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==Toys==
==Toys==
===Hasbro===
===Hasbro===
Hasbro announced the ''Generations Selects'' branding in late 2018, with Ricochet and Red Swoop as the nominal debut figures for the line. However, the first figure to reach fans wound up being Combat Megatron, who was made available for order concurrently with New York [[Toy Fair 2019]]. Packaged in robot mode, Hasbro's ''Selects'' figures have no price markup compared to regular retail figures. [[Hasbro Pulse]] debuts ''Generations Selects'' figures for the U.S. and Canadian markets while fans in Hasbro's other markets must resort to various physical or online retailers, with the only exclusive being [[Red Wing (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Red Wing]] to the [[Target]] website (though he was eventually rereleased to other online retailers in 2020).
Hasbro announced the ''Generations Selects'' branding in late 2018, with Ricochet and Red Swoop as the nominal debut figures for the line (but with ''Siege'' Combat Megatron actually being the first to see release). Packaged in robot mode, Hasbro's ''Selects'' figures have no price markup compared to regular retail figures. [[Hasbro Pulse]] debuts ''Generations Selects'' figures for the U.S. and Canadian markets while fans in Hasbro's other markets must resort to various physical or online retailers, with the only exclusive being [[Red Wing (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Red Wing]] to the [[Target]] website (though he was eventually rereleased to other online retailers in 2020).


Following Ricochet and Red Swoop, who featured a [[Halo of Primus]] design on their packaging and were explicitly labeled as ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' by their instructions, the line transitioned to a new standard packaging design featuring the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' logo. [[2019]]'s releases were labeled as belonging to the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' portion of the trilogy by their instruction booklets, while in [[2020]], instruction sheets used the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' installment's graphic design elements, but not the logo itself (except [[Hot House (facility)#Generations|Hot House]], for reasons unclear). The Spy Patrol set was also [[:File:ToyFair2020-HasbroSlideShow11.jpg|labeled]] as part of ''Earthrise'' during the [[Toy Fair 2020]] presentation. [[Deep Cover#Generations|Deep Cover]] and [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Ramjet]] were released during ''Kingdom'' and feature the new-for-2021 cardboard packaging tray, but retain the ''Earthrise'' instructions graphics.
====''Power of the Primes''====
[[File:Selects-Deluxe-Red-Swoop.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Dinobot Red Swoop]]
The nominal beginning of ''Generations Selects'', the ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' tie-ins were explicitly labelled as such by their instructions and came in brown boxes featuring a [[Halo of Primus]] motif.


For ''Legacy'', the line's packaging was given a new look, keeping the brown card box, monochrome black printing, and seal sticker, but now giving each release a unique schematic line-art illustration of the toy within, in a similar style to Takara's previous ''Selects'' packaging (see [[#TakaraTomy|below]]).
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Ricochet (Headmasters)#Generations Selects|Ricochet]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Swoop (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Dinobot Red Swoop]]}}
</ul>


''Age of the Primes'' ditched the plain brown look entirely in favor of a new design featuring line-art illustrations of the toy within overlaid with spraypaint-like splashes of color, with additional design elements unifying ''Generations Selects''' look with ''Age of the Primes'' and the similarly-redesigned ''[[Studio Series]]''.
Before ''Selects'', Hasbro had experimented with the concept of "special edition" toys in other parts of the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'' ([[#Notes|see below]]).
{{-}}


{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy''====
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]</u>
The ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' saw ''Selects'' transition to a new standard packaging design prominently featuring a prominent graffiti–styled Autobot (usually) insignia and the word "WAR" in [[Cybertronian language]].  Toys that tied into the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege]]'' chapter of the trilogy were clearly labelled and marked as such, but categorisation of the ''Selects'' toys from [[2020]] onwards became pretty much based on vibes, with year of release and the design elements of each toy's instruction booklet being the main deciding factors.
 
{| width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'''''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Ricochet (Headmasters)#Generations Selects|Ricochet]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Swoop (G1)/toys#POTPGS|Dinobot Red Swoop]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]</u>
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS01 [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#GS01|Combat Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS01 [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#GS01|Combat Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS02 [[Red Wing (G1)#Toys|Decepticon Red Wing]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS02 [[Red Wing (G1)#Toys|Decepticon Red Wing]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS03 [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#GS03|Galactic Man Shockwave]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS03 [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#GS03|Galactic Man Shockwave]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS04 [[Cromar#Generations Selects|Powerdasher Cromar]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS04 [[Cromar#Generations Selects|Powerdasher Cromar]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS05 [[Lancer#Toys|Autobot Lancer]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS05 [[Lancer#Toys|Autobot Lancer]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS06 [[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Smokescreen]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS06 [[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Smokescreen]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS07 [[Nightbird (G1)#Generations Selects|Nightbird]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS07 [[Nightbird (G1)#Generations Selects|Nightbird]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS08 [[Zetar (G1)#Generations Selects|Powerdasher Zetar]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS08 [[Zetar (G1)#Generations Selects|Powerdasher Zetar]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS09 [[Hot Shot (G1)#Generations Selects|Hot Shot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS09 [[Hot Shot (G1)#Generations Selects|Hot Shot]]}}
{{Bp-merc|TT-GS12 [[Soundblaster (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Soundblaster]]<br>(TakaraTomy import)}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=3|[[File:GS-toy RedWing.jpg|thumb|250px|Voyager Class Red Wing]][[File:TF-Generations-Selects-Black-Zarak.jpg|thumb|250px|Titan Class Black Zarak]][[File:TF-GenSelects-SmallFoot.jpg|thumb|250px|Deluxe Class Smallfoot]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Contemporary to ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'''''</u>
|-
{{Bp-a1d1|WFC-GS10 Soundwave Spy Patrol 3rd Unit<ref group="A">The Spy Patrol 3rd Unit was presented at [[Toy Fair 2020]] with [[:File:ToyFair2020-HasbroSlideShow11.jpg|the ''Earthrise'' logo]].</ref><br>([[Wingthing (G1)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Wingthing]], [[Frenzy (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Decepticon Frenzy]], [[Skar (G1)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Skar]] & [[Knok#Generations Selects|Autobot/Decepticon Knok]])}}
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]''</u>
{{Bp-a1d1|WFC-GS10 Soundwave Spy Patrol 3rd Unit<br>([[Wingthing (G1)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Wingthing]], [[Frenzy (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Decepticon Frenzy]], [[Skar (G1)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Skar]] & [[Knok#Generations Selects|Autobot/Decepticon Knok]])}}
{{Bp-merc|WFC-GS11 [[Exhaust#Generations Selects|Decepticon Exhaust]]}}
{{Bp-merc|WFC-GS11 [[Exhaust#Generations Selects|Decepticon Exhaust]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS12 [[Greasepit (facility)#Generations Selects|Greasepit]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS12 [[Greasepit (facility)#Generations Selects|Greasepit]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS13 [[Hubcap (G1)#Generations Selects|Hubcap]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS13 [[Hubcap (G1)#Generations Selects|Hubcap]]}}
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS14 [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#GS14|Megatron]]<br>(''Generation 2'' deco)}}
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS14 [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#GS14|Megatron]]<br>(''Generation 2'' deco)}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS15 [[Hot House (facility)#Generations Selects|Hot House]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS15 [[Hot House (facility)#Generations Selects|Hot House]]<ref group="A">Hot House, unlike the rest of his contemporaries, actually made use of the ''Earthrise'' logo on his instructions.</ref>}}
{{Bp-merc|WFC-GS16 [[Bug Bite (G1)#Generations Selects|Bug Bite]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-merc|WFC-GS16 [[Bug Bite (G1)#Generations Selects|Bug Bite]]}}
{{bp-sa|WFC-GS17 [[Optimus Prime (SG)#Generations Selects|Shattered Glass Optimus Prime]] & [[Ratchet (SG)#Generations Selects|Shattered Glass Ratchet]]}}
{{bp-sa|WFC-GS17 [[Optimus Prime (SG)#Generations Selects|Shattered Glass Optimus Prime]] & [[Ratchet (SG)#Generations Selects|Shattered Glass Ratchet]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS18 [[Tigertrack#Generations Selects|Autobot Tigertrack]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS18 [[Tigertrack#Generations Selects|Autobot Tigertrack]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS19 [[Rotorstorm (G1)#Generations Selects|Rotorstorm]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS19 [[Rotorstorm (G1)#Generations Selects|Rotorstorm]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS20 [[Cordon (G1)#Generations Selects|Cordon]] & [[Spin-Out (G1)#Generations Selects|Autobot Spin-Out]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS20 [[Cordon (G1)#Generations Selects|Cordon]] & [[Spin-Out (G1)#Generations Selects|Autobot Spin-Out]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS21 [[Sandstorm (G2)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Sandstorm]]}}
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS21 [[Sandstorm (G2)#Generations Selects|Decepticon Sandstorm]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS22 [[Black Roritchi#Generations Selects|Black Roritchi]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS22 [[Black Roritchi#Generations Selects|Black Roritchi]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS23 [[Deep Cover#Generations Selects|Deep Cover]]}}
|
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS24 [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Ramjet]]<br>(''Generation 2'' deco)}}
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Contemporary to ''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]'''''</u>
|-
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS23 [[Deep Cover#Generations Selects|Deep Cover]]<ref group="A" name=Ramjet>Deep Cover and Ramjet, despite being released during ''Kingdom'', made use of ''Earthrise'' design elements in their instruction booklets.</ref>}}
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]''</u>
{{Bp-d2|WFC-GS24 [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Ramjet]]<ref group="A" name=Ramjet/><br>(''Generation 2'' deco)}}
{{Bp-m1|WFC-GS25 [[Transmutate (BW)#Generations Selects|Transmutate]]}}
{{Bp-m1|WFC-GS25 [[Transmutate (BW)#Generations Selects|Transmutate]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS26 [[Artfire#Generations Selects|Artfire]] & [[Nightstick (Headmasters)#Generations Selects|Nightstick]]}}
{{Bp-a1|WFC-GS26 [[Artfire#Generations Selects|Artfire]] & [[Nightstick (Headmasters)#Generations Selects|Nightstick]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS27 [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Galvatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|WFC-GS27 [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Galvatron]]}}
{{Bp-m1|WFC-K39 [[Tricranius#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Tricranius Beast Power]]<ref group="A">Despite an ID number placing the set firmly in ''War for Cybertron: Kingdom'', Tricranius Beast Power also features the ''Selects'' logo on the packaging's label.</ref>}}
{{bp-d1|[[Galvatron (G1)/toys#BeholdGalvatron|Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack]]<ref group="A">Like Tricranius, the Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack also features the ''Selects'' logo on the packaging's label, despite otherwise being sold as a ''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' standalone.</ref>}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" |[[File:Selects-Voyager-CombatMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Combat Megatron]][[File:Generations select Transmutate.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Transmutate]]
|}
;Related releases
The mailer box-style package evidently appealed to Hasbro, and saw use with several of its online retailer exclusives.  For ease of reference, these ''Generations Selects''-style releases are listed below.  Despite common fan misconception stemming from the use of these boxes, <u>none of these toys below are ''Selects'' products.</u>
{|width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''Earthrise'' exclusives'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#AUOP|Alternate Universe Optimus Prime]]}}
{{bp-a1d1|WFC-E33 [[Centurion droid#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Deluxe Centurion Drone]]<br>(Weaponizer, w/ [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#E33|Megatron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Optimus Prime]], [[Reflector (G1)#E33|Refraktor]], [[Roller (G1)#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Roller]], [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Soundwave]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''Galactic Odyssey Collection'''''</u>
{{Bp-a1|Encounter 1: [[Paradron]] Medics}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Ratchet (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Ratchet]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Lifeline (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Lifeline]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|Encounter 2: [[Micro]]n Micromasters}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Fireguard#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Fireguard]] & [[Roadburner#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Roadburner]]}}
:{{Bp-d1|[[Barricade (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Decepticon Runner]] & [[Motorhead (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Motorhead]]}}
:{{Bp-a1d1|[[Stingracer#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Stingracer]] & [[Windstorm#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Windstorm]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1|Encounter 3: [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Biosfera]] Autobot Clones}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Fastlane#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Fastlane]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Cloudraker (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Cloudraker]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|Encounter 4: [[Master (planet)|Dominus]] Criminal Pursuit}}
:{{Bp-d1|[[Barricade (IDW)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Barricade]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Punch (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Punch-Counterpunch]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1|Encounter 5: [[Botropolis]] Rescue Mission}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Overair (facility)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Overair]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Ironworks (facility)#Botropolis|Ironworks]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Phaser (G1)#Botropolis|Fuzer]] & [[Blast Master#Botropolis|Autobot Blast Master]]}}
:{{Bp-a1|[[Missile Master#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Missile Master]] & [[Moonrock#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Moonrock]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''TakaraTomy import'''</u>
{{Bp-merc|TT-GS12 [[Soundblaster (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Soundblaster]]<ref group="A">Soundblaster was one of Hasbro Pulse's U.S. imports of TakaraTomy products ([[#TakaraTomy|see below]]).  A regular (albeit exclusive) ''Siege'' release in Japan, the Hasbro Pulse Soundblaster simply added an outer packaging sleeve with ''Selects'' branding.  In both markets, its release occurred contemporarily to ''Kingdom''.</ref>}}
|}
;Notes
<references group="A" />
====''Legacy''====
For ''Selects'' tie-ins to the ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' lines, the packaging was given a new look, keeping the brown card box, monochrome black printing, and seal sticker, but now giving each release a unique schematic line-art illustration of the toy within, in a similar style to Takara's previous ''Selects'' packaging (see [[#TakaraTomy|below]]).
{|width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)#Generations Selects|Black Zarak]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)#Generations Selects|Black Zarak]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)#Generations Selects|Lift-Ticket]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)#Generations Selects|Lift-Ticket]]}}
Line 81: Line 124:
{{Bp-p1|[[Antagony (BW)#Generations Selects|Antagony]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Antagony (BW)#Generations Selects|Antagony]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Transformers: Legacy#United|Legacy: United]]''</u>
|width="40%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Transformers: Legacy#United|Legacy: United]]''</u>
{{Bp-a1|Autobots Stand United 5-Pack<br>([[Jazz (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Autobot Jazz]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Sunstreaker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Trailbreaker]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Wheeljack]], [[Hound (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Autobot Hound]])}}
{{Bp-a1|Autobots Stand United 5-Pack<br>([[Jazz (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Autobot Jazz]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Sunstreaker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Trailbreaker]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Wheeljack]], [[Hound (G1)/toys#Generations Selects|Autobot Hound]])}}
{{Bp-a1d1|Go-Bot Guardians 3-Pack<br>([[Path Finder#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Pathfinder]], [[Treds#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Treds]], [[Small Foot#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Smallfoot]])}}
{{Bp-a1d1|Go-Bot Guardians 3-Pack<br>([[Path Finder#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Pathfinder]], [[Treds#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Treds]], [[Small Foot#Generations Selects|Go-Bot Smallfoot]])}}
|-
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=3|[[File:TF-Generations-Selects-Black-Zarak.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Black Zarak]]
|}
 
====''Ages of the Primes''====
[[File:Selects Trypticon.jpg|thumb|upright=2.66|Trypticon]]
 
''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]''-branded ''Selects'' toys ditched the plain brown look cardboard boxes in favor of a new style featuring line-art illustrations of the toy within overlaid with spraypaint-like splashes of color, with additional design elements unifying ''Generations Selects''{{'}} look with ''Age of the Primes'' and the similarly-redesigned ''[[Studio Series]]''.
 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Trypticon (G1)#Generations Selects|Trypticon]]<br>(with [[Full-Tilt (G1)#Generations Selects|Full-Tilt]] and [[Wipe-Out#Generations Selects|Necro]])}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Trypticon (G1)#Generations Selects|Trypticon]]<br>(with [[Full-Tilt (G1)#Generations Selects|Full-Tilt]] and [[Wipe-Out#Generations Selects|Necro]])}}
</ul>
</ul>
|}
{{-}}


===TakaraTomy===
===TakaraTomy===

Revision as of 15:29, 8 February 2025

Japanese G1 continuity
Generations Selects
Hasbro
TakaraTomy
Deluxe Class Exhaust

Debuting in 2019, Generations Selects is a series of exclusive figures sold mainly through online retailers, intersecting multiple thematic sublines of Generations. The line consists of special edition redecoes and retools of Generations figures, packaged in brown cardboard mailer boxes broadly similar to the late TFCC Figure Subscription Service.

As with other Transformers lines from 2018 onward, Hasbro and TakaraTomy attempt to make Generations Selects equally available to fans in each other's primary market. U.S. and Canadian fans (except in Québec) can purchase Takara Selects figures from Hasbro Pulse while Japanese fans can purchase some Hasbro Selects figures from TakaraTomy Mall.

Toys

Hasbro

Hasbro announced the Generations Selects branding in late 2018, with Ricochet and Red Swoop as the nominal debut figures for the line (but with Siege Combat Megatron actually being the first to see release). Packaged in robot mode, Hasbro's Selects figures have no price markup compared to regular retail figures. Hasbro Pulse debuts Generations Selects figures for the U.S. and Canadian markets while fans in Hasbro's other markets must resort to various physical or online retailers, with the only exclusive being Decepticon Red Wing to the Target website (though he was eventually rereleased to other online retailers in 2020).

Power of the Primes

Dinobot Red Swoop

The nominal beginning of Generations Selects, the Power of the Primes tie-ins were explicitly labelled as such by their instructions and came in brown boxes featuring a Halo of Primus motif.

Before Selects, Hasbro had experimented with the concept of "special edition" toys in other parts of the Prime Wars Trilogy (see below).

War for Cybertron Trilogy

The War for Cybertron Trilogy saw Selects transition to a new standard packaging design prominently featuring a prominent graffiti–styled Autobot (usually) insignia and the word "WAR" in Cybertronian language. Toys that tied into the War for Cybertron: Siege chapter of the trilogy were clearly labelled and marked as such, but categorisation of the Selects toys from 2020 onwards became pretty much based on vibes, with year of release and the design elements of each toy's instruction booklet being the main deciding factors.

Siege Contemporary to Earthrise
  • WFC-GS10 Soundwave Spy Patrol 3rd Unit[A 1]
    (Decepticon Wingthing, Decepticon Frenzy, Decepticon Skar & Autobot/Decepticon Knok)
  • WFC-GS11 Decepticon Exhaust
  • WFC-GS12 Greasepit
  • WFC-GS13 Hubcap
  • WFC-GS14 Megatron
    (Generation 2 deco)
  • WFC-GS15 Hot House[A 2]

  • WFC-GS16 Bug Bite
  • WFC-GS17 Shattered Glass Optimus Prime & Shattered Glass Ratchet
  • WFC-GS18 Autobot Tigertrack
  • WFC-GS19 Rotorstorm
  • WFC-GS20 Cordon & Autobot Spin-Out
  • WFC-GS21 Decepticon Sandstorm
  • WFC-GS22 Black Roritchi
  • Contemporary to Kingdom
  • WFC-GS23 Deep Cover[A 3]
  • WFC-GS24 Ramjet[A 3]
    (Generation 2 deco)
  • WFC-GS25 Transmutate
  • WFC-GS26 Artfire & Nightstick
  • WFC-GS27 Galvatron
  • WFC-K39 Tricranius Beast Power[A 4]
  • Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack[A 5]
  • Combat Megatron
    Transmutate
    Related releases

    The mailer box-style package evidently appealed to Hasbro, and saw use with several of its online retailer exclusives. For ease of reference, these Generations Selects-style releases are listed below. Despite common fan misconception stemming from the use of these boxes, none of these toys below are Selects products.

    Earthrise exclusives Galactic Odyssey Collection
  • Encounter 1: Paradron Medics
  • Ratchet
  • Lifeline
  • Encounter 2: Micron Micromasters
  • Fireguard & Roadburner
  • Decepticon Runner & Motorhead
  • Stingracer & Windstorm

  • Encounter 3: Biosfera Autobot Clones
  • Fastlane
  • Cloudraker
  • Encounter 4: Dominus Criminal Pursuit
  • Barricade
  • Punch-Counterpunch

  • Encounter 5: Botropolis Rescue Mission
  • Overair
  • Ironworks
  • Fuzer & Autobot Blast Master
  • Missile Master & Moonrock
  • TakaraTomy import
  • TT-GS12 Soundblaster[A 6]
  • Notes
    1. The Spy Patrol 3rd Unit was presented at Toy Fair 2020 with the Earthrise logo.
    2. Hot House, unlike the rest of his contemporaries, actually made use of the Earthrise logo on his instructions.
    3. 3.0 3.1 Deep Cover and Ramjet, despite being released during Kingdom, made use of Earthrise design elements in their instruction booklets.
    4. Despite an ID number placing the set firmly in War for Cybertron: Kingdom, Tricranius Beast Power also features the Selects logo on the packaging's label.
    5. Like Tricranius, the Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack also features the Selects logo on the packaging's label, despite otherwise being sold as a War for Cybertron Trilogy standalone.
    6. Soundblaster was one of Hasbro Pulse's U.S. imports of TakaraTomy products (see below). A regular (albeit exclusive) Siege release in Japan, the Hasbro Pulse Soundblaster simply added an outer packaging sleeve with Selects branding. In both markets, its release occurred contemporarily to Kingdom.

    Legacy

    For Selects tie-ins to the Legacy lines, the packaging was given a new look, keeping the brown card box, monochrome black printing, and seal sticker, but now giving each release a unique schematic line-art illustration of the toy within, in a similar style to Takara's previous Selects packaging (see below).

    Legacy Legacy: Evolution
  • Magnificus
  • Guardian Robot & Lunar-Tread
  • Antagony
  • Legacy: United
  • Autobots Stand United 5-Pack
    (Autobot Jazz, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Autobot Hound)
  • Go-Bot Guardians 3-Pack
    (Go-Bot Pathfinder, Go-Bot Treds, Go-Bot Smallfoot)
  • Black Zarak

    Ages of the Primes

    Trypticon

    Age of the Primes-branded Selects toys ditched the plain brown look cardboard boxes in favor of a new style featuring line-art illustrations of the toy within overlaid with spraypaint-like splashes of color, with additional design elements unifying Generations Selects' look with Age of the Primes and the similarly-redesigned Studio Series.


    TakaraTomy

    Volcanicus (box)

    TakaraTomy's Generation Selects [sic] figures succeed the niche of the previous 2014 to 2019 Legends and Unite Warriors series, featuring uniquely extensive retooling and higher-budget paint operations for accuracy to each character's era of origin in the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity. Additionally, the Japanese version of Generations Selects features a heavy emphasis on combiner teams, a feature noticeably absent from the War for Cybertron Trilogy toyline. Due to the Transformers market in Japan being smaller and shrinking, Takara's turnout of Selects figures is smaller compared to Legends and Unite Warriors. As with those lines, Takara's figures are packaged in alternate mode.

    As per brand unification, Hasbro Pulse releases the TakaraTomy-made figures with no changes save for a black packaging sleeve labeled in English. Soundblaster's Selects branding is unique to Hasbro Pulse's release, with the original TakaraTomy release being part of Siege.

    At the beginning of the series release, TakaraTomy declined the usual trend of assigning ID numbers to their Selects releases. By contrast, Hasbro Pulse labels each Takara Selects release distinctly from Hasbro Selects figures on their pre-order page.

    However, in Transformers Generations 2021, TakaraTomy gave Super Megatron the ID number TT-GS09 and assigned other numbers to subsequent items in order, thus making TakaraTomy's ID numbers different from Hasbro Pulse's. As for the numbers between TT-GS01 and TT-GS08, TakaraTomy does not specify which items correspond to each number.

    Notes

    Foreign names

    • Japanese: Generation Selects (ジェネレーションセレクト Jenerēshon Serekuto)[3]
    • Mandarin: Biànxíng Jīngāng Shìdài Jīngxuǎn Xìliè (變形金剛世代精選系列, "Transformers Generations Selects Series"), Biànxíng Jīngāng Shìdài Xìliè Jīngxuǎn (變形金剛世代系列精選, "Transformers Generations Series Selects")

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 Tweet by TakaraTomy's official account
    2. https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/medix-confirmed-as-walgreens-exclusive-and-2023-selects-toys-will-include-antagony-and-windsweeper/47526/
    3. TakaraTomy does not use this Japanese spelling very often, instead straight-up inserting the untranslated all-caps English phrase "GENERATION SELECTS" into Japanese text.