The Thread of Interesting, Mind Blowing Transformers Trivia and Facts.

[CryptiK]

ok simple as the title says some interesting things you have noticed while watching the TV series or purchasing the toys(don't use TFwiki its cheating).

I'll start:

Animated:

Grimlock's transformation in the Animated Toy is the exact same as the transformation on the ad bumper he appears in during G1 Madman DVD's

Transformers: RiD

the only new design on the Predicons team is Megatron the others are just copies of BW's Transmetal toys Slapper was Spittor, GasSkunk was Stinkbomb, Dark Scream was Night Glider and Sky Bite is a redco of CyberShark.

Same thing can be said about the sub group of the Preds the Decpticons the comandos are just redco/recoloured Combaticons the only original Design is Scourge and even then he steals his design from someone.

yes these may be well know but I needed something to start the thread with.

[SilverDragon]

Animated Grimlock's character model has the button from his toy which activates his jaw gimmick.

[Seraphim Prime]

the only original Design is Scourge and even then he steals his design from someone.

Scourge was actually a repaint as well - he was a repaint of G2 Laser Optimus Prime. An awesome mould when it was made, and still held up when it was rereleased in RiD.


And for a fact, even as Hasbro continues to reuse and tribute to old names and characters, they have never reused the name Windbreaker. I wonder why...

[CryptiK]

Scourge was actually a repaint as well - he was a repaint of G2 Laser Optimus Prime. An awesome mould when it was made, and still held up when it was rereleased in RiD.


And for a fact, even as Hasbro continues to reuse and tribute to old names and characters, they have never reused the name Windbreaker. I wonder why...Yeah names like Slapper and Slag will never be used again.. hidden meanings they have :)

[Paulbot]

This seems like a good place for this tidbit:

According to the latest Collectors' Club Magazine, the club's exclusive gestalt is called Nexus Prime "despite what was listed on the instructions and the title on [#30's] profile".

[Kyle]

This seems like a good place for this tidbit:

According to the latest Collectors' Club Magazine, the club's exclusive gestalt is called Nexus Prime "despite what was listed on the instructions and the title on [#30's] profile".

:D:D:D

[GoktimusPrime]

Flamefeather is the only Decepticon to have ever been expelled from the Decepticon Military Academy for excessive violent behaviour.

[Sky Shadow]

Despite being a 1985 toy and a 'geewun' character, it took 67 issues before Inferno's first appearance in a US G1 Marvel comic - 'Rhythms of Darkness'. (Which was set in 'the future'. 2009. Also known to us as 'the past')

[Sleeve]

This seems like a good place for this tidbit:

According to the latest Collectors' Club Magazine, the club's exclusive gestalt is called Nexus Prime "despite what was listed on the instructions and the title on [#30's] profile".

Well that should stop all those people ordering sexual aids mistakenly being sent a combining, transforming robot.

[Jhiaxus]

Along the same lines as Sky Shadow's:

G1 Steeljaw never appeared in a US Marvel TF comic. His only US Marvel appearance (apart from Transformers Universe) was in the G.I. Joe portions of the Generation 2 TF/Joe crossover... where Steeljaw died.

--Jhiaxus.
(He did appear in the UK comics though -- as did Inferno.)

[GoktimusPrime]

The Jumpstarters and Deluxe Autobots also never appeared in the US comics, only in the UK comics as members of the famed Wreckers. :)

[Sky Shadow]

If you go by toy instructions, the first accessorising Transformer who could legitimately use all the accessories he comes with in both robot and vehicle modes was G1 Swindle.

[GoktimusPrime]

In Japan Cosmos is called "Adams," named after George Adamski (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Adamski) whose UFO photos are the basis/inspiration for Cosmos' alt mode.

Pictures of Adamski UFOs:
http://www.freewebs.com/buitenaardsleven/adamski%20ufo.gif
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/47john_lear/04images/Venusians/adamski.jpg
http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/adamski_1.jpg

[Lord_Zed]

In the Marvel comic universe Fangry's Nebulan partner Brisko was an ex-cartographer and is the only known dark skinned Nebulan.

He also sports a Lando Calrissian like mustache. :p

[Jhiaxus]

The Jumpstarters and Deluxe Autobots also never appeared in the US comics, only in the UK comics as members of the famed Wreckers. :)

Actually, you're mistaken here.

My memory, and the Transformers wiki, tell me that actually Twin Twist appeared in one of the US comics -- in the story Spacehikers, in issue 36.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Twin_Twist#Marvel_Comics_continuity
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Spacehikers!
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Twintwistspacehikers.jpg

It's understandable that you'd miss it. Because it's a tiny little cameo. But it's there.

--Jhiaxus.

[5FDP]

ok simple as the title says some interesting things you have noticed while watching the TV series or purchasing the toys(don't use TFwiki its cheating).



Actually, you're mistaken here.
My memory, and the Transformers wiki, tell me that actually Twin Twist appeared in one of the US comics -- in the story Spacehikers, in issue 36

I call shenanigans :rolleyes:

[Sky Shadow]

The very first wave of Transformers in 1984 already contained repaints.
- (Wave 1: included Yellow Bumblebee and Red Bumblebee, Red Cliffjumper and Yellow Cliffjumper.)

So did the second:
- (Wave 2: included Rumble and Frenzy.)

The third wave had retools:
- (Wave 3: included Bluestreak and Prowl, Ironhide and Ratchet.)

The fourth was only recolours:
- (Wave 4: Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker.)

Then they released a recolour of a Wave 2 toy:
- (Wave 5: included Buzzsaw, recolour of Laserbeak.)

So the only wave of Transformers released in 1984 without a recolour or retool was Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Which is why it's always funny when Geewun fans bemoan the number of repaints and retools in modern Transformers franchises. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually, you're mistaken here.
My memory, and the Transformers wiki, tell me that actually Twin Twist appeared in one of the US comics -- in the story Spacehikers, in issue 36

No one knows how Twin Twist got there.
Cos that's not Twin Twist, it's Salt-Man Z (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Salt-Man_Z)!! ;) :p

My theory is plausible damnit -- plausible!!!

[SilverDragon]

In one of the G1 comics introducing the various -masters characters (Broken Glass!), Cyclonus gets misdrawn as a scaled up Nightstick, his own Targetmaster. Considering how obvious this error would be to the UK readership, who were very familiar with Cyclonus as he was rather prominent in comparison to the US comic, this mistake was turned into a new character, Krunix. However, in the Titan reprinting of that comic, Krunix became Cyclonus once more.

Speaking of Titan, their monthly Transformers comic had Movie Starscream answering reader mail. While he wasn't a particularly nice answerer (he sentenced one letter-writer to be melted into coolant for Autobot/Maximal sympathy), there were some moments which impressed him, such as one reader who made a version of the Hoover Dam scene, complete with Megatron frozen in ice.

Later, in the RotF comic, Ironhide and Barricade collectively answer the mail.

[GoktimusPrime]

I recently acquired my first Korean Beast Wars Second toys (Autolauncher and Autojetter), and noticed some interesting things:

+ Autocrasher (Autocrusher) is called "Autoslasher" in Korean.
+ Autolauncher is called "Autoraincher"
+ Starscream is "Starscrem" (looks like Sonokong translated Takara's typo on the stickers!)
+ Santon is called "Mammoth" despite the fact that he's an elephant and _not_ a mammoth (like Big Convoy).
+ Skywarp is "Sky-Eagle."
+ Lio Convoy is "Lion Convoy."

...and the tech specs are really crap! Just package art on one side with random images of a 6-sided die and a hand making a "paper" or "scissors" sign. NO actual tech specs bio, stats or anything on the other side, it's just _blank_ cardboard!! Phwoar!

[Jhiaxus]

In one of the G1 comics introducing the various -masters characters (Broken Glass!), Cyclonus gets misdrawn as a scaled up Nightstick, his own Targetmaster. Considering how obvious this error would be to the UK readership, who were very familiar with Cyclonus as he was rather prominent in comparison to the US comic, this mistake was turned into a new character, Krunix. However, in the Titan reprinting of that comic, Krunix became Cyclonus once more.


While this is the most prominent example, this isn't the only time this happened.

In one issue of the US comics. I'm gunna say Totalled! (because I don't remember the exact story off the top of my head) Broadside appears. In the UK reprint Broadside is recoloured and redrawn into a random generic because he's not supposed to be there!

On the other hand they didn't manage to do this with Twin Twist... so maybe he is Salt Man Z?

--Jhiaxus.

[5FDP]

I only realised last night that the battle scene on the back of each 1985 box and cardback features a red Diaclone Tracks.

[Sky Shadow]

While this is the most prominent example, this isn't the only time this happened.

In one issue of the US comics. I'm gunna say Totalled! (because I don't remember the exact story off the top of my head) Broadside appears. In the UK reprint Broadside is recoloured and redrawn into a random generic because he's not supposed to be there!

On the other hand they didn't manage to do this with Twin Twist... so maybe he is Salt Man Z:

--Jhiaxus.

Likewise, it was always amusing when the UK comics had to fit ridiculous amounts of exposition into small speech bubbles (speech rectangles?) whenever they reprinted a US story that contradicted the previous UK canon:

SHOCKWAVE: Your team's special hunting talents are needed again - and once more it is Megatron who is your prey!

RAZORCLAW: But... dude... he knows us.

SHOCKWAVE: No - he's so deranged he's forgotten your first attack.

RAZORCLAW: What? It was only ten issues ago. And you're going to use exactly the same plan as last time? How #^@*ing illogical is that?

SHOCKWAVE: No, this time I want you to wear Autobot symbols.

RAZORCLAW: You are a #^@*ing idiot.

[GoktimusPrime]

I only realised last night that the battle scene on the back of each 1985 box and cardback features a red Diaclone Tracks.

Yeah that character is a female Autobot known as Roadrage (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Road_Rage) :)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/ondevilsgroundcover.jpg
In the Gokiverse yellow Binaltech Tracks is BT Roadrage ;D

[AussieJason]

Likewise, it was always amusing when the UK comics had to fit ridiculous amounts of exposition into small speech bubbles (speech rectangles?) whenever they reprinted a US story that contradicted the previous UK canon:

SHOCKWAVE: Your team's special hunting talents are needed again - and once more it is Megatron who is your prey!

RAZORCLAW: But... dude... he knows us.

SHOCKWAVE: No - he's so deranged he's forgotten your first attack.

RAZORCLAW: What? It was only ten issues ago. And you're going to use exactly the same plan as last time? How #^@*ing illogical is that?

SHOCKWAVE: No, this time I want you to wear Autobot symbols.

RAZORCLAW: You are a #^@*ing idiot.

I have to admit that did seem to make more sense when I was a kid than it does now...

[5FDP]

Yeah that character is a female Autobot known as Roadrage (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Road_Rage) :)

Yeeeeah, sorry... I don't buy that. Roadrage was almost 20 years after the box art was actually drawn. It's clearly based on the Diaclone version of Tracks.

[Paulbot]

A red Version of Tracks, as per the back of box art, was sold in Europe in the 80s.

[Sky Shadow]

I only realised last night that the battle scene on the back of each 1985 box and cardback features a red Diaclone Tracks.


A red Version of Tracks, as per the back of box art, was sold in Europe in the 80s.

5FDP - you're right, but the back of the 1985 box art has heaps more oddities than just red Tracks (who as Paulbot says, was a legitimate Milton Bradley Euro Transformers release) or even just the weird multiples of characters that the box art used to have.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1863/85hasbro.jpg

Topspin is in Diaclone colours (white arms and blue body, like Twin Twist). Twin Twist is also Diaclone with a red chest and blue arms. Also have a look at the Deluxe Insecticons - Chop Shop is in his pre-Transformers Beet Gugal colours, Venom is Beet Zeguna and Barrage is Beet Gadol. Whirl is also in his Takatoku darker colours. And there's at least one 'Canadian'/box colours red Slag.

The Japanese version was more 'accurate':

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3490/85japan.jpg

And funnily enough it also has a blue Tracks as well as the red one (he's on the right-hand side under Swoop.)

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeeeeah, sorry... I don't buy that. Roadrage was almost 20 years after the box art was actually drawn. It's clearly based on the Diaclone version of Tracks.

Yes but thanks to the power of Retcon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroactive_continuity) that Tracks is now officially Road Rage! ;D

You personally don't have to accept it, but that's the way it is according to official canon. If in the 5FDPverse red Tracks is another character then so be it... Jedi. ;) Something something something Dark Side...

[Sky Shadow]

Yes but thanks to the power of Retcon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroactive_continuity) that Tracks is now officially Road Rage! ;D

You personally don't have to accept it, but that's the way it is according to official canon.

Red Tracks is still Tracks in official canon, though - as Paulbot said, that's how Tracks was released in Europe and it's what it said on his box. Retconning or repurposing one toy to be another character doesn't eliminate their original role. G2 Dreadwing is still Dreadwing even though he was called Darkwing in the G2 comics. Wal-Mart Transmetal Rattrap doesn't stop being Rattrap just because he was later Packrat in the Wreckers comics. E-Hobby Glit doesn't stop being herself just because she was later changed to Shattered Glass Ravage.

There's no reason to assume that the red Tracks on the back of 1985 Hasbro boxes and cardbacks is Road Rage and not just a red Tracks.

[5FDP]

If in the 5FDPverse red Tracks is another character then so be it... Jedi. ;) Something something something Dark Side...

You'd be surprised what is possible in the 5FDPverse :) Up is down, down is up, and red Tracks is still red Tracks :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Sky Shadow: I see your point. After all, just because official canon has retconned Bumper (Bumblejumper) as an autonomous character doesn't change the fact that the original toy was not so, and was either a variation of Bumblebee or Cliffjumper depending on which card it was sold on.

In fact on my TF collection spreadsheet I have Bumblejumper listed as "Bumblejumper" -- deliberately with the quotation marks to indicate that the name is unofficial. I got my Bumblejumper loose so I have no idea if it's officially Bumblebee or Cliffjumper. But I personally accept Bumblejumper as a separate character from Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. Your Transmetal "Packrat" analogy is a good one -- I have this toy listed as Rattrap with the variant description listed in a separate column. At no point do I ever refer to this toy as "Packrat" in my list even though I may play with it as the Packrat character.

It's easy for me to see red Tracks as Road Rage because I only ever bought the e-Hobby reissue of red Tracks - who of course is Roadrage. But if I ever had the red version of Tracks I would list it as 'Tracks', just as I list TM Packrat as 'Rattrap.' Red Tracks may become Roadrage in the Gokiverse, but on my spreadsheet he'd still be 'Tracks' (likewise both my yellow and blue BT Tracks are called 'Tracks')


Up is down, down is up, and red Tracks is still red Tracks
Okay now I'm imagining your red Tracks hanging upside down doing the "Spiderman kiss"... with Road Rage!!

Eewwwwww! XD

[CryptiK]

may already be well known but the Autobots true creator was Dr Robotnik from sonic.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs071.snc3/13859_382188790110_382183735110_10154925_3442129_n .jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

Computer says no. (-_-)

Anyway, inspired by the red Tracks/Roadrage discussion I took some toy piccies and posted them here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=154677&postcount=1045). :)

[Gutsman Heavy]

may already be well known but the Autobots true creator was Dr Robotnik from sonic.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs071.snc3/13859_382188790110_382183735110_10154925_3442129_n .jpg

OH EM GEE! mind=blown!

My two obsessions come together at last!

[King Atlas]

Interesting analysis of Beast Wars Rampage from transformers wikia:


Some fans are split on how to interpret Rampage's death; he is clearly shown to let go of the energon shard that killed him prior to being stabbed with it, to which Depth Charge reacted in surprise. Because of this, some fans feel this means Rampage, knowing he couldn't win the struggle, allowed himself to be impaled in order to end his torturous existence (and laughing in the giddy euphoria of oblivion), while others believe he deliberately let go to test whether or not Depth Charge would go through with his threat of ending his life, his laughter instead being taken as solace in the knowledge that Depth Charge's obsession with him had successfully corrupted him into the same kind of monster he wanted to kill. Another theory, based on more gradual character development, postulates thus: Initially, Rampage is exactly the blindly psychotic murderer described by Optimus Primal. However, the arrival of Transmutate introduces a kindred spirit which Rampage cares about, and when it is destroyed Rampage is completely overwhelmed by his sense of loss, even forgoing his joy of battle to mourn. This pallor of despair never truly leaves him, which is confirmed by comments made even far into the third season ("You'll live to regret this, crab-legs," threatens Blackarachnia; "I regret everything," Rampage replies.) It is therefore possible that Rampage releases his grip on the energon in a moment of clarity, realizing that death will only end his pain. He laughs mockingly at Depth Charge because in claiming his revenge Depth Charge is really setting Rampage free. Another possibility is that he took one last laugh at his hunter knowing that Depth Charge knew that he would have to die to slay him. Rampage could also just be batshit insane.

[GoktimusPrime]

Uh...

(don't use TFwiki its cheating).

Anyway, they're all plausible theories and we'll probably never know for sure. It's open to interpretation. My thoughts:

+ Rampage has always been a very tragic character. Since his creation he was seen by society as an abomination and instantly rejected. Transformers appear to have a gregarious need to social belonging like humans do, and thus this would have been incredibly damaging to X's psychology, which I assume is what created X to be a monster. He is a fiend that the Maximals created in their attempt to "play God."

+ X was even denied a real name (just assigned "Protoform X") and thus denied an identity. In a way it can be argued that the Predacons were (ever so slightly) more compassionate than the Maximals because they bothered to assign a name for him - thus 'humanising' him more. This is also seen in Star Wars where the Republic Clones are all given codes to identify them (like a licence plate number), but it was Anakin Skywalker who encouraged them to give themselves individual names like Cody, Gree, Oddball etc. because despite being clones they were still sentient individuals. Ironically when he became Darth Vader all the Stormtroopers in the Empire (many of whom were not clones) were given codes to dehumanise them (e.g. TK421).

+ We know that Depth Charge wasn't always dark, brooding and anti-social. As Optimus Primal once said there was a time when he would never have abandoned the Maximal cause and it was Protoform X who changed all that.

+ I think Transmutate merely stimulated the better side of Rampage that's _always_ been inside him. After all, he was created as a Maximal and was never reprogrammed with a Predacon shell program. This introduces an aspect of duality to Rampage, which a lot of characters have. Even Silverbolt has a dual aspect (as demonstrated when he impaled Tarantulas as an act of vengeance and Rampage pointed out, "That's not very Maximal of you.")

[Tommy K]

heres a neat little one about beastwars

the person whom voiced over transmutate was susan blu whom voiced over arcee, not only that the episode that transmutate was in rattrap also mentions arcee as a great aunt

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, Susan Blu was also the voice director for the entire Beast Wars series. So the running joke is that while she was directing the BW voice actors she could go all Kup-like and hit them with stories of, "Well back when I was a Transformers voice actor, this was how we did it..." ;)

Another voice trivia: Mainframe Entertainment wanted to have Peter Cullen come do a cameo as G1 Optimus Prime, like when Optimus Prime momentarily woke up after Optimus Primal returned the Matrix to him, he might've said something like, "Till All Are One" or "Trukk Not Munkee." This never happened because Cullen refused for ethical reasons -- he was against so much voice acting work being done by Canadians and wanted to keep jobs in America (which is kinda ironic considering that Peter Cullen himself originally hails from Montreal); but yeah, in the interests of protecting the American voice acting industry he declined, hence why Optimus Prime says nothing in his appearance in Beast Wars. Also why in Beast Machines Optimus Prime was voiced by Garry Chalk.

Anyone ever wondered why the hell Ravage decided to transform into a cassette tape and insert himself into his stealth cruiser's tape player while he was leading the Predacon assault against the Maximals? The original intention was to have Ravage play a portion of the original G1 theme song (probably just an instrumental rendition). The animation was all done for this to happen but unfortunately Mainframe was unable to secure the rights to the G1 theme from Sunbow... so that's why we only hear that guitar riff and there doesn't seem to be any reason why the camera's focusing on showing Ravage sitting there in the tape deck in cassette mode for a duration of time.

Still, hearing Ravage shout, "Decepticons Forever!" and then hearing the classic G1 transformation sound was still pretty damn sweet. But how much sweeter would that scene have been if Ravage had played the G1 theme tune as originally intended! :D

[kup]

Cassettes don't have to only play music - They can also be used for data storage as it was done often enough in the G1 cartoon. My interpretation of Ravage turning into a tape in BW and inserting himself into the tape drive of the ship's console is to 'become one' with the ship and actually be able to directly control it through thought rather than cockpit controls.

Of course the real reason was just to amuse any G1 cartoon fan watching the episode :)

[GoktimusPrime]

The Hasbro reissue of G1 Hoist came with the Japanese tech specs card!

[liegeprime]

They couldve just used Dr Smoov to voice for Op Prime for that missing scene of Optimus waking Gok heheheh of course it wouldve ended in catastrophe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0e3wMzQx8s:D:D

[GoktimusPrime]

Fixed link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0e3wMzQx8s :)

"I'm a truck, not some poop slinging monkey."
"Take your dirty paws off me you dirty ape."
:D

[5FDP]

Something interesting I learnt the other day; while watching the G1 episode Divide and Conquer there is a scene with Shockwave speaking to Megatron and when the communication ended, the below symbol is displayed on-screen:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070905171534/transformers/images/thumb/b/b3/Shocksymb.jpg/120px-Shocksymb.jpg

I found out later that this symbol represents troops under Shockwave's command that were responsible for Cybertron's security.

I never thought anything of it when I first saw this symbol, perhaps because it was never explained in early Transformers mythos (or because the animators always came up with their own stuff and variations of the Decepticon insignia). Apparently it wasn't until 2007 that TakaraTomy explained the symbols origins.

[GoktimusPrime]

The joys of retcon! :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Upcoming IDW cover art by Andrew Wildman:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/wildman_optimus_pinewood.jpg
The original draft of this sketch had Prime standing among tall buildings, but it was changed to trees because Wildman wanted to achieve a sense of "then and now" - not just with Transformers, but also with his involvement with Transformers (from original G1 till now). Wildman felt that trees have a greater sense of dignified grandeur and timelessness, serving as a metaphor for Optimus Prime. The trees themselves were inspired by the trees in the cark park at Pinewood Studios where Wildman currently works. Apparently those trees are sequoias and not pines, which probably even better serves the "timeless" metaphor Wildman wanted to create for Prime.

(Source: A. Wildman)

[Gutsman Heavy]

I was annoyed that cover was RI and not the B cover!

[Geminii]

Well that should stop all those people ordering sexual aids mistakenly being sent a combining, transforming robot.

Of course, Nexus, uh, "Prime" isn't the first Transformer to share a name with an adult product. Searching for "Hot Rod" with filtering turned off can bring up some unexpected store fronts - and I'm not talking garages.

[GoktimusPrime]

I learnt something new today: legit Transformers in China aren't sealed!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Finding legit Transformers in China is like finding an oasis in the desert. But I found some! Unfortunately they're all figures that have already been released in Australia and that I already have (i.e. movieverse and Generations figures)

Here's a photo:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/2011%20Shantou/walmart1.jpg

They did have the ice cream twins on card in robot mode, which I never knew even existed -- the one I got in Australia was packaged in split-vehicle mode, and the ones packaged in robot modes comes with Demolishor and is a redeco. These are the original versions but packaged in robot mode instead of vehicle. They had the vehicle moded ones there too -- if you look at the photo just where United Grapple is standing you can see both versions of the ice cream twins there.

The movie Deluxes are seriously shelfwarming and have been reduced to the equivalent of approx AU$8 each! :o The Generations Deluxes are about $21 and the Leaders Classes are a bit over $80.

For $8 I was tempted to pick up the robot mode version to keep sealed, but then I noticed that ALL the carded Transformers have already been opened and re-sealed with staples!! I peeked inside the bubble and noticed that there's instruction booklets printed in Chinese right next to the original instructions in English. Evidently Hasbro China opens their Transformers, inserts Chinese language instructions, then staples them back shut. Consequently I lost interest in getting this set to keep MOSC since it's not really MOSC!! This must be a relatively recent practice cos last time I came to China in 2005 I bought a few Cybertron Transformers, and they were all sealed. <shrug>

It must suck for sealed collectors in China... but it was frustrating for me, after searching and searching and passing through store after store, aisle after aisle of knock offs, to find this ONE end cap with legit Transformers to discover that none of it is new, and the one figure that's an interesting variant holds no appeal for me since it's been opened.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/jaam_shoulders.gif

Now if only I can find new legit toys!! <sigh>