FigPin Transformers MYSTERY MINIS leak?

[Agent X]

While seeking any new information on the 40th Anniversary XL figpins announced months ago, I came across this lone result from a UK games site:

Transformers: 40th Anniversary (Series 1) - FiGPiN: Mystery Minis - Si | Wayland Games

Pick up the Transformers: 40th Anniversary (Series 1) - FiGPiN: Mystery Minis - Single Booster from FiGPiN. Many more products available!

www.waylandgames.co.uk

With no release date for the pins they actually announced, I have my doubts this is legit. Unless the package is a mock-up, it looks pretty fake. Then there also not a case of them available, only singles (other minis are available in a case). Primus forbid I actually break news.

Not earth-shattering news, but I do like pins. Transformers pins even more so. Because shiny.



EDIT (18/11/24) FigPin revealed/released the pin series for sale om their site.

 

[Andrusi]

I don't know what any of the nouns here actually mean.

 

[Agent X]

Guess I actually broke news that no one cares about, as FigPin's Transformers Mystery pins were revealed/released today:

Transformers Mystery Series 1 - EACH

From the original animated series, Transformers explore a world where Giant, robotic aliens called Autobots and evil Decepticons are capable of transforming into vehicles and other objects. Earth's fate is at stake when Autobots and Decepticons wage a reawakened war on the planet. FiGPiN's...

figpin.com

 

[Donocropolis]

Guess I actually broke news that no one cares about, as FigPin's Transformers Mystery pins were revealed/released today:

Transformers Mystery Series 1 - EACH

From the original animated series, Transformers explore a world where Giant, robotic aliens called Autobots and evil Decepticons are capable of transforming into vehicles and other objects. Earth's fate is at stake when Autobots and Decepticons wage a reawakened war on the planet. FiGPiN's...

figpin.com

It's a curse not unlike that of Cassandra from the Greek fables. You are always able to break news on previously unannounced merchandise, but it's always merchandise that the fandom at large doesn't give two craps about.

 

[Gizmoboy]

Actually, this is still worth a news post. I'll get one put up and give our good friend @Agent X some credit for bringing it to our attention.

 

[Donocropolis]

Despite my ribbing, it actually is a good find. I'm not a pin person, but the design of these is pretty neat, the framing of characters to suggest the Autobot or Decepticon symbols.

 

[Gizmoboy]

I love that they used the Sunbow art (or at least inspired by). This is the way my brain sees these iconic characters when I think about them. If this wasn't a blind pack setup, I might consider picking some up. I just don't like blind packs. I want to know what I'm buying.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I don't know what any of the nouns here actually mean.

No worries, I got you covered.

information: facts provided or learned about something or someone

anniversary: the date on which an event took place in a previous year

FiGPiNS: hand-crafted enamel character pins featuring a patented backer that serves as a pin clasp AND display stand

months: each of the twelve named periods into which a year is divided

I: someone aware of possessing a personal individuality

result: a consequence, effect, or outcome of something

UK: abbreviation for the United Kingdom: the country of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

games: activity engaged in for diversion or amusement

site: a website

release date: a fixed date on which a product is due to become available for the public to see or buy

pins: an ornament or emblem fastened to clothing with a pin

doubts: a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction

package: an object or group of objects wrapped in paper or plastic, or packed in a box

mock-up: a static visualization of a product, app, or web page that shows what the final design will look like

case: a container designed to hold or protect something

singles: an individual person or thing rather than part of a pair or a group

minis: something small of its kind

Primus: the creator-god of the Transformers; an ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself

news: newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events

earth: the planet on which we live; the world

Transformers: a brand from Hasbro which began as a toy line and spread to encompass many various forms of merchandise, media, and entertainment

series: a number of things, events, or people of a similar kind or related nature coming one after another

sale: the exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something

Spoiler

To answer any questions: Yes, this bit took longer than I expected; yes, I spent entirely too long on this; and yes, I have regrets.

 

[Agent X]

I see what you're doing, and I love you for it.

 

[The Phazer]

Kinda neat, but the basic Megatron being 1/100 rarity? That's very silly.

 

[Donocropolis]

Yeah, never did enjoy the blindpacked toy/collectible concept. Just let me buy what I want to buy. If you really want to preserve the "fun surprise" gimmick, give us a code of some kind on the package like the old Kre-o figures or current Lego minifigures do. It preserves the mystery for the impulse buyer, but someone who's really interested in collecting the line can find the ones that they want with a little effort.

 

[The Phazer]

I mean I can sort of understand the shiny/gold variants, but it makes no sense that you have to buy literally dozens of duplicates to have a chance of getting the standard Megatron design.

 

[Agent X]

That is how all the Mystery Mini pin series worked.

My issue is making Starscream as rare as he is. I'm of the opinion he be better as a 'Common' (taking Shockwave's place) . In addition having the 'uncommon' variant Thundercracker and/or Skywarp.

 

[lastmaximal]

Yeah, never did enjoy the blindpacked toy/collectible concept. Just let me buy what I want to buy. If you really want to preserve the "fun surprise" gimmick, give us a code of some kind on the package like the old Kre-o figures or current Lego minifigures do. It preserves the mystery for the impulse buyer, but someone who's really interested in collecting the line can find the ones that they want with a little effort.

This is a big reason why I was happy to jump into Kre-O Microchangers AND Botbots. Well, this AND the general lack of a significant rarity tier situation. (Botbots would sometimes have a character only be in one of the multipacks, but there was no truly random packing that would have just made that so much worse.) Each wave you'd generally be able to get one of each.

They're charming enough that I might have begrudgingly tried them out without those, but I would probably have either lost interest or gone secondary-market only if I had to get a few of the same thing x times in a row. But because the asshole design of true blind bagging wasn't generally part of those lines, I had a happy few years going all in until they went bust. (bring back Kre-O and Botbots and bag codes)

 

[Donocropolis]

bring back Kre-O and Botbots

This. I loved both these lines. I feel like Kre-O needed a bit of modification in it's approach (keep the focus on the micro changers for "standard" sized characters, with the larger building sets being large figures like Metroplex, Trypticon, Grandus, or playsets like the Ark, the Nemesis, what have you).

 

[lastmaximal]

The Micro Changers rejuvenated that line, I feel. The minifigs were the most interesting thing about the box sets (which were just big versions of the characters), so focusing on them and allowing them to also have robot/alt mode builds was neat. Seeing how they carried those out was fun too.

And yeah, would've been nice to get base bot big builds (and little playsets) with just the occasional Battle Changer style buildable large figure version of Prime and so on. I think by the time they pivoted to GI Joe they really landed on a good such formula.