More and more, its looking like that combiner team we heard about back at the Botcon panel isn't going to happen... least not any time before the 2009movie. With Universe, we've been told there will be 8 deluxes, of which we already know of 5 (probably 6, considerring that a Prowl re-deco would be a no-brainer). The voyagers are seemingly going to be repaints and wouldn't really accomodate a gestalt anyay. Similar issue prevents it from being one of the 2 ultra class figures, unless it was a team of tiny assed TFs. As for animated, most of the deluxes we are supposed to get have already been accounted for (I forget the exact numbers, but something like 15 of them, of which we already know 11 and at least a couple others (Swoop, for example) are already looking reasonably likely) so it seems pretty unlikely that we'll see one from Animated before TF2. Is anyone else getting the feeling that this is something that just isn't going to happen?
at BotCon, they merely said they'd like to explore the idea though, it wasn't said that they were likely to make one. That being said, the numbers we know of for Universe, and even Animated, are only for this YEAR. Both lines don't start till mid-year, so you're only talking 6-months worth of toys. There's still at least another 6 months of toys for both lines before you would start seeing 09 movie toys.
Personally speaking, I'd much rather have no new combiner than getting one with next to no articulation or being another sh*t repaint like the Classics Devastator one was. Translated: if they can't do it properly, then they shouldn't do it at all. As it stands, I've found combiners to be better ideas in theory than in practice since very few of them, if any, ever successfully pull it off. Predaking came close due to the size, but still terribley lacked in the articulation department. It was a cool gimmick back in the 80's and I'll always have a soft spot for Devastator since he was the first one that had 6 equal size members all with unique molds, but even as a kid, I barely liked the toy versions of Superion, Bruticus, Menasor, Computron, Defensor, etc. due to A) the small sizes, B) the same template being used over & over of 1 large member plus 4 smaller members whose heads all clicked in, C) all the extra parts that were required, and D) the complete lack of any movement whatsoever. Until they can come up with an entirely self contained combiner (ie: doesn't need additional parts & accessories) that has 4-5 entirely unique molds, can be posed & articulated, and has actual hands instead of claws, I'd rather they skip the idea altogether. But that's just me.
There's been spoilers on Animated episodes that featured multiple Constructicons, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. Though from what I've seen if we get Animated Constructions, it won't be a 6 bot group. That said... we heard 8 deluxes from Universe but seeing how those kinds of claims held up in the Alternators line, I'm doubting it'll stay that way. They might go to repaints like the Voyager size class, but it seems like they'll have much better ideas for that and we won't see any flashbacks to G2 this time around.
I think Rail Racer pulled off a three-bot combiner quite well. I wouldn't mind seeing Hasbro aspire to that level in the future.
I agree with almost everything except the comments about Classics Devastator. It could be because I dont have the Energon version, and didnt buy TFs until Classics came out, but I like Classics Devy. I might get a G1 Devastator head and kitbash it on him. Sure, I wouldnt pay the price he's going for right now, but back when he came out it was a no brainer. He looks great with all the updated G1 figures.
All I have to say is with all the updating going on with TFs I think its time we get a totally revamped version of a Combiner that we grew up with. Any of them would be nice with articulation and the up to date mechanics we have with TFs today.
Well, from what I remember reading about last years Botcon, they said that they were looking into possibly doing another combiner, but it wasn't something that they were ready to discuss with the fandom yet. Which sounded to me that they were discussing the possabilities of exploring that again (sense we haven't seen one since Energon) in either Animated, Universe or Transformers 2, but they weren't sure and nothing was set in stone. Also, I have to echo what Redline said... what we know for both Animated and Universe is only for the first six months of the line... given how long Hasbro likes their lines to last I'd say that there's at least another six months to a years worth (depending on when TF2 comes out) of figures for both lines.
I really think the only shot at a new combiner will be the Animated Constructicons, and with the quality of engineering from the figures I've had in my hands, I don't doubt they could manage it well. Maybe four components, three deluxes and one voyager so the proportions look right, the largest either forming the entire torso or the lower half, the latter of which might allow more posability.
