The Energon Pub

I don't know wether this has been talked about, or not, but...

So, here's the case: I have a Deluxe ROTF Soundwave, whose package has a note on it. It says: "Cannon converts to blade" However, I can't find such gimmick. Am I just dumb or does the figure really lack it and the package lie?

I also have a Voyager ROTF Desert Tracker Ratchet, whose package has a line: "AUTOMORPH Forearm cannon". But the gimmick is pointed on the arm which doesn't automorph. Plus (I don't know wether it's the boxart's or painter's fault) the figure itself is partly unpainted, yet on the package it's fully painted.



Are the packages often that wrong?

as far as soundwave im not too sure but i do know on generations blurr it says gun forms tripod but there were no instructions per se i did figure it out after fiddling with him for a while. coud be the case with sw. the paint could be anything from qc or the images they use for the card backs.i always find them to be a bit "glossy"

yes they lie said removable flame breath for animated grimlock

Red 50 wrote:I don't know wether this has been talked about, or not, but...

So, here's the case: I have a Deluxe ROTF Soundwave, whose package has a note on it. It says: "Cannon converts to blade" However, I can't find such gimmick. Am I just dumb or does the figure really lack it and the package lie?

I also have a Voyager ROTF Desert Tracker Ratchet, whose package has a line: "AUTOMORPH Forearm cannon". But the gimmick is pointed on the arm which doesn't automorph. Plus (I don't know wether it's the boxart's or painter's fault) the figure itself is partly unpainted, yet on the package it's fully painted.



Are the packages often that wrong?

You bet they are. It does say "Product and Colors may vary" as the images are of photoshopped prototypes or test shots, but explanation of gimmicks goes wrong a lot.

The packages are known to mislead.

In Ratchet's particular case, the Automorph Forearm Cannon refers to the Hummer's roof rack, that can be mounted on his left forearm, an has a lever to "auto"matically make it open and close.

That particular gimmick mislead goes as far back as the 2007 original release.
Don't know why they just can't call it a claw, pincher, jaws of life etc... why must it be a cannon when it looks like anything but a cannon.

Deluxe 2007 Jazz's package for instance claims he has a Telescoping Sword. Though there's no actual way of holding it as such, and the way he can hold it, and the placement on the back of the package, strongly suggest a rifle not a sword.

Sometimes, the package outright claims things about the toy that don't exist (but usually DID at an earlier stage of development) case in point is ROTF Starscream's packaging callout of "Pop out missile launchers!"

The prototype actually had the launchers on his arm retract and swing outward at the push of a button. To cut costs the gimmick was neutered and the arm and launcher were molded together. The packaging still announces the planned gimmick, but the toy features no such gimmickry

Aren't they open to false advertising charges? That SS example is really bad.

Mykltron wrote:Aren't they open to false advertising charges? That SS example is really bad.

That's why they always have the ominous label:

"Product and Colors may vary".

The road from product photography, and actual release is a long one, its not uncommon for features to get scrapped between the two.

Take Stratosphere, he was supposed to come with a tiny shuttle/gun; all pictures prior to release showed this accessory. Release day comes along and no Shuttle/gun is present. Granted this time the box doesn't state that he should have a gun, but we knew from previous pictures that it was planned.

Overcracker wrote:

Mykltron wrote:Aren't they open to false advertising charges? That SS example is really bad.

That's why they always have the ominous label:

"Product and Colors may vary".

Ah yes. I'll call off the lawyers.