The Energon Pub

[Skritz]

Well personally I'm a cheap ass who would not mind paying retail price for a modern Fire Convoy because to be honest, I'm not exactly too sold on the electronics and other things which makes the original pricy.

That said, the reason I brought up the whole 'people will bitch and won't buy it' is that the Reissue is so recent that hardcore collectors will most likely default to just getting the reissue since it come with Ultra Magnus. The reissue is from 2018 and still available online. So while me, personally, would not mind just getting a simpler modern figure to fiddle around with, someone who is a much more serious collector has zero reason to not go for the Reissue. That was my point. I've seen the sentiment pop up here when we got Galaxy Convoy: people bitched he was smaller, transformed differently, was a retool of Ultra Magnus and how he had none of the gimmicks and mass. A CHUG Fire Convoy is doomed to the same fate. The only upgrade it might offer could be much better poseability, as that has been the strong suit of recent Generations stuff since Siege. Personally I want/would not mind a CHUG Fire Convoy its just I know how this fanbase reacts, since we have a precedent with Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime.

The problem is simple: when Generations remakes a G1 figure, its always a step up from 1980 engineering. When a figure from the 2000 is remade, its always a downgrade in terms of raw mass of plastic and bulk.

[triKlops]

The problem is simple: when Generations remakes a G1 figure, its always a step up from 1980 engineering. When a figure from the 2000 is remade, its always a downgrade in terms of raw mass of plastic and bulk.

This is a perfect crystallization statement, in my personal opinion, that sets the bar much better for future non-G1 Generations releases. Nice work!

[Skritz]

I think a modern remake of the UT stuff could get an edge over the old stuff through the improved articulation, however.

[triKlops]

I think a modern remake of the UT stuff could get an edge over the old stuff through the improved articulation, however.

Agreed as well.

[Deadput]

I think part of the problem with that is that for the most part a good deal of the UT characters got good toys, some of which were so good that their quality has barely been matched in the recent years.

Any new figures of those specific characters would absolutely be inferior, the only ones that wouldn't be are those who's original toys were pretty eh and brickish like the majority of Armada's figures.

[Skritz]

Now its just me, but I'd personally like to get some RiD2001 or UT designs and characters on a modern budget. Yeah its not gonna be as big but at least its going to 'handle' fairly well and generally be fairly solid for posing and messing around with it. Some of these are quite the brick compared to Siege and ER where nearly every figure has all the important articulation points, including waist and even ankle pivot. There's nothing wrong with getting 'Armada with Knees' when we get 'G1 with knees'.

[sol magnus]

Well personally I'm a cheap ass who would not mind paying retail price for a modern Fire Convoy because to be honest, I'm not exactly too sold on the electronics and other things which makes the original pricy.

That said, the reason I brought up the whole 'people will bitch and won't buy it' is that the Reissue is so recent that hardcore collectors will most likely default to just getting the reissue since it come with Ultra Magnus. The reissue is from 2018 and still available online. So while me, personally, would not mind just getting a simpler modern figure to fiddle around with, someone who is a much more serious collector has zero reason to not go for the Reissue. That was my point. I've seen the sentiment pop up here when we got Galaxy Convoy: people bitched he was smaller, transformed differently, was a retool of Ultra Magnus and how he had none of the gimmicks and mass. A CHUG Fire Convoy is doomed to the same fate. The only upgrade it might offer could be much better poseability, as that has been the strong suit of recent Generations stuff since Siege. Personally I want/would not mind a CHUG Fire Convoy its just I know how this fanbase reacts, since we have a precedent with Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime.

The problem is simple: when Generations remakes a G1 figure, its always a step up from 1980 engineering. When a figure from the 2000 is remade, its always a downgrade in terms of raw mass of plastic and bulk.

I broke down and bought a Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime, but that's because I'm a junkie.

I think part of the problem with making modern Armada era guys that will meet the fans of that era's expectations is the budgets and increase in plastics cost that occurred in the late 2000s and continues into this day. It's why we have to get these truncated accessories with WFC figures that we didn't have in earlier Generations years (CHUG Wheeljack vs. Earthrise Wheeljack for example).

I've beat this drum before, but I have zero problem with them integrating Unicron Trilogy characters into "G1" or Neo-G1 or whatever we're calling it. If it's cool, I will probably get it. I actually regret selling my Generations Hot Shot. I might just get another one. Really liked that figure, and I only know him from the PS2 game because I didn't watch the show. I didn't get the Starscream they did a few years back because I wasn't collecting CHUG then, but I thought it was a cool idea.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Now its just me, but I'd personally like to get some RiD2001 or UT designs and characters on a modern budget. Yeah its not gonna be as big but at least its going to 'handle' fairly well and generally be fairly solid for posing and messing around with it. Some of these are quite the brick compared to Siege and ER where nearly every figure has all the important articulation points, including waist and even ankle pivot. There's nothing wrong with getting 'Armada with Knees' when we get 'G1 with knees'.

Wouldn't mind seeing modern versions of these two, for example.

[Skritz]

I've said it before: Overload should be a Weaponizer.

[Sentinel_Primal]

Honestly, the only UT figures that I think need to be redone is the majority of Armada designs. Some of the figures still hold up, like Bendy Prime, and arguably Tidal Wave and Megatron. But others suffered from either transformation (Super Mode Prime) or a gimmick (imo, Jetfire). We've seen HasTak do a lot of impressive things, particularly involving WFC, but also some Prime Wars and T30.

In terms of fitting into Neo-G1, Armada and RID2001 work the best because they're not major departures from previous designs compared to Bayverse and Animated. And with the weaponizer and Micromaster gimmicks, I think now would be a good time to at least test the waters by maybe redoing Armada Jetfire, Overload, and Prime. Overload could be done as a mainline Voyager, maybe Leader for parts count, with a G1-styled Overload Micromaster that can be armored up with the trailer into Armada Overload, Jetfire could be a Voyager "Earth Mode" version, with Super Mode Prime being the Alternate Universe listing.

I think it'd be interesting, especially since I think kids might be interested in those three since Overload would basically be a weapons platform that transforms and could be combined with other figures like the weaponizers from Siege, Jetfire turns into a shuttle, and Prime would have a Super Mode, and be able to combine with the other two.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

When you think about it. Any "combiner" from Armada, and especially Energon, could be redesigned as deluxe or voyager Weaponisers. In particular Overload/Ultra Magnus, Tidal Wave and Armada Jetfire, could be essentially apex armour to most of the larger WFC range. Something along the lines of the "nirvana" upgrade for Shockwave, applied to everyone of that scale.

[ZeroWolf]

Of course if we do get Fire Convoy, people will bitch he's smaller and not as good as the original and nobody will buy him, sending HasTak (and John Warden) the message that they are correct in that only 1984-85 GEEWUN is what sells.

And via karma, you will deserve it.

However, I would buy Fire Convoy in a heartbeat. My Car Robots collection (which had everything except Brave Maximus - because at the time I had a Fortress Maximus) was sacrificed for my Masterpiece collection and, well...bills.

So, even if it failed and people complained (and they will, no matter what happens), it wouldn't fail because of me.

The problem is no one should be forced to buy an inferior toy, something that they should also be aware of. So it's really a no win - situation. Depending on your point of view of course.

What would work more in their favour is if they launched a more ambitious reissue line that expanded past just the first two years of G1

They already did it. In 2001 they did a line called "Robots in Disguise" that had inferior plastic and rubber compared to the Takara releases. I know, because I had them. It's my one collection where I had robot and vehicle modes displayed.

EARTHRISE (so as not to derail) Bluestreak is gonna be lit.

If they already did it then they can do it again but cover all of TF history (obviously only with the ones they still have the molds to) so they can reissue toys from Animated, Cybertron, Universe 2.0 etc etc

As for Earthrise, I meant to ask, what is this leaked photo people are talking about?

[Skritz]

Overload as a Voyager or even Leader class Weaponizer would be bonkers but also help with updating his engineering, as well as adding play value to him for those without the associated Optimus Prime. He'd be some sort of weapon platform for smaller figures or a big **** yeah cannon backpack for a larger figure. Plus his little drone dude whose name I forgot is a Mini Con and Mini Con and Micromasters are pretty much the same thing in modern TF lore.

So yeah, why not have a neo-Armada line next? Micromasters are doing fine for Hasbro right now so Mini Con seem a logical evolution of the current Micromaster and Battlemaster gimmickry, no?

[ZeroWolf]

If Takara ever complete that Armada Prime figure, I'd suspect they will tackle Jetfire and Overload. In fact that could be why we haven't had it yet, if Takara is still unsure of the project, then hasbro might not want to move on it.

[Hellscream9999]

If Takara ever complete that Armada Prime figure, I'd suspect they will tackle Jetfire and Overload. In fact that could be why we haven't had it yet, if Takara is still unsure of the project, then hasbro might not want to move on it.

Yeah, in light of both the potp god bomber prime and rotf devastator, they may have decided to design them all together so that the potential combined mode isn't a disaster of top-heaviness on the joints (more how devs was designed with the body being made last to see what it had to hold up as opposed to how godbomber tried to fix things that couldn't be fixed);
I think there's a big market for generations ut figures, but I don't think a lot of people are going to be willing to pay TT prices for an entire line of them if hasbro chooses not to play ball

[Rodimus Knight]

I think it's cool that they found a way to create a base mode / launch platform for Skylynx, but I want to know, who is driving or walking up that steep of a ramp?

But Seriously, I'm really excited about this figure.

[aronjlove]

@Smokingray7775 on Twitter just shared some pics of the ER two-pack Seeker figures compared to their Siege counterparts. There are a few more comparison pics as well, with other, older molds.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Nice!
The Tetrajets appear taller? That's interesting.

[Sentinel_Primal]

Weirdly these pictures make me want to pick up Siege Thundercracker so I could have both designs

[Skritz]

Hm. The difference is indeed minor. Don't get me wrong they are completely different molds but the overall shape and proportions are nearly identical. While I'm skipping on the season 1 Seekers in their ER incarnation, I'm still down for some coneheads with that mold.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I saw that big ole showcase at my walmart, and finally saw Earthrise voyagers and deluxes for the first time!... but they only had Ironworks and Grapple, so I finally got Ironworks. Now to eventually find Wheeljack and I'll be done with wave 1

[Autobot N]

I finally got Ironworks.

Nice. He's the only ER figure I've got so far, and he's pretty great.

[Nemesis Primal]

And once again, my hopes of the new Datsun mold getting reused as Jazz and UT Crosswise get even further diminished...regardless, I have no interest in buying a second Bluestreak, but I hope for the sake of others that he's a blue deco Bluestreak both to further differentiate him from last year's and so those interested could repurpose him as Prime Smokescreen or someone else. And hey, at least he's an exclusive too, so he won't be another repeat taking up retail slots.

Also I absolutely agree with Skritz, the combination of Micromasters & Battlemasters as Mini-Con stand-ins (We almost got Astroscope updated AS a Micromaster with Sky Lynx even!) and Weaponizers/Modulators working in a very Powerlinx-like fashion make this the perfect time to do more UT references/updates and I will continue to be disappointed by the lack thereof every time it gets brought up. Galaxy Upgrade OP and Hot Shot are great, but 2 figures is pretty minuscule compared to the entire rest of the line being G1.

[Skritz]

You know, toys might have less plastic/overall mass than during the UT but I honestly think the overall engineering has improved so much that, should they desire it, HasTak might posses the knowledge and understanding to better pull off a lot of these early Unicron Trilogy gimmicks which more often than not used to severely compromise articulation. Now (or next line, most likely) is a good time to try again what the early UT attempted and utterly failed at. Yeah, sure, those were bigger and bulkier toys but I think most people agree Armada and Energon weren't exactly doing so hot when it came to articulation, proportion and overall play value beyond a single dumb gimmick.

Powerlinx might be doable today better than it was during Energon, for example. Possibly using a Combiner Wars-esque peg (but bigger) to join the two halves at the waist. All those 'magic mushrooms' and characters who combine could be redone as Weaponizers, if partsforming even more is what it take to make them less compromised.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

You mean, even make a decent figure out of this guy: