If they ever complete the licensed carbots and go through enough re-dos and A listers, combiners might be what they need to pull out of their sleeve years down the road to keep interest in G1 MPs going.

When I say lesser tier G1 characters I should clarify that I mean outside of the "real car series." A-listers, licensed carbots, and all their repaints/retools and in the case of the Cassettes, ancillary figures, comprise all G1 MPs made to date. I'm accepting that anything outside of that may never happen now, that where I once thought a character like Arcee had a strong chance (arguably an iconic TF, the first fembot, key Movie/s3 character) but instead we're getting Blackarachnia, well, perhaps it's more proof a significant chunk of the G1 crowd is aging out and fans in their late 20's/early 30's who grew up with BW are becoming TT's desirable audience. I think as long as TT continues the MP line G1 characters will have a presence, but I'm as doubtful as ever now that they'll deviate from the aforementioned formula (including re-dos). Hope I'm wrong! But I'm more than ok with it. Very grateful for what I have and will be getting.

 

So I take it something regarding the Blackarachnia solicitation teased a MP Tarantulas in the near future? Hope it doesn't became a MP Blaster-type situation from early last yr. ...

 

I didn't ever think we were going to get them all...but I did think A LOT more was possible before. Now I think a lot of what were givens are more up in the air. For example, I think think TB & Hoist are still entirely possible, but I no longer think they're just a matter of time. Now, they could just as easily decide to redo more popular G1 characters instead...or do more BW, Bayformers, or move onto other continuities.

Come to the dark side, though, and you're already damn near covered for every show character up to the movie, and most of those and beyond are covered, too.

 

Yeah, I've never once thought we'd get them all, but then I've never looked at this as a checklist that I need to have completed and on my shelf by some arbitrary amount of time. Just enjoying what I get when I get it. No need or desire for 3P here.

I'm still thinking TB/Hoist are still a matter of time based on the fact that the "real car series" is still crawling along with Sunstreaker, Bumblebee 2.0 (still licensed!), and Hound all being released within a two year frame (assuming Hound hits in Dec or Jan). If there are still issues with licensing holding up guys like Jazz, Cliffjumper, and Mirage, then TB/Hoist may indeed end up being the next "real cars" on the docket. Unless of course they're cooking up a Sideswipe/Red Alert 2.0 while the Lambo license is alive!

Wonder if Optimus v3 and Bumblebee v2 being iconic characters and a great (if expensive) entry point will bring some new life to the G1 MP line? Sure hope so!

 

I guess I'm also lucky in the sense that I don't feel a particular need to complete the Ark crew, much less an entire faction or season, and that most of my favourite characters are either A-listers or repaints of B-listers.

I would most certainly still like someone like Reflector, but I don't necessarily feel that his chances are any lower now than they have been in the past (still fairly low).

Having seen @chchchch 13+ digibash, while I would certainly buy it, I'd also like an improved (to my tastes) version of Soundwave. More than I'd like a character like Blitzwing or the Insecticons. Perhaps I'm in the minority?


Certainly there's a pretty loud group of (former?) MP collectors who are aggressive enough towards TT redoing characters, and the people who want or buy those redos.


The 'death' of the MP line has been foretold many times, do remember people. I'm pretty sure even back when we were waiting for Tracks to be announced people were saying the MP line was dead (despite MP-20, 21 and 22 and 24 yet to be released at the time).

 

That's probably a good position to have...definitely easier on the wallet. (Unless you buy the now cheaper 3P version and don't feel compelled to replace them with official or newer 3P options.) But just not having an OCD about completing your collection is a positive.

I still think all the 'real cars' are on the table, but I don't think TT feels an obligation to complete them. I sort of question if the MP line's success was beginning to stagger off...because it just seems odd to me they'd change up the formula on a seemingly wildly successful line otherwise.

 

Same boat as usual, Sam. You presented a damn good question for a guy like me regarding re-dos vs new characters. I have to say, though, as great as it would be to have Reflector and as much as I've always loved the Insecticons, if I had a choice I'd have to take Soundwave and Starscream re-dos. I'd just rather have a "perfect" version of those iconic characters on my shelf. Almost feels wrong to me to have low level Sunstreaker as a higher level figure while Soundwave and Starscream look and feel clunkier and relatively archaic. I would've picked OPv3 & BBv2 over just about any other character, too. I know that pisses off some fans but I'm not the one making the toys!

Yeah, enough of the core cast has been completed for my tastes that if the line were to stop tomorrow the only glaring hole in my collection would be Galvatron. Hopefully TT will get there, though.

It's a good question you ask, but hard to know the answer without knowing the numbers. The fact that they're not only sticking with this direction after a few years now (going back to Inferno as the one who arguably solidified the current approach), but doubling down on it with Optimus v3 and BB v2 and continuing with Hound seems to indicate they're happy with the sales of the figures. BW is likely a result of them looking ahead and wanting to expand their adult collector audience and hook the late 20's/early 30's crowd as some collectors from my generation (I'm 40) begin to age out, combined with the timing of the anniversary a few years ago and perhaps an internal push from the designers who seem to be big BW fans. MPMs have Hasbro's involvement so they were likely "pushed" upon TT to some degree or another, all of which splits TT's resources. So it's worth noting again that TT has a surprisingly small staff. Iirc an article mentioned they only have around a dozen TF designers? I think a lot of what we're getting or getting comes down to the fact that there's only so much they can do and most of their projects are more time sensitive and higher priority whereas MPs are probably seen as an evergreen line that they can develop and release when and where schedules allow. I don't think there's any overarching conspiracy or trouble at all.

 

Well it’s not so teased. More so that Blackarachnia’s existence allows the thought of Tarantulas to be feasible.

 

Soundwave still seems fine to me. A v2 would be very skippable ... for me at least.

 

Well, he’s fine, but he’s not exactly consistent with the current state of the line, and a redo of Soundwave will sell regardless. He’s a major character.

The key thing for those of us that would skip a redo to consider is that TT is hoping we’ll buy it, but they’re probably more into bringing in folks that have started MPs recently, and thus a new version is a much more exciting prospect. It’s not about older fans who’s need for X character has been filled.

 

As far as retooling the G1 MP line, everything before tracks needs to be redone. The recolors are weaksauce and don't fit the new aesthetic. So glad I'm not retro'ing my collection, there's no way I could stay motivated after starting from scratch from MP25.

 

I would think that an MP+(or a V2) Soundwave would bode very well for the long rumored MP Blaster.

While I still have my G1 Blaster (who works rather nicely with the original G1 MP molds), updating him to compliment an MP+ (or V2) Soundwave mode would make him flow better with all of the other updated G1 MP releases.

Do I need another MP Soundwave? Not really.
Would I buy an MP+ (or V2) Soundwave?   Absofreakinglutely  

Especially if it resulted in an MP Blaster  


That being said, I can wait awhile longer for both. I'd rather have MPs of Jazz, CJ, Mirage, Windcharger, TB, and Hoist first.  

 

I don't think we need a new Soundwave (at least not yet), but if it might drop the price on Soundblaster... 

 

I have figured out Takara’s little joke.

Takara dood “Heh heh. We know you all are pretty anxious about a reveal. And we understand you’ve been curious about a certain green Gee Wun character.”

Fandom “Christ. Fucking finally. Let’s see Hound’s alt mode already.”

Takara dood “Unveils Devastator”

The happiness and rage is so stark that the Fandom rips itself apart at the seams like Devastator ripping into Autobot City.

 

Perhaps. I dunno. I just really don’t want any more remakes, expect ultra magnus. I don’t not like that at all.

 

It's more the fact that Blackarachnia comes with Tarantuals's 'mind link' visor from "Other Voices" (which he later used to possess/take control of her) and a green eyed 'possessed' face. Both are nods to Tarantulas...in addition to the fact they were originally mould mates.

I'm starting to allow myself to believe much of the season 1 cast will see release...if not all? May I dare to dream? Can my bank balance take it?

 

I feel the red on Terrorsaur or Inferno would really pop ... super excited for those possible releases .... Waspinator/Rattrap/Rhinox not so much, but maybe I’m just spoiled by the LG offerings ...

 

Right of course. That is a far more direct and concrete link.

And shit you’re right. And to think the G1 line is halfway in between their respective seasonal figures.

They’re gonna be great I know it.

I never got the Rhinox mould but I do have botcon packrat. It’s a great toy but an MP Rattrap would be wicked. The legends toys are great though. All of them are.

 

I'm picking up 44 and 45 since the originals were always off to me. The only other V2 I'd be interested in is Grimlock. + Versions give me 13+ and 19+. Unless TT is making new characters I will be done with the offical line. I don't want to keep buying the same characters over and over again.

 

I’m gonna guess grimlock will get an update when they start planning all the dinobots.