The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 8:44 pm

TF-fan kev777 wrote:For me, It had nothing to do with the G1 look. Putting the arm bots on then transforming Menasor's arms is what got me. I NEED to experience that engineering. The fun factor of the transformation alone is going to clearly blow away any of the CW combiners and I love my CW combiners, even Menasor faults and all, they are fun to build. This will be next level.

Get out of my HEAD!!!!

:lol:

TF-fan kev777 wrote:I don't think its actually a spring hinge. I think they are just regular pins holding in the clear plastic part making it look like it should be a hinge. The top portion of the yellow part fits into the torso in a way that would not allow it to open. In this case it looks like a homage to the opening cockpit, but was likely mainly just for ease of assembly.

Hasbro has been doing that a little bit lately, using pins for static joints sometimes making them look like they should be rotating joints. Kingdom Cheetor and Tigatron have that on their cod pieces.

Those do work even though there aint much use (especially Tigatron). But I have seen some figures with molded details that hint at a hinge but it's just aesthetic. And I do think Kickback is one of those instances. It gives it that toy homage and works it into the toy's assembly.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 8:50 pm

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
sol magnus wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

As I predicted.

For me, It had nothing to do with the G1 look. Putting the arm bots on then transforming Menasor's arms is what got me. I NEED to experience that engineering. The fun factor of the transformation alone is going to clearly blow away any of the CW combiners and I love my CW combiners, even Menasor faults and all, they are fun to build. This will be next level.

The one part that did hit me in the G1 nostalgia feels was truck/trailer mode for Motormaster. They really nailed the look.

They teased during the reveal stream that there's something really special about the way Motormaster integrates with the trailer to form the body that has to be experienced. Sounds like it's more than just the arms and legs that do interesting things when they're plugged into.

Emerje

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 9:15 pm

The G1 toyline had two robots that turned into robotic grasshoppers, Kickback and Ransack. They had different transformations and colour schemes but when it came to the alt mode, the biggest difference was that Ransack had a abdomen while Kickback did not. Well, it turns out you can indeed give a abdomen to Legacy Kickback, since there are pegs made specifically for that. The images and description belowfrom fellow Seibertronian Nemesis Primal will explain it to you. Rumour is we are getting a Ransack toy later so this feature could be how they replicate the different looking alt modes using the same mold.

Nemesis Primal wrote:Dunno if anyone else has noticed this yet, since it isn't called out in the instructions, but there's a dedicated hole and slot on his back/bug underside that allows you to peg the swords in as a "thorax", if you want weapon storage other than pegging the blades into the wings. It also conveniently locks his waist joint in place.

Transformers G1 1985 Ransack Gallery

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 9:53 pm

Dammit @Nemesis, I took your word for it and called it a thorax but it seems to be an abdomen

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:41 pm

william-james88 wrote:Dammit @Nemesis, I took your word for it and called it a thorax but it seems to be an abdomen

I mean, with the size of it and how it plugs it, it's kinda both, but also yeah, my bad. :oops:

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:59 pm

o.supreme wrote:
william-james88 wrote:I have a question for you, o.supreme, I know you often expressed confusion as to people (including me) stating that the generations line targetted kids and that kids were still a big focus for Hasbro even in a Generations line. Has watching Scott's videos helped you see that as well?

Excellent Question; and I think confused/puzzled was definitely the right word usage in this case (instead of opposed to the idea). I definitely think that for a toyline to succeed, yes Children have to be the target for the majority of the marketing (not all but most).

I do believe mainlines such as RiD15, Cyberverse, etc. are definitely targeted at kids. Generations I believe definitely has to be made to be appealing to kids, since it is assumed/hoped their families will be the largest consumers for them, but there is definitely a collector motivated slant I guess you could say. I mean I still don't see as many kids directing their relatives etc.... to buy certain toys as I'd like, but I know if a toyline is to succeed this has to happen.

I think a fair assessment for the toys of Generations lines would be: The engineering has to mainly appeal to fans, the playability has to mainly appeal to kids, and the designs have to appeal to both.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 11:39 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
o.supreme wrote:
william-james88 wrote:I have a question for you, o.supreme, I know you often expressed confusion as to people (including me) stating that the generations line targetted kids and that kids were still a big focus for Hasbro even in a Generations line. Has watching Scott's videos helped you see that as well?

Excellent Question; and I think confused/puzzled was definitely the right word usage in this case (instead of opposed to the idea). I definitely think that for a toyline to succeed, yes Children have to be the target for the majority of the marketing (not all but most).

I do believe mainlines such as RiD15, Cyberverse, etc. are definitely targeted at kids. Generations I believe definitely has to be made to be appealing to kids, since it is assumed/hoped their families will be the largest consumers for them, but there is definitely a collector motivated slant I guess you could say. I mean I still don't see as many kids directing their relatives etc.... to buy certain toys as I'd like, but I know if a toyline is to succeed this has to happen.
I think a fair assessment for the toys of Generations lines would be: The engineering has to mainly appeal to fans, the playability has to mainly appeal to kids, and the designs have to appeal to both.

That's basically what John Warden said when talking about Titans Return Skullcruncher

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:26 am

Titan(ic) dissapointment up for preorder today 6pm uk time. Still a few hours for it to be revealed to be something other than metroplex :p

News Credits: 30 · by **DeathReviews** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 8:42 am

That was one thing that always 'bugged' me about G1 Kickback, was the lack of a proper grasshopper abdomen. And I was disappointed to see them perpetuating that mistake into the Legacy line. G1 Ransack was vastly superior in engineering that way. And in many ways, it still is. So I approve of the OPTION of using those ugly energon weapons to simulate an abdomen. It ain't perfect, but I guess it's better than nothing.

If my minions can FIND a Deluxe Kickback at all, that is. The Legacy Deluxes are proving about has hard to find as Netflix Bumblebee was...

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 8:55 am

It's Transformers Tuesday and Hasbro will reveal a new toy in the Legacy line, the titan class figure Metroplex from the Cybertron show/toyline, which is part of the Unicron Trilogy. This adds a new era of Transformers lore to the Legacy line which already had G1, G2, Beast Wars, and Prime characters.

Preorders will go up in the afternoon on Hasbro Pulse and several other online stores which is where we are getting this info. The price will be $190. Below is an image of the leaked photo we had already seen and it will be replaced by the proper photos once the announcement goes live.

News Credits: 12 · by **Sentinel_Primal** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 8:57 am

Do we know for sure that it's the Titan that's being revealed??

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 9:00 am

DeathReviews wrote:That was one thing that always 'bugged' me about G1 Kickback, was the lack of a proper grasshopper abdomen. And I was disappointed to see them perpetuating that mistake into the Legacy line. G1 Ransack was vastly superior in engineering that way. And in many ways, it still is. So I approve of the OPTION of using those ugly energon weapons to simulate an abdomen. It ain't perfect, but I guess it's better than nothing.

If my minions can FIND a Deluxe Kickback at all, that is. The Legacy Deluxes are proving about has hard to find as Netflix Bumblebee was...

Apparently, from all I have read, that just means you are delaying boredom/disappointment. While he most definitely looks the part in both modes, Legacy Kickback is said to be one of the most uninventive and boring toys we have gotten in a long while.

Speaking of abdomens, I do find it cool that they had upped the complexity slightly for the Titans Return one by giving him an abdomen, and he had that extra playability with the chest window.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:55 am

Nothing about that Metroplex... Images or descriptions have any appeal to me.
He's obviously very fashion-forward with that handbag he's holding!

There's $190 saved... Possibly for the reissue of Predaking.

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:09 pm

Other than it's weapons being a bit off or just a bit meh, he looks really good (oh and obviously apart from vehicle mode that is what it is due to transformation).

However, having had the original I kinda wish they had given it a fourth mode of some kind of base mode even if non screen accurate and even then it wouldnt make up for the lack of features. a pass for me and like a lot of modern toys are out done by the G1 versions it's kinda (not) nice to know it applies to other transformer ranges too.

News Credits: 56 · by **o.supreme** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:12 pm

Easy pass on Cybertron Metroplex, as I initially thought. But that price hike ( which we also knew was coming) makes it even easier. Still, I will miss the tradition of getting a new Titan this summer, as I have for the last several years.

As much as I enjoy some aspects of the Ark, I may just end up selling it. Mainframe/ Teletraan is pretty neat though, and is the main reason I keep it. If Pulse ever does a single release Mainframe in Action Master colors, I will probably sell the Ark.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:12 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:Nothing about that Metroplex... Images or descriptions have any appeal to me.
He's obviously very fashion-forward with that handbag he's holding!

There's $190 saved... Possibly for the reissue of Predaking.

There's going to be a re-issue of Predaking?

Glad that non-G1 toys are starting to show up at bigger size classes though I wonder if using this Metroplex was the best idea :-?

by **SpaceEagle** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:13 pm

Looking at the images that just dropped on Pulse, I think Metroplex looks pretty good! Does help with having a lot more expressive articulation than the original and the Sparkdrinker looks quite mighty. At least the "work mode" has more effort put into it to make it seem somewhat different, heh.
Probably won't get it though, I don't got room for more Titans.

News Credits: 8 · by **Flashwave** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:23 pm

Just saw the Metroplex photos.

From a detail standpoint this thing looks impressive. I am glad they enhanced the transformation somewhat by tucking the shoulders behind the crawler mose and making this thing more compact. The weapons becoming hand gauntlets is a nice feature for playability.

But I am not overly attached to Cybertron Metroplex so this is a pass for me unless he hits some Hella sale

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:23 pm

Pre-Order scheduled to arrive in November 2022

Indemand Toys - £189.99 (10% deposit available)

News Credits: 12 · by **Evil Eye** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:26 pm

Oof, the price is rather hefty, which is mildly irritating as this is the first Titan where without a shadow of a doubt I want him. He looks really cool.

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:27 pm

RIP Inferno getting absolutely shredded to pieces on that boxart, goddamn.

I grew up with the UT, I want this guy, he looks good and while no Minicon is sad I can deal...but as much as it pains me to say, I just don't know that I can commit to $200 + tax for him in my current financial situation, especially with Victory Saber also later this year.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:29 pm

ZeroWolf wrote:
Sowndwave76 wrote:Nothing about that Metroplex... Images or descriptions have any appeal to me.
He's obviously very fashion-forward with that handbag he's holding!

There's $190 saved... Possibly for the reissue of Predaking.

There's going to be a re-issue of Predaking?

Glad that non-G1 toys are starting to show up at bigger size classes though I wonder if using this Metroplex was the best idea

Still a rumor, obvsly... If it does happen, I'm leaning towards getting him this time.
The main problem???

S P A C E

I looked at the photos of Metroplex on BBTS to get a better look.
Still not at all impressed... I don't like either of the alt modes at all.
Now, as a kid, when I played with toys, I probably would've enjoyed this figure.
The bot mode looks better than the original, but still... And almost $200... No way. No day.

News Credits: 12 · by **Sentinel_Primal** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:29 pm

Okay, was skeptical of Metroplex, but gotta say, I think he looks pretty good. I really like the details they put in, and the inclusion of a weapon is awesome! Wouldn't doubt that that played a part in the price hike, but as is, I'm kinda excited for him