Combiner Wars first wave images

[JediTricks]

Everybody see these yet? If not, here they are...
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-new ... re-181509/

Good, now you've seen them. Now you know why I think I'm quitting this brand.

"What if we charge $15 for deluxes, but we make them hollow and simple and have a combiner point that's uncovered in the chest?

What if we leave it so there are screw holes everywhere and the gestalt extremities are accessories?

Now what if we also took away wrist and ankle articulation?

What if we gave them nearly identical construction and transformations that essentially turns them into bricks?

How about if we charge $25 for voyagers, but dumbed down the sculpting and paint and every aspect of design?

What if we took a collector-oriented line and made it look almost as bad as a 99-cent-store knockoff?"

[Shockwave]

I don't necessarily think they're that bad, but I do see the things you've mentioned. The lack of articulation is the main irritation for me. The original toys were almost identical in transformation anyway, so I'm not really too peeved about that one. The combiner ports could at least have the lower portion covered. I'm also noticing that these are coming with cards that feature the artwork from the Transformers: Legends game.

[Dominic]

Good, now you've seen them. Now you know why I think I'm quitting this brand.

I am trying to stay positive until I see the actual toys. But, that is getting more difficult.

"What if we charge $15 for deluxes, but we make them hollow and simple and have a combiner point that's uncovered in the chest?

The combiner point does not look too bad. But, these do have the same problem as Deluxes from the last year or two in that they do not look like Deluxes. Every time I see these figures, I think of them as Scouts. And, when I am reminded that these are deluxes, the stuff like the combination plug gets more bothersome.

Now what if we also took away wrist and ankle articulation?

Standard for Deluxes now. But, it is offensive. (It is actually harder to pose figures with rifles well if the figure does not have wrist articulation.)

What if we leave it so there are screw holes everywhere and the gestalt extremities are accessories?

That really pisses me off. I saw the pictures a few times before I realized that the hands are accessories. I did not even consider that Hasbro would be pulling that shit in 2014. They are actually taking a giant stumble backwards from the one thing that 2012 Bruticus did correctly.

Hasbro has been making TFs for 30 years, and they still have have not managed to design a good combiner. The RiD trainbots (actually designed by Takara) should not be the best example of a combiner team 10+ years after US release.

What if we took a collector-oriented line and made it look almost as bad as a 99-cent-store knockoff?"

They are assuming (not without reason) that collectors will buy anything.

How about if we charge $25 for voyagers, but dumbed down the sculpting and paint and every aspect of design?

Then you have a combiner that will cost ~$90 usd. And, Hasbro is releasing parts of at least two teams (likely 3) here. So, if somebody goes all in for wave one, they are buying in for ~$270 usd.

[138 Scourge]

Okay, fess up. Who wished for new Stunticons while they were holding a monkey's paw?

I dunno, I'll decide for sure when I see them in person, but those are pretty rough.

[Sparky Prime]

They could be better in a few areas, but based on just what I can see I don't think they look all that bad personally. The could always change with the figures in-hand, but as it stands I'm still looking forward to some of these figures.

[andersonh1]

Yeah, I think they look pretty good, even though I'm not a fan of the old "lay the jet down with robot kibble underneath" transformation scheme. They look very retro in that regard, but I presume that's a cost consideration. And possibly the idea is to keep them simple, since some of the Energon combiners were a mess of fiddly parts.

I'd like to actually have them in hand before going too negative on them.

[Shockwave]

Most of the Aerialbots look decent enough, but Dragstrip having four screwholes prominently visible on his chest is pretty bad. I hope the other Stunticons don't suffer the same fate.

[JediTricks]

The original toys were almost identical in transformation anyway, so I'm not really too peeved about that one.

Being like toys from 30 years ago isn't really a positive IMO.

The combiner ports could at least have the lower portion covered. I'm also noticing that these are coming with cards that feature the artwork from the Transformers: Legends game.

I really don't get how they couldn't just put a panel over that ugly mess on the chest.

As for the cards, they had said these would mirror the other line's cards but deluxes were supposed to still have comics. I dunno if that means these are foreign release or Hasbro couldn't find it in the budget or what.

I am trying to stay positive until I see the actual toys. But, that is getting more difficult.

$90 for a combiner that is made from some seriously flawed toys, MINIMUM. The only thing right now holding me in the line is Leader-class Megatron and the hope that February's previews will salvage this mess.

That really pisses me off. I saw the pictures a few times before I realized that the hands are accessories. I did not even consider that Hasbro would be pulling that shit in 2014. They are actually taking a giant stumble backwards from the one thing that 2012 Bruticus did correctly.

Hasbro has been making TFs for 30 years, and they still have have not managed to design a good combiner. The RiD trainbots (actually designed by Takara) should not be the best example of a combiner team 10+ years after US release.

True, true. And yeah, they really haven't nailed the combiner thing in all this time as well as they should.

They are assuming (not without reason) that collectors will buy anything.

Well, this one ain't likely to.

Then you have a combiner that will cost ~$90 usd. And, Hasbro is releasing parts of at least two teams (likely 3) here. So, if somebody goes all in for wave one, they are buying in for ~$270 usd.

Waves 1 and 2 will have 2 complete teams between them, $180, but it's pretty challenging to be into that when both teams won't be complete for several months.

Most of the Aerialbots look decent enough, but Dragstrip having four screwholes prominently visible on his chest is pretty bad. I hope the other Stunticons don't suffer the same fate.

Skydive also has a pair of exposed screwholes, but Dragstrip is so offensive there it gives me a headache. Dragstrip looks in some ways similar Skid-Z from RID who is a repaint of a Machine Wars mold.

[Dominic]

Being like toys from 30 years ago isn't really a positive IMO.

I think that Shockwave meant "using the same control art while using modern engineering", similar to "Generations" Scoop or Shrapnel.

I really don't get how they couldn't just put a panel over that ugly mess on the chest.

That is one of the things that I am waiting for the final toys to judge. Maybe they will put in a panel. (Not likely. But, ya know.....hope!)

$90 for a combiner that is made from some seriously flawed toys, MINIMUM. The only thing right now holding me in the line is Leader-class Megatron and the hope that February's previews will salvage this mess.

The February preview will likely have the latter half of the cartoon tie-in and the next wave of Combiners. We can safely assume an Autobot recolour of the Stunticons (likely the guys from Masquerade, with Brawn replacing Windcharger). Hopefully, the fourth combiner will have new (and better) moulding.

I am more or less done with TF though. A string of toys with obvious and avoidable flaws has run my interest in the line down.

And yeah, they really haven't nailed the combiner thing in all this time as well as they should.

Hasbro should invest in a "Go-Bots!" Puzzlor figure for their design team to study. Even with Hasbro's current budget, I am sure they could gain some insights from a 30 year old figure (that is still comparable to any combiner that Hasbro has ever made.)

Waves 1 and 2 will have 2 complete teams between them, $180, but it's pretty challenging to be into that when both teams won't be complete for several months.

Factor in Hasbro's ever worsening distribution practices *and* the fact that the second half of the combiners will not be out until the spring slump, and this line looks even less fun. (With Combiners, it is vital that people be able to find and buy everything more or less at the same time. If nothing else, Wave 1 makes me wary of buying the rest "blind".)

Skydive also has a pair of exposed screwholes, but Dragstrip is so offensive there it gives me a headache. Dragstrip looks in some ways similar Skid-Z from RID who is a repaint of a Machine Wars mold.

But, Skidz was a price-point below what Dragstrip is (even if the price-points have all been down-graded) and uses moulding from 15+ years ago.

Modern Deluxes are terrible compared to stuff from just 5 years ago. The best deluxes (Starscream or Scoop) would have been barely acceptable in '09 (even factoring in character value).

[Tigermegatron]

Think these CW are the best Combiners TF toys Hasbro has created since those 5-in-1 Energon combiners.

Always thought PCC, FOC Bruticus and TFP Abonims were just terrible combiners in every area of toy designs possible.

CR/Rid created thost 4 constructicon bots combiner that I also thought was epic fail.