The Energon Pub

Cloudraker and Wingspan set is now in stock at Tfsource

william-james88 wrote:

RNSrobot wrote:Incorrect. Shuffler and repugnus have been sighted and purchased across Canada. However, in the most minimal quantities.

Really?! I never saw it ever. Do you have a link to a post so I can see where? And do you remember which retailer it was?

Edit: I looked into this and unless you have seen something other than this, it appears that any sighting was at a collectable store like Toy Traders in Vancouver. So they didnt get their stock directly from Hasbro but from a middleman like Diamond. It seems Hasbro Canada hasnt distributed these toys yet and they havent appeared at stores like Toysrus or Walmart. If you saw otherwise, please let me know because this is troubling me.

Cybertron.ca had multiple sightings in the various provincial sighting threads. Walmart. Sighted and boughtocally by fellow Edmonton collectors in our FB group. Not gonna bother to "prove" it to you further.

Here's my take on the Chaos on Velocitron boxset: It's garbage. "Quickswitch" is indefensible - I don't care how good the paintjob is, the sheer stupidity of the concept ruins the figure. And, given the character selection, the name is a complete misfit. If there had been an homage to someone like Cybertron Hot Shot, Clocker, Ransack, Crumplezone, or Override (like that TR-Blurr-into-Override TFSS concept) in there it would work, but as it stands? FAIL. It should be recalled on the grounds of a bad idea, the Quickswitches sent back to the factory so that their plastic can be recycled for things actually worth manufacturing, and the remaining figures repackaged as a new boxset with a relevant name. Failing that, Hasbro should at least tell the retailers to de-list it until they can send stickers to give it a more fitting name. But ideally the Quickswitches should be destroyed and the remaining figures repackaged under a new set name.

Cobotron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Would you feel the same if the Generation 1 toyline never had its toy bios, Marvel comic, and Sunbow cartoon & movie? Those factors played a huge role in the Transformers line's lasting success.

Well. Yes. The G1 bios were all I needed as a kid.

You, uh, kinda misread that. Sabrblade said "If it had never had even the toy bios," not "If it had only had the toy bios." As in, no backstory or personality at all.

Tell us how you really feel, Zelda.

Randomhero wrote:Cloudraker and Wingspan set is now in stock at Tfsource

I got my notice earlier this evening. Cloudraker and Wingspan are now all paid for and sitting in my processed stack, waiting for another $110 worth of merchandise to become available so I can ship them all for free.

As someone who knows Greatshot exists and who can think another possibility for a Sixshot recolor based on the set's name (that being an homage to Cybertron Megatron), CoV Quickswitch irritates me. As someone who got into Transformers because of Cybertron - the series that introduced Velocitron - the lack of Velocitron-relevant characters in a set called "Chaos on Velocitron" irritates me. But at least an ill-chosen set name is something that can be fixed by slapping a sticker with a new one the box. Quickswitch on the other hand... ugh...

On a non-ranty note, I had another customization idea for Powermaster Prime: Kitbashing a Classics Deluxe Prime into a cab robot for him.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:As someone who knows Greatshot exists and who can think another possibility for a Sixshot recolor based on the set's name (that being an homage to Cybertron Megatron), CoV Quickswitch irritates me. As someone who got into Transformers because of Cybertron - the series that introduced Velocitron - the lack of Velocitron-relevant characters in a set called "Chaos on Velocitron" irritates me. But at least an ill-chosen set name is something that can be fixed by slapping a sticker with a new one the box. Quickswitch on the other hand... ugh...

You do realize that simply repainting Six Shot as Greatshot would not be enough, right? In the G1 toyline, Greatshot was pretty heavily retooled from Six Shot, sporting new parts for his robot mode and beast mode. Plus, this is Hasbro's release, and Greatshot (and Sixknight) were Japan-only releases. Quickswitch is a much more logical release for Hasbro as he's more or less the direct Autobot counterpart to Six Shot. Yeah, it would have been nice if Hasbro made a whole new Leader class mold for Quickswitch, but that's not realistic for them from a business perspective. A little retooling here and their for Quickswitch would have been nice, but it's not really necessary, with the extensive paint job Hasbro used and the built in ways to change up the robot modes (or any of the modes as you see fit) to differentiate him further from Six Shot.

Also, seriously, Hasbro is never going to recall their products to change the name because you object to their being no direct link to the Transformers: Cybertron origin of Velocitron in the set. They're even less likely to recall a toy, no matter how unpopular, to melt it down and recycle the plastic. It's just a toy, man. It's not offensive, and it existence isn't solely to disappoint you. Don't buy it if you don't want it. And if you want other things in that set, sell off what you don't want and make some money back.

Wolfman Jake, why do you insist on making such pathetic excuses for that set's stupidity? Hasbro blew it and that's that.

I realize that recalling the boxset and recycling Quickswitch's plastic is a pure fantasy. However, changing the name is not - that doesn't require a recall, that just requires sending stickers. And I stand by the name being stupid. If there's no character or story to tie it to Velocitron, it shouldn't be called Chaos on Velocitron. It's not like a Unicron Trilogy reference character would have been unreasonable considering that the other large boxset from Titans Return has TIDAL WAVE in it. But as it stands, nobody in the set has anything to do with Velocitron - whether you go by its main depiction or by its depiction in the IDW continuity.

Yes, I am aware that Greatshot had a new chestplate, robot head, beast head, and shoulder tips. But repainting Sixshot and giving him a new face would nonetheless have made a better Greatshot than it did a Quickswitch because Greatshot actually shares a base design with Sixshot. The extensive paint job doesn't really make him look like Quickswitch, it just makes him look like Sixshot doing Quickswitch cosplay. Whereas with Greatshot a good paintjob could have at least simulated the different chestplate by painting the design from it on, and alluded to the silver horns with some silver paint on the "fins" at either side of Sixshot's helmet. And fanmoding the altmodes doesn't really improve Quickswitch resemblance either.
Also, Quickswitch may have been a Hasbro character, but the only continuity he has so far played any role of consequence in is the Ladybird childrens' storybooks from the eighties and hasn't appeared in the IDW comics at all, whereas Greatshot not only played a significant role in Victory (which would be known to adult collectors AKA who this set is more aimed at), he has appeared (Albeit minorly) in the IDW comics and can likely expect more of a role. And, I reiterate, they could alternatively have gone for a Cybertron Megatron homage which would A. give the lacking Velocitron connection and B. Be reasonably recognizable to older US fans.
So Titans Return Quickswitch is nothing more than a polished turd. An expensive, wasteful, polished turd. End of story.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:I realize that recalling the boxset and recycling Quickswitch's plastic is a pure fantasy. However, changing the name is not - that doesn't require a recall, that just requires sending stickers.

Yeah, lots of stickers. The name "Velocitron" appears all over the box, instruction manuals, and even the poster that comes with the set. Logistically, it would be a lot of work to change all of that now for very little pay off. Hasbro doesn't (and shouldn't) care what you think about the name, and neither do more than 99% of the people who will purchase this set. The setting is "Velocitron" because the theme is "Speed" and the story (yes, there is a story) is that Rodimus Prime won the race to the power to control speed and became a Titan Master to utilize that power for the Autobots and to safeguard it from Decepticon influence. The bios cover how the other characters contribute to the speed theme too. Fastlane is an escape artist and can quickly disappear. Nautica can build faster than light engines for her comrades. Laser Optimus Prime can create shortcut "laser" portals. And Quickswitch can change forms extremely fast, enough to confuse the enemy and keep them guessing. Yes, they're all more conceptual forms of speed than purely driving really fast, but it all works and is not as illogical a theme as you pretend just because you want some more Unicron Trilogy references thrown in.

Also, turning Six Shot into Cybertron Megatron is a pretty weak concept. The space cruiser might just pass, but the robot mode would need a TON of remolding to really work, and there is no mode Six Shot has that comes close to looking like a sleek dragster. Plus, what about the other three modes? Cybertron Megatron wasn't a six-changer. As an idea, its honestly less logical than repainting Six Shot into Quickswitch (and giving him a new head).

French forums are full of ZeldaTheSwordsman. That's why I left them.
I hope there's will be only one ZeldaTheSwordsman here.

Just popping in as your resident IDW fangirl to point out that Greatshot's IDW appearance was a background cameo, so he's not likely to get an expanded role any time soon.

And now I'm popping in as a staff member to say please calm down, it's just toys. You can express your opinion and distaste for the boxset without the passive-aggressiveness.

ExciKaiser wrote:French forums are full of ZeldaTheSwordsman. That's why I left them.
I hope there's will be only one ZeldaTheSwordsman here.

Thankfully this site has a foe list that you can add him to so you no longer have to read anymore of his toxic bile that he spews out. That's what I'm about to do.

I'd have quite liked a Greatshot toy.

I'd also not have minded if they think laterally about it and gave Decepticon Sixshot Energon Sixshot's colours.

A greater concern for me though is that the entire set are Autobots.
I would like some Decepticon love in these Boxed sets - I do agree though that the TFCC had some great ideas in the works so I hope Hasbro pinches some of them - perhaps for a beast themed set.

For example the Amazon twin pack of red bat and Purple croc would make a great twin pack Titansreturn set like the set recently released of Optimus and Orion Pax.

It's a shame TFCC lost the license this year as it looks unlikely that Hasbro themselves is going to draw up the slack from their lack. and A green Croc Megatron would be nice but if Hasbro did the blue/grey bat it would be stepping all over Takara's toes - so either Takara need to do a Croc Megatron themselves or TFCC's idea of Onyx Primal would have been suitable - that sure would raise some eyebrows though if a retail product contained Onyx Primal.

Though it would nicely complement that skateboard branded Optimus Prime to have another Black Optimus like character in black too.

But i'd certainly encourage hasbro to keep making the boxed sets - i'd certainly really welcome a TR Flywheels for a start - that would be multiply useful as it would excuse legitimising the G1 repaint Blitzwing as intending to be Flywheels too.

(Just as Legion size Thrust legitimised Cybertron Voyager Starscream as being Thrust).

Wolfman Jake wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:As someone who knows Greatshot exists and who can think another possibility for a Sixshot recolor based on the set's name (that being an homage to Cybertron Megatron), CoV Quickswitch irritates me. As someone who got into Transformers because of Cybertron - the series that introduced Velocitron - the lack of Velocitron-relevant characters in a set called "Chaos on Velocitron" irritates me. But at least an ill-chosen set name is something that can be fixed by slapping a sticker with a new one the box. Quickswitch on the other hand... ugh...

You do realize that simply repainting Six Shot as Greatshot would not be enough, right? In the G1 toyline, Greatshot was pretty heavily retooled from Six Shot, sporting new parts for his robot mode and beast mode. Plus, this is Hasbro's release, and Greatshot (and Sixknight) were Japan-only releases. Quickswitch is a much more logical release for Hasbro as he's more or less the direct Autobot counterpart to Six Shot. Yeah, it would have been nice if Hasbro made a whole new Leader class mold for Quickswitch, but that's not realistic for them from a business perspective. A little retooling here and their for Quickswitch would have been nice, but it's not really necessary, with the extensive paint job Hasbro used and the built in ways to change up the robot modes (or any of the modes as you see fit) to differentiate him further from Six Shot.

Just to highlight the bold part of your arguement, so were Overlord, Sky(Black)Shadow & Metal Hawk. Hasbro has shown that they are able to do what once where Japanese only characters. Agreed that it's no guarantee of us getting certain characters, and yes the 3 I've mentioned have all had some panel time in the IDW comicverse, but to say Hasbro won't do a character as they are a Japanese one is no longer as solid an argument as it once was.

Not to mention Hasbro released Generations 2011 Black Shadow before he showed up in IDW.

I'd forgotten about that figure release Kurona. It does help highlight my point further.

And cw liokaiser. Don't forget him.

Am I the only one that doesn't mind Quickswitch?

To be fair I am biased. I didn't have G1 Sixshot but I did have G1 Quickswitch so he was my only six changer, and I figure he was never a high enough profile character so that the only way I'd ever get a Generation version was a Sixshot redeco. I wouldn't mind a Greatshot redeco either, especially since the Decepticons have the Autobots outnumbered in the Leader scale, but I'm much less familiar with that character.

Kurona wrote:Not to mention Hasbro released Generations 2011 Black Shadow before he showed up in IDW.

This is not to contribute to the argument goin on one way or another (I dont care).
Instead its just something I somehow do care about and will never let go.

Here is Black Shadow in IDW in Megatron Origin



Neither confirmed nor denied but dated back to 2007.

RiddlerJ wrote:Am I the only one that doesn't mind Quickswitch?

I had neither growing up. I was bored by TR Sixshot but the quality of the paint apps on Quickswitch really elevate that mode and made me like it far more. Like with Black Shadow, by taking a mold that was intended more for another character, you get a cool neo G1 toy with a differnt look and different modes distinguishing it from the G1 toy instead of just a G1 toy with articulation.

Insurgent wrote:And cw liokaiser. Don't forget him.

I'd like to forget what they did with Dezarus in that set. But the four limbs & the overall combined mode you get with Liokaiser aren't bad.

I like Quickswitch, too -- although to be honest, I have yet to transform him to any of his other modes besides the car he came as. :p

Nautica has been transformed numerous times.

bodrock wrote:I like Quickswitch, too -- although to be honest, I have yet to transform him to any of his other modes besides the car he came as. :p

To be dead honest, thats the mode that works best for him along with his robot mode. I feel its the only mode that looks the part without extraneous elements belonging to other things sticking out.

Is there an ETA for the Walgreen's exclusive clone set?

nycPrime wrote:Is there an ETA for the Walgreen's exclusive clone set?

no, there is usually no ETA for store exclusives since they dont have to follow a schedule with other retailers and Hasbro.
hence why its usually store exclusives that are either late or early. Like when Toysrus put out their Exclusive RID toys before hasbro revealed them or when Walmart put their Exclusive AOE toys 2 months after the movie came out

I'm assuming the price point for the Cloudraker/Wingspan set should be around 20-30 when released. This sound reasonable? Or did I miss the actual MSRP being posted at some point.

mordhelm wrote:I'm assuming the price point for the Cloudraker/Wingspan set should be around 20-30 when released. This sound reasonable? Or did I miss the actual MSRP being posted at some point.

I don't think we've had anything official yet, but my guess would be closer to the $30 side. It is Walgreens after all...