The Energon Pub

Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:12 pm

Someone really needs to tell hasbro that the symbols on the door are upside down from the ones on the hood....

News Credits: 56 · Thu Apr 18, 2019 11:00 am

Emerje wrote:For Power of the Primes, after the strategy was implemented, most of us never found Novastar or Optimus Primal, which was supposed to be the crown jewel of the line, in stores. Novastar could occasionally be found at retail price on Amazon (that's how I got mine), but it was only recently that Primal came down. To me that's a failure.

I ordered Novastor from Amazon as well, but did end up seeing her at retail a couple of times. As for Optimus Primal, yeah that was kind of a *bad comedy*. I did see him once or twice at a Target store, But that was it, and it was really really late, like literally the LAST PotP general release, so much so that it overlapped with my first Siege sightings.

I would be curious to know, for the winner of a *Fan poll*, how many fans actually did see him at retail, and how many fans are still wanting one that never got one? I was never interested in it, but my son wanted the SDCC version, so of course we got that---which is another oddity- in this case, the regular release was pretty much overshadowed by the Convention Exclusive, that may be a first as well.

News Credits: 42 · Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:41 pm

o.supreme wrote:I would be curious to know, for the winner of a *Fan poll*, how many fans actually did see him at retail, and how many fans are still wanting one that never got one? I was never interested in it, but my son wanted the SDCC version, so of course we got that---which is another oddity- in this case, the regular release was pretty much overshadowed by the Convention Exclusive, that may be a first as well.

I was actually glad that the SDCC version came out first, saved me $50. Well okay, only saved me about $35-ish, as the only time I saw the regular version in stores is when Target put all of PotP on clearance in December. And I still passed on it.

My original plan was to get both, and make the SDCC version Nemesis Primal. And then I got the SDCC version and found it to be a really lame toy, with a boring transformation. It makes a pretty decent action figure, but a really meh transformer. The completionist in me would have gotten the SDCC verison no matter what for the prime masters, so this is a case where the messed up distribution worked in my wallet's favor.

News Credits: 51 · Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:27 pm

o.supreme wrote:I would be curious to know, for the winner of a *Fan poll*, how many fans actually did see him at retail, and how many fans are still wanting one that never got one? I was never interested in it, but my son wanted the SDCC version, so of course we got that---which is another oddity- in this case, the regular release was pretty much overshadowed by the Convention Exclusive, that may be a first as well.

I never saw him at retail once. I was lucky in that I managed to get him as a Christmas gift, and the person I received it from happened to finally find ONE copy of the figure at Target about a week and a half before. Never found another copy of him.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:My original plan was to get both, and make the SDCC version Nemesis Primal.

You rang?

News Credits: 4877 · Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:48 pm

o.supreme wrote:I ordered Novastor from Amazon as well, but did end up seeing her at retail a couple of times. As for Optimus Primal, yeah that was kind of a *bad comedy*. I did see him once or twice at a Target store, But that was it, and it was really really late, like literally the LAST PotP general release, so much so that it overlapped with my first Siege sightings.

I would be curious to know, for the winner of a *Fan poll*, how many fans actually did see him at retail, and how many fans are still wanting one that never got one? I was never interested in it, but my son wanted the SDCC version, so of course we got that---which is another oddity- in this case, the regular release was pretty much overshadowed by the Convention Exclusive, that may be a first as well.

With all the various channels, I am pretty sure that everyone who wanted an Optimus Primal got one, be it one version or another. And the SDCC one is still really cheap online at Amazin japan for whoever wants one.

Anyways, about that part I bolded, I dont see anything bad about that, or anything that would be worth trying to fix in any way. There will always be a last toy released, it happened to be this one. He was the final leader scheduled anyway. As for the overlap, that's a good thing. You want that overlap, because it means that retailers are indeed seeing these as two different lines and they arent waiting for one to be sold out to put the other on the shelves.

Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:57 pm

Thinking I will probably end up getting Rick O'Shea. Wasn't gonna, but I think I prefer to have Novastar and Moonracer displayed as individuals rather than as part of the Inferno combiner with Jazz and Wreck-Gar. Could just add Rook and Alpha Bravo to Inferno, but I really like Rook a lot as an individual too so that leaves one limb needed for Inferno.

Got a few more suggestions for eventual releases in this line. They could keep milking the Moonracer mold for all it's worth and make Flamewar. A repaint of Siege Ironhide into Energon Tow-Line is a pretty natural fit as well. Not sure if those might be either too obscure or not the right type of obscure for this line; it's kinda hard to tell; but they are easily doable options. Oh, and I think I've mentioned this before, but PotP Optimal Optimus into Primal Prime and Apelinq is an obvious choice too. No remolding needed and it'd be a non-traditional Optimus figure repainted into the good old red and blue colors. Easy money.

News Credits: 7 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:56 am

Has anyone seen this?

This is amazing news!! They're gonna make a Pirahnacon after all! Snaptrap here is a heavy retool of Hun-Grrr:

News Credits: 1350 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:12 am

Thanks to a tip off from fellow Seibertron user, Sjeng, an image has surfaced from a yet as unknown, Japanese magazine. This image shows none other then Snaptrap!

He's presumably a Voyager Class as he appears to be a heavy retool of Power of the Primes Hun-Grr. While this certainty looks legit (reinforced by the just visible and recently announced Generations Selects Smokescreen on the right hand side) take this news with a pinch of salt until we can confirm the source of the image.

What do you think of this? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

News Credits: 9 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:35 am

wowowowowowo i see combiner ports wowowowowowo

:MAXIMAL:

News Credits: 7 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:50 am

Yeah! I'm pretty excited! putting this on my wanted list!

News Credits: 462 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:17 am

Technically, the toy's name is "Turtler", which is interesting since all of the previous toys shared between Hasbro and Takara as part of the brand unification have used the Hasbro names in both markets. Here, though, Turtler is the original Takara name, suggesting that this, like Star Convoy, is all Takara's idea being done without Hasbro's input, and may only see an imported Takara-packaged release by Hasbro on Hasbro Pulse, rather than a proper Hasbro-packaged release.

Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:25 am

Only CW team I skipped on are the techno bots... this might be the 2nd due to costs. Have the g1 reissued lot I had acquired a few years back and they're a bit meh tbh.. obviously colour pics and completion sake might push me... but it's more a no than a yay at the mo.

Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:51 am

I love combiners so having a more obscure one to collect over time would be fun... but the Seacons’ colors are so ugly. I like the TFCC version and God Neptune WAY more than the standard colors. We’ll have to see how they end up looking in color for me to decide on them.

News Credits: 462 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:02 am

Vic Zanzibar wrote:I love combiners so having a more obscure one to collect over time would be fun... but the Seacons’ colors are so ugly. I like the TFCC version and God Neptune WAY more than the standard colors. We’ll have to see how they end up looking in color for me to decide on them.

That's even if the other limbs do get made. For something like this, Takara would have likely shown off the whole combiner at once to really hype up the set. But here, it's only one figure by itself. Unless it's all we're getting, for Takara to show off just one component alone is unusual.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:34 am

Snaptrap/Turtler looks incredible, combiner mode will probably be great too...

Shut up and take my shanix!

News Credits: 56 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:35 am

Sabrblade wrote:That's even if the other limbs do get made. For something like this, Takara would have likely shown off the whole combiner at once to really hype up the set. But here, it's only one figure by itself. Unless it's all we're getting, for Takara to show off just one component alone is unusual.

I agree in some aspects however...the *brand unification* has definitely lead to some oddities. With CW & PotP, Hasbro would sell some as sets (Obviously the titan Class devastator and Predaking as Examples), and some as mostly online exclusives such as Computron, the G2 sets, and Liokaiser, and all the others were sold as individual components.

Using the original Japanese name is different, but showing him off as an individual is not unprecedented, as this is how the PotP Dinobots and Terrorcons were sold even through :TAKARATOMY:

as a result of the previously mentioned brand unification.

What this tells me is, sadly, it seems there wont be a super-cool UW stylized box set for this release, which again is a real shame. But I've been wrong plenty times before. Just getting Piranacon/King Poseidon fulfills a huge wish for me personally, getting the box set would just be the icing on the cake, though it isn't absolutely necessary. The PotP Dinobots & Terrorcons have long been speculated as easily capable of being retooled for Deluxe Seacons, I cant wait to see what they come up with. Additionally, if they are going for the fences, it may be taking some extra time to develop a 6th member and a weapon mode for each deluxe if they are going for super original accuracy...

News Credits: 462 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:43 am

o.supreme wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:That's even if the other limbs do get made. For something like this, Takara would have likely shown off the whole combiner at once to really hype up the set. But here, it's only one figure by itself. Unless it's all we're getting, for Takara to show off just one component alone is unusual.

I agree in some aspects however...the *brand unification* has definitely lead to some oddities. With CW & PotP, Hasbro would sell some as sets (Obviously the titan Class devastator and Predaking as Examples), and some as mostly online exclusives such as Computron, the G2 sets, and Liokaiser, and all the others were sold as individual components.

Only POTP was affected by the brand unification. Those CW sets had nothing to do with the it.

And Titan class figures all have to be one set to justify the Titan class pricepoint in the first place.

o.supreme wrote:Using the original Japanese name is different, but showing him off as an individual is not unprecedented, as this is how the PotP Dinobots and Terrorcons were sold even through as a result of the previously mentioned brand unification.

Except that this Turtler figure isn't like the POTP Combiners in that regard. It's a Takara-initiated product unbound by the same release standards as the POTP Combiners were beholden to by the brand unification. Since Hasbro was releasing the POTP Combiner pieces individually, the brand unification required Takara to do the same with their releases. Turtler, however, wouldn't have such restrictions that we can see, as Takara has had a history of being much more lenient and flexible with the budgets of their releases, both packaging-wise and mold/deco-wise. Meaning that if Takara wants to make a full blown King Poseidon out of this, there shouldn't be any obligations for them to have not shown the whole thing off at once, rather than just advertising Turtler alone as a single piece.

...Unless Turtler is the only piece we're getting.

News Credits: 1350 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:49 am

I suspect we'll have an answer either way soon. If turtler is the only one, it could be that Takara didn't feel like they should do the others without being able to do the target master aspect. It could also be that they are doing the seacons as a very slow release. We simply don't have enough information at this time, unless someone can translate that text in the picture (assuming it's not like just announcing the name

News Credits: 7 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:01 am

Well, it IS only grey atm. Maybe when it's colours are done, we get to see the rest. Seems strange not to make the other seacons.

We may get a 6th Seacon/weapon as a legends class, much like with the other combiners.

And I love the original colours.

News Credits: 12 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:19 am

Wow, this looks amazing. I really hope they do the rest of the Seacons to the same standard.

News Credits: 41 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:51 am

Well this is fun!
Just a hunch, but since snappy there comes with the breast plate for the combined mode(even has the little flip out wings), I'd bet the rest of the team are on the table. Don't see why they wouldn't do that. Takara doesn't tend to do things like Betatron, or what ever Hasbro called the sparkless effort at an odd release of Scattershot. But who can really say?

I do wonder though if the Seacon limbs will all be retools, or if there would be any new molds?

News Credits: 56 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:07 am

Even with Scattershot however, we eventually got 2 unique Computron's

. There's not been a Combiner Team Leader/ Voyager released yet for a specific team, that didn't eventually get the other team members.

News Credits: 6 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:11 am

Regardless, the Seacons live once more! It only took 31 years, but I am impressed, HasTak :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 3646 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:19 am

Well that is a plenty surprise to see on a Monday morning. I'm betting everything that Takara has plans for an entire Seacon combiner, but it's entertaining you guys throwing rules around about how a corporate toy company operates, which has regular shifts with how things operate and are marketed.

News Credits: 1350 · Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:40 am

o.supreme wrote:Even with Scattershot however, we eventually got 2 unique Computron's . There's not been a Combiner Team Leader/ Voyager released yet for a specific team, that didn't eventually get the other team members.

Hasbro's galvatronus? I'd consider him to be distinct from Takara's Grand Galvaltron

Wouldn't it be funny if Takara did Snappy here and two of the other limbs, then Hasbro finished it off with the last two :lol: