The Energon Pub

[AllNewSuperRobot]

No, no, I mean the SELECTS redeco of Piranacon into King Poseidon. Since Black Zarak would most assuredly be in the SELECTS range?

[o.supreme]

In response to this, I've come across this rather astute post over at The Allspark:

They said the same thing about Metrotitan.

People talk big about buying "obvious repaints" but the minute Black Zarak comes out through some non-mass-retail option and is $200+ there'll be a chorus of "I'll wait until clearance" or "such-and-such third party will be better" or "I'll buy a loose stolen one off eBay".

I can only speak for myself. I did purchase Grand Max on sale at BBTS because I was in a "not-so-great" financial situation when it first came out a few years back. King Poseidon I paid more than retail for because of HP ridiculously short pre-order window, and no indication, in hindsight, that they would even be offering them when they were actually released, as quickly as those sold out as well.

Scorponok- pre-ordered on Pulse
God Neptune -pre ordered on Pulse

For now at least, I can put my money where my mouth is, tomorrow may be different, but I'd definitely pre-order a BZ for $200 if I could today. Metrotitan I can understand would have far less appeal, but as a fan of Big Transformers in general I'd get it for sure, but I could understand how it would have far less appeal and be deemed far too risky by the powers that be.

[-Kanrabat-]

Well, for me those Cities will be woefully incomplete without their partformer partner. The original had them after all.

By moral principles I also give them 3 teams of Micromasters. As for the one that didn't had a part partsformer partner, I give them one. Like I gave Omega Supreme Ironworks.

Well, for example (I will have to post pictures of these some day) my Trypticon is home to: 8 variants of Universe Cyclonus, 5 variants of Beast Machines Jetstorm and 3 variants of WFC [the game] Shockwave. There isn't really room for anyone else

Post a picture of that armada with Trippy in ship mode.
This look EPIC as F.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Post a picture of that armada with Trippy in ship mode.
This look EPIC as F.

Unfortunately, all the City Bots are in City Mode only. As it is all I've got the room for. Fortunately, the joints on his legs and indeed, tail section, in City Mode look effectively like a series of launch pads and runways which work quite well. The Cyclonus Armada however, sit in arrow formation around the City.

[-Kanrabat-]

Post a picture of that armada with Trippy in ship mode.
This look EPIC as F.

Unfortunately, all the City Bots are in City Mode only. As it is all I've got the room for. Fortunately, the joints on his legs and indeed, tail section, in City Mode look effectively like a series of launch pads and runways which work quite well. The Cyclonus Armada however, sit in arrow formation around the City.

This sound even better! So...

[Gauntlet101010]

Man Trypticon is too short. Oh well.

More like Metroplex was always too tall.

He's the shortest titan in that picture. I get that it's due to mass. Still too short, though.

Again, it's because Metroplex was made too tall.

Again, Tripticon is the shortest citybot making him too short. He's shorter than Scorpinok. Shorter than Omega Supreme. The dino is short. You can blame every single other citybot or you can pick out Tryppy as the shortest one.

If we're talking about hypotheticals I could also say they could have tweaked Tripticon to make him hollower and have more mass to work with. If we're dealing with even more hypotheticals then they could have tweaked his design to make him leaner and taller - Metroplex wasn't G1, Tryppy doesn't have to be G1. If we're working with even more hypotheticals they could have upped the price. Hypotheticals can be fun.

[-Kanrabat-]

If we're talking about hypotheticals I could also say they could have tweaked Tripticon to make him hollower and have more mass to work with. If we're dealing with even more hypotheticals then they could have tweaked his design to make him leaner and taller. If we're working with even more hypotheticals they could have upped the price. Hypotheticals can be fun.

I'll hypiteticate further by saying why not do the same as that 3P WFC Trypticon and sell him as TWO separate full priced citybots that combine to make the full Trypticon? I'm sure this would have sold veryyyyyy well!

[Gauntlet101010]

If we're talking about hypotheticals I could also say they could have tweaked Tripticon to make him hollower and have more mass to work with. If we're dealing with even more hypotheticals then they could have tweaked his design to make him leaner and taller. If we're working with even more hypotheticals they could have upped the price. Hypotheticals can be fun.

I'll hypiteticate further by saying why not do the same as that 3P WFC Trypticon and sell him as TWO separate full priced citybots that combine to make the full Trypticon? I'm sure this would have sold veryyyyyy well!

And include ALL his G1 accessories while they're at it! Why not?

[-Kanrabat-]

And include ALL his G1 accessories while they're at it! Why not?

Well, at that price point, it would be freaking mandatory.

[ZeroWolf]

Man Trypticon is too short. Oh well.

More like Metroplex was always too tall.

He's the shortest titan in that picture. I get that it's due to mass. Still too short, though.

Again, it's because Metroplex was made too tall.

Again, Tripticon is the shortest citybot making him too short. He's shorter than Scorpinok. Shorter than Omega Supreme. The dino is short. You can blame every single other citybot or you can pick out Tryppy as the shortest one.

If we're talking about hypotheticals I could also say they could have tweaked Tripticon to make him hollower and have more mass to work with. If we're dealing with even more hypotheticals then they could have tweaked his design to make him leaner and taller - Metroplex wasn't G1, Tryppy doesn't have to be G1. If we're working with even more hypotheticals they could have upped the price. Hypotheticals can be fun.

I can easily explain the not G1 metro to slavish G1 tryp... Change in design team Warden didn't do Metro but he did go tryp, so wouldn't suprise me if he did tryp knowing he'd get another shot at metro. Also why should it matter of tryp is shorter then Scorp or omega? He never really interacted with either of them and they're perfectly scaled to their rivals. Tryp is the only one who isn't... Yet.

[Hellscream9999]

I understand that Legends Grand Maximus was a bit of a letdown in that it didn't meet the pre-order requirement to include the additional Pretender accessory, but I have it, and think it is great. Also the pre-order was only available to fans in Japan at the time. I understand its not definitive, and that Scorponok sales could definitely weigh in on determining whether its viable or not. The fact that they have *sold out* on Scorponok pre-orders 3 times on Pulse, and have obviously *upped* production to open for more pre-orders is definitely a positive sign. Perhaps Hasbro could offer BZ as its next Haslab crowdfund project, obviously a smaller price point, and smaller pre-order requirement than Unicron

In response to this, I've come across this rather astute post over at The Allspark:

They said the same thing about Metrotitan.

People talk big about buying "obvious repaints" but the minute Black Zarak comes out through some non-mass-retail option and is $200+ there'll be a chorus of "I'll wait until clearance" or "such-and-such third party will be better" or "I'll buy a loose stolen one off eBay".

so long as the production run is tightly controlled (maybe pre-orders only then rounded up to account for extra people in the interim getting the money for it) I see no reason zarak couldn't be done, especially with how far in advance tt does their pre-orders

but I do agree with the sentiment 100%

[-Kanrabat-]

I understand that Legends Grand Maximus was a bit of a letdown in that it didn't meet the pre-order requirement to include the additional Pretender accessory, but I have it, and think it is great. Also the pre-order was only available to fans in Japan at the time. I understand its not definitive, and that Scorponok sales could definitely weigh in on determining whether its viable or not. The fact that they have *sold out* on Scorponok pre-orders 3 times on Pulse, and have obviously *upped* production to open for more pre-orders is definitely a positive sign. Perhaps Hasbro could offer BZ as its next Haslab crowdfund project, obviously a smaller price point, and smaller pre-order requirement than Unicron

In response to this, I've come across this rather astute post over at The Allspark:

They said the same thing about Metrotitan.

People talk big about buying "obvious repaints" but the minute Black Zarak comes out through some non-mass-retail option and is $200+ there'll be a chorus of "I'll wait until clearance" or "such-and-such third party will be better" or "I'll buy a loose stolen one off eBay".

so long as the production run is tightly controlled (maybe pre-orders only then rounded up to account for extra people in the interim getting the money for it) I see no reason zarak couldn't be done, especially with how far in advance tt does their pre-orders

but I do agree with the sentiment 100%

Overquoting just to point out that for how well the Select Seacons and God Neptune sell, the cheapskates voice will be pretty much irrelevant.

[Gauntlet101010]

Also why should it matter of tryp is shorter then Scorp or omega? He never really interacted with either of them and they're perfectly scaled to their rivals. Tryp is the only one who isn't... Yet.

I was commenting on the photo of him next to some of the other titans was just struck by how short he really is. I'm usually looking up at him from where he stands, so the height difference just struck me anew. The convo just spiraled from there.

I dunno if we'll get another Metrolex. I suppose they have run out of citybots by now.

[joevill]

I'm glad I have that big boy pre-ordered!!!!

[william-james88]

This is sure to be good news for people hoping to find something new on the shelf. The Target exclusive two pack for Transformers Earthrise featuring Skywarp and Thundercracker has been found in store at Target. The price is $59.99 and this particular sighting was at a Target in Fremont, California. Fellow Transformers fan Verkk reported this on the TFW2005 boards. The other Target exclusive two pack will be for the decepticon clones which are rereleases of the Takara release. Those have yet to be found nor are either sets available online at Target.com.

[Rodimus Prime]

Target.com still doesn't have them. I guess I'm checking my Target in the morning.

[Hellscream9999]

Target.com still doesn't have them. I guess I'm checking my Target in the morning.

I can say with 100% certainty that target prioritizes it's stores over the site; I know this cuz my studio series scrapper pre-order got delayed by several weeks, but the day I got the email, I found his case being put out on the shelves at my local target - that's right, a pre-order got delayed, but they had already sent that same product to their stores

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Wow, interesting to see us Overseas fans haven't been screwed over by this exclusivity nonsense, for a change.

[-Kanrabat-]

Wow, interesting to see us Overseas fans haven't been screwed over by this exclusivity nonsense, for a change.

At least nowadays, it's more "exclusivity" than anything. Hasbro want to sell their toys to the maximum of people after all. That is, unless it's the MPM line to Quebec via Toys R Us.

Speaking of "exclusive", any idea who will pick up the Select Spy Team for Canada? Because I missed the Age 3 And Up preorders like a jackass.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Exclusives are not my real issue. Giving an exclusive to a company, such as Target, that doesn't exist beyond America should be null and void beyond that border.

It has taken me more effort than it should source the SIEGE Rainmakers, Ratchet etc without resorting to 'extortion by eBay', due to this issue.

If Hasbro want to sell the most toys to the most people. Keep the exclusive deals within America. Outside of that, open the market to every outlet across the rest of the world. That would bring in the big bucks.

[1984forever]

The Rainmakers didn’t show up in my area until Christmas last year. Back in July, the Target website said they were at a store in Long Island and I drove something like 50 miles to find out that they hadn’t been put on the shelves yet. Plus, there was already a guy in the toy isle who said he had been waiting hours for staff to bring them out. I wound up ordering them on eBay for $150.

This year I’m skipping the hunt and going straight to eBay for Skywarp and Thundercracker. Come to think of it, in 10 years of collecting (classics era), I’ve never bought anything from a brick and mortar that hadn’t been out for at least 3 months already.

[-Kanrabat-]

The eternal story of random distribution. Some stores have pyramids high of so much stuff that even on clearance it cannot sell, while other stores have zip.

After DECADES, that problem was never fixed. And I think it never will be.

[sol magnus]

Guess it's time to start looking. In a way, I was enjoying the break.

[joevill]

Gonna check out my local target today! Thanks for the heads up!!

[o.supreme]

Seems like a lot of *firsts* are found in the bay Area, one of the aspects I miss about living there, though general distribution usually starts on the East Coast and moves West (Unless its Walgreens and its the opposite)

I'm living proof as I live only about 100 miles away, and rarely if ever see anything until months later despite living in a largely populated area with many stores to choose from. Its fine, the seeker duo ore not on my bucket list, but I have been itching a bit just to see something new. I believe it when you say the Target stores have priority over the website. I preordered wave 2 and 3 deluxes back in February (wasn't even the BOGO sale), but if I see them anywhere else first, then I'll definitely be canceling those pre-orders. Still hoping to see *something* from wave 2 over the first weekend of July based on nothing but a hunch and probably false hope.

All you folks getting SkyLynx & Scorponok early; enjoy, because who knows when we will be getting them. Also, I know I shouldn't complain because MANY geographical areas do miss out on certain items, but the US is certainly not immune. There are several TF's we never get, so the whole "distributing to the most fans" thing goes out the window, I have no idea what Hasbro's thought process is, or why they do what they do.