The Energon Pub

Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:06 am

Looks like another 3rd party is breaking away from the shadows. So far the 3rd party name is unknown, but these prototype images have recently surfaced on Meteor Operation's Facebook.

Meteor Operation Facebook link - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meteor-Operation/165524826908264

Looks interesting, but I can't help but remain skeptical of new parties pertaining to quality issues. Still, quite an ambitious project for a new 3rd... perhaps too ambitious? You decide...

News Credits: 10 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:06 am

This must be the one we got the blacked out teaser images of a while back. Might be the crap angles and no paint, but it doesn't look that great. Seems kinda thin and lanky, not the bulky brute Predaking should be.

Will wait for better images (and maybe reviews) before a final decision.

News Credits: 119 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:00 am

News Credits: 1 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:09 am

Well, now, a second Predaking (the first onbe is by Mastermind Creations and is called Ferocious).

It's Herc VS Giant redux.

News Credits: 119 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:00 am

News Credits: 461 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:15 am

Still, quite an ambitious project for a new 3rd... perhaps too ambitious? You decide...

I'm not sure why people say that about a new 3rd party... just because the "company" is new doesn't mean the designers are. the people behind the scene prob just create new companies to release new products. they're prob all the same circle of designers manufacturers ect. I assume they do this for legal reasons. I bet the KO companies are prob done by some of the same guys too.

but again just my assumption.

News Credits: 10 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:33 am

I'm going to keep an eye on this one. I love the characters of Predacons, but was unimpressed with the look of the G1 transformations; they felt too simple for me. However, I never had one and didn't realize the size of Predaking.

Plus, I'm looking to complete my neo-G1 gestalts, and this guy would fit the bill, provided the price isn't insane, like $200 a figure. I'll keep watch on this and Mastermind Creations. Hopefully the competition leads to high quality.

Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:46 am

mooncake623 wrote:
Still, quite an ambitious project for a new 3rd... perhaps too ambitious? You decide...

I'm not sure why people say that about a new 3rd party... just because the "company" is new doesn't mean the designers are. the people behind the scene prob just create new companies to release new products. they're prob all the same circle of designers manufacturers ect. I assume they do this for legal reasons. I bet the KO companies are prob done by some of the same guys too.

but again just my assumption.

Generally it's better to learn to crawl before you try to jog with the big boys, wouldn't you agree?

With so many 3rd competitors and the constant concern of quality issues, and the fact that we, as a fandom of collectors, are pretty damn difficult to please, I just assume it would be pretty hard to win us over with something as ambitious as a highly loved gestalt like Predaking coming from a 3rd with little to no repport, that's all.

News Credits: 461 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:48 am

NOS wrote:
mooncake623 wrote:
Still, quite an ambitious project for a new 3rd... perhaps too ambitious? You decide...

I'm not sure why people say that about a new 3rd party... just because the "company" is new doesn't mean the designers are. the people behind the scene prob just create new companies to release new products. they're prob all the same circle of designers manufacturers ect. I assume they do this for legal reasons. I bet the KO companies are prob done by some of the same guys too.

but again just my assumption.

Generally it's better to learn to crawl before you try to jog with the big boys, wouldn't you agree?

With so many 3rd competitors and the constant concern of quality issues, and the fact that we, as a fandom of collectors, are pretty damn difficult to please, I just assume it would be pretty hard to win us over with something as ambitious as a highly loved gestalt like Predaking coming from a 3rd with little to no repport, that's all.

I agree, I just think they're all the same circle of people doing all of this and using different names.

News Credits: 119 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:23 pm

According to RK:

We will have its listing ready soon, you may be surprise how early their first figure release!

Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:37 pm

I like what I see. I dont judge 3rd party companies on the basis of being rookies or veterans. Like others have suggested, I too believe most of these designers are in the same inner circle. They might sell their services by comission to different companies who put up the money for the project. Some collectors are pessimists, but Im an optimist. At the very least this will force MMC to show us some real images instead of just renders. Ill be buying the baddest Predaking. I prefer simple transformations. They are less likely to break, plus figuring out a complex puzzle takes the fun out of transforming it. (for me at least) The only thing Im not so keen on this version is that Divebombs wings dont seem to be used to form Predakings wings. Looks like Predaking gets a 2nd set of enlarged Crazydevy styled wings. Even though they look bad ass, thats cheating.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:28 pm

Not loving the gun placement on the shoulders, or the oddball hand spikes.

I'll keep an eye on this one though, because I like the both modes shown for Divebomb.

Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:04 pm

RK wrote:We will have its listing ready soon, you may be surprise how early their first figure release!

Earlier than the MMC offering? Now that IS surprising.

Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:06 pm

Not a fan of the hands, the armpit missiles, the blocky chest shield, the fairly-straight arrangement of the wing feathers, or the fact that this is based on someone's kitbash (though a good one... just makes me weary). Looks a little lean for Predaking too, though a bit thickened-up compared to the kitbash I think.

Will see how it progresses... but I'm sure I'll be holding out in hopes of MMC doing it better... if not, someone else. I'll only pay 3rd-party prices for near perfection.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:47 pm

The thing about a verterain company VS a new company is that a veteran company has a bit of a reputation. You know what to expect in terms of quality, and that becomes important when you spend $100 + on a toy.

And this guy will cose WAY more than $100+.

Anyhow, unless there's proof otherwise, I wouldn't assume there's a pool of guys hanging out in Tokyo that all just freelance for the 3rd party companies. I mean, yeah it's established that maketoys and Fansprojects share some engeneers, but I don't find many similarities in style between the other companies.

Anyway, I think I'll wait until I see MMC's attempt. There's no rush.

News Credits: 119 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:09 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:The thing about a verterain company VS a new company is that a veteran company has a bit of a reputation. You know what to expect in terms of quality, and that becomes important when you spend $100 + on a toy.

And this guy will cose WAY more than $100+.

Anyhow, unless there's proof otherwise, I wouldn't assume there's a pool of guys hanging out in Tokyo that all just freelance for the 3rd party companies. I mean, yeah it's established that maketoys and Fansprojects share some engeneers, but I don't find many similarities in style between the other companies.

Anyway, I think I'll wait until I see MMC's attempt. There's no rush.

Tokyo?

News Credits: 1 · Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:02 pm

Or wherever. I dunno where they're from.

Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:01 am

Those hand spikes look terrible and a waste of plastic, but I gotta say, I'm quite impressed by the look of the rest.

The individual bot mode of Divebomb is fantastic.

News Credits: 10 · Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:32 am

A second 3P Predaking... Confused him with this one.

Not sure I like the look of him so far, will wait to see more detailed images of the MCC Preds.

Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:30 pm

I like both. Do not know which one I would choose yet. Will wait and see until I get to see more pictures of them. But MMC:s are so far the better looking.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:54 am

hattknall wrote:But MMC:s are so far the better looking.

Better looking? :???:

I'm not really in either corner yet, but I don't know if you could call the enhanced shadowed silhouettes 'better looking' just yet.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:03 pm

True, I just let my imagination run wild here. =P~

News Credits: 20 · Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:05 pm

NOS wrote:
hattknall wrote:But MMC:s are so far the better looking.

Better looking?

I'm not really in either corner yet, but I don't know if you could call the enhanced shadowed silhouettes 'better looking' just yet.

It's matter of opinion. I've seen the combined render of the MMC Ferocicus and it does look better. The wrist spikes here are a waste. I don't understand the placement of the cannons between the arm connections either. It's just out of place.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:25 pm

Flux Convoy wrote:I don't understand the placement of the cannons between the arm connections either. It's just out of place.

Looks like whoever did the original kitbash misinterpreted the artwork. I don't know why else they would have chosen to do that. The proportions would look a lot better if they got them out of there and tossed 'em up on the shoulders or back. And yes... those hand spikes look stupid, they need to be MUCH more subtle. Wings are way to "square" and barely resemble wings in general. Hopefully they're listening, whoever they are.

Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:26 am

Flux Convoy wrote:It's matter of opinion. I've seen the combined render of the MMC Ferocicus and it does look better. The wrist spikes here are a waste. I don't understand the placement of the cannons between the arm connections either. It's just out of place.

Just doesn't seem right comparing prototypes to renders, but to each their own.

In any case, I can see why they did what they did with the cannons between the arms as Razorclaw had the cannons on his shoulders like that in both bot and alt mode. In hindsight though, for both the custom and this 3rd party's offering, they should have consider this and took it into account.

It's as simple as making the cannons detach from the arms that hide the connector joint for Divebomb / Rampage to plug into and configuring a way to plug the cannons back into place behind the arms or on the back. But then, it's still too early to say they -won't- do this either. Just have to wait and see, I suppose.