Love the concept behind the target exclusive Soundwave set and the set for his tapes. Hopefully we can get a set for Blaster's tapes too(come on Eject!).

Surprised Soundwave doesn't have a red visor. Dig the retooling.

 

Kinda funny that the smallest toys and some of the gimmicky ones seem to capture the 'spirit' of the on-screen VW-BB better than the Studio series, for virtue of being simpler with less obvious door wings.

 

Having followed Hasbro for years, I am disappointed, but not all that surprised. I'm pretty sure both doors are there in their entirety folded in half behind the windows. The way the parts are arranged on the back is one of the best things about this design. Other parts of body shell could be accommodated in the shins, torso and lower arms. Not an easy job to do on a deluxe budget, but an impressive challenge for an ambitious designer.

To me they are repeating all the old bad habits and recycled transformations from the past 10 years. I was hoping for a breakthrough figure, like the first movie line's original concept camaro deluxe, which was totally different from anything Hasbro had done in the past, and almost miraculous in terms of translating what seemed like an impossible design at the time.

What we have here is a car with a lanky folded up action figure inside that 'transforms' into an action figure with a folded up car on his back. Still a desirable toy, but leaves far too much room for improvement.

 

Bumblethumper makes a good point. You can visually track the progress in toy design through the movie lines of toys but it seems, at least for the last couple of years, the progression was kind of stagnated. The Studio Series line is perhaps the only one where you can see the design continue to evolve and become better, but the SDCC reveal is suggesting we're in for more stagnation.

I may be completely off base of course but boy, that shitty toy sure makes it seem that way. Oh well, kids will buy them in droves is what Hasbro mainly cares about at the end of day.

 

Do we have any idea how much the target Soundwave is going to be? I have one sitting in my BBTS pol for $47, and I'm not sure if I should cancel it or not. Aside from the front-top of the boombox with the dials, I don't see any other retooling, and can't tell which tapes he comes with.

 

It's TR Leader class Soundwave with no extras so $47 is not too bad of a price. All the tapes came with 1-step Bee Movie Bee.

 

I think it's important to make the distinction between marketing and design decisions.
I think that TF07 and TFA had similar innovations in Transformation and that innovation continued on through ROTF.

The problem here is that although it is possible to design something super complex, that doesn't make it a "fun toy" (looking at you ROTF Mixmaster and Prime!).
I think the Movie line really settled into a nice grove with DoTM. Even though the movie and characters are complete garbage, those toys were actually quite nicely balanced for accuracy, complexity and fun.

But the mainlines for TFdaterape and TFballsack or whatver the last two movies were called were clearly limited as well as simplified.
But I don't think that's due to lack of technology or innovation. I think that is 100% a marketing and budget oriented decision.

LZS is right in that the mainlines are going to be mostly stagnant and simplified.
The bummer here, is that the Movie-Studio-Series was presented at first as a collector oriented line.
But in less than a year it's devolved into repaints of randos and reused molds and other cost cutting bs etc.

I'm still not super upset that the first Bee Toys are off model. So long as the QC is better than the first Studio-Bee.

 

If MPM-7 has the same issue (assuming the rumors of it being BB are true,) then I'll worry. But I think I can live with this and I really want the cassettes lol.

On the bright side... this is the first movie design I've ever wanted to own personally. Ever. So... they've evangelized a G1er at least with this? I might even see the movie. A little 80s makes up for a lot for me I suppose.

 

I have felt that sense of stagnation somewhat, although every once in a while I find a figure with a well put together original transformation. Most recently the Studio Series have been impressing me moreso than Generations. It used to be the other way around, but with all the combiners and headmasters and mold-sharing, things got to be very samey and repetitive.

In case I'm being unfair to Hasbro, it does seem likely that they were working from early concept work and didn't get the design revisions in time. My suggestion that the Studio series be reserved for revisiting characters is fine in theory, but I know they want to have it running when the movie goes on release, and there is commercial pressure for them to have a Bumblebee in the line from wave 1. One benefit of doing a shell-forming figure like they did, is you get a more seamless vehicle mode; - it may have even been a requirement from VW. I know that was an issue for some licensed altmodes with the alternator line years ago.

Commercial factors and lack of time can be used to explain away all manner of shortcomings, and I don't dismiss that, but ultimately I wouldn't be bothered much by the lack of accuracy if I didn't like the new design as much as I do. I think it's awesome. One of the best things for years. I really hope they get a chance to redo the figure at some point.

 

There's a new legends class vintage Camaro Bee that I haven't seen any discussion of. This is the best pic I've come across so far:



A cropped closeup of a photo from Tformers. I still have the original legends class from TF1. The redo was warranted.

 

I love that Legends VW Bee! Just needs some detailing on his torso and he looks fun!

 

so in order to get the better (battle-mask plus weapons) version of VW BB, you have to purchase the tlk wave 3 deluxe. that is f*d up. shame on hasbro. that kind of marketing really irks me..

 

Those all look amazing IMO, and I’ve never been tempted to collect Legion figures.

 

I wonder what ever happened to the RC car from the leak way back in January? We never heard anything more about that. It had black stripes on the sides, I'm curious if the final release will do away with them (none of the other toys have stripes, except the gold Deluxe Bee.)