Jump to content

M'Kyuun

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    5205

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by M'Kyuun

  1. M'Kyuun
    Regardless, that's rather steep. I have that figure, BTW, as I bought the Japanese CW Bruticus specifically to get Blast Off with a proper space shuttle mode instead of a jet. Like Hikuro, I didn't recognize that it was the Combiner Wars fig, thinking it was the new Legacy version.
  2. M'Kyuun
    Yeah, that's total BS. $100 for a $35 toy that hasn't even released yet. I hope no one buys it.
  3. M'Kyuun
    Honestly, I wouldn't doubt Hasbro will do package refreshes on some of the more popular characters like the Dinobots eventually. It'd be great if they announced these things to alleviate FOMO and give fans who may have missed the first release some peace of mind, but they don't, alas. Anyway, the fact that people, especially other fans, will shamelessly fleece other fans for stuff (across all fandoms, not just Transformers) speaks poorly of this era. I doubt it'll get better in time, and likely will worsen, but that doesn't mean history won't look back and recognize greed and generally screwing each other over as a positive. We're totally lost when it does. Cons are the worst excuse for greed-driven mark-ups and gouging. We've come to accept it as part of the experience, but why? I imagine at one time many years ago they were the places to find good deals, but over time people saw an opportunity to separate their fellow fans from their money and the trend has just escalated to the point that a lot of stuff, especially retired items, are so highly priced that they're beyond the reach of many of us. It really pisses me off when I see something that's currently out on the market, I know the MSRP, I know where I can get it for that price, but for the sake of the convention, there's a substantial markup, sometimes nigh to or over twice the MSRP and I have to wonder if it's really necessary to screw over your fellow fans that way? But, generally, they're targeting the more casual fan who may not be heavy into collecting, sees a toy that reminds him or her of their childhood, and is unaware that the toy in question is currently out there at retail for far less money. I don't agree with it, but I see it happen. Incidentally, while I've never been to a Transformers convention (yet!), I've been going to LEGO conventions for about a decade, and the same trend happens there. I've splurged, within reason, on retired sets (Classic Space!), I've seen the going prices for retired or rare Transformers on ebay, Amazon, etc, and it's definitely deflating. I mean, it's a toy, and in many cases, it's a toy that once cost $50 or less MSRP and now the price can run ten times that or well more. When prices are exorbitant like that, I figure I've lived without it this long and I can continue to do so. Paying my bills and having a comfortable, not extravagant, lifestyle is more important to me than the toy that got away.
  4. M'Kyuun
    Prowl's one of my favorite TF designs so I'm also hoping the Fairlady Zs will get the Missing Link treatment. I pretty much destroyed my original Prowl toy trying to give him some leg movement when I was a kid. I had no modding skills and I failed miserably. Anyway, the G1 TF toys don't interest me as-is, but the Missing Link treatment imbues them with the articulation I so wished they had when I was a kid and I'm definitely down for Prowl at the least. As to prices, greed and price gouging have made collecting a lot less fun, for sure.
  5. M'Kyuun
    That had the Touch and the Power- very cool.
  6. M'Kyuun
    The HoS line doesn't interest me, but I'd like this as an alternative Grimlock figure: That Mark V inspired tank mode is lovely.
  7. M'Kyuun
    Seems I hit the nail on the head. If you like what Takara's dishing out and subpar aircraft alt modes don't bother you, you win. Takara, and Hasbro by extension, are there for you. FWIW, I own my share of Transformers with egregious jet modes as well; however, I'm neither shy nor apologetic about calling out their fallacies. Moreover, I make no assertions as to what constitutes a "good Transformers toy", as, like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder. My complaint is nearly always with aircraft or spacecraft alt modes, the inaccuracies thereof and my wish that Takara would exercise greater discipline in capturing said alt modes more faithfully. I like aircraft, I spent my military career working on and around them, my standards and expectations are high accordingly, and I would like to see them executed with greater fidelity so as to make one of my favorite hobbies more enjoyable for me and other aircraft fans. I'm not asking for any more or less consideration than they give to the vast majority of their ground alt-moded bots, which are generally far closer to their RW counterparts aesthetically than those with aircraft alts. In the meantime, thank goodness for Macross and for companies like Touch Toys who fill the void with realistic-looking transforming aircraft. All things being equal, my bias isn't just aircraft related; I also enjoy construction vehicles and one of my greatest peeves with most TFs toys with said alts is that the alt modes in question do not enjoy the full functionality of their RW inspirations. Nonfunctional treads, while a bit of a bummer, is an acceptable concession. However, with new Constructicons on the forefront, the limitations of their vehicle modes is a little disheartening: Long Haul's dumper bed can't dump without taking his back wheels for the ride; while Scrapper's shovel has articulation at the base, the actual bucket is molded in place and cannot rotate; Mixmaster's drum can't rotate (part of Devastator's transformation); While Bonecrusher's shovel technically can tip up, it doesn't articulate realistically, but it's better than nothing; Scavenger's cab/boom section doesn't appear to be able to rotate, a capability the G1 toy has; Hook's boom section cannot rotate, a capability his G1 toy has. I think there's a dimension of playability lost when Transformers, or any transforming toy with a utilitarian alt mode, doesn't enjoy the functionality whereof, treads notwithstanding, although functional treads is the rare treat that completes those toys. I bought the Toyworld Constructicons specifically b/c their Bonecrusher and Scavenger had rolling treads when no other option did. Sadly, their Long Haul disappointed by connecting the back wheels to the dumper. Can't win 'em all. Shrug.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Takara 101: When designing craft that fly or go into space, there will be zero regard for accuracy or faithfulness to the actual design, or general design, of said craft. Moreover, we at Takara believe it is an imperative, a hallmark of our approach if you will, to egregiously ignore actual design traits, to pile as much robot kibble onto the underside of the craft (you know, the part that everyone on the ground actually sees when it's flying), to avoid integrating arms if at all possible (b/c TF fans LOVE jets with arms hanging off the sides), and in general put forth the minimum effort to integrate bot parts seamlessly within the confines of said craft's fuselage. Additionally, whenever possible, we will strive to have minimal to no functional landing gear, as TF fans seem very pleased when only the merest suggestion or better! no suggestion of anything recognizable as landing gear exists on our flying alt modes. Indeed, history indicates that the further we travel from accuracy regarding flying craft alts, the more praise our fans heap on them. Look no further than our magnum opus, MP-52 Starscream for its many blatant departures from accuracy in F-15 mode. It's deliciously terrible which means the fans will embrace it all the more. Or any Silverbolt figure we've ever made (we'll throw in SR-71s too), as the amount of bot that we throw on the bottom seems directly proportional to the adulation of the fandom. We must certainly be doing it right! Regarding the art, indeed, why would the engines be firing when the hand is right there in the blast zone? I guess the artist felt it made for a more dramatic look, b/c physics doesn't matter. Rule of cool, I guess.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Regarding TF1 Optimus, the OG toy was a pretty impressive bit of toy engineering especially for a company that had basically been making simple blocky bots up to that point. One huge positive that came out of the live action films was the paradigm shift in Takara's approach to designing TF toys. While I haven't messed about with my copy of leader TF1 OP in many years, I still recall the complexity and brilliance of that figure's design. I likely won't buy the next version, but I'm definitely curious to see how and if Takara can improve on that original toy.
  10. M'Kyuun
    I've never been a toy car collector, so my familiarity with most Hot Wheels and Matchbox is minimal, but I still have my copy of the M-8 Rescue Vehicle and I wouldn't mind a TF version of that. They've both done any number of beautiful sports and concept-like cars over the decades and some of those would be cool as well. The two current HW crossovers don't really do much for me (not into hot rods, and while the blue guy is better, it still doesn't grab me like some other car designs would). Prowl's one of my all-time favorite TF designs- I love the way he looks. He was also my first TF toy, so there's some nostalgia there as well. That said, I passed on "Dead Prowl", all the dead SS characters for that matter, as that's not how I want to see or remember them. If they do a slight retool of the ER, if for no other reason than to give him accurate spoiler-less feet, I'll likely pick that up. I 'm rather skeptical of a situation where a retail Unicron, done as a titan or perhaps a new larger size/budget class, could or would turn out better in any way than the Haslab, which itself is just a huge shell-former, virtually devoid of any noteworthy engineering. However, if Takara ever wants to make a hatching-egg toy, they've already laid the groundwork. I wish, for the price, that it had been closer to what Studio Cell did with their take, and given the choice again, I think I'd have passed on the Haslab in lieu of the Studio Cell. At this point, I don't think there's even a question of whether the designers like Mark and Evan are devoted fans; it comes through loud and clear, and it's one of the major reasons why I think putting them front and center in these fanstreams is such good PR for Hasbro. Moreover, it makes them feel approachable and also softens the blow a little when the toys aren't quite up to fans' expectations. At least we get a little explanation of why and how various decisions were made, how the budget affected those choices, and other background regarding the process of making a toy. I'd love to hear the metrics, as I'm curious how much of an impact doing these streams has had on sales. At the very least, I very much doubt it's hurt them. Anyway, I too respect that they're trying to put out what fans want, that they listen to the fans, and that they labor under limitations that most of us are unaware of to try and bring those wants and desires to the fandom (and the three kids below twenty who know that G1 exists and buy the toys). Product exclusivity sucks. I get why, but it sucks nonetheless.
  11. M'Kyuun
    That's interesting considering that both Menasor, which I have, and Superion, which I don't, both utilize the somewhat controversial frame system, the purpose whereof is to impart greater stability over combining the limb bots directly a la Combiner Wars. I have CW Menasor and Bruticus, and there's no argument that they suffered stability issues, whereas my copy of Legacy Menasor is far more solid and stable. So, the frame system is proven; however, by all accounts, thus far, Legacy Devastator, which combines by attaching the limb bots directly is also quite solid, rendering the necessity of the frame in doubt. Personally, I wish they'd rely less on it, if not determining a way to discard it altogether in preference of direct limb bot attachments, which is true to the OG toys. To the point then, I find it most interesting that, having handled the framed combiners and the new Devy, you feel that Devy is the more solid of the bunch. I'm curious if the rest of the fandom will share your assessment, and whether that assessment, if largely in agreement, will influence how Takara/Hasbro design any future combiners beyond those that are likely already designed for 2026.
  12. M'Kyuun
    Honestly, I didn't really notice Hook's head's black void until you guys pointed it out. I think it would have helped had his purple chest accoutrement been adjusted to sit a centimeter higher. Why they didn't do that or just make the purple thing a little larger to cover it is anybody's guess. I honestly don't think it's out of a lack of care on either Takara's or Hasbro's parts. I think they're invested (except when it comes to designing a good jet, then they're all out on smoke breaks) in doing a good job, but I'm thinking there are an abundance of factors that determine why things are done the way they are. As for the offset leg bots, Takara's not the first to do so, and while it does look a little off, I get the logic behind it. The only other option would have been to give him birthing hips with a wider thigh gap to line up the legs midway, but I'm sure that decision would have gone over like so much steaming slag. With that in mind, I think they chose the right option. Moreover, chances are there will be at least one add-on kit that addresses it and other complaints from the fandom, and beyond.
  13. M'Kyuun
    Well, I suppose the Bayformer fans are due some figs in SS. We G1 fans have been eating well, so I can't complain. G1 isn't going anywhere, either, as it's their biggest money-making theme in Transformers; the Bayformers fans can moan all they want but dems da facts. I find that particularly delicious. I'm sure, given Bruticus, that Defensor will undoubtedly be on deck for next year. If they're going to continue releasing two combiner teams a year, then it's anybody's guess which of the three remaining combiners they'll tackle. Whichever they choose, there are plenty more G1 figs coming. I've only seen elsewhere that Takara has an agreement to do updates of the old 1/55 Takatoku toys, which means potential Jetfire, Roadbuster, and Whirl figs. If so, stuff's happening that I never thought we'd see due to all the licensing issues. It's tentatively exciting.
  14. M'Kyuun
    Arkham Asylum Modular. Available Sept 1. $300 USD Preorders open.
  15. M'Kyuun
    According to Evan, they're all going to have different facial expressions. I hope they don't do a yelling face. A smirk or a grin is fine but a perma-yell face is a bit much. @mikeszekely Indeed, Brawl looks sick, thus far the best of the team, IMHO. Blast-Off is a pretty significant retool, so much so that I didn't realize it. Had they not mentioned the animation error forehead, I wouldn't have known the difference, TBH. It doesn't really bother me. Pretty disappointed that the titan is just Bayformer Grimlock. Nice for the fans, but I was really hoping for Animated Omega.
  16. M'Kyuun
    These and the new Seeker mold, which looks pretty decent, considering. The forward fuselage is still too shallow (the bottom should be just slightly above the bottom of the intake), but at least it doesn't appear to have the huge gaping hole like the Classics and the Earthrise toys. However, the arms tuck away neatly, like the aforementioned toys, and it appears to have proper exhaust augmenters, unlike the Earthrise figure. In bot mode, they managed to tuck both horizontal and vertical stabs away for a clean toonish appearance. I wish he had the 3D lower shin vents; I'm not a fan of the black flat elongated trapezoids, but alas, sigh, cartoon. Unlike the previous toys, this one has proper nose gear. Small victories. I wonder what they did for mains? Usually they're housed in the kneecaps, but they don't appear to have any openings. I hope he doesn't just rest on the kneecaps. When the rumor of an Animated Wreck-Gar was floating about, I was cautiously optimistic. I was hoping he'd be done in like manner to Optimus, skewing very much towards his original toy/toon look. Instead, we're getting a continuation of the Junkion weaponizers. Boo, Hasbro & Takara, boo. Glad I've got the original toy. Nice to see the remainder of the Combaticons minus Swindle. This is going to be a good-looking team. I'm in for a copy of TFOne Airachnid. Mike's more of the live action SS collector than I, but this Barricade (5th movie) looks interesting. For one, it's a licensed Mustang, but the draw for me is that it looks less Bayformerish and more G1ish in its aesthetics. That stacked pistol, though, is the definition of ludicrous. I hope it breaks down into two more normal looking guns.
  17. M'Kyuun
    Right there with you, at least regarding Transformers that don't transform; since the entire toy line and subsequent show were premised around that feature, and it's literally in the name, non-transforming Transformers omit the very thing that makes them so. As far as MOTU, I never had an interest so crossovers don't interest me anyway, but done in this manner, not in the least.
  18. M'Kyuun
    Agree with all plus I'm not totally digging the color choices, either. The lemony yellow looks gaudy. Moreover, it looks like they took some license with the weapons (where's the single pop-up shoulder cannon or the single big rocket launcher that sits between the shoulders in fighter?). However, if Bandai is giving them access to all the old 1/55 Takatoku designs, I wonder if there's a new Roadbuster and Whirl coming? I really want updated poseable toys.
  19. M'Kyuun
    Ah, but the joke's on whoever thinks Takara will make a decent transforming jet let alone anything nearly as efficient as the VF-1. Maverick is about as close as they'll ever come to the VF-1, and it wasn't as clean or as well executed as its inspiration. This should be interesting, though. I wonder if this their way of making a G1ish Jetfire for the main line?
  20. M'Kyuun
    Glad I checked in. Got my PO in for Seaspray on Pulse.
  21. M'Kyuun
    In a perfect world, all these non-G1 figs would get their own molds that correspond aesthetically with their particular series, theme, or line. Alas, in a world of ever-shrinking budgets and ever-increasing overhead, we are worlds apart. From the instant I saw Alchemist, I thought "Prime Bulkhead" immediately. My mind hasn't changed, and I think it'd be a wasted opportunity not to do a slight retool and crank out another somewhat G1ified Prime character. I can also see what you're seeing insofar as retooling and repainting him into Prime Ratchet. They could easily get a twofer out of this mold. A trinity if they make an Earth mode Prime Ironhide.
  22. M'Kyuun
    I fence sat on Alchemist too long before he was sold out on Pulse and I've yet to see any of the Primes in a store. Anyway, I wouldn't mind a repaint of this guy, but IMHO Animated Ratchet isn't a good fit as neither mode, nor the transformation, is right for the character as he appeared in the show or as the OG toy appeared. I have the OG toy, and honestly, I think an extensive retool/repaint of WfC Earthrise Trailbreaker would be a far better choice. I contend however, though the transformation is GREATLY simplified from the OG toys, that Alchemist would make for an excellent Prime Bulkhead. I know they already released a Legacy Prime Bulkhead, but that toy in nearly every regard shared far more similarities with Animated Bulkhead than the Prime version. All things being equal, they could just release this guy with a retooled chest and a new head and market him as Animated Bulkhead, at which point I'd consider him my modern Prime Bulkhead fig. Honestly, I wish they'd abandon the necessity of homogenizing every non-G1 look with G1 attributes. The distinctive looks are what set them apart from every other series and I wish Hasbro would honor that. Moreover, I find the very different looks of both Prime and Animated appealing and I'd rather the toys adhere faithfully to those looks without trying to pigeonhole everything into one big G1 melting pot when the original intent for Animated and Prime was to distinguish them from G1 and other series. That same mindset should inform the toys as well.
  23. M'Kyuun
    Oh, goody. I enjoy the heck outta this series even though the topics that are most near and dear, LEGO and Transformers, have already been done. I don't always care for the editing, as they make a lot of cuts in the testimonials by the people who were there for comedic effect, and I'd rather hear everything they have to say. The 80s was a special time, and I doubt, given the trends over the decades since, that anything like it will ever happen again. I think it's important to get the stories from these folks who created all these toys, many of which have become iconic. Too, these guys and gals aren't getting any younger, so the impetus for capturing their words, their memories and anecdotes is all the more significant.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Yeah, Coeur D'Alene's not that far, but I don't really enjoy driving, so it's a bit of a haul for me, as I live in Airway Heights. I don't even like driving downtown, TBH, but I make the occasional trip for appointments and infrequent visits to shops and such. I tend to stick close to home and I walk lot. Similar story for my Wally and Target today, minus the Bonecrushers. I saw them in stores briefly, but it doesn't seem like any stores here have been restocking them. But the TFOne Bees (both versions), Retro Gears, AotP Red Alert for a while but dwindling of late, the Transformers for really young kids that nobody seems to buy, and yeah, the terrible SS Q, of which there were two copies, all seem to be warming the pegs. I think if Hasbro abandoned all the kiddy Transformers toys and put those funds towards the mainline and Studio Series, y'know, the lines that us older fans are supporting with our disposable income, nostalgia, and considerable passion, we'd perhaps get some higher quality toys and stores would have far less stock that pretty much goes nigh entirely to clearance. Too, stuff like the Earthspark line could benefit as well. It doesn't have the prestige or funding of the aforementioned lines, but some interesting figs have come out of it, and I think it's good that Hasbro does lines like this just to add some variety. It'd be nice, however, if these lines weren't exclusive to a single retailer who may or may not stock the toys in a timely manner, if at all, in the case of both Earthspark Soundwave and Hashtag in my area. Out of five stores within 40 miles of my house, apparently only the Coeur D'Alene, ID store has had Soundwave, but not today. What's worse is that Hasbro Pulse doesn't have them either and their proprietary site should be the one exception to exclusivity, at the very least for members. My rant won't change anything, but it feels good to vent. It's just a bit frustrating when these things aren't available and meanwhile scalpers are charging 4-5 times MSRP for them when I should be able to walk into any of the three Targets closest to me and just pick up a copy or order one for delivery. Sigh.
  25. M'Kyuun
    So, the Coeur D'Alene Target didn't have Earthspark Soundwave. I called Target before going out there and they said they didn't have him, but I'd already gotten my wife's hopes up so we drove out to Cracker Barrel. And then we went to Target so I could look for myself. All they had were two copies of Twitch. Bummer. So I drowned my sorrow by visiting a second-hand LEGO store, buying a vintage Blacktron set and then venturing down the street to a second-hand toy store and buying a brand-new factory-sealed copy of FansToys' Hunk. The owner acquired a tidy collection of third party and official Transformers toys from a lady whose forty-something year old son died from cancer. RIP to a fellow fan. I'll give his copy of Hunk a good home until it's my turn to become one with the Matrix. Likewise. I used to see a lot of Retro Bumblebees, too, but now I mostly see Gears. I have the regular release and feel no need to double dip for a different face and deco. I do think it's cool that Hasbro's providing that option, although Retro Bee was pretty much Retro in name only. IMHO, they should've used SS86 Bee for this release as he's much closer to the G1 toy.
×
×
  • Create New...