The Energon Pub

[Rodimus Prime]

I am a bit disappointed with the application of the Wheeljack character. I thought that revisiting the Cybertron days was the perfect opportunity for a toy of Wheeljack from the first episode of MTMTE. Same with Bumblebee. Maybe the engineers just couldn't make it work.

[Jeddostotle7]

...hang on, no one's mentioned this yet: Y'know how in the past multiple board members, me included, have tried to use the TCG card reveals as hints of upcoming characters, and then everyone yells at them that that isn't how it works? Well the new cards from today, with the new Mercenary faction? The promotional blurb/product description for them BLATANTLY STATES that Mercenaries are going to be a thing in the Earthrise line as well, it's even in at least 1 of the 2 articles about them on this very site, and the preorder descriptions from BBTS and TFSource for the Earthrise figures backs that up. I don't know about anyone else, but I think a Deadlock, Lockdown, or Detritus would be a welcome addition to this overall boring G1-again lineup we have so far, and would easily make up for how overall meh the line looks right now.

I know not everyone thinks the line is meh please don't focus on that part of the comment.

I think since Detritus in that artwork is clearly (and logically, of course) based on the Siege Hound mold, and Earthrise is focusing mainly on new molds, we'll get him in Selects instead of Earthrise, but yeah, definitely expecting at least a new-mold Deadlock and Lockdown.

[ZeroWolf]

Well to be fair, we've already had Nightbird as part of Selects,they could also put Drift in mainline Earth rise and Deadlock in Selects as well (or vice versa)

[Jeddostotle7]

Well to be fair, we've already had Nightbird as part of Selects,they could also put Drift in mainline Earth rise and Deadlock in Selects as well (or vice versa)

Either way, we're getting a new-mold Drift/Deadlock baybeeeeeee

[Cyberpath]

Hoist: I had hopes, but then, this happened. That robot mode does not look good at all. He just, no.

I agree it doesn't. But thats cause that G1 design never looked good. I remember talking to Cobotron about this and he said of all the autobot diaclone designs, that was easily the worst. I agree.

Indeed. But that's not to say that I don't like him.

Sometimes, things are good because they're so bad. When I was a kid I thought he was the derpiest thing I'd ever seen. But now, I have come to appreciate his derp.

I'm maybe most excited for Hoist out of everything we've seen.
And maybe the shield dude.

I also like the character! He's not a red truck or a supermodel like Optimus Prime, or a sports car and athletic-looking like sideswipe.. just a tow truck and a kind of weird looking robot. And maybe that's why he had so much screen time and episodes focused on him -- people like sideswipe and prowl are an easy sell because of their looks, but Hoist perhaps needs to show more personality. (Not that I think his design is ugly!)
Gonna wait for an MP though, I have a feeling one is coming in the not too distant future. They're probably figuring out how to make both mold buddies different enough.

It's cool that EarthRise is releasing both Hoist and Grapple in the same wave though, plus that other crane guy, Ironworks.

[Cyber Bishop]

.... Omg such things of beauty they are!

[TF-fan kev777]

I am a bit disappointed with the application of the Wheeljack character. I thought that revisiting the Cybertron days was the perfect opportunity for a toy of Wheeljack from the first episode of MTMTE. Same with Bumblebee. Maybe the engineers just couldn't make it work.

I think a lot of collectors who were hoping for Bee, Jazz and Wheeljack to have their MTMTE alt modes were setting themselves up for disappointment right from the start. While they would be a huge draw from collectors for nostalgia purposes, I think many kids would turn their noses at them. They are ridiculously dated, the idea of what would be hi tech and futuristic back in the 80's.

Try looking at those designs from a kids perspective. Bee is what, a frisbee with headlights? Jazz looks more like a shoe. Wheeljack is a hoverbox. I really just don't see much of a draw for kids there. Also don't discount the lack of wheels and how that would effect play. With a car or truck, you can give it a push and let it keep rolling on its own (Well except for the Moonracer mold and those back nipples). You can even line up a bunch of them and send them all into battle at once with a good push. With a hover vehicle, you have to manually move them the whole time. If Hasbro tried to make any of those designs work, I imagine they would have to add wheels just to appeal to the younger audience, which would have royally pissed off connectors wanting their 80's nostalgia.

[blackeyedprime]

I am a bit disappointed with the application of the Wheeljack character. I thought that revisiting the Cybertron days was the perfect opportunity for a toy of Wheeljack from the first episode of MTMTE. Same with Bumblebee. Maybe the engineers just couldn't make it work.

I think a lot of collectors who were hoping for Bee, Jazz and Wheeljack to have their MTMTE alt modes were setting themselves up for disappointment right from the start. While they would be a huge draw from collectors for nostalgia purposes, I think many kids would turn their noses at them. They are ridiculously dated, the idea of what would be hi tech and futuristic back in the 80's.

Try looking at those designs from a kids perspective. Bee is what, a frisbee with headlights? Jazz looks more like a shoe. Wheeljack is a hoverbox. I really just don't see much of a draw for kids there. Also don't discount the lack of wheels and how that would effect play. With a car or truck, you can give it a push and let it keep rolling on its own (Well except for the Moonracer mold and those back nipples). You can even line up a bunch of them and send them all into battle at once with a good push. With a hover vehicle, you have to manually move them the whole time. If Hasbro tried to make any of those designs work, I imagine they would have to add wheels just to appeal to the younger audience, which would have royally pissed off connectors wanting their 80's nostalgia.

They could have used small cthru hidden wheels for hover mode effect much like the kenner star wars Lukes land speeder.

[skycutter]

I am a bit disappointed with the application of the Wheeljack character. I thought that revisiting the Cybertron days was the perfect opportunity for a toy of Wheeljack from the first episode of MTMTE. Same with Bumblebee. Maybe the engineers just couldn't make it work.

I think a lot of collectors who were hoping for Bee, Jazz and Wheeljack to have their MTMTE alt modes were setting themselves up for disappointment right from the start. While they would be a huge draw from collectors for nostalgia purposes, I think many kids would turn their noses at them. They are ridiculously dated, the idea of what would be hi tech and futuristic back in the 80's.

Try looking at those designs from a kids perspective. Bee is what, a frisbee with headlights? Jazz looks more like a shoe. Wheeljack is a hoverbox. I really just don't see much of a draw for kids there. Also don't discount the lack of wheels and how that would effect play. With a car or truck, you can give it a push and let it keep rolling on its own (Well except for the Moonracer mold and those back nipples). You can even line up a bunch of them and send them all into battle at once with a good push. With a hover vehicle, you have to manually move them the whole time. If Hasbro tried to make any of those designs work, I imagine they would have to add wheels just to appeal to the younger audience, which would have royally pissed off connectors wanting their 80's nostalgia.

the thing is, bumblbebee had wheel, hidden but still, he had wheels in cybertronian mode

[ThunderThruster]

I can pass on most of these, Starscream (and the inevitable repaints which will no doubt be exclusives anyway) more so. Happy with the Henkei versions.

Except those Micromasters ... bring on more of those bases!

I have the Classics version, but aside from paint scheme and some chrome, same deal really.

I got so caught up trying to help deliver the news and fix misconceptions people had that I forgot to say what I actually think of all these reveals, which has been a resounding...meh. Wheeljack, Ironworks, and Soundbarrier are the only figures I'm definitely buying, Grapple is a maaaybe, and everything else is a hard pass.

"Great minds think on the same lines" - Blaster

[william-james88]

Starscream looks like an oversized deluxe figure

That's because he is.

Windcharger.. I mean cliffjumper (the alt mode has me confused)

It's just because they chose not to squish cliffjumper's alt mode this time. But it's his original G1 alt mode. He turns into a porsche 924, while windcharger turns into a firebird. Two completely different cars.

[sol magnus]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks. And probably Runamuck, TBH.

And I think Hoist looks great! In a sense, he looks exactly how he should calling back the cartoon aesthetic. Now, I'm wondering what a MP Hoist would look like.

[william-james88]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

[sol magnus]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though. I certainly wouldn't turn it down, but in the end all the bots I mentioned have essentially the same transformation. It makes the most sense.

[Sabrblade]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

[sol magnus]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

Not sure how you figure that? The only molds with no retool are Jetfire and Omega Supreme.

Or are you saying it's in overdrive? Because that I would agree with.

[Flashwave]

...hang on, no one's mentioned this yet: Y'know how in the past multiple board members, me included, have tried to use the TCG card reveals as hints of upcoming characters, and then everyone yells at them that that isn't how it works? Well the new cards from today, with the new Mercenary faction? The promotional blurb/product description for them BLATANTLY STATES that Mercenaries are going to be a thing in the Earthrise line as well, it's even in at least 1 of the 2 articles about them on this very site, and the preorder descriptions from BBTS and TFSource for the Earthrise figures backs that up. I don't know about anyone else, but I think a Deadlock, Lockdown, or Detritus would be a welcome addition to this overall boring G1-again lineup we have so far, and would easily make up for how overall meh the line looks right now.

I know not everyone thinks the line is meh please don't focus on that part of the comment.

Forgive me, I have been busy at work for the last day and a half, where does the TCG talk about whats going on in Earth Rise? And are we sure it doesnt mean the Earthrise section of the TCG?

Thing is, when the Twincast interviewed the head of rhe TCG they blatently came out and said they don't have an inside track on what Hasbro is doing. The TCG Ratchet (on an action card) we saw leaked was as much a guess because it was an obvious redeco of an Ironhide and we knew one was coming. Don't forget they did a Neeslnoae on the Siege Tetrajet, and there is no Needlenose in that line.

Do I want a Detritus? Oh heck yea. But unless something has changed since their interview, the card designs are just as much them having fun with ideas, and that came from the head honcho's mouth

[Sabrblade]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

Not sure how you figure that? The only molds with no retool are Jetfire and Omega Supreme.

What? The only standard retail Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader mold reuses in Siege are Red Alert, Barricade, Crosshairs, Thundercracker, and Galaxy Upgrade Optimus. All the others are unique molds or the original uses of the aforementioned mold reuses.

[sol magnus]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

Not sure how you figure that? The only molds with no retool are Jetfire and Omega Supreme.

What? The only standard retail Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader mold reuses in Siege are Red Alert, Barricade, Crosshairs, Thundercracker, and Galaxy Upgrade Optimus. All the others are unique molds or the original uses of the aforementioned mold reuses.

Standard retail is a different metric. By that one, sure okay. But you forgot Prowl/Barricade.

I look at it as a whole, not just the standard releases, but your way works too.

[butterflyboy]

I am confused why this new Starscream isn't getting more love. For nearly a decade or more, the Classics mold was "gold standard" for seekers, but I recall many wishing it was a proper Voyager size. Now in 2019, yes the classics mold is showing its age a little, but I have faith that this new one will be properly updated. After the PotP Starscream failed to impress most, it feels like Hasbro is really trying to give us what we're asking for. What am I missing?

Also, does the render incorrectly show Starscream with a total of four null rays in jet mode? I see two on the wings and two that look like they are plugged into the exhaust vents on his chest. Are they just demonstrating that they can be placed in two different places?

[Sabrblade]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

Not sure how you figure that? The only molds with no retool are Jetfire and Omega Supreme.

What? The only standard retail Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader mold reuses in Siege are Red Alert, Barricade, Crosshairs, Thundercracker, and Galaxy Upgrade Optimus. All the others are unique molds or the original uses of the aforementioned mold reuses.

Standard retail is a different metric. By that one, sure okay. But you forgot Prowl/Barricade.

No I didn't. I said Barricade.

[sol magnus]

I’ll call it now. Wheeljack’s mold will be re-tooled as Sunstreaker.

32331EEA-5C02-4B20-8BCB-0B7E42F120C8.png

And Tracks.

Why does everything need to be a retool? Can,t bots just get their own damn molds. We had decades of crappy Cliffjumper placeholders until we got this one. I wouldnt want the same crap with Sunstreaker and Tracks. We have enough placeholders as is.

William, you already know why.

My assertion is based on how they've "been" doing it, though.

Not nearly to the same extent in Siege, though.

Not sure how you figure that? The only molds with no retool are Jetfire and Omega Supreme.

What? The only standard retail Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader mold reuses in Siege are Red Alert, Barricade, Crosshairs, Thundercracker, and Galaxy Upgrade Optimus. All the others are unique molds or the original uses of the aforementioned mold reuses.

Standard retail is a different metric. By that one, sure okay. But you forgot Prowl/Barricade.

No I didn't. I said Barricade.

Indeed you did. My apologies, sir.

[Gauntlet101010]

I am confused why this new Starscream isn't getting more love. For nearly a decade or more, the Classics mold was "gold standard" for seekers, but I recall many wishing it was a proper Voyager size. Now in 2019, yes the classics mold is showing its age a little, but I have faith that this new one will be properly updated. After the PotP Starscream failed to impress most, it feels like Hasbro is really trying to give us what we're asking for. What am I missing?

I think it's because people went all-in for the Siege Seekers, many of whom were exclusives, and feel burned since what they kinda actually want is just around the corner. I didn't get Screamer, but I did get Soundwave and I think I'd feel annoyed if they came out with one that transformed into a microcassette recorder so soon.

That said I just got the wife to help me get the Rainmaker set for Christmas after the Starscream reveal. The robot modes are the right size, kinda look similar.

I just hope they don't go crazy with Seekers right away like they did in Siege.

[butterflyboy]

[/quote]
I think it's because people went all-in for the Siege Seekers, many of whom were exclusives, and feel burned since what they kinda actually want is just around the corner. I didn't get Screamer, but I did get Soundwave and I think I'd feel annoyed if they came out with one that transformed into a microcassette recorder so soon.

[/quote]

I hear ya. Still...we've had a lot of Starscreams that turn into jets. We've had this one mold that turned into the "tetra-jets" and Hasbro took the opportunity to make sure those of us who collect a lot of seekers (or have a favorite one) got as many as possible. I have them all except Red Wing and Skywarp and I'll gladly get all the new seekers as Earth jets if they become available. They are essentially very separate figures and I don't think there are a lot of us who did not see the Earth modes coming. I certainly expected it and am glad with what they produced. I'd say the same for Soundwave if they produced an Earth version for him.

[Gauntlet101010]

I think it's because people went all-in for the Siege Seekers, many of whom were exclusives, and feel burned since what they kinda actually want is just around the corner. I didn't get Screamer, but I did get Soundwave and I think I'd feel annoyed if they came out with one that transformed into a microcassette recorder so soon.

I hear ya. Still...we've had a lot of Starscreams that turn into jets. We've had this one mold that turned into the "tetra-jets" and Hasbro took the opportunity to make sure those of us who collect a lot of seekers (or have a favorite one) got as many as possible. I have them all except Red Wing and Skywarp and I'll gladly get all the new seekers as Earth jets if they become available. They are essentially very separate figures and I don't think there are a lot of us who did not see the Earth modes coming. I certainly expected it and am glad with what they produced. I'd say the same for Soundwave if they produced an Earth version for him.

That's a nice attitude ... that I don't quite share, lol. I mean, I kinda regret getting Siege Prime just for fun now since the upcoming Prime is MUCH more my bag. If they fix those colours.

I guess I'll empathize more if they make the Rainmakers and Red Wing into F-15s. I'd probably be kinda annoyed. But I don't expect they will. And I think I need to adjust my collecting habits anyway. Those guys cam be their own small team.

I'd like to point out that this isn't the ONLY time we've gotten "tetrajet" seekers. We've had War for Cybertron, Cybertron, and Titanium. Those alls till count, even if the set wasn't complete.

I think people would have felt better about it if the Earth mode Starscream came later or if the Tetrajet Seekers came at the same time and were kind of their own thing. Basically, if they knew what was coming and could make a truly informed decision. I mean I'm really glad I didn't replace Ironhide, Ratchet, or the Seeker trio with Siege - I'd be so annoyed now!