Transformers: Prime 2.21 Alpha, Omega Promo, TV Spot

Tonight is a new episode of Transformers Prime on The Hub at 7PM EST. "Alpha, Omega" is described as "The Omega Keys and the influential secrets they contain catch the interest of the Autobots; the powerful capabilities of the Primes are noticed by Megatron, who takes it upon himself to do whatever it takes to extract them for his own use." Below is clip and promo for the ep. Additional screenshots here. The two previous episodes, The Human Factor (2.19) and Legacy (2.20) can be viewed at HubWorld. Also don't forget that Transformers: Prime Season Two 4-disc set will be released on November 20th.

Upcoming episodes:
10/05 Hard Knocks (2.22) - When their desperate efforts to acquire the coveted Omega Keys take an unexpected and frantic turn, Knock Out is able to take advantage of the power of sound while Starscream uses his efforts to focus on the power of hyper-speed.
10/12 Inside Job (2.23) - When Smokescreen is captured, he learns the location of the Omega Key and attempts to retrieve all the other stolen keys.
10/19 Patch (2.24) - Starscream proposes a truce with Megatron but Dreadwing threatens to stand in the way.
10/26 Regeneration (2.25) - The quest for the Omega Lock takes the Autobots and the Decepticons to Cyberton for a battle.

IDW December 2012 Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for December 2012. It is a bigger month then normal with five comics and 4 traders being released that month. The comics continue the post war Cybertron adventures, Scorponok returns in the G1 Marvel book, a look at Optimus Prime's pre-war past, and more. 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: Robots in Disguise Ongoing #12
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Andrew Griffith, Casey Coller (c)
THE RETURN! He’s back… and CYBERTRON will never be the same. Everything BUMBLEBEE and his AUTOBOTS have built teeters at the edge of collapse—and STARSCREAM has to make the choice his whole life has been leading to.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers RID Annual, MTMTE #9 Previews

Tomorrow is new comic Wednesday and this week brings two Transformers related issues to stands. Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #9 brings us a story from Cybertron's past while Robots in Disguise Annual provides a little more on the origin of the Transformers race when Metrotitan (like Metroplex but not) lands on Cybertron. A preview of MTMTE #9 is here and RID Annual 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: Robots in Disguise Annual
(W) John Barber (A) Brendan Cahill, Guido Guidi (CA) Tim Seeley, Andrew Griffith
CRASHING DOWN! The mysterious Metrotitan from last month's More Than Meets the Eye Annual arrives on CYBERTRON-smashing into the ruins of the legendary Crystal City! Starscream and Prowl begin a battle of wills over the fate of this behemoth-and the outcome will shock you!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

New Fall of Cybertron Massive Fury DLC Out Today

Today High Moon Studios will release their Massive Fury DLC pack for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron that includes the Retro Pack from the game's initial release. The pack adds five new playable characters (and their component parts) for multiplayer mode & character creations along with three new single player campaign items. For multiple player you have G1 Retro Optimus Prime, Hound, and the three Insecticons Kickback, Sharpshot (aka Shrapnel) and Hardshell (aka Bombshell). I guess Hasbro lost the copyright on those names. For single player you have the Generation 2 skin for Bruticus (in time for upcoming Amazon exclusive release), G1 Shockwave Blast Cannon weapon (retro pack) and G1 Megatron Pistol Gun weapon (retro pack). I am unclear if those that don't have the Retro Pack at game launch are able to play as Prime in single player mode or not. Below is a game play video from Kotaku

Glenn Morshower Back for Transformers 4 and 5

While at the Con X in Kansas City, Missouri, Glenn Morshower said he might be back in the role of General Morshower for Transformers 4 and 5.

"After I did the opening ceremonies for the ride, Steven Spielberg walked up to me and chatted and said 'You know we've got you set to do the fourth one and probably the fifth one on the heels of that," said on how he was approached about the new sequels. "So, I guess in December we are on our way to making 4 and 5."

This could have just been premature talk from executive producer Steven Spielberg but it would probably be very easy to have the character in the next movie (or two) considering Michael Bay said Transformers 4 is set after Dark of the Moon and the goal is a new direction that sets up the franchise for the future (aka TF5) without Bay at the helm. Any new direction is likely to have a military aspect to it and who better to act as liason then General Morshower. As for filming starting in December, that strikes me as unlikely considering Bay is still finishing editing Pain and Gain and nothing has been heard about script drafts.

Bay: Transformers 4 Set After Dark of the Moon

In an interview with the Huffington Post to promote his Doritos contest, Michael Bay discussed his upcoming movie Pain & Gain and provided a few more details about Transformers 4 including why he returned to the franchise and when it is set. The full interview is here.

Highlights:
- Movie set after Transformers: Dark of the Moon
- Peter Cullen will be back as the voice of Optimus Prime
- No indication on what other character may return (be really surprised if Bumblebee didn't)

Bay: "New Direction" for Transformers 4

Michael Bay posted a brief update and poster for his next movie Pain & Gain that he is currently editing. As part of that he provided a kind of mini-update on Transformers 4.

"The editing process is a bit slower on this one because I'm in the middle of launching my three TV shows and prepping Transformers 4–which is going in a total new direction and in a way to really broaden the franchise to give it lasting legs."

That aligns with Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner's desire to reinvent the brand to help boost toy sales.

Transformers: Prime 2.20 Legacy Promo, TV Spot

A new episode of Transformers Prime is airing on The Hub at 7PM EST. The ep is called "Legacy" and described as "Megatron does his best to distract Optimus from the reality of a weapon of legend belonging to the Primes, which if discovered, could change the entire outcome of the war; Jack and his new Autobot companion set out on a mission." Below is the promo and clip for the episode. The two previous episodes, New Recruit (2.18) and The Human Factor (2.19) can be viewed at HubWorld. Also don't forget that Transformers: Prime Season Two 4-disc set will be released on November 20th. On a related note, Rescue Bots voice actor D.C. Douglas has blogged that it is getting a season two. It was kind of assumed but this is the first mention from anyone associated with the show.

Upcoming episodes:
09/28 Alpha; Omega (2.21) - The Omega Keys and the influential secrets they contain catch the interest of the Autobots; the powerful capabilities of the Primes are noticed by Megatron, who takes it upon himself to do whatever it takes to extract them for his own use.
10/05 Hard Knocks (2.22) - As the race grows more desperate, Knock Out harnesses the power of sound while Starscream the power of hyper speed.
10/12 Inside Job (2.23) - When Smokescreen is captured, he learns the location of the Omega Key and attempts to retrieve all the other stolen keys.

Work with Michael Bay Transformers 4 Contest

USA Today has revealed that Doritos and Michael Bay are working together on a new contest for the 2013 Super Bowl and Transformers 4. The contest focuses on consumer-generated commercials. The winner whose commercial is chosen will win $1 million dollars, have commercial air during the Super Bowl and work with Michael Bay on Transformers 4 (how much time and on what isn't specified). Submissions open on October 8th, a little bit more info can be found at the Doritos facebook page.

The next Transformers movie could have an unlikely film credit: yours.

Doritos, the Frito-Lay brand that has embraced the Super Bowl as the salty snack's sweet spot for consumer-generated commercials, on Wednesday will announce plans to seriously boost the booty in its seventh annual Crash the Super Bowl contest.

Linkfest - TF Legends

This linkfest brings you a little bit of info on two new video games (one mobile, one for Wii U), Digital Domain bankruptcy, TFs on your street, transforming furniture, real life transforming car, new take on Unicron, a mobile card game and an amusing repaint. For videos we have an amusing new Kre-O commercial, a not Devastator stop motion video, reviews of MP Thundercracker, Bruticus, Dreadwing and more.

Transformers Prime The Video Game for Wii U Dated
Nintendo has officially announced the release date of the Wii U for North America as November 18, 2012 with a price of $350 (there is a $299 model but no point in getting that one). One of the official launch games will be Transformers Prime The Video Game (also be Wii, DS, and 3DS versions). Oddly the listed release date is November 13, 2012 with retail price of $49.99. The game lets you play as various TF Prime characters in 3rd person action in a new single player storyline or multiplayer action.

Digital Domain Files for Bankruptcy
The company that James Cameron (Avatar) created and Michael Bay once owned a stake in (but sold off more than three years ago) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company created visual special effects for the three Transformers films, Apollo 13, Titanic, The Fifth Element, Star Trek: Nemesis, Tron: Legacy, Avatar, X-Men: First Class and host of others. Upcoming films they are set to work on (for now anyway) are Ender's Game, Jack the Giant Killer and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. The cause for the financial problems does not seem to be known except that the bankruptcy was initiated because it was in default on its loans. A public auction to sell the company is set for September 21st with Searchlight Capitol indicating it will bid $15 for it. The speed to deal with the bankruptcy is due to studios threatening to pull their films to give other studio effects companies’ time to complete any visual effects.

Transformers Prime - Beast Hunters?

According to a document leaked to a TFW2005's Neo-Bombshell from Hasbro's South American operations, it looks like the Fall 2013 will bring us Transformers Prime Beast Hunters. As Seibertron found, Hasbro has filed for the trademark to "Beast Hunters" calling it "an on-oing animated television series for children" and IDing it for "toy action figures, toy vehicles and toy robots convertible into other visual toy forms." Back in 1999 the name Beast Hunters was the initial name for what became the Beast Machines cartoon series that followed after Beast Wars.

The presentation image along with trademark information indicates that this will be used for Season 3 of TF: Prime and likely part of how the Dinobots will be added to the series cast. Also makes you wonder if and what aspects of Beast Wars/Machines might be incorporated into the Hasbro canon. Other relevant information is Transformers: Generations will continue through to 2014 as a kind of mark of the 30th Anniversary of the series. Also Hasbro hopes to continue Transformers Prime and Rescue Bots going through at least 2015. Feel free to speculate in the comments what TF Prime combined with Beast Hunters mean.

Transformers: Prime 2.19 The Human Factor Promo, TV Spot

Friday on The Hub at 7PM EST is a new episode of Transformers Prime. Called "The Human Factor" the episode is described as "Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks". In a previous episode Silas' mind was transferred into a human built Transformer that uses Starscream's transformation cog. Below is promo and clip for the episodes. More screenshots are here. The two previous episodes, New Recruit (2.18) and Out of the Past (2.17) can be viewed at HubWorld. Also don't forget that Transformers: Prime Season Two 4-disc set will be released on November 20th.

Upcoming episodes:
09/21 Legacy (2.20) - Megatron does his best to distract Optimus from the reality of a weapon of legend belonging to the Primes, which if discovered, could change the entire outcome of the war; Jack and his new Autobot companion set out on a mission.
09/28 Alpha; Omega (2.21) - The Omega Keys and the influential secrets they contain catch the interest of the Autobots; the powerful capabilities of the Primes are noticed by Megatron, who takes it upon himself to do whatever it takes to extract them for his own use.
10/05 Hard Knocks (2.22) - As the race grows more desperate, Knock Out harnesses the power of sound while Starscream the power of hyper speed.

Transformers 4 Direction Motivated by TF3 Toy Sales

Hasbro's CEO Brian Goldner was at the UBS Best of Americas 2012 Conference (not a clue what that is) where the company provided a little bit of information about Transformers 4 including their placeholder logo until something official is developed with Paramount for the current summer 2014 release date. TFW2005 was able to provide the Transformers specific highlights.

Highlights:
- Called Botshots and Kre-O part of the gamification of Hasbro brands.
- Transformers 3 toy sales lower than expected blamed having the same characters in all the movies.
- Drop in sales motivated desire to use new characters in a new story specific to them.
- Desire to expand Transformers 3 to young kids lead to creation of Rescue Bots.
- Goldner hinted that Transformers 4 may lead to a re-imaging or reinvention of the brand.

It is easy to read too much into this but nothing surprising here. Hasbro take. Sales of TF3 toys were down, not surprising considering how many of them were just modifications of previous lines releases. A key way to refresh the line is new characters with new story arcs that could still tie into the larger TF Bay-verse if choose to or go into a new direction. Until we see of what Michael Bay has in store for TF4, it will be difficult to judge exactly what a reimaging or reinvention may actually mean. Thanks to Sahara A. for the link.

Dinobot Destructor Pack Released

Today High Moon Studios has released its next DLC pack for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron called "Dinobot Destructor Pack" for 360, PS3, and PC. The game gives you four Dinobots to play in multiplayer mode or use their component parts in creating your own custom Transformer. Below is a look at the pack from G4 and trailer for all the DLCs.

Transformers: MTMTE Annual Preview, Rage of the Dinobots Interview

Transformers is getting its first annuals in a long time (or ever, not sure) starting with Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Annual #1. The issue will provide more background on The Knights of Cybertron that kicked of Rodimus and gang's mostly disasterous adventure in space. An eight page preview can be found here.

In addition, IDW Senior Editor John Barber was interviewed about the Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots miniseries that launches in November. The in canon series will take the origin of the Dinobots from Fall of Cybertron and bring it into the Transformers Prime storyline suggesting (but not confirmed) that one or more of the characters could pop in season 3. It starts where Fall of Cybertron ends, with the Ark leaving Cybertron with the Dinobots and others left behind. The full interview can be found at Ain't It Cool News.

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Annual 2012
James Roberts (w) • Jimbo Salgado, Guido Guidi (a) • Tim Seeley, Alex Milne (c)
THE ORIGIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF CYBERTRON! Rodimus and the crew of the Lost Light finally reach Crystal City, home to the mysterious Circle of Light. But what they find waiting for them is going to change everything—and not necessarily for the better!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

Transformers: Prime 2.18 New Recruit Promo, TV Spot

Tonight brings new Transformers: Prime 2.18 episode New Recruit to the Hub at 7pm EST. The episode is described as "Starscream goes on a quest for Red Energon; a new Autobot joins Team prime. The Autobots and Decepticons come across some clues that could have the potential to change the war and perhaps restore Cybertron." Below is the promo and clip for the episode. If missed the previous episode, Out of the Past, it is now up on Hub World. Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray set will be out on November 20th.

Upcoming episodes:
09/14 The Human Factor (2.19) - Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.
09/21 Legacy (2.20) - Jack is paired off with a new partner; Megatron tries to keep Optimus from discovering the existence of a legendary weapon.
09/28 Alpha; Omega (2.21) - Omega Keys and the secret they hold; Megatron takes extreme measures to harness the power of the Primes.
10/05 Hard Knocks (2.22) - As the race grows more desperate, Knock Out harnesses the power of sound while Starscream the power of hyper speed.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Dinobot Destruction Pack DLC

High Moon Studios has officially announced their upcoming release of their new DLC for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron called "Dinobot Destruction Pack". It will be released on September 11th (probably for $10) for the PC, 360 and PS3. The pack will make Grimlock, Slug, Snarl, and Swoop available for multiplayer with their component parts for use in creating your custom Transformer. Press release below, images here.

Transformers: Regeneration #83, Robots in Disguise #9 Previews

Tomorrow Transformers: Regeneration #83 and Transformers: Robots in Disguise #9 will hit comic and online stores. Regeneration continues the Marvel take on the TF universe from the late eighties only jumping ahead 20 years to "our" present. Which isn't doing so hot since Megatron conquered and essentially destroyed the planet while the Autobots where enjoying their 20 years of peace. The Wreckers have crashed landed on the planets trying to avoid Megatron's zombie Decepticons and figure out what to do next to save what remains of the human race. Meanwhile in RID Ironhide and the Dinobots continue to explore the dangers of a reformatted Cybertron. To view an eight page preview of Regeneration click here and for Robots in Disguise click here.

Transformers: Regeneration #83
(W) Simon Furman (A) Andrew Wildman (CA) Andrew Wildman, Guido Guidi
The Wreckers are on Earth-and their fates rest in the hands of… a human? A very particular human-Spike Witwicky, the Circuit Smasher! The AUTOBOTs learn what MEGATRON's been doing the past 20 years… and OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to come to a decision about the future!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #9
(W) John Barber (A) Andrew Griffith (CA) Casey Coller, Andrew Griffith
DINOBOT HUNT! Ironhide and the DINOBOTS journey deep into the Cybertronian wilderness… and what they find is not what they expected! Meanwhile, the DECEPTICONS enact a dangerous plan with bizarre consequences!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99