New series of Generations toys coming this year?

[griffin]

We currently have the Fall of Cybertron Generations toys in release, but they were only intended to be a short-live series to cash in on the game that came out middle of last year. As such, the later waves were being released 2-3 months earlier than originally slated, as interest in the game dies off quicker than it did for WFC.

The Generations label (without the sub-title of FOC) has already recently been used for the Ultimate Giftset (Optimus, Jazz, Motorbreath, Thundercracker in the new 2012 grid packaging style), and the Asian Gen1 homage set (with the old 2010, red packaging style)... so after the FOC toys are done, will Hasbro go back to doing more Gen1 homages?

Quite possibly.

As Austin Powers once said, "How'd I miss those baby"... the latest issue of Toy Hobby Retailer magazine has been looking at me for about a month (sitting on my desk next to the computer), and I only just noticed that on the cover "Hasbro montage" (promoting it's major brands in its 90th anniversary this year), there was something to do with Transformers buried in the middle.

Taking a closer look, I realised that I didn't recognise the toy artwork at all... but knew that it was Gen1 Optimus (it is definitely NOT TFPrime or Movie Optimus), with a gun that appears to have truck parts on it (blue cab with windshield and lights, three sets of "wheels" on the side).
So, could 2013 see a Generations line with a gimmick of convertible weapons like the Powercore Combiners or Arms Micron... with the weapons turning into drone vehicles instead of Minicons/Microns?

I guess we'll find out in about a month's time at the American Toyfair. But for now, enjoy this teaser...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news2013a.jpg


And in case anyone is interested, Hasbro's anniversary logo...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news2013b.jpg

[liegeprime]

Oooh roller is the gun then? Well I for one love minicons also tm partners that came with actionmasters. If they make the new versions like of those gimmicks combined, I'm buying!! They're already doing it in Arms micron series so it's not hard to extend it to generations line but hopefully they clean up the line more instead of making it a dumping ground for varied series molds rolled up in 1 packaging.:p

[Paulbot]

Could this be connected to that (seemingly mythical) "40 Generations toys in 2013" I wonder?

[Ploughmans Lunch]

Hope it's just IDW toys, that OP looks a lot like the current IDW OP

[SharkyMcShark]

I'd like them to return to giving us bigger, more detailed figures as opposed to smaller simpler ones with big F off weapons.


Hope it's just IDW toys, that OP looks a lot like the current IDW OP

Agree 100%

[kup]

I really hope this happens and that the toys are at least on par with previous Universe/Generation releases like Jazz, Wheeljack etc. I don't want to see more cost cutted uninspired attempts like we saw for the FOC toys.

[GoktimusPrime]

I hope they'll give us toys for some of the IDW characters like Rung... and yes, even Noddy (Tappet... wateva) :p An IDWverse Metalhawk toy would be heaps kewl too IMO :)

[SharkyMcShark]

Need EJ Su F-22 Raptor seeker.

[Deonasis]

Good spotting! There are HEAPS more figures they can do.. bring it on!

[1AZRAEL1]

If they do end up releasing more generations figures that are good, i think i may be poor lol. With these and masterpieces and a few third party stuff coming out this year, as well as kreo stuff, im gonna have to move into a cardboard box :p

[Lord_Zed]

Won't someone think of the Trailbreakers? :D

And Skids and Hoist?

I don't have much faith in Hasbro's ability to deliver collector orientated toys in their main lines anymore, but I'll reserve judgment till I see me of course.

[Bidoofdude]

Yeah, my wallet is getting tortured by Has/tak and now it's starting to take blows from pokemon and lego.
I have the weird vision of RTS/United Rumble having it's head changed and guns taken off to become exo-suit Daniel/spike. That would be kinda cool, but it gives me shivers. :p

[Paulbot]

Won't someone think of the Trailbreakers? :D

And Skids and Hoist?

And Gears, my favourite Mini-Bot (one of my first ever TFs) is also long overdue a new toy. I stick to my belief that Generations Swerve should have been Gears (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=204743#post204743).

Trailbreaker/cutter has got a new toy (and that Legend toy got redone as G1 Hoist) and G1 Skids got a new Alternator toy years ago. (But all three are also high on my list as most wanted deluxe generations toys).

[5FDP]

New Generations would give me a reason to collect again.

[Shirokaze]

I would be incredibly keen for more Generations, especially since I probably won't buy a lot of Beast Hunters stuff. Just to add though; I hope the line isn't filled with characters that have already been done. Even though that Prime art looks great, I'd much rather throw cash at the IDWverse ideas some of you are throwing around :p

[Verno]

Well the last time we got a classics line they managed to wring 2 BW-inspired figures. We could hope that this could be the beginnings of a 30th Anniversary Classics line that has homages from every line.

Give me some more Beasts! Proper ones, not this Beast Hunters rubbish.

[GoktimusPrime]

Hasbro really should be releasing more classic G1 characters for Generations...

[Gouki]

Why does it always have to be G1? Because it became first? Please. There plenty of Beast Wars and G2 characters I'd rather see than some more Autobot cars from 1984 - 86, and you know that's what they'll do.

Late run characters, G1.5 or G2 characters would be very awesome, though. something different, satisfies the G1 requests (even though in the end people say "oh its not the original, it has different colours, why no original weapons, bawk bawk" generally anyway.:P) and gives lesser known members of the Lost Light crew and it's enemies franchise a chance to shine.

[Bidoofdude]

Why does it always have to be G1? Because it became first? Please. There plenty of Beast Wars and G2 characters I'd rather see than some more Autobot cars from 1984 - 86, and you know that's what they'll do.

Late run characters, G1.5 or G2 characters would be very awesome, though. something different, satisfies the G1 requests (even though in the end people say "oh its not the original, it has different colours, why no original weapons, bawk bawk" generally anyway.:P) and gives lesser known members of the Lost Light crew and it's enemies franchise a chance to shine.
It is mainly G1 characters, so we can appreciate those characters, only with better engineering and in many Classicsverse toys case, show or comic accuracy.
Toys from lines such as Beast Wars had much better engineering and were not as much bricks.

G2, AFAIK, is not as popular or iconic as G1 and Hastak would prefer to take the more popular option.
Like I have said, G1 style figures in the classics/generations line are there to be more advanced (in toy engineering) than their bricky G1 counterparts.

Sure, more G2 or BW would be nice, but it simply wouldn't be a practical and efficient approach to the line, as younger kids (target audience) can easily recognise characters in G1 form, as they look much more like the latest characters in lines such as Prime or Bayformers.
If you would like more G2, just stick to that line and get them, as they don't seem to be as popular when compared to G1, as G1 (84-86 at least) had a comic and tv series to back it up.
However, lines such as Rid have proven this to not always be correct, as that line sold extremely well, way before a cartoon was ever produced to follow.:D

Also, many of the Classics/generations toys have been made to represent a character's form in appropriate fiction, such as FOC or the classics seeker mold being faithful to the cartoon, RATHER THAN the original toy.

Pretty much what I'm trying to say is that most classicsverse figures tend to be based on their counterpart in fiction, such as the G1 cartoon or comic series, rather than the original toy release.
I can see what you're saying and many characters in lines such as BW and G2 deserve their own classicsverse figure, but it would not be faithful to anything. Maybe a redeco of it's g1 counterpart to represent G2 would be good, but I don't think Hasbro would go out of their way to produce a character that isn't as popular as others, which are in their G1-style.

A better idea would be IDW-based Generations figures, or dreamwave or something, as the toy would be faithful to their appearance in the comic, rather than their toy.

Sorry for the LONG explanation but I'm not very good at speeches. Good day.:p:D

[Gouki]

It is mainly G1 characters, so we can appreciate those characters, only with better engineering and in many Classicsverse toys case, show or comic accuracy.

I absolutely love how my Perceptor and Kup look exactly like they did in the comics and cartoon. Oh, wait they didn't. Instead, Hasbro opted for toys that look familiar (at first) with modern engineering. I've never heard that the Classics toys were specifically modelled on the cartoon or comic. Because they weren't.


Toys from lines such as Beast Wars had much better engineering and were not as much bricks.

Oh yeah, so we totally don't need any new figures because of that? I guess that there shouldn't be any further Grimlock toys ever, once FOC comes out then. Probably shouldn't have been one after Classics or even MP then.

Beast Wars had some fantastic toys and engineering, but there are definitely some updates I'd like to see and we are going to be approaching the time in the next five years where the majority of fans grew up with Beast Wars rather than G1. well maybe not majority, but it is going to skew in the favour of the Beasts.


G2, AFAIK, is not as popular or iconic as G1 and Hastak would prefer to take the more popular option.

At general retail it doesn't really matter. The kids will by the cooler looking ones. But I suppose you do raise a good point. Thunderwing, Octane and Drift are insanely iconic.


Like I have said, G1 style figures in the classics/generations line are there to be more advanced (in toy engineering) than their bricky G1 counterparts.

No. The classics figures are there to present old characters in modern stylings. To children. If the bricky G1 counterparts sold off the shelves today, they would be what was getting released. The more varied characters Hasbro sell, the more characters they take risks on.


Sure, more G2 or BW would be nice, but it simply wouldn't be a practical and efficient approach to the line, as younger kids (target audience) can easily recognise characters in G1 form, as they look much more like the latest characters in lines such as Prime or Bayformers.

Okay. With Prime and the Bay movies (seriously saying Bayformers just makes you look like an idiot--and that's directed at everyone who uses it), they're not recognising the characters you grew up with in new forms, you are. They're recognising the characters that they grew up with. They just happen to reuse the names. It's kind of like how to many people Robin is Dick, and to many (with better taste :P) Robin is Tim.


If you would like more G2, just stick to that line and get them, as they don't seem to be as popular when compared to G1, as G1 (84-86 at least) had a comic and tv series to back it up.

Womp womp. G1 didn't end in 86, you can argue all you want but it didn't. And so if I don't fall in line with 'G1 is the best ever at everything', I should just buy the old bricky toys and accept that? Oh please. If you like G1 so much you should just stick to that line. See how reductive that reasoning is? G2 is a rich field for Hasbro to plow. Just like BW. And there's more than enough room for all the lines; because it's not about your childhood characters. It's about making characters for the childhoods of today; and only using G1 is restricting that, when really, they've already scraped the barrel for easily recogniseable, iconic G1 characters without breaking the (silly) no Voyager rule or risking a massive loss. I mean, yeah I would love a Chromedome or a Trailbreaker or a Skids myself, but would you really call them iconic?

(Though that said, if Bruticus and Ruination do well, I have a feeling we will see a Devastator and Defensor in the future).


However, lines such as Rid have proven this to not always be correct, as that line sold extremely well, way before a cartoon was ever produced to follow.:D

Yes, and outside of the Movie, Animated and Prime, the Transformers lines have lacked fiction and that hasn't stopped them from being successful.


Also, many of the Classics/generations toys have been made to represent a character's form in appropriate fiction, such as FOC or the classics seeker mold being faithful to the cartoon, RATHER THAN the original toy.

No they haven't. There was the Universe toys which had Cheetor, Dinobot and Hot Shot as "blah blah series" figures, but outside of FOC (which was just poor marketing to release the figures well after the game had left the publics conscious), they have just been old characters distilled into a modern engineered toy.


Pretty much what I'm trying to say is that most classicsverse figures tend to be based on their counterpart in fiction, such as the G1 cartoon or comic series, rather than the original toy release.

Remember the time in the cartoon Megatron turned into a Nerf gun? Bumblebee used the Wavecrasher? Grimlock was tiny? No neither do I. The classics figures are Aligned before there was even an Aligned continuity. They weren't based on one specific fictional appearance. They took everything and melted it down into a modern figure that would look catch the eyes of kids.


I can see what you're saying and many characters in lines such as BW and G2 deserve their own classicsverse figure, but it would not be faithful to anything. Maybe a redeco of it's g1 counterpart to represent G2 would be good, but I don't think Hasbro would go out of their way to produce a character that isn't as popular as others, which are in their G1-style.

How would it not be faithful to anything? So by your logic Cybertron, for example was an abject failure because it wasn't just G1 figures? So, looking at the list of Classics released you would really say Jetfire is iconic? Really? So lots of people other than Transformer fans would recognise him easily? Same for Ramjet? The minicon packs? Or (moving on to Universe) Onslaught or Acid Storm or Blades or Heavy Load? Think hard now.


A better idea would be IDW-based Generations figures, or dreamwave or something, as the toy would be faithful to their appearance in the comic, rather than their toy.

'Dreamwave' and 'better idea' are unmixy. Also, no they wouldn't be a better idea. You either have them loking boxy, awful and designs ten years old or you have them all based on comic appearances that change every single time there is a reboot (or in the case of certain artists, every time someone else takes over from them).

[Bidoofdude]

@ "I absolutely love how my Perceptor and Kup look exactly like they did in the comics and cartoon. Oh, wait they didn't. Instead, Hasbro opted for toys that look familiar (at first) with modern engineering. I've never heard that the Classics toys were specifically modelled on the cartoon or comic. Because they weren't."

I never said they were solely and completely based on their various forms. Like you said, they are new takes on older, recognisable characters, BUT (hehe I have a butt) they still utilise the toy making technology of today.

Oh yeah, so we totally don't need any new figures because of that? I guess that there shouldn't be any further Grimlock toys ever, once FOC comes out then. Probably shouldn't have been one after Classics or even MP then.
FOC Grimlock is based on a particular form of his, which of course is his game model. (close to it) What I was saying was that toys such as Beast Wars were much closer to their cartoon counterparts than 84-86 transformers toys, which makes them of lesser priority for an update.

"Beast Wars had some fantastic toys and engineering, but there are definitely some updates I'd like to see and we are going to be approaching the time in the next five years where the majority of fans grew up with Beast Wars rather than G1. well maybe not majority, but it is going to skew in the favour of the Beasts."
Yes, there are many who grew up with Beast Wars and [I]some[/I updates are in order, but I am sure most fans and kids alike would prefer vehicles over beasts, as there are many more basis' for them to grow up with, which kind of makes BW in the minority, seeing as there are many more shows featuring vehicles rather than beasts, which brings me to the point that fans are not all of one age group and the fanbase varies hugely, which makes it quite hard to reassure yourself of a certain majority. God that was a long sentence.:mad::p
As has been stated in various threads about various topics, there are many fans who do not make themselves visible to anyone else and keep their collection/fandom to themselves. Sorry for my rant there.:p:cool:




No. The classics figures are there to present old characters in modern stylings. To children. If the bricky G1 counterparts sold off the shelves today, they would be what was getting released. The more varied characters Hasbro sell, the more characters they take risks on.

Yes, that is correct, as you and I have both stated.
However, children would rather, IMHO and others' opinions, take a character they have seen in a cartoon or comic, rather than a character featured in a game for those of a mature age, or an old cartoon/movie/comic.


Okay. With Prime and the Bay movies (seriously saying Bayformers just makes you look like an idiot--and that's directed at everyone who uses it), they're not recognising the characters you grew up with in new forms, you are. They're recognising the characters that they grew up with. They just happen to reuse the names. It's kind of like how to many people Robin is Dick, and to many (with better taste :P) Robin is Tim.

Yes, they reuse names to a large extent. Most of the time (though not all the time) the character with the reused name looks or acts similar to their older counterpart. And yes, why I am an idiot for saying that, but I'm not stupid.:p
Anyway, you just said Bayformers and I don't see why we shouldn't use it, as we said G1 before it was official and classicsverse. So it makes sense, as it is telling us the basis of the continuity it represents, like G1 or the Unicron Trilogy.

[quote]If you would like more G2, just stick to that line and get them, as they don't seem to be as popular when compared to G1, as G1 (84-86 at least) had a comic and tv series to back it up.[quote]

Womp womp. G1 didn't end in 86, you can argue all you want but it didn't. And so if I don't fall in line with 'G1 is the best ever at everything', I should just buy the old bricky toys and accept that? Oh please. If you like G1 so much you should just stick to that line. See how reductive that reasoning is? G2 is a rich field for Hasbro to plow. Just like BW. And there's more than enough room for all the lines; because it's not about your childhood characters. It's about making characters for the childhoods of today; and only using G1 is restricting that, when really, they've already scraped the barrel for easily recogniseable, iconic G1 characters without breaking the (silly) no Voyager rule or risking a massive loss. I mean, yeah I would love a Chromedome or a Trailbreaker or a Skids myself, but would you really call them iconic?
I explicitly stated at least 84-86, which means that I am only referring to a certain part, so go on and rant all you want. I see what you mean with the point that I made also applying to G1, but G2 or beast Wars aren't the main basis for the characters used today.
Look at Prime Ratchet. Extremely uncanny G1 Ratchet resemblance. So much resemblance that he could pass of as a classics ratchet if the cartoon never happened and the toy was still produced.

(Though that said, if Bruticus and Ruination do well, I have a feeling we will see a Devastator and Defensor in the future).
Hopefully, yes we will.:cool:


Yes, and outside of the Movie, Animated and Prime, the Transformers lines have lacked fiction and that hasn't stopped them from being successful.
Yes, as they mostly resemble an older form of a character. The thing is, kids, like teens and (crappy) music today, will lap up these toys regardless of any other factors, BW, G2 or not. Cartoons or comics are just boosters for sales.

No they haven't. There was the Universe toys which had Cheetor, Dinobot and Hot Shot as "blah blah series" figures, but outside of FOC (which was just poor marketing to release the figures well after the game had left the publics conscious), they have just been old characters distilled into a modern engineered toy.
Yes, but those were really just things to make people happy on the 25th anniversary, as most fans would rejoice that year. Most of those toys were pretty bad anyway, although Dinobot's not half bad. Foc went as fast as it could and most of its character models were heavily based off of their G1 forms. You don't see a huge metal bat grab hold of a tentacle-thingo and fly into space and hit another ship and rebuild a dinosaur, do you?


Remember the time in the cartoon Megatron turned into a Nerf gun?
YEAH! That was classics. -_- (kidding here):p
Bumblebee used the Wavecrasher? Grimlock was tiny? No neither do I. The classics figures are Aligned before there was even an Aligned continuity. They weren't based on one specific fictional appearance. They took everything and melted it down into a modern figure that would look catch the eyes of kids.

These figures, IMO, were something on the side (always were) of all the Cybertron cartoon mish-mash. They were, I think, something to stop fans from complaining, or at least to keep them buying the brand, even if they were in the minority of people buying transformers, when compared to children. They were close enough to their G1 counterparts so that they would be bought by anyone, even the casual guy who remembers TFs from their childhood and may recognise a specific character. Sure, kids may buy them, but that doesn't mean that they resemble any less of their popular counterparts.
Like it or not, G1 is very popular, probably slightly more than BW and Has/tak, if they had half a brain (in this case they do- pretend at least:p)they would release toys based on the more popular line. Whether you like it or not, it's more popular, for a variety of weird and wacky reasons. :cool:

I can see what you're saying and many characters in lines such as BW and G2 deserve their own classicsverse figure, but it would not be faithful to anything. Maybe a redeco of it's g1 counterpart to represent G2 would be good, but I don't think Hasbro would go out of their way to produce a character that isn't as popular as others, which are in their G1-style.



[B]'Dreamwave' and 'better idea' are unmixy. Also, no they wouldn't be a better idea. You either have them loking boxy, awful and designs ten years old or you have them all based on comic appearances that change every single time there is a reboot (or in the case of certain artists, every time someone else takes over from them).
Yes, I shouldn't have said Dreamwave, I just wanted something else to add to make what I was saying better. But IDW is good.:D
And if there is a reboot, in a popular series like IDW, then it's time for a new figure!
Overall, ask yourself this. Would you rather have an Optimus Prime figure with the newest technology that looks like something you know and like, as an update, or would you like something you've never seen before. Sure, there's creativity in the unseen one, but that's what nostalgia does to you. Screws you up. It makes us buy pieces of plastic at inflated prices and we can't stop.
We may like it, but we have to live with it, whether we like it or not.:cool:
Sorry for the rant. Glad if you read it all.:D

[SuspectimusPrime]

While we're talking about potential Generations IDW character releases, I just found out that Takara has beaten Hasbro to the chase with Classics IDW Senator Ratbat (http://www.capturedprey.com/store/takara_generations_tg20_ratbat) in its shiny painted goodness, a la Classics Scourge mould!

Just look at that headsculpt and those paint apps! What a thing of beauty! :):) Also - fingers crossed for Classics IDW Senator Shockwave ;)

[Bidoofdude]

While we're talking about potential Generations IDW character releases, I just found out that Takara has beaten Hasbro to the chase with Classics IDW Senator Ratbat (http://www.capturedprey.com/store/takara_generations_tg20_ratbat) in its shiny painted goodness, a la Classics Scourge mould!

Just look at that headsculpt and those paint apps! What a thing of beauty! :):) Also - fingers crossed for Classics IDW Senator Shockwave ;)
That was in the news a couple days ago. -_-
Points for finding out though!:D

[SuspectimusPrime]

That was in the news a couple days ago. -_-
Points for finding out though!:D

Yes just realised TFW2005 had it first, but it's news to me! Was just thinking about Ratbat wallpapers for after getting a Ratbat-like cassette iPhone cover when I Googled that up :p

[Paulbot]

Why does it always have to be G1? Because it became first? Please. There plenty of Beast Wars and G2 characters I'd rather see than some more Autobot cars from 1984 - 86, and you know that's what they'll do.

Late run characters, G1.5 or G2 characters would be very awesome, though. something different, satisfies the G1 requests (even though in the end people say "oh its not the original, it has different colours, why no original weapons, bawk bawk" generally anyway.:P) and gives lesser known members of the Lost Light crew and it's enemies franchise a chance to shine.

I'm all for variety, heck I'd like to see a new BW Rhinox, BM Jetstorm, RID Sky-Byte, Armada Scavenger, Cybertron Overhaul (and many others from the 80s and 90s too) but see no reason to argue for leaving out the last few Autobot cars/minibots since there's only four needed to complete the set. (All of whom are aboard the Lost Light actually, one's even a major character.)

There's allegedly 40 toys, so if four of them are the remaining Autobots (and a fifth is Blitzwing) there's still 35 other figures that could be in the mix.



With Prime and the Bay movies (seriously saying Bayformers just makes you look like an idiot--and that's directed at everyone who uses it)

No it doesn't. I prefer Movieverse myself, but Bayformers is well established shorthand.

[Bidoofdude]

but see no reason to argue for leaving out the last few Autobot cars/minibots since there's only four needed to complete the set. (All of whom are aboard the Lost Light actually, one's even a major character.)

There's allegedly 40 toys, so if four of them are the remaining Autobots (and a fifth is Blitzwing) there's still 35 other figures that could be in the mix.

And I don't even have 1 Autobot car...:p

[Gouki]

No it doesn't. I prefer Movieverse myself, but Bayformers is well established shorthand.

Yeah, well established by people who think they're being clever and use it as a 'subtle' insult. Not saying everyone does or that it happens here, it's just been done enough to sour me on the use in general.


Look at Prime Ratchet. Extremely uncanny G1 Ratchet resemblance. So much resemblance that he could pass of as a classics ratchet if the cartoon never happened and the toy was still produced.

Funnily enough I do use Prime Ratchet as my Classics Ratchet--mostly because the Universe one was ugly as sin. But that's because I repurpose a lot of toys/am crazy (Cybertron Defense Hot Shot is now a G1 Hot Shot). But I know full well that he isn't my Ratchet he's the next gens Ratchet I stole.;) He's also a hard one because he's so inspired by the Animated Ratchet, I feel, who was, of course, very inspired by the G1 Ratchet as a grumpy man.

He's also one of the Quintet (Optimus, Bee, Ratchet, Starscream and Megs, IMO) so doesn't count.:P Although, Ratchet always had a big role in the comics, I never thought he was really an overly important/iconic character until the movie, and then suddenly he was everywhere.


Would you rather have an Optimus Prime figure with the newest technology that looks like something you know and like, as an update, or would you like something you've never seen before.

The unknown one. But my view could be coloured because as a kid the only two 'big' characters I ever had were Optimus and Grimlock, every other Autobot and Decpticon were ones I'd had very little experience with. A side effect of growing up on the wrong side of G1/G2 and Beast Wars I guess lol

I don't want Hasbro to completely ignore G1, I just don't want them to focus on it to the exclusion of others.

So we're all agreed that Hasbro should share the love to all 'Generations' of the franchise then?:P

[Paulbot]

The unknown one. But my view could be coloured because as a kid the only two 'big' characters I ever had were Optimus and Grimlock, every other Autobot and Decpticon were ones I'd had very little experience with. A side effect of growing up on the wrong side of G1/G2 and Beast Wars I guess lol

I'm reminded of some recent discussion that there's not enough "new" characters coming in and then when there are some still have touches of G1 homage to them (like Prime's Breakdown or Airachnid's BW-ish homage). Whereas growing up in G1, each year brought new characters and leaders with only a few repeats until the Action Master years, and I'd like to see that return. It was the Beast Wars era where Hasbro really got into the habit of releasing the same (show) characters in new toys each year.

The "Generations" line should include anything from the history of the series, while the mainline brings in new ideas and characters. Sadly TF:Prime's about to give us all the same characters again with new beast hunting costumes :rolleyes:

[Lord_Zed]

While we're talking about potential Generations IDW character releases, I just found out that Takara has beaten Hasbro to the chase with Classics IDW Senator Ratbat (http://www.capturedprey.com/store/takara_generations_tg20_ratbat) in its shiny painted goodness, a la Classics Scourge mould!

Just look at that headsculpt and those paint apps! What a thing of beauty! :):) Also - fingers crossed for Classics IDW Senator Shockwave ;)

He looks nice being a repaint of a mold that was created before The Great Cheapening, but I worry for the future Generations toys. The FOC toys with their smaller stature, decreased paint aps (locally at least) and lower part count and complexity feel really lacking.

[SuspectimusPrime]

He looks nice being a repaint of a mold that was created before The Great Cheapening, but I worry for the future Generations toys. The FOC toys with their smaller stature, decreased paint aps (locally at least) and lower part count and complexity feel really lacking.

I really hope the cheapening is confined to FOC/Prime toys and when HasTak eventually returns to G1 Classics/Generations (to supplement the next movie?) they would produce at their previous benchmarks again.

[Gouki]

He looks nice being a repaint of a mold that was created before The Great Cheapening, but I worry for the future Generations toys. The FOC toys with their smaller stature, decreased paint aps (locally at least) and lower part count and complexity feel really lacking.

I only have FOC Prime so far, but the worst thing about it is hands down the size. Really that's my only problem with it. I love the design, the transformations, the alt mode. It fits together to smoothly and looks fantastic. But it's tiny!

Also don't understand the massive missed opportunity to include the melee weapons from the game alongside the guns.

[Bidoofdude]

Yeah, well established by people who think they're being clever and use it as a 'subtle' insult. Not saying everyone does or that it happens here, it's just been done enough to sour me on the use in general.



Funnily enough I do use Prime Ratchet as my Classics Ratchet--mostly because the Universe one was ugly as sin. But that's because I repurpose a lot of toys/am crazy (Cybertron Defense Hot Shot is now a G1 Hot Shot). But I know full well that he isn't my Ratchet he's the next gens Ratchet I stole.;) He's also a hard one because he's so inspired by the Animated Ratchet, I feel, who was, of course, very inspired by the G1 Ratchet as a grumpy man.

He's also one of the Quintet (Optimus, Bee, Ratchet, Starscream and Megs, IMO) so doesn't count.:P Although, Ratchet always had a big role in the comics, I never thought he was really an overly important/iconic character until the movie, and then suddenly he was everywhere.



The unknown one. But my view could be coloured because as a kid the only two 'big' characters I ever had were Optimus and Grimlock, every other Autobot and Decpticon were ones I'd had very little experience with. A side effect of growing up on the wrong side of G1/G2 and Beast Wars I guess lol

I don't want Hasbro to completely ignore G1, I just don't want them to focus on it to the exclusion of others.

So we're all agreed that Hasbro should share the love to all 'Generations' of the franchise then?:P

Yes, we do all agree. Glad we could come to a compromise on that.:D Other series' are fine, just still have a lot of G1.
I'm interested to where this year's line goes.:cool:

[Bidoofdude]

I only have FOC Prime so far, but the worst thing about it is hands down the size. Really that's my only problem with it. I love the design, the transformations, the alt mode. It fits together to smoothly and looks fantastic. But it's tiny!

Also don't understand the massive missed opportunity to include the melee weapons from the game alongside the guns.

I actually think Shockwave is actually quite decently sized and is a good homage to boot.:cool: Prime is undersized,yes, but you (I at least) don't seem to notice the size on the others, seeing as the others such as Shockwave or Brawl are about that sized when compared to the others.:D

[Jinto]

Hope it's just IDW toys, that OP looks a lot like the current IDW OP

Heck yes. Loving that style.

[Lord_Zed]

I actually think Shockwave is actually quite decently sized and is a good homage to boot.:cool: Prime is undersized,yes, but you (I at least) don't seem to notice the size on the others, seeing as the others such as Shockwave or Brawl are about that sized when compared to the others.:D

I don't have Prime, but I do have Shockwave, and I'm not really a fan even though he is arguably my favourite Decpticon character.

I find the figure small and wiry. I particularly dislike his skinny hollow legs. It feels like they could have improved his legs by maybe making them unfold to accommodate his weapon, or adding some extra unfolding panels but instead they went for cheap simple chicken legs. I also don't understand why they couldn't give him waist articulation? While I'm sure the designers haven't lost there knack it feels like the guys from the budget department are hovering over their shoulders forcing them to reduce their total parts count for the FOC toys.

Consequently when I stand Shockwave next to the Generations toys of yesteryear he just doesn't stand up, and looks like a new budget class. I think I would have actually preferred a moderate price increase that allowed Hasbro to continue making toys to their old standards rather than this reduction.


And don't get me started on the Combaticons. :(

[The_Damned]

I don't have Prime, but I do have Shockwave, and I'm not really a fan even though he is arguably my favourite Decpticon character.

I find the figure small and wiry. I particularly dislike his skinny hollow legs. It feels like they could have improved his legs by maybe making them unfold to accommodate his weapon, or adding some extra unfolding panels but instead they went for cheap simple chicken legs. I also don't understand why they couldn't give him waist articulation? While I'm sure the designers haven't lost there knack it feels like the guys from the budget department are hovering over their shoulders forcing them to reduce their total parts count for the FOC toys.

Consequently when I stand Shockwave next to the Generations toys of yesteryear he just doesn't stand up, and looks like a new budget class. I think I would have actually preferred a moderate price increase that allowed Hasbro to continue making toys to their old standards rather than this reduction.


And don't get me started on the Combaticons. :(

hmm you must have gotten a different foc shockwave to me as he fits in great on my classicverse decepticon shelf right next to scourge:confused: and i liked him that much i had to buy two one to keep sealed for ever and one to have on show.

[Jay-Tron]

Me personally, I just want the rest of the Dinobots released under the Classics/Universe line. We have Grimlock, now to have the rest of them released would just make my day.

[The_Damned]

Me personally, I just want the rest of the Dinobots released under the Classics/Universe line. We have Grimlock, now to have the rest of them released would just make my day.

yea that would be great

[SuspectimusPrime]

I don't have Prime, but I do have Shockwave, and I'm not really a fan even though he is arguably my favourite Decpticon character.

I find the figure small and wiry. I particularly dislike his skinny hollow legs. It feels like they could have improved his legs by maybe making them unfold to accommodate his weapon, or adding some extra unfolding panels but instead they went for cheap simple chicken legs. I also don't understand why they couldn't give him waist articulation? While I'm sure the designers haven't lost there knack it feels like the guys from the budget department are hovering over their shoulders forcing them to reduce their total parts count for the FOC toys.

Consequently when I stand Shockwave next to the Generations toys of yesteryear he just doesn't stand up, and looks like a new budget class. I think I would have actually preferred a moderate price increase that allowed Hasbro to continue making toys to their old standards rather than this reduction.


And don't get me started on the Combaticons. :(

Perhaps they overblew the Shockwave budget on DOTM Shockwave :p


Me personally, I just want the rest of the Dinobots released under the Classics/Universe line. We have Grimlock, now to have the rest of them released would just make my day.

Hopefully they will get past Swoop/Snarl this time around :)

[Trent]

hmm you must have gotten a different foc shockwave to me as he fits in great on my classicverse decepticon shelf right next to scourge:confused: and i liked him that much i had to buy two one to keep sealed for ever and one to have on show.

Same. While he is a little on the small side, he still fits in quite well wit the rest of my classics Con shelf. He is actually the same size as the seeker mold:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/B29CE505-B724-43E6-AC13-40C1C5F04C5D-122-00000013D39425FA.jpg

[kup]

I don't have Prime, but I do have Shockwave, and I'm not really a fan even though he is arguably my favourite Decpticon character.

I find the figure small and wiry. I particularly dislike his skinny hollow legs. It feels like they could have improved his legs by maybe making them unfold to accommodate his weapon, or adding some extra unfolding panels but instead they went for cheap simple chicken legs. I also don't understand why they couldn't give him waist articulation? While I'm sure the designers haven't lost there knack it feels like the guys from the budget department are hovering over their shoulders forcing them to reduce their total parts count for the FOC toys.

Consequently when I stand Shockwave next to the Generations toys of yesteryear he just doesn't stand up, and looks like a new budget class. I think I would have actually preferred a moderate price increase that allowed Hasbro to continue making toys to their old standards rather than this reduction.


And don't get me started on the Combaticons. :(

I couldn't agree more. I would also pay more for quality than these simplistic borderline '$2 shop' toys we are getting from Hasbro as of late.

Shockwave is among the best of the FOC toys but he still doesn't stand up at all when you compare him to Hasbro released toys of just a year or so ago.

[1orion2many]

Same. While he is a little on the small side, he still fits in quite well wit the rest of my classics Con shelf. He is actually the same size as the seeker mold:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/B29CE505-B724-43E6-AC13-40C1C5F04C5D-122-00000013D39425FA.jpg

He does fit in with the seekers but I always consider him more in line with a Voyager sized toy, I only recently picked him up on special :o

[Hursticon]

Some Beast Wars/Machines &/or IDW/Comic based characters would be much appreciated; Wouldn't mind seeing some modern R.I.D & Armada interpretations either. :cool:

[Bidoofdude]

I can imagine a few IDW or comics figures that would do nicely:
FOC/Spotlight Thundercracker (would work for either line)
Blitzwing (also in the new spotlight-pretty much just cartoon)
Shockwave (Shockblast or Foc Shockwave redeco in G1 colours)
G1 Comics Galvatron (Universe/Henkei Galvatron grey redeco with purple highlights)
IDW Galvatron (Heavy retool of Cybertronian WFC Megatron) OR WFC/FOC Galvatron (head and weapon retool)
Robots in Disguise Ironhide (WFC/FOC design- new mold)

Just some ideas.:):cool:

[griffin]

At least we know what the artwork was for now (http://cdn.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/4/0/5/9/7/A3383-OPTIMUS-Robot-Mode_1360456531.jpg). (from here (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations-toy-fair-2013-legends-official-images-176851/))

Just a shame that that great bit of art wasn't for a larger size toy.

[Sinnertwin]

I had a really rough day at work. The news and pics from the Toy Fair has made me a happy little camper again.

[SuspectimusPrime]

At least we know what the artwork was for now (http://cdn.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/4/0/5/9/7/A3383-OPTIMUS-Robot-Mode_1360456531.jpg). (from here (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations-toy-fair-2013-legends-official-images-176851/))

Just a shame that that great bit of art wasn't for a larger size toy.

I wish they continued the PowerCore Combiners line, with just the 2-pack commanders keeping the Targetmaster and dropping the combiner gimmick.

It's great that we're getting another official Roller mould (who's still a farcry from IDW Roller :p), but these triple changing partners have robot modes that take several engineering steps backwards to Micromaster/Actionmaster partner days.