WTF@TFW Episode 186 is Now Online

can't wait to listen, and THREAD TITLE WRONG

I THOUGHT YOU WERE A PROFESSIONAL

I don't give a crap what he does with the thread title, if it means turnaround this fast more often.

dude. thats a meaty WWGTW, awesome. downloading the episode now. i look forward to hearin your guys' thoughts on FoC bruticus.

Oh I can't wait to listen to this one.

Awesome! , this is exactly what I need right now after just getting majorly boned with postage charges for packages I've just sent out to people; I feel your pain Omegas.

The business is never Hasbro telling retailers what to do. Sometimes Hasbro can sneak something by them.

At least there is a better chance for FE to come out because TF: Prime is continuing. FE can be repacked into the mainline. Getting more animated out at retail post cartoon was near impossible. We're lucky we got Arcee, Ratchet, Ironhide and Rodimus from TRU. Asking them to take on the voyager figures just couldn't happen.

Yes you answered my question!

3 hour podcast? Awesome! Can't wait to listen to this one.

Yep, Vortex is ruined forever for me. Thanks guys. XD

Also, this 3 hour deal is gonna ruin my bandwidth allowance for the week... But still think I picked a good podcast to start with.

I think RID Cliffjumper looks closer to the CGI Model, and I do like tat there's more detail on it...but I have no qualms about getting the First Edition Cliff over the RID one, First Edition Cliff looks like it's the better toy overall...

I'm really disappointed with the Prime figures, I love the show to death...I wanna love the figures too but...so far they just don't impress me.

I got RID cliffjumper today, I love it

Vang, TRU on hilda has like a million darksteels so maybe they got all the darksteels in toronto?

yay! downloaded and listening!

God damn Australians! Vangelus you promoted an Australian forum a few years back with the botcon wings of honor box set! God damn Australians lol.

Also tj humans have been going to cybertron since the beginning of the series and have not had to have breathing apparatus devices so I woul say there is some sort of air on cybertron for environmental atmosphere on the planet. Hell we have how many helicopters on cybertron so what reason would you have to think it doesn't?

Question. Are there any requirements to be on the WFT@TFW Podcast? I would love to join into the shenanigans.

Long live Outlook!!! We don't need your new fangled email applications!

Hey, guys! Been listening practically from the beginning. What I've always liked about the podcast is you've presented your opinions constructively and without coming off like elitist fans.

That's also why I'm disappointed that your response to the recent Hasbro shenanigans has been a sheepish, "...Yeah, the retailers..." You guys are sharp enough not to fall for PR spin. It's ridiculous how people are paying $70+ import and markup prices. Star Wars fans have been experiencing similar, if not worse issues with troopers clogging the pegs, overproduction of the first wave, and practically an entire year's worth of waves never seeing retail.

"The retailers" aren't as much of a factor as Hasbro itself. And that's a shame, because I've never had a major problem with them until this past year. From prices, distribution, size, and overall quality of the product, it's disheartening to see a great company slide so quickly.

Hey Guys... Just wanted to give you a head's up...

In regards to Megatron's "texture" lines on the Prime voyager Megatron... Those are completely on purpose. It's emulating a brushed metal look. Often when steels or aluminums are cast they have that grooved line effect. As a Pro Illustrator, I often use that exact same effect with very very fine scratch lines in art on logos and type and it really pulls of a killer looking "steel" effect. If you look closely you will see they did the same thing on Optimus' bumber and mirrors. All of his "metal" areas.

What you are calling a quick mistake in the manufacturing is actually an on purpose texture effect... And I for one... LOVE IT!!!! I think it's a beautiful attention to detail in making something plastic have more of a "metal" feel. Adding in that fine line texture actually takes a lot of work versus just being an accident. To get the molds to purposely hold that level of fine detail shows a really nice high quality cast in the plastic!!! Many of the extremely high end model companies will use textures such as those lines on metal paneling.

Tell you what... Pick up a second voyager Megatron... Paint him in steels and silvers... and he will just absolutely come to life with the light reflecting off that texturing.

Brawl and Swindle have fists built in, so you CAN use them as arms. Pretty cool. I'll probably use Brawl as an arm so he has a giant cannon mounted on his arm. I'm assuming Bruticus may have different configurations in the game to facilitate different abilities on different levels.

As for more combiners coming out, I hope at least five of those 40 Generations in 2013 are a combiner team.

Also, I may have 44 Bot Shots if they go on ridiculous sale. They look awesome.

Well Confiscate my Heart is probably my favorite section of this episode You guys did some great coverage on both Bruticus, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on what we saw of him at Toy Fair. Though personally I see Vortex as something else:



Maybe it's just because I've been watching Go-Onger lately, but the colors and the giant windows on Vortex in the stock photo really remind me of Toripter.

Just a heads-up, the weapons Darksteel has -are- remolded from Starscream's. They gave the plug-in part two blades instead of the one that Starscream had so it looked more like snake fangs, and they made the extending part's blade thinner and more curved so it looked like a scorpion's stinger. Plus the 5 mm. pegs have holes down the center that weren't there on the ones Starscream had. Also, the fang bit has some sort of weird glyph or sculpted stain on the side that doesn't have the peg.

Regarding RID Optimus, his chest section does lock in really tight, it takes a decent amount of force to click it in, but once you do it is really tight. Mine's shoulders are pretty tight two and I can move them without the chest popping out.

So I've heard! I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.

We are not "falling for PR spin", we are basing our opinions off of multiple pieces of information garnered from panels and others in the toy industry. I don't think we were very sheepish either.

The retailers are a factor because they are sometimes shareholders and the primary source of business for a product producer. To lay 100% blame on Hasbro is a fallacy due to not only retailer power, but also the nature of warehousing, orders, and distribution.

Letting the retailers off the hook by shaking a fist only at Hasbro (and treating Hasbro as a singular-minded entity) is terribly misguided. I understand some people are upset but I entirely disagree with the notion that we are either sheepish or "falling for PR spin".

Where was this PR even spun for us to "fall for it"? Other than a distrust of what designers and other convention guests have stated numerous times at panel Q&As?

I too enjoy the texture on Megatron.I think its snazzy!

I am digging Bruticus, in both colors we've seen him. (Official pics and toyfair proto/sample).

Obviously the extent of the "compromised to combine"-ness won't be known until folks have it in hand, if the game doesn't feature "scramble city" combining, I would rather have had the individual bots only be focused on one limb IF it could detract from the aforementioned compromising. Either way, I think they all look cool and fun and I want them. Hope this risk pays off for Hasbro.

We really are a set group at this point. However a good starting point would be getting the name of the show right.

Things like quality can be laid at the feet of Hasbro. However much of your other complaints are retailer issues. Hasbro ships container loads of toys to Walmart and Target that then ship them to their stores. So if my Target gets PRID and yours doesn't, that isn't Hasbro, that's Target. Things like size are an issue of the economy. At the last couple of Hasbro panels they have discussed the issue, that costs are rising between materials and transport and labor. So we can get smaller toys at the same costs or the same size toys at higher costs. It seems like they are trying to split the difference, and are still looking for a settle out point.

I know it isn't really right out of a prototyper, but the super regular texture, laying on the long axis of each piece gives that feel. I think if you're going for texture something matte or irregular wouldn't miff me the same way. Not a deal breaker at all, just an oddity.

Yeah, well, uhm, no, you're the stupid head.

On a side note regarding RiD Prime, you can get his gun to stay extended easily enough by unscrewing the whole gun and pulling the spring out, but I'll agree that it should have locked in the first place. Oh, and with Megatron you can keep the sword out by just manually rotating the blades forward, they're kind of loosely held in place by friction, not attached to the actual gear assembly, which I would like to think is intentional.

Oh! And I finally got around to sending you guys a voicemail! One which culminated in me hurling my cellphone across the room (I wanted to give you a nice *click* and um...this was what I came up with...)

At Toyfair they mentioned there will be 40 Deluxes in Generations in 2013. This is probably not all new molds of course. It would be very easy to get to that number with a couple of combiners, so I think TJ's idea might be right. Hasbro is trying combiners again.

If they make a Breakdown and Dead End based on the WFC characters, and used Onslaught again as Motormaster, with new Cybertronian designs for Drag Strip and Wildrider, oh MAN that would kick ass.

So not only are you guys a bunch of backpatting circlejerkers, but you're also sheep now?

God DAMN

I'm definitely enjoying the prime toy discussion. I'm surprised guys didn't discuss the shockwave jazz or optimus toys... As an "ex-canadian"(i have dual citizenship, how would that make me an ex...screw it) i didn't know about king vangelus...or canada actually having a military. The other transformers my question were cyclonus and jazz.

Love ya, but you guys have taken Fun Pub more to task over Twitter posts and $60 dinners than Hasbro not delivering the goods! I can understand a couple figures slipping through, but now entire chunks either go missing or exclusive to secondary markets.

Both parties are at fault. To lay 100% blame on retailers is a cop-out. I live in the Houston area, which has a healthy economy and great distribution. Been collecting for 18 years and this hasn't been a problem until the model shifted in 2010. And like I said, it's worse for Star Wars. Most of last year's Clone Wars figures never saw a release!

That press release was complete spin! Translation: "Go away and stop e-mailing us." The First Editions and the later Dark of the Moon waves were promoted for nearly a year and went into production. Retailers like TRU and BBTS took orders and got some stock. That's not a miscommunication. It's Hasbro not following through.

I'd like to see TFW along with other news sites to approach Hasbro with these issues. Get a real answer, too! Not this "we’re always looking for ways blah blah blah..." bs they never follow through with. Later DotM waves can be repacked on Generations, but probably won't. Since the FE voyager molds aren't translucent plastic and gimmick ridden, they don't fit in with what Hasbro has planned with RID. The second Entertainment Pack is apparently now an overseas exclusive. I'm sorry, but it's not just retailers.

The retailers don't solely dictate Hasbro's case ratios, which characters to design, or what to pack in. Most of the movie line is made up of characters that aren't in the movie, and that’s just poor planning.

"The economy" I think is often used as a scapegoat. Remember the panel (NYCC?) where Hasbro stated the figures would be larger again when Mechtech went away? Well, Mechtech didn't go away and now we're paying almost $10 more for some crappy light-up gimmick. Your average Star Wars figure used to be the figure and their appropriate accessory at $6-7. Now it's the figure, accessory, junky gimmick, stand, die, and game card for $10.

There's a difference between a couple bucks materials cost and cramming the bubble with junk. Are they raising prices to comp costs for wasted molds? Who knows.

Not sure if serious.

This was recorded before ToyFair where they were shown off for the first time.

They will most likely cover them in the next episode.

Then as vangelus said a "gold bladed cock",to paraphrase a bit.

I thought the comments on FOC Vortex and Blast Off were hiliarious. One looking like a spiked bladed flying male sexual organ and the other a gigantic, flying death church were the funny moments in this podcast and well I can't wait for FOC Bruticus to show up. So thanks Vangelus for those comments even though one of them was from Twitter. That made my day.

It would be great if we could really dig answers out of Hasbro like a toy reporting versions of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, but it isn't going to happen. Hasbro keeps closed doors about what what goes on and short of someone dedicating their lives to getting a job as a Hasbro designer then burning all of that to give us an inside look of what happened in one window of time. So instead we "put up with" the Q&A sessions and trying to wring out as much information as we can get at panels and special events.

There is a lot of data that goes into what gets out in stores and what doesn't. When Hasbro starts a line they are looking a year or more ahead as to what is going out there, and they will solicit those toys. Note the word solicit. They offer those toys up for order, and hope that someone is going to buy them. So then you have to remember the line that I dropped in the show.

We aren't the ones buying toys from Hasbro most of the time, it is the retailers. If Joe Walmart buyer looks at Hasbro's closed door sales pitch and doesn't like what they're selling, they won't buy. We got to learn a bit of that process on that wonderful Hasbro tour back in '06. Hasbro brings people from each major retailer in and shows them upcoming toys, way upcoming toys. For example, we were shown a mock-up of an early movie Prime Helmet that looked like a G1 Prime. They were told that it needed XY and Z to be sold, and then they did that.

First Edition seems to have been part of that. Toys R Us bought in on the first wave, and it seems they didn't go for a second or the Voyagers. Hasbro/TakaraTomy went through the effort of making a whole whack of molds, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that they wanted to put all of them into every store, ever. But if the retailer doesn't want those toys then they aren't going to put them in the store. I don't want to be cliched but it is really as simple as that.

Finally, as far as end of line cases go, it is the same issue that we get EVERY time there is a change over. The last wave or so out of the line often doesn't show up because no retailer is going to try and push out "old" product when there is new product to be had. Other markets work in different ways. In Japan toys often come in small orders or of a full case for one toy. If a store wants Vehicons they order Vehicons, they don't get 2 Bumblebees, 2 Arcees, 2 Starscreams, a Cliffjumper, and a Vehicon.

You what? He's right. Hasbro totally produces toys then laughs as they take them away from us at the last possible second. They totally get their rocks off by not selling us the figures they spent tens of thousands of dollars creating the molds for. It's all so clear now.

Brb, going to get my monthly fleecing done.

Don't worry Vangelus; I still use Outlook too!

If anyone else remembers, when a line launches you'd see a good dose of wave 1, some of wave 2, and maybe some wave 3 if you're lucky. Since 2010, there has been nothing but wave 1 for months. That goes for Transformers, Star Wars, Marvel Universe, etc.

Let's say your average joe, be it kid or collector, sees DotM and goes into Wal-Mart. Chances are they're looking for prominently featured characters like the dreads, Dino, Que, Soundwave, heck even Wheelie and Brains. They're going to be out of luck. That's like a Marvel line without Spidey or Star Wars without a jedi.

That's why I think both parties share the blame. That overproduced first wave stagnates. Even with Animated's bad time slot and virtually no repeats, the figures in my region still moved at a decent pace.

Come on, Gog. That's not what I'm saying at all. I have never been a "damnyouhasblo!!1" guy, but they've been making it tough. What I'm saying is maybe Hasbro needs to be planning their waves better so the product moves and we get back to healthier distribution.

So you can't shuffle your feet and say, "Aw shucks, it's those gosh darn retailers!" It's silly to have to resort to the secondary or import market for new figures. Do you think Hasbro is underutilizing sites like HTS, BBTS, and EE?

Sure you don't want a RiD Bumblebee, Vangelus? I'll give one away... cheap. Cheaper than you may expect.

Also, will there be a ToyFair exclusive episode, like with TFCon or BotCon? I can guess none of the teams probably attended, but it's still an idea.

Further Kreo Epicness

Hasbro Picks up the STAR TREK License; Toys to Be Released in 2013 to Coincide with STAR TREK 2

I HOPE they find a way to do a good looking ship, if so, I will totally buy every single one I see to make a whole rampaging fleet of awesome!

@dbbdp: Mate, you should really take a look at the situation we Aussies have had for the past 15 Years - You really have no idea.

Those in the US having a song and dance about missing out on 2-5 figures in a line really need to have a look at what others in the world have to deal with as a normality:

1. No Promotion - causing...
2. Poor Distribution - combining with...
3. Major Retail Profiteering - resulting in...
4. Double U.S. Pricing - Missing Multiple Entire Waves ending in Stagnating/Shelf-Warming on a National Scale.

We in Australia have just had to put up with it and have flocked to online resources, as in almost every instance it is far more cost effective to purchase a figure internationally and have it shipped directly to us because that's the only way we we'll ever get a lot of figures and still end up saving a good amount of money.

The problem is a combination of Retailer and Distributor; be thankful you even saw the FE figures, we have been told by Hasbro AU we'll never receive them and that we wont get TF: Prime mainline figures until late March at which point we'll be paying (Current Exchange Rate = $1AU = $1.07USD):

• $12USD for Cyberverse Legions
• $17USD for Cyberverse Commanders
• $30USD for Deluxes
• $56USD for Voyagers
• $89USD for Leaders
• $120USD for anything larger

Our retailers have been bitterly burnt by horribly shelf-warming DOTM figures at every size level, to the point we only saw a staggered release of Wave 3 and only 1 chain receive minimal stock of Wave 4 figures, so we are very likely to to see a similar response with Prime and even the possibility of not getting Generations figures (Though this less likely to occur).

For those interested on the TF release history of Australia, check here, when you guys have to deal with this sort of thing then you'll have a reason to complain, however AU & Euro areas will continue to be a little more adult about it in the mean time.

I'm really uninterested in continuing this conversation from my end if you're going to mischaracterize us as footshuffling and sheepish to try and make your point look stronger.

Thank you hursticon! See guys I have said this many times over on other threads, while others whine and bitch about missing a few figures us in Australia he jack shit at all. Hell while you guys get all those new figures we get jack shit all, we are still flooded with old very old DOTM figures hell we never got the target special release, we missed out on some PCC figures we didn't get the last wave of human alliance figures, hell we didn't get the toys. Us special release animated figures, and we haven't received the last generations figures hell we didn't even get ratchet! So please every one who is bitching about FE prime figures think about us in Australia who get barely anything from hasbro.

Hey hursticon I forgot what was our last released figure? Wasn't it like 60 to 80 days ago?

This one is for TJ.

Good news on the Botcon 2011 voice presentation. Not having gone I hope it's going to be released. I'm a big fan of Ernie Hudson too so that's double-cool for me.

I'm always serious. Super serious, even.

But in this case, I wasn't.

LMAO!!

I'm sorry you feel that way. I just thought it was disappointing that you guys had such a weak stance. What I've been seeing has been happening with a number of their brands. Top tier brands at that. So you can't pass all the blame to the retailers (who are not a single-minded entity either) when Hasbro's management could be better too.

I'm well aware of situation in Europe, and it's a shame those markets are treated like a red-headed stepchild. That's why I think all territories should be better utilizing online retailers and their own site. Customers shouldn't have to always resort to the secondary market. If you're fine paying $60-$100 plus shipping for $12-$20 toys, that's great. I'm not!

Hope you guys at least had fun trashing me on Twitter!

Perfect!

Ah, more hyperbole.

Glad you enjoy the show, though! Hope you keep listening.

Baaaaah.