The Energon Pub

Tue Nov 17, 2020 3:31 pm

I've just been lucky enough to get my hands on Power of the Primes Predaking and as I set about deciding how to display him next to my other titan class toys I'm looking at generally what a good job Hasbro have done with this class of toy since they first gave us Metroplex.

Turning the clock back both to the 80s and G1 and my own childhood and then 2002-2005 with the Unicron trilogy, the highest price point we got back then was a either a £40/50 toy in G1 which was probably comparable to a titan cost now and then with Unicron, I seem to recall this setting me back around the £49.99 mark in 2003.

The original G1 citybots were something of a mess, inconsistent scale with each other, limited playability factor with the other size of toys and no overarching consistency with what they were designed to be beyond being larger toys that kids would want.

Fast forward to Armada and they seemed to nail it with Mini-cons for the younger market as all the larger base modes could either have the 5mm pegging holes allowing the Mini-cons to be connected or played with in the base mode with excellent scale, from a marketing point of view it was great as it encouraged purchasing more of the smaller and larger toys as they worked well with each other.

From what I can see when they launched the titan class line with very expensive price point, they wanted to ensure they would get value for money, both from adult collectors and the kids and seem to have kept a degree of consistency with both size and variations when you look at each.

Metroplex started off as what I would call a prototype, a large bot that appealed to the adult market, he could work with smaller bots and stood taller than G1 Fortress Maximus. The costs of this design were evened out with Fortress Maximus who was a heavy retool but they added the double headmaster gimmick, something that kept scale with the then current line of titan masters.

You also had Devastator, using the combiner gimmick on a larger scale, I see this as rather than various repaints and variations on a theme as actually giving us something different for the huge cost of a titan class.

Trypticon uses the basic headmaster gimmick for his smaller toy but is a more basic triple changer with city mode, when you go forward to Scorponok, this design mirrors Fortress Maximus using the double headmaster gimmick, again keeping scale but also giving the kids something more in terms of playability.

Compare this with Omega Supreme who only offers 2 modes but being detachable again adds to the play value being more of a base in the true sense of the word, he is also comes with a Micromaster Countdown, again allowing for a connection to the current line of battle masters, whose scale is excellently matched with the previous line of Prime Masters.

This then brings me to Predaking who I got today, 5 toys in 1 that merge into a titan class, with a small titan master who is something of an after thought for how he fits in but still a good variation to add some playability.

When you look at all these different adaptions that they have made with the line, it does seem like Hasbro are trying to ensure their top ticket items keep kids and parents interested rather than an identical lump of plastic that does the same thing as the last 7 years worth just with a different paint job.

I know people moan about not getting certain toys made into the next titan class toy instead of getting the Ark, but this does seem like a strategy to keep the line as fresh as possible with new ideas and also gauge which format generates the most revenue to ensure each subsequent line merges the most ideas to keep the kids as hooked as possible.

Just my thoughts on the positive without being too critical, has anyone else ever looked at the current toys compared to the knee-jerk changes we got from 84-91 and seen how it does all seem to be a lot more organised now?

News Credits: 22 · Tue Nov 17, 2020 6:23 pm

Honestly, overall the luster has worn off for me regarding the Titans. At 1 point I had them all except for Predaking, and now I have only Omega Supreme and Scorponok, simply because I think they're the best. Maximus was fairly good, too, but I mainly liked Cerebros by himself and not the whole giant figure. Trypticon I had but soured on, and the same with Devastator. They both found better homes since. The only one I have a tinge of regret over is Metroplex. I managed to get a loose complete Metroplex for $50 on eBay a couple of years after he was released, and I got the 3rd party sticker set for him. I had him for a couple of years and ended up selling him for a good profit. At the time I was bored with him, and I still think he should be updated, but for some reason I wish I had him back. I'm not even sure why. But Omega and Scorponok are fun, and I'm glad I have them. Scorpy goes perfectly with G1 Maximus. And I already decided I'm passing on the Ark.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Nov 17, 2020 7:57 pm

I was happier with Fort Max after I plopped RID Megaplex Megatron on him and had him eat Spike. Of the ones I have he's easily the weakest link.

I'll get Scorpinok too eventually.

News Credits: 56 · Tue Nov 17, 2020 8:58 pm

I've shared this photo before shortly after getting Scorponok (can't believe it's been almost 4 months already), but I figure now is as appropriate a time as any.

I really enjoy the Titans, they are my second favorite group of Transformers after combiners (and in this case, some of the combiners toys are Titans Class) 8-}

.

In 2013, I had been out of collecting for about 6 years, but still kept up on everything. I loved the Prime animated series, but never got any of the toys. I had been getting occasional random TFA and movie toys for my son who was just getting indoctrinated. Pretty much every friend I had told me about Metroplex, and figured it would be an instant buy for me. For good or ill, I never saw it at retail, and certainly wasn't motivated enough to get it online. I figured it was a one-off for the T30 celebration.

It wasn't until 2016, late in CW run that I started getting into them, and UW when I realized pretty much any combiner was a potential for release. I basically have spent the last 5 years playing catch up and am pretty much done, with the exception of a few exclusives.

In 2016 when the fan vote for next Titan was announced, and it featured Trypticon (the winner for 2017), Omega Supreme & Scorponok, I think fans had deduced that a large class toy of this scale would now be an annual event. Up until that time, getting modern updates of all of these was an impossible dream I thought. Now a few years later, a reality.

I know some fans want to get a new update for Metroplex, and I can understand why. However...there are still several characters I believe are worthy of a Titan Class, and new ones, if done well, are always welcome too. Additionally I'd still like to see reuses such as Black Zarak and Metrotitan before we start over again.

I sometimes wonder if the fan vote had played out differently how the toys we have would be different. Also of note is each Titan Toy was released 4 years apart from their respective rival (except for Predaking). Maybe that means in 2022 we will finally get Black Zarak through TT Selects

.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:24 am

What's up fans! In the wake of recent news for Black Zarak I chose to re-sift this thread rather than creating a new one. So assuming we don't get some repaints down the road (Metrotitan, Gigastorm) are we nearing the end of the tunnel for this class?

The sad thing is I have yet to open some titan class figures but when I do it will be crowded afterwards. :shock:

So IF I decide to get my claws on Black Zarak and there are no plans for :HASBRO:

/

to release a whole new Devastator or Fortress Maximus, what else could there possibly be for this class? Everyone's thought's are definitely awaited. :VEHI:

News Credits: 56 · Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:54 am

Hrmm.... I guess there are several categories here:

Repaints/Retools that "could" happen... MetroTitan, Omega Sentinel/Guardian, & Gigastorm
Repaints I actually want: just Metrotitan.

Characters from The Transformers Mythos who would benefit from a Titan Class toy:

#1 on my list will always Be Majin Zarak. :-D

.

Other than that, there are the many additional Titans that appeared throughout Comics and more recently in Animation such as Cyberverse. I know some wouldn't mind a Transforming Nemesis to be a rival for the upcoming Ark, but in some continuities, Trypticon and The Nemesis are one-and-the same so... It's not as high a priority on my list.

Honestly that's about it. I think we are mostly in a good place right now. I know some fans are already calling for a redo of Metroplex, but given how far :HASBRO:

has come, and what they've given us since Metroplex, I think it would be nice for them to be the defining versions of those characters for a while at least, before trying to revisit them so soon.

News Credits: 22 · Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:00 pm

I think Hasbro really dropped the ball when they decided to give us a generic Ark Titan instead of Animated Omega. Even if he was just a Selects retool of The Ark.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Apr 05, 2021 8:13 pm

The Ark's probably going to be in vehicle mode in my collection most of the time.

Animated Omega ... I mean, it wouldn't look a thing like Animated Omega. It sounds more up the alley of 3P. An add-on head set, one for Omega and the other for Lugnut.

I'm kinda disappointed we won't get the Nemesis to go with the Ark. I dislike good guys outgunning bad guys.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Mon Apr 05, 2021 8:13 pm

The top of my repaint list is still RID Brave Maximus to round out the trio.

Emerje

News Credits: 2 · Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:20 pm

So it sounds like we may be towards the bottom of the Titan Class barrel not including repaints or retools really. I remember not liking the fact that there was no Titan figure to rival Metroplex at the time. Someday I will have to have Scorponok and Trypticon team up and stomp a mudhole into Metroplex. :POPCORN:

News Credits: 56 · Tue Apr 06, 2021 4:56 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote: I dislike good guys outgunning bad guys.

I'm a fan of symmetry, so I dislike either faction outnumbering the other (though I understand the idea is that "generally" Con's are bigger and stronger, and bots are supposed to win by having greater numbers, and stealth while being smaller and weaker...) But yeah when it comes to larger bots, symmetry is best.

Currently things are basically even, but yes the Ark will swing the Titan Balance in favor of the Heroic side. A Transforming Nemesis would be great, but even if we just get a MetroTitan repaint, THAT would restore balance.

Fun Fact: while at General Retail, Autobot Combiners were more available than Decepticon ones -If you factor in Every Combiner released from both Hasbro & TT across all lines and Convention Exclusives from 2015-Current, there are 2 more Evil Combiners, than there are heroic ones. MP Raiden plus one more heroic Combiner would restore Balance.

News Credits: 11 · Tue Apr 06, 2021 5:01 pm

Devastator is still the only Titan I have, and has been the centre piece of my Generations collection for almost six years. I almost bought Omega Supreme, but eventually decided against it. I might get the Ark, it depends on how good the toy actually is.

News Credits: 22 · Tue Apr 06, 2021 8:30 pm

Would G1 Fortress Maximus be considered a Titan? He's certainly heavy enough. His engineering is up to par as well, especially considering it's from 34 years ago.

Since we're talking balance, let's recap the list:

Bots:

Metroplex
Fortress Maximus
Grand Maximus
Omega Supreme
The Ark

Cons:

Devastator
Trypticon
Predaking
Scorponok
Black Zarak

5 and 5. Unless I'm missing someone?

News Credits: 56 · Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:01 pm

Rodimus Prime wrote:Would G1 Fortress Maximus be considered a Titan? He's certainly heavy enough. His engineering is up to par as well, especially considering it's from 34 years ago.

The Orignal Fort Max and Grand Max certainly hold the titles, still to this day if I'm not mistaken, *(with the exception of Haslab Unicron) of Heaviest Transformers ever. However I would not classify them as Titan Class if only to differentiate them from the term which has only been used since T30 Metroplex in 2013. A guidebook I have which uses the old BW scale classifies every toy from 1984-2001, and refers to Fortress Maximus as the only "Ultimate Class" Transformer.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Since we're talking balance, let's recap the list:

Bots:

Metroplex
Fortress Maximus
Grand Maximus
Omega Supreme
The Ark

Cons:

Devastator
Trypticon
Predaking
Scorponok
Black Zarak

5 and 5. Unless I'm missing someone?

I'm good with that (Until MP Raiden comes out)

. But I think some people are differentiating actual Titans in fiction vs the Toy Classification "Titan Class".

Also there is the question- is SS69 Devastator considered a Titan Class toy or not?

News Credits: 9 · Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:04 pm

Munkky wrote:Devastator is still the only Titan I have, and has been the centre piece of my Generations collection for almost six years. I almost bought Omega Supreme, but eventually decided against it. I might get the Ark, it depends on how good the toy actually is.

Same... I’m still a little surprised that I passed on Predaking, but I haven’t regretted it ever.
I’m also with you in possibly getting the Ark.
I have never loved the Citybots simply because I’ve never liked the city/bad modes enough... So those are no where near being worth the cost imo.
But a huge spaceship??? Now you have my attention. I don’t even really care how much functionality the interior has if it looks cool.
Of course as always, the look of the bot mode is the first priority for me.
So that’s going to need to be on point.
But nice thing is, this time I won’t be bothered at all with show/cartoon/movie accuracy!!!! :KREMZEEK:

News Credits: 1 · Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:05 pm

Rodimus Prime wrote:Would G1 Fortress Maximus be considered a Titan? He's certainly heavy enough. His engineering is up to par as well, especially considering it's from 34 years ago.

Since we're talking balance, let's recap the list:

Bots:

Metroplex
Fortress Maximus
Grand Maximus
Omega Supreme
The Ark

Cons:

Devastator
Trypticon
Predaking
Scorponok
Black Zarak

5 and 5. Unless I'm missing someone?

I guess I'm thinking more along the lines of the old G1 cartoon. If the Autobots get their ship I'd like the cons to get their ship too.

Although, laying it out like that, it does seem like they are evenly matched.

As far as good guys VS bad guys, it's a bit off topic, but I'd rather have the bad guys outnumber the good guys. Sure, some robots have their rivals, but overall I feel like the villains need to have a leg up on the heroes in terms of guns and numbers.

News Credits: 7 · Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:27 pm

There are six more I can think of, though Hasbro isn't likely to do them since they were released with newer molds within the last several years.

Superion, Menasor, Bruticus, Defensor, Computron, and Abominus.

Again, Hasbro is not likely to do them.

News Credits: 22 · Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:55 pm

Nor should they. Unless they go the route they intended Devastator and consider them to be MP-scaled.

And technically, if we remove Predaking (because he shouldn't have been a Titan >:oP

) from the list, that still leaves The Ark without an opposite, so the Nemesis would make sense. But it won't happen.

News Credits: 6 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 11:53 am

This is as good a place as any for this:

Transformers G1 - Super-God Masterforce Headmasters Grand Maximus - $6750.00

:shock:

People often ask me, if I bought the four Titan Class City Bots, if I would buy the redecos as well (given I am known for liking redecos too). This is the Second Hand Market price for one such example and the reason why I wouldn't bother.

News Credits: 22 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 1:32 pm

Yeah that's laughable. I would like to have a G1 Grand Max, but not nearly at that price. May be a 1/4 of that price at the most. And that's if I had the spare cash. I wouldn't forgo paying bills or anything like that.

News Credits: 6 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 1:39 pm

Seeing the AFA graded stuff alongside this, I just can't see the justification for it. No plastic 80's figure is worth that much money, it doesn't matter who it is. A sum in the thousands can buy you an expensive holiday, a car, pay for several months of rent. It just doesn't equate.

I have a friend who is a lot more clued in on G1 pricing than myself and showed this to him. He wasn't shocked.

News Credits: 22 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 1:45 pm

I used to have the dream of owning all 3 versions of Maximus. I got Fort and Brave. Any time I had some extra money, I would do a check for Grand. He was always out of my price range. But the most I've ever seen him for before was about 3000. Even that was unacceptable. Of course I still have that dream on the back burner, but unless I win some serious coin on the lottery or at a casino, it's just going to stay a dream.

News Credits: 6 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:20 pm

While I'm not immune to the allure of City Bot redecos.. I paid £99 for TR Fort Max. If Brave and Grand were released at that price, I might be tempted. I wouldn't pay more for a redeco than the original figure in this instance however. Given I have no attachment to either of them.

News Credits: 22 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:51 pm

Well IMO the TR Max mold is crap, so I wouldn't bother owning it in any deco. :lol:

I did own both the regular retail and SDCC versions and I literally got tired of looking at them. The SDCC Max looked good due to his deco, but I never handled him much because I just thought he was a failure as a figure. Cerebros was a lot of fun to pose, though. I wish he got released individually, with his IDW alt mode instead of a giant head.

News Credits: 6 · Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:00 pm

The Scorponok mold was the only original City Bot mold that I actually rated, so I found the TR Mold a vast improvement over the G1 box with legs. I also liked that in being retooled from the Generations mold of Metroplex, they shared a design aesthetic. Linking the construction of City Bots via an in-universe mold.

Also bear in mind, due to their size. I only transform my City Bots once, into City Mode. For displays with smaller figures. Just like my MP collection, they won't be transformed back any time soon either.