Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[SpikeyTigertron]

I still don't understand why they are wasting a Studio Series slot with this crappy (sorry, my opinion) repaint of a crappy (again, just my humble opinion) TLK figure?

I thought the point of this line was to be all new molds?

But the wave 1 deluxes aren't even all new moulds, and the voyager star scream is just an upscale.

I'm not convinced the Jazz mold is new, unless it's "re-engineered" using the base figure.

Sorry, had to address. The new Jazz is a completely new mold. He has nothing from the original movie Jazz outside of transforming into a Pontiac Solstice.

Original Jazz



New Jazz



Legs are different, chest is different, arms are different. Yes he transforms in a similar fashion, because they need to follow the general transformation of the onscreen model, and they transform from the same vehicle mode to a very similar looking robot mode. But the car parts even end up in different places.

that's the first time i really caught that the headlights are in different places... *goes to find the HA version*

I feel the original looks cleaner. trying to rember how they dealth with the roof of the car.

[william-james88]

Lockdown isn't a retool of anyone this is like the stupid g2 Smokescreen to Energon Starscream or Dotm Roadbuster to Aoe Lockdown.

Just similar engineering

No one said anythng about him being a retool. But its not a smokescreen/starscream thing, that comparison no longer applies. As John Warden has said, toy development is different now. Starting with Combiner Wars, tooling is thought up and then kept to be applied to various toys. And the advancements in technology mean that the development cycle has shortened too. Now that everything is on a computer, they can select parts or tooling from one toy and apply it to another and build around it. It would be a new mold, but still based on something existing. And its all done by the same Hasbro team unlike the examples presented when its teams from different eras pulling insiration from previous toys (either intentionally or not). Now everything is intentional and planned to be reused when applicable.

[william-james88]

While we posted in hand images of the wave 1 deluxes as soon as fans got them from Hasbro Toy Shop, we never posted video reviews for all of them (just Bumblebee and Stinger). Most of the world still doesn't have them since they are scheduled to appear in stores next month so below you will find a video review for all of wave one inlcuding new reviews for Bumblebee and Stinger, to go with Crowbar and Ratchet, just to give you another perspective. We also included some comparison shots after the video reviews for those who wish to compare these molds with previous renditions.

We also have an excellent review of this line from Scotty P in the latest Twincast Podcast where he and the other participants are disappointed that these aren't quite the premium line-up they're hyped up to be. Go to the 54 minute mark to hear their in depth analysis on what we have so far in the line.

[Ig89ninja]

One thing I like about Emgo (besides his skits) is that I have yet to see a video in which he loses his cool, I'M LOOKING AT YOU BALTMATRIX!

[Quantum Surge]

Nice to see Ratchet is slightly taller than his DOTM Deluxe, which might make DOTM Bee seem less oversized next to him in his bot mode. Also, I gotta laugh at this part:

Fear the latest Twincast Podcast where he and the other participants are disappointed that these aren't quite the premium line-up they're hyped up to be.

I don't want to sound like I'm baiting fans, but while I would agree that I would love to see the ROTF engineering be brought back, I find it a bit biased that the Studio Series line gets overly criticized in unnecessary ways while Power of the Primes is overly praised despite the toys feeling more simplistic and less detailed than the previous Generations lines (not to mention the toys becoming more like the G1s with knees; just ask Abominus and Predaking). Ignoring the Marvel toy license purchase made by Hasbro from ToyBiz, I knew that things would be different for Marvel Legends with the way figures get different treatments from ToyBiz just like I knew that movie TFs would be different after ROTF, HFTD, and DOTM, from display bases being nonexistent in modern Marvel Legends to multiple reuses of the Bucky Cap body, smaller BAFs (not to the extent of the mini-BAFs and Jubilee).

[ZeroWolf]

To be fair some fans are ecstatic that they are just g1 with more articulation.

[william-james88]

To be fair some fans are ecstatic that they are just g1 with more articulation.

I wish the Predacons were just G1 with better articulation. We wouldnt have that terrible back kibble, nor would Divebomb look like crap in beast mode.

[Overcracker]

I don't want to sound like I'm baiting fans, but while I would agree that I would love to see the ROTF engineering be brought back, I find it a bit biased that the Studio Series line gets overly criticized in unnecessary ways while Power of the Primes is overly praised despite the toys feeling more simplistic and less detailed than the previous Generations lines (not to mention the toys becoming more like the G1s with knees; just ask Abominus and Predaking).

Probably because the Power of the Prime's did not promise anything it is not actually delivering. It never promised more accurate representations of characters with better paint, and higher quality like the Studio Series did.

Power of the Prime's is delivering what everybody though it would for the most part. i.e a new Generations line with some "new" gimmicks to go with it.

The Studio Series promised better figures and we got 70's Bumblebee which is smaller and hardly better than the original one, and has issues with loose joints. Then we get Stinger which is a fairly good toy. The new dread that managed to get a new robot mode out of the same Suburban alt mode and engineering, and then Ratchet, which is not really all that good compared to previous deluxe Ratchets.

So far the Studio Series has failed to deliver on what it promised. Power of the Primes is exactly what everybody expected, if you expected something different than what we got, then why? We had 2 lines before PtOP that pointed what PtOP was going to be like. And I see no real let downs in the line so far. Some figures may not be what you wanted, but all in all, they have done what they set out to do.

Studio Series so far has not. It appears the upcoming figures may turn that around with Grimlock, Jazz and Megatron at least.

Prime is still disappointing after MB-11, and MPM-4.

Studio Series has not lived up to expectations in general. PotP is firmly within them at this point.

[Rodimus Knight]

While Titan Master compatible. I can't really say the *regular* heads really match the level of detail/asthetic that the movie line brings. Now if it came with a repainted/tooled cogman... that'd have been interesting.

Given the vtols I *am* surprised they didn't release him as a *new* movie Thrust (the repaint/tool of.... slingshot (?) )

I disagree. Nitro Zeus especially looks fine in any CHUG collection, whereas Cogman's body is a suitable host for Spike/Galen/Fortress.

IMG_20180214_203250~01.jpg

I'm fact, with a slightly retooled chest and recolouring, it would make a great Nightbeat body, IMO.

I'll admit that Spike on Cogman looks pretty darn good. Though he looks most at home on Fort Max's head.

You mean Cerebros?

Spike was the original Small Headmaster with Fortress Maximus. Cerebros was the deluxe sized head, for lack of a better term. The Takara Bumblebee release came with a Fort Max head recolored in honor of this original concept from the states, which I still find weird for them to have done.

On a side note, I did get Nitro over the weekend, and man it's transformation is one of the biggest pains I've had to deal with in years.

[william-james88]

Studio Series so far has not. It appears the upcoming figures may turn that around with Grimlock, Jazz and Megatron at least.

That Megatron is also a good example of overselling something with some toys being shown at shows covered in silver paint which the final version wont have.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Spike was the original Small Headmaster with Fortress Maximus. Cerebros was the deluxe sized head, for lack of a better term. The Takara Bumblebee release came with a Fort Max head recolored in honor of this original concept from the states, which I still find weird for them to have done.

Not quite correct there, and there's some confusion with the names between the U.S. and Japan. I'll shoot you a PM to avoid driving the thread off topic if you'd like.

[Overcracker]

Studio Series so far has not. It appears the upcoming figures may turn that around with Grimlock, Jazz and Megatron at least.

That Megatron is also a good example of overselling something with some toys being shown at shows covered in silver paint which the final version wont have.

True.

[SpikeyTigertron]

Grimcracker

On a side note, I did get Nitro over the weekend, and man it's transformation is one of the biggest pains I've had to deal with in years.

Found Thundercracker at a toys r us in Sunnyvale, and the manager released it. Apparently they have a street date of April. He looks AMAZING with the Grimstone (Grimlock) titanmaster

[Lunatic Prime]

Found Thundercracker at a toys r us in Sunnyvale, and the manager released it. Apparently they have a street date of April. He looks AMAZING with the Grimstone (Grimlock) titanmaster

I luv it
THUNDERLOCK

[Shuttershock]

A6741242-B05E-440C-B595-92FEF08BA18F.png

On a side note, I did get Nitro over the weekend, and man it's transformation is one of the biggest pains I've had to deal with in years.

Found Thundercracker at a toys r us in Sunnyvale, and the manager released it. Apparently they have a street date of April. He looks AMAZING with the Grimstone (Grimlock) titanmaster

That DOES look pretty good. I’d keep him like that and call him something else like “Thunderclap” or “Supersonic”. Seems more legit as a stand alone new guy than as movie Thundercracker.

[SpikeyTigertron]

*almost* makes me wish I could dive in and paint in up in Macross colors

(granted that'd be easier starting off with the blander Nitro)

[primalxconvoy]

While Titan Master compatible. I can't really say the *regular* heads really match the level of detail/asthetic that the movie line brings. Now if it came with a repainted/tooled cogman... that'd have been interesting.

Given the vtols I *am* surprised they didn't release him as a *new* movie Thrust (the repaint/tool of.... slingshot (?) )

I disagree. Nitro Zeus especially looks fine in any CHUG collection, whereas Cogman's body is a suitable host for Spike/Galen/Fortress.

IMG_20180214_203250~01.jpg

I'm fact, with a slightly retooled chest and recolouring, it would make a great Nightbeat body, IMO.

I'll admit that Spike on Cogman looks pretty darn good. Though he looks most at home on Fort Max's head.

You mean Cerebros?

Spike was the original Small Headmaster with Fortress Maximus. Cerebros was the deluxe sized head, for lack of a better term. The Takara Bumblebee release came with a Fort Max head recolored in honor of this original concept from the states, which I still find weird for them to have done.

Takara's BB came with a CEREBROS head, not a Fort Max head. It's a homage to the Movie Spike's exoskeleton suit and the US show, where Spike became Cerebros' head.

I was pointing out the error that Spike becomes Fort Max's head, when he actually becomes Cerebros' head.

[Emerje]

Found Thundercracker at a toys r us in Sunnyvale, and the manager released it. Apparently they have a street date of April. He looks AMAZING with the Grimstone (Grimlock) titanmaster

He does look good and rather G2 in blue. Funny that Clobber and Thundercracker are two figures I'll probably never see in stores.

Emerje

[chuckdawg1999]

Lockdown isn't a retool of anyone this is like the stupid g2 Smokescreen to Energon Starscream or Dotm Roadbuster to Aoe Lockdown.

Just similar engineering

No one said anythng about him being a retool. But its not a smokescreen/starscream thing, that comparison no longer applies. As John Warden has said, toy development is different now. Starting with Combiner Wars, tooling is thought up and then kept to be applied to various toys. And the advancements in technology mean that the development cycle has shortened too. Now that everything is on a computer, they can select parts or tooling from one toy and apply it to another and build around it. It would be a new mold, but still based on something existing. And its all done by the same Hasbro team unlike the examples presented when its teams from different eras pulling insiration from previous toys (either intentionally or not). Now everything is intentional and planned to be reused when applicable.

So basically everything is a retool now? Like Nerf blasters being all Jolt reskins?

To be fair some fans are ecstatic that they are just g1 with more articulation.

I wish the Predacons were just G1 with better articulation. We wouldnt have that terrible back kibble, nor would Divebomb look like crap in beast mode.

We'd also get blasters and swords for all of them. The other combiners too.

[william-james88]

Lockdown isn't a retool of anyone this is like the stupid g2 Smokescreen to Energon Starscream or Dotm Roadbuster to Aoe Lockdown.

Just similar engineering

No one said anythng about him being a retool. But its not a smokescreen/starscream thing, that comparison no longer applies. As John Warden has said, toy development is different now. Starting with Combiner Wars, tooling is thought up and then kept to be applied to various toys. And the advancements in technology mean that the development cycle has shortened too. Now that everything is on a computer, they can select parts or tooling from one toy and apply it to another and build around it. It would be a new mold, but still based on something existing. And its all done by the same Hasbro team unlike the examples presented when its teams from different eras pulling insiration from previous toys (either intentionally or not). Now everything is intentional and planned to be reused when applicable.

So basically everything is a retool now? Like Nerf blasters being all Jolt reskins?

Yes. But its so streamlined now that I dont think retool applies anymore. Hasbro said that too. Its called partial tool now since they use parts of another toy. But since they have to literally make a new mold for the plastic, they will consider it a new mold nonetheless even if specific key engineering and transformation is copied (like with that deluxe ratchet). I get why, they spent all that money making a technically new mold, why wouldnt they call it that. I guess we just have to get with the program and evolve with the new landscape of toy making, where similarities are intentional, planned and found all throughout, but the toys are technically all different still.

[Lore Keeper]

Great reviews guys! Though, I must say I think I prefer that TF Collector guy. His voice is just so dreamy...

[Ironhidensh]

[q I guess we just have to get with the program and evolve with the new landscape of toy making, where similarities are intentional, planed and found all throughout, but the toys are technically all different still.

No, I do not have to get with the times.

I'm old and stuck in my ways, and aside from favorite character and legends class (cause they be cheap), this new way of design will probably end my collecting of mainline. Line figures. Hell, it really already has.

[-Kanrabat-]

I thought the correct term was "pre-tool".

We could come up with a new term of our own though. How about "skeleton"? The first toy release of a particular skeleton would name the new skeleton. Best example, for the "firetruck" Combiner War mold, we could say that Onslaught, Pyra Magna, and PotP Inferno have the "CW Hot-Spot skeleton".

Thoughts?

[william-james88]

I thought the correct term was "pre-tool".

We could come up with a new term of our own though. How about "skeleton"? The first toy release of a particular skeleton would name the new skeleton. Best example, for the "firetruck" Combiner War mold, we could say that Onslaught, Pyra Magna, and PotP Inferno have the "CW Hot-Spot skeleton".

Thoughts?

I dont know why we have to come up with one, hasbro gave us the one they use: partial tool

[primalxconvoy]

[q I guess we just have to get with the program and evolve with the new landscape of toy making, where similarities are intentional, planed and found all throughout, but the toys are technically all different still.

No, I do not have to get with the times.

I'm old and stuck in my ways, and aside from favorite character and legends class (cause they be cheap), this new way of design will probably end my collecting of mainline. Line figures. Hell, it really already has.

That's a shame. Personally, I love how KO companies usually improve upon existing designs and with the money saved on actually doing the main design work, add extra features, better paint, increased size, etc. It's like "hacking" a toy, sotospeak.

I think Hasbro doing it is great. Why reinvent the Wheel(ie), when they can keep a database of designs, transformation systems, sculpts, etc and draw upon them for future releases? It must save a heck of a lot of time and money that way.

I'm all for it.