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Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So, did anyone ask any important questions during the stream like why did Hasbro decide NOT to use the new "Sandwich" style packaging for the Evolution figures even though it was shown in the teaser pics? Or why there wasn't any Earthspark product available in the US during the holiday season?

"Sandwich packaging, meaning like they did for Select Magnificus?
That was a clever way to pack without any twis-ties. I wonder if that was just a one-shot deal?

It was supposed to be the new packaging style going forward.

Pretty sure everyone agreed it was just packaged backwards by the photographer or whoever so the part cut out to go behind the figure for back kibble ended up on the front. They just did it again with Origins Jazz.

Emerje

OK, but the sandwich packaging is out there and I'm curious why it's not being used.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So, did anyone ask any important questions during the stream like why did Hasbro decide NOT to use the new "Sandwich" style packaging for the Evolution figures even though it was shown in the teaser pics? Or why there wasn't any Earthspark product available in the US during the holiday season?

"Sandwich packaging, meaning like they did for Select Magnificus?
That was a clever way to pack without any twis-ties. I wonder if that was just a one-shot deal?

It was supposed to be the new packaging style going forward.

Pretty sure everyone agreed it was just packaged backwards by the photographer or whoever so the part cut out to go behind the figure for back kibble ended up on the front. They just did it again with Origins Jazz.

Emerje

OK, but the sandwich packaging is out there and I'm curious why it's not being used.

I'm not sure why you'd want it. It doesn't make sense to have a window that opens up to more cardboard. They may as well just make the window even smaller.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So, did anyone ask any important questions during the stream like why did Hasbro decide NOT to use the new "Sandwich" style packaging for the Evolution figures even though it was shown in the teaser pics? Or why there wasn't any Earthspark product available in the US during the holiday season?

"Sandwich packaging, meaning like they did for Select Magnificus?
That was a clever way to pack without any twis-ties. I wonder if that was just a one-shot deal?

It was supposed to be the new packaging style going forward.

Pretty sure everyone agreed it was just packaged backwards by the photographer or whoever so the part cut out to go behind the figure for back kibble ended up on the front. They just did it again with Origins Jazz.

Emerje

OK, but the sandwich packaging is out there and I'm curious why it's not being used.

I'm not sure why you'd want it. It doesn't make sense to have a window that opens up to more cardboard. They may as well just make the window even smaller.

Emerje

I truly hate the new packaging but the sandwich style appeals to me. It's like a puzzle before the toy and before the puzzle of what life choices brought you to this point.

At that price I might get Override.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So, did anyone ask any important questions during the stream like why did Hasbro decide NOT to use the new "Sandwich" style packaging for the Evolution figures even though it was shown in the teaser pics? Or why there wasn't any Earthspark product available in the US during the holiday season?

"Sandwich packaging, meaning like they did for Select Magnificus?
That was a clever way to pack without any twis-ties. I wonder if that was just a one-shot deal?

It was supposed to be the new packaging style going forward.

Pretty sure everyone agreed it was just packaged backwards by the photographer or whoever so the part cut out to go behind the figure for back kibble ended up on the front. They just did it again with Origins Jazz.

Emerje

No, it was really packed this way for Select Magnificus. I bought one and I saw this myself. No twisties too.

He's talking about this:


But it ended up on the right side at release.


They just did the same thing with Origins Jazz.



I wouldn't expect him to be released like that.

Emerje

That packaging just seems more complicated as well as added expense for not much payoff, might as well just go the route of Joes, Star Wars Black Series or pretty much every other Hasbro line with sealed boxes. IDK why Transformers it the lone holdout to having a tiny window that barely shows what you're buying in the first place.

Till-all-R1 wrote:That packaging just seems more complicated as well as added expense for not much payoff, might as well just go the route of Joes, Star Wars Black Series or pretty much every other Hasbro line with sealed boxes. IDK why Transformers it the lone holdout to having a tiny window that barely shows what you're buying in the first place.

It's to show the kids what they're getting. The reason leaders are completely closed is because they're more expensive, but in theory a kid could save up their allowance to pick up a deluxe or voyager and Hasbro's research has shown that kids like being able to see the toys they're buying, hence the open window on voyagers and below

And these kids can't see pictures/art that clearly depicted on the box? Seems odd for a generation addicted to instagram. And TBH how does only showing the head/top chest area do anything for someone to get a sense of what the item is inside? A person winds up having to turn it over and look at the art anyways.

Till-all-R1 wrote:And these kids can't see pictures/art that clearly depicted on the box? Seems odd for a generation addicted to instagram. And TBH how does only showing the head/top chest area do anything for someone to get a sense of what the item is inside? A person winds up having to turn it over and look at the art anyways.

Of course they can. It is much simpler than that.
1)On the closed box, the back of the box shows what your item is supposed to look like (at the time of printing the boxes).
2)The window boxes show what at least a portion of your actual item looks like while at the same time the back of the box shows what your item is supposed to look like (at the time of printing the boxes). Plus the portion you see is at scale.

I prefer 2, but it isn't a deal breaker to me. Kids tend to have a much stronger preference.

Till-all-R1 wrote:That packaging just seems more complicated as well as added expense for not much payoff, might as well just go the route of Joes, Star Wars Black Series or pretty much every other Hasbro line with sealed boxes. IDK why Transformers it the lone holdout to having a tiny window that barely shows what you're buying in the first place.

Transformers may have the same price points as other action figures but they are not in the same category. They are in the puzzle box category instead, which has its own marketing rules and is driven by tactile activity rather than characters. That's why 80s kids were fine buying G1 toys of unknown characters. When you go to Walmart next time, check the games area and look at the tactile games and puzzle boxes. You'll notice they are not in closed boxes either.

Long post incoming, sorry.

So, I have been putting a lot of thought into G2 universe figures, specifically updates to characters who were G2 exclusive and have basically a single toy to their name. And i have a list below of how I think they can make the G2 characters, including mold reuses to give them multiple mode re-uses.

I just want to start putting the energy into the universe and see what happens.

here we go:

Axelerators

Skram can be a new mold, and he can be retooled into Rapido. They could even use the same skeleton to get Turbofire out of the same mold too.

Windbreaker can be a new head and weapon tooling of Windcharger.

Skyscorchers

All 4 transform pretty similarly, you could almost get away with a 4-pack of figures using the same base tooling, with 2 alt mode pairs with 2 heads tooled in each.

Aquaspeeders

Pretty much all 4 can use their European releases as redecos, considering all 4 had different colorings and names for the euro releases.

Deluge could also use the Siege Mirage mold, as an alternative, but I would prefer a new mold.

Rotor force

We already got Leadfoot, so he's covered.

Manta Ray can be done and retooled into comics universe Riptide, good way to get the 2 good boatformers.

Powerdive has some design similarities to Rotorstorm, so we could get a more accurate Rotorstorm that then gets retooled into Powerdive.

As for Ransack, you could almost do a reverse retool (AOE to TLK Drift style) from a Skyscorcher mold to get him done.

Laser Rods

Outside of Electro, I think all 3 could share a base skeleton with heavy retools. We need more rat rod robots dammit!

We also could see Jolt and Sizzle share a base, and then electro and Volt share a heavy retool base as well. It's maybe not ideal, but at least Electro gets a non-fall apart toy.

Heroes

these can be all new toolings, though we kinda sorta already got the Hero Megatron, though not accurate transformation wise.

Dreadwing and Smokescreen

Considering you have BWII and Robotmasters repaints available, and maybe even movieverse homages for Mindwipe and Sunspot, I think these can be made easy.

Gobots

These can be core class, and they can be mass produced.

Cyberjets

All 3 molds have multiple repaints available, both in bot and con form, and they can share transformations with the Skyscorchers too. That jet transformation has a lot of options in it.

Laser Cycles

We already got Road Rocket, and i think Animated Prowl can make a good Road pig.

Autorollers

All 4 Autorollers have BWII repaints.

Dirtbag can be used for General Optimus and G1 Landfill as well.

Roadblock can be used for Sgt Hound and G1 Scoop.

Autojetter can be a movieverse seeker homage figure as well.

Power Masters

Ironhide can maybe be re-used with Ironfist, minus the big ass weapon, as a different size class.

Staxx and Meanstreak both are dragster type versions of their vehicles, so they might work as retools of one another.

I really don't know what you can do with Bulletbike.

Stormtroopers

All 4 can use a base mold, and they might be able to share with the Axelators too.

Lightformers/Trakkons

Ironfist and Ironhide, as mentioned above, can share a mold.

Deftwing can share a mold with Fearswoop if we wanted to get both of those.

Not sure immediately on Calcar, a lot of G2 cars share robot mode bases, though not transformations, so there are potential options there too.

Obliterators

I think these 2 could be retools of one another, or they could be their own molds, I think those 2 deserve it.

william-james88 wrote:

Till-all-R1 wrote:That packaging just seems more complicated as well as added expense for not much payoff, might as well just go the route of Joes, Star Wars Black Series or pretty much every other Hasbro line with sealed boxes. IDK why Transformers it the lone holdout to having a tiny window that barely shows what you're buying in the first place.

Transformers may have the same price points as other action figures but they are not in the same category. They are in the puzzle box category instead, which has its own marketing rules and is driven by tactile activity rather than characters. That's why 80s kids were fine buying G1 toys of unknown characters. When you go to Walmart next time, check the games area and look at the tactile games and puzzle boxes. You'll notice they are not in closed boxes either.

Yeah, and just look at some of those Marvel Legends box sets, they have no pictures of the figures on them at all, just art on all sides.




Emerje

Skyquake looks pretty awesome, but still just a maybe for me as I wait to see repaints. Glad theys went with the 2nd design over the 1st. Metalhawk looks really great, but again not for me. I am still happy with my PotP Pretenders(if we could ever just get that Diver). Already have SG Blaster and am happy, even if I prefer Twincast over the OG. Now Shrapnel and Animated Prowl are super dope and I pre-ordered both. The only ones I did in this new wave. I do admit the Junkions are great and all but I'm just not getting any cause I would want to go all in. Crosscut, meh, not bad.

I did gets a few new bots though and they are cool. Finally we get Tarn and I took some photos. They are just quick ones from my phone so not great.



I have been waiting years for this figure and was not let down. Right off the page looks and amazing articulation. He is just right.









Although if I had to nitpick, he is a tiny bit smaller than I imagined. But I think its just because I had this custom figure for so many years. Still the official is a major upgrade.



I even put together my own headcanon Sunbow season 4 DJD(since I doubt we will ever gets the others).



Also, another finally figure, Alpha Trion. Since I was a kid 40 yrs ago I have wanted a figure for him. To get one and Vector Sigma to boot was sweet. Oh also Orion Pax is there, and not bad, but like everyone else I would guess, Alpha Trion and Vector Sigma were the big draws. The SS 86 Scourge was almost perfect for him. After I made some changes, moved things around and knocked out a few pins, now the figure is perfect. Luckily I had an old cloak to use as well.

Skyquake is being distributed to retailers now, maybe BBTS will start shipping him out as they are doing with Metalhawk.

-Kanrabat- wrote:This reminds me of all of the customs I made using the old voyager 2007 Starscream mold. Just by changing the arms and the legs, I made completely 5 different characters with their own altmodes. I have 2 bodies left and I have this idea for making something crazy...

A seeker version of Rack'n'Ruin?

I don't really have an attachment to the Metalhawk character, but if I see him in the wild and he looks good in-hand, I'll get him. His deco looks good. I wonder if there's any significance to him having just the 3 prime colors (besides white and a bit of black). I wondered the same about Star Saber as well.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:This reminds me of all of the customs I made using the old voyager 2007 Starscream mold. Just by changing the arms and the legs, I made completely 5 different characters with their own altmodes. I have 2 bodies left and I have this idea for making something crazy...

A seeker version of Rack'n'Ruin?

Almost. This would be two bots that can transform into some "jet", but both would be able to combine into a dragon!

Rodimus Prime wrote:I don't really have an attachment to the Metalhawk character, but if I see him in the wild and he looks good in-hand, I'll get him. His deco looks good. I wonder if there's any significance to him having just the 3 prime colors (besides white and a bit of black). I wondered the same about Star Saber as well.

My attachment to Metalhawk come from 2 places. First, the stellar Masterforce anime. Second, for the fact that the G1 original is a mythical level grail to obtain.

I love the Legacy version, but I find it way too plain. I'm sure the inevitable Reprolabels set will fix this.
Also, I wonder... Would a 3P company be insane enough to make the pretender shell that would be compatible with the Legacy voyager? Man, the thing would be GINORMOUS!

Yeah it would have to be at least Commander-sized. Unless it's a partsformer that's voyager-sized when together and can attach itself to MH's body after coming apart. Sort of like Godbomber.

Would Thunderwing be a good idea out of this Metalhawk mold? He was also a jet with a pretender shell.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Would Thunderwing be a good idea out of this Metalhawk mold? He was also a jet with a pretender shell.

Thunderwing should be at the very least a leader. And his own original mold.

Because TW was pretty much a transformable bot from the start, his "shell" is actually the main bot. If they just do that shell, upscale it a bit, then add articulation points, all that would remain is to include the "inner bot" as a core class figure that would have the same functions as the original: A ship upgrade, or as a "pilot" inside TW's chest.

I'm pretty sure this can be done within a Leader budget.

We had Thunderwing's OG mold mate in leader class previously and there was no extra core class bot. I don't see the combo you propose being anything less than a commander class toy.