The Energon Pub

Mkall wrote:

Rated X wrote:What is it with you and these giant leader figures ? The scale really doesnt work for many characters unless you want a stand alone figure for a coffee table.

He likes the style of Armada/Energon/Cybertron where the Faction Commanders were typically the largest figures on a shelf.

I also want to match up to the comics' aesthetics, where Megatron towered over Optimus. He doesn't have to be quite as tall as I'd suggested, but he should be taller and bulkier than Optimus.

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:Can't wait to see how TW botches this one up too

Too? What have they "botched" before?

I'd say just about anything they've done that's not the throttlebots... though I'm rather indifferent about those, so that's not saying much. If I had to be specific though I'd like to make mention of the huge disappointment that was Orion.

Shadowstream wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:Can't wait to see how TW botches this one up too

Too? What have they "botched" before?

I'd say just about anything they've done that's not the throttlebots... though I'm rather indifferent about those, so that's not saying much. If I had to be specific though I'd like to make mention of the huge disappointment that was Orion.

Well, I can't speak for their Throttlebots, seeing as I don't own any of them (although the reviews seem overwhelmingly positive), but I can for Hegemon and Orion. Both are excellent figures and I regret nothing in buying them. They're gorgeous. I'd do it all over again, too.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't have to agree with it. In fact, I completely disagree with it. Toyworld's Megatron and Optimus are some of the best TF figures, period. Definitely among the best ever 3rd party.

I'll agree with the disappointment in their Headmasters, however. Those look and seem quite terrible by what reviews say.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Mkall wrote:

Rated X wrote:What is it with you and these giant leader figures ? The scale really doesnt work for many characters unless you want a stand alone figure for a coffee table.

He likes the style of Armada/Energon/Cybertron where the Faction Commanders were typically the largest figures on a shelf.

Exactly this ^

Some fans like the Leader scale TF toys. Because HasTak aims this scale more towards adult fans.

I think it's the exact oppisite. Hasbro aims leader scale for the kids. A big Prime or Megs is perfect for a 5 year old who doesnt need to worry about things like "cartoon accuracy" or "scale". All they care about is play time with their favorite character so the bigger the better.

The smaller scales are aimed more towards collectors who actually want to display the figures in groups. Thats why everytime Hasbro decides to homage an obscure G1 character they go deluxe or voyager. Those are the preferred collector scales because collectors care about cartoon/comic accuracy. G1 toy scale is frowned upon by most classics collectors because they want a homage of the actual character, not the characters old toy.

Rated X wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Mkall wrote:

Rated X wrote:What is it with you and these giant leader figures ? The scale really doesnt work for many characters unless you want a stand alone figure for a coffee table.

He likes the style of Armada/Energon/Cybertron where the Faction Commanders were typically the largest figures on a shelf.

Exactly this ^

Some fans like the Leader scale TF toys. Because HasTak aims this scale more towards adult fans.

I think it's the exact oppisite. Hasbro aims leader scale for the kids. A big Prime or Megs is perfect for a 5 year old who doesnt need to worry about things like "cartoon accuracy" or "scale". All they care about is play time with their favorite character so the bigger the better.

The smaller scales are aimed more towards collectors who actually want to display the figures in groups. Thats why everytime Hasbro decides to homage an obscure G1 character they go deluxe or voyager. Those are the preferred collector scales because collectors care about cartoon/comic accuracy. G1 toy scale is frowned upon by most classics collectors because they want a homage of the actual character, not the characters old toy.

You seriously got everything backwards. The movie verse leader scale toys had that high sculpt & complex transformations. Because HasTak aimed this towards adults. Only adults or teenagers could transform those movie verse leader scale toys. only adults could fully appreciate all that high sculpt & extra articulation.

No,The Smaller scale TF toys like minicons,commanders & deluxes are not designed to be put on display shelves. This is why most of them have major stabilty problems trying to stand up without falling over on display shelves. Sure you can Display them on shelves but this is not there main selling point. The tiny compact size are made for the younger kids so they can carry them around with them during car trips,to school,playing with them & stuffing them in book bags or luggage.

The bigger scale TF toys like Voyagers,Ultra's,Leaders,Titan Metroplex & MP. Are all more designed for teenagers & adults collectors who display things on display shelves. This is why these toys are more stable on shelves & heavier. These toys are less designed for travel & more as display pieces.

Rescuebots is a fine example of what Hasbro aims for the younger kids. as the toys are underscupted,easy to transform & have next to none articulation.

obsecure generations character toys get the Deluxe scale because they simply won't sell well at the $45 or $20 price points. HasTak is only willing to take the risk at the Deluxe scale.

Wanting generations toys to be a smaller scale than the G-1 1980's toys versions is just I'm sure if you had your way all the HasTak MP TF's would be deluxes & Voyagers. A Generations PMOP would be a Voyager super robot mode toy. Hexatron,Kronos & Quakwave would be Voyagers toys.

X,I'm sure if you had your way HasTak would waste Three years of the MP TF toy line creating Four inch Commander sized toys for almost all of the 1980's Minibots.

X,you seriously need to do some online research. Because most Adult collectors who collects toys. Like the bigger scale toys,Highly detailed,articulated toys. companies aim these towards adults. Star Wars,Star Trek & G.I Joe are all fine examples of creating those 12 inch dolls with cloth clothes & accesories aimed at adult collectors. Various Robot toy lines like Robotech create those bigger scale robots for adults not kids. HasTak creates those bigger scale TF MP'S,Leader scale & Titan Metroplex for Adults & Teenagers. HasTak does not make those super huge,super exspensive $100-$300+,realistic aircraft carriers,tanks & jets G.I Joe Vehicles for the Kids,These are made for adults.

X,I know what your gonna say next. Dolls are for adults,robots are for kids. This is wrong,as Japanese Companies that sell stuff in Japan & Online. Sell all those bigger scale,highly sculpted,super exspensive robots toys aimed at adult collectors.

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:Can't wait to see how TW botches this one up too

Too? What have they "botched" before?

I'd say just about anything they've done that's not the throttlebots... though I'm rather indifferent about those, so that's not saying much. If I had to be specific though I'd like to make mention of the huge disappointment that was Orion.

Well, I can't speak for their Throttlebots, seeing as I don't own any of them (although the reviews seem overwhelmingly positive), but I can for Hegemon and Orion. Both are excellent figures and I regret nothing in buying them. They're gorgeous. I'd do it all over again, too.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't have to agree with it. In fact, I completely disagree with it. Toyworld's Megatron and Optimus are some of the best TF figures, period. Definitely among the best ever 3rd party.

I'll agree with the disappointment in their Headmasters, however. Those look and seem quite terrible by what reviews say.

I could care less about Hegemon and his fiddley transformation, plus there's really nothing that appeals to me aesthetically. Orion to me was the biggest flop I've ever seen as doesn't look like IDW Optimus so much as Energon Optimus trying to look like his IDW incarnation.

I love the IDW designs for Prime and Megs, and would love to see them get decent treatments in plastic, but after seeing what Toyworld did with Prime and their general lackluster repertoire thus far, I have little faith they'll do it any justice

Shadowstream wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

Shadowstream wrote:Can't wait to see how TW botches this one up too

Too? What have they "botched" before?

I'd say just about anything they've done that's not the throttlebots... though I'm rather indifferent about those, so that's not saying much. If I had to be specific though I'd like to make mention of the huge disappointment that was Orion.

Well, I can't speak for their Throttlebots, seeing as I don't own any of them (although the reviews seem overwhelmingly positive), but I can for Hegemon and Orion. Both are excellent figures and I regret nothing in buying them. They're gorgeous. I'd do it all over again, too.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't have to agree with it. In fact, I completely disagree with it. Toyworld's Megatron and Optimus are some of the best TF figures, period. Definitely among the best ever 3rd party.

I'll agree with the disappointment in their Headmasters, however. Those look and seem quite terrible by what reviews say.

I could care less about Hegemon and his fiddley transformation, plus there's really nothing that appeals to me aesthetically. Orion to me was the biggest flop I've ever seen as doesn't look like IDW Optimus so much as Energon Optimus trying to look like his IDW incarnation.

I love the IDW designs for Prime and Megs, and would love to see them get decent treatments in plastic, but after seeing what Toyworld did with Prime and their general lackluster repertoire thus far, I have little faith they'll do it any justice

I try to place more faith in these 3rd party companies. Its still a learning curve for most of them. Things are getting better not worse. Some of the companies that made inferior product have proved they can make superior product. It can't be a easy task to create a toy from scratch & mass produce it.

If your worried about getting stuck with a 3rd party TF toy that is inferior. This is what those youtube toy reviews are for,watch them before you buy. 3rd party TF toys have a high turn over rate on ebay,so your bound to get your money back.

I've taken some flak here for placing faith in KFC's Ultra Magnus & BTS's Nova lord toys.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:I try to place more faith in these 3rd party companies. Its still a learning curve for most of them. Things are getting better not worse. Some of the companies that made inferior product have proved they can make superior product. It can't be a easy task to create a toy from scratch & mass produce it.

If your worried about getting stuck with a 3rd party TF toy that is inferior. This is what those youtube toy reviews are for,watch them before you buy. 3rd party TF toys have a high turn over rate on ebay,so your bound to get your money back.

I've taken some flak here for placing faith in KFC's Ultra Magnus & BTS's Nova lord toys.

Quallity notwithstanding, the point is I don't even like the looks of general Toyworld products, aesthetically or proportionally. If it doesn't appeal to me visually I'm not gonna give a crap about the quality. Orion looks like a poor man's IDW op, Hegemon is about as bland as G1 Megatron ever looked, their headmasters are immensely dull, BB is one more honey maker in a hive full to the brim with such, and their throttlebots, good looking or not, are just kind of there. Going on all that I simply cannot see stealth bomber megs doing it for me either... which burns, because as I said I actually love the IDW designs on paper, but the plastic aint living up to it so long as Toyworld is doing it. If it were Maketoys though, I'd be more hopeful.

I think there's merit in both the Classics Deluxe and Voyager scales as well as the larger Leader/MP scales.

Of course some of the larger bots we've had over the years have hardly been complex. The TFP Weaponizers come to mind as an example of disappointingly simple, gimmick-laden wastes of plastic.

The MP line is of a larger scale, more complex in designs and overall of a higher quality. But the problem there is the price, and complexity, mean that there are less released. It's improved a lot, with this past year giving us a number of releases, but we're still never going to see the depth of characters that the Generations line gets.

With Classics through to Generations and even side characters in the movie lines, collectors have been able to expand the numbers of different bots in their collections. Seeing the cartoons or comic books with scenes of what seem like hundreds of characters facing off against each other likely captured our imaginations at some point as we got into the franchise and for some collectors being able to somewhat replicate that scale on our shelves is very welcome. It can't be done at MP or Leader sizes, because of the limited availability of characters, the cost involved to purchase them even if they were available, and the basic practicalities of having a display made up of dozens of 10inch+ figures.

Tsutsukakushi and Rated X: you guys clearly both have extremely differing opinions on the matter. Mine are somewhere in the middle. It's definitely nice to get nice things.

To the matter of the toy at hand in the thread, IDW styled Stealth Bomber Megatron, I'd say Voyager or a bit bigger to go with their already released Optimus is fine. The Hasbro Deluxe looks really pretty good, but even an old Deluxe size would have been a bit small for this bot compared to his fictional representation. It's a cool form, but not one I'd say is nice enough or iconic enough to warrant an over-sized Leader or similar scaled toy. I'd prefer to leave the larger sizes for characters who are larger, unless the prices charged for these things drop significantly as right now, unless it's something that will fit with my overall collection I don't want to spend a few hundred bucks on a huge 3rd party bot.