Niantic announces Transformers: Heavy Metal, an augmented reality game in the mold of Pokemon Go. Kingdom Road Rage joins the T-Rex as a Target RedCard exclusive. GameStop offers a $109 Megatron replica helmet the crew finds a bit sad.
TFCon tickets go on sale, Studio Series Thrust leaks in Armada-style green, and a Kingdom Deluxe Waspinator surfaces. John finds Kingdom Rhinox a step down from Thrilling 30, and Don lands Fans Toys Thomas.
News
Transformers: Heavy Metal AR Game
Niantic, maker of Pokemon Go, announced Transformers: Heavy Metal, an augmented reality game. John expects it to share Pokemon Go’s map overlay and landmarks, and its reward structure may hint at loot boxes. The game will roll out to test markets first, with no date yet. One host suggests it should let players catch Bot Bots. [Source: Transformers: Heavy Metal]
Kingdom Road Rage Is Another Target RedCard Exclusive
Kingdom Deluxe Road Rage will be a Target exclusive. The Leader Maximal T-Rex also went up on Target’s site as a RedCard early-access preorder through July 24, open to all on July 25. The crew notes Target’s exclusives so far are mostly red. Some fans balk at the RedCard, but one host points out the debit version just passes through to a checking account with 5 percent off. The crew remembers how fast Thrust and Runabout vanished. [Source: Allspark]
GameStop Megatron Replica Helmet
GameStop is taking $109 preorders on a Transformers Modern Icons Megatron replica helmet. Chris, absent this week, reportedly hated it. One host feels Megatron’s mouth pushes it too far, while the Optimus Prime helmet works thanks to its faceplate. One host ordered it anyway, and another wants it to pair with the Optimus Prime helmet. [Source: GameStop]
Bumblebee movie Studio Series Thrust leaked in a green scheme that reminds the crew of Armada Thrust. One host plans to skip it, having no love for the Starscream mold. Blade in Discord confirms Thrust appears briefly in Bumblebee. [Source: Seibertron on Twitter]
TFCon tickets went on sale for the October 22 to 24 show in Baltimore, and the premium passes sold out fast. Brian bought a regular ticket and still needs a room, while another host has had a reservation since November. Don is limited by vacation time, and John puts his odds below 50 percent. [Source: TFCon]
TakaraTomy will hold an online toy show Friday in Japan, which lands late Thursday night in North America. The crew hopes for a look at Masterpiece Raiden. [Source: Allspark]
Kingdom Deluxe Waspinator Leak
A Kingdom Deluxe Waspinator appears to have leaked in an unofficial video review. The crew thinks it looks good in both modes. One host compares it with the Thrilling 30 Waspinator, which he calls a lateral move from the original mold. [Source: QueenStodge on Twitter]
What We Got This Week
John got Kingdom Rhinox and finds it worse than Thrilling 30 Rhinox in nearly every way. It is about the same height, but hollow and thin in profile, with shell-like arms. It draws on the Forged to Fight design, which few fans will recognize.
Diecast had only non-Transformers pickups this week.
Matt got a Siege Nemesis Prime set that included a red Slitherfang and a black Earthrise Optimus Prime trailer, which he will use with his Huffer molds. Nemesis Prime is a bit too shell-formery, and he prefers the Earthrise mold.
Rob got Earthrise Wheeljack from Josh, Wheeljack64, his second-to-last Earthrise need. He also got a Nonnef upgrade kit with red hands for Ratchet and the Tiger Electronics G2 handheld game, which he will keep sealed.
Brian got a cheap Megatron whose purple plastic has yellowed into a whole new color scheme. A Yahoo Auctions Japan test order brought a knockoff Seacons box set with lots of paint. A listener selling on eBay sold him a loose Rescue Force One and G2 Drench. He also got a CGC 9.6 G2 issue 1 comic with an aligned gatefold. Kingdom Galvatron is great despite the shoulder issue, which he will not bother fixing.
Don got Magic Square Straxus, a true cannon-mode Straxus, and Mechanic Studio Poison, its Octane. A replacement thruster arrived for his clear Fans Toys Phoenix. He also got Fans Toys’ G2 Snarl and Fans Toys Thomas, its Astrotrain, which completes his Decepticon triple-changers short of a good Broadside.