The modern comics universe has had such a different take on G1, one that's significantly represented by the Generations toys, so they share a forum. A modern take on a Real Cybertronian Hero. Currently starring Generations toys, IDW "The Transformers" comics, MTMTE, TF vs GI Joe, and Windblade. Oh wait, and now Skybound, wheee!
JediTricks wrote:The reality is that Transformers COULD survive without Optimus and Megs so long as they were in some way guest stars - whether flashbacks or just mostly offscreen - but Hasbro needs passionate vision to drive a show without those core characters, and for some reason there has only been one instance of passionate vision (Animated, obviously) in the last decade since Beast Machines left the air. It's like a chinese fingertrap, in order for Hasbro to get a better show with new characters to turn into profitable toys, they have to get rid of the executives whose jobs it is to ensure that the brand keeps going the way it is - they need to lose faith in the brand enough to trust it to someone outside the current structure.
Some of the core ideas behind TF Cybertron could work for a show like this with a real vision driving them - lost colonies each with their own styles and their own heroes and villains and civilians and needs and leaders and factions beyond Autobot & Decepticon - would certainly allow for Optimus and Megatron to either play second banana or not appear at all, although like Beast Wars the more G1 cred you attach through mythos, the stronger your fanbase will hold up.
Killing Megs and Optimus is a dangerous game though, Optimus is now as visually recognizable to pop culture as Superman or Mickey Mouse, that's a huge shortcut to gaining an audience and a main character.
Optimus could always take on the role as mentor & step down due to age & body damage issues. Optimus can hand over the matrix to someone else not bumblebee. Optimus can perform the same mentor role that 1986 Season 3 Ultra Magnus provided to Rodimus Prime.
Megatron can upgrade into his more powerful Galvatron body. The more powerful upgrade could affect his mind/spark & make him a bit insane. the more powerful body,could make him feel/act younger & make more quicker battle decision. At the very least fans will have the opportunity to buy a few new mold galvatron styled toys.
None of that could happen and instead, Optimus goes elsewhere, the Matrix isn't a thing and someone else (maybe even Bumblebee) leads the Autobots. Megatron dies, there's no Galvatron, Ultra magnus or Rodimus Prime and someone else rises to lead both factions. Like, maybe Astrotrain or something.
Ah who are we kidding? Shockwave would just take over everything. It would be the only logical thing to do.
Definitely we need a redeemable astrotrain re-release/re-format...
The classics re-issue was dumb... The train mode was horrific! Given the character's name the train mode should be the most important...
Since there are very few train transformers, the train modeshould be a high priority... I'm not gonna pretend to say that astrotrain must have a steam locomotive train mode to match the G1 character, in fact , I think a modern day dieselwould be more fitting...
A spacecraft can look like anything, but we have very preconceived ideas about how trains should look...
Additionally, the vehicle modes are about disguise. Since trains are very common on earth, asyrotrains train mode should be very believable, while the shuttle mode can emphasize function over form...
Basically, the train mode is important for disguise on earth, while the shuttle form is moreso important for intergalactic travel. For instance, if he looked liked a train on earth, it wouldn't unbelievable that he might look like a train with wings in space, so long as he was functionally capable of space travel at high speed...
orfedj wrote:Definitely we need a redeemable astrotrain re-release/re-format...
The classics re-issue was dumb... The train mode was horrific! Given the character's name the train mode should be the most important...
Since there are very few train transformers, the train modeshould be a high priority... I'm not gonna pretend to say that astrotrain must have a steam locomotive train mode to match the G1 character, in fact , I think a modern day dieselwould be more fitting...
A spacecraft can look like anything, but we have very preconceived ideas about how trains should look...
Additionally, the vehicle modes are about disguise. Since trains are very common on earth, asyrotrains train mode should be very believable, while the shuttle mode can emphasize function over form...
Basically, the train mode is important for disguise on earth, while the shuttle form is moreso important for intergalactic travel. For instance, if he looked liked a train on earth, it wouldn't unbelievable that he might look like a train with wings in space, so long as he was functionally capable of space travel at high speed...
Oh hey! Someone new! Welcome to the forums!
And back on topic: They kind of did that with Clastrotrain though. I think that's why they went with the bullet train look for the train mode since it basically is "space shuttle without wings" anyway. I couldn't really see the design working the other way if they just tacked wings onto an old steam engine style locomotive.
Having said that, now that we've got Blitzwing in voyager scale it would be nice to see Octane and Astrotrain updated to that scale as well.
I think where Hasbro went wrong with the "classics" astrotrain was the bullet train aspect... Given the storyline of most transformers incarnations, north American prototype vehicle modes are generally more believable, as most of the character's portray north American vehicles as they are generally seen battling each other in north American environments...
For instance, with the movie reboot, OP is a Mack truck, bumblebee is a camaro, etc.Without bullet trains in the u.s., the disguise factor of the vehicle mode seems outta place. This is why I proprose an American diesel prototype. From there, designing a space vehicle mode can be more fantasy based and designed more adaptively and creatively to not deter from the earthly train disguise mode...
It seems the last reissue was done the other way around... Make the shuttle mode first and design the half looking train mode around it...
I think the biggest problem with Astrotrain is what to do with the wings in train mode. Of the two toys made of him so far, it inevitably winds up looking like a train with wings folded on the side. The G1 version was certainly the less offensive of two with the wings partially turning into the train wheels.
having the element of a ground based & air based alt modes were cool. But having a outdated old school locomotive & a new age space shuttle alt modes took this to the next level.
Generations Springer,Blitzwing & Sandstorm,set the new size scale for the 1985/86 tripple changers being Voyager sized. So I think it's time we got another Astrotrain in the voyager size scale.
As far as what Train alt modes to use for a newer Atrotrain toy. Another old school locomotive train mode would be my first choice. Second choice would be a NYC styled train alt mode design.
I always thought the bullet train was a wrong choice for 1.0 Astrotrain because it looked too similar to a space shuttle alt mode.
If I had my way,I'd like to see Hasbro/Takara create a Masterpiece 8 inch Ultra sized toys for 1985 Atrotrain & 1985 Blitzwing. Takara could use realistic alt modes & make these toys pure awesome.
I think the movie-verse with it's high points using realistic Military vehicles for the Decepticons would Also be the perfect TF toy line to create 8 inch Ultra or leader sized tripple changers toys for both Astrotrain & Blitzwing.
orfedj wrote:I think where Hasbro went wrong with the "classics" astrotrain was the bullet train aspect... Given the storyline of most transformers incarnations, north American prototype vehicle modes are generally more believable, as most of the character's portray north American vehicles as they are generally seen battling each other in north American environments...
For instance, with the movie reboot, OP is a Mack truck, bumblebee is a camaro, etc.Without bullet trains in the u.s., the disguise factor of the vehicle mode seems outta place. This is why I proprose an American diesel prototype. From there, designing a space vehicle mode can be more fantasy based and designed more adaptively and creatively to not deter from the earthly train disguise mode...
Welcome to the boards!
I'd point out the Transformers storylines don't always stick to only North America. The movies also took them to countries like Qatar, China, Egypt, and Pripyat. And cartoons also have the tendency to take the stories all across the globe as well. I get what you're saying here with the characters being based out of North America, it'd make sense for them to have selected forms commonly seen in North America... But on the other hand, I'd say it makes sense some characters would have selected forms from other parts of the world as well, as they don't always stick to just North America. They'd need disguises for those places as well.
There's also the sheer fact that these toys have to sell in both America and Japan--a bullet train is more likely to sell in Japan, isn't it?
Anyway, I was just thinking about this and if anyone needs a new toy, it's Octane. Size and all aside, ClaTrain is a pretty good toy. Octane sucks ass.
BWprowl wrote:The internet having this many different words to describe nerdy folks is akin to the whole eskimos/ice situation, I would presume.
People spend so much time worrying about whether a figure is "mint" or not that they never stop to consider other flavours.
