Hasbro Transformers Team Interview With Ben MacCrae And Evan Brooks

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by Black Convoy, Nov 8, 2022.

  1. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    And depending on how they implement the armor/shells you potentially have compatibility with non Pretenders *and* bonus fun of mixing-matching parts.
     
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  2. Pun-3X

    Pun-3X Well-Known Member

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    So, I'll be in the minority and say I love the current core concept, and I'd hate to spend deluxe prices getting a core figure I might still like with a shell I'll never use. Yeah, I was that guy that bought complete or near-complete pretenders back in the day for the robot and its weapons, only to sell the shell and its other accessories to get some of my money back (if I couldn't find bot w/ needed accessories on its own) with exceptions like Bludgeon and Thunderwing--which I still have complete.

    The combined monster shell and robot's altmode is a lot of fun, and I put tgem in with my legends collection.. Though I guess I'd admit the Autobots probably won't translate as well, so maybe start the "shell game" with them if they decided to go that route.
     
  3. Seanprime

    Seanprime Well-Known Member

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    Right! Basically another form of attaching weaponizers
     
  4. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    IF it was set up so that these armor pieces could form the shell independently of the inner robot (as well as with the robot inside), I'd be okay with it. But without the ability to have both operate independently, you're still missing a core aspect of the original gimmick's play value.
     
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  5. Seanprime

    Seanprime Well-Known Member

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    I thought the whole idea behind pretenders was a bit inside of a shell? So this would be that. The fiction they weren’t seperate and the originals was more due to the times and the shells were essentially a brick. If would nice if it could do that but I personally don’t think it’s that important. Getting the whole inner bot inside of a shell/ armor should be the main focus
     
  6. ScorponokIsHere

    ScorponokIsHere He is Arrived Indeed

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    They were separate all the time in the comics. That was one of the major advantages depicted. Starscream could pop out of his shell and literally use both of his forms to attack at the same time. Once Thunderwing chided Bumblebee for sending his shell into battle while standing off in the margins!

    upload_2022-11-14_16-11-14.png

    upload_2022-11-14_16-11-52.png
    upload_2022-11-14_16-12-9.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2022
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  7. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    ...and?

    It wouldn't be the first time Generations versions of classic characters weren't 1:1 recreations of the original toys capabilities. Look at any of the BW guys in WfC.
     
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  8. Dinobot Snarl

    Dinobot Snarl Well-Known Member

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    Dude you can't have the whole cake. Some sacrifice would have to be made.
     
  9. Seanprime

    Seanprime Well-Known Member

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    I stand corrected as I didn’t know that but as others said, some changes would probably need to be made. I personally feel like the whole operate separately most wouldn’t care about. Like a modern day bot that can then have armor attach to be the shell and have the shell by itself I don’t think is realistic
     
  10. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    True. But I'm no longer interested in toys that differ so greatly from the original toys (or, more importantly, the original characters). I'm older now, and my interest is either in getting better versions of characters that I already have, or getting the character I was unable to get back in the day. Other fans may have different needs, but for me, that's most of what I'm here for these days. A toy that depicts an old character with too much deviation, may as well just be a new character, in my mind. There's nothing wrong with THAT, but if it's going to be a classic character, I want it to be recognizably the character I remember.

    (FWIW, I ignored most of the BW toys in WfC, so I think I'm being consistent)
     
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  11. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    Okay, but also we're not the target audience anymore. They're not going to bend over backwards for *us* if it means figures that risk selling poorly. That's the reason I don't care about deviations from classic stuff....because I get we're secondary and the primary goal is making cool toys kids will want.
     
  12. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    I acknowledge this. I don't expect to be the target anymore. But I do wish that they'd just do "new" stuff if they're going to deviate so far. At some point, don't bother trying to target "me" at all if you're not going to try to target me.
     
  13. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    I mean that was what Generations was prior to WfC. And even now we're getting new characters (Modular dudes, Volcanicus, Skar), new takes on guys (Motormaster) and guys who've never had figures before (Marvel Jhiaxus, Tarn).

    Legacy Motormaster is based on G1, but he's not like any Motormaster we've had before. Even Leo Prime, while based on a classic toy/character, is getting his first mainstream release outside Japan.
     
  14. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    None of these facts are in dispute (well, I'll quibble that we've actually gotten a few Leo Prime-based toys in the states, a decade or so back). And if I haven't been clear, let me say that my own desires have evolved over the years. I wanted different things in years past than I want now.

    And I repeat, I really don't expect Hasbro to cater to me. This discussion is, ultimately, about what I want, but I don't expect much of it to actually come to pass. I'll buy want I want, and leave the rest for others.
     
  15. ScorponokIsHere

    ScorponokIsHere He is Arrived Indeed

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    Hey put the gaddang knives away, cowboy. I expressed zero thoughts on how Pretender toys must be. I was only correcting an inaccuracy. Keep yer shirt on.
     
  16. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    I'm not sure what you think he was responding to. The bit you quoted was in response to one of MY posts. And while we don't share this particular opinion, I haven't felt attacked by his responses to me thus far.
     
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  17. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    This whole back and forth about Pretenders makes me wonder if the decision to turn Dinoking in to a Volcanicus was because of the desire to do shells but not sure how to approach it. Originally it was going to be Dinoforce, but then they realized there may be options worth exploring so pivoted to the Dinobots to still get something to retail and bolster it with some name value.

    And since Volcanicus is a relatively new creation there's less baggage around how to actually execute on it (this'll be our third, and it will be as different from the last as it was from the first).

    Because ultimately that's what these Core Dinoking pretools would have been. More Pretenders who blended the shell and inner bot.
     
  18. Dinobot Snarl

    Dinobot Snarl Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if Marvel Blaster is on the table?
     
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  19. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    While it's not my preference (for reasons already stated), I definitely AM curious to at least see how this Core Dinoking is going to look.
     
  20. T-Hybrid

    T-Hybrid Gnodab Kidult (He/Him)

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    Maybe there's a path to doing the shells? Like...if they backed off Dinoking and adjusted those molds to be the Dinobots...they could do a Selects or special release with the Core figures molded closer to the originals:

    [​IMG]

    The drawback, of course, is only two of the Dinobots are bipedal compared to four here. So maybe they're going to adjust the beast modes to more closely resemble the inner bot alts and then keep the current Core robot modes?

    I suppose it's possible they do a limited Capsule run where the Dinoking components are packed with articulated shells. I think most of them sat in a "backpack" on the figure...so it's possible you could get away with a $10 Core figure and a $25 articulated shell. Hasbro has no shortage of 6" figure lines they could pull in designers from to make it work.

    Sell them for $35 or so? Would be on par with some of the larger "Deluxe" offerings in the Marvel and Power Rangers line.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]