Transformers: Age of Extinction Needs to Die!

NOTE: there will be spoilers and an awful lot of swearing in this article. If either offends you, stop reading here. You have been warned.

Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Every time one of these things comes out, I think, "hey, maybe he's changed. Maybe he finally gets it. Maybe he's gone back and reflected on his work and had an epiphany. Maybe this time around, it will be different."

And it never happens.

Damn you, Michael Bay.

Marvel Legends Infinite Rocket Raccoon

I was on the fence about picking up this set. The trailers of James Gunn's movie have had me in stitches since they came out and I was really looking forward to them until the first photos started hitting the Net. My two favorites (Star Lord and Gamora) were partially my favorites because of the actors playing them in the movie (Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, respectively) and the likeness on those two figures was just awful.

In the end I gave in because I really do like the way that this movie looks to be packaged (I'm hoping that Gunn's history with sci-fi comedy and the tone of the trailers don't let me down once it's released), and I didn't want to give up the chance to get some kind of plastic souvenir. About the only other option I have is Hot Toys, and I'm not quite at that step of the collector evolution.

I still haven't even graduated to the Japanese Import level. Strictly mass market.

Exclusive Silver High Octane Bumblebee

One of the things about the Transformers Age of Extinction (AoE) toy marketing event at Robinsons Place Manila that was announced after I wrote the article was that one of the gifts-with-purchase (GWP) that buyers could choose from would be one of four silver deluxe class Transformer figures from the current line up which were exclusive for the event. However, the number of figures available yesterday was only 50..

That meant that only the first 50 people who purchased Php 8,500 from the event area (which was stocked with toys from the current Age of Extinction line up, and old stock from Generations, Beast Hunters, 30th Anniversary, and Kre-O) would get a chance to get one of the exclusive silver figures. I'm not sure if that means they were limiting it to 50 to save some of the figures for future events (there's another one in Robinsons Galleria early next month), or that's really the number of figures on a limited run, but either way, if you were number 51, you were shit out of luck.

I told you it pays to come early to these things.

Autobots, Roll Out... to Dunkin' Donuts!

I was pretty late to the party for this promotion. It started about a week and a half ago and by the time I jumped onto the bandwagon, the bigger branches (like Megamall) were fresh out of Autobots.

Luckily, there are smaller branches around the metro where people don't buy donuts. These are sad places where people eat carrot sticks and lima beans, do things like read nutrition labels, and regularly engage in something called "exercise". People in these areas avoid food stores like Dunkin' Donuts like the plague.

Happily for me, that means lots of sugary pastries and plenty of Bayverse samurais to go around.

Bebop and Rocksteady!

So it’s been awhile since I've actually gone on an honest to goodness toy hunt, but when I saw a video review of the new Transformers: Age of Extinction Voyager Hound, I decided I must have it. And besides, I still haven’t found that Toys ‘R’ Us (TRU) Exclusive Masterpiece Soundwave that I need.

I left for work 3 hours early and proceed to run the MRT Makati station to Greenbelt 1 course. This includes Toy Kingdom SM Makati, Rustan’s Department Store, TRU Glorietta, Landmark Department Store, TRU Greenbelt 5, and (a new one which I didn't learn about until today) Toy Town Glorietta 1. It’s a pretty sweet line up of sources, so much better than what’s available in Eastwood (basically just TRU Eastwood Mall and 2Rats). I didn't have much luck with that Soundwave, but I did find the Voyager Hound and a few other things.

When I say a few other things, it means I went a little nuts.

Toy Hunting in Makati

For the past few weeks, I've been hunting around for a Toys 'R' Us Masterpiece Soundwave, but hadn't had any luck. These were Toys 'R' Us Exclusives that were released locally around November of last year. At the time, I'd taken a job that didn't leave me with as much to spare as I used to have and had to pass it up. Now that I'm back on my feet again at a new job, I figured I'd pick one up since it's really a steal compared to the Takara version which didn't originally include the other cassette accessories.

I figured it would be an easy hunt, since I'd been seeing it on shelves pretty much constantly since they arrived. The Php 8,000 price tag was a huge turn off for most people.

I was so wrong.

New Grimlock Toys Coming to Robinsons Place Manila!

Hey, guys! Thinking of getting started as a Transformers collector? Or have a young boy to buy a birthday present for in a few weeks?

Well in that case, stop by the Midtown Atrium at Robinsons Place Manila on June 21st for another fantastic Transformers day brought to you by Toys 'R' Us, Playkit and Hasbro, and the nice folks over at Cybertron Philippines!

They'll be setting up a table to distribute some of the nicer toys from the Age of Extinction line, like the Platinum 2-Pack with the Voyager Evasion Mode Prime (the one with the faceplate). Some of the newer deluxe toys from wave 2 will probably be on the shelves, and hopefully more of those awesome Voyager Hounds with all of the weapons that has been flying off shelves this past week.

Awesome!

What's more is that there will be limited quantities of the Transformers Masterpiece King Grimlock (with the Masterpiece King Grimlock Collectors Coin), and the Age of Extinction Grimlock Evolution 2-Pack! Both will be available first come first served and it's unlikely that there will be many coming in.

You want it, you gotta work for it! This ain't model train building or bird watching! This is toy collecting! It's dog eat dog, boy!

Anyway, the information you need is on the two images. If you're ok with a mountain of debt, you can use a credit card for 0% 3 month installments on purchases at the selling area, minimum of Php 3,000.00. Wheee! Lifetime of constant collection calls!

Want to keep up to date on more toy launch announcements like this? Join Cybertron Philippines for more local toy news (and to talk about Transformers and stuff). Also, don't forget to like Toys 'R' Us Philippines because it's right there in the name.