The Energon Pub

News Credits: 14 · by **DecepticonFinishline** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 1:53 pm

o.supreme wrote:
Flashwave wrote:
DecepticonFinishline wrote:Ah dip! That's TOTALLY gotta be Snaptrap! Running under the assumption that it is, I NEVER thought that would happen!

(Makes me a little more hopeful for Takara-ver. Computron and G2 Defensor (The Inferno with Random-limbs is not good enough.))
Takara already did their Computron. What else did you want from it?

I think he meant a Hasbro Release of UW-08.... It's a nice thought, but doubtful (Glad I have mine... ). I think a G2 Defensor is more likely, but still doubtful as well.

Yeah. A western release of all of them would be great. (Except Afterburner. I think we already have the superior color-scheme for Afterburner) I'm a completionist, so if I get the Takara Computron, I would feel an irrational obligation to get the rest of the UW-Combiners. And some those ones are..... not my preferred color-scheme. To put it lightly.

I don't even like G2, but making G2 versions of all EXCEPT Defensor isn't really okay, in my opinion. (I acknowledge there is a G2 Devastator, but he is a Titan Class figure, and so that is in a different set for me, if that makes sense.)

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:00 pm

Sentinel_Primal wrote:$80's a bit much... But, this does give me more hope for other figures being released through Hasbro. Though, what does this mean for BigBadToyStore? Cause aren't they normally are the distributor for TakaraTomy Mall exclusives?

It will be the same as the case with MP 44 right now.

Hasbro import: https://www.entertainmentearth.com/prod ... oy/hse4009

BBTS import: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... ails/84183

Almost the same price either way, hence why while everyone wanted Star Convoy from Hasbro Pulse, in the end it wont make a difference. You probably end up paying more due to not having access to a pile of loot system to save on shipping.

Nemesis Primal wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Sentinel_Primal wrote:Hm... If these guys are Generation Selects, then that means Armada Convoy (nice name by the way Nemesis Primal) could be coming to that line But, this could be like previous lines where Takara releases figures that Hasbro won't Guess we'll have to wait and see... And I REALLY hope that it is Snaptrap and that we're getting Piranacon! He is one of my favorite combiners, but I'm worried they'll take away the fun of having the Targetmaster mode for all the limbs by making one of them a legends class figure, or that the joints won't be strong enough for the combined mode to hold the weapon. And I wonder if they'd still have the Enigma slot

The select line is online exclusive regardless, for the life of me i dont understand what difference it makes if its from Hasbro or Takara. Its not like you'd find any of these at target.

Takara exclusive = higher price tag

Its no longer a takara exclusive, and you are still stuck with a higher price tag. As I said, it makes no difference.

News Credits: 12 · by **Sentinel_Primal** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:04 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Sentinel_Primal wrote:$80's a bit much... But, this does give me more hope for other figures being released through Hasbro. Though, what does this mean for BigBadToyStore? Cause aren't they normally are the distributor for TakaraTomy Mall exclusives?

It will be the same as the case with MP 44 right now.

Hasbro import: https://www.entertainmentearth.com/prod ... oy/hse4009

BBTS import: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... ails/84183

Almost the same price either way, hence why while everyone wanted Star Convoy from Hasbro Pulse, in the end it wont make a difference. You probably end up paying more due to not having access to a pile of loot system to save on shipping.

Ah, okay. That makes sense. I guess I'm just used to companies deciding to make their own site and then ignore every other site that can be used for buying their products

News Credits: 42 · by **TF-fan kev777** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:05 pm

william-james88 wrote:Almost the same price either way, hence why while everyone wanted Star Convoy from Hasbro Pulse, in the end it wont make a difference. You probably end up paying more due to not having access to a pile of loot system to save on shipping.

Except, if you are in the US and already have Hasbro Pulse Premium for 2019 from ordering before Feb 24th, then it would be the cheapest option, since shipping is already covered.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:33 pm

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
william-james88 wrote:Almost the same price either way, hence why while everyone wanted Star Convoy from Hasbro Pulse, in the end it wont make a difference. You probably end up paying more due to not having access to a pile of loot system to save on shipping.

Except, if you are in the US and already have Hasbro Pulse Premium for 2019 from ordering before Feb 24th, then it would be the cheapest option, since shipping is already covered.

Sure, I get that every little bit counts ;)^

News Credits: 11 · by **Lore Keeper** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:00 pm

*Rages at $80 price tag, hangs head in defeat, pre-orders anyway*

News Credits: 15 · by **galvatron00** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:01 pm

ScottyP wrote:Do you think this is a bellwether for more Takara Tomy Mall exclusives being released via Hasbro Pulse, or does that idea set off your wishful thinking alarm?

Fancy words, ScottyP :APPLAUSE:

by **Skritz** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:09 pm

Well, Star Convoy is definitely at fothe bottom of the 'mainstream appeal' list so it seems to me that Hasbro Pulse might offer the Takara Tomy (rmerly what would be in Legends and Legends EX) exclusives because they know some diehard fans and collectors will buy as something as odd as a remake of late Japanese-G1 figure the average person knowledgeable in Transformers woukdn't really 'get'.

News Credits: 56 · by **o.supreme** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:38 pm

O.Supreme wrote:...Some are exclusive, and some aren't. Also I'm thinking 3rd party sites such as BBTS, TF Source etc... will probably charge closer to $90 for Star Convoy

Compare Combat Hero Megatron at $32.99 from TFSource & BBTS vs. $29.99 from Hasbro Pulse. Still, I know that isn't much of a difference, but the bigger the toys, the more likely the price gap. Still, for most I guess it will come down what is the best deal after Taxes & Shipping, depending on location.

Called it...well not quite, I underestimated the markup price, but Still...

Hasbro Pulse is still the better option. Now that BBTS is charging tax to ship to my state, those cancel each other out since both sites charge tax. BBTS has $4 flat rate shipping, HP will vary depend on the size of the item, or how much is ordered Right now its telling me shipping is actually free. So the final total would be $86.19, still better than BBTS. Still I know for some other 3rd parties are the only option, But here's to hopig that HP gets additional :TAKARATOMY:

Selects items in the near future

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:37 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Sentinel_Primal wrote:Hm... If these guys are Generation Selects, then that means Armada Convoy (nice name by the way Nemesis Primal) could be coming to that line But, this could be like previous lines where Takara releases figures that Hasbro won't Guess we'll have to wait and see... And I REALLY hope that it is Snaptrap and that we're getting Piranacon! He is one of my favorite combiners, but I'm worried they'll take away the fun of having the Targetmaster mode for all the limbs by making one of them a legends class figure, or that the joints won't be strong enough for the combined mode to hold the weapon. And I wonder if they'd still have the Enigma slot

The select line is online exclusive regardless, for the life of me i dont understand what difference it makes if its from Hasbro or Takara. Its not like you'd find any of these at target.

Takara exclusive = higher price tag

Its no longer a takara exclusive, and you are still stuck with a higher price tag. As I said, it makes no difference.

I have no interest whatsoever in Star Convoy, so really I'm stuck with no price tag. My biggest takeaway/source of excitement from this is that I SHOULD now be able to count on Snaptrap showing up later with my free shipping from Premium, and that alone is reason to love this news.

News Credits: 25 · by **Ironhidensh** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:50 pm

Man, I really want this figure, but I don't know if I $80 want him..... Will it be available on Amazon Japan? Or will shipping make the prices basically the same? Also, aren't Pulse preorders prepay?

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:21 pm

Ironhidensh wrote:Man, I really want this figure, but I don't know if I $80 want him..... Will it be available on Amazon Japan? Or will shipping make the prices basically the same? Also, aren't Pulse preorders prepay?

Not available from any japanese retailer aside ttmall which doesnt ship internationally.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:23 pm

Ironhidensh wrote:Man, I really want this figure, but I don't know if I $80 want him..... Will it be available on Amazon Japan? Or will shipping make the prices basically the same? Also, aren't Pulse preorders prepay?

In Japan, Star Convoy is a TakaraTomy Mall exclusive, so he probably won't be on Amazon Japan (unless a seller puts one on there but likely for a higher price).

by **Skritz** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:25 pm

One thing which bugs me is that Super Megatron is likely going to be a Voyager, which is weird because you'd think that they would want him to be Leader-class too.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:27 pm

Skritz wrote:One thing which bugs me is that Super Megatron is likely going to be a Voyager, which is weird because you'd think that they would want him to be Leader-class too.

Some speculate that the Leader class may be reserved for a figure of Super Megatron's upgraded form, Ultra Megatron.

by **Skritz** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:41 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Skritz wrote:One thing which bugs me is that Super Megatron is likely going to be a Voyager, which is weird because you'd think that they would want him to be Leader-class too.
Some speculate that the Leader class may be reserved for a figure of Super Megatron's upgraded form, Ultra Megatron.

Given how similar these designs are I don't see the point of making both.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:06 pm

Something else of notice here is how this TakaraTomy figure is being officially distributed in America by Hasbro via their new official online venue, and yet they make zero attempts to give him a more Western/Hasbro/Anglicized/etc. name.

No "Star Optimus Prime", no "Star Prime", no nothing. Just straight up "Star Convoy", keeping the Japanese "Convoy" name as is.

I think this might be the first time this have ever happened for a Hasbro release done outside of Fun Pub.

*shudders at memories of the whole "Lio Convoy vs. Leo Prime" war from years ago*

News Credits: 3 · by **Wireless_Phantom** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:35 pm

All this gives me is the faintest hope there will someday be a reissue of Unite Warriors Baldigus which I can purchase domestically.

News Credits: 26 · by **MaverickPrime** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:43 pm

I won't get hyped for these Pulse things until Hasbro remembers they have customers OUTSIDE of the US >:oP

News Credits: 3 · by **Wireless_Phantom** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:13 pm

Sabrblade wrote:Something else of notice here is how this TakaraTomy figure is being officially distributed in America by Hasbro via their new official online venue, and yet they make zero attempts to give him a more Western/Hasbro/Anglicized/etc. name.

No "Star Optimus Prime", no "Star Prime", no nothing. Just straight up "Star Convoy", keeping the Japanese "Convoy" name as is.

I think this might be the first time this have ever happened for a Hasbro release done outside of Fun Pub.

*shudders at memories of the whole "Lio Convoy vs. Leo Prime" war from years ago*

As someone who is too young to remember that war, who actually won?

News Credits: 7 · by **Zeedust** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:38 pm

william-james88 wrote:
Zeedust wrote:
Ultra Markus wrote:this is cool and i want this, but i was hoping that if a new version of starconvoy was ever made that there would be also a base mode and a micromaster hotrod to go with it

The TR "Powermaster" Prime/Legends Super Ginrai mold seems like it could have been retooled into a decent Star Convoy, even if they couldn't make the base mode look like the original's. I'm kinda disappointed they didn't do that.

I dont see how that could work any better. TR PMOP has the front of the truck become part of the chest which doesnt work with star convoy who has a long nose truck cab.

Let's be fair, the version we got isn't a longnose cab either.

TR PMOP seems like it would have been a more logical starting point to me because Star Convoy also had a base mode (which can even connect to other base modes, like the original) and no individual robot mode. Plus, if there's any gang-molded parts of Minimus Ambus left from the mold's origins as Ultra Magnus, they'd have made a decent starting point for a micromaster Hot Rod.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:37 pm

Wireless_Phantom wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Something else of notice here is how this TakaraTomy figure is being officially distributed in America by Hasbro via their new official online venue, and yet they make zero attempts to give him a more Western/Hasbro/Anglicized/etc. name.

No "Star Optimus Prime", no "Star Prime", no nothing. Just straight up "Star Convoy", keeping the Japanese "Convoy" name as is.

I think this might be the first time this have ever happened for a Hasbro release done outside of Fun Pub.

*shudders at memories of the whole "Lio Convoy vs. Leo Prime" war from years ago*

As someone who is too young to remember that war, who actually won?

While I was around back then, I wasn't an active participant since I didn't know of it until afterward. But having read up on some of it, let's just say that nothing of value came out of that ginormous waste of time.

For anyone curious, you find more info on this in any of the sections of these old talk pages that refer to this debate:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Leo_Prime
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Talk:Lio_Convoy

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:21 pm

Ironhidensh wrote:Man, I really want this figure, but I don't know if I $80 want him..... Will it be available on Amazon Japan? Or will shipping make the prices basically the same? Also, aren't Pulse preorders prepay?

Fear not! I check the Hasbro Pulse FAQ before ordering. They don't put through a final charge on a pre-order item until it actually ships. I checked my bank account after ordering, and Hasbro Pulse did charge me for the pre-order and then immediately issue a return of the charge. That's pretty standard practice to make sure the card you use, at least at the time of pre-ordering, can cover the cost of the item.

by **Jeddostotle7** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:39 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Wireless_Phantom wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Something else of notice here is how this TakaraTomy figure is being officially distributed in America by Hasbro via their new official online venue, and yet they make zero attempts to give him a more Western/Hasbro/Anglicized/etc. name.

No "Star Optimus Prime", no "Star Prime", no nothing. Just straight up "Star Convoy", keeping the Japanese "Convoy" name as is.

I think this might be the first time this have ever happened for a Hasbro release done outside of Fun Pub.

*shudders at memories of the whole "Lio Convoy vs. Leo Prime" war from years ago*

As someone who is too young to remember that war, who actually won?
While I was around back then, I wasn't an active participant since I didn't know of it until afterward. But having read up on some of it, let's just say that nothing of value came out of that ginormous waste of time.

For anyone curious, you find more info on this in any of the sections of these old talk pages that refer to this debate:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Leo_Prime
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Talk:Lio_Convoy

Holy dear god, what a mess.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:51 am

Ordered mine through Pulse, the free shipping makes it a no brainer. I'm very happy to see these figures have become part of the Selects line rather than some sort of 35th anniversary line like we assumed, it's opening us up to a lot of interesting options. I can only guess that this means Hasbro's Selects figures will be made available to Japan as well, but I bet they'll be paying more than the Hasbro price to get them.

Emerje