The Energon Pub

Which gimmicks do you dudes think has been unfairly ignored or not given their due, and whatnot? Personally, I'm going with Laser Rods (Very cool) and Turbomasters/Predators. Seriously, my MAIN problems with Turbomasters and Predators being underrated is that they've been stripped down and made really mediocre for their remolds/recolours. (See, Prime, Optimus: Machine Wars Edition, or Soundwave, Machine Wars AND Universe editions, or Starscream, Machine Wars, and Atlas, King, Universe edition.)

Hrrrrm, I'd have to say the flip changing gimmick that came with the basic beasts of the Beast Wars line. They were fun, and as long as theres more to the transformation that just flipping it it's interesting too. Better auto-morphs that the movie line

Things that light up. It's a nice, unobtrusive gimmick that adds / could add so much to most toys.

The light-up Matrix on Prime, the light up eyes on Unicron. There's even a custom light-up sirens on Barracade that really could work for ANY TV police car.

I also like the sparking gimmick that came with the origional Repugnus. My cousin had it and it made me a little jealous. I wonder if that kinda toy is still legal...?

lights are always cool. sounds, not so much. I always liked the headmaster/targetmaster gimmick, and as an extension of that, targetmaster type minicons. just getting a little extra robot (one that could act as a driver for the vehicle mode TF as well) was great.

The "sparklers". Got a kick out of them as a kid.

Yeah, sparks are good. I'm REALLY not a fan of sound gimmicks. What sucks is I have three toyboxes stacked on top of each other. One for Autobots, one for Decepticons, one for bigger toys I can't fit into the others. I have Armada Thundercracker in the bottom box, and when something winds up on top of him, you get that annoying sound his cone makes. Then I have to lift both boxes off, and move Thundercracker out.

Damolisher wrote:Yeah, sparks are good. I'm REALLY not a fan of sound gimmicks. What sucks is I have three toyboxes stacked on top of each other. One for Autobots, one for Decepticons, one for bigger toys I can't fit into the others. I have Armada Thundercracker in the bottom box, and when something winds up on top of him, you get that annoying sound his cone makes. Then I have to lift both boxes off, and move Thundercracker out.

I just take out batteries, but mostly to prevent acid leaks and such.
I always liked flicky missles, no springs, so it used less space and could blend better.

Yeah.. I actually really like those spark chips.

Damolisher wrote:Yeah, sparks are good. I'm REALLY not a fan of sound gimmicks. What sucks is I have three toyboxes stacked on top of each other. One for Autobots, one for Decepticons, one for bigger toys I can't fit into the others. I have Armada Thundercracker in the bottom box, and when something winds up on top of him, you get that annoying sound his cone makes. Then I have to lift both boxes off, and move Thundercracker out.

happens with mine all the time

mini-con port
whether it be energon or on a mini-con

Headmaster tech specs meters.

For me it's the automorph. The automorph has gotten a lot of mixed reviews, much of it negative, but I like it because I feel ot really adds to the transformation process. However this is so only for those where the automorph is a REAL process of the transformation. I think it's ingenious, like Leader Megs wings, Leader Prime's chest, Deluxe Brawl's tank threads, Ironhide's and both BB's legs.

What I do not consider true automorph are nonsense like Arcee's bow and Bonecrusher's tines.

G2 color change.
Granted you don't wanna go around dipping your bots in water all the time, but just holding them long enough worked.

Also, I agree with the G2/BW basic flip bot concept. The bots where detailed in both modes and it was leaps and bounds beyond the loser battle chargers in G1, I mean realy Runabout and Runamuck, what good will you do in battle with your guns on your shoulders?

The trigger needs to be in your hand to make it go BOOM!

Energon light reflective eyes.

You mean Light Piping? Dude, that's been on figures for years.

No he means shiney paint for the eyes ala MP Prime.

ah... i'm referring to see through plastic in clear color variations, which under direct light deflection, would shine and glow. Such effects works best under dark/dim background. My eyes are an example.


My eyes still rocks.

Light piping is the best gimmick. When it works well, it is fantastic, and when it doesn't, it still doesn't detract from the figure.

Light piping is cool except for the big neon colored block on the back of the bot's head But, I have to agree, I like the effect.

I like when all the weapons and other stuff are incorporated into the design of the alt mode like they have on the Classics and Alts.

I dislike lights and sounds because of the need for batteries. The aforementioned battery leakage has ruined a number of vintage toys I had in storage when I was a kid