Transformers Studio Series Megatron & Brawl at US Retail

the only figure I'm getting has finally showed up. Now to wait 3 more months before I finally see it in Long Beach California, which takes FOREVER to ship here.

fruityrobo wrote:the only figure I'm getting has finally showed up. Now to wait 3 more months before I finally see it in Long Beach California, which takes FOREVER to ship here.

Long Beach is the big port in SoCal, no? Why would it take things so long to show up there if that's where they come in to the country?

Distribution is weird that way. Sure, Long Beach is where the port is, but that's not the big governing factor. The people in charge of ordering stock for stores, what stock is already sitting on the shelves, what stock orders are in the queue.. Those have a far more direct influence.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Among other things, Studio Series Blackout is on sale on HTS Ebay for $39.99, and it is still eligible for the 20% off coupon expiring in 3 hours (7pm west coast time) code PICKDADSGIFT. Just got my Blackout for $34 after tax!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?siteid=0&pub=5574891718&campid=5336631220&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1&mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FTransformers-S%20...%20SwIIha3u2~%3C%2Fa%3E%3F

HTS transformers page on ebay: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?siteid=0&pub=5574891718&campid=5336631220&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fstores.ebay.com%2Fhasbrotoyshop%2F_i%20...%20ansformers%3C%2Fa%3E%3F

Oh, that just f***ing figures, I don't find that out until AFTER I go and pay full price for him at Target. I could have saved a notable amount!

All the same, last I looked complete Movie 1 Voyager Blackouts were often going for around that much... And he's a bigger and better Blackout than that one by far.

I'm tempted by a lot of the Studio Series, honestly, though I'm prioritizing Power of the Primes. Blackout was an impulse buy due to frustration at the dearth of new PotP Deluxes at my local Targets combined with not wanting to have to buy him later when he was selling for $80 to $100 on eBay.

There is one Studio Series figure that I'm not tempted by in the slightest: Optimus. His original movie design is one they already mastered, all they needed to do was scale down Battle Blades Optimus a smidge and he'd have been fine..
But no, they had to be stupid and reinvent the wheel and end up with a figure that looks almost like a regression to the 2007 Movie Optimus toys.

Thanks to a heads up from Seibertronian and 'Leaked from Cybertron' watchdog westjames/notirish, we have a new 'Leaked from Cybertron' video, this time in the form of Studio Series Brawl!

In this video, designer Mike once again takes center stage as he talks about the just now hitting stores Studio Series Brawl figure, and an interesting bit of information that is new to us. While working with the design team, there were 2 different heads designed for Brawl, with a 2nd what appears to be more of a screaming head shown off. This screaming face version of the head was the head that got chopped (not by Prime though) and the head that we now see on the figure was chosen as it was more accurate to the film.

You can now watch this video either on the Transformers Facebook page or the Instagram page. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

What about the dimes, though?
That aside, has anyone taken a photo of Blackout tanking up Starscream yet? Or him tanking up anyone else for that matter? I mean, he does have the requisite probe for it.
I have plans to take some such photos myself, though I don't have a couple figures I would really like to see him refueling (Studio Series Screamer, and HFTD Leader-class Screamer). Never mind, had the probe's function backwards

I'd love to have a 2nd Blackout to make into Grindor (who I doubt they'll make), and maybe more beyond that.

My hopes for the line include a Movie 1 Megatron, an improved DOTM Megatron (sure, the existing DOTM Voyager Megs is a decent figure and even cleverly pulls off some trailer articulation, but his weapon was dumb since without it his altmode is incomplete... I may be slightly bitter because I got mine secondhand and have had sh*t luck finding a replacement), a better Voyager Sentinel Prime, a do-over of Optimus since they blew it with the one that's out now, and last but not least... a new Leader Jetfire.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:What about the dimes, though?

That aside, has anyone taken a photo of Blackout tanking up Starscream yet? Or him tanking up anyone else for that matter? I mean, he does have the requisite probe for it.
I have plans to take some such photos myself, though I don't have a couple figures I would really like to see him refueling (Studio Series Screamer, and HFTD Leader-class Screamer).

I'd love to have a 2nd Blackout to make into Grindor (who I doubt they'll make), and maybe more beyond that.

My hopes for the line include a Movie 1 Megatron, an improved DOTM Megatron (sure, the existing DOTM Voyager Megs is a decent figure and even cleverly pulls off some trailer articulation, but his weapon was dumb since without it his altmode is incomplete... I may be slightly bitter because I got mine secondhand and have had sh*t luck finding a replacement), a better Voyager Sentinel Prime, a do-over of Optimus since they blew it with the one that's out now, and last but not least... a new Leader Jetfire.

um.... from my knowledge (which includes vids) that probe is for him to get refueled mid air, not to fill someone else's tank.....

Is it just me, or does SCREAMING Brawlastator look about 100X less intimidating than the strong, silent noggin'? I certainly understand sculpting another option, but doubt that was seriously considered for more than 5 seconds upon completion.

Always nice to see a mighta-been prototype though!

Octobotimus wrote:um.... from my knowledge (which includes vids) that probe is for him to get refueled mid air, not to fill someone else's tank.....

You're right, my bad

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:a do-over of Optimus since they blew it with the one that's out now

I don't agree with 'they blew it'. I think it's actually become my fave Voyager Optimus Prime figure to play with and certainly for it's excellent articulation and easy transformation. I'm hoping Toyhax include smoke stack extenders along with their sticker sheet when they're done but I'm very happy with my Optimus Prime after having added some of my own paint to it and vastly prefer it to the Battle Blade/Revenge mold (which looks nice at first but is fiddly as hell and the arms are hampered by kibble and having to accomodate the swords and oh god i hate the backpack and dislike the tiny feet).

This be mine at present, waiting for Toyhax flame stickers

Why do you hate the backpack that at least somewhat resembles the backpack from the movies? Studio Series' Optimus' is COMPLETELY wrong. On top of that, his leg tires are reversed from where they should be, his window pecs end up oriented too flat and have too large a gap between them, the hood sections/faux hood sections in his chest seem to be tucked in too far, the big hinges on either side of his torso make it look too blocky, and his truck mode's bed is ugly as heck - it looks more like something a legion-class figure would be forced to have. The most I can say for him in his favor is that the arms are more accurate-looking.

The Battle Blade figure's transformation scheme puts everything about where it should be, has a better-looking chest and torso shape, looks way better in truck mode due to having a proper truck bed... The awkwardness of the forearms could easily be dealt with by eliminating the sword integration. It'd probably still be a bit fiddly, but sometimes that's the price you have to pay for accuracy with Bayformers because of how blasted complex the designs are.

Maybe he likes it for the reasons he gave. You may not agree with them but it's his opinion. I quite the ss op as well, people with it in hand do say it's fun to handle and that's enough for me

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Why do you hate the backpack that at least somewhat resembles the backpack from the movies? Studio Series' Optimus' is COMPLETELY wrong. On top of that, his leg tires are reversed from where they should be, his window pecs end up oriented too flat and have too large a gap between them, the hood sections/faux hood sections in his chest seem to be tucked in too far, the big hinges on either side of his torso make it look too blocky, and his truck mode's bed is ugly as heck - it looks more like something a legion-class figure would be forced to have. The most I can say for him in his favor is that the arms are more accurate-looking.

I find the backpack on the Battle Blade mold far too fiddly and difficult to lock into place (on mine the slightest touch and that whole red wheel-arch section falls down) and because of that design it has no waist articulation (Studio Prime does since nothing needs to connect from the crotch/butt area to the torso other than the actual waist joint)

The Battle Blade figure's transformation scheme puts everything about where it should be, has a better-looking chest and torso shape, looks way better in truck mode due to having a proper truck bed... The awkwardness of the forearms could easily be dealt with by eliminating the sword integration.

It's not the swords that cause the most problems, it's the huge truck hood panels and the shoulder pads that aren't actually connected to the shoulders where they should but are actually fixed to the upper arms. Plus those shoulder panels are still very wrong being that they are flat panels (wheras Studio Prime has proper three dimensional shoulder pads). I also really dislike the hands since they are molded with a rectangular hole meaning he can hold his own (weird looking fuel tank) guns but not much else. I prefer Studio Prime having the swords as seperate pieces you insert into the hands from underneath and it using the 5mm standard so that Prime can hole a lot more different weapons too (or let someone else use his swords just for fun). Plus I like that his swords are plastic and transparent rather than bendy rubber.

Battle Blade/Revenge certainly has the more accurate truck mode but I often find it such a chore to change it into that mode and back again it sometimes doesn't seem worth it so if I am to keep mine I may just leave it in truck mode.

And again the fun factor in Studio Prime wins it for me. He's non-fiddly, he's well proportioned, has superb articulation (even the soles of his feet can touch each other almost flatly) and his large feet and good centre of balance means he can even stand on one foot pretty easily for some nice action poses.

Have you touched up the paint work on any of the other studio figures yet like megs?

ZeroWolf wrote:Have you touched up the paint work on any of the other studio figures yet like megs?

Nope. I didn't want to start on Megatron yet cos I'm very low on silvery paint and don't want to leave him hanging with just a lil paint on him (he's one of my fave figures) and he's a big guy with a looottt of grey areas to cover. :O He still looks rather cool as he is though whereas Prime really needed a bit of colour fixing up to bring out his awesomeness and I'm pleased with it despite my lack of skills.

Girlfriend will be here soon, so probs won't get to play with this guy till next week, but so far I am loving him.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Girlfriend will be here soon, so probs won't get to play with this guy till next week, but so far I am loving him.

Does look cool. I'll have to wait til I can find that one cheaper.

In case anyone's interested, hts has voyager megatron and brawl in stock to purchase as of right now, dunno how long they'll last though

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Girlfriend will be here soon, so probs won't get to play with this guy till next week, but so far I am loving him.

Does look cool. I'll have to wait til I can find that one cheaper.

Got him for $32 on Wednesday night with that 20% off Ebay coupon coupled with HTS Ebay having him for 20% off! I would have paid the $50 for him, but $32 makes him even better cause I feel like I stole him

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Got him for $32 on Wednesday night with that 20% off Ebay coupon coupled with HTS Ebay having him for 20% off! I would have paid the $50 for him, but $32 makes him even better cause I feel like I stole him

I keep getting outbid on eBay on Blackouts that have a low starting price as they get bid more than I can afford. I can't go very high as have spent a lot of money on Studio figures the past couple months so Megatron that I got a week and half ago probably has to be my last one for a while til my bank balance is ok again.

Anyways enjoy your Blackout. He looks awesome in that pic.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Got him for $32 on Wednesday night with that 20% off Ebay coupon coupled with HTS Ebay having him for 20% off! I would have paid the $50 for him, but $32 makes him even better cause I feel like I stole him

I keep getting outbid on eBay on Blackouts that have a low starting price as they get bid more than I can afford. I can't go very high as have spent a lot of money on Studio figures the past couple months so Megatron that I got a week and half ago probably has to be my last one for a while til my bank balance is ok again.

Anyways enjoy your Blackout. He looks awesome in that pic.

Too bad you're not in Canada. Currently SS Blackout and Grimlock are on sale at 52$CAN. Add one of those 3 TrU Club coupons for Hasbro products bought at TrU (20$ off when spending 50$+)(Buy 2 get the 3rd free)(10% off) and you can get a Blackout for very cheap.

Well, I used the Hasbro Toy Shop deal, and went on and got Brawl.

Sorry if I missed any but I haven’t seen pictures of Brawl on here yet. I managed to snag him and Megatron for $30 each off Amazon the other day and they got here this afternoon. They finally managed to get Megatron’s head sculpt right after what, 9 years? I love it. He’s also massive, looks appropriately threatening and imposing next to Prime. To be honest I think Brawl is more fun though - a bit less fiddly and a nicer looking tank. I love the detail all over him but especially on his face, I never knew he had a toothy little mouth under that faceplate until I got him and looked super close at movie stills. The panels under his hands are a bummer but I’m calling him one of my favorites from Studio Series as of now. I’ll get some more pictures of these guys with all their Con buddies later once they’re all in robot mode again.

*edit: of course half the pictures are upside down. Really have to figure out how my phone camera works

Found both Brawl and Megatron today at a local Target store. It's the one in downtown St. Paul along University Ave., if any Twin Cities goers are interested. They were the last two of each on the shelf, but there may be more. I also spotted a lone Megatron at the T1 Target in Roseville. I haven't had a chance to open either figure up yet, but I'm excited! I'll post my opinions once I've had some time to transform them back and forth.

Autobot Roadburn wrote:Sorry if I missed any but I haven’t seen pictures of Brawl on here yet.

You kids can't go through 77 pages of posts to check? There's plenty of pictures so read back you lazy bum! Back in my days we had the will to.................................
....................
...............................................not bothering either TBH.

@Carnivus_Prime That's fair enough, but I would like to clarify something.
I wasn't saying they should have just reissued Battle Blades Optimus for the Studio Series. Good grief, no. What I was saying is that instead of reinventing the wheel, they could have and in my opinion should have shrunk and refined his design because it was more accurate and just needed some polish for better balance, articulation, and ease of transformation. I'm sure the SS Optimus we got is very fun, he certainly looks it! But he bugs the crap out of me visually. The backpack, the chest being off, and especially the wheels being in the wrong places on his legs from where they should be - seriously, wtf is with that.
And then the truck mode.. Dear gods that truck mode and the complete lack of a bed... Even the Dark of the Moon Mechtech Voyager had a better-looking truck bed than that... That is the worst of it by far. I could tolerate the rest if it wasn't for that, but with that on top of everything else... it just looks so janky from what I've seen.
Idk, maybe if I found him on sale I'd pick him up

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:@Carnivus_Prime That's fair enough, but I would like to clarify something.
I wasn't saying they should have just reissued Battle Blades Optimus for the Studio Series. Good grief, no. What I was saying is that instead of reinventing the wheel, they could have and in my opinion should have shrunk and refined his design

I knew what you were saying but perhaps he had already been shrunk down enough to work well at all as it had been based very much on the much larger RotF Leader figure and some of the downsizing resulted in noticable downgrades (the tiny feet on the voyager being one notable example). And it still had some glaring issues I'm not sure they could fix without a total redesign anyways. I always hated those flat inaccurate shoulder pads whether on the RotF Leader or MPM but they're far worse on the Battle Blade because, as mentioned before, they're actually attached to the upper arms rather than the shoulder and so look even more disjointed that on the larger figures and get in the way of articulation particularly when combined with those extremely large truck hood panels on the lower arms (another casualty of the downsizing). And that truck bed kibble connecting to the back pack from underneath his crotch is pretty poor (especially as mine doesn't even stay connected to the backpack very well) as it looks messy and meant no waist articulation. And the chest area is a fiddly annoyance too particularly when transforming. The truck mode is fantastic for sure but the robot mode, for me at least, has far too many issues to make it a fun toy for actually playing with and posing and I can understand many of the flaws of the Studio figure that perhaps had to be done to make it a more enjoyable and practical action figure product over all. I've currently got four different Voyager class movie Prime figures (Studio, Revenge, AoE, TLK) and none of them are perfect but they all have some really great things going for them. But the three most recent ones all needed paint and stickers cos Hasbro sure been 'lazy' in that area. For the most recognisable name in the entire franchise you'd think they could splash out a bit on his paintwork...

-Kanrabat- wrote:Too bad you're not in Canada. Currently SS Blackout and Grimlock are on sale at 52$CAN. Add one of those 3 TrU Club coupons for Hasbro products bought at TrU (20$ off when spending 50$+)(Buy 2 get the 3rd free)(10% off) and you can get a Blackout for very cheap.

Oddly enough I was supposed to move there but plans fell through due to the passing of my grandad a couple years ago who had lived there for decades.

I didn't just say shrinking the design (though on that note, downsizing from Voyager to slightly smaller Voyager is nowhere near as extreme as downsizing from Leader to Voyager and HasTak engineering has advanced over the past 8 years.), I also said refining it. Here's a list:
* Changing where the paldron panels are hinged to be more like the Leader or changing them entirely to be as they are on the present Studio Series figure. Relocating actual flat panels elsewhere (ideally somewhere unobtrusive, maybe tucking them into the torso)
* In an earlier post I mentioned not needing to integrate the swords would improve the forearms. Allow to elaborate: Without the need for the forearm hood panels to act as mounts and scabbards for the swords, they'd be free to fold in half.
* Alternatively, you could cut some length off the forearm hood panels, and turn the fake hood panel abs into real hood panels (with the "front part of them folding out to tab into the arms... or being what they tab onto when attaching to the chest)
* Throw out the matrix storage to make room to tuck the smokestacks into the torso like on screen
* Eliminate the use of the gas tanks as weapons so that they can fold into their proper position on the back
* Larger or double pegs for the rear fenders, in accurate positions
* Making the hitch tuck into his pelvis (like on the ROTF Leader) or torso instead of it being his skidplate, I think the engineering team can pull that off nowadays
* Same for this one: Making the feet properly duplicate those of the ROTF Leader figure.
* 5mm hole hands, just like the Studio Series Optimus that exists

When I bring up the truck mode.. It's less about the BB Optimus' truck mode looking good (although it does) and more about the Studio Series version's truck mode not even looking passable. Even DotM Voyager Optimus and his wonky proportions managed quasi-decent truck bed (though hoo boy are those some outsize fuel tanks)

Autobot Roadburn, your pics are the right way up when viewed full size. And they're quite lovely.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Autobot Roadburn, your pics are the right way up when viewed full size. And they're quite lovely.

Well thank you! Just got all my Studio Series Cons put together in one shot, I love these guys. I’ll get a better shot once I clear out some space. Also rewatched the firest battle from RotF last night and seeing Megatron on screen gave me a whole new appreciation for the Studio voyager, the likeness and attention to detail are incredible.

I do have to admit I like Studio Prime better than Battle Blades myself, mostly because BB is a bit rough to transform (I felt like I had to force some bits on mine during transformation) and I’m super picky on head sculpts, so I think the Studio is particularly better in that regard. I agree neither is perfect though, but I’m satisfied enough for now with Studio Prime.

I was taking a look at my '07 voyager Blackout and noticed two screws holding the main rotor assembly to the rest of the weapon, which gave me an idea.

Now, he can't actually hold this very well (a slight breeze would knock it off in the picture), but at least it looks pretty cool!

Now if only the original ROTF Leader Megatron could have had that likeness and attention to detail... But no, it was far more important to the fleabrained execs that he have electronics (which also worked to the detriment of Movie 1 Leader Megs and ROTF Leader Jetfire) and a missile!

Also, congrats on owning Thundercracker

I look forward to the better picture. Also, would you mind taking some pics to show off Megatron's sword?

I personally don't mind the ROTF Leader Prime transformation (which I can only imagine Battle Blades is very similar just without the threat of the swords popping out mid-transformation), but I'm certainly not saying Battle Blades Optimus is better than Studio Series Optimus. What I'm saying is "I wish Studio Series Optimus was more accurate and had a less janky truck mode, and I think that could have been pulled off by refining and slightly shrinking the Battle Blades Optimus design". Because as he is... He feels like a let-down compared to the care put into the rest of the line.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:I didn't just say shrinking the design (though on that note, downsizing from Voyager to slightly smaller Voyager is nowhere near as extreme as downsizing from Leader to Voyager and HasTak engineering has advanced over the past 8 years.), I also said refining it.

I didn't say just shrinking it either! I was saying that when they took the basic design of the RotF Leader and downsized it there were obvious compromises that had to be made and for all we know Hasbro/Takara probably went through them all (I'd love to see their design notes and stuff for some of these figures) and perhaps looked at the Battle Blade figure when designing the Studio and thought maybe Battle Blade was as far as they could get with that engineering and budget and size (point below about that) and settled on trying an all new, much more transformation-friendly toy?

* Same for this one: Making the feet properly duplicate those of the ROTF Leader figure.

Just picking this one out as example of that they probably changed how it worked on the BB cos that one was a section of the Leader figure likely too complex to even simulate well at the Battle Blade size and so definitely wouldn't work at Studio size. Perhaps they even tried it before having to ditch it and go for the tiny feet option the figure was released with. Most of the changes you suggest sound like yet more fiddly steps in an already fiddly transformation.

I understand many of your points but at the end of all this I have both of these figures and I just get a heck of a lot more enjoyment and satisfaction from the Studio figure cos it's one I can pick up, pose, transform without any frustration or annoyance. And while the BB truck is more accurate I disagree with the bit about the Studio truck not looking passable. It certainly looks like a truck. The only bits letting it down are the feet on the back, and the short smokestacks. The latter can likely be fixed with some sort of addon stack extenders to slide onto the current stacks, and the feet? Well they have a hole molded into them for a trailer so that's appreciated by me at least. Some chrome on the grill, stacks and sun visor would have been nice too but eh that's the least of the figure's paint issues.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:I personally don't mind the ROTF Leader Prime transformation (which I can only imagine Battle Blades is very similar just without the threat of the swords popping out mid-transformation), but I'm certainly not saying Battle Blades Optimus is better than Studio Series Optimus. What I'm saying is "I wish Studio Series Optimus was more accurate and had a less janky truck mode, and I think that could have been pulled off by refining and slightly shrinking the Battle Blades Optimus design". Because as he is... He feels like a let-down compared to the care put into the rest of the line.

Only figure I've felt let down by in the line out of the eight I own is Grimlock and that's mainly cos of the back end of his dino mode. I wasn't expecting to like Studio Prime much cos his poor colour layout made him look unappealing in early photos (but then Evasion Prime had a crappy colour layout too and people liked him) but he's become my fave figure of him I've ever owned (and as said before I still currently own four Voyager figures of him). And like Evasion Prime (perhaps even moreso?) he just poses so damn well.



If they do make another one then maybe it'll be able to mix the positives of both these figures? Perhaps that one would be more to your liking as you are hoping. Who knows? All I do know is I've had a lot more fun with the Studio figure compared to the BB mold and it really suprised me how much I like it despite it's flaws (especially after adding some paint to help the mold look the way it was probably designed to have been before the paint budget went screwy). Feels like even in non-MP lines like this you get some Transformer figures that are best as display pieces and some that are very functional and fun as the toys they claim to be. I find the BB as the former and Studio as the latter.

Anyways me tired. Time for sleeps.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:I was taking a look at my '07 voyager Blackout and noticed two screws holding the main rotor assembly to the rest of the weapon, which gave me an idea.

Now, he can't actually hold this very well (a slight breeze would knock it off in the picture), but at least it looks pretty cool!

That does look cool.

Ok night.

It's the highly visible feet that kill the truck mode for me. That's like, Movie 1 Legends Jazz levels of bad. Maybe paint would help it? But as-is.. Yeesh. I mean, even the DotM Deluxe managed to avoid doing that.

I agree that those changes I propose add more steps to an already-complex transformation, I guess I just don't really mind convoluted transformations when it comes to Bayformers - to my thinking, they kinda come with the territory.
But then, I'm a freak who enjoys transforming ROTF Leader Prime to truck mode, so... *shrug*

I may still get Studio Series Optimus to be my Voyager Movie Optimus, especially since scale with the Studio Series is the entire reason I even want a Voyager-class Movie Optimus in the first place (otherwise I would be sticking to Leader-class), I just wish the chest windows were better positioned and especially that they had hid the feet better in truck mode. There is at least still a trailer hitch, so I suppose I can make a trailer to hide them that way if paint doesn't help.

I hope to get some good photos of my Studio Series Blackout up soon. Going to do some solo shots and some group shots with my other movieverse Decepticons.

I suppose this is as good a time and place as any to ask this question, but what are people's preferences for "definitive" versions of the movie characters? Many of the recurring characters have had more than one (sometimes several) different looks throughout the franchise. Some of these are more subtle, like updates to Bumblebee during the first three movies based on whatever the latest Camero Chevy wants to sell. Others are much more pronounced, like Megatron's different forms for every single movie he's been in. Do people want every version of a character in the new Studio Series, or will you be getting just one "definitive" version of each character?

Wolfman Jake wrote:I suppose this is as good a time and place as any to ask this question, but what are people's preferences for "definitive" versions of the movie characters? Many of the recurring characters have had more than one (sometimes several) different looks throughout the franchise. Some of these are more subtle, like updates to Bumblebee during the first three movies based on whatever the latest Camero Chevy wants to sell. Others are much more pronounced, like Megatron's different forms for every single movie he's been in. Do people want every version of a character in the new Studio Series, or will you be getting just one "definitive" version of each character?

For most of them I'm just getting one version, like Optimus and Ratchet (waiting for DOTM versions of both), but I'll buy any and all versions of Bumblebee that they make.

Wolfman Jake wrote:I suppose this is as good a time and place as any to ask this question, but what are people's preferences for "definitive" versions of the movie characters? Many of the recurring characters have had more than one (sometimes several) different looks throughout the franchise. Some of these are more subtle, like updates to Bumblebee during the first three movies based on whatever the latest Camero Chevy wants to sell. Others are much more pronounced, like Megatron's different forms for every single movie he's been in. Do people want every version of a character in the new Studio Series, or will you be getting just one "definitive" version of each character?

I don't really have a definitive version of any character. To me, this line is more about filling in gaps in my collection or making a character I have a better/more appropriate mold/size, or giving a 2nd figure to a character that only has 1 representation in my collection that isn't in his normal color scheme.

As far as "definitive" versions go, I think it's a bad term. Because the designs do change over the movies. Some subtle, some drastic. The best term would be FAVORITES. Unfortunately, it suck as a display because the scales will be all out of wack.

-Kanrabat- wrote:As far as "definitive" versions go, I think it's a bad term. Because the designs do change over the movies. Some subtle, some drastic. The best term would be FAVORITES. Unfortunately, it suck as a display because the scales will be all out of wack.

Maybe "definitive version of a character's particular body form" would be more accurate.

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:As far as "definitive" versions go, I think it's a bad term. Because the designs do change over the movies. Some subtle, some drastic. The best term would be FAVORITES. Unfortunately, it suck as a display because the scales will be all out of wack.

Maybe "definitive version of a character's particular body form" would be more accurate.

The problem is that in the Bayverse, NOBODY is ever "defenitive". Gotta sell some new molds, ya know! But in-universe, it's logic because those transformers NEVER stop evolving.

...


After seeing Optimus going from genuine TF with truck-kibbles to a "lol imma knight but really I'm justa dude inna wet suit", I bet that if there would have been a Bay movie #7 (Bee movie don't count), Optimus and Co would have been FREAKING PRETENDERS. Japanese versions, of course.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:As far as "definitive" versions go, I think it's a bad term. Because the designs do change over the movies. Some subtle, some drastic. The best term would be FAVORITES. Unfortunately, it suck as a display because the scales will be all out of wack.

Maybe "definitive version of a character's particular body form" would be more accurate.

The problem is that in the Bayverse, NOBODY is ever "defenitive". Gotta sell some new molds, ya know! But in-universe, it's logic because those transformers NEVER stop evolving.

That's why I said "of a particular body form". Do you know how many toys there are of a character in just one of their many bodies? For many people, Battle Blade Bumblebee could be seen as the definitive version of Bumblebee in the body type that that toy represents, while others could instead view the first Human Alliance Bumblebee as the definitive version of that body since it's the same body as the Battle Blade figure. Meanwhile, neither would be the definitive version of Bumblebee's AOE body since neither represent that body type of his, but both the Movie Advanced and Platinum Edition versions of the AOE mold do, and one person could prefer the Platinum while another could prefer the Movie Advanced. That's what I mean.

Oh, if you talk about a "body type", that make things way easier...……...As long that none care about scale. Ah, good old scale.... The inescapable OCD conundrum.

I actually was talking about which character appearance is the one you'd put on your shelves AS that character, de facto, for the live action Transformers movie universe. Let's say you're putting together a display, and you only want each character represented once. Who do you choose to be in the big "group shot"? Bumblebee from the first three movies, AOE, or TLK? Which Prime, first three movies, evasion mode, or knight? Which Megatron, jet, tank, truck, or knight? Starscream with our without cybertronian tribal tattoos? Original Ratchet deco or DotM deco? Etc.

Wolfman Jake wrote:I actually was talking about which character appearance is the one you'd put on your shelves AS that character, de facto, for the live action Transformers movie universe. Let's say you're putting together a display, and you only want each character represented once. Who do you choose to be in the big "group shot"? Bumblebee from the first three movies, AOE, or TLK? Which Prime, first three movies, evasion mode, or knight? Which Megatron, jet, tank, truck, or knight? Starscream with our without cybertronian tribal tattoos? Original Ratchet deco or DotM deco? Etc.

Personally I'd probably put two or three versions of the same character up if they're different looking enough. Some of these guys are absolutely the definitive version of the character for me like Blackout and Grimlock, but while I feel the same way about the new Studio Megatron I'd consider putting his TLK voyager up there too. He scales great still and he's a fantastic toy that looks different enough from RotF Megs to work. I'd put Evasion Prime up too if he weren't slightly too tall for me, he's just a bit bigger than Studio Prime but it's noticeable.

So basically, the Studio Series as a whole is my definitive Movieverse collection along with whatever other figures scale with them. I've always been incredibly picky about scale and this line is a godsend. A voyager size version of the RotF leader mold (I know they're different, just appearance at least) is something I've been dreaming of for a long time. Almost caved and got the Movie Best voyager Starscream, would've been a huge waste of money for me.

Autobot Roadburn wrote: Almost caved and got the Movie Best voyager Starscream, would've been a huge waste of money for me.

Especially because the RotF voyager starscream mold is COMPLETE and UNFORGIVABLE GARBAGE. Movie '07 voyager looked great even with the gimmicky big "hands" and his transformation was clever and fun. RotF had those hands popping out of the jet's but and his posability was ASS because of the elbows bending the wrong way and no wrists. SS Starscream then made sure to bury the previous two voyager molds definitively and make them irrelevant.


I still love the '07 Screamers and if they release a special exclusive deco, I may be tempted. Eh I wonder how the '07 mold would look in a RotF "tattoo" deco?

Need help picking a toy for the Hall of Fame thread. I wanna pick either Grimlock or Blackout since I've heard so many good things about them, but I haven't gotten to experience either figure in-hand yet. Which one's better?

Sabrblade wrote:Need help picking a toy for the Hall of Fame thread. I wanna pick either Grimlock or Blackout since I've heard so many good things about them, but I haven't gotten to experience either figure in-hand yet. Which one's better?

It's relative to what one want in a figure. Blackout never interested me. Mainly because I just can't forgive how paneltastic he is. Especially his PALMED FEET. Also, call it nitpicking, but even though I'm complaining about too much panels, he ironically need more to hide that unsightly empty bottom of the copter mode.

Grimlock on the other hand, is PURE GENIUS. The paintwork is amazing, the transformation is simple but damn effective, he hide his kibbles in plain sight, and he's crazy posable. Furthermore, it's a bad-ass UNDEAD KNIGHT that transform into a ZOMBIE T-REX. Hollow jaw? Pah! That fit the zombie dino perfectly. So my vote is obviously for leader SS Grimlock.

Wolfman Jake wrote:I actually was talking about which character appearance is the one you'd put on your shelves AS that character, de facto, for the live action Transformers movie universe. Let's say you're putting together a display, and you only want each character represented once. Who do you choose to be in the big "group shot"? Bumblebee from the first three movies, AOE, or TLK? Which Prime, first three movies, evasion mode, or knight? Which Megatron, jet, tank, truck, or knight? Starscream with our without cybertronian tribal tattoos? Original Ratchet deco or DotM deco? Etc.

Ah, you have opened this movie bot lovers can of worms. I'll keep each entry brief:

Autobots

Optimus: Dark of the Moon Prime is my personal favorite design, complete with trailer and weapons. a toy of him would be perfect. As is, my RotF Leader is the ultimate version.

Ratchet: an updated voyager version of his movie 1 self would be my go to.

Ironhide: Same as Ratchet, I liked him better with the cannons permanently on his arms.

Bumblebee: His TLK look is the perfect look for me.

Jazz: only 1 to go on, and it's good with me.

Sideswipe: I actually preferred his DotM look, especially since he got stealth force. And he looked a smidge better for some reason.

Skids and Mudflap: DotM color schemes work better for me.

Jolt: I liked the RotF colors more than the DotM toy's

Wreckers: they are perfect in the one form they show up in.

Jetfire: good as is. really need one that combined a bit better with Prime

Arcees: eh, I wasn't a fan of any of their looks

Dino: good as is

Que: good as is, actually really liked his looks and his toy is one of my favorites

Crosshairs: Liked his look

Drift: I preferred the red and black look to him, shame the toy wasn't better

Hound: I preferred the AoE look

Wheelie/Brains: good as were.

Dinobots: good looks as they were.

Decepticons

Megatron: TLK was by far the best design he had, no regrets owning 6 versions of him.

Starscream: I kinda preferred the tribal tattooes, it's why I'm waiting out that version of the voyager

Blackout/Bonecrusher/Brawl/Frenzy/Scorponok: movie 1

Constructicons: RotF (and give us a combiner Devastator toy please in this line!!!)

Soundwave: DotM

Barricade: really hard choice, I liked both designs almost equally, slight edge to TLK

TLK guys: TLK look

Stinger: AoE

I'll agree on Grimlock. I don't have Blackout yet, but visually he's made up of a lot of panels and has a somewhat blocky appearance. Grimlock, on the other hand looks like a statue in both modes and not like something that should be able to transform. Not just the colors, but also the sculpting, it's just so ridiculously detailed and hides the joints and screws so well. It helps that he's one color scheme from top to bottom, but rare few figures can pull that off. If I were to pick two things I didn't like it would be the bottom jaw hanging off his left arm and the way the forearms are slightly curved. He's such a visually impressive figure, likely the most impressive thing Hasbro will release all year.

Emerje

Wolfman Jake wrote:I actually was talking about which character appearance is the one you'd put on your shelves AS that character, de facto, for the live action Transformers movie universe. Let's say you're putting together a display, and you only want each character represented once. Who do you choose to be in the big "group shot"? Bumblebee from the first three movies, AOE, or TLK? Which Prime, first three movies, evasion mode, or knight? Which Megatron, jet, tank, truck, or knight? Starscream with our without cybertronian tribal tattoos? Original Ratchet deco or DotM deco? Etc.

All right, why not play the game as well? If I'd go best and "definitive" toy for a given character, SCALE BE DAMNED (Only characters that have received several toys count. Only deluxe, voyagers, and leaders count):


Optimus: Leader Buster that came in the DOTM 2 pack with Jetfire.

Ratchet: '07 voyager

Ironhide: DotM voyager. I regret having sold it instead of the kinda crappy 07 voyager.

Bumblebee: "Deluxe" HFTD Battleblade

Starscream: HFTD Leader. Studio Series voyager came really close.

Megatron: TLK Voyager for now. Maybe the SS voyager will surpass him?

Grimlock: SS LEader all the way.

Barricade: Human Aliance

Jazz: Human Alliance, but soon the SS deluxe instead?

Skids and Mudflap: RotF/HftD Human Alliances

As for the others, they never had enough toys or I never owned enough to judge.


Ironhide:

D-Maximal_Primal petty much understands what I'm getting at. It's not at all about your favorite toy of a character. It's your favorite appearance of a given character in the actual movies. What is each character's "iconic" or "timeless" look for you across the whole movieverse? Let's pretend that the Studio Series will do every single character in the exact size you would want and each one will look and transform as close to perfection as possible. Now imagine that you are only getting ONE iteration of each character. No double dipping! Which Optimus Prime would you want to get? Which Megatron? The twins as a combiner ice cream truck or as individual cars? Soundwave as an artificial satellite or as a Mercedes-Benz? That is what I'm interested in.

Dang, Ironhide looks great!