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Post by Toph on Mar 17, 2017 16:15:40 GMT
So if takara ends up doing the original ten in MP format, I wonder how the hell they plan on bringing Terrorsaur to life? Because there is no character in that entire series who's CG model is more cheaty than him.
Quite a few took liberties for aesthetic purposes, but basically followed the toy. But Terrorsaur is as impractical and unworkable as most TFP designs.
If they do decide to do the entire original ten, I wouldn't be surprised if they saved him for dead last.
On the flipside, they'd get more bang for their buck with him, as the terrorsaur mold offers more repaint options than anyone else from that group, save for Dinobot (Hydrabeak, Fractyl, Strafe, Terranotron/Swoop)
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Post by Toph on Jul 22, 2017 8:20:18 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 22, 2017 21:38:21 GMT
Oooooo. Love it when this kind of thing resurfaces. Link saved for proper look later.
-Ralph
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Post by Toph on Dec 18, 2017 0:35:16 GMT
Can we have a Beast Wars Predacons thread now...? (Smiley face) The one and only Predacons, and their seemingly countless subdivisions, offshoots, and secret societies have never gotten the exploration they genuinely deserve. I think the little snippets we learned, largely through Dinobot, made them absolutely intriguing. Megatron's group were criminals, outlaws, and thugs. The Maximals spoke about the peace between maximals and predacons for generations. I always wanted to see that in actual play. The Tripredacus Council (and the writers) seemed to behave like the Predacons were an entire nation, and likened the whole thing to the USA/USSR Coldwar. Dinobot though sometimes acted as though it were more racial matters, and others acted like they were from entirely different countries (so much as to having no clue maximals don't have torture chambers). So, where is the truth? I've likened them in my own head as paralleling racial matters. That Predacons are second class citizens. They have a hard time, just because they're predacons. There are those who've become salty about their treatment, like Dinobot. There are those who have become criminals, like Scorponok, and there are those who want it all, like Megatron. But I think there are also those who just try to live their lives, go to work, and have fun. As for toys, I always hated that Hasbro restricted them to Dinosaurs, reptiles, invertebrates, and fish. |
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Post by Llama God on Dec 18, 2017 23:44:29 GMT
But cold blooded things are bad guys, because they're... well, cold-blooded. Right..?
Yeah okay, that's more than a little racist.
I guess if they'd been predators (of whatever genus) and the Maximals the prey animals, then that... would have been a different show. But aye, I'd have liked to have seen more of the wider world. And not in the way that 3P gave it to us.
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Post by Toph on Dec 19, 2017 0:07:31 GMT
Predacons were always dinosaurs, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Maximals were always mammals, birds, sharks (so glad that they dodged the "sharks are evil" trope), and a squid.
Basically, mammals, birds, and "cool fish"
The only time this got bucked was BWII, when the theme shifted to nature vs machine. But BWN went right back.
Then not even mentioning the Predacons during Beast Machines was about the worse thing in all the beast era.
I mean like... they didn't even have optimus say things more inclusive, like "We have to save the cybertronian sparks" or "transformer" or what have you. Just outright "we have to save the maximals!"
I know hasbro stupidly decreed "adding predacons would make it too hard for kids," which is bologna, but they didn't have to act like all transformers are maximals alone. You made Optimus look like a racist, and nothing more.
But I thought FP was on to something at one point. I *really* liked the Maxcop concept they started with DofP.
Of course, if they hadn't dropped it like a bad habit, then ban everyone from touching it, they'd have turned it into trash.
As it stood, it would have been a really good way to explore cybertronian society.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 19, 2017 7:12:38 GMT
Predacons were always dinosaurs, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Maximals were always mammals, birds, sharks (so glad that they dodged the "sharks are evil" trope), and a squid. Basically, mammals, birds, and "cool fish" The only time this got bucked was BWII, when the theme shifted to nature vs machine. But BWN went right back. This is a good thing all round in my my opinion. Then not even mentioning the Predacons during Beast Machines was about the worse thing in all the beast era. I mean like... they didn't even have optimus say things more inclusive, like "We have to save the cybertronian sparks" or "transformer" or what have you. Just outright "we have to save the maximals!" I know hasbro stupidly decreed "adding predacons would make it too hard for kids," which is bologna, but they didn't have to act like all transformers are maximals alone. You made Optimus look like a racist, and nothing more. No it didn't, don't talk such rot. Maximal is just a convenient label for the anti vehicon forces. Almost all the Maximal toys that make it onto the TV show were BW Maximals. But I thought FP was on to something at one point. I *really* liked the Maxcop concept they started with DofP. Of course, if they hadn't dropped it like a bad habit, then ban everyone from touching it, they'd have turned it into trash. As it stood, it would have been a really good way to explore cybertronian society. DofP? |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 19, 2017 7:18:21 GMT
I guess if they'd been predators (of whatever genus) and the Maximals the prey animals, then that... would have been a different show. Beast Wars Neo presents generally weaker Maximal animal types. |
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Post by Toph on Dec 19, 2017 8:43:21 GMT
DofP= Dawn of Future's Past Maxcops= tfwiki.net/wiki/MaxcopsEDIT: I didn't know they had been so thoroughly screwed over by FP. Didn't know they'd been shoehorned into Wings, or BW Uprising. |
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Post by legios on Dec 19, 2017 21:35:02 GMT
Beast Wars Neo presents generally weaker Maximal animal types. And in fairness the dinosaur predacons aren't the most fearsome folk in the galaxy either... That said, I love the Neo-Preds. They are such fun toys, especially their "dead modes" which have the side effect in at least one case of giving the toy an alternate "dopey" expression which is kind of endearing. I'll admit to have never paid any attention to Fun Pub's Beast Wars fiction. I'm not sure that I ever actually read any of it actually, so technically I have paid even less attention to it than I normally do. So it doesn't really colour my impression of the issue, because it literally never enters my head. I must admit that I tended to assume that the Predacons were primarily a political movement (probably "peace through strength" type cryptofacists going around preaching the superiority of Cybertronian life and how the universe should be organised to put Cybertronians in their rightful place at the top. You know, the usual right-wing rot) within Maximal society. Being a Predacon wasn't a matter of race, or descent - it was an ideological decision. Within that there were probably elements who called themselves Predacons who maybe turned up for some protest marches, others who turned up to protest marches and started scuffles with counter-protesters and the police, and at the back of it all a hard-core who were serious about armed struggle and overthrowing the government, with the Tripredacus Council publically tutting about the excesses of misguided individuals who do not represent the true heart of the movement (and privately manuevering to put themselves at the head of the revolution when it did come so they could plop their backsides into the chairs of power). Shame one of the more radical members started styling himself after the legendary figure of Megatron and decided he was sick of waiting and took rather extreme action. Even more so that he came back from the Beast Wars determined that he didn't _need_ the Predacon movement,or the Maximal species at all... Karl |
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Post by Toph on Jan 31, 2018 1:35:16 GMT
I realized he's (PotP Rodimus) about perfect for a Beast Era display. Works really well with his personality. He'd be one of the first to undergo the maximal upgrade to set an example. Plus it's his ego to have his new small body look exactly like his autobot body. It's ALSO in his personality to have a set of upgrade armor to combine with to boost himself up to his previous size, fashioned after his Rodimus form. I've also decided to repurpose my PotP Optimus to my beast era shelves. If anyone would have been granted amnesty under the Pax Cybertronia Peace Treaty, it'd be Optimus. He underwent the upgrade as a newly reminted Orion Pax, and retires. Acquiring or inheriting it, he reopens Maccadam's Old Oilhouse. However, he can combine with his new trailer to form a representation of his old body, "just in case the world needs Optimus Prime again." (Not his idea) I imagine after eons of endless war, millions of lives lost, and horrible impossible decisions to make, Optimus would like a retirement where he gets to chill, and quietly watch the kids go about brand new lives, free of war. |
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Post by Toph on Mar 3, 2018 4:46:29 GMT
You know, with hindsight it's kinda surprising that Beast Wars never embraced, or at least tried the Duocon concept. Two beasts, one robot. Seems kind of a really good fit.
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Post by blueshift on Mar 3, 2018 7:13:39 GMT
You know, with hindsight it's kinda surprising that Beast Wars never embraced, or at least tried the Duocon concept. Two beasts, one robot. Seems kind of a really good fit. Sounds a bit rude |
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 3, 2018 8:23:03 GMT
Matron!
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Mar 3, 2018 9:20:55 GMT
Well he is from Texas you know.
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Post by Toph on Mar 16, 2018 22:15:13 GMT
I simple remould of Ramulus would do it too... Fairly straight forward BW transformation, with the beast head going on his back, so the golden antlers imitate his trademark spoiler. To achieve hot rod mode, the wheels are embedded in his beast legs (shoulders and thighs), which imitate fenders in this mode. The front of the moose is the rear of the "car." Lower front legs fold over the outside and back, sorta like Hotrod's exhaust pipes. The lower rear legs come together and clip into each other in the feet, in the front of the car like a bumper. The moose head folds down into the top of the rear of the car, so the antlers are again like his spoiler, and the moose head's tech details look like an engine. |
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Post by Shockprowl on Aug 4, 2018 10:28:02 GMT
What was it like when Beast Wars first came out?
I missed the event of Beast Wars completely. I left Transformers in G2 and didn't come anywhere near it again until at least Armada and the return of blocky designs. I think I remember seeing the odd Beast Wars toy here and there, but paid it little mind. I don't think I liked them in fact, absentmindedly thinking "bloody hell, what's happened to Transformers?". It wasn't until I joined The Hub that I learned it was an actual thing, and I grew to appreciate the designs.
So what was it like when they first came out? What was it like when Beast Wars first happened? Was it a shock to go from vehicles (with the odd creature) to all creatures with a radically different aesthetic? Was there a backlash? 'Truck not Monkey' and all that. Was the Fandom in turmoil? Or was it seen as an exciting breath of fresh air? The kind that several fans think may be needed now.
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 4, 2018 11:03:14 GMT
Back in those days I wasn't aware of fandom but I was on the internet, so it was a solo venture on my part. I remember getting excited by the idea of a relaunch of the line and got into the cartoon. I bought most of the toys from the first couple of years, but my interest was waning by the time the Transmetals arrived. I have a few of those, but they're mostly still sealed which tells you how into playing with them I was. I liked the cartoon and bought all the VHS tapes, subsequently replaced by the Shout Factory DVDs.
I can't really remember what I felt about the toys though. I remember having a specific display for them separate to the older Transformers and really liking Optimus Primal. I remember being at Botcon Europe in 1999 and listening to Simon Furman talking about writing for the series and episodes from the thirs season being shown that I think at the time hadn't aired on UK TV? (might be wrong there). But off the top of my head I don't remember much more.
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Post by Baron B of Triple B on Aug 4, 2018 11:10:09 GMT
I spat the dummy with Transformers over it. Really couldn't take to the cartoon so abandoned the toys in a 'this isn't bloody Transformers, I need G1!' protest and didn't really come back until i seen Armada Optimus Prime in Woolworths.
Since joining the Hub a couple of years back I've softened on it but still can't get into the cartoon, taken to some of the tot designs though.
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 4, 2018 11:12:56 GMT
I think with hindsight I prefer the later Transmetal designs. I've got some of them, like the Primes and the Megatrons, and they're impressive toys. I think if I was going back to that era now I'd look for more of those, but it isn't a period I have a particular fondness for. In terms of filling holes in older collections it'd be behind G1 and Animated.
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Post by blueshift on Aug 4, 2018 11:18:13 GMT
I had drifted away from TF at the time. I sort of resented Beast Wars at first as it felt like it was trying to rewrite history and *replace* all the original G1 stuff (this was before all these reboots and reinventions became the norm everywhere). Once I found out about The Agenda and how it was actually a respectful continuation I became a fan.
Always found the Transmetal 1 designs the best.
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Post by blueshift on Aug 4, 2018 11:19:04 GMT
Since joining the Hub a couple of years back I've softened on it but still can't get into the cartoon, taken to some of the tot designs though. Season 1 of the cartoon is eh, season 2 is amazing, season 3 is eh. But season 2 is really amazing. |
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Post by Toph on Aug 4, 2018 11:22:30 GMT
I remember the first time I saw Beast Wars, and the second time I saw Beast Wars.
Because Beast Wars (probably wisely) understated Transformers, the first time I saw them I didn't realize they were transformers.
I was in a hurry, and was looking for X-Men. I passed a huge display of BW, and thought to myself "Animal action figures! It's about time!" But I din't have time to examine them.
The second time I saw them, I stopped and examined them, and realized they were transformers. But they were so new and different, I didn't know what to make of them. As toys they were boss. Having transformers composed of organic material really intrigued me. It was borderline horrific... the sheer concept. Did they have organs? Did they transform in an explosion of blood? They were also the first universally posable TFs ever.
But they weren't Hasbro? Did kenner steal them? They didn't understand TFs, either. Dinobot is not a proper name! It's a group! Waspinator is the stupidest name ever! (Past me is a Fool! Dinobot and Waspinator are the greatest transformers ever!)
I didn't understand Beast Wars the first few times I encountered it.
Very few lines have both intrigued me and confused me the was Beast Wars had.
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Post by Shockprowl on Aug 4, 2018 11:24:34 GMT
Other than the Movie aesthetic, the shift to the Beast Wars aesthetic must be the largest shift in Transformers history, surely?
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Post by Toph on Aug 4, 2018 11:26:08 GMT
Since joining the Hub a couple of years back I've softened on it but still can't get into the cartoon, taken to some of the tot designs though. Season 1 of the cartoon is eh, season 2 is amazing, season 3 is eh. But season 2 is really amazing. I'd go more to second half of season 1 is also amazing. Because the second set of 13 episodes is where it really starts to come together and lay the ground work season 2 is built on. |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Aug 4, 2018 11:30:09 GMT
Beast Wars was a much needed shot in the arm to Transformers. New characters, new stories and a line with confidence in itself. It wasn't afraid to experiment with new ideas in wither the toyline or the show. I was definitely more interested in the earlier years (posable animal/robot toys, combining beasts were an amazing idea, I liked the first round of Transmetals, etc) but thought there were some interesting ideas throughtout.
Again I liked were both the Beast Machines toys and shows went after as well although I don't think they quite succeeded as much as they would have liked to have.
Suspect my affection for this era of TFs coloured my generally negative opinion of Armada etc after. Thse lines seemed like several steps backward by comparison.
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Dezzeh
Thunderjet
Wait, what?
Posts: 4,886
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Post by Dezzeh on Aug 4, 2018 12:08:48 GMT
I was around 14 when they came out here, and had just about decided that I wanted to keep buying Transformers unlike most of my friends who were very much not in to toys any more. I remember being on the old TMUK Yahoo group back in the day and things were very positively received. We spent many hours calling Hasbro UK demanding to know if and when they would be released here. I personally had the entire collection back in the day, loved the cartoon then and am introducing my son to it now. It wasn't quite G1, but it was damn near good enough for me!
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 4, 2018 12:54:48 GMT
Beast Wars coming to the UK coincided with me being at Uni so time and money were focused on other things. I was aware of them but didn't really get into BW until I graduated in 1999 and moved from part-time to full-time work so I could afford to pick up the VHS tapes and some of the toys. BW toys back to the first wave shelfwarmed mightily even at that late stage and were pretty cheap so not a difficult line to get into. I loved the show though never really liked the toys much other than a few exceptions.
I went back and forth over what I thought about the BM show though felt that the toyline was quite poor.
Transformers got properly good again when RID and then Armada came out.
-Ralph
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Post by Bogatan on Aug 4, 2018 19:01:37 GMT
Transformers G2 UK comic led me to TMUK. One of the newsletters had a poor quality photocopy of a brochure with the first wave of BW on it. I don't remember being unhappy about the change. The photocopied image was almost like a silhouette level tease. There was enough info for me to be interested. May 96 we went to Orlando and having had time to prepare I got EVERYTHING! Armordillo was the first one I got and as this was before the cartoon I wasn't influenced by who was the star of the show as a result Razorbeast and Insecticon quickly became two of my favourites. So yeah pretty much loved the line from the off. The next year I got everything again. I only missed the 3 deluxe repaints, which annoyingly included Black Arachnia. This was pre-internet for me. TMUK seemed generally happy with it but then I got online around 97 and the Truk not Monkey thing was happening. I suppose it was my first exposure to toxic fandom. Still find it weird. Other than the Movie aesthetic, the shift to the Beast Wars aesthetic must be the largest shift in Transformers history, surely? So much bigger than the Movies. The look, the articulation, the everything changed. |
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Post by Shockprowl on Aug 4, 2018 19:35:50 GMT
Other than the Movie aesthetic, the shift to the Beast Wars aesthetic must be the largest shift in Transformers history, surely? So much bigger than the Movies. The look, the articulation, the everything changed. Wow, yeah, when you look at G1/G2, then jump to Beast Wars, it really was the greatest shake-up Transformers has ever had. |
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