We have received a word that Transformers: Authentics toyline based on Evergreen designs, is currently under distribution in the United States.
The line is denoted by the following code name:
TRA GEN AUTHENTICS BRAVO
Based on the code, the Authentics line is flagged under the Generations banner. ‘Bravo‘ is a common term used by Hasbro to distinguish two assortments with the same name. The first assortment will be called Alpha while the second will be called Bravo. Usually, the second assortment will have completely new set of toys than the first assortment AND priced differently (for a different size class). Alpha and Bravo identifications are mostly used on Vehicle Assortments of the G. I. Joe line. Therefore, there may have been an Alpha Assortment (TRA GEN AUTHENTICS ALPHA) distributed without our prior knowledge.
Based on what we know, the Authentics line will cater to the budget market. Thanks to several posts on Weibo, we also know that the toys consists of (but may not be limited to) Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starscream and Grimlock.
BenjaminXavier
Not really, since anyone with an Amazon selling account can add things to amazon's catalog. Until Amazon direct starts selling them from this listing, it doesn't mean anything.
My grandmother wrote 3 books and when she passed I took the last few cases of them that were in her basement and added them to Amazon myself, I uploaded the pictures, made up an SKU and everything. If you've ever looked at Amazon's listings where they have 2 or 3 listings for the same item, that's what that is. Someone added them so they could sell them before Amazon listed them. That's whats happened here. Some Asian retailer added them and will most likely be selling them (shipped from China or wherever) and Amazon won't list them till BBTS and EE get them.
EE got back to me by the way and said Hasbro has not offered them for sale in the USA and as of yet doesn't plan to. That will likely not change until the new fiscal year (March) when I would expect them to show up in drug stores, then we'll see the US listings and know.
SilverOptimus
'Authentics line' and the Authentic sticker are two different things. But I guess that today's Amazon US listing clears the debate. This line is indeed called 'Authentics':
Transformers: Authentics Listed On Amazon With Hi-Res Stock Images – Transformers News – TFW2005
BenjaminXavier
Hey man, no one dubbed these as "the authentics line" except you, because of a misprint on the solicitation. All TFs have "authentic transformer" on the packaging, here's a quick pic I took of a Generations deluxe, a movie deluxe, and one of those all spark power figures. Its just a way for them to say "these are real and not the crappy chinese fake TFs"
So please, stop calling the line "authentics" you're just confusing people who won't know what to look for.
View attachment 27869213
SilverOptimus
It's totally understandable. Did not took your word the wrong way at all.
I also found out that the Philippine instruction sheets does not contain the name 'Authentics'. Only the identification code does. But I guess the fans already dubbed these as the Authentics line.
BenjaminXavier
Again, its not the name because its not on the packaging. Somewhere someone keyed in the listing as "authentics" because it had the word "authentics" on the art they were shown, but its not on the packaging at all and its certainly not the name of the line because the front just says "transformers" just like every other bargain line they've had for 10 years.
"Authentics" is not even a word in english and has only shown up on asian instructions and asian retail listings. Please don't take this the wrong way but its pretty obviously just some "engrish" that ended up in the computer system of the store because it was on the asian solicitations.
Shin Densetsu
$6 in the Philippines roughly, not bad given these are larger than I thought they'd be
SilverOptimus
@BenjaminXavier It seems as though the 'Authentics' name is true. At least how they are known in the system. And, this seems to be the Bravo wave. Which means Grimlock is a part of a possible Alpha wave.
View attachment 27867951
Xaxis
Thanks, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.
SilverOptimus
Thank you very much. Credited you on the front page.
ILoveDinobot
Oh, I saw these at Family Dollar for $5.75. I think it was these.
DeletedUser_119270
Either Legends(yay) or Legion(yay yay).
Dachande
This, I agree with.
…aaaaand, you lost me.
Didn't it come about because of the original toy mold being used? They wanted to use it without reinventing the wheel, so to speak.
Anyway, what size are these figures? They look almost Legend-sized, but maybe bigger?
Prime Aspect
More popular doesn't mean better. Heck, people think that "cartoon accuracy" is a thing, even though it's an oxymoron! People also use the word "scale" incorrectly all over the boards. "This figure scales well with that one" (are they climbing something?) "deluxe scale" (deluxe is a size class) "masterpiece scale" (masterpiece is a subline that comprised many different scale figures) — Again, popular is NOT correct.
Tank Megatron is a better alt-mode because mass shifting is stupid. THat's not an argument based on popularity, but based on logic. You may not agree, and it may not be a popular opinion, but I have yet to see a logical argument for why an alien killing machine would be better off turning into a pistol than a tank. It's just dumb. And I'm old enough to have lived through G1. Best characterizations of the characters, but not the best choices of alt-modes.
Then those alt-modes should not exist. Omega Supreme and Metroplex should be RIDICULOUSLY HUGE. Are they not supposed to be battle stations and cities? Metroplex barely qualifies as a large building. Part of the franchise should be to explore how they interact with such differently sized characters. That would be interesting. Instead we get lazy writing of (oh, just make an F-22 and a VW bug about the same size" — LAZY and DUMB. Almost as dumb as Beast Wars.
Tank is the best alt-mode because it makes for a more interesting character. A Megatron who needs another bot around to hold him and shoot him in gun form is dumb. Mass shifting is inherently a lazy shortcut and screams "cheap writing". The only arguments for gun megatron boil down to "G1 can never be questioned" or "guns are cool" — both arguments are dumb.
payres
See also the confusingly titled Re-release of TF Legends in new packaging…
maku098
Hey guys, I just saw these figures at my local Toys R Us.
View attachment 27866544 View attachment 27866545
ZapRowsdower
But people naturally focus on the bad more than the good. Think about how often someone has criticized you… and then compare it to how often they've complimented you.
And for that matter, challenge yourself: do you pay enough compliments to others? My guess is no. Because it's far easier to complain than it is to appreciate.
That said, don't take the negativity so badly. Sometimes, we're having a bad day and we're just venting about an unrelated topic. Everyone's been there. Isn't it more important to support EACH OTHER more than some plastic toy?
ZapRowsdower
That's excellent to know, thanks! Nonetheless? I think Hasbro's resources are limited. You got me on the manufacturing – you didn't address the shipping! Think about it: is Hasbro ordering more shipping containers or simply "finding space" in their current distribution model?
Manufacturing is only half of the equation, and given how missing toys in the USA end up in mass in other parts? I'd say it's NOT the problem. The problem is shipping/distribution – and more TF lines will NOT help that.
Gun Megatron is better. I could open a poll and embarrass you, but I won't!
Mass shifting doesn't bother me so much because it would be IMPOSSIBLE for certain alt modes to exist without it. Do I need to whip out that Bruticus scaled combiner image? How does Omega Supreme exist without mass shifting? How often do you see robots like Metroplex? Basically, if you want to eliminate the shifts? We end up with TFs on massively different scales that can't really interact (imo) – at least not in a meaningful way (that doesn't require special Windblade powers or something).
The Shockwave comment applied to Hasbro releases of transforming robot guns. If we were talking about JAPANESE toys, you could tell me all about Takara's MP. But I was trying to express disappointment where a major toy company sells HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS (if not millions) of toy guns in one section, but then refuses to release gun versions of Transformers in another section of the store. So rest assured, whatever I think of tank Megatron, Hasbro has decided it's the best alt mode because the lawyers said it was so!
BenjaminXavier
I sent an email to my sales rep after my last post asking when they'd be available for order. EE did get the last 2 batches of TF "budget" figures and the GI Joe ones, so they should have no trouble getting these. BBTS had them too.
"Value channel" is the industry term for "not normal retail" so here in the USA, drug stores, Dollar General, and the like.
SilverOptimus
Nope. It's completely understandable. This solicitation is for US and not for Asia. I may have gotten it earlier than retailers or online retailers. And I don't think online retailers will get these figures. Is there any possible way you can check with the budget market? I still don't know what it means by 'Value Channel 49'. Budget market? Possibly.
And I'll agree with you regarding Alpha and Bravo regarding size classes. Hence why I mentioned that in brackets:
I guess 'assortments' is a wrong choice of word here. As you said "Size Classes" would have been preferable.
BenjaminXavier
Please don't take this the wrong way, because I think there may be a language barrier here. But this is not true. The word "distributed" means "this item has been shipped to stores and is available for purchase", which is not true because these toys have not been sighted in stores. Even looking back at the news post, it appears you mean "solicited" which would mean Hasbro has told toy sellers they are coming and are available for order. Except that hasbro has not done that (in the US) because I have a wholesale account with the major Hasbro distribution company in the USA (Entertainment earth) and I specifically told my salesperson I wanted these and she has told me Hasbro hasn't listed them yet.
Now, it appears you have an asian solicitation that you pulled the info from, but you didn't actually post it in the news story. So while it may be listed for asian distros to buy with that name, it doesn't mean its the US name, **AND** it doesn't mean its the name of the line. That combined with the clearly asian instruction sheet means that until we see US packaging it doesn't mean anything.
Also:
None of that is true. Hasbro has never used "alpha" and "bravo" as wave enumerators. They did name their size classes that once for GI Joe (on the retail packaging) but that is the same thing as "deluxe" "voyager" "leader" for TFs. They name the waves with numbers: Wave 1 Revision 1, Wave 2, Wave 2 revision 1, etc.
I would hazard a guess that the "alpha" is the larger figures that hit intl markets last year and are now showing up at Walgreens in the USA, and these new smaller legends are the second try at the concept, making them a "bravo" as bravo is the military term for second. This code name clearly was accidentally listed in whatever solicit you pulled your news story from.
For clarification, I will email my EE contact again today to see if there is a new solicit and/or an expected date for these to be released. Then we'll know.