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sol magnus wrote:

Emerje wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:Seriously - if this is supposed to be a 'drone' figure like the Allicon or Gnaw, then they should at least give it a new face sculpt - something with a visor and face plate. Just to make them more anonymous and intimidating. Giving him the same gormless FACE as Ironhide just makes it look like somebody stuck Ironhide in the freezer for a month.

Well if they gave it another head, it wouldnt match the show model. That's the real restriction here.

Gotta wonder if the reuse of heads is because Hasbro didn't send over the 3D models from the toys like they did the others, or if it was the animators just being lazy and not wanting to work with more models than they had to.

Emerje

I doubt "laziness" comes into it more than "budgets" would.

I don't know how much "budget" is a factor when they're just using the same 3D models used to make the toys and they don't exactly have to rig them for animation since none of the do much emoting. It's not the same as, say, giving Moonracer or Cliffjumper the right head, that would have required some animation work and more budget, a static Crosshairs head, not so much.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

Emerje wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:Seriously - if this is supposed to be a 'drone' figure like the Allicon or Gnaw, then they should at least give it a new face sculpt - something with a visor and face plate. Just to make them more anonymous and intimidating. Giving him the same gormless FACE as Ironhide just makes it look like somebody stuck Ironhide in the freezer for a month.

Well if they gave it another head, it wouldnt match the show model. That's the real restriction here.

Gotta wonder if the reuse of heads is because Hasbro didn't send over the 3D models from the toys like they did the others, or if it was the animators just being lazy and not wanting to work with more models than they had to.

Emerje

I doubt "laziness" comes into it more than "budgets" would.

I don't know how much "budget" is a factor when they're just using the same 3D models used to make the toys and they don't exactly have to rig them for animation since none of the do much emoting. It's not the same as, say, giving Moonracer or Cliffjumper the right head, that would have required some animation work and more budget, a static Crosshairs head, not so much.

Emerje

I think he meant "budget" in regards to how many unique CG models they can use at a time. Thre's only so much money to go around for each new CG model that much of the background generics end up being basic recolors of the existing ones, including this Quintesson grunt soldier being a basic recolor of Ironhide's CG model.

Sabrblade wrote:

Emerje wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

Emerje wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:Seriously - if this is supposed to be a 'drone' figure like the Allicon or Gnaw, then they should at least give it a new face sculpt - something with a visor and face plate. Just to make them more anonymous and intimidating. Giving him the same gormless FACE as Ironhide just makes it look like somebody stuck Ironhide in the freezer for a month.

Well if they gave it another head, it wouldnt match the show model. That's the real restriction here.

Gotta wonder if the reuse of heads is because Hasbro didn't send over the 3D models from the toys like they did the others, or if it was the animators just being lazy and not wanting to work with more models than they had to.

Emerje

I doubt "laziness" comes into it more than "budgets" would.

I don't know how much "budget" is a factor when they're just using the same 3D models used to make the toys and they don't exactly have to rig them for animation since none of the do much emoting. It's not the same as, say, giving Moonracer or Cliffjumper the right head, that would have required some animation work and more budget, a static Crosshairs head, not so much.

Emerje

I think he meant "budget" in regards to how many unique CG models they can use at a time. Thre's only so much money to go around for each new CG model that much of the background generics end up being basic recolors of the existing ones, including this Quintesson grunt soldier being a basic recolor of Ironhide's CG model.

Right, but we aren't talking about scratch building a whole new CG model, we're talking about swapping one head on an existing body for another head that isn't even animated, and they don't even have to do the modeling work, Hasbro has already done it for them, they just have to import it to the existing body. They already did that with Ironhide and Ratchet.

Emerje

If they didn't have the budget to give a new head to Moonracer, who had both lines and a name, they don't have the budget to give it to drones who have neither.

Designing one from scratch, either by the studio or Hasbro for potential later use by the other, given the timing of production of both the toy line and the media would logistically speaking a tad difficult so something had to give. Nowadays "retooling" or designing new parts for an existing mold goes beyond just the head, and alternate heads are "built in". Chromia does have one, and it's not Moonracer:

Spot on about budgets, Sabrblade.

alekese wrote:If they didn't have the budget to give a new head to Moonracer, who had both lines and a name, they don't have the budget to give it to drones who have neither.

Making Moonracer properly would require an animator building an entirely new head from scratch and rigging it for animation, that's expensive. Importing a readymade head that doesn't need to move is practically free. Why are people having such a hard time understanding this?

Anyway, what I wanted to come in here and say is that my local Walmart restocked Deluxe wave 2 for a third time so there's still hope for people still looking for these.

Emerje

There is no 'importing a ready made head.' There's two separate steps, 'building an entirely new head' and 'rigging it for animation'. the head doesn't get rigged separate from the body, it gets rigged at the same time, and so there isn't a difference in effort for rigging two different heads based on design, because even if the shape is different the 'skeleton' is the same. From what I've heard, most of the cybertron cameos in the live action bumblebee movie reused the same skeleton, despite looking completely different. But creating a new animation model with different geometry does take time and effort, because the cad files from hasbro aren't just being copypasted. They're being used as a reference to create a more detailed render, and making a different render, even one that reuses parts, takes time, effort and money. The fact that they weren't even willing to do that for a named character, moonracer, is being used as as an indicator of where the line is drawn for cost effectiveness. The fact that a named speaking part still fell short of the line means that it was never going to happen for disposable background troops.

I think I'm just gonna break down and get Soundwave online. Considering how long ago I found OP and no luck at my local Walmarts I may as well accept this one.

Q-drone looks neat, i like the worn black look. looking forward to seeing more rusticons too, I might assemble a rust brigade if there truly are 3

So Walmart is apparently going to put up a bunch of new exclusive preorders on Monday, is it safe to assume this'll be the official reveal for the 3rd wave of Netflix figures we've been seeing leaks of for the past few months? This seems very similar to how they advertised the Wave 2 preorders.

https://www.walmart.com/cp/collectibles/5967908?&adid=22222222254430538522&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=b&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=420315848147&wl4=aud-1025747331336:dsa-1065130298872&wl5=9029641&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-aGCBhCwARIsAHDl5x8gvoMqyGLSyEfaNQrXW-2FZyOCoRDPNr_Er1TjfN5sAkWmqOq_tN0aAsHVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Nemesis Primal wrote:So Walmart is apparently going to put up a bunch of new exclusive preorders on Monday, is it safe to assume this'll be the official reveal for the 3rd wave of Netflix figures we've been seeing leaks of for the past few months? This seems very similar to how they advertised the Wave 2 preorders.

https://www.walmart.com/cp/collectibles/5967908?&adid=22222222254430538522&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=b&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=420315848147&wl4=aud-1025747331336:dsa-1065130298872&wl5=9029641&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-aGCBhCwARIsAHDl5x8gvoMqyGLSyEfaNQrXW-2FZyOCoRDPNr_Er1TjfN5sAkWmqOq_tN0aAsHVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Oh boy! I can't wait to miss out on pre-ordering the most wanted items because they sell out in seconds and not even getting the ones I can pre-order because Walmart can't ever fulfill their online pre-orders on time. Fun times ahead!

Wave 1 I spent $160 ($60 Spoiler Box, Both Voyagers, and one Deluxe)
Wave 2 I spent $100 ($60 Spoiler Box, $20 on one Deluxe, & obtained the BM's from Optimus Prime without having to buy Prime Himself)

If all the Rumors regarding Wave 3 are accurate, I guess the Only thing I want is the Purple Paleotrex. Unless that Megatron Spoiler Box comes with something else incredibly cool, I don't need another WFC Megatron (and most people don't need a what...9th use of this mold??)

Why they change the formula now is beyond me. Sure I know that Kingdom Itself does not have Battlemasters, but they were never in the animated series anyway, so it shouldn't matter. I mean how cool would it have been to get an Optimus Primal with 2 Smashdown repaints? Or the Seeker with 2 Doublecrosser repaints?

Elita-1 is still available on a few sites for non-scalper prices, I've been toying with the idea of getting her recently, but I'm put off because she's not a whole lot different from Arcee. Perhaos if the vehicle mode had been retooled to look less like a red Arcee I'd feel more inclined to buy one, but as is I don't know if she'll be worth it.

Greetings Seibertronians! Following reports from Preternia on twitter, and fellow Seibertron user, Nemesis Primal, it looks like Walmart is hyping itself up to reveal some new exclusive Transformers! Which if history serves us well, may turn out to be the official reveals of Wave 3 of the Transformers War for Cybertron Netflix line!



Unfortunately, the fanbases experiences with Walmarts preorders isn't the best, with Gigawatt selling out within seconds due to unscrupulous scalpers and bots. That's not before we even get into pre-orders getting delayed then ultimately cancelled, which has been the experience of many a fan.

However one thing that could change this is the new section on Hasbro Pulse, where you can order Retailer exclusive items. How this will play into proceedings is unknown.

What do you think? You looking forward to seeing the official renders of toys that some have got their lucky mitts on?

Shout out in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

That reminds me what happened to Hasbro Pulse having Wave 2 and 3 of R.E.D? I'm interested in getting Arcee and maybe Cheetor, so will they be on the site or not?

Munkky wrote:Elita-1 is still available on a few sites for non-scalper prices, I've been toying with the idea of getting her recently, but I'm put off because she's not a whole lot different from Arcee. Perhaos if the vehicle mode had been retooled to look less like a red Arcee I'd feel more inclined to buy one, but as is I don't know if she'll be worth it.

Kind of weird, I was at my local Walmart and she is the big shelfwarmer there. They had 8 Netflix deluxes. 5 Elita-1's, 2 Wheeljacks and a holdover Hound from wave 1. Perhaps that might be why some still have her at a normal price.

Munkky wrote:Elita-1 is still available on a few sites for non-scalper prices, I've been toying with the idea of getting her recently, but I'm put off because she's not a whole lot different from Arcee. Perhaos if the vehicle mode had been retooled to look less like a red Arcee I'd feel more inclined to buy one, but as is I don't know if she'll be worth it.

She's starting to shelfwarm in my area, actually, with 7 alone in one Walmart and hardly anybody else. Doesn't look good for the next wave.

Yeah my Wal-Mart has 8 Elitas and 7 Wheeljacks. It's crazy. If they get discounted I'm contemplating buying them for troopbuilding.

o.supreme wrote:Wave 1 I spent $160 ($60 Spoiler Box, Both Voyagers, and one Deluxe)
Wave 2 I spent $100 ($60 Spoiler Box, $20 on one Deluxe, & obtained the BM's from Optimus Prime without having to buy Prime Himself)

If all the Rumors regarding Wave 3 are accurate, I guess the Only thing I want is the Purple Paleotrex. Unless that Megatron Spoiler Box comes with something else incredibly cool, I don't need another WFC Megatron (and most people don't need a what...9th use of this mold??)

Why they change the formula now is beyond me. Sure I know that Kingdom Itself does not have Battlemasters, but they were never in the animated series anyway, so it shouldn't matter. I mean how cool would it have been to get an Optimus Primal with 2 Smashdown repaints? Or the Seeker with 2 Doublecrosser repaints?

I am drawing a blank, I thought this would mark a 7th release of the Megatron mold.

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Wave 1 I spent $160 ($60 Spoiler Box, Both Voyagers, and one Deluxe)
Wave 2 I spent $100 ($60 Spoiler Box, $20 on one Deluxe, & obtained the BM's from Optimus Prime without having to buy Prime Himself)

If all the Rumors regarding Wave 3 are accurate, I guess the Only thing I want is the Purple Paleotrex. Unless that Megatron Spoiler Box comes with something else incredibly cool, I don't need another WFC Megatron (and most people don't need a what...9th use of this mold??)

Why they change the formula now is beyond me. Sure I know that Kingdom Itself does not have Battlemasters, but they were never in the animated series anyway, so it shouldn't matter. I mean how cool would it have been to get an Optimus Primal with 2 Smashdown repaints? Or the Seeker with 2 Doublecrosser repaints?

I am drawing a blank, I thought this would mark a 7th release of the Megatron mold.

It's the 7th by my count as well, but it definitely feels like the 2,000th at this point.

Huh, all I get are 6:

Siege
Combat
Classic Animation
Netflix
Earthrise
G2

aronjlove wrote:Huh, all I get are 6:

Siege
Combat
Classic Animation
Netflix
Earthrise
G2

This second Netflix one would be the 7th.

Sabrblade wrote:

aronjlove wrote:Huh, all I get are 6:

Siege
Combat
Classic Animation
Netflix
Earthrise
G2

This second Netflix one would be the 7th.

Ah, OK, now I follow

So, is anybody else not going to bother pre-ordering this time? I'm leaning toward not bothering as I have zero confidence they will ship before I find them in store, if they ship at all.

Edit, if they show up on Pulse, then sure thing.