The Energon Pub

News Credits: 131 · Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:15 am

william-james88 wrote:they are really indulging fans at this point with all the G1 stuff. Its like here you go fans, G1 everything: G1 designs in cyberverse for kids, G1 in Siege for older fans, and hell for everyone who thinks there is nothing better than g1 here are the G1 reissues, die cast and all!

HasbroDawg.jpg

News Credits: 56 · Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:31 am

william-james88 wrote:I think there has been more good than bad. They reinvented combiners, giving us the best ones yet, they brought back head masters with a cool ecosystem and they are really indulging fans at this point with all the G1 stuff. Its like here you go fans, G1 everything: G1 designs in cyberverse for kids, G1 in Siege for older fans, and hell for everyone who thinks there is nothing better than g1 here are the G1 reissues, die cast and all!

I agree to some extent, it is after all what brought me out of a 10 year refrain from collecting. However I'm not trying to be a pessimist, just trying to play counterpoint to the discussion. Hasbro is giving us a lot, but then leaving a lot unfinished. Incomplete Combiner teams (granted they seem to be partially working on this). TR-Many Legends class cassette minions for Soundwave and Blaster left unmade, No Voyager Triplechanger Apeface & Snapdragon. Only 2 box sets to represent the *tech spec/transformers Clone* releases instead of 4. PotP No Star Saber/Deathsaurus, only 8 of the 12/13 primes released with Pretender Armor. A Punch/Counterpunch that is completely out of place with the rest of the line etc... Studio Series, has been mostly solid, but it hasn't been exactly the ideal definitive movie representation series it was built up to be. Walmart original series releases seem to be random at best, and now an Optimus without his trailer??

Now others may not see these as negatives, or may not even care, or say that some of these things were never part of Hasbro's plan to begin with. That's fine for some, but that also IS the core problem, for me. Symmetry and completeness is a HUGE driving force for me as a collector. For others I know this may not be a factor, but for me, it is very important. -If you are going to release the "13 Primes" for example, do it with the same gimmick for all, not seemingly half-assed as what it appears was done with PotP.

News Credits: 4877 · Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:05 pm

o.supreme wrote: Only 2 box sets to represent the *tech spec/transformers Clone* releases instead of 4.

I agree with many points, though none upset me aside from the Apeface/Snapdragon because that felt like a borderline troll.
But regarding the 4 boxsets. They didnt release them all the same way, but in the end we did get 4 tech spec box sets and all 4 clones, so I had 0 issues.

News Credits: 462 · Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:10 pm

This must be Heavy Metal War "Too hurt and tired to pull his own trailer" Optimus Prime. To get the trailer, we'll have to buy Huffer's reissue.

News Credits: 241 · Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:33 pm

Sabrblade wrote:This must be Heavy Metal War "Too hurt and tired to pull his own trailer" Optimus Prime. To get the trailer, we'll have to buy Huffer's reissue.

If they actually did a Huffer reissue with the trailer, I don't know whether to be amused that they're referencing that particular scene, or sad. :lol:

News Credits: 11 · Wed Dec 19, 2018 10:47 am

Without the trailer? :-(

News Credits: 11 · Wed Dec 19, 2018 10:47 am

Interesting idea to re-re-release without the trailer. Cute box

News Credits: 65 · Wed Dec 19, 2018 12:01 pm

Woot! I found the G1 Minibots at Walmart last night! Got all four. They weren't with the normal Transformers section in the toy aisles, though. They were in a special "Bumblebee Movie" cardboard island display towards the back of the store. It's a BIG display, with toys on all four sides. There were, in addition to the G1 minibots, new Rescuebots toys, some Studio Series, and a bunch of Bumblebee Movie line toys, of course.

News Credits: 25 · Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:24 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:Woot! I found the G1 Minibots at Walmart last night! Got all four. They weren't with the normal Transformers section in the toy aisles, though. They were in a special "Bumblebee Movie" cardboard island display towards the back of the store. It's a BIG display, with toys on all four sides. There were, in addition to the G1 minibots, new Rescuebots toys, some Studio Series, and a bunch of Bumblebee Movie line toys, of course.

Yeah, I'm feeling left out. All my area Wal-Mart's have that display, but not a one of them have the g1 minibots.

News Credits: 656 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:43 am

I like how in the MP-44 thread there are comments about leaving out the trailer to cut costs.

Then it gets done on a different toy and folks are wondering where the trailer is.

While G1 vs MP is not apples to apples, just shows we are an impossible to please bunch :lol:

News Credits: 131 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 2:32 pm

ScottyP wrote:I like how in the MP-44 thread there are comments about leaving out the trailer to cut costs.

Then it gets done on a different toy and folks are wondering where the trailer is.

While G1 vs MP is not apples to apples, just shows we are an impossible to please bunch

You can only make some of the people happy some of the time. Besides what else are we going to do with all these pitchforks and torches.

I like a trailer, I'm ok without a trailer (as long as the price is right). I'm liking the look and trailer-less G1 Prime re-issues, but if the rumors are corrct it's a little too pricey for me. Price it at $24.88

and I'll be all over it.

Ironhidensh wrote:
Wolfman Jake wrote:Woot! I found the G1 Minibots at Walmart last night! Got all four. They weren't with the normal Transformers section in the toy aisles, though. They were in a special "Bumblebee Movie" cardboard island display towards the back of the store. It's a BIG display, with toys on all four sides. There were, in addition to the G1 minibots, new Rescuebots toys, some Studio Series, and a bunch of Bumblebee Movie line toys, of course.
Yeah, I'm feeling left out. All my area Wal-Mart's have that display, but not a one of them have the g1 minibots.

Same here. I do a daily crawl of the WM app to see if any minibots are reporting as in stock.

So far just excess Hot Rod and Starscream. I also check their in-store price to see if any mark downs have happened. Lazy man hunting :lol:

News Credits: 56 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 2:45 pm

It is definitely not a same/same comparison. This change is unprecedented, and smacks of an "on the cheap" cost cutting measure. The Original Optimus Prime toy has been reissued several times in all markets, and in many variations over the years, never before however WITHOUT his trailer (at least none I am aware of). Whereas since the very first MP, Optimus WAS without it. The very first MP toy was an engineering marvel high-end collectable that fans were just happy to get, and only now some 15+ years, and several dozen MP's later (and 3 or 4 versions of Optimus?) do we take it for granted that these simply exist.

Several Optimus Prime toys from other lines exist without his trailer, and that is fine. The Bayverse version didn't even get one until the 3rd film. But changing that iconic original design, in any way, or leaving anything out, isn't really necessary, I had the original, G2, and TRU Commemorative Series. If you think lowering smoke stacks to comply with modern safety standards was bad, I can completely understand anyone who is upset that a major portion of the original toy is now missing. Of course I know some people are going to go for it, and not care, maybe this will create a demand for loose OS trailers on the secondary market?

News Credits: 4877 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:44 pm

o.supreme wrote: The Original Optimus Prime toy has been reissued several times in all markets, and in many variations over the years, never before however WITHOUT his trailer (at least none I am aware of).

There is a version that came without his G1 trailer, it was the chronicles one from Takara where he was paired up with DOTM voy Optimus to show the evolution. They did the same with megatron who came without all the gun accessories.

News Credits: 56 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:49 pm

An obscure release, that again, I was not aware of. Still, if this is more recent, maybe this was the template Hasbro used, and thus the reason why Optimus doesn't have his trailer.

News Credits: 241 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:59 pm

william-james88 wrote:
o.supreme wrote: The Original Optimus Prime toy has been reissued several times in all markets, and in many variations over the years, never before however WITHOUT his trailer (at least none I am aware of).

There is a version that came without his G1 trailer, it was the chronicles one from Takara where he was paired up with DOTM voy Optimus to show the evolution. They did the same with megatron who came without all the gun accessories.

That one had the hitch retooled to accommodate the DotM Trailer instead...

Wait a minute, if this reissue retains that retool one can use the Movie Trilogy release of that trailer instead. :-D

... not helping, am I?

News Credits: 131 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 4:53 pm

Not sure if this has been talked about before, but how much input/influence does Walmart (as the exclusive G1 reissue retailer) have over which characters/sets/accessories are released. What if this trailer-less Optimus is just a matter of shelf space? Every inch at retail either makes or cost a store money. Sounds like a potential high level decision :-?

News Credits: 65 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 10:06 pm

carytheone wrote:Not sure if this has been talked about before, but how much input/influence does Walmart (as the exclusive G1 reissue retailer) have over which characters/sets/accessories are released. What if this trailer-less Optimus is just a matter of shelf space? Every inch at retail either makes or cost a store money. Sounds like a potential high level decision

I suggested the same thing in my post on the previous page. No one responded to the idea, though.

News Credits: 131 · Thu Dec 20, 2018 10:32 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:
carytheone wrote:Not sure if this has been talked about before, but how much input/influence does Walmart (as the exclusive G1 reissue retailer) have over which characters/sets/accessories are released. What if this trailer-less Optimus is just a matter of shelf space? Every inch at retail either makes or cost a store money. Sounds like a potential high level decision
I suggested the same thing in my post on the previous page. No one responded to the idea, though.

Ha, crazy, I missed that but I tend to only skim the threads half of the time. Too much negativity lately.

News Credits: 101 · Fri Dec 21, 2018 4:50 am

carytheone wrote:Ha, crazy, I missed that but I tend to only skim the threads half of the time. Too much negativity lately.

Contrary to doll forums, Seibertron's update like MAD!
I too have to TlDr often. Especially for some long winded nerdy arguments that either I have no interest in, or that I find completely confusing.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Fri Dec 21, 2018 5:44 am

Wolfman Jake wrote:
carytheone wrote:Not sure if this has been talked about before, but how much input/influence does Walmart (as the exclusive G1 reissue retailer) have over which characters/sets/accessories are released. What if this trailer-less Optimus is just a matter of shelf space? Every inch at retail either makes or cost a store money. Sounds like a potential high level decision

I suggested the same thing in my post on the previous page. No one responded to the idea, though.

Usually Hasbro pitches an idea and if the store shows interest they start pounding out the details. I'm guessing Walmart didn't like how much space Devastator took up and chose to do something smaller with Optimus or they already have a larger figure or set planned to go with him and needed him in a smaller box.

It's not like Walmart is a stranger to oddly sized and space devouring boxes.

That last one is both sides of a two pack. That one really took up space since being a two pack meant they had to put several of them out at once. Hasbro seems to have figured out the best way to get stuff on shelves like having Leaders stand upright in bot mode rather than being in vehicle mode. That makes Devastator a bit of an anomaly, a big, flat, square box that wouldn't really fly today but nearly buried itself thanks to being hard to make room for. Optimus with a trailer would probably be worth the space of a wide box, but they probably could have just made an extra deep box with the trailer in back or a taller box with the trailer on bottom and the figure on top. But that they didn't do anything like that AND gave us the most stripped down version of the figure possible with no perks or incentives really makes me think this was Hasbro's idea and not Walmart's.

Remind me, wasn't the first Optimus reissue sold at TRU also $50? I seem to remember them costing more than Leaders back in 2002.

Anyway, people were asking about the display that the mini bots were being found in so I took a couple pics when I found it Thursday. It wasn't there Saturday so these are still getting into stores.

20181220_195503.jpg

20181220_195510.jpg

The other side is basically more of the same plus some Studio Series stuff. Would have been the perfect place to stick Siege. Look for them outside of the electronics department (which I said was a possibility months ago).

Emerje

News Credits: 131 · Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:33 am

Ah thanks for the insights regarding shelf space. When the G1 reissues first starting showing up a lot of the WMs I visited just had them on the top over flow/stock shelves. At most stores they all eventually found shelf space but a few left Devy up top.

I've seen those yellow Bee displays and checked all the action allys, but still no minibots in my area. Even checked the generic Xmas themed ones. IIRC, no one has reported anything on our local sightings board either.

News Credits: 226 · Fri Dec 21, 2018 4:09 pm

carytheone wrote:
Wolfman Jake wrote:
carytheone wrote:Not sure if this has been talked about before, but how much input/influence does Walmart (as the exclusive G1 reissue retailer) have over which characters/sets/accessories are released. What if this trailer-less Optimus is just a matter of shelf space? Every inch at retail either makes or cost a store money. Sounds like a potential high level decision
I suggested the same thing in my post on the previous page. No one responded to the idea, though.
Ha, crazy, I missed that but I tend to only skim the threads half of the time. Too much negativity lately.

Yeah ... I mostly skip over a lot of stuff as well.

...

Don't look at me like that, I'm a responsible Admin!

You know what Hasbro should do to shock fans? Two pack of Optimus Primal and Megatron (Ape and T-Rex versions). Sneak them in there with the G1 reissues and see what sells.

News Credits: 131 · Fri Dec 21, 2018 4:13 pm

Burn wrote:You know what Hasbro should do to shock fans? Two pack of Optimus Primal and Megatron (Ape and T-Rex versions). Sneak them in there with the G1 reissues and see what sells.

neither

News Credits: 226 · Fri Dec 21, 2018 4:14 pm

carytheone wrote:
Burn wrote:You know what Hasbro should do to shock fans? Two pack of Optimus Primal and Megatron (Ape and T-Rex versions). Sneak them in there with the G1 reissues and see what sells.
neither

Those BW reissues would go quickly I reckon! So many accessories lost over the years ...

Fri Dec 21, 2018 4:30 pm

Burn wrote:
carytheone wrote:
Burn wrote:You know what Hasbro should do to shock fans? Two pack of Optimus Primal and Megatron (Ape and T-Rex versions). Sneak them in there with the G1 reissues and see what sells.
neither

Those BW reissues would go quickly I reckon! So many accessories lost over the years ...

Not to mention Optimus' gorilla head!