The Energon Pub

[Sabrblade]

I'm going to keep making fun of Warden until we get a Beast Wars anniversary line some day!

What if we do and the whole line turns out to be as bad as Universe Cheetor?

T30 Waspinator and POTP Optimal Optimus give me hope.

T30 Waspinator was pre-Warden & Friends.

[william-james88]

Know what would make a really ambitious reshell of Earthrise Wheeljack? A G1-styled Lockdown.

That actually would be amazing. They have a similar transformation scheme, plus the hook hand and an EMP Generator would really work with Siege's C.O.M.B.A.T. system

Exactly. Too bad it won't happen becausr Warden is a G1 puritan.

Cybertron Optimus Prime and Hot Shot, RiD Ultra Magnus and Movie Barricade?

Movie barricade?!

Who else is the original inspiration for the Siege guy? True, he's based on art, but that art is inspired by Movie Barricade

The inspiration doesnt matter more than the end product which is a G1 barricade. We already have the design revealed for a Movie barricade integrated into a generations line:



And what we got is not that. So no, I would not count that at all as leaving G1 and incorporating the movies. This is more like adding a new character to the G1 show that wasnt there.

I'm going to keep making fun of Warden until we get a Beast Wars anniversary line some day!

What if we do and the whole line turns out to be as bad as Universe Cheetor?

T30 Waspinator and POTP Optimal Optimus give me hope.

In that case you are out of hope since T30 Waspinator was by another design team preceding this one and we only got Optimal Optimus through a fan vote. Not saying we will never get any, but neither of those examples would count as the curent design team providing us Beast Wars of their own volition.

[Skritz]

I know POTP Optimal Optimus was via fan vote, I'm just pointing out that even the Warden team can do it 'right enough' to produce a toy that isn't an atrocious abomination like Universe Cheetor. We've had beast formers recently (if you count the POTP Terrorcons as 'beasts') and they didn't suck, so my hope isn't so much about getting more BW so much as whatever miracle we might get not ending up as atrocious as Universe Cheetor. Generally the Warden team at least know how to design toys, even if its just often 'G1 with knees' but that has been enough to make decent figures.

Prime Wars hasn't produced any epic stinkers that the fandom collectively called 'the worst X ever', which give me hope that toy engineering has advanced to the point that we'll never see something as bad as Titanium Megatron, Universe Cheetor or Armada Sideswipe. THAT is what I have hope for.

[william-james88]

Prime Wars hasn't produced any epic stinkers that the fandom collectively called 'the worst X ever', which give me hope that toy engineering has advanced to the point that we'll never see something as bad as Titanium Megatron, Universe Cheetor or Armada Sideswipe. THAT is what I have hope for.

\Your definitely right about that. The Warden team is probably the best team the brand ever had in terms of being on a roll with good output. Although that team did do some major stinkers in the movie lines.

[Skritz]

It definitely help that they are often utterly lacking in creativity and just redo the G1 toy 'but better'. Then again in some cases this has worked out fairly well and in others it has worked out well and produced transformations with interesting (yet non crippling) touches, as the spinning torso of Triggerhappy and the Jumpstarters in TR or Siege's surprisingly extricate, almost Masterpiece-like touches to clean up the modes.

Even the (presumably VERY reluctantly made) POTP Optimal Optimus, while not as chunky or electronic-loaded as the original, saw an equal mixture of articulation improvement while also preserving most of the original's transformation as it could, even with the added 'evolution' gimmick stacked on it. All this to say that if the Warden team ever decide to tackle even a little bit of Beast Wars stuff I'd say its in good hands.

Honestly I'm not asking much at this point. I just really badly want a BW Megatron from a mainline (or Takara/SELECTS) retooled from somebody else that might show up, like Snapdragon, Deathsaurus or a Grimlock-that-the-purists-won't-hate. Just retool any t-rex, dragon or kaiju with that smug grapefaced grin, paint it purple or red+gold and I'll be happy for the next decade!

[Sentinel_Primal]

It definitely help that they are often utterly lacking in creativity and just redo the G1 toy 'but better'. Then again in some cases this has worked out fairly well and in others it has worked out well and produced transformations with interesting (yet non crippling) touches, as the spinning torso of Triggerhappy and the Jumpstarters in TR or Siege's surprisingly extricate, almost Masterpiece-like touches to clean up the modes.

Even the (presumably VERY reluctantly made) POTP Optimal Optimus, while not as chunky or electronic-loaded as the original, saw an equal mixture of articulation improvement while also preserving most of the original's transformation as it could, even with the added 'evolution' gimmick stacked on it. All this to say that if the Warden team ever decide to tackle even a little bit of Beast Wars stuff I'd say its in good hands.

Honestly I'm not asking much at this point. I just really badly want a BW Megatron from a mainline (or Takara/SELECTS) retooled from somebody else that might show up, like Snapdragon, Deathsaurus or a Grimlock-that-the-purists-won't-hate. Just retool any t-rex, dragon or kaiju with that smug grapefaced grin, paint it purple or red+gold and I'll be happy for the next decade!

If we got a good Deathsaurus I'd be happy for the next decade Granted, I'd love a line where they basically swept up older characters that only have 1 toy or maybe no toys and make new and updated versions of them. All those G1 characters that haven't been made since the 80s deserve love too!

[SpikeyTigertron]

It definitely help that they are often utterly lacking in creativity and just redo the G1 toy 'but better'. Then again in some cases this has worked out fairly well and in others it has worked out well and produced transformations with interesting (yet non crippling) touches, as the spinning torso of Triggerhappy and the Jumpstarters in TR or Siege's surprisingly extricate, almost Masterpiece-like touches to clean up the modes.

Even the (presumably VERY reluctantly made) POTP Optimal Optimus, while not as chunky or electronic-loaded as the original, saw an equal mixture of articulation improvement while also preserving most of the original's transformation as it could, even with the added 'evolution' gimmick stacked on it. All this to say that if the Warden team ever decide to tackle even a little bit of Beast Wars stuff I'd say its in good hands.

Honestly I'm not asking much at this point. I just really badly want a BW Megatron from a mainline (or Takara/SELECTS) retooled from somebody else that might show up, like Snapdragon, Deathsaurus or a Grimlock-that-the-purists-won't-hate. Just retool any t-rex, dragon or kaiju with that smug grapefaced grin, paint it purple or red+gold and I'll be happy for the next decade!

If we got a good Deathsaurus I'd be happy for the next decade Granted, I'd love a line where they basically swept up older characters that only have 1 toy or maybe no toys and make new and updated versions of them. All those G1 characters that haven't been made since the 80s deserve love too!

RiD/Car Robots Megatron/Galvatron would be amaze-balls... hell i'd just take a re-release. *that* you could probably redeco into TM2 Megatron

[SpikeyTigertron]

I'm really curious to see how far they're going to deep-dive with the micro master base bots, and if they'll stick to just the deluxe class, or get spicy with voyagers and "leaders". A leader/Commander rocket base would be cool, if it could do double duty as an Omega Sentinel, but still be different from Omega Supreme.

[ZeroWolf]

It definitely help that they are often utterly lacking in creativity and just redo the G1 toy 'but better'. Then again in some cases this has worked out fairly well and in others it has worked out well and produced transformations with interesting (yet non crippling) touches, as the spinning torso of Triggerhappy and the Jumpstarters in TR or Siege's surprisingly extricate, almost Masterpiece-like touches to clean up the modes.

Even the (presumably VERY reluctantly made) POTP Optimal Optimus, while not as chunky or electronic-loaded as the original, saw an equal mixture of articulation improvement while also preserving most of the original's transformation as it could, even with the added 'evolution' gimmick stacked on it. All this to say that if the Warden team ever decide to tackle even a little bit of Beast Wars stuff I'd say its in good hands.

Honestly I'm not asking much at this point. I just really badly want a BW Megatron from a mainline (or Takara/SELECTS) retooled from somebody else that might show up, like Snapdragon, Deathsaurus or a Grimlock-that-the-purists-won't-hate. Just retool any t-rex, dragon or kaiju with that smug grapefaced grin, paint it purple or red+gold and I'll be happy for the next decade!

If we got a good Deathsaurus I'd be happy for the next decade Granted, I'd love a line where they basically swept up older characters that only have 1 toy or maybe no toys and make new and updated versions of them. All those G1 characters that haven't been made since the 80s deserve love too!

RiD/Car Robots Megatron/Galvatron would be amaze-balls... hell i'd just take a re-release. *that* you could probably redeco into TM2 Megatron

FunPub already released that mold as BW Megs but they called it TM3 Megs

[Skritz]

If we get some Return of Convoy nonsense to go with Micromasters it would be pretty nuts.

[ZeroWolf]

If we get some Return of Convoy nonsense to go with Micromasters it would be pretty nuts.

Well there is that Super/Ultra Megatron that Takara teased, maybe Hasbro have talked Takara into using that as Earthrise megs

[AcademyofDrX]

I'm really curious to see how far they're going to deep-dive with the micro master base bots, and if they'll stick to just the deluxe class, or get spicy with voyagers and "leaders". A leader/Commander rocket base would be cool, if it could do double duty as an Omega Sentinel, but still be different from Omega Supreme.

Since Countdown is included, I think Omega is intended to sub in for the Rocket Base. I think it would be weird to double dip.

Weaponisers were only ever in the Deluxe class, though you could argue that Shockwave's additional elements are similar. If anything, we could see some MM-inspired elements in a Leader class package alongside a standard Voyager-scale figure. I don't expect a Leader sized base, though.

[Skritz]

If we get some Return of Convoy nonsense to go with Micromasters it would be pretty nuts.

Well there is that Super/Ultra Megatron that Takara teased, maybe Hasbro have talked Takara into using that as Earthrise megs

Super is definitely coming as a Legends EX retool of Galvatron. Ultra Megatron I'm curious to see if it will show up.

[Sabrblade]

If we get some Return of Convoy nonsense to go with Micromasters it would be pretty nuts.

Well there is that Super/Ultra Megatron that Takara teased, maybe Hasbro have talked Takara into using that as Earthrise megs

Super is definitely coming as a Legends EX retool of Galvatron. Ultra Megatron I'm curious to see if it will show up.

Selects, you mean. Legends ended with Big Powered.

[Sentinel_Primal]

I'm really curious to see how far they're going to deep-dive with the micro master base bots, and if they'll stick to just the deluxe class, or get spicy with voyagers and "leaders". A leader/Commander rocket base would be cool, if it could do double duty as an Omega Sentinel, but still be different from Omega Supreme.

Since Countdown is included, I think Omega is intended to sub in for the Rocket Base. I think it would be weird to double dip.

Weaponisers were only ever in the Deluxe class, though you could argue that Shockwave's additional elements are similar. If anything, we could see some MM-inspired elements in a Leader class package alongside a standard Voyager-scale figure. I don't expect a Leader sized base, though.

What if we got Grandus?

[Wolfman Jake]

What if we got Grandus?

That's not a bad pick for a new Commander Class figure for Earthrise, actually. We could have Grandus reimaged as a large, modular base. He would retain his old robot mode, of course, but could be reconfigured any which way you choose and hook up to the Deluxe sized Micromaster bases from the line to form a huge city or base of operations for the Micromasater figures! Plus, he'd probably come with another obscure Micromaster, Spinner, to add to our collections. That would make a worthy "compliment" to Omega Supreme, IMO, which is so far the only hint we have on who the next Commander class figure would be. Grandus seems a much better fit for the gimmick of Earthrise than say Sky Lynx.

[Sentinel_Primal]

What if we got Grandus?

That's not a bad pick for a new Commander Class figure for Earthrise, actually. We could have Grandus reimaged as a large, modular base. He would retain his old robot mode, of course, but could be reconfigured any which way you choose and hook up to the Deluxe sized Micromaster bases from the line to form a huge city or base of operations for the Micromasater figures! Plus, he'd probably come with another obscure Micromaster, Spinner, to add to our collections. That would make a worthy "compliment" to Omega Supreme, IMO, which is so far the only hint we have on who the next Commander class figure would be. Grandus seems a much better fit for the gimmick of Earthrise than say Sky Lynx.

Well, Sky Lynx could have a "holding bay" for a micromaster in the shuttle component and the lynx component could be base compatible. Honestly, that's the only way I'd be willing to buy a Commander Sky Lynx because space is an issue and I'm always more skeptical of animal based robot modes.

Commander class Grandus might be interesting though, especially if they manage to incorporate the elevator gimmick from the original. Plus, I'm always down for more big baseformers

[AcademyofDrX]

I would much rather have a MM-compatible Sky Lynx, or even a proper Star Convoy, than a Japanese exclusive character like Grandus or Sky Garry. Sure, the play patterns could be nice, but hardly anyone knows them, let alone cares about them. Given that you can still get a TR Overload for about $20, I doubt Hasbro is eager to gamble on something like that at Commander class.

[Skritz]

I would much rather have a MM-compatible Sky Lynx, or even a proper Star Convoy, than a Japanese exclusive character like Grandus or Sky Garry. Sure, the play patterns could be nice, but hardly anyone knows them, let alone cares about them. Given that you can still get a TR Overload for about $20, I doubt Hasbro is eager to gamble on something like that at Commander class.

You mean Overlord and...thanks for reminding me why we probably haven't seen Star Saber.

[Sentinel_Primal]

I would much rather have a MM-compatible Sky Lynx, or even a proper Star Convoy, than a Japanese exclusive character like Grandus or Sky Garry. Sure, the play patterns could be nice, but hardly anyone knows them, let alone cares about them. Given that you can still get a TR Overload for about $20, I doubt Hasbro is eager to gamble on something like that at Commander class.

You mean Overlord and...thanks for reminding me why we probably haven't seen Star Saber.

Doesn't HasTak still have a Star Saber design plan from that POTP poll? I can't imagine them letting them let that go to waste. Same for Deathsaurus (though, they might let that go jut due to the evolution gimmick ). Star Saber at least has some name recognition due to cartoon's using the name for a sword

[SpikeyTigertron]

I would much rather have a MM-compatible Sky Lynx, or even a proper Star Convoy, than a Japanese exclusive character like Grandus or Sky Garry. Sure, the play patterns could be nice, but hardly anyone knows them, let alone cares about them. Given that you can still get a TR Overload for about $20, I doubt Hasbro is eager to gamble on something like that at Commander class.

You mean Overlord and...thanks for reminding me why we probably haven't seen Star Saber.

Doesn't HasTak still have a Star Saber design plan from that POTP poll? I can't imagine them letting them let that go to waste. Same for Deathsaurus (though, they might let that go jut due to the evolution gimmick ). Star Saber at least has some name recognition due to cartoon's using the name for a sword

Considering Star Saber had an MP, Hasbro has to have seen the #starsaber social media plugs... plus his play pattern with titan/micro masters works out.

Grandus is an interesting idea. ALmost kind of wish Star Convoy was done right.

If they really wanted to blow our minds... what if they did Armada Prime with the trailer/base with Airlock connections?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

If they really wanted to blow our minds... what if they did Armada Prime with the trailer/base with Airlock connections?

Half the figure has already been teased by TakaraTomy; we're still waiting on that trailer

[ZeroWolf]

If they really wanted to blow our minds... what if they did Armada Prime with the trailer/base with Airlock connections?

Half the figure has already been teased by TakaraTomy; we're still waiting on that trailer

Wouldn't suprise me if Hasbro had swiped that figure for their leader Class Prime release in the third part of the War for Cybertron trilogy Though I suppose they could take a whack at a third attempt at Powermaster Prime, as I'm not sure what they could with Prime that would be different then the two/three that are released under the WfC banner.

[Sabrblade]

If they really wanted to blow our minds... what if they did Armada Prime with the trailer/base with Airlock connections?

Half the figure has already been teased by TakaraTomy; we're still waiting on that trailer

Wouldn't suprise me if Hasbro had swiped that figure for their leader Class Prime release in the third part of the War for Cybertron trilogy Though I suppose they could take a whack at a third attempt at Powermaster Prime, as I'm not sure what they could with Prime that would be different then the two/three that are released under the WfC banner.

When last asked about that Armada Convoy figure, Hasbro said that it is a Takara-only thing that Hasbro isn't involved with.

[Wolfman Jake]

With Wave 5 of Siege coming up in about 4 to 6 weeks from now, where does that leave the launch of Earthrise? People have been taking for granted that it will come out first thing next year (i.e., January), but looking at the estimated release dates for the Earthrise figures available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse, we won't be seeing them until the beginning of March 2020. That certainly pushes things back a bit. Hasbro Pulse has been pretty spot on with its estimated availabilities too, so I don't think this is just an overly conservative guess at their launch, especially coming from Hasbro themselves, basically. I wonder if Hasbro is content to have the new product lines launch in Q1 instead of Q4 now? Or will Earthrise be a "short" line with only three or so waves of product before the next chapter begins to get things back on track?

Speaking of Hasbro Pulse, what is with the lack of Battlemaster figures on the site? That size class is practically ignored altogether. They're a bit behind on the Miromasters too, with no listing yet for the Micromasters of Siege Wave 5 or Earthrise Wave 1, despite the rest of the other size classes Deluxe and up being available for pre-order for quite a while now.