I certainly don't miss going to Toyfair. Sitting at home and letting people bring news to me is so much more relaxing and nice than having to chase all over Manhattan at the whims of these companies.
So far, the best coverage and images are to be found at TFormers.com. So what have we got so far?
- High-res images of the newly revealed deluxe-sized Universe Galvatron
- High-res images of the coming Transformers Animated deluxe figures, voyager, supreme & leader class figures, as well as the figures included in the 'Battle Begins' two-pack.
- High-res images of Transformers Universe figures
- G1 & Beast Wars Robot Heroes showroom images and high-res press images
- TF Universe showroom images
- TF Animated showroom images
- TF Marvel Crossovers
- TF Animated Activators
- TF news tidbits
Can I just say that I so prefer well-done high-res press images to grainy showroom photos? Let me tell you, it is nigh-impossible to get good shots in the showrooms, between the low light and the fact that you have to elbow other people out of the way who are trying to get the very same shots.
I am so digging the TF Animated vibe. Jazz, who we've never seen before, looks awesome; his tailpipe-nunchucks thrill me. I can't say there's a single figure in this line that I don't like. It's going to be difficult not to snap all of these up when they hit stores, but I'm going to save the very little toy money I'll have this summer for Universe. Sunstreaker, Prowl will come home with me as soon as I see them, and the rest will probably make their way home more gradually.
As for the 'news' that Hasbro is "currently trying to figure out a way to get the Alternators line out there again, but haven't pinned down how or yet at this point," that's showroom-speak for "I wish people would stop asking this question." In my Toyfair reporting days, when I'd ask about cancelled lines, no matter what company I was talking to or what line it was, the answer was almost always something like this. I can't think of a single line that was described this way by a showroom person (who often have no idea regardless) that actually made it back without being completely unrecognizable (i.e. Masters of the Universe figures becoming "mini-statues" with significant price-point increases and extremely small runs). While I'd be thrilled with new Alternators, I won't be holding my breath.
I hear they're showing other toys in New York this week too, but I find I really don't care much. I'll probably post another roundup of the stuff I find interesting towards the end of the show.