We are pleased to bring you the latest news from the Transformers Collector’s Club roundtable event at Botcon 2014!
UPDATE: Images from panel added! Check them all out after the jump!
Read on to read the full script of our coverage!
The Subscription Service Figures for 2015 have been revealed and they are:
Krok with Gatorraider from Generations Dreadwing
Nacelle from Botcon 2007 Thrust
Generation 2 Starscream from Classics Starscream
Serpent O.R. (name may change) from Generations Japan Ratbat
Zap with G.B. Blackrock Kreon and Kre-O Fuel Pump from Generations Bumblebee
Dawn of Future’s Past Tarantulas from Generations Wreck-Gar (using what we think is the E-Hobby Scrap Heap head) 3:59
That’s the end of the panel – thanks for following everyone!
3:58
The litmus test is does it excite the Fun Publications staff?
3:57
So stuff like Diaclone he’s concerned it would not get beyond the initial hardcore fans
3:57
Pete confesses that Machine Wars did not do as well as they had hoped
3:57
Pete understands the demand for a Diaclone set, but again would it work as a boxed set? He’s worried it would not sell well
3:56
Diaclone is a “strong possibility” for the future
3:55
Generally as it crosses into what Hasbro is doing
3:55
Comment From Guest
As in the AoE Dinobots, or in general?
3:54
Pete is saying that the Dinobots are completely off limits to the Club / Botcon for now
3:52
Looking at getting the rest of the club comics collected in a trade paperback
3:52
Will it sell beyond the hardcore Animated fans, that’s where he is coming from
3:51
He’s concerned that the molds have aged in the eyes of the fandom
3:50
Probably multiple sets / comics
3:50
Pete is saying if they did it, he’d want to do it right
3:49
through the club
3:49
Here’s a good one, asking about the possibility of Animated Season 4
3:45
No, I think it’s just an explanation why they’ve gone back to it time and again
3:45
Comment From Anon
Possible hint at next year’s BotCon theme?
3:45
No, it’s just purely what they had available, what they wanted to do etc
3:44
Comment From Boc
Of the 6 TFSS figures, 5 are decepticons/ predacons/ bad guys. Did they offer any reason why? (not that its a bad thing)
3:44
Brian is talking about how difficult it is to pick a theme – can’t touch man continuity or stuff others are currently doing, etc. That’s why they like Shattered Glass – it’s their own thing so they can do whatever they want
3:42
There’s no announced plans for another like Transmutate, but Pete did ask if people liked Transmutate and if we wanted more. Room cheered. So it’s possible though nothing is confirmed
3:41
Comment From BigPhill
Will there be more Club exclusives next year (Like Transmutate) or will they stick to the Subscription stuff only?
3:40
They’re not against doing more Beast Wars stuff going forward
3:40
Going through a Q&A now
3:38
For the Botcon exclusives
3:38
Comment From Wwelord
At show toys?
3:38
They were going to reveal it here but Hasbro only just approved it so it was too late to include
3:37
Comment From Cala
Any news on the Club Freebie figure for next year?
3:37
I want to say it is the Junkheap head (the E-Hobby one with the faceplate) but it’s hard to gauge from where I’m sat
3:37
Comment From gawddammit
Does Tarantalas have a new head? Or one of the junkion heads?
3:36
No plans to reveal the at-show toys up front
3:36
Yes, bonus figure ships with the sixth figure for 3.0 like with 2.0
3:36
Comment From BigPhill
Will they be throwing in an extra figure in the Subscription service, like they have this year?
3:36
It’s based on the retail release G2 Starscream
3:35
Comment From Guest
G2 Scremer’s based offa the one that was released with Camo wings and tank thing, or Black Death one? OR Jungle Camo?
3:35
Comment From gawddammit
G2 Starscream! WOOOOOO
3:35
No
3:35
Comment From Rodimus Supreme
Any usage of the Generations Armada Starscream mold?
3:35
Pics will be coming to you shortly from Tony_Bacala
3:34
Uses the Generations Wreck-Gar mold
3:33
Comes with two of Arms Micron Airachnid’s Arms Microns
3:33
Next one is Tarantulas from Dawn of Future’s Past
3:33
It’s the Japanese deco – white with red body
3:32
Comment From Cradok
Zap was an Axelerator from Euro G1
3:32
Next one is G2 Starscream from the Classics Starscream mold
3:32
Yes, that’s the one, thank you (and you Ikkstakk)
3:32
Comment From BigPhill
Serpent O.R with the Ratbat head?
3:32
He’s based on an obscure Transformers Blocktown toy from the 1990s
3:31
Next up is Zap from Generations Bumblebee with Kreon G.B. Blackrock
3:30
May not get to use the name, will use the mixed Cobra / Decepticon symbol
3:30
Uses the Generations Scourge mold
3:30
From the Devil’s Due comics
3:30
Next up is Serpent O.R.
3:30
Based on the catalog concept art for Thrust
3:29
Next up is Nacelle, a redeco of Botcon 2007 Thrust
3:28
The colors look close to the style of the original toy
3:27
Hard to see from back here
3:27
Using Dreadwing headsculpt?
3:27
He comes with Gatoraider, the Arms Micron alligator
3:27
Krok from Generations IDW Megatron
3:26
We’re going to see early rough concepts, subject to change
3:25
Pete’s talking about some of the background to choosing toys
3:24
On to showing us TFSS 3.0
3:23
Pete is asking if we like when they do stuff like Trans-mutate to a roun dof applause.
3:23
Talking about Rampage and Trans-mutate right now.
3:21
Showing more deco sheets while they talk about it
3:20
The final samples were fine – the mistake happened on the production piece only.
3:20
Comment From Guest
Wait, they were misassembled on the production pieces?
3:20
In this case, it’s an easy fix
3:19
Comment From Ikkstakk
Is that something we’ll have to fix? How easy a fix is it?
3:19
Brian is expressing his frustration over things like backward arms or two left feet
3:18
Apparently the Scorponok arms were also assembled backwards which stops them going all the way down
3:16
Pete is saying how the team stresses over making things as good as possible.
3:16
For example an early design did not have the neck fit flush so the chest would not close
3:15
They said it was a very tedious process to add the new neck connector, since they had to work out all the tolerances, would it fit into the chest cavity, etc
3:13
The original plan was to have Scorponok’s head on a swivel, but it did not work right no matter how hard they tried
3:12
They’re talking now about the process of designing Scorponok.
3:11
Still pictures are allowed, and there will also be some stuff released online after Botcon
3:11
Comment From Cala
Pictures allowed?
3:09
Showing some paint guides for the different toys in this years set kicking off with Devcon
3:08
We’re seeing lineart and sketches on the development of the art from the cover of the boxed set.
3:07
If that happened I know a lot of UK guys who’d be very happy 🙂
3:07
Comment From Ikkstakk
Use one Animated mold a year. Just one.
3:06
They’re talking about the design process for this year’s box set right now
3:06
Brian is inviting input on what we’d like to see happen
3:04
Bit fo good-natured banter between Pete and Brian
3:04
Lanny Latham, Pete Sinclair and Brian Savage are hosting today.
3:04
we’re kicking off our coverage of the Transformers Collectors Club roundtable
SG Roadbuster
I think the more important question to ask would be
"Hey Pete, would the club be able to make the 9 losers from the recent Million poll?" (ok maybe 8 cuz that Fallen from foc Onslaught was pretty bad)
Cast
Really I've seen plenty of people bitch about goshoter, lots of call for silverbot from that bh tooling although personally I think they are both sub par.
G.B. Blackrock
People may not be up in arms about he Million losers, but I simply cannot foresee that ANY "losers" of a FunPub poll would fare the same.
Thundershot
People aren't up in arms over most of the Million losers. In fact, the next three runner ups could still get made at some point. Make the poll restricted to club members and only one vote per person… It would be a very democratic way of doing it.
G.B. Blackrock
Knowing how people complain about unmade ideas as it is, I still think a poll is a terrible, terrible idea, just asking for trouble.
Honestly, some of the best exclusives have been ideas that no one ever saw coming.
Thundershot
Hey Pete, since I'm gonna assume you're tracking the club threads…
Any chance the club could do what Million Publishing did and have a poll for an exclusive like the one that got us Go Shooter? It could totally work… You'd get an idea of which ones people like and which people hate, and even the ones that don't win could still get made later. You'd know which ones people DON'T like, as well..
Autovolt 127
I like the Machine Wars set as it was, is and the only BotCon set I have ever owned.
Strika and Obsidian are god tier.
Edgewise
Hence why someone would want that concept applied to a better mold
flatline72
i loved the machine wars idea too.
that mold is still a TURD though.
Thundershot
I'm one of the few who loves the Machine Wars set. I still hold out a glimmer of hope that we get Hubcap, Prowl, Megatron, Soundwave, and some kind of Optimus to complete the set.
flatline72
we already got a mid warp skywarp a few years ago…..remember this turd anyone?
SG Roadbuster
i'd like to see the seeker mold done in Starscream's Pretender Shell Deco.
Thundershot
I don't care about Gobots and I don't need a mid-warp Skywarp, but Redwing and G2 Sandstorm are at the top of my list right now, along with Action Master a Starscream.
I have the CHMS Rainmakers, 3 Air Warriors, Black Death, Sunkist (orange CHMS Sunstorm), and Stormshot (gold Sunstorm).
allew
I still want these guys from the Seeker mold (then retire it):
Redwing (Red Seeker)
G2 Sandstorm from Ramjet
Gobots Fitor from Ramjet
Mid-Warp Skywarp (half transparent plastic to simulate his special ability )
From KO's/3rd party I already have:
The real Rainmakers (the Botcon versions were actually the "Welcoming Committee")
Black Death Starscream
Air Warrior Seeker (Purple Seekers from Season 1 of G1 cartoon)
Electrum plated Seeker (from G1 episode "The Golden Lagoon")
Autovolt 127
You're absolutely brilliant.
Bass X0
That was my idea!
SG Roadbuster
I love this idea.
rosewater
I have no doubt that that's going to happen. I do think they should, at the very least, give us a mass retail Skywarp. Hasbro has a nasty habit of incomplete Seeker sets.
Gryph
I actually had a really awesome idea for pirate Sandstorm. Use Blitzwing, and combine G2 seeker Sandstorm and Battle Gaia tank Sandstorm into one character.
I'd rather they start repainting the crap out of Armada Starscream.
rosewater
Maybe reissue Skywarp in the U.S. as a general retail release. Maybe an accurate Sunstorm. Maybe the Rainmakers for real. Maybe a legit purple clone. There are lots of recolors that many people would buy. I say keep em coming.