I think the problem is more of the characters are highly complex and would require higher price points in proportion to their popularity. RID had a lot of Autobots, and he wasn't even the only combiner among them.
Studio Series discussion
- Thread starter Paladin
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I was into trains.
My guess is that we'll get RiD Prowl and X-Brawn before the Trains.
And I think it'll be a bit before those two show up. Lot of other characters from other series in the way IMO.
(The group I'm wondering about most is the Energon Autobots-- they almost have to include the combination gimmick, and ooh boy that's a decision either way. And then they kind of have to have to do several, so that's multiple slots spread out instead of onsie-twosies.)
And I think it'll be a bit before those two show up. Lot of other characters from other series in the way IMO.
(The group I'm wondering about most is the Energon Autobots-- they almost have to include the combination gimmick, and ooh boy that's a decision either way. And then they kind of have to have to do several, so that's multiple slots spread out instead of onsie-twosies.)
The Earthspark combiner 2-packs could be one example of how they could do the Energon Autobots. How successful those would be is up for debate...
(Myself, I would go for an Energon Tow Line update in any flavor Hasbro chose to release it.)
Unfortunately, the EarthSpark combiner 2-packs themselves seemingly weren't very successful, as they shelf-warmed for months on end until finally being clearanced out.
They kind of have to. Otherwise, Haslab Ultra Magnus is just arbitrarily enormous.
I mean, Duo-combiners might have been a viable thing if we were still getting “theme gimmicks” In Generations. In the “slavishly faithful to media” era?
Given the experimentation Hasbro’s willing to do, I wouldn’t rule them out…but it feels like a “get a couple deluxe and a Voyager per year” sort of situation. But with accuracy to the anime? Many characters were settled to be either a “top or bottom”. I think Inferno/Roadblock and Hot Shot were the only characters to actively be portrayed in both positions.
So, does Hasbro focus on 3 modes (which seemed modestly successful on the Core-class Battletrap figures), or do they try and get all four modes…and end up with figures that probably wouldn’t be much, if any, better than their 20 year old predecessors? Do fans REALLY like Energon enough for that?
Energon also has the dual edged sword of being the “Anniversary line”. Most characters are designed (if not always named) after legacy characters. But with Hasbro so hard on IP and brand homogenization, would they actually release a toy that LOOKED like Wheeljack (a fan favorite and evergreen brand staple), but named Downshift? Again, if there was some sort of line wide gimmick initiative, it’d probably be fine, but I don’t know if there is an easy answer to that in the current climate of Hasbro marketing and state of the Generations/Collector segment.
There's a reason why we regularly get Armada and Cybertron representation but not Energon.
HasTak don't want to deal with that jive.
HasTak don't want to deal with that jive.
Energon has too much working against it. Not only would it require the combining gimmick to be re-engineered to work with modern mainline budgets and releases, but it's also by far the least popular of the UT lines/shows. Energon was, for the longest time, considered the worst Transformers show by a wide margin.
Sure, it has its fans. Sure, a lot of that hate has subsided. Still... it's not hard to see why Hasbro wouldn't be interested in investing in re-introducing the two man combiner gimmick- a line wide gimmick that wouldn't even be line wide in whatever iteration of Generations it was introduced in- for a line that has much less of a following then either Armada or Cybertron.
Sure, it has its fans. Sure, a lot of that hate has subsided. Still... it's not hard to see why Hasbro wouldn't be interested in investing in re-introducing the two man combiner gimmick- a line wide gimmick that wouldn't even be line wide in whatever iteration of Generations it was introduced in- for a line that has much less of a following then either Armada or Cybertron.
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Shame, because it is a fun gimmick.
Even if they don't want to do the combining Autobots, I'd like to see some of the Decepticons from that line get some updates. Starscream's always good. Shockblast could be updated pretty nicely. The trio of Demolishor, Snow Cat, and Mirage were fun.
It would also be nice to get a new Energon Optimus, especially if they do a dedicated Cybertron Optimus.
It would also be nice to get a new Energon Optimus, especially if they do a dedicated Cybertron Optimus.
Energon Optimus would do well because it's Optimus. Decepticons would be easy to pull off; Starscream fits right into today's approach and Megatron is also an easy thing to get right (even at core class). The Terrorcons for the most part are also very workable.
The top/bottom combining bots are the tricky bit, but I genuinely think they could be done. Even just one pair.
Or idk make them all Crash Combiners.
The top/bottom combining bots are the tricky bit, but I genuinely think they could be done. Even just one pair.
Or idk make them all Crash Combiners.
I'd like it better if it did something other than making the robots taller. Even something as simple as having a super mode head.
Energon Optimus might be a decent Commander/ new Titan though.
Energon Optimus might be a decent Commander/ new Titan though.
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I wonder how well Core Class Energon Megatron sold.
I really love that design as both Megatron and Galvatron, and was tempted a few times but I just don't collect at that scale...
I'm fine at collecting at that scale, but not when its the only representation of the line at that scale, however I did get E Galavatron just to have a Galvatron for my Hot Rod to pair off with.
They missed an opportunity to make Energon Megs the Leader and Armada Megs the Core so that you can equip Leader Megs with his little tank.
Yeah, I got both sets for under $20 total on clearance. But then they were re-released in a package refresh, so maybe they sold better than we think?
Anyway, as far as Energon homage figures go, I would echo the sentiments of others that the Decepticons probably lend themselves better to updates, and would also throw in the Omnicons and Terrorcons as possibilities.