As of now, I'm not a big fan of this one, but I'm sure it'll be fodder for some great kitbashes.

 

Big thanks to Bainreese for the gallery, and putting fanboys' claims of "mistranformation" to rest.

 

It jus happnes to not be a great toy, guys.

 

Don't worry. There'll be others  :)

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I agree, but what does it say about the line when the cornerstone figure, Prime, is a POS? Nothing good I would think.

 

But at least we can look forward to Mirage.

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How is he a cornerstone figure? Just because of the name? Anyway I think "POS" is a bit harsh. It's easy to complain, it's a lot harder to offer alternative suggestions. JMO

It also means that if they are selling it at the same pricepoint - then if the size is larger and the price is the same - then something has to give.

 

I vote - engineering!

 

Essentially he is a Super Gobot - i would have paid the extra $5 bucks for a little better design - but if the priority was keeping it reasonably priced - then perhaps Hasbro's hands were tied a bit.

From what I recall someone mentioning from a Botcon panel, the primary driver for cost (within a particular line) is the weight of the plastic used.  Even though he has larger dimensions, I'll bet that Prime weighs about the same as any of the other Alts.

 

More likely Takara was only half-heartedly into it.  I'll bet when Hasbro got the final engineered product back they were like, "Oh, crap."

It also means that if they are selling it at the same pricepoint - then if the size is larger and the price is the same - then something has to give.

 

I vote - engineering!

 

Essentially he is a Super Gobot - i would have paid the extra $5 bucks for a little better design - but if the priority was keeping it reasonably priced - then perhaps Hasbro's hands were tied a bit.

From what I recall someone mentioning from a Botcon panel, the primary driver for cost (within a particular line) is the weight of the plastic used.  Even though he has larger dimensions, I'll bet that Prime weighs about the same as any of the other Alts.

 

More likely Takara was only half-heartedly into it.  I'll bet when Hasbro got the final engineered product back they were like, "Oh, crap."

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more like "oh sweet, good thing this one's named 'Optimus Prime' cuz all the fanboys will buy him anyway no matter how much he sucks."

It also means that if they are selling it at the same pricepoint - then if the size is larger and the price is the same - then something has to give.

 

I vote - engineering!

 

Essentially he is a Super Gobot - i would have paid the extra $5 bucks for a little better design - but if the priority was keeping it reasonably priced - then perhaps Hasbro's hands were tied a bit.

From what I recall someone mentioning from a Botcon panel, the primary driver for cost (within a particular line) is the weight of the plastic used.  Even though he has larger dimensions, I'll bet that Prime weighs about the same as any of the other Alts.

 

More likely Takara was only half-heartedly into it.  I'll bet when Hasbro got the final engineered product back they were like, "Oh, crap."

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more like "oh sweet, good thing this one's named 'Optimus Prime' cuz all the fanboys will buy him anyway no matter how much he sucks."

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And the response would be any different if he had been named "Ironhide"?

It also means that if they are selling it at the same pricepoint - then if the size is larger and the price is the same - then something has to give.

 

I vote - engineering!

 

Essentially he is a Super Gobot - i would have paid the extra $5 bucks for a little better design - but if the priority was keeping it reasonably priced - then perhaps Hasbro's hands were tied a bit.

From what I recall someone mentioning from a Botcon panel, the primary driver for cost (within a particular line) is the weight of the plastic used.  Even though he has larger dimensions, I'll bet that Prime weighs about the same as any of the other Alts.

 

More likely Takara was only half-heartedly into it.  I'll bet when Hasbro got the final engineered product back they were like, "Oh, crap."

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more like "oh sweet, good thing this one's named 'Optimus Prime' cuz all the fanboys will buy him anyway no matter how much he sucks."

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And the response would be any different if he had been named "Ironhide"?

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From Hasbro or the fans?

 

personally I don't think there's anything wrong with him. I mean, it's a truck... where do people think all this bot mode bulk is going to magically come from?

 

if they repaint him as Trailbreaker I'll be happy as a pig in its own feces

From Hasbro or the fans?

Sorry, the fans.

personally I don't think there's anything wrong with him. I mean, it's a truck... where do people think all this bot mode bulk is going to magically come from?

 

if they repaint him as Trailbreaker I'll be happy as a pig in its own feces

I actually like him too (although, I think they could have done a better job with his feet).

 

Re:  Trailbreaker - Hasbro seems to be unable to use the name (they didn't use it on last year's spychanger Ironhide with the Trailbreaker paintjob or on Cybertron Overhaul), my guess is because Chevrolet has the Trailblazer.  If they do make a black version with yellow stripes and Swindle's ;) head he'll have a different name.

I think the response would have been different if he'd been named "Ironhide". There's a strange mystique surrounding the character of Optimus Prime, which can be a good and a bad thing... either way I think fans expect an Alt Prime to be the savior of mankind or something.

 

BTW yellow stripes? :tfhuh

I think the response would have been different if he'd been named "Ironhide". There's a strange mystique surrounding the character of Optimus Prime, which can be a good and a bad thing... either way I think fans expect an Alt Prime to be the savior of mankind or something.

FIRST CHURCH OF OPTIMUS'D

BTW yellow stripes? :tfhuh

You know, those sort of stripe/rectangle things on Trailbreaker's sides - I think they were yellow (I never actually owned Trailbreaker).

I think the response would have been different if he'd been named "Ironhide". There's a strange mystique surrounding the character of Optimus Prime, which can be a good and a bad thing... either way I think fans expect an Alt Prime to be the savior of mankind or something.

FIRST CHURCH OF OPTIMUS'D

BTW yellow stripes? :tfhuh

You know, those sort of stripe/rectangle things on Trailbreaker's sides - I think they were yellow (I never actually owned Trailbreaker).

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oh the stickers..... the Trailbreaker I had was so worn that I didn't even know what color those stripes were supposed to be

 

 

and I'm okay with just black and red BTW

It also means that if they are selling it at the same pricepoint - then if the size is larger and the price is the same - then something has to give.

 

I vote - engineering!

 

Essentially he is a Super Gobot - i would have paid the extra $5 bucks for a little better design - but if the priority was keeping it reasonably priced - then perhaps Hasbro's hands were tied a bit.

From what I recall someone mentioning from a Botcon panel, the primary driver for cost (within a particular line) is the weight of the plastic used.  Even though he has larger dimensions, I'll bet that Prime weighs about the same as any of the other Alts.

 

More likely Takara was only half-heartedly into it.  I'll bet when Hasbro got the final engineered product back they were like, "Oh, crap."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

more like "oh sweet, good thing this one's named 'Optimus Prime' cuz all the fanboys will buy him anyway no matter how much he sucks."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And the response would be any different if he had been named "Ironhide"?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From Hasbro or the fans?

 

personally I don't think there's anything wrong with him. I mean, it's a truck... where do people think all this bot mode bulk is going to magically come from?

 

if they repaint him as Trailbreaker I'll be happy as a pig in its own feces

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The same place that the bot mode magically comes from w/ the other Alts. Granted that the others have more room to hide bot pieces and whatnot, but w/ some better engineering, they could have done a much better job.

 

I think it was Bainreese that said Prime basically looks like a truck turned up on its tailgate. In this line, which is supposed to be ultra articulated, ultra detailed, ultra complicated, that is unacceptable.