Transformers Collectors Club Panel Summaries

I specifically asked that very question about the Seacons and Nightbeat, but they said they were reluctant to even give a ballpark answer, since they don't really add up the costs of everything until the get in the packaging. All they said is that the prices would be "reasonable".

Screws everyone who buys test shots? That's up to them if they want to spend £1000's on test shots. By that logic no transformers toys would be released EVER as someone has always shelled out for test shots in advance.

Also no reissues, as someone bought it already somewhere and it was wortha few quid once.

UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. Where will the Botcon seekers argument end?

Quick, let's cancel the Omega Supreme reissue next month, they used to be worth $250 before the reissue.

(edit) I was agreeing with you Doubleclouder, there was meant to be another quote in there from someone else, which I can't do now, so I fixed.

Wait, are you agreeing with me or disagreeing with me? I think they should release them.

Nah, they gave ranges, just not at the panel. Remember, this is what they're shooting for, and don't write these down in blood. For Nightbeat they're thinking $40-50 (and while they didn't say this, I'm guessing if it comes with the comic, which they said was tentative, not a done deal, that it should add $3-5 or something). For the seacons they're thinking $80-120.

Here's what I'm talking about when I mention differences:

Seacons as announced at OTFCC 2004 - Note black fists

Seacons for BotCon 2008 booth - Note yellow fists

Now, those black fists may have never been in production, and those seen here are only a resin mock-up, but at least I know I'm not crazy now....

Fucking hell, I wonder if Hasbro can sneak a repaint of them into the Universe line.

I don't know what molds do or don't still exist, but If they plan to resurrect some combiners from the past, then I highly suggest the following:
1. Computron
2. Abominus
3. Predaking
4. Monstructor (smaller and cheaper?)
5. Landcross (just for something different)

Also, why I chose Landcross for my list of suggestions? Simple. It could be a six figure set, or three 2 figure sets. You wouldn't have to buy all six to have a combiner, but only 2. It'd be kinda fun to screw with the multiforce a bit anyhow, seeing as how they've never really had much spotlight.

*edit* Had a great idea for the landcross. They could repaint them to resemble some of the G1 Minibots.
Huffer (Tackle)
Seaspray (Waver)
Powerglide (Wing)
Windcharger (Dash)
Cosmos (Mach)
Brawn (Tacker)

Ain't worth it for $120.

Cybertron Dark skorponok: They stole my bio for club exclusives! Rawwrrl,

I can say with almost 100% certainty that we are NOT doing Tf zombies. Not even sure how that came up, but yeah, yikes...

Pete,

Is there any chance of the Club magazine being able to print some of the pictures hasbro showed at the private panels in upcoming issues, for those of us who are members but couldn't go?

I understand if Hasbro are reluctant but it would be good to maintain hype for the toys/show untill SDCC comes around some 3 months from now.

I think those are just G1 parts, every testshot we have seen comes with yellow fists

They must exist somewhere, otherwise how are the chinese Bootlegging them?

Granted, Dead End and Wildrider's molds may be lost, since the KOs always have the Technobots instead those two.

Btw, I'm confused about unreleased toys... does this means this color scheme for the Seacons was meant for G2?

The Seacon color scheme was meant for a Walmart exclusive a few years back. I believe it was going to be under the Energon banner.

That was YOUR bio?

Hmm, I was always wondering why it seemed so much like this is the same Scorponok whom Megatron killed in the Energon comic - seemed very much like that from the bio...

Universe, actually.... but I thought maybe they would have existed earlier. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

I just bought some Stunticon KOs to repaint them into G2 colors, but they can re-release them...

Thank god! Personally, I think you guys should go back to doing Classicverse stuff (would fit in well with all the 25th Anniversarry stuff Hasbro is doing with Universe and Universe is Classics) and give us stuff like Springer, Huffer, Dreadwind and Alpha Trion... you know... the stuff that doesn't really cross Hasbro's minds to do for whatever reason. Also, that way, you can have Elita-One be part of the boxset and you don't have to worry about how well she sells as a Club Exclusive (though, I'd love her as a Club Exclusive too, any chance of that still happening or is it out of the question?).

But, yeah, that's my two cents.

"- Once again the question of online registration was raised, the staff explained that hand-written faxed forms means a person looks at it and can interpret, unlike on an electronic form where there is no such leeway."

What does that even mean? How is trying to interpret handwriting a good thing?

Thank PRIMUS.

Oh, thank you!

Let me just chime in to the growing list of people breathing a big sigh of relief!

Indeed, I don't understand that one at all. If an electronic form was sent, there'd be no NEED to "interpret," because it would be much clearer to begin with!

Yeah, Brian was actually really awesome at the panel this year, giving in-depth answers. (Oh, and him, Karl, and Ben (I think that was all) came out with Rodimus style beards.) But on this one, he was way off the mark.

Some of the other excuses why he thinks online registration won't work is:
-Lots of people bounce emails - how does this change anything? They'll also have their address and phone number. No different than how it is now.
-Each year some of the rules change - Yes, but they change in predictable ways.
-A human reviews it this way - Yeah, and you can make them review the online orders too. You can even put validation on the forms for certain things.
-People make errors - Yeah...I don't see how this hurts online registration though. A good online form will way cut down on errors. Like pop-up help links giving more detail about certain options, to help people understand things AS they are looking at the form. Plus, with a proper system, they can go in and make adjustments themselves, changes take place immediately, and are checked against current inventory, instead of re-faxing.

I don't think he's ever talked to a GOOD software shop - or even a single good developer. I've seen the forms for 3 years now - there's NOTHING on there difficult. People who don't understand software development will hear his answers as good reasons, but those of us in software know it's not the case.

I understand him being scared, because there are tons of shitty software shops. You have to hire people who either have a good education or are self-taught by reading books (not just copying/pasting code from google results). Software is fucking expensive, no doubt, and too many shops try to get by cheaply by hiring idiots. And usually their managers don't know software, and they hamper things.

It really all just comes down to money. He doesn't want to invest in a proper online system. It'd be expensive, their ENTIRE system needs to be reworked to get rid of Cold Fusion - and that's why everything is hampered so much right now. It's all software that has to work with their cold fusion backend (which stores their membership information).

I'm a programmer, and a form to take in that information (but not do any creditcard processing) would be relatively simple.

If you wanna bitch about my sig, please send me a PM.

I've got experience in software development and indeed setting up a webform to take order is relatively easy. I guess what Pete is worried about is the maintenance and security issues. Makes sense to me.

Sometimes the best ways are the old ways, at least for now.

Frankly, I don't think this is about Pete at all...

We are working on some images for next issue, just not sure what those are yet...

Regarding G2 Stunticons being possibly being released via the club.

I will say that I would totally be fine with them being released via the club (and yes I am the guy who won Motormaster/G2 Drag Strip MOSC) since I think if it is possible, everyone deserves a fair chance at them and I won't mind that one bit (I think about others over me).

When the Seacons were announced to be released via the club, that made me happy since it could allow me to have a set to enjoy for example while giving my Universe Test Shot Ones a break and allow anyone who can buy Club Exclusives to have a fair shot at them and that is WHAT makes me happy.

So I say if G2 Stunticons could be released via the club, I would give it, my full support.

-TF2

Nothing really. She just said it was his fault for all the repaints, and hit him with her elbow.

What needs to be interpreted? Isn't it basically just an order form?

I've attached an original auction image from a test shot set of the original Piranhacons with all their parts, which appeared in 2004. This should be a more accurate reflection of what Hasbro would have released back then.

Understood. I was just glad to find that picture that proved I wasn't just making stuff up. Clearly that picture came from something other than a production version, which certainly isn't unheard of.

That's great, anything Hasbro will let you show is much appreciated, thanks Pete.

Much as I don't want the G2 Stuntacons (I think they be gaudier than the Seacons), I don't understand the "it would be unfair" argument. It's not like they bought officially released product. They chose to spend gobs of money on those figures. That's like saying it's unfair for them to release figures at retail once people have paid out the nose for early samples.

Nick's comic page preview is beautiful, BTW. I think this one is really going to grab people.

I'm glad this one went over well. We've got exciting stuff in mind.

Heh, I made the same reference at the comic panel. I imagine him as a very helpful Bizarro.

Here's the big deal with the club, which was mentioned at the panel: the bigger the club, the better we can make it. Plus, there's a friendly competition between the Joe and TF club heads to see who gets the most memberships each month. Get your friends to join and show 'em which fandom is the best

-Trent

I agree with you as that is the risk when you buy something unreleased/early and me (for example with G2 Motormaster) would totally be fine with them being released via the club especially for this #1 Reason:

#1.) To Allow Others To Have a Chance.

That's my truthful and honest answer to that.

-TF2