5mm compatability; the collector's dream gimmick. Minimally invasive, and providing modularity to figures, use of 5mm ports has been standard for some time. However, the recent modulator/weaponizer figures have ramped this up. Not only does this allow a figurw to serve as an accessory pack, but creates an ecosystem of fanmoding. the pattern has even progressed to the point where one not even partsform for transformation, as with the junkions and Rock lords. With their increasingly bizarre designs, what ideas do you have for future weaponizer themes? What do you think is likely/ what would you like to see? Alternatively... Who would you like to see of our existing weaponizers? As for me... Existing themes- Weaponizer Armada overload- be it at Voyager or leader. Kind of a no brainer. You could wedge him into any line with minimal fuss Vos/other DJD members- given their weird altmodes a d relative obscurity, throwing in this gimmick could give them just enough toyetic edge to see release. Bm vehicons- they already turn into fudgy cybertronian vehicles covered in weaponry, and the limb removal could serve as battle damage. Hell, you could skimp on accessories, and allow them more traditional robot mode by giving them two legs, one of which can be removed and used as a weapon. New themes Dragonizers- Hasbro seems to reach for dragons when backed into a corner, and these guys would be an easy enough sell. Each of them could have interchangeable limbs, detachable dragon heads and wings, which could dec out deluxe's in dragon armor/ melee weapons ala the fossilizers. Could go for existing characters, like TLK knights and prime predacons. Perhaps they could even serve a line's big bad/ big ticket release, like Cybertron scourge or prime Predaking. Monster/Armorizers- aka neo pretenders. You have a pretender shell with a thematically appropriate vehicle mode. This, in turn, breaks apart to form armor for any existing release. This would both get us more pretenders, and maintain the spirit of their gimmick. I could see octopunch as an octopus, Bugly as a a wasp, and the autobots as more traditional vehicles. Sound off!
I'd like to see a Weaponizer of the Negavator from the episode Auto Berserk. I think that would make a cool figure.
Trans-organics- animals with robotic limbs or torsos that you could mix-and-match Quintessons- random Quintesson-inspired bodies with interchangeable tentacles. Want tentacle legs or arms? I'm thinking Mr. Potato Head but the Quintesson scientist as the base. Instead of tentacles, you could mix parts with trans-organic bear arms or something
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought the Izer gimmick had potential to be used for modern Pretenders. Now obviously they'd be very different to what people had decades ago, but I think it'd be an amazing solution to the challenge that modern toy budget & engineering face at certain pricepoints. I mean, the fact that we got Trashmaster, the first Izer in Voyager Class hows that they're clearly not out of ideas & trying different things out all the time. I say bring it on!
Jet-formers. Based on the small jets from Machine Wars, the G2 Cyber jets and Sky Scorchers. There are lots of parts on jets that could be "modular", mainly the wings, possibly the cockpit area, Needlenose shows us the tailfin. Of course the weaponry. And there were lots of repaints of the MW jets... +-MWG-+
There's lots of fun stuff they could do for more of these, hell... they could even make more fossils / rock guys and I wouldn't complain at all.
My idea may be a bit radical, but here it is. How about they do a theme called, Transformerizers. Where they do nothing but transform from one mode to the next without disassembly of any sort minus small bits like Brunt's cannon barrel tip or some stuff like that. I'm honestly tired of this whole "-izer" stuff. I was thankful this year's theme was... ugh... Rock Lords. The only reason I bought into some of the last few years of stuff is because it was the only way to get official HasTak releases of certain characters like Cog, Sixgun, Slammer, etc. And the Junkions I'm just a sucker for and the more individualized, the better. The rest I generally avoided like the plague. Now I'm not against gimmicks, as they can be fun. But I'm more interested in gimmicks that don't necessarily require disassembling a character with certain exceptions like RiD Magnus or Energon Wing Saber. They were designed specifically to combine with their respective Optimus Prime figures and more in a combiner sense than anything else. No. I enjoy gimmicks that are either unobstructive to the overall figure (spark crystals for example), or enable/reveal special features (like the Mini-Cons in Armada). Otherwise unless it's a specified subclass of figures (Headmasters for example), I can pass on this whole figure requiring disassembly to just transform from one mode to the other, despite being intended to be used by other figures like they don't matter as individuals.
I'd love a return to Pretenders. Anybody remember the late 80s when we got a ton of them? I mean, a TON. 26? Plus three more in Japan, and three unreleased? I'd even buy the Pretender from this concept art: I'd even watch a show where the Transformers are disguised as humans and beasts, Terminator-style (so long as it's not kiddified).
I'd personally like to see more Micromaster and Action Master playsets/vehicles reinvented as new characters. A lot of things got disrupted during Earthrise and it makes me sad that we only ever got 2 Modulator molds too. I'd love to see stuff like Erector and Overload's trailers able to become a body you can plug the Micromasters onto (basically Armada Overload style). I also recall seeing the great idea of making the kibble for Sixwing/Sixturbo/etc a weaponizer style character that the micros can plug onto. It's a shame so many of my desires around -izers is tied to Micros, because I feel like it'll be a while until Hasbro's ready to try them again. I'd also like to see a bigger focus on being able to break down the characters into useful parts. The Junkions and Rocks are pretty damn limited compared to the Weaponizers and Fossils. I get that some people are really turned off by parts forming, but I feel like we most some of the appeal while obtaining perfect transformation. Also, screw it, go back and actually do the Energon Monsters.
How about fuzors? Beast-formers that come apart in various pieces so you can make your own horrific chimaeras.
I would love that! Always enjoy seeing all the crazy old concept stuff. I dunno if you own the Generations Deluxe book but it’s a goldmine for this kinda stuff. I went to the 40th anniversary expo a few months ago and they had some pretty wild concept art on display there too. Sadly no pictures allowed so can’t share. Would love to be let into the Takara vault one day. I can only imagine what else they might have stowed away in there.
Very much a fan of the concept art shown over the years and would be down to see any of that stuff resurface somehow... I do own the Generations deluxe book, but I did not attend the expo. Lots of cool ideas I'd love to see the present day designers tackle.
I might have to try n construct/customise my own _izers at some point; I like the ideas of both the Vehicles and the Dragonisers that @GitGudGabe suggested! We didn't get a massive Dragonstorm combiner, so that would be hilarious to attempt..
animal-izers, monster-izers, (whatever those leaked energon monsters were for wave 1 legacy that were replaced with pretenders), but also i would like just regular vehicle-izers, like that cyberverse armour series spark armour, so we can have a jet starscream with bits of a car transformer hanging off him.
