Masterpiece Crosscut Revealed and Additional Picture of Masterpiece Nightbird

I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

Nightbird actually looking pretty good from what I can see

At this point, repaints are a foregone conclusion. I venture to say that we could actually anticipate the next MP figure based solely on the maximum number of possible repaints. This means that, with ANY new MP-type mold or toy, you can expect the Seeker molds to be released in the first wave or first overall because of the shameless number of repaints possible. So far, we've seen THREE separate MP Seeker molds with a total repaint/reissue /minor retool count that makes up about 10% of the overall total MPs released (if I did the math right...I'm an NP, not a calculator). This is usually followed by the Prowl/Blue/Silverstreak/Smokescreen mold. Optimus/Convoy is always in the top three, simply because of popularity and the enormity of his name, but despite this, there have been at least 6 repaints of THAT mold.

In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.

First-Aid wrote:In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.

Calling those redecos "completely different" is a bit blunt though, they're only one step up from variants which some people are into (most did have roots in Diaclone variant releases). Besides, if you like the character and/or the colors, what's the harm?

That aside, Crosscut came much sooner than I expected.

First-Aid wrote:
In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.

You forget that developing a mold is VERY expensive. So repaints are a necessary "evil" to make money. And if the toy maker is making money, this means there's more money to create brand new molds.

Beside, repaints SELL. Since the very dawn of G1. Also, should I mention all those pricey Botcon, Collector Clubs, Selects, Netflix, and so on repaints that collectors buy with glee? How come those people are "suckers" when they WILLINGLY ask and pay hard cash for these repaints, even on the aftermarket?

For the number of posts you have, you're not new in this fandom so you should be aware of these facts by now.

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:That aside, Crosscut came much sooner than I expected.

My thinking, is that when they saw positive feedback to the pricing of Skids. They decided to go all in immediately.


Personally, I love variants and redecos. Basically the Transformers equivalent of army building (in lieu of rebuying the exact same figure ala Insecticons, Sweeps, Vehicons). A friend of mine adores Starscream and the rest of the Seekers. As a result, WFC has given him quite the impressive looking collection in the last few years. If the repaints fund the completion of the MP Beast Wars line, for example, I don't see the problem.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

First-Aid wrote:
In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.

You forget that developing a mold is VERY expensive. So repaints are a necessary "evil" to make money. And if the toy maker is making money, this means there's more money to create brand new molds.

Beside, repaints SELL. Since the very dawn of G1. Also, should I mention all those pricey Botcon, Collector Clubs, Selects, Netflix, and so on repaints that collectors buy with glee? How come those people are "suckers" when they WILLINGLY ask and pay hard cash for these repaints, even on the aftermarket?

For the number of posts you have, you're not new in this fandom so you should be aware of these facts by now.

I know. Please note that I included the term "we" in my post, not "they", meaning I included myself in the list of so-called suckers. That said, there are just so many figures anymore that it's not always economically viable for collectors to get that many repaints. Yes, repaints make money, I know this; it's the same in medicine when you find that a particular newly developed medication (which cost nearly $3 billion to bring to market, according to recent research) can be used for a different indication (perfect example: Viagra was originally a blood pressure medication). I have gradually changed my tune about repaints as the number of product lines has gone up. I have abstained entirely from Cyberverse (something I am regretting a bit now, but not enough to start shelling cash) because it was a rehash of Gen 1 (like about everything else for the last decade with the exception of the Movieverse line which added more diversity than any previous line since Beast Wars; incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).

At some point, Hasbro is going to wear out the repaint market, especially if prices continue to rise and inflation hits the market (current prediction is 20% inflation for 2021; beef alone has risen 7% since 1/1/21). Repaint sales will start to dip as money becomes tighter and fans become pickier. I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.

First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.

From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:

incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).

... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.

[/rant]

Well, as everything goes, market will decide and people will vote with their wallets. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As for me, I'd hunt down an expensive repaint (especially when this here Canadian has to import it) only if it REALLY interest me. I don't feel obligated to get every variant but only for extremely rare occasions such as for the Classic Inferno mold.

nope and nope

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.

From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:

incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).

... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.

[/rant]

It's hard to "reboot" the franchise and expect fans and nostalgia driven parents to be on board when they're also releasing a G1 line right alongside of it. It'd be even harder today with two G1 lines (if you count SS86 as a line) and the popular SS movie line which is itself a massive overhaul of the franchise. The only way they could ever reboot the franchise properly again is if they cut off all of their other lines and made it the only thing on the shelves and that's never going to work with retailers. Really the best time to do something like Transtech is back when they were going to do Transtech, back when G1 was just a memory. Now G1 has created a whole new fanbase and any attempt to replace it with something new would be seen as a sign of the end rather than a rebirth.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.

From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:

incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).

... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.

[/rant]

It's hard to "reboot" the franchise and expect fans and nostalgia driven parents to be on board when they're also releasing a G1 line right alongside of it. It'd be even harder today with two G1 lines (if you count SS86 as a line) and the popular SS movie line which is itself a massive overhaul of the franchise. The only way they could ever reboot the franchise properly again is if they cut off all of their other lines and made it the only thing on the shelves and that's never going to work with retailers. Really the best time to do something like Transtech is back when they were going to do Transtech, back when G1 was just a memory. Now G1 has created a whole new fanbase and any attempt to replace it with something new would be seen as a sign of the end rather than a rebirth.

Emerje

Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.

First-Aid wrote:
Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.

Just pointing out that the current Studio Series line, Kingdom line AND the upcoming Legacy line prove your discouragement wrong.

G1 and New CAN coexist.

I wouldn't say we don't get new characters, as each new show gives us a new character or 2, plus new versions of older characters. Cyberverse gave us Wildwheel for instance.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

First-Aid wrote:
Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.

Just pointing out that the current Studio Series line, Kingdom line AND the upcoming Legacy line prove your discouragement wrong.

G1 and New CAN coexist.

How so? Yes, we have the Fossilizers. That's about it. And, really, they aren't even characters...they are weapons to be USED BY the main characters. They are, essentially, throwaways. They do not enrich or expand on the mythos or the story. In fact, characters like Cog were hardly even used in the Netflix series (a G1 sequel, essentially). Even in Kingdom, who are the characters? Beast Wars. Why? Because Beast Wars was HUGE. WHy was Beast Wars huge? Virtually the ENTIRE CAST were new, exciting, well-written and fleshed out characters (even Primal and Megatron were "descendants"). G1 may have provided some background story and plots, but Ratrap, Cheetor, Pterosaur, Rampage, Air Razor, Tigatron...all entirely new characters, and it was PHENOMENAL. It expanded the lore. It didn't rely ENTIRELY on recycled characters and molds. THAT was a reboot, and damned if it didn't work like a charm. Where would Transformers be right now without Beast Wars? Probably gathering dust with the Go-Bots. It worked, it can work again, and honestly, it kind of needs to happen.

As for Cyberverse adding "a new character or two", think about what you just said. A new character or two. Out of how many characters? How many are just rehashed? That kind of makes my point for me.

I see what you’re saying, but “each new show gives us a new character or 2” does not prove your point of “ No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product.”

It’s true that we’re nowhere near the state of constant flux as in the later 90’s and early 00’s, but the future really ain’t so grim.

You can pinpoint the exact year of when this shift from constant reinvention of the brand to constant recognition of the brand occurred to 2015, the year that the Hasbro Transformers brand team switched from Aaron Archer and Friends to John Warden and Friends. TF: Prime was the last TV series whose line Hasbro put the focus on above the Generations lines, and its ending marked the end of the Archer Era. From Robots in Disguise 2015 onward, the TV lines suddenly became secondary to the G1-heavy Generations lines in the Warden Era, with the TV lines themselves also becoming more G1-based beginning with Cyberverse using the G1-based evergreen designs. Prior to 2015, the movies were the focus of the brand, while from 2015 onward, the G1-based Generations line and evergreen designs became the brand's main focus.

Sabrblade wrote:You can pinpoint the exact year of when this shift from constant reinvention of the brand to constant recognition of the brand occurred to 2015, the year that the Hasbro Transformers brand team switched from Aaron Archer and Friends to John Warden and Friends. TF: Prime was the last TV series whose line Hasbro put the focus on above the Generations lines, and its ending marked the end of the Archer Era. From Robots in Disguise 2015 onward, the TV lines suddenly became secondary to the G1-heavy Generations lines in the Warden Era, with the TV lines themselves also becoming more G1-based beginning with Cyberverse using the G1-based evergreen designs. Prior to 2015, the movies were the focus of the brand, while from 2015 onward, the G1-based Generations line and evergreen designs became the brand's main focus.

Dude, you are seriously amazing. Do you actually have room for any other information in your cerebellum BESIDES TF trivia and notes? I mean, seriously, how does your brain still have enough space to encourage cardiac, pulmonary, and GI/GU functioning when you have so darned much minutia stored up there?

I'd also forgotten to mention the new things given to us in Rescue Bots and its sequel series. We'll also probably get new characters in the Nickelodeon series to boot.

I wasn't expecting WfC to give us anything new as that was always set to focus on the toys who was trying to recreate the 84-86 cast in a new scale.

We are getting away from the topic here though. Masterpiece isn't the place for new characters to debut.

These two aren't doing a lot for me, but to those that want them, go get them. I'm looking forward to the next new molds from the line.

First-Aid wrote:Dude, you are seriously amazing. Do you actually have room for any other information in your cerebellum BESIDES TF trivia and notes? I mean, seriously, how does your brain still have enough space to encourage cardiac, pulmonary, and GI/GU functioning when you have so darned much minutia stored up there?

(*currently mapping out the entire timeline of Disney's Goof Troop/A Goofy Movie/House of Mouse/etc.*)

ZeroWolf wrote:I'd also forgotten to mention the new things given to us in Rescue Bots and its sequel series. We'll also probably get new characters in the Nickelodeon series to boot.

Also this. Rescue Bots and Academy both gave us new stuff.

ZeroWolf wrote: Masterpiece isn't the place for new characters to debut.

New to Transformers, at least.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote: Masterpiece isn't the place for new characters to debut.

New to Transformers, at least.

There's always one isn't there

Sabrblade wrote:

Absolutely serious. It's mind-boggling.

I have no interest in any of these... Happy for anyone who does.
As I've already said since preordering Starscream, I may be on a permanent vacation from MP's...
It's going to take incredible Inseticons, Blitzwing, or Astrotrain, along with a lull in interest in the regular line offerings to get me back in this game.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

I wonder what accessories X-Cut will have and what head will it have?

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

I wonder what accessories X-Cut will have and what head will it have?

Why wouldn't he have the head he's supposed to have?

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

I wonder what accessories X-Cut will have and what head will it have?

Why wouldn't he have the head he's supposed to have?

Uh? What you said mean nothing.
Unless you have super eyes that can see through small blurry pictures, I have no idea what head this will have.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

I wonder what accessories X-Cut will have and what head will it have?

Why wouldn't he have the head he's supposed to have?

Uh? What you said mean nothing.
Unless you have super eyes that can see through small blurry pictures, I have no idea what head this will have.

It's not like Crosscut's a new character. He's had an existing design with his own head since 2002. His most recent toy was in 2014's Generations Thrilling 30 line, even.

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Crosscut_(Autobot)

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I like that MP Skids isn't even out yet and already has two variants on the way.

And one is coming out the same time as Skids

I wonder what accessories X-Cut will have and what head will it have?

Why wouldn't he have the head he's supposed to have?

Uh? What you said mean nothing.
Unless you have super eyes that can see through small blurry pictures, I have no idea what head this will have.

Looks like the reboost head to me

First-Aid wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Absolutely serious. It's mind-boggling.

You must impress easy.

I'm not saying Sabrblade isn't smart, but the info he shared regarding the design team is widely known.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

First-Aid wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Absolutely serious. It's mind-boggling.

You must impress easy.

I'm not saying Sabrblade isn't smart, but the info he shared regarding the design team is widely known.

Aww, come on, let the guy be nice, maybe he wasn't this deep in the fandom back then. I remember the boards here vividly when the warden team took over, I believe roadbuster and whirl their first figures, and we were all kind of taken aback by the dramatic design shift, it was almost palpable, some people were excited because of how slavishly G1 they were at the time, and others were disappointed at the missed opportunity to do an idw whirl (little did we know that slavishly G1 was the new teams future mantra)

You should never presume everyone in the fandom is one the same page with their information.

Meanwhile, I'm just hoping that since the last six Masterpiece releases have all been G1(Alongside Raiden, Skywarp and Thundercracker), the next one might get back to Beast Wars.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:You should never presume everyone in the fandom is one the same page with their information.

Meanwhile, I'm just hoping that since the last six Masterpiece releases have all been G1(Alongside Raiden, Skywarp and Thundercracker), the next one might get back to Beast Wars.

Me too. I'm really hoping for Inferno since he got screwed in the Kingdom line.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Me too. I'm really hoping for Inferno since he got screwed in the Kingdom line.

blackeyedprime wrote:Scorponoks on my maybe list as it could be forever and a day before a MP version.

It is a good question really. Who should be next? Based on the last few MP's (especially Tigatron), I'd say Tarantulas is next. Which would be fine, as he should be the same, larger mold with similar engineering to BA. As we've reassuringly seen with Cheetor/Tigatron.

However, if not, do we base it on popularity? I'd posit that Scorponok will be way down on the list. Still got Rattrap and Waspinator, who are arguably the most popular of those remaining. Personally I want to see MP Terrorsaur.

I could go for any of the Preds, really. I understand why Rattrap might be next, he's very popular. Personally I don't care for him though. The only reason I would get him us to complete the season 1 cast.

Since it has been so long, I needed a little refresher on who has been done and/or upcoming.

Maximals

Optimus Primal (x3)
Cheetor
Dinobot
Tigatron

Unreleased:
Airazor
Rattrap
Rhinox

Predacons

Megatron
Blackarachnia
(Shadow Panther)

Unreleased:
Inferno
Tarantulas
Terrorsaur
Scorponok
Waspinator

So, aside from the usual bias, we have six out of fourteen right now. With lots of original and unique designs to come.

If they wanted to pull a Bumblebee and include with Rattrap a big accessory to go with him, was there anything that Rattrap had or used in Season 1 that could serve as his big accessory?

(asks the man who just recently finished binge re-watching Beast Wars)

The Sentinel cannon, from A Better Mousetrap, perhaps?

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

First-Aid wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Absolutely serious. It's mind-boggling.

You must impress easy.

I'm not saying Sabrblade isn't smart, but the info he shared regarding the design team is widely known.

Aww, come on, let the guy be nice, maybe he wasn't this deep in the fandom back then. I remember the boards here vividly when the warden team took over, I believe roadbuster and whirl their first figures, and we were all kind of taken aback by the dramatic design shift, it was almost palpable, some people were excited because of how slavishly G1 they were at the time, and others were disappointed at the missed opportunity to do an idw whirl (little did we know that slavishly G1 was the new teams future mantra)

One, I DO impress easily. Lol

Twi, Ive been working on my Masters Degree/Family Nurse Practitioner degree since then and never really put two and two together before, so that statement struck me as insightful.

Reinvention might be in the future. Classics and Generations were always dancing around 85% G1 feel/style, and we kept buying until fatigue set in and people stopped buying. Then they went 100% G1 design and people jumped back in. But where can you go from there?

They will likely do all the series with as close to 100% design style as possible next. RID, Armada, Energon, etc. And then what? Won't they need to redesign then?

They will always recycle Prime, Megatron, Starscream, but this is probably the peak of G1 style toys being released in the main toy line.

Masterpiece will probably continue with a mix of G1 and popular figures from other series.

First-Aid wrote:Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.

While I doubt we will ever get something like Beast Wars again, where every character is new, I do see there being a fun mix of G1, Beat Wars and new characters all intermixed. The IDW comics are a very good mix for me. Predominantly G1, but with loads of new mythos and new characters like the whole idea of Transformers creation, a deeper understanding of classism within their world due to alt modes and the DJD.

Plus, the Bumblebee movie was a good example too. While it also has G1 roots, the two main villains were new characters. The Bay films themselves had new characters like Barricade and Blackout/Grindor.

And then we have Cyberverse which also blends different mythos together (was nice to see Strika and Skybyte again) and adds new characters like Thunderhowl, Wildwheel, Croaton and Iaconus.

Sabrblade wrote: From Robots in Disguise 2015 onward, the TV lines suddenly became secondary to the G1-heavy Generations lines in the Warden Era, with the TV lines themselves also becoming more G1-based beginning with Cyberverse using the G1-based evergreen designs. Prior to 2015, the movies were the focus of the brand, while from 2015 onward, the G1-based Generations line and evergreen designs became the brand's main focus.

Not in everyway. I get it in terms of promotion, I live it every day reporting for this site. But it's still not the main part of the brand in terms of sales, or even what's on the shelves. Hasbro is simply targetting fans with what they asked for so all we are seeing is G1 reinvention. But they are still making a ton of product that they don't promote since we are not the audience for it. Like the slew of Cyberverse content coming out, and the Rescue Bots stuff, which are both cartoon based lines. And Cyberverse does occupy the most shelf space. And the movies still get a lot of promotion. John Warden promoted quite a bit for AOE. And the Bumblebee movie had an entire line where us fans were not catered to at all (and thus no need for promoting it to us) with a ton of product.

I do agree that there was a change in 2015 but it wasnt in terms of output, just in terms of targetted marketting due to the changes in technology (social media) and laws (not being able to market to kids).

The power Rangers line is a great example. I follow it closely since it's what my kid is into. If you were to watch the Pulse friday (or whatever) Power Rangers panel, you wouldn't know there is a show out, or that there were even zord toys in production since all that's ever mentionned is the Lightning line. But go to a store and the more abundant figures will be the cheaper figures for the show that's on air. It doesnt need marketting, it has an actual show. These toys don't need to be promoted, they will be assumed to be in stores when parents want to buy the latest Power Rangers toys of whatever show their kid is watching.

william-james88 wrote:

First-Aid wrote:Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.

While I doubt we will ever get something like Beast Wars again, where every character is new, I do see there being a fun mix of G1, Beat Wars and new characters all intermixed. The IDW comics are a very good mix for me. Predominantly G1, but with loads of new mythos and new characters like the whole idea of Transformers creation, a deeper understanding of classism within their world due to alt modes and the DJD.

Plus, the Bumblebee movie was a good example too. While it also has G1 roots, the two main villains were new characters. The Bay films themselves had new characters like Barricade and Blackout/Grindor.

And then we have Cyberverse which also blends different mythos together (was nice to see Strika and Skybyte again) and adds new characters like Thunderhowl, Wildwheel, Croaton and Iaconus.

One of the most annoying things to me personally about Cyberverse is the fact that it is entirely streaming. Because of where I live (middle of nowhere) there is no cable internet or fiberoptic available. The only option is satellite which is "unlimited", meaning I get 100 gigs a month before they prioritize me back to AOL speeds (literally, 30-60 kps; city folk really could give a rats ass about us out in rural America because there's no money to be made, just all their food magically comes from somewhere out here). I have to budget my internet since my wife works from home and I have lectures and assignments for school (this takes up about 80% of that 100 gigs a month). Because of this, I haven't seen any of Cyberverse...I only see the toys which are essentially rehashed G1. I don't know about new characters, so if I'm missing them it's because I don't see the toys in the stores...and THAT is another failure on the part of HasTak.

The Movieverse was as close to a reboot of the brand as we've gotten since Beast Wars because the characters weren't the characters we were used to, and neither were the bot modes. It was very refreshing to see something so different.

Thinking about it, this MP Nightbird don't make any sense considering Takara's cartoon accuracy philosophy. Nightbird never transformed in the cartoon and she never had that backpack.

A 3-Zero style action figure would have been more appropriate as a true MP Nightbird.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Thinking about it, this MP Nightbird don't make any sense considering Takara's cartoon accuracy philosophy. Nightbird never transformed in the cartoon and she never had that backpack.

A 3-Zero style action figure would have been more appropriate as a true MP Nightbird.

All they need to do is add the word "Shadow" to her name and this becomes a pretty accurate MP of Nightbird Shadow rather than vanilla Nightbird.

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Thinking about it, this MP Nightbird don't make any sense considering Takara's cartoon accuracy philosophy. Nightbird never transformed in the cartoon and she never had that backpack.

A 3-Zero style action figure would have been more appropriate as a true MP Nightbird.

All they need to do is add the word "Shadow" to her name and this becomes a pretty accurate MP of Nightbird Shadow rather than vanilla Nightbird.

To clarify a wee bit: Nightbird Shadow is not the Nightbird from the G1 cartoon. Rather, Nightbird Shadow is a mass-produced robot by the Tera Kura Co. from the Legends manga, advertised as a ninja maid (not kidding you!).

Still, all it would do is justify the backpack...

First-Aid wrote:No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product.

As much as I enjoy the original series characters, the Fossilizers have been my favorite toys in Kingdom so far. There is still room for new concepts, characters, and ideas in Generations.

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Thinking about it, this MP Nightbird don't make any sense considering Takara's cartoon accuracy philosophy. Nightbird never transformed in the cartoon and she never had that backpack.

A 3-Zero style action figure would have been more appropriate as a true MP Nightbird.

All they need to do is add the word "Shadow" to her name and this becomes a pretty accurate MP of Nightbird Shadow rather than vanilla Nightbird.

In a sense, she's not a "G1" MP. Even if she's just an Arcee repaint/retool, this gives hope for more non-G1 MP. Not counting X-Cut and Reboost, of course.

I am surprised they didn't go for MP Lifeline, instead of Nightbird. Just a simple green recolour of the existing Arcee mold.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I am surprised they didn't go for MP Lifeline, instead of Nightbird. Just a simple green recolour of the existing Arcee mold.

Still plenty of time for that