The Energon Pub

[Sentinel_Primal]

Nerf guns are ok but laser guns are not?

The american gun control debate and Transformers being a byproduct of the '80 Reagan era where corporations sold kids toy guys which looked like real guns has basically made the G1 Megatron and Shockwave a cluster **** which will invariably attract a lot of yelling from any side, so my guess is Hasbro is increasingly less happy about selling toy guns and just pretend they are oddly-shaped spaceship and submarines as a way to get this stuff past the radar.

I'm pretty sure in today's climate them selling a gun Megatron would be tantamount to Hasbro coming out in support of the NRA or some dumb stuff like that!

I've never understood why Shockwave in gun form is a no-no. The only gun he resembles is a barcode scanner, in fact, why not just say he's a barcode scanner? We'll all know what it's supposed to be.

It probably has to do with his altmode being a firearm of any kind at all, period, regardless of how unrealistic and sci-fi it looks, hence why even Sixshot had to have his much less realistic-looking gun form marketed as a non-firearm object (a submarine) altogether.

keep in mind that these same lawmakers also made chainsaw bayonets illegal even though theres no such thing on the market so an obviously not real sci-fi ray gun in obvious toy colors is also illegal

Is it bad I now want a Transformer who turns into a chainsaw bayonet? Maybe they could attach to MP36 as a feature

[Hotconvoy]

Wow! That would be cool! Now if I could only aford a MP36 to use it on...

[Skritz]

So, random thought: I'd like to see a shield-based Battlemaster. Maybe with a transformation that isn't just flipping out a big panel (but it probably would, mind you) and with it's handle positioned to allow both for it to be hand-held or attached to a forearm via 5mm holes.

[ThunderThruster]

Looking at the pics form the NYCC display, it looks as though Ravage and Laserbeak can be used a Shield battlemasters, if that pic of Flywheels is anything to go by...

[Flashwave]

Nerf guns are ok but laser guns are not?

The american gun control debate and Transformers being a byproduct of the '80 Reagan era where corporations sold kids toy guys which looked like real guns has basically made the G1 Megatron and Shockwave a cluster **** which will invariably attract a lot of yelling from any side, so my guess is Hasbro is increasingly less happy about selling toy guns and just pretend they are oddly-shaped spaceship and submarines as a way to get this stuff past the radar.

I'm pretty sure in today's climate them selling a gun Megatron would be tantamount to Hasbro coming out in support of the NRA or some dumb stuff like that!

I've never understood why Shockwave in gun form is a no-no. The only gun he resembles is a barcode scanner, in fact, why not just say he's a barcode scanner? We'll all know what it's supposed to be.

It probably has to do with his altmode being a firearm of any kind at all, period, regardless of how unrealistic and sci-fi it looks, hence why even Sixshot had to have his much less realistic-looking gun form marketed as a non-firearm object (a submarine) altogether.

keep in mind that these same lawmakers also made chainsaw bayonets illegal even though theres no such thing on the market so an obviously not real sci-fi ray gun in obvious toy colors is also illegal

It really has nothing to do with the government. The government is perfectly fine with toy guns as long as they're properly marked. It's about the parents. A lot of parents aren't OK with their kids holding anything resembling a gun of any type. And now that I think about it, schools are also a big factor. Schools these days have a zero tolerance gun policy. There are several news stories of kids being sent home or even expelled for just drawing a picture of a gun. A kid brings Shockwave to school and they're gone.

Emerje

Add to that a small smateri g of bad apples craving up Nerf guns to conceal real guns or even judt Airsoft type mechanics and its not hard to see ehere that level of distrust is starting to come from. [*]

[ScottyP]

It's a risk calculation - both litigious and reputational - keeping the gun modes away. Hasbro does not want to risk having Transformers that look like and are officially marketed as guns end up causing trouble. The three extra Shockwaves they'll sell to fanboys aren't going to convince their risk assessment team to approve a gun mode.

And yeah, it has nothing to do with the government. In the current climate it's probably easier in some ways to buy a rifle than it is a MP Megatron.

[AcademyofDrX]

I just realized something. Without the legends class size class we might not be getting the minibots like Bumblebee and Cliffjumper in Cybertronian forms. Which makes me slightly sad because I would have loved if we had gotten a Wheeljack and Bumblebee combo that could work together like the scene in MTMTE. Though, I don't know if they could have really gotten Wheeljack's van mode right with the need to make the robot mode look like it turns into a race car

Since they're following the robot mode scale that they started with Studio Series, and SS Bumblebee and Jazz are basically Legends sized bots, I could see a Siege Bee being a tiny bot with a super complex transformation to make up the price.

Emerje

I don't think we're likely to get minibots as Micromasters in Siege, as animation size scaling has been an explicit priority. So far Deluxes have been 4m and 5m characters, and Voyagers 5m and 6m. All of the minibots are between ~3m and 4m. Since none have been announced so far, and since we got nearly all of the circa '85 lineup in the last trilogy -- with most of those in TR and PotP -- I'm not expecting them in Siege.

If they're being saved for a future line in this trilogy, will they make them Deluxes with accessories like Classics Bumblebee, or reintroduce the Legends size format? I'm sure we'll see them again one way or another. In the meantime, I spent too much money collecting a full set of past minibot releases like Gears.

[Sentinel_Primal]

As we're discussing things that might make parents question if they should let their child get a figure, wouldn't it be awesome if one of history's worst named micromasters, Erector, was rereleased during Siege?

[ScottyP]

As we're discussing things that might make parents question if they should let their child get a figure, wouldn't it be awesome if one of history's worst named micromasters, Erector, was rereleased during Siege?

To be fair, Erector is just fine - it's us fans that took it there. There are still [url=http://www.meccano.com/product/p21253/meccano-erector-–-micronoid-code-a.c.e.-buildable-interactive-robot]toys that use the name[/url]!

Edit: guess the bbcode doesn't like dashes? Link: http://www.meccano.com/product/p21253/meccano-erector-–-micronoid-code-a.c.e.-buildable-interactive-robot

[Amelie]

If we don't get an Arrival From Cybertron (I'm English, thats the episode name. Deal with it) Bumblebee - I think I'd detonate with frustration. Of all the characters that need to be in this line, Bumblebee is up there with Jazz, Wheeljack and Starscream.

[ZeroWolf]

But what class would bee be in though?

[Decepticon Stryker]

If we don't get an Arrival From Cybertron (I'm English, thats the episode name. Deal with it) Bumblebee - I think I'd detonate with frustration. Of all the characters that need to be in this line, Bumblebee is up there with Jazz, Wheeljack and Starscream.

I agree completely, but there is a problem with Jazz and Wheeljack. Both of them had the same Cybertronian alt. modes in More Than Meets The Eye/Arrival from Cybertron (likely done to save and coming up with two different vehicle designs) but have vastly different robot modes. That'd be some pretty extensive retooling which might mean we won't get them at all. Yes, Hasbro has done stuff like this before (i.e.: Berserker and Crowbar) but we're talking two very different looking robot modes. Fortunately, Wheeljack has been pseudo-confirmed to be a possibility as he was a candidate in the poll from a while ago. Bumblebee should be easy to make though, but he'd probably have a backpack for those 'wings' on his alt mode.

[Cyberpath]

I have a feeling that everyone with a Cybertron-style mode from MTMtE will get made before this new trilogy is over.

And Bumblebee, who has an upcoming solo film. Also, Hasbro posted this video a couple days ago -- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bol7lkUlhSO/

[Jelze Bunnycat]

As we're discussing things that might make parents question if they should let their child get a figure, wouldn't it be awesome if one of history's worst named micromasters, Erector, was rereleased during Siege?

Meccano already has that dubious honor. Google it

[Flashwave]

I have a feeling that everyone with a Cybertron-style mode from MTMtE will get made before this new trilogy is over.

And Bumblebee, who has an upcoming solo film. Also, Hasbro posted this video a couple days ago -- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bol7lkUlhSO/

One catch: Wheeljack was part of the Fan Poll, and he lost. So what, Does Hasbro say "Oh, well you vted it didnt want this figure as much as the others, but here he is anyway." or do they move on from the poll, maybe circling back later as an exclusive tail end?

[TF-fan kev777]

I have a feeling that everyone with a Cybertron-style mode from MTMtE will get made before this new trilogy is over.

And Bumblebee, who has an upcoming solo film. Also, Hasbro posted this video a couple days ago -- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bol7lkUlhSO/

Yeah, they might get made, but I wouldn't count on them being too accurate to the G1 cartoon. Heck, they are really only 1 for 2 so far. Starscream looks as close to the original design as you can possibly expect given how long and narrow the points on the tetrajet are. Lazerbeak really only has his cybertronian head. The rest of him looks like his G1 earth mode and nothing like the hover drone from the cartoon.

[Skritz]

Looking at the pics form the NYCC display, it looks as though Ravage and Laserbeak can be used a Shield battlemasters, if that pic of Flywheels is anything to go by...

I mean, I guess, but 'wearing a cassette tape' isn't quite what I had in mind.

[ThunderThruster]

Which I would agree with if they actually had any detailing making them look like a cassette tape. All they have is the basic shape, not the detailing.

[ZeroWolf]

You know you might be able to fan mode it to less of a rectangle.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I was just done playing catch-up with all the news, and I only have one thing to say:

Well played with Refraktor, well played

... Just don't shortpack him like you guys did with Prime RiD Vehicon.

[Skritz]

Hopefully next waves will have Rumble and Frenzy. Or is it Frenzy and Rumble?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Hopefully next waves will have Rumble and Frenzy. Or is it Frenzy and Rumble?

I'm more of a fan of the blue guy then the red guy

Hopefully, if that comes to pass, it'll lower the secondary market prices of the TR red one. Of TR Ravage too.

[Emerje]

Since they're following the robot mode scale that they started with Studio Series, and SS Bumblebee and Jazz are basically Legends sized bots, I could see a Siege Bee being a tiny bot with a super complex transformation to make up the price.

Emerje

I don't think we're likely to get minibots as Micromasters in Siege, as animation size scaling has been an explicit priority. So far Deluxes have been 4m and 5m characters, and Voyagers 5m and 6m. All of the minibots are between ~3m and 4m. Since none have been announced so far, and since we got nearly all of the circa '85 lineup in the last trilogy -- with most of those in TR and PotP -- I'm not expecting them in Siege.

Given my Studio Series example I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that I was talking about Micromasters when I was obviously talking about small Deluxe bots for scale. And really Bumblebee is the only one we need and thanks to his wings he wouldn't work as a Legends class anyway.

Emerje

[william-james88]

Looking at the pics form the NYCC display, it looks as though Ravage and Laserbeak can be used a Shield battlemasters, if that pic of Flywheels is anything to go by...

I mean, I guess, but 'wearing a cassette tape' isn't quite what I had in mind.

Its not a cassette tape, there is no indication it is. Its just a rectangle.

[Emerje]

Looking at the pics form the NYCC display, it looks as though Ravage and Laserbeak can be used a Shield battlemasters, if that pic of Flywheels is anything to go by...

I mean, I guess, but 'wearing a cassette tape' isn't quite what I had in mind.

Its not a cassette tape, there is no indication it is. Its just a rectangle.

Warden called it a Cybertronian cassette in interviews, though in fairness that isn't quite the same as a cassette tape, but it isn't just a rectangle.

Emerje