In-Pacakge Images: Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Simplified Voyagers Optimus Prime and Predaking

I'm so glad they made a voyager out of that Prime. The Cyberverse figure is excellent and I love the look of him with those wheels on his shoulders. I'll definitely be buying this (preorder already in on BBTS).

These look completely horrible.

I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Wait for it.. it's Hasbro. That's why.

I'm glad that Prime comes with all of the cyberverse weapons from the various versions.

Armentitron wrote:I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Either too lazy or too stupid to come up with any actual new designs! Sure, let's just take toys we've already published and make them a bit bigger! People will still pay for them!

Try the fact that they can make a sh**-ton of money off of the ACTUAL target demographic for these toys instead of the piddly-ass amount of chump change they would get in comparison by keeping older/adult fans happy. This isn't about what WE think, this is about the children for whom these toys are intended and their parents who throw obscene quantities of money out there to keep their spawn happy and content.
It doesn't matter if it makes sense to us, it just has to make a 7 year old thrilled enough to pester Mom and Dad and I GUARANTEE you, the kids far outnumber us older fans/collectors.

T-Macksimus wrote:

Armentitron wrote:I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Either too lazy or too stupid to come up with any actual new designs! Sure, let's just take toys we've already published and make them a bit bigger! People will still pay for them!

Try the fact that they can make a sh**-ton of money off of the ACTUAL target demographic for these toys instead of the piddly-ass amount of chump change they would get in comparison by keeping older/adult fans happy. This isn't about what WE think, this is about the children for whom these toys are intended and their parents who throw obscene quantities of money out there to keep their spawn happy and content.
It doesn't matter if it makes sense to us, it just has to make a 7 year old thrilled enough to pester Mom and Dad and I GUARANTEE you, the kids far outnumber us older fans/collectors.

Nice speech, but think about it; HOW is this voyager Prime any faster or easier to transform than the current one?

HOW is this one more attractive to a 7 year old than the current one?

Please don't keep a stack of standard excuses in your utility belt ready for the cause. This has nothing to do with simpler, easier play. It's just cost cutting. Beast Fire Predaking has to be one of the simplest toys to date, yet achieves both modes well, looks like a quality product, and, whilst it doesn't please everyone, manages to bridge the gap between child and adult collector well enough.

Stop believing blatant rubbish. This is about being cheap, nothing more. Animated leader Megatron has no more than 5-6 steps, is chunky and easy to play with. So again, please tell me why THIS approach to TFs is suddenly so necessary?

And please, let's have some creative answers, not another old wive's tale from the 'we believe everything told to us at botcon' pot.

Predaking actually looks kinda alright. I know he's essentially a touched-up and oversized version of the Cyberverse toy, but he doesn't really look like it.

Shoot, I'm kinda wishing the Terrorcons all got that kind of treatment. I haven't bought any of the Mainline Preds because they weren't in scale with the more interesting Legion ones. A Blight and Twinstrike at the same size and quality as Ripclaw and Laserback would've been cool, even if Abominus was cut out. The Terrorcon transformation schemes could totally work as-is at Deluxe scale.

T-Macksimus wrote:

Armentitron wrote:I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Either too lazy or too stupid to come up with any actual new designs! Sure, let's just take toys we've already published and make them a bit bigger! People will still pay for them!

Try the fact that they can make a sh**-ton of money off of the ACTUAL target demographic for these toys instead of the piddly-ass amount of chump change they would get in comparison by keeping older/adult fans happy. This isn't about what WE think, this is about the children for whom these toys are intended and their parents who throw obscene quantities of money out there to keep their spawn happy and content.
It doesn't matter if it makes sense to us, it just has to make a 7 year old thrilled enough to pester Mom and Dad and I GUARANTEE you, the kids far outnumber us older fans/collectors.

how are these targeted towards kids other than hasbro telling us at botcon they are? The boxes are the same as normal voyagers, theres no mention of a "speedier" transformation or anything special about them & the price point is still high like the other voyagers. A kid looking at the transformer section isnt going to notice any of this he/she is just going to see its a new prime & predaking and might realize that its a bigger version of the commander figures. And that right there might put them off if they have the commanders already, most kids would rather have somethig new not something they already have just cause its bigger. Same with the parents most will tell their kids its the same as the one they have and should get something they dont have. These are going to be shelf warmers plan & simple, the only kids that will pester their parents are ones who really like optimus & predaking. this is just hasbro testing the waters to see if they can screw us over more in the future.

hinomars19 wrote:

T-Macksimus wrote:

Armentitron wrote:I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Either too lazy or too stupid to come up with any actual new designs! Sure, let's just take toys we've already published and make them a bit bigger! People will still pay for them!

Try the fact that they can make a sh**-ton of money off of the ACTUAL target demographic for these toys instead of the piddly-ass amount of chump change they would get in comparison by keeping older/adult fans happy. This isn't about what WE think, this is about the children for whom these toys are intended and their parents who throw obscene quantities of money out there to keep their spawn happy and content.
It doesn't matter if it makes sense to us, it just has to make a 7 year old thrilled enough to pester Mom and Dad and I GUARANTEE you, the kids far outnumber us older fans/collectors.

Nice speech, but think about it; HOW is this voyager Prime any faster or easier to transform than the current one?

HOW is this one more attractive to a 7 year old than the current one?

Please don't keep a stack of standard excuses in your utility belt ready for the cause. This has nothing to do with simpler, easier play. It's just cost cutting. Beast Fire Predaking has to be one of the simplest toys to date, yet achieves both modes well, looks like a quality product, and, whilst it doesn't please everyone, manages to bridge the gap between child and adult collector well enough.

Stop believing blatant rubbish. This is about being cheap, nothing more. Animated leader Megatron has no more than 5-6 steps, is chunky and easy to play with. So again, please tell me why THIS approach to TFs is suddenly so necessary?

And please, let's have some creative answers, not another old wive's tale from the 'we believe everything told to us at botcon' pot.

"Hasbro is cheap" is also a convenient cookie cutter comment. I challenge you to be creative, too.

I see this as an over-correction for movie figure complexity. I know this is an extreme example, but Leader Sentinel Prime is super complicated, and I know several other movie toys with non-intuitive transformations were getting negative reviews from parents. When the parents can't even do the transformations, they're not going to buy them for their kids.

And, since they probably started developing the TF: Prime figures back when they were getting these negative DOTM parent responses (most of those toys were crappy in their own right, independent of transformation complexity), I imagine the Hasbro brand managers were challenged to find a way to blend fully formed figures with those simple, Activator toys.

This looks to be their first fully formed attempt at this experiment, which may also be intended to get younger kids hooked on these simplified toys. We'll see how it goes.

Optimus looks kinda sad.

Dead Metal wrote:Optimus looks kinda sad.

Awwww

I want that Predaking.

hinomars19 wrote:

T-Macksimus wrote:

Armentitron wrote:I cannot possibly fathom why on Earth would do something like that. Oh, wait, actually I can! Either too lazy or too stupid to come up with any actual new designs! Sure, let's just take toys we've already published and make them a bit bigger! People will still pay for them!

Try the fact that they can make a sh**-ton of money off of the ACTUAL target demographic for these toys instead of the piddly-ass amount of chump change they would get in comparison by keeping older/adult fans happy. This isn't about what WE think, this is about the children for whom these toys are intended and their parents who throw obscene quantities of money out there to keep their spawn happy and content.
It doesn't matter if it makes sense to us, it just has to make a 7 year old thrilled enough to pester Mom and Dad and I GUARANTEE you, the kids far outnumber us older fans/collectors.

Nice speech, but think about it; HOW is this voyager Prime any faster or easier to transform than the current one?

HOW is this one more attractive to a 7 year old than the current one?

Please don't keep a stack of standard excuses in your utility belt ready for the cause. This has nothing to do with simpler, easier play. It's just cost cutting. Beast Fire Predaking has to be one of the simplest toys to date, yet achieves both modes well, looks like a quality product, and, whilst it doesn't please everyone, manages to bridge the gap between child and adult collector well enough.

Stop believing blatant rubbish. This is about being cheap, nothing more. Animated leader Megatron has no more than 5-6 steps, is chunky and easy to play with. So again, please tell me why THIS approach to TFs is suddenly so necessary?

And please, let's have some creative answers, not another old wive's tale from the 'we believe everything told to us at botcon' pot.

Hasbro has a reason to lie to us why exactly?

Reasoning behind it is that if a parent picks this up for their kid their kid will find it easier and therefore want more. They have no need to call it out on the package, as no kid is going to want to get something which says it is simpler because they will view it as the "baby" version. Also, it's chunky and therefore can be tossed around a bit more. If it was cost-cutting they would be the same size as the normal figures, and simple. If you look they barely fit in the standard voyager boxes- Prime is squished in in a massive A-Stance; the same amount of plastic has gone into this as a normal voyager- no cost-cutting there.

If you actually listened to what was said at Botcon, in multiple interviews they said they were trying out the simplified in a response to the movie figures as many complained they were over-complicated- even Bay himself. If parents find them over-complicated they won't buy them. Seeing though they need to see whether or not the simpler stuff sells before the movies come out and they commit to it, they needed to trial it before it. The quickest way to do that as Prime would be the only line between now and TF4 was to upscale the Cyberverse designs. If they carry this forward they will have individual simpler designs for the deluxes and voyagers in the non-Generations line rather than these "upscaled Cyberverse". Even upscaled is the wrong term because they have different jointing and the surface detail is also different- it hasn't been scaled up with the figure.

The reasoning behind this is that they want simpler jumping on points for kids so that in another 30 years time the children of today will be celebrating the Transformers 60TH Anniversary with Leader BH Optimus Prime and Voyager animated Bumblebee rather than the line being dead. It won't affect your precious Generations, worry not. Hasbro has said this will only affect the non-Generations lines.


And as somebody else said, the old HABLOWS DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE HASBLOW excuse is a really old one, you be more creative.

Wow, I hope these are shelf-warmers or show up through TJMaxx or something, because I'd love to see that Predaking hit $15 or so.

Predaking may have a cheaper design, but from the look of it, unless they're shrinking the packaging, lower complexity means more bulk, and for Predaking, size matters.

Bought. But I'll most likely take some paint to them.

Caelus wrote:Wow, I hope these are shelf-warmers or show up through TJMaxx or something, because I'd love to see that Predaking hit $15 or so.

Predaking may have a cheaper design, but from the look of it, unless they're shrinking the packaging, lower complexity means more bulk, and for Predaking, size matters.

They said one of the tradeoffs for the simpler transformation was a bigger figure so that should be accurate.

And I WAS excited about this figure for a few minutes. At Botcon he was in black and orange again, but later they changed him to the purple color scheme which is closer to the show version. Unfortunately they ruined that by making him completely translucent so he's a pass for me for that reason alone.

Emerje

The paint job on Predaking looks pretty good. To me the disappointing thing with Prime is no flight pack... also the only stopping me from buying the regular Cyberverse versions. Love to see the upscaled terrorcons in the flesh. So do we get upscaled Hardshell now? Please?

Already a great debate about Hasblow cheapness versus Hasbro Botcon honesty and "for-the-kids" approach!

Anyway, my vote is Hasblow is being cheap and "don't believe everything at Botcon". I understand the movie line was too complex... but that's proof of incompetence, not upcoming redemption. Think about it: the movie line was clearly for the kids, so why f*ck that up so royal??? Why make the toys so complex when Hasbro KNEW the kids were buying?

I'll tell you why: Hasbro is made up of some incompetent people. The engineers got overzealous and NO ONE on staff stopped the production (at any point, and presumably because the schedule was too tight to simply re-start the toy designs... presumably). Either way, they had kids' attention and blew it.

Hasbro DOES have an opportunity to correct that: but it's NOT with Prime; it's with the next movie.

As previously mentioned by other posters, the box doesn't even call to attention the changes or ease. The box looks identical to other boxes. They screwed up here. So the TV commercials better do the extra work, or some articles better be paid for in parenting magazines, as the point-of-sale marketing is going to fail dramatically.

I'm a little tired of the "we need a movie to move these BBs!" strategy by Hasbro. I'm just asking for some new ideas or some new executives. The young boys division of Hasbro is doing TERRIBLE. Now's the time for "wow", not "oops, I did it again".

For those of you trying to argue that these aren't targeted at kids, you do realize that the entire TF:Prime line is targeted at kids, right?

Generations is for collectors, as is MP. Rescue Bots is for little kids and Transformers: Prime is for older kids.

The fact that we older collectors (or some of us, anyway) collect TF: Prime (and in some cases, even Rescue Bots) is moot. Hasbro's trying to cater to their target audience by releasing easier to transform versions of the toys. And yeah, I'm sure it also saves them some money, which is generally the goal of every corporation on the planet.

Either way, I think this Prime looks great as I said before, and I'm buying him for sure. The normal voyager Prime is cool too, but I like this one much better. His vehicle mode looks better as does his bot mode. He'll definitely have a place on my shelf.

with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Well, I can take these off my list to collect. Seriously Fugly.

Well, I thought about it.

Why must cheap stuff be ugly as well? These things get designed by a team and we have to be lured in as a consumer to buy 'em... Why make them so awful looking? This isn't a bar on saturday night, this is a toystore.

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Methinks you have yourself a good point there .

Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

RhA wrote:Well, I thought about it.

Why must cheap stuff be ugly as well? These things get designed by a team and we have to be lured in as a consumer to buy 'em... Why make them so awful looking? This isn't a bar on saturday night, this is a toystore.

I actually like that version of Prime better than the original voyager Prime, although I could have done without the green. I'll be painting those bits silver as they should be most likely.

xyl360 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Methinks you have yourself a good point there .

Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

The upsized Terrorcons we've seen still have the combining pegs and it was hinted at BotCon that they might release the entire team

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Methinks you have yourself a good point there .

Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

The upsized Terrorcons we've seen still have the combining pegs and it was hinted at BotCon that they might release the entire team

Wow, really? I'd heard they didn't have the combining pegs. I hope they do release them, I'll get em' for sure !

Oh those in-pacakge images, never fail

Oh those in-pacakge images, never fail

being an upscaled Cyberverse doesn't matter to me when that's the nicest looking Predaking we've seen. none of the weird wing placements in bot mode that the others have. now I'll probably still wait for a review and a good deal on the price, but it has my interest.

I have some Cybertron figures (like Scourge/Cryo Scourge) that are just as simple, and they're great figures.

xyl360 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Methinks you have yourself a good point there .

Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

The upsized Terrorcons we've seen still have the combining pegs and it was hinted at BotCon that they might release the entire team

Wow, really? I'd heard they didn't have the combining pegs. I hope they do release them, I'll get em' for sure !

Ok, where are those pegs exactly?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

Methinks you have yourself a good point there .

Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

The upsized Terrorcons we've seen still have the combining pegs and it was hinted at BotCon that they might release the entire team

Wow, really? I'd heard they didn't have the combining pegs. I hope they do release them, I'll get em' for sure !

Ok, where are those pegs exactly?

so comparing those pics with my cyberverse guys it looks like those pegs are not there...

xyl360 wrote:For those of you trying to argue that these aren't targeted at kids, you do realize that the entire TF:Prime line is targeted at kids, right?

Generations is for collectors, as is MP. Rescue Bots is for little kids and Transformers: Prime is for older kids.

Do you work for Hasbro?
The "argument" was not who the toys are intended for (read: toys = children; not many people deny that) - the debate is whether or not they are REACHING children, which is only relevant if you care about Hasbro's bottom line (which, incidentally, determines whether or not you'll get combiners in the future). But you already knew all of that, and you erroneously misread the conversation (or replied to someone else's post). Just clarifying a little, in case of any confusion.

xyl360 wrote:Also, yeah, if they upsised the Terrorcons like this and maintained the combining gimmick, I'd be all in. I have the Cyberverse versions already and while nifty, they just aren't very impressive due to the size. The way they combine isn't that great, but I still think they'd be worth doing in the larger size class.

I think it's a fail on the tiny Abominus, and a bigger one would have the same awkwardness. I see where you're coming from (Abominus being my fave combiner), but desperation can make for some strange bed mates...
If the "kid-targeted" toys did a little better, we would get combiners again because Hasbro could afford to take a risk (see TMNT, for example).

Ultra Markus wrote:with sooo many different versions of one character and sooo many different toy lines its easier to pick and choose what to get than bitch about what hasbro has put out.
and i choose to pass on these ones.... but if they did all the terrorcons like that then
maybe

You simultaneously denounce b*tching by saying we have choice, and then you lament the lack of terrorcons.
But if I b*tch about these, it's because I want Hasbro to put out a BEST-SELLER, not another BB or Optimus. Sure, I could be one of the millions who are leaving those toys to rot on shelves (and not give a sh*t)... but I'm trying to create a discussion about correcting these bad choices in order to improve the bottom line of a company we all love so much! Discussion/brainstorming: the mother of ingenuity and success.

RhA wrote: Why make them so awful looking? This isn't a bar on saturday night, this is a toystore.

Amazon continues to roll up high quality official images of upcoming Transformers! Below we have images of the simplified Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Voyagers Optimus Prime and Predaking. These, and the simplified Deluxes, were announced at BotCon 2013. According to the presentation these were designed to increase play value with faster transformations from mode to mode.

Armed with the ancient weapons of the Primes, Optimus Prime unleashes a savage new beast-tracker vehicle mode to defeat the mighty Predaking. Predacons will wish they had never heard of Optimus Prime when you bring this figure to the fight. This mighty Autobot figure has a new beast-tracker vehicle mode. When he's in truck mode, he'll dust his enemies with his firing cannon. In robot mode, his powerful Nexus Sword and Vector Shield will make him invincible in hand-to-hand combat. Whatever mode he's in, no Predacon will be able to match your Optimus Prime figure's might. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.

Predaking readies his battle-hungry Predacon forces for an attack he hopes will finish the Autobots once and for all. Autobots will wish they had never heard of Predaking when you bring this figure to the fight. This mighty Predacon figure has a brand new plan for taking on the Autobots (other figures sold separately). He's a scary dragon in beast mode, and his tail becomes his powerful Infernum Sword in robot mode. Will any Autobot be able to survive his firing missile-blast assault? Whatever mode he's in, your Predaking figure is a danger to any Autobot. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.

Predaking looks better and better with every new picture.

Predaking bot mode looks good, but dragon legs look really pitiful. No knees makes it look like one of those monster horses from Harry Potter.

Looks like his forearms and feet are unpainted?

Also have to say... no combine... no buy.

"Intermediate level 2"

Are these replacing the previous versions? There is nothing that I can see that says to unknowing parents that these are are lower spec versions of the figures their kids may be wanting.

Well, the bio is accurate. I know I wish I had never heard of Optimus Prime when I look at THIS figure....

I'm interested in Predaking.

You can never have too many giant transforming dragons IMO.

With the deco, size and transform variations, they will all be different characters on my shelf.

I like how Predaking looks, not so much for Optimus Prime.

The beastmode photo of Predaking shows the front legs mistransformed. They should be turned around so that the hollow bits aren't showing to the sides of the toy.

omega666 wrote:

Megatron Wolf wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:Shouldn't they be cheaper than that? I thought the whole point of up-sizing these is to make it simpler and cheaper(then normal voyagers)?

your actually surprised at this, this is hasbro afterall. The point of these is to make them more money while spending less not help us the consumer out by giving us a quality product for a reasonable price.

The answer is simple. Don't buy any of this crap.

Precisely.

I'm sorry, these are what the parents and the kids want. Transformers that both can transformer, and limbs that don't easily pop off.

You'll notice the deluxe bumblebee had ratcheting leg joints - not too many deluxes these days same to have anything but ball joints.

They're also bigger than normal Voyagers. Look at how they fill the package! That said, Optimus is really ugly. Predaking I don't mind. I do like how he's translucent, but those hollow arms are a bit of a pain. Hopefully you can also do something about his dragon head in robot mode, leaving it sticking out like a tail seems a little strange. Even if you could just lift it and lie it against his back, it'd be a big improvement.

Predaking actually does look pretty cool. If I was interested in the character, this is probably the version I would get.

But that Prime is horrible, and I can only hope this simplification doesn't carry over into the Generations line.

kirbenvost wrote:But that Prime is horrible, and I can only hope this simplification doesn't carry over into the Generations line.

Again, it will not. Hasbro has confirmed Generations will be exempt from the simplication.

Predaking's front legs are twisted backwards in dragon mode, which makes his "feet" (the robot hands, actually) look terrible mangled.

Megazarak wrote:They're also bigger than normal Voyagers. Look at how they fill the package!

It's also possible that they made the packaging smaller to make the figures LOOK bigger and/or to save on distribution costs (by fitting more in the same size case).