Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[Seibertron]

If the designs for all the toys were less G1, ala FOC Bruticus, then I would be totally for new characters replacing others since the aesthetics are all changed. But these are like mini masterpieces, being closer to the G1 cartoon aesthetic than previous classics figures. That being the case, it is kind of odd to have a totally different character break the theme of toys mirroring their G1 look.

For the record, I'm a guy who couldn't care less. New guys, old guys, whatever. Fiction has never had much baring on how I play. I'm just happy to have nice combiners at this scale, and I'll scramble city all day.
But, I would argue that, esthetics alone, this entire toy line not only conforms to and shares their contemporary "rebooted" look, they all conform to and share a G1y esthetic also. Even the new characters. I get that they break tradition, or change a silhouette. The ONLY thing that makes them different is their character.
It seems that everybody is ok with Groove not being Defensor's leg anymore, right?

I'll admit I'm normally pretty slavish to G1, and not everybody is, that's their thing. With the MP line in full swing, I kind of keep to that, and try to keep my mouth shut on the other lines. I have to say that I'm not really bothered by the new look of the Protectobots, and the Stunticons really didn't bother me all that much. What really got my undies in a bunch was putting a helicopter with four jets. That's really what it boils down to. In no way does that work. Different flight ceilings, cruising speeds, just ARGH!

I not only get that, I respect it. In fact, out of all the changes we've seen so far it's the one that twists my nose the most. I'm simply saying esthetically, AB's color scheme and sculpt is just as G1 as the others. You can't get anymore "Airealbot" than AB's colors.

...and for everybody so crumped up about how Alpha Bravo keeps up with all those jets,
He's ridin' first class, sippin' a martini, gettin' a foot rub from a flight attendent, in Silverbolt!

It's funny reading people's comments about Alpha Bravo being out of place with the other Aerialbots. Maybe it's because they're one of the few more-or-less cohesive teams alongside the Trainbots, Constructicons, and a few others. I oddly just don't think about those things. Considering that all of this originally started out as a kid's toyline and fiction that was originally geared toward children, I just don't put too much weight into how realistic things are like whether or not the Combaticons would be the same size in vehicle mode or how much faster Blast Off would be travelling over the other Combaticons. I'm not saying people shouldn't think about those things to help take the brand toward greater places as it continues to grow, I'm just saying I don't spend a lot of time thinking about scale or capabilities of vehicles.

[Desslok2201]

If the designs for all the toys were less G1, ala FOC Bruticus, then I would be totally for new characters replacing others since the aesthetics are all changed. But these are like mini masterpieces, being closer to the G1 cartoon aesthetic than previous classics figures. That being the case, it is kind of odd to have a totally different character break the theme of toys mirroring their G1 look.

For the record, I'm a guy who couldn't care less. New guys, old guys, whatever. Fiction has never had much baring on how I play. I'm just happy to have nice combiners at this scale, and I'll scramble city all day.
But, I would argue that, esthetics alone, this entire toy line not only conforms to and shares their contemporary "rebooted" look, they all conform to and share a G1y esthetic also. Even the new characters. I get that they break tradition, or change a silhouette. The ONLY thing that makes them different is their character.
It seems that everybody is ok with Groove not being Defensor's leg anymore, right?

I'll admit I'm normally pretty slavish to G1, and not everybody is, that's their thing. With the MP line in full swing, I kind of keep to that, and try to keep my mouth shut on the other lines. I have to say that I'm not really bothered by the new look of the Protectobots, and the Stunticons really didn't bother me all that much. What really got my undies in a bunch was putting a helicopter with four jets. That's really what it boils down to. In no way does that work. Different flight ceilings, cruising speeds, just ARGH!

I not only get that, I respect it. In fact, out of all the changes we've seen so far it's the one that twists my nose the most. I'm simply saying esthetically, AB's color scheme and sculpt is just as G1 as the others. You can't get anymore "Airealbot" than AB's colors.

...and for everybody so crumped up about how Alpha Bravo keeps up with all those jets,
He's ridin' first class, sippin' a martini, gettin' a foot rub from a flight attendent, in Silverbolt!

It's funny reading people's comments about Alpha Bravo being out of place with the other Aerialbots. Maybe it's because they're one of the few more-or-less cohesive teams alongside the Trainbots, Constructicons, and a few others. I oddly just don't think about those things. Considering that all of this originally started out as a kid's toyline and fiction that was originally geared toward children, I just don't put too much weight into how realistic things are like whether or not the Combaticons would be the same size in vehicle mode or how much faster Blast Off would be travelling over the other Combaticons. I'm not saying people shouldn't think about those things to help take the brand toward greater places as it continues to grow, I'm just saying I don't spend a lot of time thinking about scale or capabilities of vehicles.

I totally get that, and that Liokaiser and Landcross seemingly destroy my argument. I get it. It's just that Superion, being the first of the Autobot combiners, holds a special place, and looked so much more perfect and complete as a jet team that AB looked like someone painting a clown nose on the Mona Lisa

[Cobotron]

I just don't put too much weight into how realistic things are like...

...how a truck turns into a man and walks around with a laser gun.

[Desslok2201]

I just don't put too much weight into how realistic things are like...

...how a truck turns into a man and walks around with a laser gun.

I'm still laughing my ass off at this but....I just got the email from TFSource that my STAR SABER IS IN STOCK!!!!

[Flashwave]

In regards to Alpha Bravo: Slingshot and Fireflight share a mold now, right? And said mold at least partially draws from the Harrier Jump Jet (Sling's old alt), Right? Which is a subsonic jet that does the same job as a Helicopter but has more "Get the heck out of Dodge"ness, right? So how is a Helicopter that out of place? You see Helicopters on Aircraft Carriers, surrounded by F4s and A6s and F18s and F14s. (When such aircradft were relevant)

[Tsutsukakushi]

A very trusted anonymous source just let me know some exciting information about two highly anticipated Combiner Wars figures. Deluxe Class Slingshot and Wildrider are indeed coming down the pipes. Both figures will only be sold in solid cases of 8 through smaller stores (which Hasbro refers to as "emerging channels" or "emerging markets") and will NOT be available in big box stores such as Walmart, Target, and (currently) Toys R Us. Each figure has an MSRP of $17.99.

Slingshot will be sold as Quickslinger and Wildrider will be sold as Brake-Neck. Fans of the Kre-o Transformers line will be quick to notice that both names were used for those characters in the previously released blind-packs recently.

May 22nd is the targeted street date for these items, but that is subject to change.

More information and pictures about Quickslinger and Brake-Neck will be posted right here on Seibertron.com as soon as anything new becomes available.

I'm interested in buying both of these CW toys.

Hoping Bigbadtoystore sells these toys. Through one of their shared exclusives deals.

Wishing Hasbrotoyshop sells these toys. Can certainly see Hasbro sell these at conventions this year.

Wondering what, Through smaller stores means. Is this other words for those, Prescription drug stores like CVS, Rite Aid and walgreens.

Does Small stores include Kohls and Kmart?

Will smaller stores, Eventually mean the Discounts stores like. TJmaxx, Marshalls, Ollies and Big Lots.

[Doubledealer93]

So, um. will they be on amazon?

[Antron]

@Tsutsukakushi- You pretty much summed up all of my thoughts and questions on this matter.

[CrankyOldTruck]

Excellent! This gives me two options that are closer to my house than my local TRU and one of those has had the whole line up of available CW figures for quite a while now. The downside being that both of those stores are going to jack the price to some obscene level above and beyond the already obscene price for deluxe figures that even TRU is charging. Meh...screw it! Work just started back up for me so I'll be making money hand over fist and TRU (or anyone else for that fact) hasn't had diddly in stock anyways lately.

[Sabrblade]

Hasbro: "Guess what, fans? We're making Slingshot and Wildrider!"

Fandom: "HOORAY!"

Hasbro: "But they'll be named 'Quickslinger' and 'Brake-Neck' instead."

Fandom: "Whatever, just GIMME!"

Hasbro: "Oh, and we're going to make them near-to-impossible for you to acquire by selling them only in obscure little stores!"

Fandom: "W-Wha...?"

Hasbro: "Have a nice day!"

Fandom: "..."

Hasbro: " "

Fandom: " "

Hasbro: " "

Fandom: "...WTF, Hasbro?!"

[SW's SilverHammer]

Hasbro: "Guess what, fans? We're making Slingshot and Wildrider!"

Fandom: "HOORAY!"

Hasbro: "But they'll be named 'Quickslinger' and 'Brake-Neck' instead."

Fandom: "Whatever, just GIMME!"

Hasbro: "Oh, and we're going to make them near-to-impossible for you to acquire by selling them only in obscure little stores!"

Fandom: "W-Wha...?"

Hasbro: "Have a nice day!"

Fandom: "..."

Hasbro: " "

Fandom: " "

Hasbro: " "

Fandom: "...WTF, Hasbro?!"

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

[Sabrblade]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Either way, I'm circumventing Hasbro's Quickslinger altogether since I've already got Takara's show-accurate Unite Warriors Superion on preorder.

[SW's SilverHammer]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Oh noes and this'll be the first time that happens in the history of forevers

[Sabrblade]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Oh noes and this'll be the first time that happens in the history of forevers

Just cuz something irritating has happened before and keeps on happening doesn't mean we can't still be bothered by it.

[SW's SilverHammer]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Oh noes and this'll be the first time that happens in the history of forevers

Just cuz something irritating has happened before and keeps on happening doesn't mean we can't still be bothered by it.

It's not that it's just maybe people should be pragmatic about this, and pay. I've had to pay out the ass for toys I want, but I haven't bitched about; I sucked it up. Why? because I wanted them that badly. Many of us here are capitalists and opportunists; and we live in a capitalist society.

[Sabrblade]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Oh noes and this'll be the first time that happens in the history of forevers

Just cuz something irritating has happened before and keeps on happening doesn't mean we can't still be bothered by it.

It's not that it's just maybe people should be pragmatic about this, and pay. I've had to pay out the ass for toys I want, but I haven't bitched about; I sucked it up. Why? because I wanted them that badly. Many of us here are capitalists and opportunists; and we live in a capitalist society.

On the other hand, would you honestly rather pay for a Deluxe at the price of a Deluxe, or pay for a Deluxe at the price of large-sized Masterpiece? By that point, you really gotta ask yourself if the toy is really that much worth it.

[SW's SilverHammer]

And all of this can be easily circumvented by using the internet. You act like amazon hasn't been invented and we're on a dialed up BBS.

If any main e-tailers don't get their own stock of the figures, then the more likely people to sell them online will be scalpers with their unfair prices.

Oh noes and this'll be the first time that happens in the history of forevers

Just cuz something irritating has happened before and keeps on happening doesn't mean we can't still be bothered by it.

It's not that it's just maybe people should be pragmatic about this, and pay. I've had to pay out the ass for toys I want, but I haven't bitched about; I sucked it up. Why? because I wanted them that badly. Many of us here are capitalists and opportunists; and we live in a capitalist society.

On the other hand, would you honestly rather pay for a Deluxe at the price of a Deluxe, or pay for a Deluxe at the price of large-sized Masterpiece? By that point, you really gotta ask yourself if the toy is really that much worth it.

I aren't the one buying it now aren't I. I literally have no interest in slingshot and wildrider. Now someone who hates everything about characters like say alpha bravo; that might be a different story. Also I really doubt actual aftermarket prices for those two will be the same as an MP. Maybe the first 2 or 3 people who get them will try and unload them at that price, but after a solid month ease of accessibility will increase; and prices are bound to go down.

[King Kuuga]

This is wonderful news! The only thing I'm wondering, though, is...why not just release these two along with the others in the first place and forget about making Alpha Bravo and Offroad all together? Now, I don't keep up with the IDW comics, but was it because Slingshot and Wildrider were already dead in the comics, so Hasbro decided to make new characters to replace them to keep with continuity of the current story?

Nah, if Hasbro wanted there to be a Slingshot all along they'd have told IDW to bring him back somehow. He might even have been killed because Hasbro knew they were going to replace him in Superion.
Anyway, from a real-world standpoint, Alpha Bravo and Offroad exist to:

• diversify the toylines
• get more use out of the molds
• switch things up
• circumvent trademarks

Because Slingshot and Wildrider can't be trademarked, Hasbro took the opportunity to modernize their teams by replacing those members outright, rather than just renaming them. It works especially well for the aerialbots and stunticons since their alt modes are more uniform than some other teams. Clueless parents might say "You already have the big white jet and the small red, gray, and black jets, you're not getting another white jet" but they can say "oh here, have a helicopter." ditto "three cars and a truck".
I'd guess that the re-inclusion of Quickslinger and Brake-Neck was decided when they heard initial feedback from the adult fans about their changes last fall or so. They weren't going to change the toys on shelves, but they can put these fan-demanded figures on the market to make a few extra bucks.

[Bumblevivisector]

I just don't put too much weight into how realistic things are like whether or not the Combaticons would be the same size in vehicle mode or how much faster Blast Off would be travelling over the other Combaticons.

Just a random thought on Blast Off's odd fit with his teammates: Has Bruticus ever done a finishing-move where he pulls all the extra mass for Blast Off's shuttle mode out of subspace just as he throws a right-cross? No wait, that should be Landcross's finishing move, of course! Or is there such a thing as a left-cross? The only gestalt who could throw a left-Hook might be Constructicon Maximus...

The only true combining-robot/mecha mobility-killer is a lone train, IMO. Looking at YOU, GaoGaiGar; if LinerGao can fly, then why didn't GGG just make it another aircraft?!? I have similar questions about the Trainbots' flying ability, but even without it, TF trains can transform and walk. Yet whereas a boat-bot can always find another body of water after a good hike, the enemy just has to do regular strafing/bombing runs over specific stretches of track to render train alts useless. To me, train TFs will always make cassettes seem non-obsolete by comparison...but I even bought a Thomastator from KOTOYS, so of course I'd buy an update or reissue of any classic TF train gestalt team! As long as an alt mode's a funny joke...

Sorry for my sleep-typing.

Oh yeah, Kmart and Meijer once shared the same exclusive Minicon gift-set, so if one of them carries Johnny Bravo and Buzz-Off's replacements, surely the other will too. I'm mostly concerned that they get Bareback's head-spikes right, making them fold up if necessary, and that his Japanese bio retains his original function of "terrorist".

[Megatron Wolf]

Well guess i wont be getting these, not only do i refuse to pay $18 for a deluxe but i dont have any small retailers around anymore.

[leokearon]

Hopefully European TF fans will be able to get these

[chuckdawg1999]

While I'm happy to see we're getting the final two members of Superion and Menasor, I'm concerned about their availability and what this means for the other combiners. Does this mean down the line we'll get a Groove that can become a leg? Pricing shouldn't be that bad; it'll probably follow the usual trend of really expensive at first, then the price will drop, eventually. I'm guessing these will be available closer to the holidays as that's when Khols really stocks their toy department.

[koolkollectibleskhai]

Awesome haul from Robotkingdom arrived today! Stay tuned for more pics and vid reviews

[Deadput]

But seriously guys whats the appeal with Wildrider besides G1 accuracy? (which is a damn curse)


He was always my least favorite Stunticon hell I like Blackjack and Offroad more than him.




And speaking about Alpha Bravo not being able to keep up with his team mates his bio acknowledges that as well but it also means that Alpha Bravo has more maneuverability in the air and is more likely to hit his target think of it like a sniper in a battle group.


Plus at least he turns into something that flys and is not a Decepticon Car/Stunticon thats somehow joined the Aerialbots (Yes I'm talking about Dragstrip being advertised as part of Superion)

[Deadput]

Plus if anyone wants to know Wildrider did not die in the IDW comics the latest issue (Combiner Wars #1) says that he got mad and straight up quit the Stunticons after they lost to Bumblebee.


So if you think about it Offroad and Blackjack are not replacing anyone since both of them would probably be with the Stunticons even if Wildrider stayed and you guys remember Toxitron being part of the Stunticons in Animated right? (Yes I know he is not considered one but he works closely with them)



Which makes me think that Hasbro could make some more Stunticons to make a second Stunticon combiner with Toxitron being the torso and people could put Offroad with him and some other retools such as


Oilpan http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Oil_Pan from Breakdown



A G1 ROTF inspired Sideways from Deadend



A new Decepticon truck based off of G1 Crackcase since Offroad is based off G1 Ruckus



And for the chest retool the upcoming Legends class Groove into Oilslick who would go with Toxitron and the Toxic theme.



Is this a great idea or what?