Botbots series 4

[griffin]

It looks like there will be another 190+ Botbots for 2020, with series 4 single packs being found in America two months early (the first wave for 2019 was also early, but came out in December).

The fourth series has dark blue bubbles, and by the looks of the photos, Hasbro have fixed the flaw in the packaging that made it easy to steal the toys from the back of the card. I can't tell exactly how these ones open up, but it could just be separating the front and back halves of the card.

From a twitter user comes photos of most of the single pack figures, along with images of both sides of the enclosed checklist. (no instructions? Either it is on another piece of paper, or the toys are simple enough to not need instructions)
The packaging has 27 languages, so it's definitely global version packaging.
Also remember that the 2020 Botbots come with some rare golden coloured Botbots. Judging by the list of single-pack codes, the golden Botbots aren't randomly replacing regular figures, as two of the 24 single-packs are designated to being specific golden Botbots. That should mean collecting the set of 8 shouldn't be any more difficult than collecting previous 3-star (rare) Botbots figures.

Most are new tribes, and there are no Lost Bots this time.

Photos and the full list of names for series 4 (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/11/02/transformers-botbots-series-4-goldrush-games-blindbags-found-at-us-retail-images-checklist-399900) (a total of 69 in this series)...



(1 star – common, 2 stars – uncommon, 3 stars – rare)

Magic Tricksters: The Great Mumbo Bunblo (1), King Cheats (2), Whoopsie Cushion (1), Skitter Chatter (2), Zanzabar (1)
Movie Moguls: Movie Munchster (1), Bretzel (1), Fizzkick (1), Lumidope (2), Blurray Murray (2), Critically Complained (2)
Retro Replays: Game Older (2), Swapbox 16 (1), Snorg The Conquerer (1), Pop N. Lock (1), Loadoutsky (1), Mr. Memory Banks (2), Business Esquire (1)
Season Greeters: Bemyne (1), Incog-Eggd (1), Flare Devil (2), Zwonkey Donkey (1), Snooty Stem (1)
Sugar Shocks: DJ Fudgey Fresh (1), Cypops (2), Milton (2), Grandma Crinkles (1), Frosferatti Frostyface (2), Fancy Flutter (2), Smore N’ Nore (2), Crumbly Yumbly (2)
Los Deliciosos: Suavé Verde (1), Burrito Favorito (1), King Cubano (2), Cheff Nada (1), The Cobbler (2), Lunchador (1)
Wilderness Troop: Cam The Man (1), Disaster Master (2), Doc Kit (1), Goggly Spy P.I. (1), Ranger Lampton (1), Rusty Von Cleave (1), Miss Mixed (2)
Fresh Squeezes: Aday (1), Tricitrustups (1), Peary Peculiar (2), Peels The Monkey (1), Hiptoast (1)
Science Alliance: Dr. Flaskenstein (1), Eye-Goon (2), Face Ace (1), Starscope (1)
Home Rangers: Whirlderful (1), Bogusarus Rex (2), Rolley Doughley (1), Roarista (2), Pressure Punk (1), Heat Freak (1), Crabby Grabby (2), Windbag (2)
Winners Circle (Golden Botbots): Pop o’ Gold (3), Game Golden (3), Goldenberry D’uhnut (3), Goldsferatu (Cupcake) (3), Goldface (3), Liquid Gold (3), Gold Dexter (3), Goldie Rock (3)



Most of the 24 single-pack codes (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/11/03/transformers-botbots-series-4-blind-bags-identification-codes-list-399988)....




01 – Pop O’ Gold
02 – Miss Mixed
03 – Starscope
04 – Hiptoast
05 – Sorry Stem
06 – Zwonkey Donkey
07 – Liquid Gold
08 – Cypops
09 – Milton
10 – Movie Munchster
11 – Whirlderful
12 – Dolly Doughley
13 – Pressure Punk
14 – Burrito Favorito
15 – Cheff Nada
16 – Snorg the Conquered
17 – Soapbox 16
18 – (TBD)
19 – The Great Mumbo Bumbo
20 – King Cheats
21 – Whoopsie Cushion
22 – Disaster Master
23 – Goggly Spy P. I.
24 – Face Ace

[Paulbot]

I’m not collecting these, but is everyone else wanting to say “slow down already”? There’s been so many, so quickly!

[Autocon]

I’m not collecting these, but is everyone else wanting to say “slow down already”? There’s been so many, so quickly!

Im glad i didnt jump on these! Maybe if the price was lower.

[M-bot]

I’m not collecting these, but is everyone else wanting to say “slow down already”? There’s been so many, so quickly!

Sort of... but at the same time, I’ve seen series 1 & 2 shelfwarming for a long time and series 3 hasn’t been fully released yet. I’ve been waiting for new BotBots for what feels like ages (it probably isn’t though).

My main concern is that with series one and 2 still sitting on shelves here, there’s no impetus for retailers to put out the rest of series 3 or even order series 4. Where have I heard that story before...?

[i_amtrunks]

I love these but my daughter loves them more, I just wish that there were fewer repaints and that it wasn't so "set in stone" as to what figures you got. Its the worst of both worlds, no "blind" luck in the single packs (which is also good since they have numbers so you can avoid doubles and unwanted repaints etc) but then repeating the single pack figures in multi packs is an absolute cop out as these do not have the low enough cost or popularity to make them easy to swap doubles of.

Hopefully we get series four at some point, the first two waves have been sitting on shelves too long due to their price, everything being exactly the same and the complete lack of any marketing to make them desirable to non transformers fans.

[Tha_Phantom]

no instructions? Either it is on another piece of paper, or the toys are simple enough to not need instructions)

That's going to trigger Gok. :p


I’m not collecting these, but is everyone else wanting to say “slow down already”? There’s been so many, so quickly!

The abundance of these hasn't bothered me as it simply means more choice. Sucks if you're a completist though.

[ChlorHex]

190+ of these little bots!?
Wowzers!!!
I was just about to start as some are on clearance locally... but i think I'll sit on that now.

[griffin]

I’m not collecting these, but is everyone else wanting to say “slow down already”? There’s been so many, so quickly!

I know... and with so many other Transformers toylines running concurrently to have new items come out all of the time, they don't need each Transformers toyline to be released quickly just to keep the shelves looking new (bending to the demands of the major retailers). Spacing out the release more will allow for more product to sell before a new wave is released, because we keep missing waves here due to retailers not selling enough old stock before new waves are available to them.

I get the same feeling with the Trading Card Game, with just 4-5 months between each series, plus all of the special themed packs and exclusives... it's not enough time to get full distribution to retailers (and to wait for a sale), before the new ones are showing up globally and maybe appearing here if enough retailers sold enough stock to warrant importing more by Hasbro Australia.

As for the Botbots, I only have the Arcade pack from series 3 so far. We haven't had the single packs or 8-packs released here yet... and the stores that have the 5-packs so far haven't had them on sale yet, so I'm not keen on paying full price at Australian prices. But I also don't want to be buying up dozens of packs from Amazon, just to get a complete set. (they haven't had the single packs listed anyway... which will be difficult to acquire if they don't come here)

[M-bot]

Found Series 4 singles at Big W Karingal today - a full set - while looking for Series 3 singles.

I didn’t buy the set, only a select few.

[M-bot]

https://i.imgur.com/ZP9rudyl.jpg

I now own an official Transformer that is an angry whoopy cushion and frankly, my collecting may have just peaked.

[griffin]

The 8-packs and the "6-pack" game boxes have been listed on Entertainment Earth for JAN/FEB.
The game boxes (Claw machine and Gumball machine) don't have dark blue capsules, but are noted as being part of the "Winners Circle" series that is being featured next year.

Meanwhile, the 8-packs are listing two themes that aren't listed in the first post of this topic, from the product sheet inside the series 4 single packs.... so it is unknown what this means.

Game box case (https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/transformers-botbots-gumball-collectible-figure-wave-1-case/hse7293a)...
2x TRA BOTBOTS UNBOXING GUMBALL
2x TRA BOTBOTS SURPRISE UNBOXING CLAW

8-packs case (https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/transformers-botbots-collectible-figure-8packs-wave-4-case/hse3494d)...
4x TRA BOTBOTS 8PK TRAVEL
4x TRA BOTBOTS 8PK ASIAN FOOD

[griffin]

The 5-packs have been found in Singapore, and the official images are now on the American Hasbro site as well.

The eight 5-packs were bought up and opened (from Singapore), with the names of the toys listed (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/12/01/transformers-botbots-series-4-goldrush-games-5-packs-out-in-singapore-images-and-pack-breakdown-401487)....
(bold names are the hidden figures - only one golden figure in the 5-packs, which must have three for the 8-packs)




Science alliance 5-pack 1: Dr Flaskenstein, Grandma Crinkles, Eye-Goon, Doc Kit, Lunchador
Science alliance 5-pack 2: Peels the Monkey, Incog-eggo, Dr Flaskenstein, Starscope, Mr. Business Esquire
Science alliance 5-pack 3: Dr Flaskenstein, Aday, Loadoutsky, Starscope, Windbag
Magic tricksters 5-pack 1: The Great Mumbo Bumblo, Whoopsie Cushion, Bemyne, Critically Complained, Mr. Business Esquire
Magic tricksters 5-pack 2: Rusty Von Cleave, Peary Peculiar, Whoopsie Cushion, King Cheats, Hiptoast
Home Rangers 5-pack 1: Cam the Man, Flare Devil, Bogusaurus Rex, Rolley Doughley, Lunchador
Home Rangers 5-pack 2: Pop N. Lock, Tricitrustops, Heat Freak, Rolley Doughley, Zanzabar
Home Rangers 5-pack 3: Suave Verde, Incog-eggo, Roarista, Whirlderful, Goldie Rock



The sets on the Hasbro site...

The Home Rangers (https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/product/transformers-toys-botbots-series-4-home-rangers-5-pack-mystery-2-in-1-collectible-figures-kids-ages-5-and-up:5CF647DB-61A5-44C2-AA43-042D09E13451) (3 different packs)

The Science Alliance (https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/product/transformers-toys-botbots-series-4-science-alliance-5-pack-mystery-2-in-1-collectible-figures-kids-ages-5-and-up:C4553514-55C2-497C-98EE-DC8EE64A2C14) (3 different packs)

The Magic Tricksters (https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/product/transformers-toys-botbots-series-4-magic-tricksters-5-pack-mystery-2-in-1-collectible-figures-kids-ages-5-and-up:AC7319A7-2398-453B-80BA-184986EA3A13) (2 different packs)

We get some translucent Botbots in the fourth series. The product pages note that Series 4 has 60 Botbots, in single packs, 5-packs and 8-packs. That doesn't note the two game machine 6-packs, and we already know from the enclosed checklist that there are 69 Botbots in Series 4.
The product pages also incorrectly note that each of the three different themed 5-packs come in four different varieties, when there are only 3 of two themes, and only 2 of the other theme.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120201.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120202.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120203.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120204.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120205.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120206.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120207.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120208.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/120209.jpg

[i_amtrunks]

And just when I've convinced myself that I'm going to stop collecting...

[griffin]

The 5-packs are now in stock at Amazon America for US$10 each, with more official images to give us a look at some of the hidden figures.

Magic Tricksters (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZS66WQT/)

Science Alliance (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZS69F3S/)

Home Rangers (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZS5N6RX/)

[griffin]

With the single packs already out here and in America, and the 5-packs out in Asia and available at Amazon America, it just left the 8-packs left to be revealed... and Entertainment Earth have posted up pre-orders and images of the eight 8-packs (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/12/12/transformers-botbots-series-4-8-packs-revealed-breakdown-402154) (four Wilderness Troop packs and four Movie Moguls packs).

We don't yet know the hidden figures, but we now know what most of the figures will be in each of the multi-packs...




Wilderness Troop #1: Goggly Spy P.I., Ranger Lampton, Swapbox 16, Aday, Grandma Crinkles, Bretzel, Eye Goon, Mystery Botbot
Wilderness Troop #2: Goggly Spy P.I., Doc Kit, Tricitrustops, Suave Verde, Heat Freak, Snorg the Conqueror, Cypops, Mystery Botbot
Wilderness Troop #3: Ranger Lampton, Cam the Man, Aday, Flare Devil, DJ Fudgey Fresh, Crabby Grabby, Loadoutsky, Mystery Botbot
Wilderness Troop #4: Cam the Man, Rusty Von Cleave, Peels the Monkey, Fizzkick, DJ Fudgey Fresh, Pop N. Lock, Bemyne, Mystery Botbot
Movie Moguls #1: Bretzel, Lumidope, Chef Nada, Incog-Eggo, Peels the Monkey, Rusty Von Cleave, Pop N. Lock, Mystery Botbot
Movie Moguls #2: Fizzkick, Movie Munchster, Bogusaurus Rex, King Cubano, Ranger Lampton, Grandma Crinkles, Swapbox 16, Mystery Botbot
Movie Moguls #3: Lumidope, Critically Complained, Doc Kit, Heat Freak, Loadoutsky, Bemyne, Peary Peculiar, Mystery Botbot
Movie Moguls #4: Bretzel, Fizzkick, Tricitrustops, Snorg the Conqueror, DJ Fudgey Fresh, Roarista, Suave Verde, Mystery Botbot

[griffin]

From the retail sighting of the two game box sets in America (https://news.tfw2005.com/2020/01/06/transformers-botbots-gold-rush-games-series-4-claw-gumball-machine-surprise-boxes-found-at-us-retail-403338), we now have details on their exact contents. The good news is that they have a set assortment of six Botbots toys (with four capsules containing stickers), but the bad news is that like the Arcade 16-pack from Series 3, these two game boxes each have two different assortments, meaning that you'll have to buy all four to get all four golden Botbots (one exclusive to each pack).




Claw Machine Surprise Unboxing (6-pack #1)

Blurry Murray, Crabby Grabby, Goldface, Miss Mixed, Mr. Memory Banks, Skitter Chatter, 4 stickers


Claw Machine Surprise Unboxing (6-pack #2)

Blurry Murray, The Cobbler, Gold Dexter, Milton, Skitter Chatter, Snotty Stem, 4 stickers


Gumball Machine Surprise Unboxing (6-pack #1)

Crumbly Yumbly, Disaster Master, Fancy Flutter, Goldsferatu, Snore N'More, Movie Munchster, 4 stickers


Gumball Machine Surprise Unboxing (6-pack #2)

Fancy Flutter, Frostfetti Frostyface, Game Older, Goldenberry D'uhnut, King Cubano, Smore N'More, 4 stickers



If these show up here (which I doubt, since the Arcade sets didn't seem to sell to well here), you don't need to look for a number on the back of the packaging with these, as you can see some of the Botbots in the clear capsules through the window of the box, which should make it easy to see which set you have.

TFWiki now has almost all of the series 4 packs listed, with the exception being the 8-pack mystery capsule figures... but when they are released and the contents known, they are likely to include a listing of the recommended packs to buy, to avoid ending up with too many duplicates.

(I still don't see the need for duplicates in the multipacks... have more of the series in single packs for those wanting specific figures, but then just have the multi-packs each have it's own toys, plus the exclusive hidden figure in the capsule, so that if you want the entire series you just by the multi-packs.)

[griffin]

The Hasbro website has added the character profiles for Series 4 Botbots (https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/botbots), and the catalogue checklist (as a pdf (https://www.hasbro.com/common/documents/DAD2D6781C4311DDBD0B0800200C9A66/497D7BF333444E1F8686C3DF533E89ED.pdf)). If you want a jpg copy of the catalogue, or just want to look at the artwork for all of the series 4 toys without going through every profile page, check this TFW link (https://news.tfw2005.com/2020/01/22/transformers-botbots-series-4-goldrush-games-complete-profiles-images-online-catalog-via-hasbro-website-403932).


BTW, I managed to get one of the "gumball machine" packs from Amazon America last week, and I was amazed to find that they actually managed to make it work like a gumball machine. They managed to create a cardboard box with inner (cardboard) mechanisms to allow you to slide the front panel that has the finger-hole, to open up a hole inside the box to let one capsule to drop down and make its way to the collection point at the bottom.