I don't care about the Henkei version being released, I do care that I was told I had an exclusive when it wasn't. If they had called it, "possibly an exclusive, but could also be a pre-release", I would have been happy.

So we all got shafted. That's life, and that's what all the people say.

I will have to make sure I'm buried with my Botcon Thundercracker, to make sure I get my money's worth. Unless of course the mortician is a TF fan, in which case he will shaft me once again by taking TC from my lifeless corpse.