Autobot triple changer?, where are they Options

[Donocropolis]

Because this is a list of the Autobot Triple Changers, from the point of view of most people who don't have the cast from 1984 to 1989 memorized:
1. Springer
2. That orange guy who was in that one episode
3. Was there another one?

But Octane isn't complete without the orange guy who was in that one episode!

And you have to admit, Octane was pretty obscure himself, but he got made.

[Spark]

Looking at Fans Project Warbot (Springer), and then looking at the Classics Decepticon Triple changers, I don't see Hasbro making a better Springer than Fans Project's offering. Hasbro could give us a bigger figure, clear cockpit, and marginally more sturdy plastic, but Hasbro has more of an ear to listen to accountants, and higher profit margins rather than producing the best quality fangasm toy. They will cut corners. As far as Fans Project is concerned, they ask the question, "What cool toy can I make that I can at least break even at?" Hasbro asks, "What's the greatest percentage of profit that I can make off this toy, can I cut features out, and still make them want to buy it?"

Hasbro has some great engineers, but often marketing, and accounting will keep the best quality toy from reaching the market in the name of higher profits in what would have already been a profitable toy...... And I've gone longwinded (sorry).

I imagine that if Hasbro did a new Springer, it'd have realistic alternate modes, since apparently the only guy from G1 who gets to stay futuristic in revamps is Cyclonus. And maybe Hot Rod, if you count the futuristic vision of cutting edge 1970s concept cars.

[Weremole]

Springer is a futuristic car that turns into a futuristic personal helicopter thing. I think we'd fall under the same deal as Cyclonus and Hot Rod.

[Powered Convoy]

I'd like it if they remade him using modern car and helicopter.

Randy

[Spark]

Springer is a futuristic car that turns into a futuristic personal helicopter thing. I think we'd fall under the same deal as Cyclonus and Hot Rod.

You'd think that for Galvatron and Hot Rod, but such is not the case. Classics Hot Rod is a real car with a made-up spoiler. Galvatron is a real tank with a made-up gun barrel. Cyclonus is literally the only futuristic G1 guy who stayed that way in Classics/Universe.

[Powered Convoy]

Megatron too if you're counting Classics.

Randy

[Lukeblast]

Springer is a futuristic car that turns into a futuristic personal helicopter thing. I think we'd fall under the same deal as Cyclonus and Hot Rod.

You'd think that for Galvatron and Hot Rod, but such is not the case. Classics Hot Rod is a real car with a made-up spoiler. Galvatron is a real tank with a made-up gun barrel. Cyclonus is literally the only futuristic G1 guy who stayed that way in Classics/Universe.

What's Jetfire then?

And you're ignoring that part of the concept in Universe 2 (and for the most part in Classics) was to stick to "real-world" stuff. Galvatron had to be reinvented as a tank just so they could make him. A few waves later (probably after seeing how Galvy turned out), they chucked that idea out the window, and that's how we got Cyclonus. Even in the Voyager class, getting repaints of Vector Prime and Leobreaker around the same time instead of repaints of "normal" tanks and jets was not a coincidence.

So at this point, especially given that fully half the first wave of Generations is specifically made-up "futuristic" vehicles (albeit based on video game designs), there's excellent odds that characters which don't have Earth-based modes will not have them forced on them. Straxmount straddles the line a little bit, but his design wasn't a toy in the first place, so compromises must be made when doing so after-the-fact.

[▲ndrusi]

Because this is a list of the Autobot Triple Changers, from the point of view of most people who don't have the cast from 1984 to 1989 memorized:
1. Springer
2. That orange guy who was in that one episode
3. Was there another one?

But Octane isn't complete without the orange guy who was in that one episode!

And you have to admit, Octane was pretty obscure himself, but he got made.

Fair enough. (Decepticon Triple Changers, same point of view: Blitzwing and Astrotrain.) But that doesn't mean Hasbro couldn't do him, only that they had no particular incentive to do so.

What's Jetfire then?

An F-14 wearing a backpack.

[mattski]

I agree that if Hasbro could take the same approach with a springer/sandstorm as they did with the universe sideswipe/sunstreaker molds. a new head mold, and some type of torso switch might work enough to be awesome. they'd be the same, but different. it'd also be cool engineering to see that happen as well.

[Nanite]

A broadside that goes from a speedboat to a fighter jet would be neat. Neater still would be a Broadside that changes from an aircraft carrier, into the TCS Concordia.

[Detective Fork]

For some reason, I really want a new Broadside toy. The idea of an Autobot aircraft carrier was cool, even though his original toy was rather gimpy. Would love to see a new, larger version of him that maybe includes a couple of aircraft Mini-Cons, although they wouldn't really make sense once Broadside turns into a plane.

Come to think of it, Broadside really made no sense, able to turn into a plane and also a WHOLE AIRCRAFT CARRIER. But I dug him anyway.

[Donocropolis]

A broadside that goes from a speedboat to a fighter jet would be neat. Neater still would be a Broadside that changes from an aircraft carrier, into the TCS Concordia.

For some reason, I really want a new Broadside toy. The idea of an Autobot aircraft carrier was cool, even though his original toy was rather gimpy. Would love to see a new, larger version of him that maybe includes a couple of aircraft Mini-Cons, although they wouldn't really make sense once Broadside turns into a plane.

Come to think of it, Broadside really made no sense, able to turn into a plane and also a WHOLE AIRCRAFT CARRIER. But I dug him anyway.

That's why I love the idea of Tidal Wave (or a very similar new mold) into Broadside. Instead of Aircraft Carrier / Jet / Robot, I like him going from Earth Aircraft Carrier / Space Carrier or other large space based capital ship (that's all sorts of TCS Tigerclaw from Wing Commander) / giant robot.

In fact, wasn't G1 Broadside's jet mode character model once used as a large spacefaring vessel in a G1 episode?

[Skeeve22]

A broadside that goes from a speedboat to a fighter jet would be neat. Neater still would be a Broadside that changes from an aircraft carrier, into the TCS Concordia.

+10 internets for Wing Commander, but at that point, why not ave him transform from the Concordia to a Rapier II?

[videriant]

Hasbro designers have indicated that they would love to make all the triple-changers but they don't make the final decisions. The problem with triples is that 1) while the concept is cool, what you end is two kibbly alt modes and 2) your repaint options are limited. So far, it looks like Hasbro's going with the one triple changer per line.

Classics - Astrotrain
Universe 2/Classics 2.0 - Octane
Animated - Blitzwing (maybe Shockwave?)
Generations - Darkmount (more a Starcraft Siege Tank then triplechangers)

At this rate we can probably expect a Broadside sometime around 2020.

And let's not forget Hasbro's other half-donkey attempts at triple-changers, the ROTF constructicons.

This post has been edited by videriant: Apr 15 2010, 02:58 PM

[NightViper]

Hasbro designers have indicated that they would love to make all the triple-changers but they don't make the final decisions. The problem with triples is that 1) while the concept is cool, what you end is two kibbly alt modes and 2) your repaint options are limited. So far, it looks like Hasbro's going with the one triple changer per line.

Classics - Astrotrain
Universe 2/Classics 2.0 - Octane
Animated - Blitzwing (maybe Shockwave?)
Generations - Darkmount (really?)

at this rate we can probably expect a Broadside sometime around 2020.

Shockwave's a quadruple changer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

[videriant]

Shockwave's a quadruple changer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

I think they did a great job on Shock. People/Hasbro sling that term around but if he's a quadruple-changer should we also call punch/counterpunch a triple changer?

And what was Doubledealer originally called?

This post has been edited by videriant: Apr 15 2010, 03:02 PM

[Spark]

Punch/Counterpunch and Doubledealer are triplechangers...

[Donocropolis]

Punch/Counterpunch and Doubledealer are triplechangers...

And Snapdragon and Apeface.

Tracks and the omnibots are 2 1/2 changers.

[Octavius Prime]

As far as Universe Cyclonus is concerned, the only reason he got to keep his cybertronian/futuristic mode is because he was in the 25th anniversary portion of the Universe line. All the new molds for that part of the line were designed to reflect the original version of the character, not to be real-world updates like the first half of the line (like Galvatron). Generations doesn't seem to have any sort of dictate on styling or alt mode choices, so a Generations Springer could be realistic or Cybertronian.

[Nanite]

What is Sky Lynx, btw? Triplechanger? Combiner? Because I wouldn't mind a new version of him, while I'm dreaming.

A broadside that goes from a speedboat to a fighter jet would be neat. Neater still would be a Broadside that changes from an aircraft carrier, into the TCS Concordia.

+10 internets for Wing Commander, but at that point, why not ave him transform from the Concordia to a Rapier II?

Yay, where can I redeem those? Is it like pachinko?

Oh, better idea, Do Broadside as the Arc-Gurren, though it would need a third mode?