AUS Toyfair 2008 TFs report, part 1 of 3 (Universe).

[griffin]

(sorry about taking so long posting this first segment, but I'm working on two computers at the moment, but the new replacement computer isn't working well with the programs on the old one, so have had to juggle the photos back and fourth to edit, upload and post them here)

The annual Australian Toy, Hobby and Nursery Trade Fair is on this weekend 4th to 8th April, and the OTCA (Ozformers) was there with full access to Hasbro's display. Paulbot, Demonac and I spent about 4 hours at the event, with most of that time inside the Hasbro section.
I triple checked with the Senior Product Manager Kristin Hamilton (American fans at BotCon last year might recognise her name, as she used to be at Hasbro America, and has come to Australia for a year), and we were allowed to look and photograph anything we wanted, and publicise it (we were registered as media after all).

We asked heaps of questions, took photos of everything, and recorded details and info, which should keep fans excited for the next three weeks when Hasbro are expected to reveal all of this at BotCon.

They had two main Transformers displays, covering Animated and Classics/Universe. In their Marvel display, they had some Marvel Transformers displayed, and in their Star Wars display, there was a mock-up of their new packaging for Star Wars Transformers.

Classics/Universe (September Launch in Australia)
On display (we were allowed to play with anything listed as loose)
-Ultra Onslaught (loose)
-Ultra Powerglide (loose)
-Ultra Silverbolt (box with cardboard standin for toy inside)
-Voyager Autobot Blaster with Blockrock Minicon (box with cardboard standin for toy inside)
-Deluxe Sunstreaker (loose)
-Deluxe Prowl (loose and on card)
-Deluxe Tankor (on card)
-Legends Red Alert (loose and on card)
-Legends Starscream (loose and on card)
-Legends Onslaught (loose and on card)
Pictured on packaging of others:
-Voyager Heavy Load.

Robot Heroes
-Arcee Vs Decepticon Rumble (on card)
-Rattrap Vs Megatron (on card)
-Rhinox Vs Waspinator (on card)
-Cheetor (loose)
-Blackarachnia (loose)
-Tarantulas (loose)
-Autobot Jazz (loose)
-Optimus Primal (loose)
-Thundercracker (loose)

Also included in this display case were assorted Movie items, like scene battles, Legends, and Autobot Ratchet Allspark Blaster.

Pics:

Total display shelf.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair004.jpg

Universe Silverbolt (Ultra). Not actual toy in package, only a cardboard mockup.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair008.jpg

Universe Deluxe and Voyager, plus Movie Thundercracker (don't know why).
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair009.jpg

Universe Ultra Onslaught, Silverbolt box, Powerglide.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair010.jpg

Back of Blaster's box.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair011.jpg

Close-up of back of box.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair012.jpg

Close-up of front of box (not actual toy inside, just a cardboard reproduction).
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair013.jpg

Universe Deluxe Sunstreaker, Prowl and Tankor (unfortunately, Demonac left Sunstreaker in it's 'Sideswipe' mode when I took this photo).
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair014.jpg

Universe Robot Heroes.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair015.jpg

Universe Legends.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair016.jpg

Autobot Ratchet Allspark Blaster.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair017.jpg

Movie packs that have already been released.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair018.jpg

Next segment will cover the Crossover lines and other items, since the Animated segment will take a bit longer to do, and most of it is already known anyway.

(btw, I have such a bad cold right now, so please ignore any minor errors in my postings today)

[griffin]

Forgot to add in Demonac's two pics, which are just attachments in the other topic.

The only clear photo we seem to have of Sunstreaker in Sunstreaker mode. Both of my photos have him in the 'Sideswipe' mode, which I didn't realise at the time I took the photos.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair001.jpg

And a close-up of what Demanac referred to as the Sideswipe mode, which is probably what we will see released in a red colour scheme in the second wave.
http://www.otca.com.au/toyfair002.jpg

[griffin]

Also corrected the Minicon name Blockrock (from Blackrock), after some American fans said I got it wrong (and they were correct, when I checked the full-size copy of the photo). Pity about that, as I thought it was a real neat homage, like Leader-1 or Sparkplug in Armada.

[TheDirtyDigger]

Wow.:eek: All very cool.:cool:

The ratchet Blaster I've actually seen for sale here in an import shop.

[STL]

Sweet stuff. The Classics look great. Even Blaster. I'm surprised!

A pity we didn't get toy pics of Silverbolt. Were you able to get pictures of Silverbolt's box at the back? Those new boxes look awesome for Classics 2.0. It's a pity that they're not consistent w/ 1.0 but ultimately gimme those toys first, packaging second.:)

The displays seemed very poorly done though compared to Botcon, SDCC ones. All the stuff isnt' very strategically positioned.

[Burn]

Silverbolt is a pleasant surprise! And he looks like he's going to be a great figure.

Another repaint of the Cybertron Legends Thundercracker, this time into Starscream? ugh .... pass. Why not a Cybertron Legends Starscream into Thundercracker?

Thanks Griff and Co! :D

[i_amtrunks]

Silverbolt is a little bit of a surprise, wonder if it means we will be getting Menasor and HotSpot later on to have all the torso's from the Scramble city combiners?

thanks for the pics!

[kup]

Silverbolt in that mock up does look pretty good, specially if the robot looks similar to the art work. Is he a repaint of something?

Blaster on the other hand looks like crap and so does Powerglide.

Its funny how many of these toy convention organizers have such a hard time properly transforming the figures for display :)

[Pipesqueak]

I'm super-excited about Silverbolt, but disappointed that Prowl still has the plain white missiles and the 'Sideswipe mode' looks a bit lame compared to Sunstreaker.

Thanks for the pics!

[Robzy]

Wow... that's an interesting transformation idea for Sunstreaker/Sideswipe! (Hope they give him a new head tho... unlike Classics Cliffjumper :()

Silverbolt looks great!

[roller]

woooooooooooo universe kicks Classic's a$$


Go Universe!!!

[kup]

After looking at all these pics, I am underwhelmed.

Sunstreaker and Prowl have mega cheap paint jobs and I hate the SWAT marks on Onslaught.

Also the attitude from the original Universe line seems to be being implemented here again with several stupid repaints.

I think that I will wait for Henkei 2.0

[Gutsman Heavy]

woooooooooooo universe kicks Classic's a$$


Go Universe!!!

awesome, I was worried that I was the only one who thought like that. We can be Universe Buddies!

[Paulbot]

Sunstreaker and Prowl have mega cheap paint jobs and I hate the SWAT marks on Onslaught

The toys on display might not be final product. Onslaught for instance had bad markings on the face which led Demonac to consider it a Prototype. The loose deluxe Animated Bumblebee looked a bit more plasticy than the one in the selaed box.

[STL]

Drat, forgot to ask, will we be getting more Movie Robot Heroes or Titaniums? I haven't seen them for a long time and I want my Ironhide. :(

[Paulbot]

None on display... but since we're getting later Robot Heroes waves we should be getting the rest of the movie ones.

Hasbro love their "Heroes" and "Titaniums". The Indiana Jones display had versions of both of these, and there were * Heroes for Marvel (general), Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Transformers, and Toy Story (!).

[GoktimusPrime]

did they display the Indiana Jones action figure based on Shia LeBeouf's character? How many other people are planning on getting one as an unofficial Sam Witwicky figure? ;) Hasbro could seriously just repackage that toy and market it as part of Transformers and people would buy it IMO.

[Paulbot]

They did and it looks exactly like Shia LeBeouf. Harrison Ford likeness so/so, Cate Blanchett's toy looks nothing like her, but they got Shia right.

There's two 3 1/4" figures, one with jacket and one without. I'm getting one of the "without jacket" ones. I think it will look perfect standing alongside the TF movie figures.

There was a photo taken but it got lost in the shuffle I think.

[GoktimusPrime]

(in Stewie Griffin's voice): Blast you! :p

After a bit of a Google search I was only able to find this image of a 9.5cm Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf's character) toy:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/cmdstore_1992_452526842

But even with the jacket, it's a very good likeness of Shia LaBeouf and would still be a cool unofficial Sam Witwicky - but yeah, the non-jacketed version would be perfect. :)

http://www.iesb.net/images/stories/people/shialebeouffront.jpg

[griffin]

There is a non-jacket version of that size as well. Plus a 20cm something 'doll' as well, if you want to go with Hasbro's out-of-scale routine. :)
Paulbot has a couple of photos, and might post them here.

[autobreadticon]

CLASSICS ALL THE WAY, i think we should have some discussions on the influence of the design of the toys.

mirage = influence from RID and G1 racing car - updated
grimlock = transmetal dinobot from BW

2.0
Blaster = Soundwave recolour
Silverbolt = G1 concorde influence
Prowl and sunstreaker = G1 influence

i dunt get the influence for brawl...

[GoktimusPrime]

mirage = influence from RID and G1 racing car - updated
Well yeah, RiD Mirage is a repaint of G2 Mirage! (^_^) I don't see much from Spychanger Mirage influencing this toy - more accurately, both the G2 and Classics Mirage moulds were influenced by the original G1 Mirage figure.

Generation 2 Gobot Mirage
http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/images/gmirage.gif

L-R: Robotmasters Mirage, G1 Mirage, Classics Mirage, RiD Mirage and Machine Wars Mirage
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/ligier.jpg


grimlock = transmetal dinobot from BW
Buh?! I don't see any influence between Transmetal Dinobot and Classics Grimlock at all. I see influences obviously from 1985 G1 Grimlock and some influence from G1 Pretender Grimlock (particularly with the bayonet rifle thing) - that's why I used this toy as Pretender Grimlock in my "Primal Scream" photocomic. ;)

Transmetal Dinobot
http://www.toyarchive.com/STAForSale/NEW2001+/TF/BeastWars/HappyMealDinobotLoose1b.jpghttp://www.toyarchive.com/STAForSale/NEW2001+/TF/BeastWars/HappyMealDinobotLoose1a.jpg

Or did you mean Transmetal 2 Dinobot? If so, I still don't see ANY resemblance at all...
http://www.wreckandrule.co.uk/characters/BW/PICTURES/scans/tm2dinobotr.jpg

Here's a side-by-side comparison between 1985 G1 Grimlock, Classics Grimlock and G1 Pretender Grimlock
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/grimlocks.jpg


2.0
Blaster = Soundwave recolour
With craptacular results. Bad enough when they repaint Bumblebee as Cliffjumper... this is even worse! Blaster has never been a freakin' repaint of Soundwave!! This toy just reeks of a shameless attempt to exploit collectors.


Silverbolt = G1 concorde influence
Yeah, only G1 influence here. Don't see any influences from any other Silverbolts (we should be thankful that there's no influence from Beast Machines Silverbolt, ehehehehehe)

Prowl and sunstreaker = G1 influence
Indeed. I like how Sunstreaker has the "Sideswipe mode" and hopefully it will be repainted with a NEW head for Classics Sideswipe. If they just do a red repaint and call it Sideswipe, then I would like to start an online petition for someone to travel to Pawtucket Rhode Island and kick Aaron Archer in the janglies.


i dunt get the influence for brawl...
Brawl?! Are you talking about Onslaught?? If so, you can see the influence from G1 Onslaught in the robot mode... but not so much in the vehicle mode.

And here's Classics Grimlock as Pretender Grimlock from G1:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Primal%20Scream%20Photocomic/primalscream009.jpg

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Yeah, only G1 influence here. Don't see any influences from any other Silverbolts (we should be thankful that there's no influence from Beast Machines Silverbolt, ehehehehehe)
BM Silverbolt had spectactular hair!:p

[GoktimusPrime]

He did! I really loved that Samurai topknot that he had (and other features of his body which looked Samurai-esque too). Really suited his inherent "honourable/noble" persona. :)

http://www.ggaub.com/tf/cards/lovebirds.jpghttp://uk.geocities.com/rainforestwind/last_samurai_06.jpg

[kup]

He did! I really loved that Samurai topknot that he had (and other features of his body which looked Samurai-esque too). Really suited his inherent "honourable/noble" persona. :)


Too bad he was so Emo.

[STL]

*throws up* Is that Beast Machines? *throws up again*

[kup]

*throws up* Is that Beast Machines? *throws up again*

Sadly, most of the Maximals look like organic aliens more than they look like robots in Beast Machines.

Its something you need to 'put aside' if you want to watch BM.

[GoktimusPrime]

(offtopic)
It's because the Beast Machines Maximals are technorganic - a balance between organic and technological. It was Aaron Archer's idea and the Mainframe writers made it veeeeery deeply theo-philosophical. You know how I've often complained about TF Animated failing to present anything to engage me as an adult? BM is on the complete opposite end of the scale - it engages you at an adult level but has little to engage children. I find Beast Wars was the best TF TV series in terms of engaging both adult and child audiences which isn't as easy as it sounds.

http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/433/Aristotle.jpg + http://hinessight.blogs.com/hinessight/images/yin_yang.jpg = http://pages.infinit.net/johnnyb/images/Beast_Machines-main_logo.gif

It was a radically different concept for Transformers and quite controversial - as in, people were actually sending death threats to Bob Skir... very VERY ugly and horrible things were said to and about him from some stupid fans (as much as you may hate someone's work, it's no excuse to personally attack someone - I mean, I'm not Aaron Archer's biggest fan but I've never said anything insulting to or about him on a public forum).

TF: Animated's Blackarachnia is revisiting the technorganic concept, which is interesting to see and we'll see how popular it becomes. I think one thing that helps is that she's unique - the only character who's technorganic, whereas in Beast Machines all the Maximals were technorganic and thus it dominated half the toy line.
(/offtopic)

[STL]

*Still throwing up*

[Bartrim]

After researching beast machines abit I think I'll have to watch it once I finish Beast Wars (which I've started again since catching up on animated). Beast Machines appears to be what I call "Car crash TV" absolutely horrible but you can't help but watch it.:p

That being said I will probably only ever watch it once.

*Runs off to join STL in the lavatory to throw up*

[GoktimusPrime]

There are some really nice things about Beast Machines - but I don't want to derail this thread any further by discussing it that much detail.