The Energon Pub

[AcademyofDrX]

My theory? The differences between the designs are so minute that they get mixed up sometimes, and since virtually no one cares, it's not something they worry about when they produce the figures. If it's something that really bothers you, go nuts over at Toyhax.

[primalxconvoy]

My theory? The differences between the designs are so minute that they get mixed up sometimes, and since virtually no one cares, it's not something they worry about when they produce the figures. If it's something that really bothers you, go nuts over at Toyhax.

They're not "minute" though. It's probably hard to see in the picture, but Scourge's symbol is so squashed-up as to be "cute". I've never seen another toy with a symbol like that. Also, I can't really accept your personal opinion about "no one cares", as you've no data to prove that.

Has anyone else's Scourge got this, or is it just mine?

[TF-fan kev777]

Well here's one data point for you, I don't care. I'm sure there will be a few others if what you really need is data.

On an opinion.

[primalxconvoy]

Well here's one data point for you, I don't care. I'm sure there will be a few others if what you really need is data.

On an opinion.

Well, you seem to care enough to be irked by a perfectly reasonable discussion about TF toys, and to care enough to post said irksomeness (sic).

Still "You and a few others" is hardly "Nobody/Everybody", is it?

Now, back to the discussion of toys!

[ZeroWolf]

I'd be very surprised if any of the target market cared...aka children. Personally I don't care either. The toys are fantastic in their looks and posability, Hasbro have been bringing their A-game lately and its amazing. These are toys begging to be played with.

[Rodimus Prime]

Honestly I didn't even notice until it was pointed out. I always thought it was alright for each character to have different sized and shaped insignia depending on the size and shape of said character. As long as the characteristics of the symbol are clear.

[AcademyofDrX]

I'd be very surprised if any of the target market cared...aka children. Personally I don't care either. The toys are fantastic in their looks and posability, Hasbro have been bringing their A-game lately and its amazing. These are toys begging to be played with.

I think he's wrong, but this is a bad argument why. Yes, children make up the majority of the intended product audience, but teens, collectors, and legacy fan parents are a large and important segment in their own right. If you look at changes in the last decade in both product lines and marketing, older fans are increasingly targeted. Look at Lego, which has released two pricey sets based on the Friends TV show, and featured older women in their promotional photos.

I'm talking with a friend of mine in consumer research and trying to figure out how to cost-effectively produce an unbiased summary of the public's attitude to this critical issue. Survey design, fielding, analysis, conclusions, and presentation should take a few months. Until then, I suggest we put a pin in this topic and go back to complaining about why they haven't announced Studio Series Demolisher or whatever else it is that you nerds complain about.

[ZeroWolf]

I'd be very surprised if any of the target market cared...aka children. Personally I don't care either. The toys are fantastic in their looks and posability, Hasbro have been bringing their A-game lately and its amazing. These are toys begging to be played with.

I think he's wrong, but this is a bad argument why. Yes, children make up the majority of the intended product audience, but teens, collectors, and legacy fan parents are a large and important segment in their own right. If you look at changes in the last decade in both product lines and marketing, older fans are increasingly targeted. Look at Lego, which has released two pricey sets based on the Friends TV show, and featured older women in their promotional photos.

I'm talking with a friend of mine in consumer research and trying to figure out how to cost-effectively produce an unbiased summary of the public's attitude to this critical issue. Survey design, fielding, analysis, conclusions, and presentation should take a few months. Until then, I suggest we put a pin in this topic and go back to complaining about why they haven't announced Studio Series Demolisher or whatever else it is that you nerds complain about.

I was just going by what hasbro say to be fair, I think last reckoning was that we only make up 30% which isn't small but pales to the 70% (aka the people who buy all the Bumblebee toys we complain about)

[primalxconvoy]

I'm not so sure for the more collector-orientated TFs though. I suspect that they are designed primarily for "us", whilst being shoehorned for "them". Kind of like getting your parents to buy a PC/Tablet (to play games) because you can "use it to do homework"...

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Was shocked to find SS Cogman still on shelves on my trip! I skipped over the original release, but with the reduced amount of Bayverse SS around I figured I’d check it out.

It’s a neat figure! Really dig the sword-pointing articulation in robot mode. Vehicle mode looks super snazzy as well, and it’s awesome that tiny Cogman can fit in there.

Cogman looks cool on Thundercracker too! Maybe not so much the other way around though xD

[Ig89ninja]

So what are the chances of a store in the US getting a new wave of Hot Rods and Scourges any time soon? Should I try and wait it out, or bite the bullet and try and find it online before its aftermarket price becomes impossible to buy?

[TF-fan kev777]

Well here's one data point for you, I don't care. I'm sure there will be a few others if what you really need is data.

On an opinion.

Well, you seem to care enough to be irked by a perfectly reasonable discussion about TF toys, and to care enough to post said irksomeness (sic).

Still "You and a few others" is hardly "Nobody/Everybody", is it?

Now, back to the discussion of toys!

No, I was actually sort of contributing a small piece of data for you (while admittedly being a smartass), that was also followed by a few others. The small bit of data presented leaned toward not caring, but small sample sizes really aren't that valuable. In any case, you would never end up getting satisfactory data from an analytical standpoint from any of us unless someone had inside info from Has/Tak on what really matters to them and whether this was a simple oops on their part.

I personally don't find the differences in the 2 sets of insignias that great to be bothered by it, but that's just me.

[ZeroWolf]

So what are the chances of a store in the US getting a new wave of Hot Rods and Scourges any time soon? Should I try and wait it out, or bite the bullet and try and find it online before its aftermarket price becomes impossible to buy?

I think Hot Rod at least is getting repacked, can't remember about Scourge

[primalxconvoy]

Well here's one data point for you, I don't care. I'm sure there will be a few others if what you really need is data.

On an opinion.

Well, you seem to care enough to be irked by a perfectly reasonable discussion about TF toys, and to care enough to post said irksomeness (sic).

Still "You and a few others" is hardly "Nobody/Everybody", is it?

Now, back to the discussion of toys!

No, I was actually sort of contributing a small piece of data for you (while admittedly being a smartass), that was also followed by a few others. The small bit of data presented leaned toward not caring, but small sample sizes really aren't that valuable. In any case, you would never end up getting satisfactory data from an analytical standpoint from any of us unless someone had inside info from Has/Tak on what really matters to them and whether this was a simple oops on their part.

I personally don't find the differences in the 2 sets of insignias that great to be bothered by it, but that's just me.

Thanks for the clarification. For the record, I'm not on a rant about the insignias. It is a bit irritating, but also the "cute" insignia is significantly different to be almost appealing. At first, I thought it was an intentional "toon" styled version but I don't think it is. Also, I might add a repro BUT (and here I will become anal) RLs don't make the "perfect" silver outlined stickers that they used to. They used to have these really good ones that were clear plastic, but we're silver outlined. They gave them out for free as a mixed faction set. They were the closest to liking like official tampos, IMO. Also, the Decepticon symbols, understandably, due to technical issues no doubt, have a flat top to the symbols, rather than "following" the outline of the "crown". RL Autobot symbols follow the outline more, due to the less complex outline.

[Spider5800]

Was shocked to find SS Cogman still on shelves on my trip! I skipped over the original release, but with the reduced amount of Bayverse SS around I figured I’d check it out.

8B92FDB3-6DDE-48EE-AAF5-779063B126CD.jpeg

97DAC1E9-0EE5-47A0-B4CD-E090CCCF0F96.jpeg

It’s a neat figure! Really dig the sword-pointing articulation in robot mode. Vehicle mode looks super snazzy as well, and it’s awesome that tiny Cogman can fit in there.

Cogman looks cool on Thundercracker too! Maybe not so much the other way around though xD

51CAA604-1084-48EB-8AC7-8FE93EF1D449.jpeg

This was one of my favorite SS figures. Glad you like it too! Both modes look great, and the headmaster gimmick is fun for adding a driver.

So what are the chances of a store in the US getting a new wave of Hot Rods and Scourges any time soon? Should I try and wait it out, or bite the bullet and try and find it online before its aftermarket price becomes impossible to buy?

Hot Rod I believe is getting another release, so may be able to hold off on that one. Scourge is supposedly getting a re-release as a generic Sweep. Dunno what that means yet, could be a new paint job, could be a remolded head. Would probably grab him ASAP if you want the original version of him.

[Sabrblade]

So what are the chances of a store in the US getting a new wave of Hot Rods and Scourges any time soon? Should I try and wait it out, or bite the bullet and try and find it online before its aftermarket price becomes impossible to buy?

Hot Rod is Bumblebee Starscream's casemate so if you see Starscream it means Hot Rod was or should be with him.

As for Scourge, dunno if he's getting repacked or not.

[o.supreme]

Every store is different. My closest Target has 1 Scourge and 4 Hotrods right now. Still getting wave 1 kingdom voyagers also while others are getting wave 2 or 3 even

[Emerje]

I doubt Scourge will get a second run any time soon since we know the Sweep repaint is coming up soon, I'd buy now rather than chance it. I don't think I've actually seen Scourge in stores, I had to get mine off Amazon.

As far as symbols go I know I don't care. If you tried to stick one of each Decepticon on a shelf to make the perfect G1 display you'd probably end up with at least 10 different looking symbols. Multiple shades of purple ranging from violet to lavender and even magenta and white, white boarder, silver boarder and no boarder, cartoon style, toy style and live action style (that's happened a few times on G1 style figures). It just doesn't matter to me as long as it's A Decepticon symbol.

Emerje

[-Kanrabat-]

As far as symbols go I know I don't care. If you tried to stick one of each Decepticon on a shelf to make the perfect G1 display you'd probably end up with at least 10 different looking symbols. Multiple shades of purple ranging from violet to lavender and even magenta and white, white boarder, silver boarder and no boarder, cartoon style, toy style and live action style (that's happened a few times on G1 style figures). It just doesn't matter to me as long as it's A Decepticon symbol.

Emerje

That is, if the toy have any faction symbols at all. Too many if not most Movie Bayverse SS figures don't have them for some reasons. I'll share my impressions of SS69 later, but I found no anywhere on any members. Even the huge that was supposed to be on Mixmaster's concrete mixer tank (according to the movie) was MIA.
I wonder why?

[-Kanrabat-]

All right, so I went ahead and bought the whole SS69 Devastator set plus the upgrade kit. Expensive as balls. With taxes and shipping, I save absolutely nothing compared to full local retail. but at least, I have them all in one fell swoop. Plus SS69 have more paint aps compared to the regular release, usually by adding "dirt" and "battle damage".

First impression, DAT BOX IS HUUUUEEEEGGGGGG!



In box, the bots are transformed in a way that are ready to combine but I'm not having my dessert first.



So I transformed them all into vehicle modes. Transformations are pretty straightforward and I didn't even needed to glance at the instructions. I installed the upgrade kit on the main torso bot. The rest of the kit are randomly stored on the vehicles. It's not pretty so next time, I'll leave the extra junk in a ziplock.



The bots are less easy to do because many are insect-like aliens. So I had to glance at the instructions a bit. Those instructions suck because the pictures are very small and hard to read. So I mostly played it by ear. The results are very cool bots that are much better than expected.





And now, the main event, combining into Devastator! To make the combiner limbs, I had to look closely at the instructions because many steps are unclear and stumped me. But I did managed. And with the upgrade kit, this Devastator is PERFECT.... and manly! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)



He do have a bit of trouble standing in "fancy" poses like the regular Combiner Wars stuff. Regardless, he's MASSIVE and intimidating.





Compared to the original G1 mold (Here is G2 Devastator)



And to a typical Combiner Wars gestalt.



This Devastator set cost 100$US more than a Titan class figure. Just because of that, he's "bigger" than a Titan. I was still curious though. So with the upgrade kit:


1.871Kg total.

Titan Omega Supreme with all his accessories:


2.514Kg total.

The price difference is certainly not because of the amount of used, but the parts count and engineering.

Anyway, I highly recommend SS69 Devastator. He's awesome and no bots felt "cheap" in hand at all. Well built and high quality. He was expensive, but I don't regret a thing!

[Ig89ninja]

New question, is the website figopstoys.net a reputable website for buying figures? Cause that’s the only site I’ve seen so far that has Scourge listed at a decent price.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

3D printed some more parts! They’re intended for Starscream but I think they’re a little too big on him. I really like how the missiles look on Long Haul, though!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I prefer the normal DOTM Leader Megatron in it'S more natural rusty paint job.

This Universal version look too clean. Like some mysterious phantom.

I always looked at this one as the step between the RoTF version (still silver, new alt mode) and the DoTM version (same altmode, new deco). If you line them up side by side, you can see every step of the physical change Megatron went through between the 2 movies.

I did do this before

I prefer the normal DOTM Leader Megatron in it'S more natural rusty paint job.

This Universal version look too clean. Like some mysterious phantom.

I always looked at this one as the step between the RoTF version (still silver, new alt mode) and the DoTM version (same altmode, new deco). If you line them up side by side, you can see every step of the physical change Megatron went through between the 2 movies.

Plus, Universal Studios Megatron is the one that gets to gleefully insult kids to the faces.

Which is in his bio!

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Well, if Hasbro won't reveal anything:

(Found by Sideways77 on TFW)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174791693316?m ... 5335815852

Ebay listing for Studio Series Grindor with images.

So we have:

- New hands with wrist swivels and possibly articulated thumbs
- Lighter gray base color with added "MARINES" text on the back, some rust weathering, and reworked paint on the front to try and simulate the CH-53 mode. Rotors are also black now.
- Ravage instead of Scorponok.

Really excited for this one, love that they reworked the hands!

[TulioDude]

Should we expect an updated Blackout after?