Comments on: He sounds like Roadblock. No, not the rhyming one. http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/ Toys are serious business. Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:14:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Shortpacked! by David Willis - Hoo-ah! http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-70885 Shortpacked! by David Willis - Hoo-ah! Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:03:37 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-70885 [...] his casemates Arcee and Cliffjumper, Ratchet’s transformation depends on a lot of “cheating.”  Not many of the [...] [...] his casemates Arcee and Cliffjumper, Ratchet’s transformation depends on a lot of “cheating.”  Not many of the [...]

]]> By: Bobcat2022 http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-68200 Bobcat2022 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:37:28 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-68200 Totally different design philosophy. The RID toys all have to have: - pop-up heads and simpler transformation schemes vs the FE - 5mm weaponry So they're smaller, to allow for the weapons and/or cut costs, and they have lots of cheats in their kibble so that the transformations can be easier. Different tradeoffs. Totally different design philosophy. The RID toys all have to have:
- pop-up heads and simpler transformation schemes vs the FE
- 5mm weaponry

So they’re smaller, to allow for the weapons and/or cut costs, and they have lots of cheats in their kibble so that the transformations can be easier. Different tradeoffs.

]]> By: David Willis http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66904 David Willis Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:43:18 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66904 Yeah, all that "available" means is they have possession of the shipping cases. Those boxes are in the stockroom, dude. That's why I said "you'll probably have to ask them to get some out of the back." Third sentence. Asking an employee about "Transformers Prime" figures isn't going to get you anything, either. They're not going to know about it. That's why you tell them the DPCI# is listed as in stock in their store but there are none on the floor. And if they're nice and you're nice, they might get some out for you. Yeah, all that “available” means is they have possession of the shipping cases. Those boxes are in the stockroom, dude. That’s why I said “you’ll probably have to ask them to get some out of the back.” Third sentence.

Asking an employee about “Transformers Prime” figures isn’t going to get you anything, either. They’re not going to know about it. That’s why you tell them the DPCI# is listed as in stock in their store but there are none on the floor. And if they’re nice and you’re nice, they might get some out for you.

]]> By: Electricmulch http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66902 Electricmulch Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:14:21 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66902 Did you go to the scanners and enter the DPCI? That's the best way to see where the store's inventory system thinks it is where it is. Also takes care of cluless staffers. "It's in the back. See?" Then they can grab a PDA and check what shelf or pull bin it's in. I don't think they are doing the toy reset for another couple of weeks. Occasionally my ToD in Target stocking comes in handy. :) Did you go to the scanners and enter the DPCI? That’s the best way to see where the store’s inventory system thinks it is where it is. Also takes care of cluless staffers. “It’s in the back. See?” Then they can grab a PDA and check what shelf or pull bin it’s in.

I don’t think they are doing the toy reset for another couple of weeks.

Occasionally my ToD in Target stocking comes in handy. :)

]]> By: csutra http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66891 csutra Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:25:20 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66891 That "check availability" link should be used with caution. It lies. Or Target as a whole just lies. The link said the figure(s) were available yesterday so I gleefully drove over to get some new transformer goodies. ...none in sight. Not in the action figure aisle, not on any endcaps, and the staff didn't have a clue about the figures, or why the website would say they have them. After a bad F@#$ing night at work, it made for wonderful bit of news to hear. That “check availability” link should be used with caution. It lies. Or Target as a whole just lies. The link said the figure(s) were available yesterday so I gleefully drove over to get some new transformer goodies. …none in sight. Not in the action figure aisle, not on any endcaps, and the staff didn’t have a clue about the figures, or why the website would say they have them.

After a bad F@#$ing night at work, it made for wonderful bit of news to hear.

]]> By: David Willis http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66877 David Willis Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:51:37 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66877 If he's having trouble with those, then, I'd stay away from most Deluxe Class toys and stick to smaller stuff like Cyberverse. If he’s having trouble with those, then, I’d stay away from most Deluxe Class toys and stick to smaller stuff like Cyberverse.

]]> By: TechyDad http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66876 TechyDad Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:32:40 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66876 I looked on TFWiki and it looks like the "small Ratchet" is the Activators Ratchet and it came with Sunstorm. Both from The Transformers Animated series. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sunstorm_%28Animated%29 I see your point about the simpler 80's toys versus today's toys. It's great that they have more articulation, but the tradeoff is more points for the toy to break. I looked on TFWiki and it looks like the “small Ratchet” is the Activators Ratchet and it came with Sunstorm. Both from The Transformers Animated series.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sunstorm_%28Animated%29

I see your point about the simpler 80′s toys versus today’s toys. It’s great that they have more articulation, but the tradeoff is more points for the toy to break.

]]> By: David Willis http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66743 David Willis Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:41:00 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66743 The 80s Transformers were absurdly simple, which is why they held together in both modes better. These days toys are way more complicated, so there's more margin for error. Most peg together sturdily, but others are really rough to get all their panels to line up. I'm, uh, not sure which Sunstorm and Ratchet you're talking about specifically, since there are a dozen of the former and several dozen of the latter. "Very small Ratchet" can describe a lot of toys! The tip of the iceberg: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ratchet_%28Movie%29/toys The 80s Transformers were absurdly simple, which is why they held together in both modes better. These days toys are way more complicated, so there’s more margin for error. Most peg together sturdily, but others are really rough to get all their panels to line up.

I’m, uh, not sure which Sunstorm and Ratchet you’re talking about specifically, since there are a dozen of the former and several dozen of the latter. “Very small Ratchet” can describe a lot of toys! The tip of the iceberg: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ratchet_%28Movie%29/toys

]]> By: TechyDad http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66742 TechyDad Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:39:52 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66742 I guess it's more the "stay in place after transforming" than difficulty level that I'm worried about. He has a Sunstorm and a very small Ratchet. Both don't seem to like staying in place once transformed. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but when I was a kid I never had these kinds of problems with my Transformers. Did I just happen to pick some badly designed ones or did quality drop that much from the 80's until now? I guess it’s more the “stay in place after transforming” than difficulty level that I’m worried about. He has a Sunstorm and a very small Ratchet. Both don’t seem to like staying in place once transformed. Maybe I’m remembering wrong, but when I was a kid I never had these kinds of problems with my Transformers. Did I just happen to pick some badly designed ones or did quality drop that much from the 80′s until now?

]]> By: Bryn http://www.shortpacked.com/2012/blog/he-sounds-like-roadblock-no-not-the-rhyming-one/#comment-66708 Bryn Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:20:55 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=6663#comment-66708 Legion Arcee would probably be in scale in vehicle mode with others, so I'll get her just for that reason. The new Deluxe/Revealer Arcee might be smaller and more in scale in robot mode though, if the current trend continues. Legion Arcee would probably be in scale in vehicle mode with others, so I’ll get her just for that reason. The new Deluxe/Revealer Arcee might be smaller and more in scale in robot mode though, if the current trend continues.

]]>