The Energon Pub

[Jelze Bunnycat]

This has to be one of the first times Takara has shown off a mould before Hasbro, at least in the Classics-verse

Yeah, I cant think of a precedent, can anyone come up with one?

Also Thadicon, the molds belong to both companies since Takara is responsible for all the engineering behind it.

Huh? It's a partnership... I'm fairly confident Hasbro is responsible for Combiner Wars designs.

Could be wrong, though.

They most definitely are (although I think Devastator is Takara design, but just a hunch), I just meant that it being a partnership, Hasbro didnt need to "hand over" a mold to takara. It's theirs too.

They're a two way relationship. henkei for example had designs done by the American side (Optimus, Hound, Mirage, Seekers). Sometimes its the Takara Tomy team. And if we go further back, DonFig's sketches served as the basis of MP-01 but was engineered by the guy responsible for MP-05 and Starsaber.

Here's the rundown from what I understand:

Hasbro designs the figures for its market on paper, and discusses them with TakaraTomy, especially concerning the wishes the latter has for its market (that lead to the Alternators/Binaltech Dodge Ram becoming Optimus Prime back in the day). Once the plans and overall designs are approved, TakaraTomy refines them and goes to sculpting the molds for the toys. On the side, TakaraTomy does its own designs in-house, either for the specialist nice markets like collectors (Masterpiece, QT, other odds and ends), or to substitute figures for their own lines for greater appeal (Battle Command Optimus Prime basically replaced Stomp & Chomp Grimlock for Lost Age).
Do take note that TakaraTomy is the current owner of brand, which is the reason why there's "Manufactured under license from TOMY Company Ltd." on Hasbro's packaging. Yes, Hasbro is technically speaking the licensee but unofficially I think they're holding really close bonds.

That said, I wonder if Slingshot, Wildrider, and any other replaced member were special requests from TakaraTomy, or if they were in Hasbro's cards from the very beginning...

[prjkt]

That said, I wonder if Slingshot, Wildrider, and any other replaced member were special requests from TakaraTomy, or if they were in Hasbro's cards from the very beginning...

I wouldn't be surprised if they were initially planned, at least the headsculpts, but dropped from the first retail waves due to retailer requests (four "planes" and four "cars" on the shelf looks a little to samey) and after (potentially) reading all the sh*tstorm that move caused when it announced that Alpha Bravo & Off Road were being introduced, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro dusted off their plans to see what they could do for the fans (being the online special duo we've just received, or about to receive).

Either that or Takara decided to take a stab at Geewun'ing the two combiners independently, as they really just focus on their own market and Hasbro decided to play "Me too!"

Either way, we all win.

[mooncake623]

Quickslinger back in-stock on Amazon as of 11:53AM eastern time.
gogogogo

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Quickslinger/dp/B00TV0T0OW/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431705170&sr=1-1&keywords=quickslinger

[william-james88]

Quickslinger back in-stock on Amazon as of 11:53AM eastern time.
gogogogo

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Quickslinger/dp/B00TV0T0OW/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431705170&sr=1-1&keywords=quickslinger

awesome price, too bad its not available on amazon.ca

[shajaki]

Y'know, I'm kinda torn now.

With the teaser of UW Defensor (which I'll obviously buy) I don't know if theres any need to get Hasbro's. I had originally planned to get everything, but now I'm thinking of just sticking with TT and picking up the Hasbro oddballs (Rook, AB). Chances are I won't be able to control myself when I see Wave 3 in store though.... it'll likely be a gametime decision.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Y'know, I'm kinda torn now.

With the teaser of UW Defensor (which I'll obviously buy) I don't know if theres any need to get Hasbro's. I had originally planned to get everything, but now I'm thinking of just sticking with TT and picking up the Hasbro oddballs (Rook, AB). Chances are I won't be able to control myself when I see Wave 3 in store though.... it'll likely be a gametime decision.

Would waiting for a possible Hasbro Groove announcement be an option? At least until BotCon?

[Editor]

I know that a few people are looking at Alpha Bravo, Offroad, Rook and a potential Combaticon add-on figure as the limbs for Galvatronus....

I'm looking more that there could be a swerve and either Hasbro states or he shows up in the comics where he uses Quickslinger, Break-neck, the potential Takara Groove, and another castoff.

Then they could have legends Groove do a whole "Am I me, or is that the real me?" when Galvatronus appears.

[william-james88]

Y'know, I'm kinda torn now.

With the teaser of UW Defensor (which I'll obviously buy) I don't know if theres any need to get Hasbro's. I had originally planned to get everything, but now I'm thinking of just sticking with TT and picking up the Hasbro oddballs (Rook, AB). Chances are I won't be able to control myself when I see Wave 3 in store though.... it'll likely be a gametime decision.

Same here. I will approach it like I outlined for Ultra Magnus. From my experience with Takara's Superion, these high priced items stay in preorder for quite a while. So as I wait for Unite Warriors Defensor/Guardian (what do they call him these days?) to come out, I will check to see how easy it is for canadians to get the online exclusive limbs (like if they appear on toysrus.ca or not) and if Hasbro's deluxe groove will come out too. If it turns out that deluxe groove does come out and is easy to get and not expensive, then I will go the hasbro route for defensor (with rainchecks at toysrus). BUT if he proves any difficulty in getting and if there are no good deals by the time it's no longer safe to hold out on preordering takara's , then takara it will be. We dont lose either way due to the price of preorder.

And guys, I got a question. Any reason Japanese online retailers can afford giving great discounts on preorders for Takara products while BBTS doesnt offer that on Hasbro products? Because seriously, at those prices, I dont know why anyone outside the US would ever bother preordering the Hasbro version over Takara's if they chose to order online.

[Agamemnon]

Quickslinger is back out of stock, but Brake-neck is back in..

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Brake-Neck/dp/B00TV0T0F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431713293&sr=1-1&keywords=brakeneck

[shajaki]

Y'know, I'm kinda torn now.

With the teaser of UW Defensor (which I'll obviously buy) I don't know if theres any need to get Hasbro's. I had originally planned to get everything, but now I'm thinking of just sticking with TT and picking up the Hasbro oddballs (Rook, AB). Chances are I won't be able to control myself when I see Wave 3 in store though.... it'll likely be a gametime decision.

Would waiting for a possible Hasbro Groove announcement be an option? At least until BotCon?

I would likely choose Takara over Hasbro even if they released their own Groove. But I was all in for both Hasbro and Takara, though now I wonder I should bother.

[mooncake623]

Quickslinger is back out of stock, but Brake-neck is back in..

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Brake-Neck/dp/B00TV0T0F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431713293&sr=1-1&keywords=brakeneck

I think it's safe to say Amazon doesn't care about street dates.

[Agamemnon]

Quickslinger is back out of stock, but Brake-neck is back in..

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Brake-Neck/dp/B00TV0T0F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431713293&sr=1-1&keywords=brakeneck

I think it's safe to say Amazon doesn't care about street dates.

Indeed, and now it looks like the Quickslinger offering has been pulled all together. I cannot search for it, though the link from this thread still works...

[Editor]

Quickslinger is back out of stock, but Brake-neck is back in..

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Brake-Neck/dp/B00TV0T0F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431713293&sr=1-1&keywords=brakeneck

I think it's safe to say Amazon doesn't care about street dates.

As someone that formerly worked for their customer service. They do care, they just don't always pay attention and in many cases they have made it the responsibility of the manufacturer to babysit these concerns.

It's likely the agent who was tasked with setting a no ship before date, had not been properly informed when the pages were assembled.

[megatronus]

Quickslinger is back out of stock, but Brake-neck is back in..

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Deluxe-Brake-Neck/dp/B00TV0T0F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1431713293&sr=1-1&keywords=brakeneck

I think it's safe to say Amazon doesn't care about street dates.

As someone that formerly worked for their customer service. They do care, they just don't always pay attention and in many cases they have made it the responsibility of the manufacturer to babysit these concerns.

It's likely the agent who was tasked with setting a no ship before date, had not been properly informed when the pages were assembled.

I used to work for a DVD distributor, and had to set up the Amazon pages for our product most of the time. It could also be a Hasbro-side issue if the salesperson didn't have the correct street date information.

All the room for human error really emphasizes how awesome the Transformers are as a race, no?

[Tyrest Enforcer]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

[Agamemnon]

Heh, both links are now dead pages....

[Stryfe Convoy]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

That would only work if you can replace Scrapper with Hook, and have Prowl be the chest/head. That's the way they do it in the comics, right?

It would be awesome, don't get me wrong, but I don't think Devastator was Designed Scramble City style...

[gothsaurus]

I wouldn't mind if.. .maybe a year later... they re-did Devy scramble city style in deluxe ... and added the datsun bros to this whole CW thing.

Probably not gonna happen, but might be cool.

[Editor]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

No.

[peaces]

i want to put constructicon deluxe limbs on galvatronus

[King Kuuga]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

I mean, it'd be cool, but I ain't holding my breath. MAYBE a third party could do it, but we need to see how the arms attach to Hook and Long Haul, and for full comic accuracy we'd need a Hook that's configuarable as a leg.

[Sabrblade]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

I mean, it'd be cool, but I ain't holding my breath. MAYBE a third party could do it, but we need to see how the arms attach to Hook and Long Haul, and for full comic accuracy we'd need a Hook that's configuarable as a leg.

It's not something Hasbro wants to do right now - http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Toy_Fair_2015#Titan_Class

With Titan Devastator considered the one chance to do an accurate "dream scale" Devastator that would appeal to both hardcore and casual fans, Hasbro did not want to commit to doing "Prowlastator," given that concept's relatively recent introduction into the lore.

[King Kuuga]

Anyone else want to see a Voyager Prowl figure to combine with Titan class Devastator?

I mean, it'd be cool, but I ain't holding my breath. MAYBE a third party could do it, but we need to see how the arms attach to Hook and Long Haul, and for full comic accuracy we'd need a Hook that's configuarable as a leg.

It's not something Hasbro wants to do right now - http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Toy_Fair_2015#Titan_Class

With Titan Devastator considered the one chance to do an accurate "dream scale" Devastator that would appeal to both hardcore and casual fans, Hasbro did not want to commit to doing "Prowlastator," given that concept's relatively recent introduction into the lore.

I know Hasbro isn't doing it in the near future, and I said I wasn't optimistic about the far future either. 3Ps are the most likely candidates to do it, and not until we've seen the way the figure fits together.

[chuckdawg1999]

I wouldn't mind if.. .maybe a year later... they re-did Devy scramble city style in deluxe ... and added the datsun bros to this whole CW thing.

Probably not gonna happen, but might be cool.

Personally if CW goes well I can see combiners being done more regularly down the line and in different scales. We might see teams revisited in different sizes.

[prjkt]

To anyone who thinks Groove's legs are just that little bit too long, just imagine he's wearing a pair of these to catch up with the other Protectobots, it's worked wonders for my slightly sleep-deprived mind.