What is everyone's experience from ordering from bigbadtoystore.com? I see that Masterpiece Prowl is up for preorder.

What about the packaging for the import Masterpiece figures? Do they have some way of displaying them without taking out of the box? I'd wait for a US release, but don't want to risk that. Prowl is one of my favorites and has sentimental value.

Originally Posted by battledrill Any of you watch transformers prime? I'm debating whether I should buy the seasons on blu ray or DVD since I heard the quality is bland. Any experiences guys?

I've enjoyed the series. If you get the Hub, they run episodes daily there. I also noticed the CW has started airing it in their Saturday morning animated block, so you could get a feel for the series. Though based on what I've seen them do to Dragon Ball Z Kai, it may be edited a bit there.

Early on, the kids were a bit too much front and center and annoying. Raf the deus ex machina computer guru, Miko causing more trouble than she's worth. Jack wasn't too bad, though. Your son probably won't mind that, though the kids become less of a nuisance as the series goes on.

Depending on how young your son is, it should probably be mentioned there are some deaths and close calls in the series, among both Autobots and Decepticons.

Originally Posted by howlinmad What is everyone's experience from ordering from bigbadtoystore.com? I see that Masterpiece Prowl is up for preorder. What about the packaging for the import Masterpiece figures? Do they have some way of displaying them without taking out of the box? I'd wait for a US release, but don't want to risk that. Prowl is one of my favorites and has sentimental value.

I've been buying from Big Bad Toy Store for about 10 years or so, and the only thing resembling a problem I've had with them was their announcement of opening Megatron toys and putting orange plugs on the barrel. I was able to find other import retailers that didn't do that, so it wasn't that big of a deal. They pack things up pretty well, using (IIRC) air filled bags for cushioning.

There are no windows on the Japanese Masterpiece boxes. If you want to show off the figure beyond the pictures on the box, you'll have to take it out.

I can't wait to see what MP Prowl and Smokescreen look like. Hopefully Smokescreen is slightly retooled to match the mold differences from G1, and that a Bluestreak follows.

Anyone know a way to tell the difference in the new kre-o minifigs? I didn't see any numbers like the last six.

Originally Posted by Bloomy I've enjoyed the series. If you get the Hub, they run episodes daily there. I also noticed the CW has started airing it in their Saturday morning animated block, so you could get a feel for the series. Though based on what I've seen them do to Dragon Ball Z Kai, it may be edited a bit there. Early on, the kids were a bit too much front and center and annoying. Raf the deus ex machina computer guru, Miko causing more trouble than she's worth. Jack wasn't too bad, though. Your son probably won't mind that, though the kids become less of a nuisance as the series goes on. Depending on how young your son is, it should probably be mentioned there are some deaths and close calls in the series, among both Autobots and Decepticons. I've been buying from Big Bad Toy Store for about 10 years or so, and the only thing resembling a problem I've had with them was their announcement of opening Megatron toys and putting orange plugs on the barrel. I was able to find other import retailers that didn't do that, so it wasn't that big of a deal. They pack things up pretty well, using (IIRC) air filled bags for cushioning. There are no windows on the Japanese Masterpiece boxes. If you want to show off the figure beyond the pictures on the box, you'll have to take it out. I can't wait to see what MP Prowl and Smokescreen look like. Hopefully Smokescreen is slightly retooled to match the mold differences from G1, and that a Bluestreak follows.

Will check the show out thanks for the feedback!

BBTS is mixed for me. I have ordered from them many times and rarely have an issue. But a few years back when I ordered MP-Megatron they send 2 and charged for 2. I had ordered only 1 and they refused to do anything about it. Even further back during the WST Transformer days I seem to recall them being accused of weighing each "random" box and picking out the rares, so I won't buy anything randomly packed from them either.

Masterpiece Red Alert is in a windowless box, so there is no way to display it without taking out of the box. I assume Prowl will be a similar deal.

Originally Posted by howlinmad What is everyone's experience from ordering from bigbadtoystore.com? I see that Masterpiece Prowl is up for preorder. What about the packaging for the import Masterpiece figures? Do they have some way of displaying them without taking out of the box? I'd wait for a US release, but don't want to risk that. Prowl is one of my favorites and has sentimental value.

I believe the transformers prime blu was a limited edition or something like that and pretty expensive. Not sure if that's changed. It's also available on Netflix.

The masterpiece boxes used to be massive for what was inside the box but with sideswipe they were much more economical, making for cheaper shipping from importers. But yeah no windows.

I don't blame BBTS for the orange barrel thing, and they were easy enough to remove. They are reputable, though, and pile of loot is a cool feature I wish others would implement. Just be sure, like always, to shop around since these are popular enough to be at many different stores.

Originally Posted by wastedyouth Anyone know a way to tell the difference in the new kre-o minifigs? I didn't see any numbers like the last six.

The numbers on the ones at my store were at the top of the bag on the back. The last two numbers on mine were 40 through 52 or something like that.

Here's a key for the Kreons :

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-...-guide-176373/

BBTS has a preorder up for MP Bluestreak. Didn't waste much time there.

Thanks guys. Since there really is no way of knowing if MP Prowl will get a US release will go ahead and order.

Found Kickback at TRU today -- first time I've seen it on the pegs. Also found Soundblaster (passed -- I'm not getting 3 of this figure) and saw Laserback. It's like a Beast Wars scout mated with a knock-off Digimon in a low-rent hotel.

Saw Beast Hunters Deluxes at Target as well, and Wal-Mart didn't have the Deluxes but it did have the Legends and Cyberverse Commanders.

Amazon has foc soundwave, sound blaster, ultra Magnus, insecticon, sideswipe, and starscream for decent non scalper prices right now.

So lots of new toys shown at ToyFair (not gonna link images here and clutter it up, but they're all on the usual sites like tfw2005 and tformers).

Like: Springer and Blitzwing. Yay triple changers!

Tentatively excited: Generations based on ongowing IDW series. Haven't read them (yet) but it's nice to get another "universe" in toy form.

Initially ZOMG and now "when on clearance": Metroplex.
Seriously, I almost fell over when I saw the first announcement/image of robot mode. Soooooo gorgeous, gigantic (2 feet tall!), electronics, etc. Then I saw the carrier mode. "OK, very G1, simple transformation, but still pretty cool. Base mode must be off the chain!" Then I see base mode... off Hasbro. They've pretty much upsized/tweaked G1 Metroplex. As far as I can tell he transforms almost identically. It's fine to have a giant brick back in 1986. Not so much now. The abdomen/torso is basically a giant brick of a battery box, the limbs are too spindly and don't really "expand" for base mode.

I love Hasbro for this effort, I really do. Appeasing fans with a citybot (something I really never thought I'd ever see again), making a cool playset for kids, G1/FOC combined homage. Just, the execution seems pretty terrible imho. Here's hoping for a good clearance so I can pick it up eventually, but not worth $125.00

Springer looks pretty badass.

They're also gonna release MP Soundwave and Acid Storm through Hasbro and Soundwave is supposed to have 5 cassettes. Of course this was announced right after I received my Takara Soundwave in the mail.

Originally Posted by Zmonkay I love Hasbro for this effort, I really do. Appeasing fans with a citybot (something I really never thought I'd ever see again), making a cool playset for kids, G1/FOC combined homage. Just, the execution seems pretty terrible imho. Here's hoping for a good clearance so I can pick it up eventually, but not worth $125.00

Totally agree with you. I am frankly stunned that Hasbro will be offering something like this, and I feel like I should thank them.

That said, I think that in thirty years, we can go a little farther than have Metroplex sit down, rotate an arm, and call it a city. It's frankly kind of lazy, even if it's very authentic to the original. I know some people will love that, but I feel like I've been there and done that. In fact, I have.

I won't be buying it, even on clearance. It's a great show piece, but apart from a badass robot mode, it's kind of boring.

Totally digging Springer and Blitzwing. Those two can't come soon enough.

I knew holding off on Takara Soundwave was the correct choice.
Excited for the Generations figs. Haven't picked up a TF since the Kup/Warpath/Thundercracker wave. Still wish they would give us DotM Soundwave and Q as well as United Frenzy and Rumble.

While I'm happy that they confirmed a domestic release for soundwave plus tapes, I'm still not confident that they'll be able to stock it well enough for me to actually find it at a store. Did they say whether its another TRU exclusive?

They have not confirmed what store it will be exclusive to yet. I didn't pick up MP TC or OP but saw TC a few times and OP only once. Was able to get Rodimus and Grimlock ok. I am betting he will be TRU though which is a little better than being a Walmart exclusive.

Originally Posted by fujishig While I'm happy that they confirmed a domestic release for soundwave plus tapes, I'm still not confident that they'll be able to stock it well enough for me to actually find it at a store. Did they say whether its another TRU exclusive?

Ditto, I have yet to come across an MP Prime anywhere, though you can't help but trip and fall all over the piles of MP Thundercracker.

I too am surprised at how many of the upcoming releases look like things I must buy. Metroplex looks great and since I never got one as a kid, I may have to indulge.

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MP Thundercracker is overstocked at our TRU as well.

So traffic on the way home last night was good to me so I stopped at TRU. I had just been on Saturday with my kids for a Lego bribe in return for their good behavior (I'm father of the year) and the transformers section was largely empty. Not so last night when it looked like the aisle had been hit by the beast hunters stick in a big way. I'm talking full pegs, large variety, and voyagers. They had even restocked on regular TF Prime FE toys.

I grabbed both Predaking and Optimus in voyager size and I have to say that I like both a lot more than I thought I would. Optimus' retooled appearance allows for more dynamic poses in bot mode and his sans-facemask battle grimace makes him look fairly bad-ass. His weaponry is finally less gimmicky and more awesome. His alt mode also looks like he means business with some angry claw-like fender action. For his part, Predaking certainly looks like king of predators. His alt mode is a thoroughly satisfying hydra-dragon. His transformation is particularly clever. His bot mode is also dynamic and menacing in ways that Megatron never was.

In both cases, they were partially mis-transformed for packaging due to the back-pack kibble they both carry in bot mode. In fact, my Predaking's wings popped off as I took him out of the plastic tray and one of Prime's wheels was partially popped off in the package such that it went sailing across my desk once I freed him from his tray.

All-in-all I have been largely disappointed by the overall build quality of the deluxe line for BH, and in some cases perplexed by the character design choices that were made. The same cannot be said of these voyager class guys. I love them. If you see them, they are worthy of purchase consideration.