Huh...I've taken a closer look and I think I might actually get this if the price is okay. I'll end up paying $250 for a retail one, so I'm hoping one around that price in AUD shows up. I'm not hoping for a $400USD Devastator threshold.
SDCC Max at Robotkingdom $189.99 plus postage SDCC 2016 Exclusive Titans Return Titan Class Fortress Maximus. Preorder. Available in late July 2016.
Oh...uh...um...well I'm sure there'll be a similar price on another site. Maybe Ebay? Or perhaps because they're in Hong Kong it'll be cheap, because Australian shipping is cheap from China. Or I could get a redirect address.
I'm going to stick with the Takara version. With the possibility of getting the swords, and who know maybe guns, I'll wait it out, unless I get lucky on the Hasbro Toy Shop.
As far as I can see the sword doesn't have the bulges which tab into the hands, like Max & Metroplex's guns do. So yes, I've got concerns too.
Not just you, Payres, it definitely looks like the sword tip forms Cerebros's blade, possibly in red plastic whilst the lower 2/3rds is black plastic with painted red blade, as in some shots there seems to be a subtle difference between the red of the two parts. If we're correct I wonder if the bottom part of the blade has some other function and/or city/battle station integration?
I thing the blade is red throughout, possibly with a black painted handle. I'm also thinking it looks like the sword can split in THREE - blow the images on the news story up a few sizes and look at where the sections join
I took another look at the images after posting, and on that look through came to the same conclusion! Especially in the In-Box,W/Out Face Cover pic it does seem the sword splits again detaching the segment of blade that you might rightly call the Centre of Percussion.
Hmm, I love the sword, but the red legs bother me as well. I'm liking the Takara grey legs instead. I may just have to get the Takara version and skip the SDCC version this time. I did the same with Devastator last year.
This'll be a game-time decision. At least last year, Devastator was able to fit inside my suitcase. Fort Max doesn't have a prayer.
Oh...uh...after seeing the colour changes they did make I think I'll go back to the retail release. Too much grey in the torso area. Should be able to pick one up cheap from a local store next month.
I really wanted to buy it...but it makes no sense to do so. I am getting the Takara version for Fortress and the standard Hasbro for Cerebros. This is just middle. Then there's the trip home. :/
With some updated Takara pics, l think the takara version have bigger red eye lenses combined with a whitish face made Fort Max look more like a startled clown. The Hasbro versions have slimmer black eyes that glows red when light and sounds are activated. All that different shades of grey in the head somewhat works for me. Dark scheme looks better. The twin platforms have shades of gray as opposed to the all white boring of the Takara. The red parts of the hasbro lower leg doesn't bother me at all. The design needs more red in there compared to the original g1 design anyways.
$179.99 (most likely before taxes, as with Devy, Metroplex, etc.) per IGN -> SDCC 2016 Toy Exclusives - San Diego Comic-Con Wiki Guide - IGN