Things you never realised about Transformers (toys etc)

[Tha_Phantom]

I only just noticed that the mastodon Fossiliser's name is Masterdominus. DOMINVS means "master" in Latin, so "Masterdominus" means Master Master.

What's "baiter" in Latin?

[GoktimusPrime]

What's "baiter" in Latin?

Maybe "INESCATOR."

[GoktimusPrime]

I was told by someone who was told by a Hasbro insider that Hasbro was initially reluctant to allow Lego to make the Optimus Prime set due to Lego being their competitor. I guess this is why Hasbro made attempts at competing with Lego (Mega Bloks, Construct-Bots, Kre-O etc.), but ultimately just could never match Lego's success. I suppose they've come to a point of, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." I don't actually know how well Mega Bloks, Construct-Bots or Kre-O sold, but seeing as neither line exist anymore while Lego does, I'm gonna guess that they did not fare as well.

[KELPIE]

I was told by someone who was told by a Hasbro insider that Hasbro was initially reluctant to allow Lego to make the Optimus Prime set due to Lego being their competitor. I guess this is why Hasbro made attempts at competing with Lego (Mega Bloks, Construct-Bots, Kre-O etc.), but ultimately just could never match Lego's success. I suppose they've come to a point of, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." I don't actually know how well Mega Bloks, Construct-Bots or Kre-O sold, but seeing as neither line exist anymore while Lego does, I'm gonna guess that they did not fare as well.

Does Mega Bloks not exist anymore? I still see them on Shelves...

Mega Construx seems to be doing pretty well for Mattel. However they leverage the "Minifig" aspect of it very well and that's where Hasbro potentially dropped the ball?

[Handsprime]

Does Mega Bloks not exist anymore? I still see them on Shelves...

I think Gok means the Built to Rule toys, since Mega Bloks does still exist, even if they are called Mega Construx nowadays. It seems nowadays they mostly do licensed toys (whether it be Mattel brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie, or licenses that aren't owned by Lego like Halo, Pokemon, Call of Duty, etc.)

Should be noted that what is called Mega Bloks now are building blocks designed for pre-schoolers.

[GoktimusPrime]

I think Gok means the Built to Rule toys, since Mega Bloks does still exist, even if they are called Mega Construx nowadays.

I stand corrected, sir.

[griffin]

I was just watching some mini-clips from TakaraTomy for a cross-promotional thing in Japan, and I think that I have been pronouncing "Takara" wrong all this time.

All this time, I have pronounced it (and heard it from others) as Tar-car-ah (as if you had the word "car" in the middle)... but these three mini-clips from TakaraTomy had at the very beginning, the name pronounced like Macca (Macdonalds), with the "M" replaced with a "T", and "ra" at the end.
So if you say - "Macca-ra" a few times and then change it to "Tacca-ra", that was how they were pronouncing it in the mini-clips.
A small change, but it now sounds significantly different in my head.

Even though I know the various sounds of Japanese characters, I've never heard anyone pronounce "Takara" in this way before.
(unless the Japanese person on these mini-clips is pronouncing it wrong?)