Video 'Review' - Transformers Megadrive Megatron

It's getting hard to resist buying Megadriveatron. His botmode looks to be bigger than I thought.

I want both of these, but the asking price is really, really steep. Not sure I can justify it.

RotorstormNZ wrote:It's getting hard to resist buying Megadriveatron. His botmode looks to be bigger than I thought.

It might be the small Japanese hands, but despite being a little over seven inches tall (about Voyager size) he looks really big here. I was all ready for him to come out this month but he's been pushed back to November now.

Emerje

i can just imagine the people who work at Sega get fooled by this machine. i think i would buy it with play-optimus-station-prime and reenact the console wars back in the 90s. or just have them transformed into console mode and put it near my TV.

Alfes2010 has produced another Twitter gallery, this time focusing on the Mega Drive Megatron figure. He's posted several shots of the figure itself, a comparison photo, among others.

We've mirrored them below, and you can see all of Alfes's tweets by clicking here.































Keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates, plus the best galleries around!

I want that Megatron, fusion cannon is a bit hokey but can't fault the fact that he turns into a great rendition of my favourite childhood console next to the Saturn.

I'm bummed he's not the size of the actual Megadrive. But the robotmode turns out to be about voyagerish, so he's OK in my book. Depending on the price I'll decide wether or not he is going to be on my shelves.

I want that Cloud Prime :/

Does it actually play OG video games ? If not, whats the point ?

Rated X wrote:Does it actually play OG video games ? If not, whats the point ?

I don't think it does.
It's just something fun for gamers to have.
I fakes unknowing people out. That Real Gear game controller, I can't tell you how many people ask what system it for. Pretty good practical joke when someone reaches for a controller and is like "Um.. how does this thing turn on?"

Don't see many call G-1 Reflector pointless as it isn't a working camera and can't take pictures.

Nobody called 1984 Soundwave and 1985 Blaster pointless because they were not working radios.

Didn't see any complaints that the cassettes-bots were pointless as they couldn't record anything.

Never saw any buyers complain they bought 1984 Megatron and called it pointless. As it didn't shoot real bullets and couldn't use it as a real firearm.

Nobody called the 2007 movie, Real Gear toys pointless, because they were expecting $6 dollar toys to have electronics in them and be fully functional real world things.

Tsutsukakushi wrote::lol:

Don't see many call G-1 Reflector pointless as it isn't a working camera and can't take pictures.

Nobody called 1984 Soundwave and 1985 Blaster pointless because they were not working radios.

Didn't see any complaints that the cassettes-bots were pointless as they couldn't record anything.

Never saw any buyers complain they bought 1984 Megatron and called it pointless. As it didn't shoot real bullets and couldn't use it as a real firearm.

Nobody called the 2007 movie, Real Gear toys pointless, because they were expecting $6 dollar toys to have electronics in them and be fully functional real world things.

And yet, in 2014, we can put the entire console onto a chip the size of a quarter, and (most likely) have all the proper connectors wired within Megatron, yet they didn't do it.

I would have picked it up in a heartbeat if it would have done that, like the rest of the device label line, which is what I had hoped this would be a part of.

TakaraTomy didn't do with this thing that thing they did with those other things so that means this thing is bad even though that thing wasn't done with assloads of other things and said thing they didn't do this time is really nothing more than a gimmick.

Nerds sure can be a whiny bunch, huh?

TAKARATOMY PLEASE DO THING TO THING

Here's my rant:

I seriously don't understand you people. "What's the point if it doesn't play real games?" Hold on, let me drive my Masterpiece Sideswipe car to work. Oh that's right it's a transforming toy model of a car. Exactly what this is.

I don't see how that could be a make or break decision to buy it at all if you had any real interest; would you actually hook this up to your TV? Do you have Mega Drive carts laying around? It's just a thing you say you want but you'd never use it. If you want to play Mega Drive/Genesis games there's plenty of ways to go about that without requiring it be included in this voyager sized figure.

Sega has released TONS of Mega Drive/Genesis game packs on many consoles and PC. Go buy those and be happy for the 10 minutes you'd actually play them.

yeah what he said.

anyways, these things are novelties. expensive novelties at that. and alas, i would have bought them both if the OP was a super nintendo.

Somehow I feel like there would be less criticism of video game console Transformers if this had come out about 10 years ago.

Sabrblade wrote:Somehow I feel like there would be less criticism of video game console Transformers if this had come out about 10 years ago.

Or if they just used more current consoles or devices

DISCHARGE wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Somehow I feel like there would be less criticism of video game console Transformers if this had come out about 10 years ago.

Or if they just used more current consoles or devices

Even then, people would still complain about them not being able to play the game discs.

My point was that with these being novelties, they might have been more accepted about ten years ago when novelty Transformers weren't so commonplace as to be written off as meaningless.

Tsutsukakushi wrote::lol:

Don't see many call G-1 Reflector pointless as it isn't a working camera and can't take pictures.

Nobody called 1984 Soundwave and 1985 Blaster pointless because they were not working radios.

Didn't see any complaints that the cassettes-bots were pointless as they couldn't record anything.

Never saw any buyers complain they bought 1984 Megatron and called it pointless. As it didn't shoot real bullets and couldn't use it as a real firearm.

Nobody called the 2007 movie, Real Gear toys pointless, because they were expecting $6 dollar toys to have electronics in them and be fully functional real world things.

The figures you speak of were all marketed as "make believe" and sold at Hasbro toystore prices. This thing is being marketed to adults and sold at Takara collectors prices.
So it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

Rated X wrote:The figures you speak of were all marketed as "make believe" and sold at Hasbro toystore prices. This thing is being marketed to adults and sold at Takara collectors prices.
So it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

You saying adults can't have their own "make believe" stuff too?

dukefett wrote:Here's my rant:

I seriously don't understand you people. "What's the point if it doesn't play real games?" Hold on, let me drive my Masterpiece Sideswipe car to work. Oh that's right it's a transforming toy model of a car. Exactly what this is.

I don't see how that could be a make or break decision to buy it at all if you had any real interest; would you actually hook this up to your TV? Do you have Mega Drive carts laying around? It's just a thing you say you want but you'd never use it. If you want to play Mega Drive/Genesis games there's plenty of ways to go about that without requiring it be included in this voyager sized figure.

Sega has released TONS of Mega Drive/Genesis game packs on many consoles and PC. Go buy those and be happy for the 10 minutes you'd actually play them.

In agreeance.

Didn't see many buyers of HasTak MP-13 complain that Soundwave wasn't a working radio with recoding cassettes.

Rated X wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote::lol:

Don't see many call G-1 Reflector pointless as it isn't a working camera and can't take pictures.

Nobody called 1984 Soundwave and 1985 Blaster pointless because they were not working radios.

Didn't see any complaints that the cassettes-bots were pointless as they couldn't record anything.

Never saw any buyers complain they bought 1984 Megatron and called it pointless. As it didn't shoot real bullets and couldn't use it as a real firearm.

Nobody called the 2007 movie, Real Gear toys pointless, because they were expecting $6 dollar toys to have electronics in them and be fully functional real world things.

The figures you speak of were all marketed as "make believe" and sold at Hasbro toystore prices. This thing is being marketed to adults and sold at Takara collectors prices.
So it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

Device label Blaster is not a working lap top computer. It's a Faux toy designed to homage a lap top that in reality is a, Functional working USB Port box.

Takara MP-13 soundwave is a adult catered toy at adult prices that you speak of. It is not a working radio. Nor can any of the MP cassetes record or play anything.

With Mega Drive Megatron, if you scaled him up to 1:1 scale, you might be able to fit the necessary parts into him for him to be a functional console into him. However, the extra gubbins would probably compromise his poseability, as there would need to be wires running through him for the connectors, controller ports etc.

Playstation Optimus Prime though? Forget it. You couldn't possibly fit the disc tray mechanism in it and still have it transform into a functional action figure. You could maybe store the game ISOs on an SSD, but the cost of acquiring the license for the Playstation brand AND the licenses for the games would be astronomical. Also, there's the issue of how well a "system on a chip" could emulate the PS1- the Mega Drive would be OK as it's fairly simple hardware, with all the software contained within the cartridges, but with a disc-based system like the PS1 it's not so easy. Even my PC struggles to emulate disc based consoles, and it's a veritable monster with an HD 7970 graphics card.

Also, acquiring the license to make something that looks like the hardware and acquiring the license to make something that actually replicates the original hardware would be...impossible, really.

Rated X wrote:The figures you speak of were all marketed as "make believe" and sold at Hasbro toystore prices. This thing is being marketed to adults and sold at Takara collectors prices.
So it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

You're beyond help, the fact that you're allowed to post on this website astounds me.

You expect someone to design an fully articulated humanoid figure that transforms into a fully functioning console, do you realize how much something like that would cost to manufacture?
Just to put things into context, this toy costs about a hundred bucks, and the Megadrive retailed for twice that much

Rated X wrote:it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

His screen splits into three halves that alone should tell you he's a functioning, deluxe scale laptop

Next thing you'll tell me Music Label Soundwave can play cassettes

cannonfodder4000 wrote:

Rated X wrote:The figures you speak of were all marketed as "make believe" and sold at Hasbro toystore prices. This thing is being marketed to adults and sold at Takara collectors prices.
So it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

You're beyond help, the fact that you're allowed to post on this website astounds me.

You expect someone to design an fully articulated humanoid figure that transforms into a fully functioning console, do you realize how much something like that would cost to manufacture?
Just to put things into context, this toy costs about a hundred bucks, and the Megadrive retailed for twice that much

Rated X wrote:it would make sense for it to actually work just like device label Blaster actually works.

His screen splits into three halves that alone should tell you he's a functioning, deluxe scale laptop

Next thing you'll tell me Music Label Soundwave can play cassettes

Y'know.. last year around this time you could get Genesis machines preloaded with games, wireless controllers and the ability to plug in additional cartridges for about $30.. and the machine is at least half the size of the smaller Genesis machine.. It's not impossible.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Device label Blaster is not a working lap top computer. It's a Faux toy designed to homage a lap top that in reality is a, Functional working USB Port box.

My point exactly. At adult collector prices, it should turn into something that actually works. I never said device label Blaster turned into a working laptop. I just said it actually "works" as in it's not just a toy.

Since video game data can be stored in a microchip the size of your fingernail, making this thing actually work isn't really that far off. Maybe not with OG cartridges, but it definitally has enough space to hold the components needed to connect to a real TV and interface.

cannonfodder4000 wrote:You're beyond help, the fact that you're allowed to post on this website astounds me.

I post on this website because I collect Transformers like you. The fact that guys like you don't like guys like me is just extra incentive to keep posting.

Rated X wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Device label Blaster is not a working lap top computer. It's a Faux toy designed to homage a lap top that in reality is a, Functional working USB Port box.

My point exactly. At adult collector prices, it should turn into something that actually works. I never said device label Blaster turned into a working laptop. I just said it actually "works" as in it's not just a toy.

Since video game data can be stored in a microchip the size of your fingernail, making this thing actually work isn't really that far off. Maybe not with OG cartridges, but it definitally has enough space to hold the components needed to connect to a real TV and interface.

Which games would you put on there? Convoy no Nazo?

Rated X wrote:Since video game data can be stored in a microchip the size of your fingernail, making this thing actually work isn't really that far off. Maybe not with OG cartridges, but it definitally has enough space to hold the components needed to connect to a real TV and interface.

Since we can make remote controlled cars the size of a Hot Wheels, why don't all Transformers turn into remote controlled cars?

Lucky Logician wrote:

Rated X wrote:Since video game data can be stored in a microchip the size of your fingernail, making this thing actually work isn't really that far off. Maybe not with OG cartridges, but it definitally has enough space to hold the components needed to connect to a real TV and interface.

Since we can make remote controlled cars the size of a Hot Wheels, why don't all Transformers turn into remote controlled cars?

I don't think they all have to, but I can appreciate and enjoy the ones that do that I've bought, they are fun.

Rated X wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Device label Blaster is not a working lap top computer. It's a Faux toy designed to homage a lap top that in reality is a, Functional working USB Port box.

My point exactly. At adult collector prices, it should turn into something that actually works. I never said device label Blaster turned into a working laptop. I just said it actually "works" as in it's not just a toy.

Since video game data can be stored in a microchip the size of your fingernail, making this thing actually work isn't really that far off. Maybe not with OG cartridges, but it definitally has enough space to hold the components needed to connect to a real TV and interface.

Yes, but those chips are exorbitantly expensive. If you want Megatron to work that badly, just strap a USB stick to his arm and call it a day.
Also, keep in mind that this is meant for Japanese collectors. They tend to be a lot more accepting of novelties than American fans, and, unlike some US fans, don't expect every thing HasTak makes to adhere to Walmart-level price points.
I, for one, intend to make my MPs sit on a tiny couch and play this thing, using a Power Up VT6 as a makeshift monitor.

Metro Prime wrote: Also, keep in mind that this is meant for Japanese collectors. They tend to be a lot more accepting of novelties than American fans.

That is so true. If it transforms, they will buy it. They don't care if it transforms into a pen, a baseball cap, or mickey mouse. To each their own, but I'm not into any of this stuff. I just put my comment out there because honestly I think making this figure work wouldn't be impossible or too costly. I'm sure the software wouldn't cost more than an Iphone.

cannonfodder4000 wrote: You're beyond help, the fact that you're allowed to post on this website astounds me.

In agreeance.

Putting working video game electronics in this toy would have forced the toy to be much bigger. Which would have increased the price to the extreme and doomed the sales of this toy. As most buyers either couldn't afford to buy it or their budgets wouldn't allow it.

Rated X wrote:

Metro Prime wrote: Also, keep in mind that this is meant for Japanese collectors. They tend to be a lot more accepting of novelties than American fans.

That is so true. If it transforms, they will buy it. They don't care if it transforms into a pen, a baseball cap, or mickey mouse. To each their own, but I'm not into any of this stuff. I just put my comment out there because honestly I think making this figure work wouldn't be impossible or too costly. I'm sure the software wouldn't cost more than an Iphone.

As said before, getting the hardware (which includes wiring and controller ports and the like) into the figure whilst maintinaing transformability and articulation would be a pain in the arse. And even if they did get that working, if they were going with the "games on a chip" route then they'd have to acquire the licensing to actually include those games, as well as the licensing to replicate the abilities of the hardware. Basically it would cost a fortune. If you went with the "plays carts" route then he'd have to be much bigger and would be even more of a pain to engineer.

And don't even get me started on how you'd make PS1 Prime work.

TLDR: Making PS1 Prime and Mega Drive Megatron actually work as games consoles would be nigh-on impossible to engineer, and would be insanely expensive to license and produce, to the point where it would cost Takara more than they could ever make back from sales.

Fortunately the Japanese fans aren't as unpleasable and nitpicky as we Western fans, so hopefully Takara's hard work will pay off. These look like really good figures, and if I had the money I'd pick them up.

why all the "non-functionality" rage now anyways, and not when these were first solicited? i dont see how its any different that the unwearable ballcap TF's.

shajaki wrote:why all the "non-functionality" rage now anyways, and not when these were first solicited? i dont see how its any different that the unwearable ballcap TF's.

Weren't those wearable by Fort Max?

At this point, the differing viewpoints on these just boil down to the following:

Naysayers: "What is even the point of these?"
Supporters: "Game console Transformers, duh!"
Naysayers: "But they don't even play games!"
Supporters: "They're not supposed to. They're action figures that turn into replicas just like any other Transformers toy. All altmodes are nonworking/nonliving replicas of the real things they resemble. Outside really special cases, that is."
Naysayers: "But then why aren't these part of those special cases?"
Supporters: "A number of reasons. Too expensive to pull off, game licensing politics, budget limitations, not profitable enough to do all that, etc."
Naysayers: "But then they won't appeal to a mainstream audience as much as they would if they could play games!"
Supporters: "They're not supposed to appeal to everyone. These are geared toward a niche market."
Naysayers: "But then they won't be as successful as they would on a mainstream level."
Supporters: "The fact that there are even people who ARE interested in these and DO want them shows that there is enough demand for them to satisfy the market that they're intended for."
Naysayers: "But they could do so much better on a mainstream level."
Supporters: "Theoretically, everything could. There's always room for improvement for all kinds of things. But it's not a matter of whether they could make them better, but if they should. Wisdom vs. knowledge and all that. As we said, there are limitations involved in these kinds of things that they have to take into account and adhere to, otherwise the figures would prove to be more trouble than they're worth."
Naysayers: "Why did they even bother making these?!"
Supporters: "Because it's COOL!"
Naysayers: "That's not a good enough answer!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Etc. etc.

So I take it none of you have bought any incarnation of G1 Megatron, cos what's the point if you can't put a bullet through someone's head with it?

And this was never marketed as being part of DeviceLable, it was always advertised as being part of Takara's new artist toy line. Sure, I said back then that it would be cool if it played actual games, but then again that was just a "it would be cool if" and not a "it should".

Sabrblade wrote:At this point, the differing viewpoints on these just boil down to the following:

Naysayers: "What is even the point of these?"
Supporters: "Game console Transformers, duh!"
Naysayers: "But they don't even play games!"
Supporters: "They're not supposed to. They're action figures that turn into replicas just like any other Transformers toy. All altmodes are nonworking/nonliving replicas of the real things they resemble. Outside really special cases, that is."
Naysayers: "But then why aren't these part of those special cases?"
Supporters: "A number of reasons. Too expensive to pull off, game licensing politics, budget limitations, not profitable enough to do all that, etc."
Naysayers: "But then they won't appeal to a mainstream audience as much as they would if they could play games!"
Supporters: "They're not supposed to appeal to everyone. These are geared toward a niche market."
Naysayers: "But then they won't be as successful as they would on a mainstream level."
Supporters: "The fact that there are even people who ARE interested in these and DO want them shows that there is enough demand for them to satisfy the market that they're intended for."
Naysayers: "But they could do so much better on a mainstream level."
Supporters: "Theoretically, everything could. There's always room for improvement for all kinds of things. But it's not a matter of whether they could make them better, but if they should. Wisdom vs. knowledge and all that. As we said, there are limitations involved in these kinds of things that they have to take into account and adhere to, otherwise the figures would prove to be more trouble than they're worth."
Naysayers: "Why did they even bother making these?!"
Supporters: "Because it's COOL!"
Naysayers: "That's not a good enough answer!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!
Naysayers: "No it's not!"
Supporters: "Yes it is!"
Etc. etc.

I dare you to re-write this skit for the Cap-Bots...

Or even better yet, BAPE MP-10.,,

I just don't get why people complain about scale, paint apps, articulation on a $12 toy, but when somebody asks why an expensive toy geared towards gamers doesn't live up to it's full potential they get crapped all over..

We all pay a lot of money as a part of this hobby, we should be getting fair value. We are not, I'm sorry. Argue fees and licensing all you want, but when people are paying up to $500 for 3rd prty non-transformers I find it completely feasible that scaling these to fit the working electronics in them would not deter people, it would probably entice them.

Genesis was my jam in the day, I loved the games on that system. I can't tell you how many times through I played Phantasy Star IV..
Megatron.. In the top 3 Transformers of all time.. Man this is a great combo.. but it falls short
If we don't stand up and demand better for the value of our monies, we'll continue to get walked on.
So enjoy your non working game systems as I'm sure all of you defending the fact that it underperforms will be buying them.

I'm not gonna lie - this debate perplexes me.

megatronus wrote:I'm not gonna lie - this debate perplexes me.

It's fairly simple, some people are happy with this product, some are arguing that takara should of gone the extra mile and made it a working mega drive (never understood why they changed the name in America). Discharge offers the best argument, talking of value, though I have to say that I agree with everyone else.

I don't really care too much that he's not working. I've got two mega drives in my retro collection I don't need another device to do the same trick. I'm glad quirks like the hatformers, shoeformers and the penformers exist. It's a toy line still, and what's a toy line without a bit of nonsense now and again

OK, everything aside...Right now Real Gear fills out the majority of their armies.
What if they made accessories for each. Like a multitap for Prime and cd or game genie for Megatron. Not having to adhere to US laws they could also make guns..
What acc would you want, and who would these b?

ZeroWolf wrote:

megatronus wrote:I'm not gonna lie - this debate perplexes me.

It's fairly simple, some people are happy with this product, some are arguing that takara should of gone the extra mile and made it a working mega drive (never understood why they changed the name in America). Discharge offers the best argument, talking of value, though I have to say that I agree with everyone else.

I don't really care too much that he's not working. I've got two mega drives in my retro collection I don't need another device to do the same trick. I'm glad quirks like the hatformers, shoeformers and the penformers exist. It's a toy line still, and what's a toy line without a bit of nonsense now and again

No, no, I understand the debate. I just think it's stupid. Or at least, more stupid than the other arguments that happen around here.

megatronus wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

megatronus wrote:I'm not gonna lie - this debate perplexes me.

It's fairly simple, some people are happy with this product, some are arguing that takara should of gone the extra mile and made it a working mega drive (never understood why they changed the name in America). Discharge offers the best argument, talking of value, though I have to say that I agree with everyone else.

I don't really care too much that he's not working. I've got two mega drives in my retro collection I don't need another device to do the same trick. I'm glad quirks like the hatformers, shoeformers and the penformers exist. It's a toy line still, and what's a toy line without a bit of nonsense now and again

No, no, I understand the debate. I just think it's stupid. Or at least, more stupid than the other arguments that happen around here.

I know, right. Like once everybody sees it my way, there won't be an argument.

megatronus wrote:No, no, I understand the debate. I just think it's stupid. Or at least, more stupid than the other arguments that happen around here.

megatronus wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

megatronus wrote:I'm not gonna lie - this debate perplexes me.

It's fairly simple, some people are happy with this product, some are arguing that takara should of gone the extra mile and made it a working mega drive (never understood why they changed the name in America). Discharge offers the best argument, talking of value, though I have to say that I agree with everyone else.

I don't really care too much that he's not working. I've got two mega drives in my retro collection I don't need another device to do the same trick. I'm glad quirks like the hatformers, shoeformers and the penformers exist. It's a toy line still, and what's a toy line without a bit of nonsense now and again

No, no, I understand the debate. I just think it's stupid. Or at least, more stupid than the other arguments that happen around here.

You make it sound like arguments spring up all the time around here

As much as I hate to semi-derail the debate, I just got my copy of Megadrivetron this evening and I'm experiencing some issues. One, really. How do you get that #{?!! waist joint to collapse fully into alt mode?! His skirts aren't stuck that I'm noticing. It just goes almost all the way and refuses to collapse further

The figure just feels very delicate overall, so I'm afraid to keep trying.