The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:00 am

Wondering where your TFCC free membership figure Sideburn is? TFCC recently sent out the following update:

We are still waiting on the Sideburn figures to arrive from China. They are in the United States but have not cleared customs. We are not going to give you an estimated date as we don't know when they will release them to us. As soon as we receive them, they will go to the mailer.

As soon as we mail them, we will send out another email. Thanks for your patience as we don't have control over these different government agencies.

Brian

News Credits: 5 · by **RodimalToyota** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:04 am

Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

News Credits: 17 · by **cannonfodder4000** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:09 am

RodimalToyota wrote:Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

But Sideburn never even had a trailer! :-(

by **prmlove1** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:15 am

cannonfodder4000 wrote:
RodimalToyota wrote:Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

But Sideburn never even had a trailer!

I think they want a trailer just because they think it would look nice. In my own universe, this Sideburn would be an aged veteran kinda like Blur has become in recent releases and thus, upgraded himself. Also, Hotrod did not have a trailer but when he got the Matrix, he became Rodimus and ended up with a railer.

by **starwarrior1227** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:33 am

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

News Credits: 1 · by **ShardFenix** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:36 am

Shadow Scyther never existed either to my knowledge, yet no one bitched when he got made i would love a blue repaint of protector

by **Ironhide516** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:36 am

cannonfodder4000 wrote:
RodimalToyota wrote:Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

But Sideburn never even had a trailer!

We can pretend can't we? It'll add addtional awesomeness

by **The Dude** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:51 am

Ironhide516 wrote:
cannonfodder4000 wrote:
RodimalToyota wrote:Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

But Sideburn never even had a trailer!

We can pretend can't we? It'll add addtional awesomeness

And they could give it an Animated Sentinel Prime head!

starwarrior1227 wrote:NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

Well, then don't join the stupid club! It's $40 for a Deluxe repaint, so you kind of have to like it. I'm sure not renewing my membership next year, whether or not I like Side Burn. (Which I do.)

And before you get on my back about it, yes, there's also a couple 10-page magazines.

News Credits: 2 · by **NemesisMonkeySupreme** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:52 am

starwarrior1227 wrote:NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

I'd support a Nemesis Optimal Optimus (with a bit of retooling and a Galaxy Convoy head!) for obvious reasons… but it would never be a free figure :-(

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:58 am

Makes sense.

Don't worry Brian, I'm not mad atcha...this time.

by **starwarrior1227** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:01 pm

starwarrior1227 wrote:NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

Well, then don't join the stupid club! It's $40 for a Deluxe repaint, so you kind of have to like it. I'm sure not renewing my membership next year, whether or not I like Side Burn. (Which I do.)

And before you get on my back about it, yes, there's also a couple 10-page magazines.

i never did probably never will.

News Credits: 1 · by **D-340** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:03 pm

Well, I wish I woulda got this email, as opposed to cominn' here to see it. Been wondering about my Sideburn.

News Credits: 5 · by **zodconvoy** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:44 pm

starwarrior1227 wrote:NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

Considering as they advertised this since 2010 and many people signed up or reupped just for this figure, far more people would be pissed off then would be happy.

Oh and Shattered Glass Nemesis Primal would be white with teal and basically be the Ultra Humanite from the JSA, SG Waspnator would look like Inferno, and Shockblast is a voyager and the free figure can only be a deluxe..

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:16 pm

prmlove1 wrote:
cannonfodder4000 wrote:
RodimalToyota wrote:Woo hoo!

don't let me down Fans Project, make a repaint Protector!

But Sideburn never even had a trailer!

I think they want a trailer just because they think it would look nice. In my own universe, this Sideburn would be an aged veteran kinda like Blur has become in recent releases and thus, upgraded himself. Also, Hotrod did not have a trailer but when he got the Matrix, he became Rodimus and ended up with a railer.

It might look nice, but it also would look jacked that there's some blue dude that looks the same as Rodimus Prime on your shelf...

ShardFenix wrote:Shadow Scyther never existed either to my knowledge, yet no one bitched when he got made i would love a blue repaint of protector

SS is fine for Shatter Glass Rodimus. Makes no sense for Wildrider, though.

News Credits: 387 · by **Nekoman** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:34 pm

It's totally reasonable. Still kind of unprofessional, but reasonable.

The most upsetting thing about the club isn't when I get the membership figure, but the fact that after that the membership feels worthless to me for the rest of the year once I get it.

by **prmlove1** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:47 pm

Nekoman wrote:It's totally reasonable. Still kind of unprofessional, but reasonable.

The most upsetting thing about the club isn't when I get the membership figure, but the fact that after that the membership feels worthless to me for the rest of the year once I get it.

There are a lot of people who feel the same as you do. Honestly, I really like getting the free figure but like going to Botcon, I do it for the people. There are not too many places where you can talk about Transformers and expect to get a informed and legitimate response. It is nice to have freinds with the same interests as you. There is no one I know locally in Fayetteville, NC that loves Transformers although there is someone here who scalps them.

News Credits: 2 · by **NemesisMonkeySupreme** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:55 pm

zodconvoy wrote:
starwarrior1227 wrote:NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i was hoping it was cancelled for something better like a nemesis beast wars optimal, or a SG waspinator, or the best of all: AN OFFICIAL RERELEASE AND RECOLOR OF SHOCKBLAST AS SHOCKWAVE!!!
either those or a WFC autobot Blaster from the WFC Soundwave mold

Considering as they advertised this since 2010 and many people signed up or reupped just for this figure, far more people would be pissed off then would be happy.

Oh and Shattered Glass Nemesis Primal would be white with teal and basically be the Ultra Humanite from the JSA, SG Waspnator would look like Inferno, and Shockblast is a voyager and the free figure can only be a deluxe..

Shattered Glass is just an excuse for repaints IMO, but while starwarrior1227 mentioned a SG Waspinator he said Nemesis Optimal Optimus, not SG Optimal Optimus… :-B

by **starwarrior1227** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:22 pm

i would see nemesis optimal(based on the optimal model before transmetals) having red fur(yes its weird but i don't care) instead of the black fur, purple to replace the red on optimal, and the white on optimal would be replaced with black.

by **gothsaurus** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:44 pm

For all the naysaying about the club.... if you go to Botcon, it pays for itself. (You get the full price taken off of Botcon admission.) It's a no-brainer if you go to the con. That makes the club FREE. Everything that comes in the mail is just sweet icing....a free toy, bi-monthly comic, and exclusives if you want to buy 'em.

I've been really pleased with the art in the comic, as well as the exclusive characters. They've been using some great Classics molds, as well as paying attention to G1 lore (wreckers, Dion) and giving nods to forgotten eras (like G2 and RID).... and Shattered Glass was just epic. Cripes, it's hard to give a nod to every era and fan faction, but you can tell they really try.

I know it's tough creating value for a club like this... with manufacturing costs, printing, management, staff.... But I have to say, I haven't been displeased at all... and Sideburn looks great.

by **gothsaurus** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:45 pm

Debating if I'd buy an upgrade (again) for Sideburn if FansProject made it.

Maybe if it had a mold change? (new face or accessories) ???? :-?

News Credits: 1 · by **Blackstreak** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:29 pm

Yea, I got this email also. Good to know what's going on w/ them instead of leaving us in the dark.

by **NTESHFT** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:37 pm

I was glad to see the email, myself. I really can't wait to get this one in.

I had no clue about the botcon and admission for club members. That is sweet, especially since me and my wife's brother plan on going next year. Plus I really dig the Runabout and Runamuck figures coming out next year.

I surely hope FP does the blue armor. I don't see why not. I just hope it don't end up like the Shadow Scyther set- gone in 30 seconds after preorder opens......

by **necr0blivion** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:30 am

headsortails wrote:I was glad to see the email, myself. I really can't wait to get this one in.

I had no clue about the botcon and admission for club members. That is sweet, especially since me and my wife's brother plan on going next year. Plus I really dig the Runabout and Runamuck figures coming out next year.

I surely hope FP does the blue armor. I don't see why not. I just hope it don't end up like the Shadow Scyther set- gone in 30 seconds after preorder opens......

I got the e-mail, and I must say that it was a very welcome alert. Cudos to the Club for sending that out and keeping us up to date, even if they can't give us approximate shipping times due to circumstances beyond their control. That's good customer service!

As for the Side Burn Protector Armor, I'm okay without it. I have the original for Rodimus, and even if I did get the Sons of Cybertron Rodimus, I wouldn't get the clear set for him - same goes for Side Burn. I also do not need an armor set for the United Autobot set with "movie Rodimus" or whatever you'd like to call him. It just seems to be taking away from the uniqueness of the original figure. Now, I would've purchased Shadow Scyther if I had one of the Wildrider/SG Rodimus figures. Black is the new "Black", ya know!

News Credits: 3 · by **Emperor Galvatron** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:36 am

I like how we're all in a nice circle jerk on this one but I'm gonna rant a little. How did this get delayed so long? It's not like they don't know the quantity they would need. It can't be much more than the number of Botcon registrations (of which there are a set number) plus 25% for members who don't go.
Or, take the club's past year membership number and add 10%, and have the things ready to ship BEFORE friggin' Botcon. It's the same timeline every year. It's not like there's some great mystery on the dates.
And, on top of that, I paid for my membership before they offered orders on Ramjet or Cheetor, but those have already gone out. Is my money worth less to them because I didn't buy those exclusives? I can't be the only one thinking this, am I?

It's just like the registration for BC itself or the other exclusive figures. Randomly throw the information out with no rhyme or reason and we as customers who pay for a service have to scrounge and listen to excuse after excuse. I enjoy the club, I do. I've been a member since day 1. I like the comics, the perks, and the figures. But it's been almost 7 years now, and these guys still don't have their **** together on basics like getting a known quantity figure out on time, or setting up preorders to guage interest on exclusive figures, or a decent registration window to Botcon.

I'm sorry about the rant, but damn. If I treatd my customers like this, I'd be out on my ass inside of a month.

End rant. Flame me if you want, I really don't care at this point.

PS My keyboard is a little messed up, so if there's a letter or two missing I apologize.

by **necr0blivion** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:28 am

Emperor Galvatron wrote:I like how we're all in a nice circle jerk on this one but I'm gonna rant a little. How did this get delayed so long? It's not like they don't know the quantity they would need. It can't be much more than the number of Botcon registrations (of which there are a set number) plus 25% for members who don't go.
Or, take the club's past year membership number and add 10%, and have the things ready to ship BEFORE friggin' Botcon. It's the same timeline every year. It's not like there's some great mystery on the dates.
And, on top of that, I paid for my membership before they offered orders on Ramjet or Cheetor, but those have already gone out. Is my money worth less to them because I didn't buy those exclusives? I can't be the only one thinking this, am I?

It's just like the registration for BC itself or the other exclusive figures. Randomly throw the information out with no rhyme or reason and we as customers who pay for a service have to scrounge and listen to excuse after excuse. I enjoy the club, I do. I've been a member since day 1. I like the comics, the perks, and the figures. But it's been almost 7 years now, and these guys still don't have their **** together on basics like getting a known quantity figure out on time, or setting up preorders to guage interest on exclusive figures, or a decent registration window to Botcon.

I'm sorry about the rant, but damn. If I treatd my customers like this, I'd be out on my ass inside of a month.

End rant. Flame me if you want, I really don't care at this point.

PS My keyboard is a little messed up, so if there's a letter or two missing I apologize.

The public had until 3/31/11 to sign up for a year's membership in order to receive the club exclusive, Side Burn. Fun Pub had to wait at least until 4/1 to tally the count and make the order for these figures.

I believe it was 4/28 when Fun Pub announced preorders for the other 2 exclusives, Cheetor and Ramjet. It's possible that they already knew how many figures they wanted to have produced for each prior to 3/31 and finally got the quote on price and time necessary to produce each of these.

If you feel somewhat jaded, I can't help that. All I can say is that almost 3 months after the deadline for the member exclusive, it should be shipping out soon. I don't think that's too bad of a wait.

I would also state that Fun Pub does not know (or can produce) that magic number for each of their exclusives. Last year's Punch/Counterpunch sold out, and they went to work on a second batch - I don't believe SG Cyclonus had required a second run. And this year, that abrasion to sight Ramjet was offered and immediately sold out.

I think the reason the product run number becomes so difficult to tally is because of the secondary market. I ordered 1 each of the two figures offered this year, same as last year. There are those who I can only guess order multiples of a figure in hopes of reselling the limited edition at a higher rate. And there are probably some club members who, for one reason or another, will not even order 1 of each figure.

Reading into the Club's history (and look at their webstore), there were times that they ordered too many of a certain figure and it just didn't sell, so now they've lost money and are still sitting on product, even when offered at a reduced rate. I'm sure they are very attentive to this and would rather sell out of a production run than be forced to house excess of a figure for years and lose money.

So, just "hold your horses" and Side Burn will be delivered to you soon. And you didn't need to be flamed for voicing your opinion!