Transformers: MTMTE #6 Preview

The adventures of Hot Rod and company continue this Wednesday when Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #6 hits comics and online stores. It seems his crew's bad luck continues as the craziness continues to pile on. For a preview of the first six pages of the issue, click here.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #6
James Roberts (w) • Nick Roche (a) • Alex Milne, Nick Roche (c)
MADNESS IN SPACE! A rescued Autobot loses his grip and it’s up to Hot Rod’s questing team to stop him—before the damage becomes irreparable! This is surely one of the most intense Transformers tales ever committed to paper!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bay Talks TF4: New Cast, Not a Reboot, Transformers in Space?

In an interview with Hero Complex to promote Transformers: The Ride, Michael Bay discussed some of the preliminary plans he is considering for Transformers 4 now that principle photography of Pain and Gain is complete. Bay said there will be a new cast, the story will not be a reboot but a "new direction", wants to avoid going to sci-fi but might take events to space and needs to sculpt a script that will reduce the budget by $30 million (so close to first movie's $150 budget).

It is unclear if by new cast he means just humans or also the Transformer characters (and thus the voice actors). The "new direction" means the "history" of the previous films will remain intact and possibly inform on events in the fourth movie. As I have said before, there is little reason there could not have been more than one NEST team defeating Decepticon threats not lead by Megatron. The budget cut seem significant but I wouldn't be surprised if half of that is recouped by hiring the new cheaper cast. The other half can be saved with careful use of special effects. Considering how Bay's on location shoots tend to be large in scale, the cost of space green screen sequences vs. on location shooting is about a wash in budget savings so that will be dictated more by story needs. Bay and writer Ehren Krueger still have at least six or so months to hammer out the first draft needed to get pre-production going so any or all these ideas could change. Below are the relevant segments, the full article can be found here.

Transformers 4 Teaser Poster and Tagline?

Argentina website Cine1 (translated) has posted an interim poster for Transformers 4 with the tagline of "Evil Will Burn". I assume this is a fan made creation as the silhouette of Optimus Prime looks familiar even though can't quite place the pose. The idea isn't without precedence as Hasbro had created a temporary poster for Transformers 3 was very similar in style as a way to promote the movie at their various business related events. (via Bleeding Cool)

Transformers: Autocracy #12 Preview

Transformers: Autocracy #12 hits online comic stores today. The final issue of the limited digital series completes the tail of how Megatron killed his first Prime and Orion Pax became Optimus Prime as the two go head to head. The trade of this series will be released in a few months and my understanding is Autocracy II might be in the works. Click here for a four page preview of the issue.

IDW September 2012 Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for September. A total of four comics and two trades are being released that month. One of the trades the Art of Transforemrs Fall of Cybertron which shows off the concept used for the game that is coming out on August 28th. Robots in Disguse is also gettings its first annual starring the Dinobots. If you are interested in the books, just let your local comic book store know. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, Locke & Key, and more click here.

Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #9
(W) James Roberts (A) Alex Milne (CA) Alex Milne, Nick Roche
SHADOWPLAY begins here! One AUTOBOT connects the crew of the Lost Light with pre-war CYBERTRON and the rise of the DECEPTICONs. His name? OPTIMUS PRIME. The past and the present collide as Rewind begins telling his crew mates the most shocking story of all!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Prime Wins Two Daytime Emmys

Sunday night the Emmy Awards held their grand gala to announce winners for the Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards (the un-televised categories). Transformers: Prime received five nominations and took home two. One was for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program for the entire crew of the show and another which went to the whole crew and another for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation to Supervising Color Designer Christophe Vancher. Congrats to Transformers: Prime crew and cast for their wins and hopefully season 2 will bring even more accolades. The full list of winners in all categories can be found here.

Steve Jablonsky Back for Transformers 4

Steve Jablonsky has updated his official website listing Transformers 4 as part of his schedule of future projects. The news isn't exactly surprising considering he composed the music for Transformers 1-3 and The Ride. He also is composing the music for Michael Bay's current film Pain and Gain.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron The Heart of a Leader Video (Updated)

High Moon and Machinima have posted a new trailer for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Called The Heart of a Leader, the trailer focuses on the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, and game play for that character. Thanks to Spark500 for the link. In addition, GameTrailers has revealed the voice cast for the game which will be out on August 28th. Update: High Moon has issued a press release announcing the game's voice cast.

Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime
Gregg Berger - Grimlock
Nolan North - Bruticus, Cliffjumper and Brawl
Troy Baker - Jazz, Jetfire, and Kickback
Fred Tatasciore - Megatron, Ratchet, and Metroplex
Steve Blum - Shockwave, Swindle, and Sharpshot
Isaac Singleton - Soundwave

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #6 Preview

Today brings Transformers: Robots in Disguise #6 to comic and online stores. The issue brings the return of Optimus Orion Pax after he used up the Matrix to restore Cybertron and left. It seems he has decided to hunt down Shockwave. A preview of the issue can be found here.

John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Ramondelli, Casey Coller (c)
ONCE HE WAS: OPTIMUS PRIME! The Autobot gave up his title—returned to his role as ORION PAX! But that doesn’t mean the fight’s over! A shattered planet leads Pax and a squad of fan favorite characters on the trail of the deadliest Decepticon of all... SHOCKWAVE!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Linkfest - TF Exclusives

Below are more links and info on upcoming Transformers toys and news from the last week or so. This editoin has info Takara's Masterpiece line, Maketoys shows off completed not Devastator, Masterpiece seekers are coming stateside, Beast Wars on Netflix, new galleries and video reviews of Perfect Effect's not Arcee and Transformers: The Ride Evac.

Masterpiece Sideswipe Prototype
To the right is the prototype to the next new addition to Takara's Masterpiece line. MP-12 Lambor (Sideswipe) will have the alt mode of a Lamborghini just as he was in the G1 days. Even better it seems Volkswagen has signed off on the alt mode which means the details will hopefully represent a real world vehicle. Something that is oddly rare outside of the movie toys. Indications are the figure will be in scale to Masterpiece Prime 2.0 to about Prime's chest. This move to create a scaled line for the first time is pretty awesome. Now if only the new MP toys came out at a faster pace. The figure is around $90 and will be released in late October. I assume it will eventually make its way stateside as an exclusive but no telling how long that will take. Red Alert (white repaint) will likely follow a few months later. The next Masterpiece figure (MP-13) will be Soundwave and MP-14 will be announced at the International Tokyo Toy Show next weekend.

Maketoys Yellow Giant Gallery
The not Devastator combiner from Maketoys will finally be completed once the final C set is released later this summer. At the link is a gallery of the final product. The yellow edition is a nod to the Generation 2 re-release of the Constructions with a green repaint box set coming up by the fall.

More E3 Fall of Cybertron Gameplay Footage

E3 is now over but the Transformers: Fall of Cybertron videos keep coming.
This group of 5 videos (below) teases many of the game play levels including Grimlock, Cliffjumper, Vortex, Jazz, and more from the Optimus Prime/Metroplex levels. Previous videos can be found here, here, here, and here.

Level Tease

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Starscream and More Metroplex (Updated)

You know what we need more of now that E3 is over? Yep more game play footage from Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Below are two new videos from GameSpot to join the previous ones (here, here, and here). The first video is more from Starscream's level as he flies above Cybertron wrecking havoc while the second one shows off even more Prime and Metroplex action with a cameo from Warpath.

Update: From the comments, added another FoC video, this time from Gametrailers where Matt Teiger describes special abilities. Of course this discussion comes with more game footage. Thanks to Spark500 for the link.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Metroplex Gameplay

E3 continues and with it is another game play video from Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Before we had trailers, Matt Tieger interviews and more but the below video from IGN actually shows Metroplex in action as Optimus Prime moves through his level. After see Metroplex destroy a Decepticon cannon, the action moves to Starscream's level. G4 also has posted their interview with Tieger along with footage from the level. Some pretty sweet screenshots can be found here.

Transformers 4 To Have New Designs, Cast

In an interview with Hero Complex to promote the opening of Transformers: The Ride, Michael Bay revealed some of his intentions for Transformers 4.

The director ...says that the fourth film will include some redesign of the robots and an entirely new cast. He also said it will be his last and set the franchise up “for the next guy.”

This really isn't new "news" as aligns with reports for months that the film would act as a sort of reboot but how extensive remains unclear. Producers have said the intent would be a new Transformer and human cast but it could also be a new cast telling a story within the existing TF Bay-verse established by the first three movies. After all, there could have been more then one NEST team hunting Decepticons. It will probably be at least a year before the details are ironed out but Bay probably has near carte blanche to do whatever he likes including a fifth film if he changes his mind like he did when signed on to direct a fourth Transformer film. After all, who would really want to turn down around $100 million per film once include back end profits and merchandise sales. If interesting in reading his comments and The Ride, click here.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron HD Trailer, Info and Covers

Another day at E3 draws to a close with High Moon Studio's Matt Tieger making the rounds to promote Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. With it is the hi-def Metroplex trailer (below) that debuted yesterday, a look at the cover art (left), and info & video on multiplayer Escalation Mode.

From IGN, Game Informer (click for their video) about Escalation Mode:
- Mode has several difficulty levels, four players per stage, and different characters to choose per stage. Teamwork oriented but roaming allowed.
- Each character has a role with strength, abilities etc., so not all players can be the same character to help force teamwork.
- Players earn Energon to pay for upgrades to survive the next wave
- Each unlocked room comes with the mystery box "loot tube" that contains weapons and upgrades

Transformers: Autocracy #11 Preview

Available tomorrow is the online only Transformers: Autocracy #11. The penultimate issue moves to its conclusion of the early days of the Great War. Megatron has killed Zeta Prime, his government is in chaos and Optimus Prime has joined with the Matrix but still coping with the new situation on the planet. Click here to view a 4 page preview of the issue.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Metroplex Gameplay

Earlier today the E3 trailer featuring Metroplex for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron premiered. The trailer was just the in game footage. Later, Gametrailers/Spike TV interviewed game director Matt Tieger and he showed off the Optimus Prime level that features the character. In the game, Metroplex is not really a playable character but Prime's special ability to call down attacks.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Metroplex Trailer

E3 has officially kicked off and with it comes tons of video gaming news. Lots of games are being announced, demoed and more. One of those is a new trailer for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron featuring Metroplex. No game footage but lots of game movie goodness. Also, click here if want to check out the Insecticons (don't know if they will be playable or not).


Activision's E3 press release for the game:

Fall of Cybertron First Mission Trailer, Coming to PC and Metroplex

Friday High Moon Studios announced via twitter that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron will be released on PCs on August 28th with the 360 and PS3 release. Previously High Moon had no intention of releasing the game for the PC due to lack of time and resources but I am guessing the huge success of Diablo III proved there is a still a PC gaming market. According to GameSpy, the porting responsibilities has been outsourced to Mercenary Technology. On top of that they also released a 10 minute game play video (below) via IGN that shows off the first mission with Bumblebee. It opens with the Ark trying to leave Cybertron as the Nemesis attacks. The Metroplex pic from foxdie is a first look at the mega character that is part of a Optimus Prime level.