Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[Paulbot]

When opening Beachcomber and Paradise Parakeet, I was surprised by just how small the bird is.

I actually think it's far too small to be named on the packaging and should have just been an accessory.

I think the Laserbeak with Kingdom Core Soundwave is quite small but he's not named on the box. I know WST Ravage is famously tiny but was WST Soundwave sold as "WST Soundwave and Ravage"?

The little figures that came with Unicron and the Ark are also not named.

As a named, on-the-box 'character' this little bird would have to be the smallest ever, right?

[griffin]

This was something I only just discovered today, which had me thinking... what if Hasbro did this for Transformers - would fans still buy them?

Over the last 2-3 years, Hasbro's Star Wars toyline has been doing several toys as "prototypes", which is just odd coloured plastic parts that you used to see in pre-production test shots. Each Star Wars toy has six different coloured parts, and is sold in six different arrangements of parts, but unless you know what it is homaging, it is quite hard on the eyes.... almost like some of the more colourful Gen2 Transformers.
https://www.facebook.com/Starwarscol...993956/?type=3
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https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/s...-action-figure

I remember about 10-20 years ago, there was a lot of interest and competition in the online Transformers fandom over pre-production test samples, usually with odd colours or transparent plastic... and with Hasbro lately doing multiple redecos of various toy moulds including Christmas themed toys as well as the lazy plain black redecos that Takara pioneered 20 years ago, I am surprised that Hasbro hasn't tried homaging this concept as well.
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Prototype
If fans are willing to buy brightly coloured redecos homaging unreleased Gen2 toys, as well as mostly plain black redeco toys, why not randomly coloured toys that also homage a niche element of the fandom?

[Tha_Phantom]

I personally wouldn't be for test shot colours (although I do own a couple of genuine test shots myself), but I am quite enjoying seeing the G2 concept art decos brought to retail finally.

[GoktimusPrime]

Oh, I understand that there's a demand for these things; albeit a niche one. I'm seeing that test shot coloured Luke Skywalker toy at Zing bargain bins; so I'm not sure if making them mass release figures was worthwhile. I just find it odd that they're focussing on the niche versions over the regular ones.
e.g. imagine if they made a niche-appeal Masterpiece Nightstalker but not a mass-appeal MP Steeljaw.

Still, the fact that Hasbro are able to even make these toys and sell them goes to show just how amazingly strong the TF brand is right now, and how spoiled we fans are for choice. Even if these proto G2 things don't appeal to me, I am impressed that it can even happen at all!

[KELPIE]

When opening Beachcomber and Paradise Parakeet, I was surprised by just how small the bird is.

I actually think it's far too small to be named on the packaging and should have just been an accessory.

Don't get me started on this bird.

Not only is it named, it's named incorrectly! It's a parrot not a parakeet!!!

[Rodimus Cron]

Has anyone who's pre-ordered the G2 Toxitron collection stuff, Shattered Glass Grimlock or SS ROTB Optimus from JB had there's sent yet ? Just wondering what's the hold up seeing as they're available in store's everywhere now.

[DELTAprime]

Has anyone who's pre-ordered the G2 Toxitron collection stuff, Shattered Glass Grimlock or SS ROTB Optimus from JB had there's sent yet ? Just wondering what's the hold up seeing as they're available in store's everywhere now.

They won't ship them out until the release date. Even for DVDs and games that have very strict release dates, the staff at JB put them out before the actual release date. I'm not at all surprised that for Transformers, for which embargos are far less enforced they have put them on show before the actual date.

[Rodimus Cron]

They won't ship them out until the release date. Even for DVDs and games that have very strict release dates, the staff at JB put them out before the actual release date. I'm not at all surprised that for Transformers, for which embargos are far less enforced they have put them on show before the actual date.

It's kinda nice they've broken the embargo and you can get things a bit earlier. However the fact that it's put peoples pre-orders at risk of not being fulfilled is just a joke. I always though the idea of pre-orders was first in best dressed. Anyway I've given up hope of my orders being totally fulfilled and ordered all figures online and gotten refunds for my pre-orders.

[Paulbot]

Trying to remember which Transformer has a particular design trait: a beast mode tail or beast mode head that folds out of one leg during transformation to beast mode, so the tail or head is all one piece and not two pieces plugging together.

The robot I'm thinking of has fake kibble on the other leg so it matches in appearance the leg that has the tail or head within it.

I think it might be a Combiner Wars figure, i thought it was Snarl's head but not him.

[Demonac]

Is it Snarl from the live action movie?