The Energon Pub

News Credits: 49 · by **Scaleface** » Tue May 06, 2008 5:07 pm

I just saw these auctions on ebay. They have Movie Inferno, Movie Mudflap and Universe Blaster for sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Movie- ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Movie- ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Classi ... dZViewItem

News Credits: 1 · by **Craven Knight** » Tue May 06, 2008 8:43 pm

Nice, I preordered a Mudflap the other day - I wonder when these are going to hit stores?

Actually I refuse to call him Mudflip, ERECTOR is a much better name.

by **Megatron's Lapdog** » Tue May 06, 2008 8:51 pm

More stolen merchandise...I guess it's only fair since they pay them like 50 cents an hour...

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:29 pm

I'll be interested to see if anyone is willing to pay big ebay money for that POS Blaster. Somehow I don't think he'll be setting any records. That's got to be one of the most godawful repaints ever. Hurts to look at it.

I wouldn't mind the others though. They'd also be a much better fit for 'Classic Series'.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:39 pm

I personally think all 3 of those suck donkey.

Inferno has a good alt mode, but his bot mode is terrible.
Almost human looking legs under that ridiculous looking torso...
Check please!!

Same thing with Mudflap. Pretty cool alt mode, but bot mode's not good enoough.

These just don't cut it. If I was only interested in alt modes, then I'd be collecting model cars, vehicles, planes, etc.

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:57 pm

I never got into Armada, and only got a few from Cybertron, so I don't have these molds. Many of the toys from Armada and Cybertron were similarly clunky looking. But the paintjob on Inferno makes it a lot more desirable than the original toy. The paintjob on Blaster makes it infinitely worse.

News Credits: 5 · by **Sledge** » Tue May 06, 2008 10:18 pm

Must... have... Classics Erector...

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Tue May 06, 2008 10:48 pm

Sledge wrote:Must... have... Classics Erector...

Must... Laugh... At... That...

Realy it would have been an awesome figure with a nice transformation but the just slapped the cabs of the alt on the arms.

It makes the figure very awkward, and the bright yellow (:|

But hey, to each their own.

I'm just hoping Universe Blaster is a record breaking shelf warmer that will send a message to Hasblow.

News Credits: 5 · by **Sledge** » Tue May 06, 2008 10:51 pm

Yeah, I can see the mold isn't that great in robot mode, but it's a homage to my favorite Micro Master. Gotta have it, and some Reprolabels Autobot stickers so he's not a dirty 'Con.

by **thedistinctroom** » Tue May 06, 2008 10:56 pm

Can't wait till Blaster hits the shelves, since I've never owned a Cybertron Soundwave before.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:05 pm

thedistinctroom wrote:Can't wait till Blaster hits the shelves, since I've never owned a Cybertron Soundwave before.

Why the bold?

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:17 am

Liege Evilmus wrote:I'm just hoping Universe Blaster is a record breaking shelf warmer that will send a message to Hasblow.

Yes, and yes.

News Credits: 6 · by **Dr. Caelus** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:50 am

Really wish they'd repainted Cybertron Wingsaber into Blaster instead of Ctbertron Soundwave.

News Credits: 49 · by **Scaleface** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:17 am

I'm happy with Inferno and Blaster. I'd wish they had made Mudflap an Autobot, and called him Hauler or Erector.

by **olokin** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:31 am

I can stomach the Blaster colors. I've always wanted a Cybertron Soundwave

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:49 am

Sowndwave76 wrote:
Liege Evilmus wrote:I'm just hoping Universe Blaster is a record breaking shelf warmer that will send a message to Hasblow.

Yes, and yes.

Not going to happen.

I specialize in collecting these kind of figures. These will not sit on the shelves due to low production numbers and rabid fan interest.

In fact, these will be the kind of figures who fetch a 100% mark-up in 1-2 years, easily.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:34 am

Sledge wrote:Yeah, I can see the mold isn't that great in robot mode, but it's a homage to my favorite Micro Master. Gotta have it, and some Reprolabels Autobot stickers so he's not a dirty 'Con.

Well in that case...

Your right, MicroMaster Erector is a pretty fun little battle station.

News Credits: 8 · by **Electron** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:49 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Sowndwave76 wrote:
Liege Evilmus wrote:I'm just hoping Universe Blaster is a record breaking shelf warmer that will send a message to Hasblow.

Yes, and yes.

Not going to happen.

I specialize in collecting these kind of figures. These will not sit on the shelves due to low production numbers and rabid fan interest.

In fact, these will be the kind of figures who fetch a 100% mark-up in 1-2 years, easily.

Reli? U sure?, cause i think blaster is ugly and shouldnt even be in this line

and how do u no the production numbers? (jus wonderin thats all:P)

News Credits: 5 · by **Sledge** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:54 am

Liege Evilmus wrote:Well in that case...

Your right, MicroMaster Erector is a pretty fun little battle station.

I only bought him because I occasionally think I'll get round to doing a webcomic one day and Erector would be good for a few cheap gags. Imagine my surprise to find he was actually a good little toy, cursed with an embarrassing name.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:27 am

Electron wrote:Reli? U sure?, cause i think blaster is ugly and shouldnt even be in this line

and how do u no the production numbers? (jus wonderin thats all:P)

Why yes I am sure of that my '1337 speak' 2k7 friend!

While you might thing Blaster is ugly, rewind to two years ago and everyone and their bloody mother was clamoring for this repaint. Having seen the toy in person, I assure you that it is quite nice.

As to the line that the toy is in...Universe is technically a catch all for various repaints with Classics toys crammed in for effect.

Lastly, repaints are always produced in lower numbers than standard or 'show' releases. Movie Inferno and Mudflap which are store exclusives have several reasons for low numbers, first and foremost...they're only in one store. A full production run would overflow a single store for a year or more. I don't know for sure, but the likely production numbers for these toys are likely in the 10-15 thousand range in keeping with similar releases.

BotCon exclusives: @ 1,100 units
Japanese store exclusives: @ 6-12,000 units
True Japanese Limited Editions: @ 500-1,200 units
Limited US releases: @ 10-12,000 units
Standard US release: 40,000 and up units (This number could be genuinely wrong though...)

Those are estimates based on actual BotCon numbers, actual Japanese release numbers, and the Energon Ultra Magnus, Treadbolt, and Rapid Run numbers for US exclusives. Any of it could be wrong, but it all seems a reasonable estimate.

by **Dagon** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:12 pm

Liege Evilmus wrote:
thedistinctroom wrote:Can't wait till Blaster hits the shelves, since I've never owned a Cybertron Soundwave before.

Why the bold?

Bold is for emphasis.

by **ponycorn** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:12 pm

olokin wrote:I can stomach the Blaster colors. I've always wanted a Cybertron Soundwave

I want Cybertron Soundwave too, and I don't think the Blaster re-paint looks all that bad. I'm a sucker for a nice toy I can "cash&carry" so I will definately pick that one up.

Colors-wise, I do wish that the Mudflap wasn't quite so yellow, but I love the character enough that I don't care, and he'll fill the Demolisher gap nicely.

Not sure about movie Inferno though. I'll probably pick him up.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:12 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
Electron wrote:Reli? U sure?, cause i think blaster is ugly and shouldnt even be in this line

and how do u no the production numbers? (jus wonderin thats all:P)

Why yes I am sure of that my '1337 speak' 2k7 friend!

While you might thing Blaster is ugly, rewind to two years ago and everyone and their bloody mother was clamoring for this repaint. Having seen the toy in person, I assure you that it is quite nice.

As to the line that the toy is in...Universe is technically a catch all for various repaints with Classics toys crammed in for effect.

Lastly, repaints are always produced in lower numbers than standard or 'show' releases. Movie Inferno and Mudflap which are store exclusives have several reasons for low numbers, first and foremost...they're only in one store. A full production run would overflow a single store for a year or more. I don't know for sure, but the likely production numbers for these toys are likely in the 10-15 thousand range in keeping with similar releases.

BotCon exclusives: @ 1,100 units
Japanese store exclusives: @ 6-12,000 units
True Japanese Limited Editions: @ 500-1,200 units
Limited US releases: @ 10-12,000 units
Standard US release: 40,000 and up units (This number could be genuinely wrong though...)

Those are estimates based on actual BotCon numbers, actual Japanese release numbers, and the Energon Ultra Magnus, Treadbolt, and Rapid Run numbers for US exclusives. Any of it could be wrong, but it all seems a reasonable estimate.

I don't doubt your knowledge of production runs, even your estimates...
But I'm curious as to how many people truly were saying they wanted a repaint of Soundwave as Blaster. I mean, you're talkin' people here on the forums, right?
Even if that was 300 people, in the grand scheme...
And lately it seems most have a dislike for it.
Wouldn't you think that at that time all of the hype was because people wanted a Blaster, and a repaint was probably the most realistic option?

And damn, in alt mode he has such a strong primary color scheme, which to me shouts pajamas for a 2 yr. old bought by grandma.
Or as Bumblethumper said, "clown colors".

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:11 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:I don't doubt your knowledge of production runs, even your estimates...
But I'm curious as to how many people truly were saying they wanted a repaint of Soundwave as Blaster. I mean, you're talkin' people here on the forums, right?
Even if that was 300 people, in the grand scheme...
And lately it seems most have a dislike for it.
Wouldn't you think that at that time all of the hype was because people wanted a Blaster, and a repaint was probably the most realistic option?

And damn, in alt mode he has such a strong primary color scheme, which to me shouts pajamas for a 2 yr. old bought by grandma.
Or as Bumblethumper said, "clown colors".

Wait Wait Wait...

Let's review:

Grey legs with black spot (speaker) on them?
-Check
Red torso with yellow storage compartment?
-Check...er, mostly. Depends what angle you look from...
Red Arms?
-Check
Red Head?
-Check

So the character/toy is mostly Red, Black, Grey, and some yellow...

That amounts to the most frightening clown colors ever.

The "Clown Colors" argument is garbage...

Face it, if the head were resculpted even slightly, this guy would be dead on.

News Credits: 1014 · by **First Gen** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:35 pm

My all knowing power (my guessing) told me this would happen.

I do remember the countless hoards crying out to the Heavens (HASBRO for TF Fans) proclaiming "Give us BLASTER!!!" "Make him in all his glory out of Cybertron Soundwave, it'd be perfect!!!!"

Then when Hasbro says, "Okay", you then hear. "Why???" "Why all the repaints?"

This is the EXACT reason certain figures became certain exclusives.