Transformers: The Forgotten Playset - Warren Generation 1 Hasbro 1985

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
  • #retroblasting #transformers #playset
    Support us on PATREON: / retroblasting
    The Transformers were their own figures and vehicles in one, yet despite their popularity the toys never had a headquarters, or was their 1980s playset simply forgotten?

Комментарии • 461

  • @davidmreyes77
    @davidmreyes77 2 месяца назад +162

    I’m 46 years old and had no idea this existed.

    • @Keverything99
      @Keverything99 2 месяца назад +11

      46 here and same

    • @bobdobalina8910
      @bobdobalina8910 2 месяца назад +5

      #me2

    • @zevadprime
      @zevadprime 2 месяца назад +7

      45 year old here. Never heard of this either.

    • @steko9465
      @steko9465 2 месяца назад +11

      I'm 51 so that makes me 5 years more ignorant.😅

    • @jasondwilliams972
      @jasondwilliams972 2 месяца назад +4

      I am always fascinated by folks histories & experiences. I am 48, grew up in Texas, & spent my summers in Northeastern Alabama w/my grandparents. There were ZERO toys in any of the stores between the four little towns that my papaw did business. But the crazy thing? I found this Autobot base at one of those stores, & he got it for me. I still have it. The only other “scores” were a few random G.I. Joe Gear Packs, & the Gay Toys Army helicopter (y’all know which one)…
      But yeah; in all the places that this rarity would/could be found, was in a hillbilly country store in backwoods Alabama…

  • @ascensionindustries9631
    @ascensionindustries9631 2 месяца назад +91

    The "Activity Center" is where you drop off your Transformers when you go to work.

  • @summonersumnerus4364
    @summonersumnerus4364 2 месяца назад +77

    I've been a Transformers fan and collector from day one. This is the first time I've heard of this thing.

    • @cyberius7042
      @cyberius7042 Месяц назад +2

      Same. When I saw the video thumbnail, I thought it was going to be about that small "command center" diorama.

  • @JBOboe720
    @JBOboe720 2 месяца назад +80

    At least with the ones that originated in Diaclone, the figures WERE the playsets, as they included 1-inch pilots meant to drive them in both vehicle mode and robot mode. Omitting the pilots leaves vestigial features all over those figures, especially Prime's trailer.

    • @troubledturtle2332
      @troubledturtle2332 2 месяца назад +14

      Ironhide is the biggest offender in my opinion since he turns into a battle station thing .

    • @KasumiKenshirou
      @KasumiKenshirou 2 месяца назад +17

      And with Microman / Microchange, your house was a playset, in a way. The mythology was that the toys were 1:1 scale and that they were beings hiding in your room and disguised as ordinary objects a child would have in their room like a microcassette recorder, microscope, or a toy Walther P-38 handgun.

    • @giantbonsai8950
      @giantbonsai8950 Месяц назад +6

      My Prime trailer always felt achingly empty without anyone to use the seats and vehicle. It's a great shame that the Diaclone drivers weren't included. They could have been the humans from the show.

    • @huwjennings2695
      @huwjennings2695 Месяц назад +4

      You could substitute the pilots from the old ZOIDS toys.

    • @darkroom0716
      @darkroom0716 Месяц назад +4

      Even as a kid I noticed something weird was missing with my Transformers. Parts that looked like they had a purpose yet I couldn't discern what

  • @billrules8716
    @billrules8716 2 месяца назад +34

    "Three Optimi high"...that made me literally laugh out loud! Good one!

    • @nobodyuknow4911
      @nobodyuknow4911 2 месяца назад +3

      ANYTHING to not use the metric system! ^_^

    • @billrules8716
      @billrules8716 2 месяца назад

      @@nobodyuknow4911 Cybertronian system is the best measurement system to use.

    • @brandellswanson
      @brandellswanson Месяц назад +1

      @@billrules8716 What about 3 Primes high? Sounds better 😏

  • @MichaelJShaffer
    @MichaelJShaffer 2 месяца назад +20

    I loved learning about this playset. Much like you, my foray into Transformers with short lived, and I always wanted a playset/base for my Autobots. Ah, when toy companies built playsets (even small companies that made them out of cardboard) and didn't need to crowdfund them.

  • @redcomet_622
    @redcomet_622 2 месяца назад +35

    Even in Japan they had playsets for robot toylines and tv shows. Bandai had multiple playsets based on the hangar bases for their robot toys in the 70s/80s. Why Takara didnt do this for TF or even Hasbro is such a letdown

    • @hthrun
      @hthrun 2 месяца назад +5

      Gobots also had bases. I had the Guardian command center when I was young...

    • @KasumiKenshirou
      @KasumiKenshirou 2 месяца назад +5

      Beast Wars had some playsets (although Michael might not agree with the term). There was a killer whale and (I think) a spider that turned into bases, and came with little metal figurines of some of the characters. Like the subject of this video, I think these were made by a third party rather than Hasbro themselves.
      And Takara had one for Beast Wars II that had a working waterfall. But, again, way too small for the actual figures so smaller figurines are included.

    • @Newsystuffs
      @Newsystuffs 2 месяца назад +4

      @@KasumiKenshirou Actually Hasbro did make those sets, they were just under Galoob (which they bought out by that point); The same division who gave us the Titanium subline in the mid 2000s

    • @dubuyajay9964
      @dubuyajay9964 Месяц назад +1

      Link to a vid of them plz?

  • @stephens4175
    @stephens4175 2 месяца назад +21

    whatever you do...DON'T reenact the first time the Dinobots went online with that playset

  • @mateuszkwietowicz2470
    @mateuszkwietowicz2470 2 месяца назад +40

    The 1986 catalogue directly mentions Metroplex as a "city playset" also all the photos of Metroplex and Trypticon have other cars placed onto them so they were supposed to be used as playsets for your trasformers - just some would not fit onto them, but many would.
    If you are going to talk about playsets for transformer you gotta mention the 1989 Micromaster series and their multiple stations, transprts, command centres and bases.
    Those were playsets that fit the micromaster transformers and adhered to the transformers theme of transformations - since these were stations hiding as regular gas stations, restaurants or workstations and transforming into battle stations - those were playsets as you could fit multiple micromasters into them and you could combine several playsets and form a micro "city" for your micromasters.
    I had the decepticon greaspit and it was quite fun, but I sure wish I had more. I couldn't afford many of the bigger transformers but even I could affort a set of 4 micromasters and 1 hidden stations to play.

    • @kba702
      @kba702 2 месяца назад +5

      The only figures Metroplex and Trypticon work with are the Combiners and the Autobot mini-cars. The rest of the line is too big. And Trypticon is essentially just a big ramp, having sacrificed any potential play features for the battery-powered walking gimmick.

    • @detpackman
      @detpackman 2 месяца назад +13

      @@kba702 yeah just because some of the bigger figures couldn't interact with them doesn't make them "not playsets " there are things in other toy lines that wouldn't always fit in there playsets but those are seen as "playsets" for that line . Transformers main issue is there scale is all over the place due to how hasbro put together the line in the first place with this mix of toys from this JP lines . so while metroplex and the others scale well with the micro car line they didnt pair well with the larger figures

    • @MikeAshkewe
      @MikeAshkewe 2 месяца назад +2

      @@mateuszkwietowicz2470 some of the micromaster sets looked cool but weren’t my thing.
      I seem to recall a commercial where they had all the micromasters in a playset like formation and combined

    • @mateuszkwietowicz2470
      @mateuszkwietowicz2470 2 месяца назад +8

      @@kba702 some people seem to forget these were toys designed for children to play with... and children have different toys... would it be so impossible to see a kid playing with his metroplex, fortres maximus, trypticon or scorponok and his micro machines, hot wheels or lego? I sure can.... if it can be played with with other toys on it - it's a playset.
      Also, most playsets were too small to actually play with other toys - they were usually a display piece and a "home base" for your figures to stand in - all the while the "battlefield" would be your rug, or your local sandbox....

    • @perfectsplit5515
      @perfectsplit5515 8 часов назад

      @@kba702 I didn't know until now that Trypticon could walk, like my Omega Supreme. I believe the blue component of Sky Lynx could also walk.

  • @gutz1981
    @gutz1981 2 месяца назад +14

    Funny enough, cause we had many vhs tapes, those served as my Transformers playset. I could stack them in a way like a deck of cards. Flat at the front with sides and stacked as a lid with the back exposed and layered on top of each other. So I had like six empty rooms in the back to place figures with a flat wall in front. Did the job.

    • @perfectsplit5515
      @perfectsplit5515 8 часов назад

      I used a large piece of cardboard from a writing board box (I think). I left the short sidewalls on the left, right, and rear sides on. That was my "Autobot Headquarters". I had another one for the Decepticons.
      I had the G.I.Joe Headquarters at a time before the Terrordrome was released. I made a makeshift "Cobra Headquarters" out of blue paperboard, modeled after the G.I.Joe Headquarters. Remember, the large twin gun turret at the front of the Joe HQ? The main gun that I made for my "Cobra Headquarters" - used Autobot Jazz's chrome missles.

  • @THE14THPRIME229
    @THE14THPRIME229 Месяц назад +8

    I had this playset in the 80s .
    All cardboard . We got it from Dollar General in Maryland for 15.00💯💯💯💯💯💯

  • @scifisamnyc7404
    @scifisamnyc7404 Месяц назад +4

    My brother and i actually owned this playset back then. And yes it was a fragile cardboard structure. Carelessness eventually led to it's demise when the moments of "cheap crap has another tear" was more often than "just use imagination". Really cool to see it again in this video after all these years. Thank you.

  • @galbyman
    @galbyman 2 месяца назад +9

    I received this play set as a kid. Thank you for bringing back some memories.

  • @lunarvision
    @lunarvision Месяц назад +2

    Excellent video! Never knew of this. I love learning about obscure, forgotten 80’s toys.

  • @aworldmadeofcardboard3692
    @aworldmadeofcardboard3692 2 месяца назад +8

    I missed out on these cardboard playsets. I remember seeing the STARS and Warren Playsets, I never got them. Still, as a cardboard hobby enthusiast, I LOVE THESE! I really enjoyed this video. FANTASTIC WORK!

  • @lightningninja6905
    @lightningninja6905 Месяц назад +3

    I love the combination of positive and negative videos on this channel. Hearing Michael sincerely talk about something he appreciates is just as fun as seeing him rip a product a new one.

  • @Nick-zj2bv
    @Nick-zj2bv Месяц назад +2

    ive always loved this playset but have never seen anyone review it. So happy you got one to review.

  • @aviatordanz
    @aviatordanz Месяц назад +16

    The City Bots can be both and there's... no issue? I don't see the problem with saying they can be both playsets and bots themselves, that's the lines whole gimmick.
    As for scale, sure, some of the bigger carbots and up don't scale, but the mini bots and especially the Scramble City bots that were made to interact with Metroplex and Trypticon certainly do, and Transformers IN G1 would go on to do an entire line of playsets.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад +1

      Whatever

    • @MikeAshkewe
      @MikeAshkewe Месяц назад +4

      As cool as some of the mini bots & micro masters were, it’s not as cool as an in scale play set.
      Even the new Titans don’t totally do either ( maybe Metroplex & Fort Max with some of the new guys, Brunt / Slammer / Sixgun come to mind)
      Wonder how big a play set would have to be in good scale for deluxes / voyagers for Seige going forward.
      Just wondering

    • @mechadeka
      @mechadeka Месяц назад

      @@retroblasting Bro is getting mad over a 30+ year old toyline fitting into two categories.

  • @brianbuchmeier
    @brianbuchmeier 2 месяца назад +7

    I literally just found out about this at BotCon last week when I saw someone selling one. I was tempted to pick it up but ultimately passed. Now thanks to Michael I'm realizing I kind of need it.

  • @Spideysuperiorfoe
    @Spideysuperiorfoe Месяц назад +5

    2:25 they could though,as could other figures from the minibot/combiner limb/throttlebot range,and they are playsets in there own right. Takara expanded on this in "car robots 2000" by giving there repaint of fort max a playmat

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад

      If it isn't compatible with the "Optimus Prime" scale vehicles, it's worthless. [Slow wanking motion with hand]

  • @texasbeast239
    @texasbeast239 2 месяца назад +5

    I forgot about this because I never gave it much credit in the first place. I lumped it in with the non-Hasbro electric racetracks and and microphones.
    The STARS set seems so junky now, but I sure wanted it back then, because it was official. I still want a STARS shoulder patch, even now. And I also consider the goofy electric racecars legit too, just to make the G1 robot roster even bigger in my mind.
    My little brothers and I just built a fort in the living room and imagined it was the Ark. A lot of the fun was in the custom construction process anyway.
    Now they have made an actual Ark spaceship, admittedly at a very small scale, but they had to go and turn it into a transforming robot, too.

  • @joscco
    @joscco Месяц назад +1

    Thank you for doing this video. I had this set as a kid, and it was so great. Haven't thought of it in many years until now.

  • @mechaplatypus82
    @mechaplatypus82 2 месяца назад +2

    Thanks, Michael. I never knew this thing existed. Entertaining and educational as always. 👍

  • @Dilios_of_Sparta
    @Dilios_of_Sparta 2 месяца назад +21

    Michael in Soundwave's voice:
    "Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak . . . eject. Operation: Playset Track Down."
    Very nice work, Michael. You always do really in-depth research for your videos--I very much appreciate it!

  • @Cyberrat629
    @Cyberrat629 2 месяца назад +3

    This is pretty amazing! I had never heard of any of these before this, thanks for sharing!

  • @mr.d6486
    @mr.d6486 2 месяца назад +7

    i will always be there qwhen retroblasting posts transformers content

  • @Gijoeandstarwarsguy
    @Gijoeandstarwarsguy 2 месяца назад +7

    Oh man I remember this clearly years ago! At my Kmart! I wanted it so bad but my parents said no! So I made my own with cardboard and construction paper. Mine was a terrible parody of the factory printed and die cut pieces! Nice to see it again!

  • @PhantomHarlock78
    @PhantomHarlock78 2 месяца назад +7

    Should be golden color like the Ark.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  2 месяца назад +3

      What part of "This isn't a recreation of the Ark" did you miss? Get your brain checked.

  • @BrappyHour
    @BrappyHour 2 месяца назад +1

    I was listening to the livestream which you and the others were talking about this.
    Thanks for making a video about it!

  • @WyzGyzEntertainment
    @WyzGyzEntertainment 2 месяца назад +2

    I used to collect transformers but never heard of this playset. Activity center always makes me think about a small kids coloring set with crayons, colored pencils, stickers and stamps.

  • @draigon
    @draigon 2 месяца назад +16

    The logic of the city bots not being playsets just because some larger figures were too big for them is really strained. By that logic Most GI Joe bases failed because they couldn't accommodate all the vehicles. Optimus's trailer was technically a playset. I had an original Scorpinok and while it wasn't the most impressive base ever, it certainly had more play features than this thing.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  2 месяца назад +1

      Sorry you strained yourself.

    • @rorylumley4727
      @rorylumley4727 Месяц назад +3

      i would argue fortress maximus acts as a playset for minibots and some other smaller figures. The other city bots might be streaching that.

  • @dustinkordish
    @dustinkordish 2 месяца назад +3

    I didn’t have a lot of Transformers, but I did have this set and it got a ton of use - from the few TFs I did have, to the GI Joes I was more focused on primarily, to even my Matchbox/Hot Wheels/Stompers. I loved it, and despite the limited durability of the cardboard construction, I made it last throughout my childhood

  • @danielalvarez8729
    @danielalvarez8729 Месяц назад +2

    As an avid and lifelong G1 collector, I've always wanted Hasbro to give us a playset for our Transformers. I used to imagine a Giant Unicron head as being a playset as an idea. I was never really into cardboard playsets. To me, a real playset is made of plastic and it's far more sturdy and durable than cardboard..

  • @yesterlandtoys1138
    @yesterlandtoys1138 2 месяца назад +1

    Very cool video Michael! I had never heard of that play set! It must of been hell for kids trying to keep it intact!

  • @Christolclear101
    @Christolclear101 2 месяца назад +1

    I’ve heard about this set, but I’d quickly forget about it. Thanks for bringing attention to this set, more collectors need to know about this sets existence.

  • @vinnyvinson
    @vinnyvinson 2 месяца назад +14

    Transformers fandom needs to pick a lane”….by that logic Scarlett is a play set.😂😂😂😂

    • @mrsamaritan6881
      @mrsamaritan6881 2 месяца назад +2

      Well, the logic is not wrong...

    • @chrisvainio
      @chrisvainio 2 месяца назад +4

      I was doing chores and that line brought me back to the video😅

    • @beepster991
      @beepster991 2 месяца назад +4

      With that logic, Baroness should include a whip, dungeon and own "1-976" number..

  • @KasumiKenshirou
    @KasumiKenshirou 2 месяца назад +1

    I remember seeing this exactly ONCE in a store. I didn't have any money at the time so I never bought it, and never saw it again until now. If my brother hadn't also been present, I wouldn't have even been sure I actually saw it.

  • @usergiodmsilva1983PT
    @usergiodmsilva1983PT Месяц назад +5

    You're completely wrong, but I still enjoyed the video. Both Metroplex and Trypticon are playsets (scramble City line). And of Course Fortress Maximus is a huge playset for both minibots and most of the gimmick bot releases... Ah, and good joke about poseability of toys in the eighties (excepting GI Joe, most were bricks) Good to know about this rarity. :)

    • @timothyward8695
      @timothyward8695 Месяц назад +1

      "My name is Optimus Prime. I am leader of the Autobots. This is Metroplex, it is both a city and our headquarters. No, I can't fit in or on it, but I assure you these short little guys can, so that makes it our home."

  • @jasonarringotn2501
    @jasonarringotn2501 28 дней назад

    OMG, I had that playset have not thought about it in years :)

  • @zetaTF
    @zetaTF 2 месяца назад +7

    Retroblasting posting a new Transformers video. Never thought I'd see the day. Awesome!!

  • @77Boldman
    @77Boldman Месяц назад

    Thank you so much for the nostalgia fix, Michael. I live in the UK and you have reminded me that I owned the Warren 3D Starscream as a kid. I had completely forgotten this item existed! Wonderful memories.

  • @KingofPotatoPeople
    @KingofPotatoPeople Месяц назад +9

    Fort Max, Metroplex and other city bots were totally play sets……many smaller bots work with them, plus they were designed to interact with the Micromasters and the transforming Micromaster play sets. Including connectable ramps.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад +4

      If it wasn't designed to work in scale with Optimus Prime and his original boys, it isn't a playset.

  • @zethperez7074
    @zethperez7074 Месяц назад +3

    touching on the "role playing center" thing isn't playing with toy roll playing? i mean aren't you pretending to be a group of characters?

  • @philipho188
    @philipho188 Месяц назад +1

    Good stuff as always!!

  • @Fauntleroy.
    @Fauntleroy. 2 месяца назад +1

    Oh my gosh!!! I had this, but I had completely forgotten it. Wow! Thank you for this trip down memory lane! I remember getting mine shortly before Transformers: the Movie came out and continuing to use it through at least 1988 when I got Powermaster Optimus Prime.

  • @Morganstudios
    @Morganstudios Месяц назад +2

    Transformers came in different sizes. Metroplex worked perfectly for combiner teams like the Safetybots, AerialBots, Constructicons, Combaticons, etc or the mini cars.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад

      When your main character can't fit in or on the playset, it does not work as a playset.

    • @Morganstudios
      @Morganstudios Месяц назад +1

      ​@@retroblasting I never had Optimus Prime as a kid. I did have Metroplex, and you are right that it was awkward, but remember there at least 50+ Transformers it can work as a playset for perfectly. I don't think you could just say straight "No". Making a playset plausible for Optimus Prime would be very expensive unless, as you point out, you make one cheap out of cardboard. And then it's doomed to have the problem that there are 50 plus transformers that it's too big for! It's just a problem that comes from making a toy line out of multiple sets non-size matched toys.

    • @ihatesand1430
      @ihatesand1430 Месяц назад

      Optimus prime also was dead at the time along with most of the early carry overs from micro man and diaclone

  • @droiduseruserdroid1731
    @droiduseruserdroid1731 2 месяца назад +1

    I made a playset for the Transformers as a child that was the mountain with the Ark crashed into it. Inside of it, it had control panels, a working elevator, and electric lights. It was made out of a school desk and parts of a Zenith VCR.

  • @MrTsToys
    @MrTsToys 2 месяца назад +1

    Fantastic video! I loved it.

  • @tecpaocelotl
    @tecpaocelotl 2 месяца назад +2

    Interesting.
    I'll be honest, oddly, I didn't know there were toys until the 90s even though I saw the tv show in the 80s. Lol.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад +1

      What was it like being raised by wolves?

  • @Rebelxstudios
    @Rebelxstudios 2 месяца назад +1

    Wow! I actually first learned about this over 10 years ago from a now defunct RUclips channel. At the time I thought they were talking about the mail away playset, until I saw this thing sitting next to Michael.

  • @anthonybird546
    @anthonybird546 Месяц назад +1

    G1 figures were scaled for action figures, 1 inch Dianauts. Decepticons like Megatron and Soundwave were scaled for Microman action figures, the very inspiration for new GI Joe. 🤷
    What you featured though? That is a for real playset and cool as hell. I wish more playsets, especially for set pieces from the show came out, like the oil rig that the Decepticons attacked where the Witwickys were introduced. A human city set would have been perfect. I cobbled stuff together as a kid from books and boxes, so the desire for playsets beyond just what the cityformers has was there. I think I started to notice third party accessories too late in the 80s (not to mention the competition - if you could only get ONE toy that might, are you going with the 3P from, like, Arco? Or are you going with the real deal? I always went with the real deal, though we a kid I wish I got the Mad Scientist toys that Arco put out to supplement the Mattel line.

  • @TurtleTrackin
    @TurtleTrackin Месяц назад +1

    I never saw this. Looks interesting. However, I had many cardboard playsets. I made them myself. I had a cardboard USS Flag, Cobra command center (with a snake throne and a brainwave scanner) a space shuttle for GI Joe (that doubled as a Transformers ship and Klingon Bird of Prey), a Unicorn disembodied head (a feature in G1 Season 3), a swamp cabin base for Zartan, and lots of other gizmos and doohickys.
    A large long box on its end also substituted for the "Extensive Enterprises" tower.
    Oh yeah, I had probably a dozen Enterprise bridges, but I kept destroying them. Darn self destruct mechanisms and all that. Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of big toys too - the actual Joe command center, helicopters, tanks, and numerous Transformers. But the cardboard playset was usually either something I saw in a comic book, or something I couldn't wait for.
    I remember being so happy with my four foot long USS Flag substitute that I wasn't interested in the monster Hasbro was selling.

  • @saimaidar9417
    @saimaidar9417 2 месяца назад

    Oh wow, I had completely forgotten about this, I had one but it is long since gone, thank you for sharing this.

  • @secaII
    @secaII 2 месяца назад +1

    Great video!

  • @sgmlordmirage2937
    @sgmlordmirage2937 Месяц назад

    I actually still have mine. I played with this set a lot and the tabs you inset to put it together certainly show that. In one room i had my collection in, i had it set up with all my childhood transformers i got back in the day. Currently it sets on top of my G1 display case back in the box.

  • @bossbradley
    @bossbradley Месяц назад +1

    I love this channel!!!

  • @joshwestbrook2157
    @joshwestbrook2157 2 месяца назад

    I remembered getting a big playset for Christmas around 35 years ago, but i always thought it was a knockoff. You just unearthed a ton of great memories of my childhood!

  • @JamesMincks-p7i
    @JamesMincks-p7i Месяц назад

    Props to Michael for dragging this playset out and putting it together for this video knowing you have to disassemble it in order to move it or put it away.

  • @Chris.Mc83
    @Chris.Mc83 2 месяца назад +1

    Wow, I remember having Transformers as a kid, and I don't ever recall seeing any playset for them! 😮

  • @Hyperlegend03
    @Hyperlegend03 17 дней назад

    God this is awesome. Kinda wanna track this piece down for my collection.

  • @ryanbwags
    @ryanbwags 2 месяца назад

    You just unlocked a core memory. I saw the stairs and immediately remembered having this. Totally forgot I had it.

  • @guyveromega27
    @guyveromega27 2 месяца назад +2

    Hasbro's attempt to give Transformers a playset is probably with the legends and then core class figures.

  • @jordel2010
    @jordel2010 Месяц назад

    I am among those who had this thing way back when, I even used it for other toys, not just TransFormers. Thanks for bringing back some good memories. That Scarlett joke 😅

  • @georgelea4297
    @georgelea4297 2 месяца назад

    I've never seen or heard about this playset. Thank you Michael for enlightening us all

  • @nigelgay6055
    @nigelgay6055 День назад

    Its an "activity centre" not a "playset" because at least for my friends who were all the right age to be collecting G1 Transformers back in the day, we found it massively insulting anyone who referred to them as "toys" or implied that we "played with them". That was things little kids did, Transformers were things older more mature kids collected. Maybe its a UK vs US thing, because watching those old US adverts like at 1:00 are absolutely cringey and if we'd ever seen adverts showing kids "playing with Transformers" in exactly the way other kids who weren't into them assumed we did, we'd probably never have bought them.

  • @JackSparrow-df4nk
    @JackSparrow-df4nk 2 месяца назад +1

    The Jetfire hanger could also be the Dinobots chamber they would be kept in until a mission required the Autobots to reactivate them for battle:)

  • @mechamanblade8465
    @mechamanblade8465 2 месяца назад +1

    I didn't know this existed till I started to seriously collect Transformers. I've seen 1 boxed but never assembled. I had no idea of the size of this thing.

  • @shockwave7513
    @shockwave7513 2 месяца назад

    I've been a Transformers collector for a VERY long time, and I do remember this play set, though I've never seen it in person. I've always wanted one. It looks really cool.

  • @matthewstoneback9
    @matthewstoneback9 2 месяца назад +1

    0:26 Alfred deserved his own action figure!

  • @robertobassetto885
    @robertobassetto885 Месяц назад +2

    I want a Baroness™ playset!

  • @Tinytraveler
    @Tinytraveler 2 месяца назад

    The crowd boo'ing you was gold. I feel you're overlooked for your sense of humor. Wishing you the best!

  • @mattbarkley7534
    @mattbarkley7534 2 месяца назад +1

    Metoplex is a play set to be used with scramble city/combiner teams. Originally intended for the Diaclone Jizai Gattai toyline, which consisted of Metroplex, and all the scramble city transformers. The combiner leaders actually have a third mode that connects to the playset.

  • @Gappasaurus
    @Gappasaurus 2 месяца назад +1

    Great coverage of an obscure but undeniably cool bit of TF history, Michael 😁👍 I vaguely recall hearing rumors about this piece swirling around the early collecting community back in the day. Its tab & slot panel construction reminds me of the not-nearly-as-obscure Super Gobot Guardian Headquarters, also by a third-party company, but made out of chipboard, IIRC. I guess the same scale issues brought about its creation as well, as Super Gobots couldn’t fit inside Thruster or the Command Center 😅

  • @cristianof812
    @cristianof812 2 месяца назад +3

    I 1000% never heard of this. Sure, never knowing this existed as a kid makes sense because you’re barely coherent in life. But I’ve never come across this being a thing as an adult collector either.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  2 месяца назад

      Funny.... I must have been above average coherent.

  • @seereadnhear
    @seereadnhear Месяц назад +1

    When it came to building my own Autobot base I used my extra millennium falcon, and a couple of suitcases to make look like a mountain and took part of another playset That was supposed to be teletraan 1 that's how I compensated for them not making an Autobot playset

  • @birddogg62
    @birddogg62 Месяц назад

    It’s good to see a retroblasting toy/playset review, feels like it’s been awhile.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад

      Make sure you check the channel page because a lot of people miss videos because they rely on youtube "subscriptions" which are not at all reliable.

  • @drewlovelyhell4892
    @drewlovelyhell4892 2 месяца назад +2

    The Pedanticon faction is well represented in this channel.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  Месяц назад +1

      Yeah, the people in the comments here are just cringe. Drew Lovely is one of the worst.

  • @RyanMeade-ld9kz
    @RyanMeade-ld9kz 26 дней назад

    Wow memory unlocked.

  • @glebthereviewer
    @glebthereviewer 2 месяца назад +1

    Jeez, I'd love one, even though I'm not collecting G1 that much, this playset would still fit the current Generations figures perfectly.

  • @francoisregis2155
    @francoisregis2155 2 месяца назад

    I remember that set very well a friend of mine found one at the flea market for cheap with the original box.
    Interesting video thanks for sharing

  • @ProjectCambrian
    @ProjectCambrian 2 месяца назад

    I remember seeing thise Warren 3D puzzles but I'm Fuzzy on the Base. I'm wondering if I May Have seen it Advertised in a Comic...Maybe. might be mistaking that with another item of this kind, the Cardboard playsets I mean.
    But still its Neat to see it now.
    When playing I remember just using whatever I had on hand. Enough hard cover books and you had walls and rooms, etc. Imagination filled in the rest.
    I used to use that Cobra Shaped Base from STARRIORS when I was playing with my Transformers and Gobots.
    That thing worked well as a COBRA base when playing with my Joe's.
    Like Calvin and Hobbes a Plain old Cardboard Box was Anything you wanted it to be.
    Hey @Retroblasting, Michael I'll have to take a look but if you Haven't already I think a retrospective on Playsets in general would be cool.
    I know you've done individual ones, like the Tree set used for Ewoks and others.
    But like This Transformers one, playsets that had Some form of assembly to them.
    I've VAGUE memories of a Star Trek Enterprise bridge playset for the Mego figures.
    Aside from the Bridge details, perhaps it was the Transporter Room?
    As there was a rotating cylinder door play feature, I'm Guessing was for that.
    The whole thing I recall was thick Cardboard in a high gloss Vinyl wrapping. The Outside of the set was Dark Space Blue with stars on it I Think.
    This was back in the 70's mind you, I was like 4 or 5 at the time. I haven't seen it since. After that I'd gotten the Six Million Dollar Man Rocket/Medlab set. Of which I have an Incomplete one today...no Steve Austin but I do have a nekkid John Saxon Android in it.
    Anyways great video Michael.

  • @thenuclearsandwich
    @thenuclearsandwich 2 месяца назад

    Been on the Transformers train since May 1984 and I don't recall ever seeing that on the shelves or even promoted in catalogues. And if by some chance I did see it way back and forgot about it, it's probably because I realized it was cardboard and dismissed it. I always wanted those displays they used in Service Merchandise or Sears catalogues for promotions.

  • @rainydayman2k
    @rainydayman2k 2 месяца назад

    I had this back in 1986, and I pretty much wore it out over the course of a couple of years of play, but it was a great play experience for its day. I kind of wish I had one now to populate with my current collection of modern figures, which would scale pretty well with it, but these days, I wouldn't have the room for it.

  • @user-bx4nf5xl6c
    @user-bx4nf5xl6c 2 месяца назад

    My cousin got this for Christmas and I was so confused because I was the Transformer collector. He was younger and unfortunately destroyed it shortly after Christmas. As you can see in the hands of a 6 year old, that cardboard didn’t stand a chance, it’s very cool to still see one standing!

  • @treebotreviews
    @treebotreviews 2 месяца назад

    Funny enough Michael, I found out this existed at BotCon last week. Biggest mind f**k of my life finding out about it. They had it set up in a little space they had blocked off to look like a kids room in the 80s filled with TF memorabilia. This was one of them. Great video!

  • @portland-182
    @portland-182 2 месяца назад +1

    Great stuff. Love the T-shirt too!

  • @shoestringscifi
    @shoestringscifi 2 месяца назад

    I vividly remember seeing this playset at retail stores when I was a kid. It looked really cool.

  • @jax2428
    @jax2428 Месяц назад

    Been buying transformers since 1984 and this is a new one to me.

  • @TeamBelmont91
    @TeamBelmont91 Месяц назад +2

    Well if you argue that cityformers can't be playsets due to their size, there IS a third party Fortress Maximus that might be of interest to you regarding how ridiculously gargantuan it's going to be.

  • @ralphg2771
    @ralphg2771 Месяц назад

    I had this! I've been telling people for years about this playset and no one can remember it. I'm glad I ran across this video, I feel vindicated!!!! 😁

  • @coleweston3200
    @coleweston3200 2 месяца назад

    My friend sold this to me in the 80's. It was glorious!

  • @erior9662
    @erior9662 Месяц назад

    Always learn something new on this channel. I've never seen or even heard of this playset! And yes I was an obnoxious kid who absolutely had to have a figure when the transformer was in vehicle mode which is why I nearly shit my Oshkosh-B'goshs when headmasters came out.

  • @ultramaximusreviews
    @ultramaximusreviews 2 месяца назад +3

    I have no memory of this. It looks more like something from GI Joe than Transformers. I feel this was repurposed from another toy line.

    • @retroblasting
      @retroblasting  2 месяца назад

      Your feelings are not facts. The autobot symbol is clearly designed on it.

  • @kjpphotography4764
    @kjpphotography4764 Месяц назад

    Great stuff Michael. I had to laugh so hard at that cut in of Duke Scarlett and Snake Eyes! 🤣

  • @echowing9560
    @echowing9560 Месяц назад

    I only just found out about this a few weeks ago when I saw it at BotCon. I wonder how well it would work with the modern toys.

  • @lucidebass3
    @lucidebass3 2 месяца назад

    I never knew this existed! Thanks for doing this video.

  • @skydemolisher
    @skydemolisher Месяц назад

    That is a very cool playset and I agree Metroplex and Trypticon certainly weren't playsets and while Fortress and Scorponok might be considered so for Head/Target Masters Partners, the only Transformers I think would come under the "playset" are the Micromaster bases and maybe some of the Pretenders since they scale better together as robots/vehicles/buildings and in the case of the larger Micromasters sets, having the ramps that connected with other bases. The 3 Battlestars (Star Convoy, Grandus and Sky Garry) and Big Powered (Dai Atlas, Sonic Bomber and Roadfire) from Japan are probably the only ones that work through as Toy and Playsets though given they had a micomaster partner each, Individual robot and vehicle modes, had a base mode that could be connected to the other bases and some had electronic features which connected in some way together (Rotating turrets, elevator, express road/walkway).
    Transformers as a whole really could have done with an Ark and Decepticon base playset as a mass release.

  • @varevulf6523
    @varevulf6523 Месяц назад

    Great video Michael. Such a trip to see the Ark crew altogether in their homebase.

  • @bobgerkin3881
    @bobgerkin3881 Месяц назад

    I had both the STARS and the Activity Center. What a blast from the past to see it again.

  • @originaluddite
    @originaluddite Месяц назад

    With Jetfire there (seen as Skyfire in Season 1 but only released with the second catalogue) I'm surprised at the absence of Dinobots. Still it is a beautiful collection (despite or even because of scale differences).
    The play set itself is gorgeous. I'm one of those keen Transformers fans but acknowledge we always lacked in playsets. The biggest problem with the various base-bots was not with scale but simply with the fact they had little to no 'inside' dimensions. You could only play with smaller toys _on_ rather than _in_ them. Unfortunately, I never had this set, we just used a roller-desk instead. :)

    • @timothyward8695
      @timothyward8695 Месяц назад +1

      The Dinobots featured in a previous video, plus, they tended to prefer mud pits

    • @originaluddite
      @originaluddite Месяц назад

      @@timothyward8695 what every playset needs - a mud pit. Incidentally, the FIsher Price Little People Action Garage had a fish pond on its grounds, and as a result I've never been entirely satisfied with the real thing. :)