The Energon Pub

[StarfireDelta]

Using the Offroad mold for Ironhide instead of First Aid makes sense to me since Ironhide was a pickup truck in the movies; and as evidenced by things like Generations Blitzwing part of the new redesigns for characters in CHUG is folding in aspects from non-G1 interpretations of the characters.

... and while I didn't like the movies, I think being a pickup truck works for Ironhide and fits his character.
dontkillme

Actually, I quite agree. I don't care for Combiner Wars Ironhide at all, which is why I got hold of the Henkei boxset of him, Mirage, and Hound last summer. While the figure is not perfect, it's all right, and the metallic red with yellow highlights looks a lot nicer than the Universe 2.0 version's orangey red. But I really like his vehicle mode. It's not a camper van so much as an SUV. A pickup truck would have been totally acceptable, as it works for the character. But, like I said, not a fan of Combiner Wars Ironhide. In fact, I don't like any of the classic Autobot cars re-imagined as combiners and would much rather get their earlier Universe 2.0/Generations versions. But Ironhide totes works as a pickup.

[Nemesis Maximo]

Using the Offroad mold for Ironhide instead of First Aid makes sense to me since Ironhide was a pickup truck in the movies; and as evidenced by things like Generations Blitzwing part of the new redesigns for characters in CHUG is folding in aspects from non-G1 interpretations of the characters.

... and while I didn't like the movies, I think being a pickup truck works for Ironhide and fits his character.
dontkillme

Actually, I quite agree. I don't care for Combiner Wars Ironhide at all, which is why I got hold of the Henkei boxset of him, Mirage, and Hound last summer. While the figure is not perfect, it's all right, and the metallic red with yellow highlights looks a lot nicer than the Universe 2.0 version's orangey red. But I really like his vehicle mode. It's not a camper van so much as an SUV. A pickup truck would have been totally acceptable, as it works for the character. But, like I said, not a fan of Combiner Wars Ironhide. In fact, I don't like any of the classic Autobot cars re-imagined as combiners and would much rather get their earlier Universe 2.0/Generations versions. But Ironhide totes works as a pickup.

I like the pickup truck body, but for Ironhide I just wanted it to be bulkier.

Now, if someone were to make Car Robots/RID2001 Ironhide...

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Using the Offroad mold for Ironhide instead of First Aid makes sense to me since Ironhide was a pickup truck in the movies; and as evidenced by things like Generations Blitzwing part of the new redesigns for characters in CHUG is folding in aspects from non-G1 interpretations of the characters.

... and while I didn't like the movies, I think being a pickup truck works for Ironhide and fits his character.
dontkillme

Actually, I quite agree. I don't care for Combiner Wars Ironhide at all, which is why I got hold of the Henkei boxset of him, Mirage, and Hound last summer. While the figure is not perfect, it's all right, and the metallic red with yellow highlights looks a lot nicer than the Universe 2.0 version's orangey red. But I really like his vehicle mode. It's not a camper van so much as an SUV. A pickup truck would have been totally acceptable, as it works for the character. But, like I said, not a fan of Combiner Wars Ironhide. In fact, I don't like any of the classic Autobot cars re-imagined as combiners and would much rather get their earlier Universe 2.0/Generations versions. But Ironhide totes works as a pickup.

I like the pickup truck body, but for Ironhide I just wanted it to be bulkier.

Now, if someone were to make Car Robots/RID2001 Ironhide...

Yes to pretty much all quoted here. A Truck works so much better for Ironhide for me too. It personifies a tuffer personality, and that is Ironhide. Now the CW mold is not as bulky as I'd hope, but it is a good mold nonetheless, and RiD Ironhide out of it would work awesomely

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Found this on the planet Iacon facebook page. Worth a look:

[Kurona]

I still kinda feel I'll be going for the CW version - Hands/Feet and Scrounge tip it for me. Otherwise Afterburner is the same; it's hard to see any difference between Lightspeeds (yeah they're different molds, but as a leg it doesn't really make any difference), and I'm cool with both Strafes and Nosecones. ... oh, and Scattershot doesn't really matter since I'd be getting that Perfect Effect upgrade set either way

[william-james88]

I still kinda feel I'll be going for the CW version - Hands/Feet and Scrounge tip it for me. Otherwise Afterburner is the same; it's hard to see any difference between Lightspeeds (yeah they're different molds, but as a leg it doesn't really make any difference), and I'm cool with both Strafes and Nosecones. ... oh, and Scattershot doesn't really matter since I'd be getting that Perfect Effect upgrade set either way

Awesome reasoning! I like that bit about the car legs looking the same, it's totally true. And in terms of the amount of stuff you get, CW does give you more. And yeah, with the perfect effect upgrade set, than the great stuff Takara is giving us is totally lost. That kit is definitely suited for the hasbro release.

[Kurona]

I still kinda feel I'll be going for the CW version - Hands/Feet and Scrounge tip it for me. Otherwise Afterburner is the same; it's hard to see any difference between Lightspeeds (yeah they're different molds, but as a leg it doesn't really make any difference), and I'm cool with both Strafes and Nosecones. ... oh, and Scattershot doesn't really matter since I'd be getting that Perfect Effect upgrade set either way

Awesome reasoning! I like that bit about the car legs looking the same, it's totally true. And in terms of the amount of stuff you get, CW does give you more. And yeah, with the perfect effect upgrade set, than the great stuff Takara is giving us is totally lost. That kit is definitely suited for the hasbro release.

Well, to be fair; the other Perfect Effect Computron set - the standard Hands/Feet - is needed for Takara's Computron lol. But yeah, to me the decision comes down to Third Party Upgrades and Nosecone the most.

[Nemesis Maximo]

I find it super ironic how Hasbro, after hearing our dissent, has finally made proper hands and feet for a combined other than Victorion. And now, many of us who did the dissenting are getting the Takara version with the much hated HFGs.

I'm not criticizing anyone, I'm part of that group.

[kurthy]

I find it super ironic how Hasbro, after hearing our dissent, has finally made proper hands and feet for a combined other than Victorion. And now, many of us who did the dissenting are getting the Takara version with the much hated HFGs.

I'm not criticizing anyone, I'm part of that group.

Didn't you post this somewhere else?

[Nemesis Maximo]

YOU KNOW WHAT, KURTH?!

Yes. Yes I did. Apparently my wi-if tripped out and it wouldn't load the page, and I assumed that instead of hitting "submit" I must have prematurely exited the web page. But no, it was just in the deceptively similar Unite Warriors thread.

So.

[kurthy]

YOU KNOW WHAT, KURTH?!

Yes. Yes I did. Apparently my wi-if tripped out and it wouldn't load the page, and I assumed that instead of hitting "submit" I must have prematurely exited the web page. But no, it was just in the deceptively similar Unite Warriors thread.

So.

Ha ha ha!

[Sabrblade]

Yeah, Hasbro's is Betatron to me now, but it's still the one that has Scrounge and that's huge plus.

[King Kuuga]

Well it's been a week or so now and no other online retailers have put up Groove orders. I'm really mad at myself for backing out of my Robot Kingdom preorder because I figured it'd be available elsewhere. The figure is already up on ebay for some outlandish prices. Here's a Buy It Now for $80, and an auction currently sitting at $41 with 4 days left at time of writing. Both listings have $30 shipping.

[ZeroWolf]

Scalpers, don't you just love them?

[Roadbuster]

Well it's been a week or so now and no other online retailers have put up Groove orders. I'm really mad at myself for backing out of my Robot Kingdom preorder because I figured it'd be available elsewhere. The figure is already up on ebay for some outlandish prices. Here's a Buy It Now for $80, and an auction currently sitting at $41 with 4 days left at time of writing. Both listings have $30 shipping.

Patience.

Hasbro may yet bring him to the states. They haven't said "no". Keep that in mind.

[Rainmaker]

Takara outclasses Hasbro on this one, no contest.

[ZeroWolf]

Takara outclasses Hasbro on this one, no contest.

Depends if you want lavish g1 accuracy or not, the only big problem I have is with hasbros nosecone everything else I can live with quite comfortably.

Hasbro has done well with what they had to work with while Takara have done amazing. You can compare the two of them but you have to realise the difference between the companies ideology and the environment.

[william-james88]

Patience.

Hasbro may yet bring him to the states. They haven't said "no". Keep that in mind.

Bigbadtoystore thought they would get him but when they didnt, they asked Hasbro, who never got back to them. This is what they told us when we asked them:

We've not heard anything at all from Hasbro. I’m guessing they will answer questions at Botcon and not tell us anything before then, sorry.

In other news, its so weird that not only does my Walmart currently only have wave 4 of last year's combiner wars, but they have 2 versions: with comics and without comics



And Groove and Viper are still around:

[Nemesis Maximo]

You crackpot Canadians, can't even commit to carrying the comics or not.

[Sabrblade]

Patience.

Hasbro may yet bring him to the states. They haven't said "no". Keep that in mind.

Bigbadtoystore thought they would get him but when they didnt, they asked Hasbro, who never got back to them. This is what they told us when we asked them:

We've not heard anything at all from Hasbro. I’m guessing they will answer questions at Botcon and not tell us anything before then, sorry.

If anything is said about Groove at BotCon, I anticipate Hasbro to say that it was an Asian market exclusive initiated by Hasbro Asia rather than Hasbro proper.

[King Kuuga]

Patience.

Hasbro may yet bring him to the states. They haven't said "no". Keep that in mind.

Bigbadtoystore thought they would get him but when they didnt, they asked Hasbro, who never got back to them. This is what they told us when we asked them:

We've not heard anything at all from Hasbro. I’m guessing they will answer questions at Botcon and not tell us anything before then, sorry.

If anything is said about Groove at BotCon, I anticipate Hasbro to say that it was an Asian market exclusive initiated by Hasbro Asia rather than Hasbro proper.

That's what I expect and why I'm upset at backing out of my preorder.

[william-james88]

Patience.

Hasbro may yet bring him to the states. They haven't said "no". Keep that in mind.

Bigbadtoystore thought they would get him but when they didnt, they asked Hasbro, who never got back to them. This is what they told us when we asked them:

We've not heard anything at all from Hasbro. I’m guessing they will answer questions at Botcon and not tell us anything before then, sorry.

If anything is said about Groove at BotCon, I anticipate Hasbro to say that it was an Asian market exclusive initiated by Hasbro Asia rather than Hasbro proper.

That's what I expect and why I'm upset at backing out of my preorder.

This would suck hard, especially since Hasbro Asia already had the distribution deal for Takara's Defensor for any sale to residents outside of Japan. It almost feels the triads got into the toy distribution business.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Funny, I have never seen Viper in stores....

And our big issue here is the voyagers. Scattershot is the only recent voyager around here, and all kinds of Silverbolts and Motormasters about around here

[william-james88]

If you did not know, Hasbro did release Combiner Wars Deluxe Groove individually. However, it was part of a Toysrus campaign in Taiwan and the few that ended up available at online asian retailers sold out very fast. These are now fetching high prices on e-bay like this listing which sold for 76$, with no sign of this figure coming to the west. Or is there? What if this listing actually had a clue; let's look at the picture closely:



Notice the box he came in? It is written "TRA GEN MAY MAYHEM DELUXE GROOVE". This could be a huge clue. Some may remember that last year Hasbro had a May Mayhem publicity event. The highlight of this promotion was that this would be the month where fans could acquire the unreleased individual Combiner Wars components Quickslinger (Slingshot) and Brake-neck (Wildrider):



This was the description of that part of the event last year:

May 22 – AERIALBOT QUICKSLINGER and STUNTICON BRAKE-NECK will be available exclusively through participating online retailers, such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, ToysRUs.com, Entertainment Earth, BigBadToyStore, Diamond Comics and Hasbro Toy Shop. With these two new figures, fans are finally able to complete their G1-accurate SUPERION and MENAOR figures! In addition to these all-new toys, several vendors will be running special promotions on TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS: COMBINER WARS figures, providing fans with an ideal way to complete their collections.

It could possibly be that this event will be repeated and the other two members that have yet to get an individual release in the west will. One being Deluxe Groove and the other being Shuttle Blastoff.

Let us know what you think!

[Cobotron]

You could be on to something here, my dear Watson.