From Transformers @ The Moon:



Is this the return of Combiner Type Transformers?

Could this be something related to the 2010 mainline? Combiners tend to equal play value (The looks of some of the Energon Powerlinxers weren't so great, but the toys were *fun*), so color me interested.

*Looks forward to many instances of the typo "Combinders" from the fanbase...and one has to have a "combine mode", i.e the piece of farm machinery!*

Mmmm, combiners,

Judging just from the name alone it sounds more like some kind of gimmick that would show up in a younger kid toyline like Robot Heroes ot the Power Bots.

"Power Core Combiners"

The first thing that springs to mind are Powermasters. And it makes me happy

Well, it's not like the Gimmicks have had wonderful names in the past. For example,
MECH ALIVE

*Drooooooooooooooooooool*

I'll hope for the best that this is a new word for Classic "Scramble City" style combiners. Come on Technobots homages!

It could be interesting if the next series sorta took Energon's core idea of Combination and mixed it the the Energon Combiners type combinations. Allowing us to have more Scramble city types, but not having a 'definate' team. That way Hasbro, kids, and collectors, don't need to worry about possibly shortpacked limbs.

Possible new combiner figures? Cool.

Here's hoping this is part of either the pre-Movie3 line or something related to the inevitable new TV show. As much fun as wee little kiddies may have with something like that, I can't help but hope this is something for the main line.

I think Hasbro would do better packing 2 limbs together. Easier to collect. So you buy one Deluxe body, then 2 Scout 2 packs to complete a combiner.

Heh, I'm already excited for the 2010/post ROTF-line, and we still have no idea what it is! Man, I'm fickle...I gotta remember that ROTF still has some cool stuff to offer. But too much of even a good thing, and I'm ready for the next line...not insomuch for lack of interest, but because I am all for variety and change. ROTF has been so huge that I feel a little...fatigue (?) from its presence. I feel as if it's already run a year, and it only started in June.

I think the main gimmick for the ENTIRE upcoming line should be: combining. All different sorts of new molds that combine in all sorts of interesting and awesome ways. Seems like the next logical step in terms of marketing and evolution of TF toy technology. And as I throw this idea out there, my wallet puts a gun in its mouth.

So the filler toys in the 2010 line can be Energon Autobot redecos as G1 characters? Repaint Energon Prowl as Slapdash or somesuch?

I'd like to see Mini-Cons done in this line, but with a different take on the gimmick. Instead of activating some weapon, you get 1 Deluxe figure who has 4 Powerlinx dead points, one on each limb. Then sell 2 or 4 packs of Mini-Cons who have weapon modes. Instant mini-Gestalt, one Deluxe with 4 Mini-Con weapons on his limbs.

Hmm. It might just be the new term for "quadrilateral" (scramble-city) combiners: the central robot forms the "power core," and the limb units draw power from him.

Think if the central unit has superpowers (or, in toy terms, a battery pack or something), and the limbs are ordinaries (with light-piping or gearing that only activates when combined).

@The Slapdash, etc. comment: Universe/Classics isn't the 2010 mainline, though...I believe we are looking at an independent mainline between the movies, judging from the Hasbro statements at the conventions. And I am looking forward to this, as long as they plan the story/toys to run a finite length of time, unlike Animated, and therefore not be cut off too early. Then again, the Hasbro Q and As early on gave the impression that Animated and ROTF would be found concurrently on shelves w. new items, so...I guess plans really did change at a very late date re: Animated. I miss that variety of being able to get, say, Animated Blurr and Classics Smokescreen in one trip; two lines running at the same time is fun!

Hasbro more or less stated in the recent Q&A that Universe was coming back in fall of 2010.

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63847

I know; but from my understanding re: Botcon coverage, Universe would be a separate entity from the as of yet unknown 2010 mainline, which would have the Discovery show supporting it. So we'd be looking at two lines, mainline and subline, ala Animated and Universe 2.0. If you're saying that Energon figures should be used in Universe/Classics to tie in thematically with the mainline (If it involves combiners), then I am down for that.

We don't know if the Discovery channel show will be a third line apart from movie and Universe, or if the Discovery line is possibly set in Movie or Universe itself. I'd hope it's Universe, as it's the setting I enjoy the most. It will probably be "Animated 2.0" some something equally bad.

Whatever it is, it sounds pretty neat.

I'm also thinking this,
or some other type of 'master style partner gimmick.
Getting little extra robots with the larger ones is always nice in my book.

Yes, to me this is either Powermasters or Brainmasters by another name.

thats what I want to see!!

Hmmm... This could be interesting a whole line themed around combination with the extended budget and more advanced technology being a post-Movie toyline brings, it might end up being what Energon shoulda been in the first place. Or Powermaster kinda stuff, I'd like that.


Fixed that little spelling error for you

LOL

I'm going to get Fonzbot but I'm not sure about Coiffatron.

You laugh, but you forget Mach Kick!

oh, mach kick...

I just want a TF version of Ryu. . .

Don't they sell them at Tosche Station or something?

...editing my quotes about Animated to make it look like I approve of it, that's just LOW.

anyone else getting a pretenders vibe from the name...kinda like a core tf and then armour parts?
any who i withhold my judgement until i see molds...i just hope it doesnt have a show like energon/cybertron...

What it makes me think of is multiple TFs who all hook together via a central "hub".

Not the "one makes the body and four make limbs" kind, but more like... they all just hook together at the same spot.


..../...
--O---
....\...


The lines would be tabs or some such on the TFs, and the circle is the "Power Core" that they all hook into.

That make sense?

I forsee combiners like ROTF Devastator. Hasbro DID say during one of their Q&A sessions something about another branch of TFs that were like Devy if I remember correctly.

Edit: Found it, question #2.

So, that's good to know.

WE DON'T WANT ZORDS HASBRO...

no more ... lalalalalalalalaaa

Supreme Devastator apparently did pretty well for Hasbro, I wouldn't be surprised nor mind if we got vehicle-mode-only combiners.

I'd be fine with vehicle-only combiners, if their transformation from vehicle to limb was comparable in complexity to the vehicle to robot conversion of similarly sized toys.

Pleasepleaseplease be real combiners and not ROTF Devastator styled sucktacular combiners.

I'd be down with an 'everybody combines with somebody' Brave-esque setup, m'self, but I'm biased.

Hell YES. Keep the play value of the previous Energon-styled combiners (and probably rerelease the older molds as all-new characters), and include new, unique molds that bring back older combiner characters. Technobots! Pirahnacons! Protectobots! Monstercons!

They could possibly even milk the repaints for all they're worth by making each repaint and new mold a brand-new character, and give them each 'special abilities' bio-wise; even more options for kids' play value, and a hardcore collector's nightmare/wet dream!


Oh man, just imagine: two-bot combiners (Energon powerlinkers), three-bot (Rail Racer-esque uniformity), four-bot (Landfill-style 'quick-switch' combiners), five-bot (Energon Scramble-style), etc....

My wallet would join yours on its assisted suicide.

WANT SO HARD.

Hmm... Worst case scenario: bulky TFs with a slot to shove a useless "energon/power cube" into. No play value, and nothing particularly good.

Best case Scenario: A line full of 5 bot gestalts, all designed to interconnect and limb swap liberally. Leader scale figures can mount multiple limb bots. Multiple copies/redecos, and (in this lovely fantasy world) they are compatible with the Energon ones.

Along with a Brave-style "the more toys you buy, the bigger robot you can make" thing? Totally.

Yes, but it's more accurate to reality. No one dislikes Animated. NO. ONE. It's a law of the universe.

I'd prefer stable two bot combiners, with maybe some more involved ones at higher price points. Scramble City modular design would be great but I find the more robots you have in a combining toy/model, the less stable it is. I'd rather have a toy I can play with, not one that's only good as shelf fodder.

Yesssss. Though we had that a fair bit with the UT Primes, I'd love to see it done more, and better.

They can do all the combining they want as long as it doesn't turn out like a lot of the megazord monstrosities of late... Those things are obscene, and more brickish than ever.

I am rather spoiled by the likes of the energon ones where they still maintain some amount of possibility I suppose.

I find this piece of news as exciting as I find a car with a v10 engine seriously,gestalts has been and will always be my favorite Tf 'genre' .hope the guys at hasbro/takara would come up with something really cool.

beast combiner,nothing short of the predacons,maybe..or a multiforce-like gestalt.anything,with the build & articulation of heaven

Rg73:

Hmm...but the way it's phrased seems to refer to the fiction, and doesn't really say much. Basically, "Yes, some Transformers combine in various ways." Also, water is wet and the sky is blue except when it's not.

You know what? Power Core Combiners could be anything or nothing. Therefore, I am going to assume they are made from G2 Solarbots.

I have this random hope that they're importing Web Diver. Gradion is a "power core" that the others "combine" with, hence the name. The molds are all just sitting there, and it's a nice self-contained line just begging to be a filler. Translate the video game into English (not even a lot of words in it, to my understanding) and make sure it passes American safety laws... and you're done.

Mind, I don't think it's LIKELY. At all. Sadly, I have my doubts that we will EVER see Web Diver in the US. But it's still fun to imagine.