The Energon Pub

The TakaraTomy website has been updated with new images of AM-08 Terrorcon Cliffjumper and AM-09 Soundwave. This officially confirms Terrorcon Cliffjumpers new purple deco, and he also appears to be molded in translucent plastic! We also finally get a good clear look at Soundwave. Each come with the lines signature Microns.

They have also updated with images of EZ-08 Bulkhead and EZ-09 Arcee, though they appear to be no different than their domestic versions.

I'm not sure how I feel about Cliffjumper's newfound transparency, he's obviously been spending far too much time around Julian Assange.

On one hand, it looks cool; on the other, I was looking forward to using the plain purple version of that mold for a kitbash....

Very cool Terrorcon Cliff. I like it quite a bit better than that Hasbro prototype we saw back at SDCC (I think it was), despite the lack of accuracy. And Soundwave's Micron looks amazing! It would be amazing if these little guys somehow found their way here, say in a big 10+ pack exclusive.

I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

I get it, but no thanks.

Requiem Prime wrote:I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

But then we Americans would have to build them ourselves just like the Japanese.

I'd prefer a more solid purple and his minicon gun isn't that great either. Now soundwaves fits the figure perfect in size and theme.

Sabrblade wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

But then we Americans would have to build them ourselves just like the Japanese.

Totally worth it, give us them, Hasbro! Soundwave needs his buddy Ravage.

RAcast wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

But then we Americans would have to build them ourselves just like the Japanese.

Totally worth it, give us them, Hasbro! Soundwave needs his buddy Ravage.

You know that that Micron is likely not going to be named "Ravage" (or "Jaguar"), right?

I'm sure we'll get an official visual representation (either a toy or a character image) of Aligned Ravage at some point.

RAcast wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

But then we Americans would have to build them ourselves just like the Japanese.

Totally worth it, give us them, Hasbro! Soundwave needs his buddy Ravage.

If they could try to market not-Legos to us, they can market these things.

Oh wow Terrorcon Cliffjumper is translucent Purple, just like in the show!

The minicons are ace though.

the claw weapon guy is pretty cool, why couldnt we have had these instead of mechtech

Megatron Wolf wrote:the claw weapon guy is pretty cool, why couldnt we have had these instead of mechtech

cuz we'd have to assemble them and put the stickers on them ourselves.

Dead Metal wrote:The minicons are ace though.

Marketing model kits as actual action figures = false advertisement.

Sabrblade wrote:

Megatron Wolf wrote:the claw weapon guy is pretty cool, why couldnt we have had these instead of mechtech

cuz we'd have to assemble them and put the stickers on them ourselves.

Dead Metal wrote:The minicons are ace though.

Marketing model kits as actual action figures = false advertisement.

Maybe they could just have the factories assemble and paint them?

Sabrblade wrote:

RAcast wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Requiem Prime wrote:I want that scorpion. Seriously Hasbro, there is EASY money in bring the minions over as a separate line. Sell them in packs of two or three or something.

But then we Americans would have to build them ourselves just like the Japanese.

Totally worth it, give us them, Hasbro! Soundwave needs his buddy Ravage.

You know that that Micron is likely not going to be named "Ravage" (or "Jaguar"), right?

I'm sure we'll get an official visual representation (either a toy or a character image) of Aligned Ravage at some point.

Doesn't mean I couldn't re-purpose it as Ravage, haha. I mean, it's design is movie Ravage all the way, so it's got precedent at least.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:The minicons are ace though.

Marketing model kits as actual action figures = false advertisement.

What are you on about?
We know they're kits, Takara made that perfectly clear in the official press release for these, they're not marketing them as acttual action figures, they even SHOW you the sprews in the fron tof the box for Voyager Optimus Prime.
Besides they're simple little kits. Why are you so annoyed about this?

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:The minicons are ace though.

Marketing model kits as actual action figures = false advertisement.

What are you on about?
We know they're kits, Takara made that perfectly clear in the official press release for these, they're not marketing them as acttual action figures, they even SHOW you the sprews in the fron tof the box for Voyager Optimus Prime.
Besides they're simple little kits. Why are you so annoyed about this?

I think he means for a mass retail American release, at least that's what I'm reading given the conversation at hand. A good solution would be to make a sub line of "build it yourself!" minicons or something similar to hype it. I know I'd have jumped right on top of something like that when I was a kid.

RAcast wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:The minicons are ace though.

Marketing model kits as actual action figures = false advertisement.

What are you on about?
We know they're kits, Takara made that perfectly clear in the official press release for these, they're not marketing them as acttual action figures, they even SHOW you the sprews in the fron tof the box for Voyager Optimus Prime.
Besides they're simple little kits. Why are you so annoyed about this?

I think he means for a mass retail American release, at least that's what I'm reading given the conversation at hand. A good solution would be to make a sub line of "build it yourself!" minicons or something similar to hype it. I know I'd have jumped right on top of something like that when I was a kid.

If they do get an American release they will likely be assembled, and even if not, what would be the problem with them being simple little kits?

Zoids and Legos make you build their toys, don't see why Microns would be any problem. I mean, it's utterly basic, snap-together kit assembling that takes a grand total of 5 seconds, nothing kids can't handle. It's not like Transformers aren't already a very hand-on toy or anything.

Anyways, pre-assembled or not, I hope Hasbro sells these things somehow (preferably without buying a full-figure; blind-packs would be amazing).

Dead Metal wrote:Why are you so annoyed about this?

It's because, over the years, Hasbro and Takara have come so far in the toy designing and engineering processes that they've gone and made some excellent figures with ingenious and innovative designs. They've come a long way from the days of yesteryears that it seems like there are no limits what they make, mold, and paint on the Transformers toys of today. It's a remarkable and impressive feat.

But with these Takara Prime figures, it feels like several steps back from what we've come to expect of today's TF toys, especially from the Takara versions. Next to no paint for the larger figures (none for the Microns), the archaic method of sticker applying (this isn't the 1980s anymore), none of their original accessories, model kit Microns instead of Micron figures, the fact that none of these Microns are backwards compatible with any previous Micron-interactive figures (like all the Unicron Trilogy toy molds), the new bumpy wart-like Micron ports added to the large figures, and so on and so forth.

If these Micron were part of a separate subline of TF model kits rather than the main line of action figures, I might not mind them as much. But they put these in the main line in place of paint apps, accessories, and smoother designs.

On another note, just found out that the names of these Arms Micron are "Jida" (TC Cliffjumper's Micron) and "Zori" (Soundwave's Micron).

Sabrblade wrote:On another note, just found out that the names of these Arms Micron are "Jida" (TC Cliffjumper's Micron) and "Zori" (Soundwave's Micron).

... which are explained as follows:

- Jida is a play on "Cheetah", as he's feline
- Zori is a play on the Japanese word for scorpion, "Sasori".

Blurrz wrote:It's giving me a headache to see that we're being way too critical of figures that are essentially different from our mainline of thinking, and figures that we have yet to own ourselves.

This

Anyhow I suppose i'am one of the few who actually likes Soundwave. However, he looks more Blue-ish though or is that just me? I don't really see any of those horrid "Tumors" on him, like on the other figures........Well you know accept for the huge ass pods on the wings/shoulders....

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:Why are you so annoyed about this?

It's because, over the years, Hasbro and Takara have come so far in the toy designing and engineering processes that they've gone and made some excellent figures with ingenious and innovative designs. They've come a long way from the days of yesteryears that it seems like there are no limits what they make, mold, and paint on the Transformers toys of today. It's a remarkable and impressive feat.

no limit, except apparently, this one, which has your panties in a bunch.

I don't entirely disagree with you, it is bad that the original accessories are removed and more paint apps are always welcome, and, yes, it is a shame these aren't compatible with AEC Mini-con ports. BUT, there are some really cool little designs in this line, that scorpion being a prime example. More good TFs are always welcome.