Changeables are go!

GO TO MCDONALD'S!

I'm so glad it's Monday (said no one ever)

Time to peel away the weekend and face Monday head on Zone Base readers. A new week is here and it's time we punch it right in the face! I hope everyone had a great weekend, I sure did! The Mrs and I had a fun time not doing a lot... and it was great! I actually had a little cold and needed some downtime with plenty of Coricidin, Ricola, and nose spray. I didn't buy any toys, but did get some Micro SD cards for my Atari Gamestation Go. Actually, this coming weekend the Mrs and I have a lot of shopping in mind, so I held off ordering anything in anticipation of our upcoming shopping trip. 

I assembled my Yolopark Transformers AMK Mini wave 2 models and about 9 Blokees Transformers Defender Version series 04 Sunday. That was a lot of fun. I can't get enough Defender Version and Yolopark seems to have stepped up the minis since wave 1. Wave 1 was great... but these just feel better, though I did have a little QC issues that required an email to Yolopark. Arcee came with 2 left upper thighs and no right one and the bonus Clear Hound was missing 1 wheel. I'm sure they'll replace them, but that sure was a bummer. Still, I can't wait to get wave 3! Speaking of can't wait, news leaked of an upcoming new series of McDonald's Food Changeables coming soon! I try to watch my diet, so I'm sure I'll be opting for the buy a toy without the meal options more than Happy Meals. Still, another great thing to look out for! It's like the universe is celebrating Zone Base's 10th anniversary!

Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me. I've got a lot to do. Household chores and some toy pictures to take for upcoming posts. I hope everyone has an awesome week. Mondays, right? Please look forward to a fun week of robots, monsters, and misadventure here on the site. Don't forget to share with your friends and be excellent to one another!

Transform Squadron 46- Shining Code Orange

Rob talks Code Orange, Telecoma Senshi, and various Tectors while not realizing his beard is rubbing against the microphone.

LISTEN NOW!

Here a bot, there a bot

I've been super duper enjoying buying BotBots since their release. It's hard not to, they meet so many of my wants in toys. Right now I've been focusing on series 2 bling packs. They're readily available at the Walmart I buy groceries at each week. I usually pull up the check list on my phone and pick out a few I want. I've been making a point to not get any that are also in multi packs and going in picking out specific ones each week. It's much more fun for me that way and keeps things interesting. I find myself focusing on the food based ones (Food Changables for life), though the other ones are super fun too. This weekend I got Songwave, whom is a 'smart home' device like an Alexa. He's a reworking of Pucksie and honestly a toy I like better than the first use.

If you don't Botbot, kiss a Buttbutt

It's been a minute since I've talked about Botbots here and that's a shame since I love them so. I've got a pack unopened in my toy room and plans to grab another pack or two this weekend. I've been sick all week, so having some fun with Botbots this weekend sounds like just the pick me up. I'd call this Botbottalk, but I recognize other sites.

These came along as I was pining for a return of Food Changeables and offered a spiritual follow up that built upon that idea. The thing is, these don't have to be a Transformers branded thing for me to enjoy them. A hamburger or a laptop that transforms into a robot as a small inexpensive toy is just the kind of thing I'd be all for. In fact, I kinda hope to see cheapo rip offs of Botbots eventually. I'd totally be down for hitting up multiple Family Dollars tracking down weird copycats. Everyone has made the Shopkins comparison, and since we're comparing I hope they do holiday themed sets like Shopkins does. My wife buys Shopkins and frankly I'm jealous of those holiday sets. They're really neat.

Everyone and their neighbors mama has wished for a McDonald's Happy Meal of Botbots. Part of me just wants to buy a cheeseburger and fries and drop a blind pack into the bag. That's how ridiculous I am for the idea, I'm planing to DIY a Happy Meal. Though thinking Happy Meals, they'd obviously be lower budget versions of the Botbots (which I'd be ok with) or maybe even odd figurines or odd gimmick toys (which I'd surprising also be ok with, I'd kind of like a pull back corn dog toy). Realistically, I'd be all for whatever fast food place that would do a Botbots meal, but deep inside I want to see that Food Changeables/Botbots cross over happen. It kinda has to.

I'm excited for the Japanese market to get these. I'd love to see Gatchapon versions or what kind of odd exclusives they'd get. Clear Botbots exclusive to some random release that I'd probably never be able to obtain? That would drive me crazy, but I'd love the possibility. You know, maybe they could actually make the Rockbots happen. Man, what kind of world would it be where a never produced toy concept from G1 was released decades later in a sub line with a cupcake vampire?

Spud Muffin (Botbots)

Spud Muffin is a member of the Greaser Gang of Botbots and an extremely photogenic box of french fries! Another surprise of the line and a spiritual successor to Food Changeables, Spud Muffin turns into one super rad robot! I really like his cool dude hair and big goofy smile. I feel like he should be on a t-shirt I wore in the 90's. Or now, I'd wear that shirt now. Proudly.

Botbots first impressions

I was pleased to find Botbots series 1 blind boxes at my local Walmart this past weekend. Despite being on a "don't buy anything until after Christmas" order from the wife, I was allowed to get them. There are codes on the packaging embossed on the back right corner, so I picked out 7 individual figures (eventually I'm sure the list will be curated by somebody, the current lists available only apply to control numbers written on promotional packages apparently) and had myself a grand old time opening them Saturday night. Only to be surprised by a Techie Team pack the Mrs. had gotten me off Amazon afterwards, let's just say I had a great night.

I've been looking forward to these for sometime now and my expectations were blown out of the water. I honestly felt they'd be silly little novelty things that I'd appreciate on face value. What I found is these are some super solid Transformers toys on their own outside of the silliness. Despite being around the same price as Tiny Turbo Changers, these are a much better value. A better quality packaging, and honestly a better quality toy. Upon first glance they seem like spiritual successors to Food Changeables (and still kinda are), but in hand I found myself enjoying these in the same manner I enjoy Micromasters. Sure, they may turn into silly things like corn dogs and ice cream cones. Sure, they are super cute and silly in robot mode. They sure are super fun and work in the same space that Micromaster fit in. They're just great little toys.

If I had to find any fault in these, it's the plastic is a touch soft. This really isn't a problem, but sometimes allows for things like arms and legs popping off easily. It didn't really bother me as I do that with regular Transformers all the time. Though, it's sure to be somebodies sticking point outside of saying G1 over and over again and something something shelf. I'm pretty smitten with these and can't put into words the giddiness I felt upon opening the blind boxes. Despite buying Transformers for 35 years, there's no comparing opening a tiny corn dog robot.

McBotbotCon

Like many of you, I cannot stop making comparisons to the new Transformers Botbots and McDonald's Food Changeables.  Then it hit me. What if... what if... WHAT IF THERE WAS A MCDONALD'S BOTBOTS HAPPY MEAL WHERE THE BOTBOTS TURNED INTO MCDONALD'S FOOD? WHAT IF THERE WAS A BOTBOTS CHANGEABLES HAPPY MEAL? WHY IS THERE NOT ONE ALREADY?

I've went to thinking these were silly and neat to stark raving mad over these little things. Clearly I am in the most excellent timeline.

Botbots reveal!

Thanks to Hasbro and their partners, I just opened up the newest press release for Botbots and man now I really want them! Check it out!

BotBots are mischievous little robots who came to life from everyday objects inside a shopping mall! This rare type of Transformers robot is tiny, mischievous, and great at hiding!

BotBots, what what

So actual information about Botbots came forth today and it's a little out of left field. In case the cute name wasn't a clue, Botbots are obviously intended for children (man... why they keep making toys for kids?) and are seemingly a stab at the Shopkins crowd which if you look at that area in your local stores is obviously a booming segment (man... why does these companies keep trying to make money?). This picture is all we're given to imagine the line and it's clear that we have a line of food Transformers. I'm sure readers know this is something I'd like (man... why does he keep buying things he likes?).

I love blind bags, this is known. I don't know if these transform like Tiny Turbo Changers and I'd be completely ok if the didn't. I like pvc figurines a lot as is and these would be pretty charming in a pvc figurine. My wife likes Shopkins and buys them often. If they come like those, this will be fun. Usually Shopkins have a few toys in a blind pack, or in the case of the Shopkins Happy Places-a matching theme for the included blind toys. For a few dollars a couple of silly little Botbots are too weird to resist.

 

 I own a weird site about monsters and robots with a random old McDonald's commercials, did you think I'd hate them?

Mcdeeewuun

Every so often I wish McDonald's would revive these. They'd be great! They'd be awesome! They'd make so much more sense than anything they've done in a long time (I mean, I can buy 2 for 2.50 6 piece chicken nuggets and add on fries and drink for less than the 10 piece chicken nuggets meal)!