Upcoming Transformers Exclusives Include G1 Retro Prime with Trailer, Go Bots Pathfinder and More

Quantum Surge wrote:I wonder how much that Retro Optimus reissue would cost since the last Walmart version cost nearly more than it deserved without a trailer.

william-james88 wrote:TRA OPTIMUS PRIME AND AUTOBOT BULLSEYE
Product Number: F9652

Those two are Target exclusives. The 86 two pack will be battle damaged, same as the Ironhide/Prowl pack. The Optimus toy will be a redeco of the G2 laser Optimus cab (again) with the standard Earthrise trailer in a Target themed deco. Bullseye is a repaint of the micro-master Ravage mold.

william-james88 wrote:While we know all the Legacy and Studio Series coming out this year, we still didn't know all exclusives. JTPrime17 is sharing some listings with us regarding non general release items:

TRA GEN SELECTS DLX 3 PACK TREDS, PATHFINDER, & SMALLFOOT
Product Number: F9650

This is not an exclusive but it won't be found in stores either, so preorder it from whichever online retailer you feel most comfortable with when it is made available. These are redecos of recent figures to represent Go Bot characters. Pathfinder, for instance, will be a redeco of Cosmos. It might be grey to match the original Go Bots toy or blue to match the Transformers homage figure.

TRA BB GEN SS 2 PACK VOY 86 RATCHET, & DLX 86 BRAWN (battle damaged)
Product Number: F9878

TRA OPTIMUS PRIME AND AUTOBOT BULLSEYE
Product Number: F9652

Those two are Target exclusives. The 86 two pack will be battle damaged, same as the Ironhide/Prowl pack. The Optimus toy will be a redeco of the G2 laser Optimus cab (again) with the standard Earthrise trailer in a Target themed deco. Bullseye is a repaint of the micro-master Ravage mold.

TRA GEN RETRO OPTIMUS PRIME
Product Number: G0153

TRA GEN RETRO BOMBSHELL & RAMHORN
Product Number: G0237

TRA GEN LEGACY STARSEEKERS DLX ROADPIG
Product Number: G0232

Those three are all Walmart exclusives. The retros are G1 toys in cartoon deco, and Optimus will come with a trailer. We knew of the upcoming Walmart exclusive Starseeker line. Roadpig is a retool of Crashbar, letting us finally complete the Junkasaurus combiner.

TRA GEN MAYHEM VOY BLUDGEON & DLX RUCKUS
Product Number: G0182

Amazon’s exclusive this year are the Mayhem Attack Squad, which will be 3 multipacks, with a total of 7 figures.

Emerje wrote:Can't say I'm too surprised by Prime using the G2 mold, but I REALLY hope that he's a white truck and painted up like Japanese G2 Ultra Magnus.

Emerje wrote:

TRA GEN MAYHEM VOY BLUDGEON & DLX RUCKUS
Product Number: G0182

Amazon’s exclusive this year are the Mayhem Attack Squad, which will be 3 multipacks, with a total of 7 figures.

I know this is supposed to be comic based, but I don't really see how they can paint it differently from the original which is already in comic colors. Personally hoping for more green for tank mode like the inner bot.

Since it's three multipacks to make seven figures I wonder if the three pack will be Siege Skytread (Flywheels) packed with Power of the Primes Battleslash and Roadtrap to give us Battletrap. And maybe Chopshop and Venom as a third set since there was recent talk of more Deluxe Insecticons being made.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

william-james88 wrote:The Optimus toy will be a redeco of the G2 laser Optimus cab (again) with the standard Earthrise trailer in a Target themed deco. Bullseye is a repaint of the micro-master Ravage mold.

Indifferent about the battle damage set, like the previous I'll get it on clearance or a deep discount. Can't say I'm too surprised by Prime using the G2 mold, but I REALLY hope that he's a white truck and painted up like Japanese G2 Ultra Magnus.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

TRA GEN MAYHEM VOY BLUDGEON & DLX RUCKUS
Product Number: G0182

Amazon’s exclusive this year are the Mayhem Attack Squad, which will be 3 multipacks, with a total of 7 figures.

I know this is supposed to be comic based, but I don't really see how they can paint it differently from the original which is already in comic colors. Personally hoping for more green for tank mode like the inner bot.

Since it's three multipacks to make seven figures I wonder if the three pack will be Siege Skytread (Flywheels) packed with Power of the Primes Battleslash and Roadtrap to give us Battletrap. And maybe Chopshop and Venom as a third set since there was recent talk of more Deluxe Insecticons being made.

Emerje

My fear is that they would package Skytread with Venom and Battletrap with Chopshop (or vice versa) forcing those who only want the insecticons to get both sets.

trailbreaker wrote:I wish the actual Gobots could be reissued . When I saw that photo of Pathfinder I almost fell out of my chair.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

trailbreaker wrote:I wish the actual Gobots could be reissued . When I saw that photo of Pathfinder I almost fell out of my chair.

Technically, they can. Not under those names, and not by Hasbro, but there's absolutely nothing stopping Bandai doing reissues under the original Machine Robo brand.

blackeyedprime wrote:Wouldn't be surprised if path finder was origins bee repaint rather than cosmos.

Rodimus Prime wrote:If the MAS is indeed comic-based, I would hope we get all the original members, which are Bludgeon, Stranglehold and Octopunch,

william-james88 wrote:

Quantum Surge wrote:I wonder how much that Retro Optimus reissue would cost since the last Walmart version cost nearly more than it deserved without a trailer.

I'm thinking somewhere near the $75 mark

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Quantum Surge wrote:I wonder how much that Retro Optimus reissue would cost since the last Walmart version cost nearly more than it deserved without a trailer.

I'm thinking somewhere near the $75 mark

Kinda funny that they are putting this thing out at the same time as Missing link

Sabrblade wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Quantum Surge wrote:I wonder how much that Retro Optimus reissue would cost since the last Walmart version cost nearly more than it deserved without a trailer.

I'm thinking somewhere near the $75 mark

Kinda funny that they are putting this thing out at the same time as Missing link

Not only that, but there's also that Commander class SS86 Optimus Prime we're getting, too. So that's FOUR expensive G1 Optimus Primes we're getting this year.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:Wouldn't be surprised if path finder was origins bee repaint rather than cosmos.

I would be surprised because the original one is the G1 minibot Cosmos mold.

Overcracker wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Quantum Surge wrote:I wonder how much that Retro Optimus reissue would cost since the last Walmart version cost nearly more than it deserved without a trailer.

I'm thinking somewhere near the $75 mark

Kinda funny that they are putting this thing out at the same time as Missing link

Not only that, but there's also that Commander class SS86 Optimus Prime we're getting, too. So that's FOUR expensive G1 Optimus Primes we're getting this year.

What are the odds Takara decides to re-release MP-44 for the anniversary in addition to Missing Link?

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

What are the odds Takara decides to re-release MP-44 for the anniversary in addition to Missing Link?

They are, MP-44S comes out in February in toy colors. That's 5 and I bet that isn't all.

Emerje

Overcracker wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

What are the odds Takara decides to re-release MP-44 for the anniversary in addition to Missing Link?

They are, MP-44S comes out in February in toy colors. That's 5 and I bet that isn't all.

Emerje

Thanks. Should have known.

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

What are the odds Takara decides to re-release MP-44 for the anniversary in addition to Missing Link?

They are, MP-44S comes out in February in toy colors. That's 5 and I bet that isn't all.

Emerje

Thanks. Should have known.

I guess we should have expected G1 Optimus to be the face of the 40th anniversary.

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

What are the odds Takara decides to re-release MP-44 for the anniversary in addition to Missing Link?

They are, MP-44S comes out in February in toy colors. That's 5 and I bet that isn't all.

Emerje

Thanks. Should have known.

I guess we should have expected G1 Optimus to be the face of the 40th anniversary.

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

All of my Target stores haven't carried any Commander class figures since Sky Lynx.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

All of my Target stores haven't carried any Commander class figures since Sky Lynx.

Wow, really? Yikes. Mine carried them at least through Motormaster.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

All of my Target stores haven't carried any Commander class figures since Sky Lynx.

Wow, really? Yikes. Mine carried them at least through Motormaster.

Not even Jetfire before Sky Lynx. No Walmarts had him either. Sky Lynx is the only Commander I've ever seen at brick-and-mortar retail. All of my stores just don't carry Commanders.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:But this is why I say it was a waste to use the Studio Series Commander slot on him, he could have been a stand alone figure and everyone would sell it.

Emerje

Would they though? I don't know that Target would pick him up as a standalone. And I don't think there was anything else immediately in the pipe for that slot.

All of my Target stores haven't carried any Commander class figures since Sky Lynx.

Wow, really? Yikes. Mine carried them at least through Motormaster.

Not even Jetfire before Sky Lynx. No Walmarts had him either. Sky Lynx is the only Commander I've ever seen at brick-and-mortar retail. All of my stores just don't carry Commanders.

Sowndwave76 wrote:Is there some roadblock preventing the Dinobots from being reissued? I’m assuming there’s reason, but I would love to have those 5 in the simplified, ‘86 movie-styled deco.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I probably should have known that…. But if I read it somewhere here on the forums (if ever), that had to have been well over a decade ago, because I don remember that these molds were lost.

At this point is there some sort of design rights issue?
Because interestingly enough, there’s this process called reverse engineeriing…
Has anyone at Hastak ever been asked about creating new molds for all of those that were lost?

Also, sidenote: The copy that was delivered today was my second order of this figure, made roughly a week ago when Walmart received more stock. My first, which was a preorder months ago, is still “delayed” and has no updates…
???

Emerje wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I probably should have known that…. But if I read it somewhere here on the forums (if ever), that had to have been well over a decade ago, because I don remember that these molds were lost.

At this point is there some sort of design rights issue?
Because interestingly enough, there’s this process called reverse engineeriing…
Has anyone at Hastak ever been asked about creating new molds for all of those that were lost?

They've been gone for at least the last 20 years, hence why they weren't reissued in the early 2000s with all the other stuff at Toys R Us at the time. Last time those molds were used was G2 in the early 90s.

Hasbro has done mold refreshes, rebuilds and remakes in the past. Reissue Soundwave was cobbled together from what they could find of his and Soundblaster's hold molds which is why early reissues had the double chest. The dinosaur tape combiners released for the Bumblebee movie and at Walmart are entirely new molds. Why they wont at least remake the Grimlock mold, a sure seller that they could go back to for years, is anyone's guess. People have asked, but they've never given a clear answer I'm aware of aside from the old ones being lost.

Emerje wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:Also, sidenote: The copy that was delivered today was my second order of this figure, made roughly a week ago when Walmart received more stock. My first, which was a preorder months ago, is still “delayed” and has no updates…
???

That "delayed" one is never going to ship. It's known glitch in their system that has screwed an endless number of people trying to get hard to find figures. This happened to me with the entire first two waves of Netflix Deluxe figures, I was lucky to find the rare ones (like Bumblebee) in stores. Customer service will tell you to cancel it and order again, they have no interest in fixing it. It's not even unique to pre-orders, I've had other in stock things, even non-toys, get "delayed".

Emerje

trailbreaker wrote:Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

Emerje wrote:

trailbreaker wrote:Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

They could, but wouldn't it make more sense to just grab a few vintage ones off eBay? These days it's really easy, too, technology has come a really long way. All they have to do is disassemble one, make a 3D scan (something anyone can do these days), turn it into a render and carry on like any other Transformer they make. They can do this with literally any figure they want to reproduce.

Emerje

Sabrblade wrote:The question then becomes, why hasn't Hasbro or Takara ever done that in all these 40 years?

trailbreaker wrote:Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

trailbreaker wrote:Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

Yes and no. It costs a HUGE amount of money to do what you're suggesting, the last and as far as I know only time Hasbro has done something like that was during the Pursuit of Cobra line for the Skystriker. They had to pay a collector for one and they only went through the expense because they knew they were going to release the jet enough to cover the costs. If I remember correctly the retail for the Skystriker was around $50 the same as the last reissue of G1 Prime.

Knowing all that, and what the current reissues go for, would you be willing to pay probably closer to $100 for ONE Dinobot? Keep in mind you have to buy it within the first month of release and not use any kind of gift or discount card for the retailer and Hasbro to see it as a success.

Sabrblade wrote:The question then becomes, why hasn't Hasbro or Takara ever done that in all these 40 years?

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:The question then becomes, why hasn't Hasbro or Takara ever done that in all these 40 years?

Basic economics I'm guessing. Would you rather allocate budget for new molds to restoring vintage toys that appeal to a limited target group, or to brand new toys with articulation, or features that increase playability for a broader audience?