The Energon Pub

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:That said, I did completely forget about Beastbox and Squawktalk... Do they count towards Soundwave's default Cassette count though?

Like Grand Slam and Raindance they never appeared in the cartoon, so I'd say no. However, they didn't appear in the Marvel comics either, while the Slamdance duo did.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:That said, I did completely forget about Beastbox and Squawktalk... Do they count towards Soundwave's default Cassette count though?

Like Grand Slam and Raindance they never appeared in the cartoon, so I'd say no. However, they didn't appear in the Marvel comics either, while the Slamdance duo did.

They did, however, appear in the one and only direct tie-in comic for the G1 cartoon ever made in the Western World.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Dont know if you all heard but the price for MP Hound was revealed. 160$ USD msrp.

Again, really feel sorry for the G1 MP collectors.

Jesus Christ on a cherry. I'm really starting to think that Takara is secretly supporting the KO/3rd party market.

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:That said, I did completely forget about Beastbox and Squawktalk... Do they count towards Soundwave's default Cassette count though?

Like Grand Slam and Raindance they never appeared in the cartoon, so I'd say no. However, they didn't appear in the Marvel comics either, while the Slamdance duo did.

They did, however, appear in the one and only direct tie-in comic for the G1 cartoon ever made in the Western World.

Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

I dont think we can rule anything out, speculating can be fun as long as we dont get our hopes up. Takara said "not now" which doesnt mean never and they were referring only to combiners in the strict common sense of combiner teams (since thats when it came up).

william-james88 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

I dont think we can rule anything out, speculating can be fun as long as we dont get our hopes up. Takara said "not now" which doesnt mean never and they were referring only to combiners in the strict common sense of combiner teams (since thats when it came up).

See I thought there would be a grey area there, when they released MP Star Saber. Although, as I was informed, the figure itself doesn't have any such connectors for combining with a potential MP Victory Leo. However, the fact Saber is part of the MP line at all and, for example, should Victory Leo prove the winner of another fan poll in Japan, would that change?

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

I dont think we can rule anything out, speculating can be fun as long as we dont get our hopes up. Takara said "not now" which doesnt mean never and they were referring only to combiners in the strict common sense of combiner teams (since thats when it came up).

See I thought there would be a grey area there, when they released MP Star Saber. Although, as I was informed, the figure itself doesn't have any such connectors for combining with a potential MP Victory Leo. However, the fact Saber is part of the MP line at all and, for example, should Victory Leo prove the winner of another fan poll in Japan, would that change?

MP Victory Leo being released would provide an opportunity for a Star Saber reissue, retooled with connectors.

Exactly. Which could at least pave the way for MP Squawkbox and Slamdance.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

Regardless of Squawkbox and Slamdance even being combiners, I sincerely doubt we'll even see Masterpiece toys of any unique-mold non-show characters.

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Another fact to consider, Takara previously said 'no' to combiners in the Masterpiece line. So does that immediately rule out Squawkbox and Slamdance from ever being a part of the MP cassettes and therefore, they become another sub-line within MP, that will never be complete?

Regardless of Squawkbox and Slamdance even being combiners, I sincerely doubt we'll even see Masterpiece toys of any unique-mold non-show characters.

That is the most likely outcome. Slugfest and Overkill's briefest cameo in 'Call of the Primitives' gives them a slightly better chance of being included among the MP Cassettes. Which is more than the cassette combiners have.

MP-47 Hound

Release date: December 2019

Indemand Toys: £129.99

The Link

(The same as MP Blackarachnia, so expect to see a paralleled price of £109.99 from Kapow Toys, in the next couple days)

I couldn't find the Ghostbusters MP-10 thread, so I have to share here. Comic Con Columbia is displaying the new exclusive figure, and TFW2005 posted some higher quality pictures that show off the detail of the figure and its accessories. I didn't want to post their pictures in case other news members had their own pictures to post.

Nathaniel Prime wrote:I couldn't find the Ghostbusters MP-10 thread, so I have to share here. Comic Con Columbia is displaying the new exclusive figure, and TFW2005 posted some higher quality pictures that show off the detail of the figure and its accessories. I didn't want to post their pictures in case other news members had their own pictures to post.

here is the thread: transformers-generations-collaborative-ghostbusters-mash-up-ecto-1-ectotron-figure-t112704s150.php

You can write the full article (100 words or so) and I can take care of the images.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:MP-47 Hound

Release date: December 2019

Indemand Toys: £129.99

The Link

(The same as MP Blackarachnia, so expect to see a paralleled price of £109.99 from Kapow Toys, in the next couple days)

this is very bizarre since every other account has Hound at a higher MSRP than Blackarachnia. That's why I am glad we are waiting for an actual info release from Takara (this week) to news the right details.

Has mp cordon got a ko version? I've seen one that seems to be at Takara prices but the box doesn't seem official to me, no horizon line past the figures feet. Couldn't really get a good look at it. Don't want to pay premium for a ko

blackeyedprime wrote:Has mp cordon got a ko version? I've seen one that seems to be at Takara prices but the box doesn't seem official to me, no horizon line past the figures feet. Couldn't really get a good look at it. Don't want to pay premium for a ko

Nope, only sunstreaker and i heard that ko isnt very good.

william-james88 wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:Has mp cordon got a ko version? I've seen one that seems to be at Takara prices but the box doesn't seem official to me, no horizon line past the figures feet. Couldn't really get a good look at it. Don't want to pay premium for a ko

Nope, only sunstreaker and i heard that ko isnt very good.

Thanks. Yeeagh and the sunstreaker ko is expensive for all its flaws for the asking price for it, so it iss likely to be official mp for me on him. I'm guessing ko cordon will suffer the same flaws if and when one turns up.

Emerje wrote:We should also keep in mind that since that was said the MP line has changed considerably. We've seen several additions to the MP design team, the addition of MPM and Beast Wars characters, and a shift towards cartoon accuracy over realism. Combiners wouldn't have fit the original MO of the MP line, but they would fit the current one a little easier.

That said, I hope they would have the sense to do this...


...and not this.



Emerje

Oh dear...
This has got me thinking about the likelyhood of MP Tri-Predacus and Magnaboss though. They did exist in the Japanese Beast Wars cartoon, after all and I do think they won't release an entire Masterpiece Beast Wars line exclusively based on the Mainframe series. The Second & Neo series will see some representation. Even if it is just Leo Convoy and Galvatron or Big Convoy & Magmatron.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:This has got me thinking about the likelyhood of MP Tri-Predacus and Magnaboss though. They did exist in the Japanese Beast Wars cartoon, after all and I do think they won't release an entire Masterpiece Beast Wars line exclusively based on the Mainframe series. The Second & Neo series will see some representation. Even if it is just Leo Convoy and Galvatron or Big Convoy & Magmatron.

Not likely. Beast Wars Season 1 is the only Beast series that did well over in Japan. Second and Neo were just filler series to buy time for Seasons 2 and 3 to get finished (and when Metals got released, it tanked in Japan), so there's really not much love for any of the characters of those series outside of Lio Convoy. Notice how he's the only one who keeps getting different-mold new toy releases from Takara (RobotMasters, Prime, Legend Commander Collection, Legends) while no one else from either Second or Neo does.

Granted, Longrack did get homaged in a Cybertron toy, but that seemed to be a weird one-off and otherwise didn't play any notable role in the Japanese-made cartoon.

And, the little Big Fight figure that came with Legends Blitzwing did turn out to be a new Big Convoy toy, but which otherwise bore zero resemblance to the guy and was only made the case by Blitzwing's pack-in manga, so it wasn't even a conscience decision by TakaraTomy but instead by Sakamoto just making a loose connection with the toy's mammoth mode.

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:This has got me thinking about the likelyhood of MP Tri-Predacus and Magnaboss though. They did exist in the Japanese Beast Wars cartoon, after all and I do think they won't release an entire Masterpiece Beast Wars line exclusively based on the Mainframe series. The Second & Neo series will see some representation. Even if it is just Leo Convoy and Galvatron or Big Convoy & Magmatron.

Not likely. Beast Wars Season 1 is the only Beast series that did well over in Japan. Second and Neo were just filler series to buy time for Seasons 2 and 3 to get finished (and when Metals got released, it tanked in Japan), so there's really not much love for any of the characters of those series outside of Lio Convoy. Notice how he's the only one who keeps getting different-mold new toy releases from Takara (RobotMasters, Prime, Legend Commander Collection, Legends) while no one else from either Second or Neo does.

Granted, Longrack did get homaged in a Cybertron toy, but that seemed to be a weird one-off and otherwise didn't play any notable role in the Japanese-made cartoon.

And, the little Big Fight figure that came with Legends Blitzwing did turn out to be a new Big Convoy toy, but which otherwise bore zero resemblance to the guy and was only made the case by Blitzwing's pack-in manga, so it wasn't even a conscience decision by TakaraTomy but instead by Sakamoto just making a loose connection with the toy's mammoth mode.

That Longrack cybetron toy was a Hasbro toy anyway so I wouldnt look to that for any evidence of japanese popularity.
However, Big Convoy has been getting a lot of love. Not only did he get the encore but the mold got a blue redeco release as well. There must be some love if they released that mold twice within a few months time, no?

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:This has got me thinking about the likelyhood of MP Tri-Predacus and Magnaboss though. They did exist in the Japanese Beast Wars cartoon, after all and I do think they won't release an entire Masterpiece Beast Wars line exclusively based on the Mainframe series. The Second & Neo series will see some representation. Even if it is just Leo Convoy and Galvatron or Big Convoy & Magmatron.

Not likely. Beast Wars Season 1 is the only Beast series that did well over in Japan. Second and Neo were just filler series to buy time for Seasons 2 and 3 to get finished (and when Metals got released, it tanked in Japan), so there's really not much love for any of the characters of those series outside of Lio Convoy. Notice how he's the only one who keeps getting different-mold new toy releases from Takara (RobotMasters, Prime, Legend Commander Collection, Legends) while no one else from either Second or Neo does.

Granted, Longrack did get homaged in a Cybertron toy, but that seemed to be a weird one-off and otherwise didn't play any notable role in the Japanese-made cartoon.

And, the little Big Fight figure that came with Legends Blitzwing did turn out to be a new Big Convoy toy, but which otherwise bore zero resemblance to the guy and was only made the case by Blitzwing's pack-in manga, so it wasn't even a conscience decision by TakaraTomy but instead by Sakamoto just making a loose connection with the toy's mammoth mode.

That Longrack cybetron toy was a Hasbro toy anyway so I wouldnt look to that for any evidence of japanese popularity.
However, Big Convoy has been getting a lot of love. Not only did he get the encore but the mold got a blue redeco release as well. There must be some love if they released that mold twice within a few months time, no?

Curious. But I'm not surprised Metals aka Season 2 & 3 tanked in Japan, because the fans were mis-sold what Beast Wars was to begin with. They might have been able to terribly dub over Season One for laughs, but try to make 'Transmutate' funny? Or when Megatron blew Optimus Prime's head off. Perhaps if they had kept the tone of the western release (and maintained it through Second and Neo) the fans might have been more receptive?

I do find the lack of love for Second and Neo in Japan a bit odd, much like the reluctance to fully modernise the figures of the Headmasters trilogy. You would have thought as they were purpose focused series, denied a western release, that they would have been exactly what the native fanbase wanted, and would therefore, like to see represented and homaged down the line

william-james88 wrote:That Longrack cybetron toy was a Hasbro toy anyway so I wouldnt look to that for any evidence of japanese popularity.

It actually first debuted in Takara's Galaxy Force line in a Vs. 2-pack with Runamuck (named "Runabout" in Galaxy Force), before it came out single-packed in Hasbro's Cybertron line. I even remember seeing it listed on Takara's old Galaxy Force website back before Hasbro's Cybertron line even began, with it being uncertain if Hasbro would even release the four Vs. pack toys (the other two being Buzzsaw and Blurr) since they were all toy-only characters made from retooled Armada molds instead of the new molds that all the show characters used.

william-james88 wrote:However, Big Convoy has been getting a lot of love. Not only did he get the encore but the mold got a blue redeco release as well. There must be some love if they released that mold twice within a few months time, no?

That could be more attributed to the 35th anniversary thing going on with the Encore line currently releasing different Convoys from across the years, such as God Fire Convoy and Returns Convoy, as well as the Unicron of Light release being an updated version of an old Lucky Draw release, which is the same case as Blue Big Convoy (I'm still shocked that that new release is even a thing).

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Curious. But I'm not surprised Metals aka Season 2 & 3 tanked in Japan, because the fans were mis-sold what Beast Wars was to begin with. They might have been able to terribly dub over Season One for laughs, but try to make 'Transmutate' funny? Or when Megatron blew Optimus Prime's head off. Perhaps if they had kept the tone of the western release (and maintained it through Second and Neo) the fans might have been more receptive?

It's more because the Transmetals toys weren't well received. The Japanese preferred the more real-looking animals of Season 1.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I do find the lack of love for Second and Neo in Japan a bit odd, much like the reluctance to fully modernise the figures of the Headmasters trilogy. You would have thought as they were purpose focused series, denied a western release, that they would have been exactly what the native fanbase wanted, and would therefore, like to see represented and homaged down the line

All I can say is that Second and Neo were simply appetizers meant to tide their viewers over until the main course was ready. And it's not like the two were all that strongly written either. On the whole, they're both just "Okay" series.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote: but try to make 'Transmutate' funny?

"friend good...friend dark... I am hurt"

Oh man, what comedic gold!