The Energon Pub

[AllNewSuperRobot]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

[ZeroWolf]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

Are you sure about that? I think there's still a fair contingent who would complain at no G1:lol:

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Yes, but we are nearly 40 years beyond G1 now. That voice should start to Naturally recede soon enough.

[sol magnus]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

Are you sure about that? I think there's still a fair contingent who would complain at no G1:lol:

Count me in on that one. Sure, make new stuff. But I think they know alienating millions of fans with 'radically different' isn't going to go the way you think.

If I want something different, I've already found it - the new Diaclone line. I think I will be investing in that to some degree. But I won't ever abandon Transformers (unless they go the Power Core Combiner route again...and even then, I'd just abandon THAT).

[Immortal Starscream]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

History has proven this idea wrong sadly. In essence most fan-bases in general, not just TF fans, desperately want something new and original... as long as it is also the EXACT same as the original because if you don't you are raping my childhoods its not MY (enter fandom here) etc, etc. death threats, forum tirades.

as for these guys being studio series as opposed to kingdom versions, well studio series is running out of bayverse bots to make. No doubt Hasbro is going to want to keep the sudio series line alive until the release of the next movie, so filler is kind of inevitable. I think I would rather have these figures then repaints of bay bots. Particularly if said repaints are better then the ones I already shelled out cash for.

that ultimately is my only gripe here. I have limited shelf space, and I sold some figures to make room for siege, only for earthrise to kinda make me regret buying the siege figures. Though, imho some of the siege molds are better then the ER ones. And now these guys are looking to deathblow my remaining titans return non headmasters/masterforce line.

[Sabrblade]

Yes, but we are nearly 40 years beyond G1 now. That voice should start to Naturally recede soon enough.

You kiddin'? The recent news of the Kingdom Cheetor and Blackarachnia toys brought a whole bunch of TrukkNotMunkyers out of the woodwork.

[blackeyedprime]

Maybe this has more to do with how these toys are priced by various types of brick-and-mortor stores in the UK?

Maybe but it has been around since Titan returns for price differences over here. Current prices below are from retail toy stores (equivalents to toys r us at least in the case of Smyths)

Ss deluxe £20-£21, Voyager £30-£31, Leader £50+
WFC deluxe £17, Voayager £24, Leader £47
Netflix deluxe £20, Voyagers with minis £40, Leader spoiler boxes £60


Pretty sure SS Voyagers like Starscream and Megatron in the early waves were cheaper than the current prices but same for non ss voyagers that were still a few £ cheaper back then.

Is that just Entertainer prices or including Smyths? Sadly I've been buying less in b&m and sticking to mostly online for that reason

Cobbled from both. When looking at the speciality online stores like kapow Blitzwing still at the £30 mark.
I'm doing more window shopping (hence more sightings postings) and penny pinching as much as I can at the moment, sold a few things to cover Scorponoks arrival. Not having enough money to bundle stuff together for free postage or having to preorder that must have and paying shipping just to not risk it going out of stock has been a killer with the fans firsts/selects. At least ss hasn't had that curse upon them yet... Not counting the red galvatron and universal megs.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

History has proven this idea wrong sadly. In essence most fan-bases in general, not just TF fans, desperately want something new and original... as long as it is also the EXACT same as the original because if you don't you are raping my childhoods its not MY (enter fandom here) etc, etc. death threats, forum tirades.

I'm not talking about cutting off G1 altogether. Too many people within HasTak would never let that die out. Let alone the fans that refuse for any property to be more than nostalgia. But leave them as secondary/collectors lines. Shift away the media focus IE New show/comics/toyline onto a new iteration. At 36 years old, Transformers has legions of fans that have zero connection to G1. Or even the 20th Century itself. Their enjoyment of the franchise shouldn't be locked in an era that is meaningless to them.

That's where that complaint fails at a fundamental level. It's not "your childhood" anymore. It is theirs.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I'm not talking about cutting off G1 altogether. Too many people within HasTak would never let that die out. Let alone the fans that refuse for any property to be more than nostalgia. But leave them as secondary/collectors lines. Shift away the media focus IE New show/comics/toyline onto a new iteration. At 36 years old, Transformers has legions of fans that have zero connection to G1. Or even the 20th Century itself. Their enjoyment of the franchise shouldn't be locked in an era that is meaningless to them.

That's where that complaint fails at a fundamental level. It's not "your childhood" anymore. It is theirs.

I've said it once, and I will repeat it until hasbro actually heeds the call:

Transformers should mimmick Marvel Legends. You can have whole waves from 1 part of the story. But mix it up, have a mix of characters from different shows accurate to their appearance (none of the half-assed "homages").

If they did that, honestly there would be no argument from me. If SS (under a new name) were to become the new Marvel Legends of Transformers, and become the mainline, I would OK with that. I am OK with variety, live up to your "Generations" title.

99% of your line coming from 1 source is not the answer

[AllNewSuperRobot]

99% of your line coming from 1 source is not the answer

Exactly. This is the biggest problem with Transformers as a franchise.

[Immortal Starscream]

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

History has proven this idea wrong sadly. In essence most fan-bases in general, not just TF fans, desperately want something new and original... as long as it is also the EXACT same as the original because if you don't you are raping my childhoods its not MY (enter fandom here) etc, etc. death threats, forum tirades.

I'm not talking about cutting off G1 altogether. Too many people within HasTak would never let that die out. Let alone the fans that refuse for any property to be more than nostalgia. But leave them as secondary/collectors lines. Shift away the media focus IE New show/comics/toyline onto a new iteration. At 36 years old, Transformers has legions of fans that have zero connection to G1. Or even the 20th Century itself. Their enjoyment of the franchise shouldn't be locked in an era that is meaningless to them.

That's where that complaint fails at a fundamental level. It's not "your childhood" anymore. It is theirs.

Oh I don't disagree with the sentiment at all. I've been vocal in the past as saying it is time for some new leaders as opposed to always optimus and megs. (kinda also why I have always loved Star Saber so much) Just stating what I have seen time and time again on multiple fan boards, as in typical fan reaction. Fans want new, but they want it to be the same. Some take it very personally. When I said "my childhood" I was quoting fandoms in general, not myself.

I am a geewunner, but if you ask me what I think was the greatest transformers, I will tell you Beast Wars, with Animated and Prime following close behind. though Cyberverse did rock my world... past the first season anyway.

Me, I want new characters and new stories instead of the same old rehash. Not to say that re-imagined versions of my old faves isn't appreciated when done well. As for the generations line as a whole, I have also been vocal in my support of seeing not only beast wars figures, including neo and second, but also the unicron trilogy (despite me not liking most of that one personally) and 2000 R.I.D.

In fact, I am quite surprised we haven't seen more Armada, since that was a line that revitalized the franchise and has a huge fanbase. But then again, I am also surprised to see beastwars as well, since there were rumblings in the not to distant past that some Hasbro execs felt that Beast wars was a mistake. Bottom line though is Hasbro knows it's greater money maker is in G1, so they will feed us that until we collectively get sick from over consumption.

[Wolfman Jake]

Hasbro is seemingly pushing more Transformers out than ever before. They are still selling like hotcakes even in this economic downturn. The bulk of what is coming out is G1 or G1-inspired. Correlation isn't causation...but there something to read into here. Nostalgia sells.

As for the 1986 Movie characters in the Studio Series line, I hope the packaging remains largely the same, except now we'll have nice artwork of these characters as seen on screen (maybe based on some original animation cells?) along with backdrops from The Transformers: The Movie to use as set pieces, like they've been doing for the live action movie releases so far. We're already getting a big cardboard "Quintesson Pit of Judgement," so why not some more?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Hasbro is seemingly pushing more Transformers out than ever before. They are still selling like hotcakes even in this economic downturn. The bulk of what is coming out is G1 or G1-inspired. Correlation isn't causation...but there something to read into here. Nostalgia sells.

As for the 1986 Movie characters in the Studio Series line, I hope the packaging remains largely the same, except now we'll have nice artwork of these characters as seen on screen (maybe based on some original animation cells?) along with backdrops from The Transformers: The Movie to use as set pieces, like they've been doing for the live action movie releases so far. We're already getting a big cardboard "Quintesson Pit of Judgement," so why not some more?

Probably thanks to the fact that Cyberverse is actually a great show and providing some needed "good" fiction for transformers. Plus when you make half of the figures coming out limited online exclusives, it can help give that impression.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Plus when you make half of the figures coming out limited online exclusives, it can help give that impression.

Confirmation bias, as they say.

[joevill]

That is one sexy looking Kup!

[william-james88]

I think they are going for screen accuracy in the budget of what they're selling. I don't expect a 20 dollar toy to literally jump out of the screen, but it's definitely close.

I don't think they are going for strict cartoon accuracy like Takara's MP line is. Or else we wouldn't have the added details we see. This instead feels like just something similar to the Generations line, inching ever closer to the cartoon while still offering extra detail. I like this approach, reminds me of the MP line before Ultra Magnus (like Wheeljack).

If Hasbro is reading this, then I think the toys themselves look great, and I always did preffer this approach. The only thing that may stop me from buying them is that I already own decent toys of these characters.

This makes me feel bad for the hard working folks at Hasbro and Takara Tomy. No matter what they do ... there's no pleasing all fans. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The differences in fan opinions is fascinating.

Indeed. I think the only thing that could garner them some more positive feedback is to make something fresh and new again. No nostalgia, no evergreen. Something radically different.

Are you sure about that? I think there's still a fair contingent who would complain at no G1:lol:

They'll live. We need new ideas and characters to keep the brand alive. So far, the only true novelty the brand has gotten since Beast Wars is Rescue Bots. It is a concurrent line with the other toys so I think we could do something similar. Keep generations line and make a new TF show for kids (like Cyberverse) but with lots of new characters. And slowly, those new characters will be part of the larger brand. Like what we saw with Lockdown, Lugnut, Bulkhead but more.

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm not impressed at all by either Hot Rod or Kup. Even if the photos were proper Hasbro marketing shots I wouldnt care. Hot Rod looks like a retooled PoTP Rodimus inner bot and Kup just looks sad. I'll keep the TR version of him.

[chuckdawg1999]

I'm very excited to see this 86 movie line. Takara Legends Hot Rod and Kup were really good but I felt represented the characters post-film.

[Otaku-mus Prime]

Hotrod is definitely mistransformed. It looks like the hood of vehicle mode is behind his head and most likely needs to fold down. Also, Hotrod's fists are upside-down. Rotating them would put the thumbs on the outside, so his whole back assembly probably rotates with the arms. I am excited to see how it all comes together.

[Ultra Markus]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

[ZeroWolf]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

It was G1 Jazz

[sol magnus]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

Didn't they just make a Bayverse Jazz?

[ZeroWolf]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

Didn't they just make a Bayverse Jazz?

Wouldn't say just made, after all it came out roughly July time 2018, two years and a bit ago. It was part of the 2nd wave of Deluxes.

Still, the listing was confirmed to be part of the Studio Series 86 Series (or subline, or whatever it chooses to be)

[Ultra Markus]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

It was G1 Jazz

well thats just pure awesomeness

[william-james88]

i remember seeing a list with these new studio series 86 movie figures ans i saw jazz on there
im not sure if that is another bayverse jazz or part of this new 86 movie series

It was G1 Jazz

well thats just pure awesomeness

Nothing has been confirmed. While it's the most likely scenario, we do not have an actual confirmation.