Transformers Collectors Club 2010 Membership Figure Announced

ooo, that's pretty cool. I can't wait to see him.

I wonder if it will be the Universe version or the Henkei version? It's sounding like the Universe version sadly.

After seeing the picture of him on the club site, I am just disappointed.

However I can just imagine Walky jumping out of skin that Hot Shot was getting this kind of attention.

If they do pull a miracle together and use the Henkei moldings I will be happier, but it's sad they can't at least replace the side mold and replace the mini-con than re-use Jolt.

Yay free toy! The colors look ok, But I don't like how he is Elite Guard.

Also I'm guessing they are using the Universe version of the mold so we won't get the guns. It is specifically mentioned as the 25th anniversary mold.

Brutal! The one original mold out of the Classic/Uni line that I don't like. Oh well at least he's the free figure, maybe the plastic used on this version won't feel like a KO.

You gotta be KIDDING me! That piece of garbage figure is the freebie? Ugh...I'm seriously considering canceling my membership now...of all the figure molds they could have used, they chose U2.0 Hot Shot? It's unposeable, pops apart whenever you transform it, the robot mode doesn't fit together properly and the vehicle mode is ugly. They may as well have given us a friggin' Happy Meal toy, it would've been better designed than this refuse.

At least it's a freebie. Maybe if I get ROTF Devastator, I can feed it to him, along with my previous U2.0 Hot Shot.

hmm i wonder who jolt will be...

Hopefully he'll look better than this:

King Henrik wrote:hmm i wonder who jolt will be...

Maybe Barrelroller's best friend?

I feel really luke warm to this. It's not a good mold. Hell, the Armada mold is nicer.

I'm just really "meh" about it. But it is "free".

I like that they're using Dion as a character, but that mold is one of the worst in Transformers history. Maybe it's THE worst.

Razorclaw0000 wrote:I feel really luke warm to this. It's not a good mold. Hell, the Armada mold is nicer.

I'm just really "meh" about it. But it is "free".

I'm with you. As awesome as it always is to get Club news, and as happy as I usually am with the Club figures, this is just not as exciting as I was hoping for when I saw the news on the sidebar of the site today. Have to wait and see I guess.

Well, it's a blue and orange Hot Shot. I wish it was the Takara version with the guns, not the neutered Hasbro version.

I guess we know what the other 2 characters are. Orion Pax and Ariel. But what are the molds going to be?

At Club headquarters...

A: Let's do it.

He rolls a die. As it spins, we see names on each face: Dion, Defcon, G1 Sentinel Prime, Flame etc. It lands with "Dion" facing upwards.

A: Oooookay.

He rolls another die. This one reads: Hot Shot, Galvatron, Ironhide etc. It lands with "Hot Shot" facing up.

A: Okay. Yeah. Whatever. Done.

Diem wrote:At Club headquarters...

A: Let's do it.

He rolls a die. As it spins, we see names on each face: Dion, Defcon, G1 Sentinel Prime, Flame etc. It lands with "Dion" facing upwards.

A: Oooookay.

He rolls another die. This one reads: Hot Shot, Galvatron, Ironhide etc. It lands with "Hot Shot" facing up.

A: Okay. Yeah. Whatever. Done.

I wasn't at the production meeting for this figure, but that sounds about like what probably happened to me.

Now that I have time to cool down after my previous negitive post, I find I am actually more angry so permit me while I [rant]

Free? I think not. Can you tell me that you sign up for the magazine and possible web content and feel the money you paid gets you every pennyworth that you feel you that the figure is a freebie?

Seeing I need to pay the Canadian rate so i'm paying more than most people in the club, i can honestly say of the $70 odd I need to pay for a 1 year membership that the majority to that goes to cover the cost and shipping of the exclusive figure.

I don't see a free figure that should cost $15.00, I'm paying $40 for it.

I'm not complaining because I feel I am getting what I am paying for, but to accept that the figure is free, and that the content the club provides is worth the full amount is nothing short of a joke.

And honestly I can see 6 years back when FunPub took over the club and convention thinking about what they could do, and making the choice then and there to commit to the 5 year Nexus plan, but that means they have had 5 years to research what has Hasbro missed that the fans what, or notice how much people got behind the Shattered idea, and in the end what do they offer? Dion, freaking Dion on a mold that has more bad press than good, and bearing that it's the weaker of the two molds that fans know about.

I knew that I would get my hopes up if I had wasted time wondering what was coming, and I'm not surprised that a classics mold was used as I did expect that, but this is just fail, and again leads me to wonder is FunPub letting the TF side of things be run with fans in mind, or just pocketing the money, doing the bare minimum, and concentrating on the Joe side of things. I thought it was a bit silly when I found out their exclusive was a ARAH Big Lob, but that move sounds golden compared to this.

Please FunPun, show us the communication logs between you and Hasbro to show you were trying and not just doing the same minimum effort that you showed going to print and release of Heatwave naming the combiner with the same name as an adult pleasure tool.

They better have something major to announce for the club buy exclusive after Punch/Counterpunch, because I just do not see a return on investing in next year so far.[/rant]

And to think they could of had a winner if they had done Shattered Soundwave in the Ironhide mold.

I do agree with you, Editor. That's why I put free in quotes. (I didn't think your rant was directed at me, but it's so hard to read tone out of text.)

This is not "by the fans" or "for the fans". You want to repaint something, repaint the Bullet Trains. Bring Music Label Soundwave without electronics. Bring Device Label Blaster without the electronics.

I swear that the '07 mess with the seekers has got them so gunshy about doing anything the fans actually want because they want to alienate anyone. It's ridiculous.

Guys, guys, guys. I don't wanna seem all Pro Fun Pub here, but there are alot of factors that go into securing a club exclusive. First, I believe, is rights to the mold to be used, what concept they can use so that they can use if for a year or two to come and trying to figure out what figures will go with it and so on.

It's not like they have the pick of the litter with molds they can use and just say "Alright, lets take Universe Inferno and make him Grapple", HASBRO gives them molds they can use and they gotta work with that.

Besides, I think the color scheme really works with the mold and the prospect of expanding Elite Guard figures is really appealing.

"WhY mY ShOuLdErS hUrT?"

lol

Razorclaw0000 wrote:I swear that the '07 mess with the seekers has got them so gunshy about doing anything the fans actually want because they want to alienate anyone. It's ridiculous.

Most of the things said in this thread I don't agree with per-say, but this I do. I thought the whole point of the survey they give out at BotCon every year and the forums is to figure out what the fans want. That is not to say they don't. Just look at last years BotCon exclusives. Kup, Scourge and his Sweeps, Banzaitron, Leozack, Razorclaw, Elita-1, and Skyquake were all big hits with the fans. Sadly Flak and Landshark were not. Plus we got Punch/Counterpunch coming soon. But yes, I do agree that when it comes to the Seekers level of want and need, TFCC wusses out.

That said I think Dion will look good standing next to Orion Pax and Ariel, whatever molds they will be. Also question to Editor and anyone else who feel they don't get their money's worth from their membership, do you go to BotCon and buy the members only exclusives like Nightbeat and the Seacons? If you don't, then I'd say you should either start coming to BotCon and buying the club exclusives or just stop subscribing because it's not worth it otherwise.

OMG use Wheeljack from Armade. The only mould worthy of a repaint!

I want to see how the actual figure turns out, but going by the art at the TFCC site, I'm kind of optimistic.

And isn't Timelines #4 this year's Botcon comic? Because I bought it from the club, and I don't remember there being a bio of Dion...

Zeds wrote:OMG use Wheeljack from Armade. The only mould worthy of a repaint!

I kind of wish they would. I mean...I've always wanted to see Armada Wheeljack repainted, and I believe they can do better than the Shattered Glass...thing...

UltraPrimal wrote: Also question to Editor and anyone else who feel they don't get their money's worth from their membership, do you go to BotCon and buy the members only exclusives like Nightbeat and the Seacons? If you don't, then I'd say you should either start coming to BotCon and buying the club exclusives or just stop subscribing because it's not worth it otherwise.

Sadly, Botcon is just too far out of the way most years to be able to get to, I tried to get to LA while it was on the West Coast but sadly the timing of the con this year (in the final planning days of another Convention I help run) just was not doable. As for the exclusives thru the club, I have not used my club access to get those (but I have bought some items from the club) as I'm just not as into the ones they have done so far, which is part of the reason I am excited to see P/CP, and I really hope that the new one they are going to announce soon will be more exciting.

I have no doubt that dealing with Hasbro is not an easy task, and they are confined to a number of issues, but for a character like Dion to get this treatment just seems a bit wrong. The mold doesn't even say Dion, I have an easier time it it was primarily molded in red and called 'Turbo' or 'Overdrive' as the alt-modes fit better, Heck mold him black and call him 'Scamper' it would fit him better. As it is, we'll see what happens, who knows maybe the colors in alt-mode will pop and override my nerdrage at who he is. And in that case, I may just end up getting him and calling him "Alley-Viper" Hot Shot

Zeds wrote:OMG use Wheeljack from Armade. The only mould worthy of a repaint!

You mean other than this:




Or was that a hint of sarcasm I detected.....

Ya know, Wheeljack would have been a good starting point for reusing previously used molds.

In G1, Dion got mangled bad and wasn't seen ever again. Would have made an interesting story and really shot all the "theories" about what happened to him out the window if they would have made him a rebuilt Decepticon.

Perhaps he got pissed that Alpha Trion neglected to save/rebuild him like the other two and an ambitious Decepticon (perhaps Thunderwing?) saw the opportunity to grab a new recruit? Given the chance to have revenge against the Autobots AND Megatron would seem too tempting I'm thinking.

That would have been pretty cool.

Blurrz wrote:LOL. Classic Diem.

Thanks.

So what do we reckon for Orion Pax and Elita-1 then? Henkei Ironhide and...Animated Blackarachnia?

Guess I'm in the minority. I really like this mold, and am looking forward to the repaint (Henkei or Universe).

I like the look, I don't care what the name is.

Frankly, the character is the ONLY redeeming thing about this travesty. Fan Pub's next storyline looks like it's going to go back and address some of the old rumors that have been around since the G1 cartoon, maybe even give a "Year Zero" look at the rise of the 'cons in the cartoon continuity (yeah, I know, "cartoon continuity" in regard to G1 is an oxymoron, just bear with me). The new story arc looks like it COULD be something awesome.

But...U2.0 Hot Shot? They could at least have given us a toy that actually works.

Diem wrote:

Blurrz wrote:LOL. Classic Diem.

Thanks.

So what do we reckon for Orion Pax and Elita-1 then? Henkei Ironhide and...Animated Blackarachnia?

Animated Pre-Earth Prime.

Still working on Ariel.

I hope the Mini-Con will be called Runaround Sue.

Please someone get that.

GetterDragun wrote:I hope the Mini-Con will be called Runaround Sue.

Please someone get that.

Dion and the Belmonts.

got it (... wakka, wakka, wakka

GetterDragun wrote:I hope the Mini-Con will be called Runaround Sue.

Please someone get that.

Well played.

Editor wrote:
And honestly I can see 6 years back when FunPub took over the club and convention thinking about what they could do, and making the choice then and there to commit to the 5 year Nexus plan, but that means they have had 5 years to research what has Hasbro missed that the fans what, or notice how much people got behind the Shattered idea, and in the end what do they offer? Dion, freaking Dion on a mold that has more bad press than good, and bearing that it's the weaker of the two molds that fans know about.

I knew that I would get my hopes up if I had wasted time wondering what was coming, and I'm not surprised that a classics mold was used as I did expect that, but this is just fail, and again leads me to wonder is FunPub letting the TF side of things be run with fans in mind, or just pocketing the money, doing the bare minimum, and concentrating on the Joe side of things. I thought it was a bit silly when I found out their exclusive was a ARAH Big Lob, but that move sounds golden compared to this.

And to think they could of had a winner if they had done Shattered Soundwave in the Ironhide mold.

Okay, having read all the boards I see that there are those who REALLY dig Hot Shot as Dion, kind of dig him and don't dig him. fair enough... However, anyone who thinks we just pick things willy nilly are, well, WAY off the mark. We put a TON of thought into the whole process. There are several reasons we picked this mold and this character. First and foremost, this character is someone whom we can really explore. We have said all along that the Wings Universe is a "G1esque" cartoon continuity. Lots of similarities between this one and the toon Universe. However, we did not want to be constrained by all the back story that we have with the toon so now we can have a little more fun exploring his character as well as some others. But the Dion you saw on the cartoon IS the base for our Dion. They are both Dion for sure. Long story short, the 2010 story is going to be a wild ride and we look forward to bringing it to you.

It cracks me up that the Joe fans, when unhappy, accuse us of focusing on Tf's more than Joe. The fact is there are two teams at Fun Pub, one that works on the TF side and one that works on the Joe side and they both get all kinds of attention.

Finally, I left your last line in there, because, well, because trust me, we take in to consideration EVERY toy and the character possibilities...

Pete@BotCon wrote:
Okay, having read all the boards I see that there are those who REALLY dig Hot Shot as Dion, kind of dig him and don't dig him. fair enough... However, anyone who thinks we just pick things willy nilly are, well, WAY off the mark. We put a TON of thought into the whole process. There are several reasons we picked this mold and this character. First and foremost, this character is someone whom we can really explore. We have said all along that the Wings Universe is a "G1esque" cartoon continuity. Lots of similarities between this one and the toon Universe. However, we did not want to be constrained by all the back story that we have with the toon so now we can have a little more fun exploring his character as well as some others. But the Dion you saw on the cartoon IS the base for our Dion. They are both Dion for sure. Long story short, the 2010 story is going to be a wild ride and we look forward to bringing it to you.

It cracks me up that the Joe fans, when unhappy, accuse us of focusing on Tf's more than Joe. The fact is there are two teams at Fun Pub, one that works on the TF side and one that works on the Joe side and they both get all kinds of attention.

Finally, I left your last line in there, because, well, because trust me, we take in to consideration EVERY toy and the character possibilities...

Hi Pete!

Thanks for responding to thread, and I think it shows alot (positive) that you did. I, and I think everyone else here, really want to know at this point:

Will you be using the Hasbro mold, without the guns and shoulder changes, or the TakaraTomy version used in Henkei?

Also, can you throw us a tiny bone with a hint about the second purchasble figure?

First Gen wrote:

Zeds wrote:OMG use Wheeljack from Armada. The only mould worthy of a repaint!

You mean other than this:

Or was that a hint of sarcasm I detected.....

Alright then a tasteful repaint of Wheeljack. I would argue that the Wheeljack mould was the best mould from Armada.

Pete@BotCon wrote:

Editor wrote:
And to think they could of had a winner if they had done Shattered Soundwave in the Ironhide mold.

Okay, having read all the boards I see that there are those who REALLY dig Hot Shot as Dion, kind of dig him and don't dig him. fair enough... However, anyone who thinks we just pick things willy nilly are, well, WAY off the mark. We put a TON of thought into the whole process. There are several reasons we picked this mold and this character. First and foremost, this character is someone whom we can really explore. We have said all along that the Wings Universe is a "G1esque" cartoon continuity. Lots of similarities between this one and the toon Universe. However, we did not want to be constrained by all the back story that we have with the toon so now we can have a little more fun exploring his character as well as some others. But the Dion you saw on the cartoon IS the base for our Dion. They are both Dion for sure. Long story short, the 2010 story is going to be a wild ride and we look forward to bringing it to you.

It cracks me up that the Joe fans, when unhappy, accuse us of focusing on Tf's more than Joe. The fact is there are two teams at Fun Pub, one that works on the TF side and one that works on the Joe side and they both get all kinds of attention.

Finally, I left your last line in there, because, well, because trust me, we take in to consideration EVERY toy and the character possibilities...

Indeed, Thanks Pete for responding, regardless of my rant it is good to see you getting involved in the discussions.

also your final line is quite interesting in what you don't say.... Very interesting. If that is indeed in the works then that alone could justify signing up for 2010 for the chance.

I will grant you that the Wings story is g1ish but not g1, and as such getting to wrapped up before we see the storyline you've developed is potentially a major foot-in-mouth in the making, and I will check it because I have no problem going back and saying I missed the mark, if I feel that will be the case.

Now if at all possible to touch on a part of my post that you didn't quote, could we find out about how our membership dues are broken down? How much of my $69 goes to covering my account expenses? (eg the exclusive figure, postage) Is any of it profit for Fun Publications? Or does the remainder go into running botcon, your office expenses and payroll what not? I'm not asking for a penny by penny breakdown, but I and I think many others would feel a lot better about the fees we pay if we had a better understanding of the business model.

As for the Joe vs TF bit. Despite what you know about your upcoming plans, I would ask that you step back for a second and look at it from a different POV. This year Joe fans were told months ago that they were getting Big Lob. An interesting choice, a character that has a following, which should had, but never received his own figure. (I knew about some bitching about using Mercer's pieces, but it looks right to me) and then TF fans find out that a mold that isn't looked at favorably will be used to give us a one-shot character that for all purposes was forgotten about as soon as the episode ended. (But I do want to know how the 'Dion is Magnus' backers with take this story) I hope that you would also question what went into that call. Also sorry but I have rarely in the Joe boards I follow seen people post that TF members are getting a better deal than they are, I'm not questioning you, I just find it a bit funny. But you have run that club longer so maybe in a few years things will be more even on both sides.

Beyond all that, thanks again for responding Pete, the fact you are willing to seek out complaints on other boards alone builds respect in my books. I look forward to being proven wrong (or right depending on how things go)

One last thing, I referred to Dion being Alley Viper Hot Shot, from the image the colors bo seem to match the Defense of Cobra Island AV, will the blue and orange be similar shades? If they are it could be interesting......

I'm totally cool with the character choice of Dion. I love it when obscure chacaters get pulled into the mix. I just hate the Uni Hot Shot mold. It's floppy, has a ton of articulation killing kibble, and feels like a KO, and his little buddy, Jolt, is even worse.

HighPrime wrote:Guess I'm in the minority. I really like this mold, and am looking forward to the repaint (Henkei or Universe).

I'm in the same boat as you. I actually have the Henkei version and hope the club uses that one. I'd like for Dion to have some guns. I don't understand the complaint on the bot. He's pretty articulate, decent alt mode....doh, I keep on forgetting that I transform him differently from most ppl. I have the bumber end of the alt mode folded down and not up like the instructions. Gives him full range of shoulder movements.

And besides, CP knows I do this, but they can all him whatever they want and I'll just rename and repurpose him into my universe. Might keep him as an elite guard member...we'll see.

I have not seen any pictures, but I'm incredibly interested in this and may be joining the club for the first time. Kudos to whoever came up with Dion and convinced moi to do so.

I'm really glad they didn't do Shattered Glass or something like that. SG was fun, but I'm a bit tired of the concept by now. Classics are what I'm the most passionate about these days, so this appeals to me.

I'm a bit bummed the next three years aren't a sort of Dark Railracer set but that was our own speculation to begin with from the clues provided to us. I'd still like to see it and I'd certainly buy such a set but it isn't in the cards right now apparently. I can't say I'm stoked about Dion or the others either I'm afraid. To me, these are mostly throwaway characters. It'll be interesting to see if and how the club fiction for them will change my perception. The mold choice on the other hand is fine by me. I am actually pretty fond of the Henkei version I own. He's a bit fiddly to transform but fine otherwise.

Razorclaw0000 wrote:

Pete@BotCon wrote:
Okay, having read all the boards I see that there are those who REALLY dig Hot Shot as Dion, kind of dig him and don't dig him. fair enough... However, anyone who thinks we just pick things willy nilly are, well, WAY off the mark. We put a TON of thought into the whole process. There are several reasons we picked this mold and this character. First and foremost, this character is someone whom we can really explore. We have said all along that the Wings Universe is a "G1esque" cartoon continuity. Lots of similarities between this one and the toon Universe. However, we did not want to be constrained by all the back story that we have with the toon so now we can have a little more fun exploring his character as well as some others. But the Dion you saw on the cartoon IS the base for our Dion. They are both Dion for sure. Long story short, the 2010 story is going to be a wild ride and we look forward to bringing it to you.

It cracks me up that the Joe fans, when unhappy, accuse us of focusing on Tf's more than Joe. The fact is there are two teams at Fun Pub, one that works on the TF side and one that works on the Joe side and they both get all kinds of attention.

Hi Pete!

Thanks for responding to thread, and I think it shows alot (positive) that you did. I, and I think everyone else here, really want to know at this point:

Will you be using the Hasbro mold, without the guns and shoulder changes, or the TakaraTomy version used in Henkei?

Also, can you throw us a tiny bone with a hint about the second purchasble figure?

First, that's Pete. Keep up the good work.

Second, God I hope it's the Takara version. This is a "collectors piece" after all and not just any old toy. So if for whatever reasons, Henkei Hot Shots guns violated US toy safety laws, they shouldn't apply here...I hope.

And third...

Razorclaw0000 wrote:Also, can you throw us a tiny bone with a hint about the second purchasble figure?

I think he just did...

Pete@BotCon wrote:

Editor wrote:And to think they could of had a winner if they had done Shattered Soundwave in the Ironhide mold.

Finally, I left your last line in there, because, well, because trust me, we take in to consideration EVERY toy and the character possibilities...

Flashwave wrote:

Diem wrote:So what do we reckon for Orion Pax and Elita-1 then? Henkei Ironhide and...Animated Blackarachnia?

Animated Pre-Earth Prime.

Still working on Ariel.

They're not going to do an Ariel because they just finally did the Elita-1 from '07 this year. Between her, Alpha Trion and now Dion we have the cast of War Dawn.

By the by, if they're going to use the Universe Ironhide mold, it'll be Orion Pax. Search your feelings, you know it to be true!

PErsonally, I love G1,and I don;t care how many times they (Fun Pub or anyone else for that matter) want to give us G1 style or inspired figures,that's always fine with me. But some of these super duper obscure characters,I just don't care about. The coolest thing in ages TF related in my estimate is the whole SG saga,and I wish they'd keep giving us SG figures. That's what I was hoping for from the Club this upcoming exclusive year, and I'm sure there's possibly some SG stuff coming in the future. But really, Dion? What's next? Grey painted Gears from the Immobilizer episode of the G1 cartoon? How bout a whole Botcon set of Immobilized Autobots?

@ Pete: I love the Club stuff, honestly. I think personally I was just looking forward to things that were not U Hot Shot repaints. You guys really do do good things, and should be commended for what it is that you all do. This figure, eh, sometimes people just dont like stuff,you know? There's a lot of Club bad mouthing that goes on here from time to time, mostly by people who don;t even join the Club, so you know, grain of salt. To me,this figure's like Nightbeat was. I didn't care so I didn't buy him. No biggie. Keep up the good work.