The Energon Pub

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Frikkin Scraphook man, making me buy figures I didn't actually want.

Yeah I'm excited for the Junkion "weaponizers" myself. I thought for about 30 seconds of going down the Rabbit Hole and getting SS86 Wreck Gar and Junkheap, but decided against it. I'm fine with just getting the new deluxes.

Wouldnt mind a dreamwave sunstreaker if thye are doing more comics figures, all matching yellows

sol magnus wrote:Man, you guys been chattin' it up!

I'm stuck at home sick with covid, so I actually can use Seibertron while working during the day. I miss many conversations I'd like to actually be part of when I am at the office!

SpaceEagle wrote:I got some free time and I like talking toys!

Same, it's the first time in a bit I've had a good toy discussion back and forth like that!

Rtron wrote:I don't know about D-MAximal's reasons, but to me, ever since these proper cartoon/comic accurate versions of the G1 characters started coming out, the Classics / Universe 2.0 reimaginings have taken a life of their own. Back when they came out they felt sort of like a "barely good enough" remasters of the G1 characters. But now that Primes/WFC/Legacy is giving us true "remasters" of G1 characters, I've found it easier to look at those lines as what they actually are, which is pretty cool alternate, modernized takes on those characters. And that's without taking late 2000's stylings, design and nostalgia into account

See, when Universe Sunstreaker came out, I was only JUST getting into TFs, and G1 wouldn't be on my radar for at least 3-4 more years, so I did not care to look at them. Since then, having gone though the Prime Wars and WFC Trilogy, I look back at what was cool before it was done in the "modern G1 style", and add to that my experience having owned Classics Bee for a long time and having only relatively recently gotten Classics Prime and Cliffjumper and how much joy those figures have given me.

Sunstreaker was one I had heard a lot about but still don't own a version of the mold. That and his IDW self, whom I really like, used this mold for the entire run after Devastation. With me doing some MTMTE re-reads, it felt right, especially since I won that one complete for $4.40 in an auction.

Bigger item was I decided I needed Wreck Gar, since we are getting a veritable Junkion army now, and Scraphook looking just that good made up my mind for me.

o.supreme wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Frikkin Scraphook man, making me buy figures I didn't actually want.

Yeah I'm excited for the Junkion "weaponizers" myself. I thought for about 30 seconds of going down the Rabbit Hole and getting SS86 Wreck Gar and Junkheap, but decided against it. I'm fine with just getting the new deluxes.

I have Junkyard, and with these guys, the Junkions need their leader. My OCD would not be able to take it if Wreck Gar wasn't there. Got him for $26 complete too, so I don't feel bad about it either

I'm collecting the full leader size Studio Series Dinobots, and feel no need to collect these Core size versions. Plus, I still have bad memories of PotP Volcanicus

If these Core Dinos really gets remold/repaint as Monstructor, I'll wait for those.

SpaceEagle wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:

MCutter wrote:Has anyone pointed out Chopshop flying in among the Insecticon swarm? I'm guessing he'll be part of the next Buzzworthy 'collide' four-pack.

*edit: name of the four-pack

You can definitely see Chopshop and Venom there - and maybe Barrage if you squint hard. Will they count the Creatures Collide Ransack and not do a proper remold? Probably. Hopefully they'll do new molds for the remaining Deluxe Insecticons...

For characters that are (sadly) very underused and unknown to some (thanks to Hasbro using molds of Takara's competitor at the time), I feel like the Deluxe Insecticons will end up being retools of the other 3 Insecticons (that had prominent media appearance and all that).
Except maybe Venom due to his bug mode not really being similar enough to Shrapnel, Kickback, or Bombshell. (I can see them attempting it with Kickback at best due to the big wings.)

The G1 Deluxe Insecticons were advanced figures, which might only need minor adjustments/updates in order to be on par with modern figures. I remember them being quite good on their own, especially the insect modes. Barrage in particular was amazingly articulated and advanced for the time.

The robot modes had some limitations, but some modern engineering on the arms and legs could fix all that. Adding hip swivels, thigh rotations, shoulder/elbow joints and ankle pivots would bring them very well in line with modern toys. Add some 5mm ports for accessorization, and voila. Granted, they were all made for other toy lines, and thus we're stuck in the current legal kerfuffle which usually prevents them from being brought back at all.

But if they were brought back, maybe some slight retooling is all that would be needed to make them quite conventional.

DeathReviews wrote:

SpaceEagle wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:

MCutter wrote:Has anyone pointed out Chopshop flying in among the Insecticon swarm? I'm guessing he'll be part of the next Buzzworthy 'collide' four-pack.

*edit: name of the four-pack

You can definitely see Chopshop and Venom there - and maybe Barrage if you squint hard. Will they count the Creatures Collide Ransack and not do a proper remold? Probably. Hopefully they'll do new molds for the remaining Deluxe Insecticons...

For characters that are (sadly) very underused and unknown to some (thanks to Hasbro using molds of Takara's competitor at the time), I feel like the Deluxe Insecticons will end up being retools of the other 3 Insecticons (that had prominent media appearance and all that).
Except maybe Venom due to his bug mode not really being similar enough to Shrapnel, Kickback, or Bombshell. (I can see them attempting it with Kickback at best due to the big wings.)

The G1 Deluxe Insecticons were advanced figures, which might only need minor adjustments/updates in order to be on par with modern figures. I remember them being quite good on their own, especially the insect modes. Barrage in particular was amazingly articulated and advanced for the time.

The robot modes had some limitations, but some modern engineering on the arms and legs could fix all that. Adding hip swivels, thigh rotations, shoulder/elbow joints and ankle pivots would bring them very well in line with modern toys. Add some 5mm ports for accessorization, and voila. Granted, they were all made for other toy lines, and thus we're stuck in the current legal kerfuffle which usually prevents them from being brought back at all.

But if they were brought back, maybe some slight retooling is all that would be needed to make them quite conventional.

Don't forget that the original G1 Deluxe Insecticon molds are still owned by Bandai, meaning Hasbro likely can't make any new Deluxe Insecticons look too close to the originals, hence why the most recent Ransack and Chop Shop were retools of Kickback and Shrapnel, respectively.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

sol magnus wrote:Man, you guys been chattin' it up!

I'm stuck at home sick with covid, so I actually can use Seibertron while working during the day. I miss many conversations I'd like to actually be part of when I am at the office!

SpaceEagle wrote:I got some free time and I like talking toys!

Same, it's the first time in a bit I've had a good toy discussion back and forth like that!

Rtron wrote:I don't know about D-MAximal's reasons, but to me, ever since these proper cartoon/comic accurate versions of the G1 characters started coming out, the Classics / Universe 2.0 reimaginings have taken a life of their own. Back when they came out they felt sort of like a "barely good enough" remasters of the G1 characters. But now that Primes/WFC/Legacy is giving us true "remasters" of G1 characters, I've found it easier to look at those lines as what they actually are, which is pretty cool alternate, modernized takes on those characters. And that's without taking late 2000's stylings, design and nostalgia into account

See, when Universe Sunstreaker came out, I was only JUST getting into TFs, and G1 wouldn't be on my radar for at least 3-4 more years, so I did not care to look at them. Since then, having gone though the Prime Wars and WFC Trilogy, I look back at what was cool before it was done in the "modern G1 style", and add to that my experience having owned Classics Bee for a long time and having only relatively recently gotten Classics Prime and Cliffjumper and how much joy those figures have given me.

Sunstreaker was one I had heard a lot about but still don't own a version of the mold. That and his IDW self, whom I really like, used this mold for the entire run after Devastation. With me doing some MTMTE re-reads, it felt right, especially since I won that one complete for $4.40 in an auction.

Bigger item was I decided I needed Wreck Gar, since we are getting a veritable Junkion army now, and Scraphook looking just that good made up my mind for me.

o.supreme wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Frikkin Scraphook man, making me buy figures I didn't actually want.

Yeah I'm excited for the Junkion "weaponizers" myself. I thought for about 30 seconds of going down the Rabbit Hole and getting SS86 Wreck Gar and Junkheap, but decided against it. I'm fine with just getting the new deluxes.

I have Junkyard, and with these guys, the Junkions need their leader. My OCD would not be able to take it if Wreck Gar wasn't there. Got him for $26 complete too, so I don't feel bad about it either

I have fond memories of the 2008 universe line, and Sunstreaker (and Deluxe tankor, which I found a fan mode for on these very forums way back when) were my first purchases when I started collecting.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Brokebot wrote:I realize this is a bit nitpicky, but why is Slag (I'm not using Slug) the head and upper torso rather than Grimlock? The triceratops head does look good on the chest, though.

I'm excited about the possibility of a future Monstructor, but I would have hoped for a full size version rather than a core version.

You pretty much answered your own question (of a sort). Slug is the torso because it'll fit for the future retool into Dinoking (more likely then Monstructor)

I don't know. A Volcanicus, a micro Volcanicus, and a recolored micro Volcanicus named Dinoking? That seems a bit excessive, especially since Dinoking never saw release outside of Japan. I would have thought Monstructor would be the better choice.

Sabrblade wrote:Don't forget that the original G1 Deluxe Insecticon molds are still owned by Bandai, meaning Hasbro likely can't make any new Deluxe Insecticons look too close to the originals, hence why the most recent Ransack and Chop Shop were retools of Kickback and Shrapnel, respectively.

That just means we won't get reissues, not that they have to change the designs. Deluxe Insecticons are retools for the same reason Crankcase and Knockout and so many other characters are retools: it's cheaper.

SpaceEagle wrote:I'm still shocked they haven't even put a single Pretender or even an Action Master in the R.E.D. line as is. I've got nothing against Ultimates! and I'm glad they're at least giving some interesting offerings (such as Pretenders/AMs) but it still baffles me that Hasbro hasn't even put figures known for not being able to transfo- convert in their line all about...figures that don't convert.

Wait, I heard something about Hasbro having issues with the term Transform vs. Convert, what did I miss?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

SpaceEagle wrote:I'm still shocked they haven't even put a single Pretender or even an Action Master in the R.E.D. line as is. I've got nothing against Ultimates! and I'm glad they're at least giving some interesting offerings (such as Pretenders/AMs) but it still baffles me that Hasbro hasn't even put figures known for not being able to transfo- convert in their line all about...figures that don't convert.

Wait, I heard something about Hasbro having issues with the term Transform vs. Convert, what did I miss?

Their legal team forbids them from using the verb transform, so they use convert.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:At least for Jazz, i think I'd like a new mold. His transformation was a little bit different, and i feel like the forearm wheels, in-the-ankle rear wheels, and the engine cylinder upper back may need more than the SS86 mold can muster

Never underestimate Hasbro's power of fake parts.

william-james88 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

SpaceEagle wrote:I'm still shocked they haven't even put a single Pretender or even an Action Master in the R.E.D. line as is. I've got nothing against Ultimates! and I'm glad they're at least giving some interesting offerings (such as Pretenders/AMs) but it still baffles me that Hasbro hasn't even put figures known for not being able to transfo- convert in their line all about...figures that don't convert.

Wait, I heard something about Hasbro having issues with the term Transform vs. Convert, what did I miss?

Their legal team forbids them from using the verb transform, so they use convert.

More specifically they fear that if they use the word transform too casually as a common word it'll jeopardize their ability to trademark "Transformers" as you can't (normally) trademark common words. Original packaging in the 80s did say "transforms", but they've long since replaced that with "converts".

Emerje

Brokebot wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Brokebot wrote:I realize this is a bit nitpicky, but why is Slag (I'm not using Slug) the head and upper torso rather than Grimlock? The triceratops head does look good on the chest, though.

I'm excited about the possibility of a future Monstructor, but I would have hoped for a full size version rather than a core version.

You pretty much answered your own question (of a sort). Slug is the torso because it'll fit for the future retool into Dinoking (more likely then Monstructor)

I don't know. A Volcanicus, a micro Volcanicus, and a recolored micro Volcanicus named Dinoking? That seems a bit excessive, especially since Dinoking never saw release outside of Japan. I would have thought Monstructor would be the better choice.

Hasbro gave us a new Liokaiser back in Combiner Wars, and he had previously never seen release outside of Japan either.

Sabrblade wrote:

Brokebot wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Brokebot wrote:I realize this is a bit nitpicky, but why is Slag (I'm not using Slug) the head and upper torso rather than Grimlock? The triceratops head does look good on the chest, though.

I'm excited about the possibility of a future Monstructor, but I would have hoped for a full size version rather than a core version.

You pretty much answered your own question (of a sort). Slug is the torso because it'll fit for the future retool into Dinoking (more likely then Monstructor)

I don't know. A Volcanicus, a micro Volcanicus, and a recolored micro Volcanicus named Dinoking? That seems a bit excessive, especially since Dinoking never saw release outside of Japan. I would have thought Monstructor would be the better choice.

Hasbro gave us a new Liokaiser back in Combiner Wars, and he had previously never seen release outside of Japan either.

The problem with Monstructor and the Monster Pretenders is their Shells resembling monsters which would require more retooling to reasonably pull off. At least the Dinoforce has Dinosaur Shells that match the original Dinobots, plus one.

blackeyedprime wrote:Wouldnt mind a dreamwave sunstreaker if thye are doing more comics figures, all matching yellows

Will it be a headmaster too?

ThunderThruster wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:Wouldnt mind a dreamwave sunstreaker if thye are doing more comics figures, all matching yellows

Will it be a headmaster too?

He wasn't a Headmaster in Dreamwave.

Good point. Getting comic iterations mixed up.

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Don't forget that the original G1 Deluxe Insecticon molds are still owned by Bandai, meaning Hasbro likely can't make any new Deluxe Insecticons look too close to the originals, hence why the most recent Ransack and Chop Shop were retools of Kickback and Shrapnel, respectively.

That just means we won't get reissues, not that they have to change the designs. Deluxe Insecticons are retools for the same reason Crankcase and Knockout and so many other characters are retools: it's cheaper.

I'd like to think if they finally created a workaround for Jetfire ala Siege & MP. That a similar tweak could by applied to the Deluxe bugs.

Meanwhile at work...


Is that you Megatron?



I was so close to only needing bumblebee


It's nice to see a strong first wave of a line for a change rather than having x figure in x version already and a good line up for what is ahead

blackeyedprime wrote:Meanwhile at work...


Is that you Megatron?

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Don't forget that the original G1 Deluxe Insecticon molds are still owned by Bandai, meaning Hasbro likely can't make any new Deluxe Insecticons look too close to the originals, hence why the most recent Ransack and Chop Shop were retools of Kickback and Shrapnel, respectively.

That just means we won't get reissues, not that they have to change the designs. Deluxe Insecticons are retools for the same reason Crankcase and Knockout and so many other characters are retools: it's cheaper.

I'd like to think if they finally created a workaround for Jetfire ala Siege & MP. That a similar tweak could by applied to the Deluxe bugs.

Isn't that basically what Buzzworthy Bumblebee Creatures Collide Ransack already is? A redesign that, other than the head, bears no resemblance to the original Bandai design (just as Siege/MP Jetfire looks nothing like the original Valkyrie)?

But that's just Ransack. In truth they already have pre-existing Transformers moulds that are perfectly fine to reappropriate as the Deluxe Insecticons. They are old and in need of modernising. But some of the Beast Wars designs - Ramhorn, TM2 Scourge, Cicadacon - Basically are the Deluxe Insecticons in all but name.

Sabrblade wrote:Isn't that basically what Buzzworthy Bumblebee Creatures Collide Ransack already is? A redesign that, other than the head, bears no resemblance to the original Bandai design (just as Siege/MP Jetfire looks nothing like the original Valkyrie)?

I agree, and am satisfied with what we have so far. But I think what the OP wanted to express was to have Deluxe Insecticons that were legally different enough from the original Bandai Toys, but also different from the OG Insecticons (basically new molds, not just slight retools)

Since 3 of the 4 are *basically* of very similar design to the original Insecticons, I've always expected that they would be retools. The afore mentioned Venom *possibly* being all new. But hey, if Hasbro can make all 3 Monsterbots, and Fangry from one design, I'm sure Venom could be a very extensive retool of one of the others Insecticons as well.

o.supreme wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Isn't that basically what Buzzworthy Bumblebee Creatures Collide Ransack already is? A redesign that, other than the head, bears no resemblance to the original Bandai design (just as Siege/MP Jetfire looks nothing like the original Valkyrie)?

I agree, and am satisfied with what we have so far. But I think what the OP wanted to express was to have Deluxe Insecticons that were legally different enough from the original Bandai Toys, but also different from the OG Insecticons (basically new molds, not just slight retools)

Since 3 of the 4 are *basically* of very similar design to the original Insecticons, I've always expected that they would be retools. The afore mentioned Venom *possibly* being all new. But hey, if Hasbro can make all 3 Monsterbots, and Fangry from one design, I'm sure Venom could be a very extensive retool of one of the others Insecticons as well.

I would also add that Jetfire is a bad example because he is popular enough to warrant a commander class and MP toy. The G1 deluxe insecticons are nowhere close to popular enough to get their own molds, so retools were going to be the only way.