High Moon Studios have released some changes to the Multi-Player mode for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron which will make the game a little fairer for players using different classes of robot. You can find full details of the changes over on the High Moon Studios website or by reading the copy below.

"We mainly focused on abilities and weapons with our first update, and we're happy with how those changes turned out.  We've had enough time to gather data about the weapon and ability upgrades, and it was clear some changes could improve the parity in these choices.  So, the focus in this update is to make the upgrade choices better balanced.

"

HighMoon Studios have updated the official Facebook page for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron with a render of Hound.  Hound will be available next week as a part of the "Massive Fury" DLC pack.

TakaraTomy have published a video on their YouTube channel which is a spotlight on their upcoming Masterpiece Lambor. The video also features commentary, in Japanese, by designer Shogo Hasui, and high-res teaser images for MP-13 Soundwave and MP-14 Red Alert.

Some new scans from Japanese hobby magazines mean that we can all now see some new images of some of the upcoming Japanese Transformers figures.  You can view the images below.

e-HOBBY has uploaded the final installment of their interview with Yoshioka Hidetsugu. Yoshioka Hidetsugu is a Japanese Illustrator who did the box art for toys in Masterforce, Victory, Zone, Operation Combination and Return of Convoy; as well as many of the e-HOBBY pack-in comics.

GiantBomb.com,a gaming website, have posted a video onto YouTube showing the final version of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron with commentary from High Moon Studio's own Matt Tieger. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron hits retail on August 21st

e-Hobby have posted part 2 of their interview with Hidetsugu Yoshioka where he gives his frank opinions on artistic techniques, characterization, and US comic writing.  This is the second of the three part interview which is available in both Japanese and English.

Japanese -http://www.e-hobbymagazine.com/information/4718.html

English - http://www.e-hobbymagazine.com/english/information_en/4726.html

Here are some snippets from the interview

From Twitter: Are there any stories or scenes from the Marvel comics that you’re fond of?

Yoshioka: Rather than any specific scenes, I liked how they’d lump guys like Bludgeon, Octopunch, and Stranglehold together, and make you wonder what they could possibly have in common. (Laughter)

From Twitter: “Your use of heavy shadowing, evoking the atmosphere of American comics, gives an intense visual appeal to your works. When drawing in that style, what’s the vision behind your art?”

Yoshioka: In Japan, there’s a style of manga called “gekiga”. It’s pretty much a dead genre now. (Laughter) This style used a lot of shadowing, which would make the panels seem more distinct when compared with typical white backgrounds. Gekiga were practically pitch-black. I read some of them when I was a kid, and it had an influence. Japanese art doesn’t usually use shadowing that much. It must have been after Katsuhiro Otomo that people began using screen tones to tighten up art.

From Facebook: “Would you ever consider working on Transformers comics for the Western market, such as titles published by IDW? I know we’d love to see your work published on our shores!”

…As you can see from this question, you do have a lot of global fans. When we announced this interview, we got a lot of people in foreign countries saying “I really want to ask Yoshioka-sensei a question!” or “I’m dying to get one of his illustrations!”

Yoshioka: Oh, I’d be honored. I don’t know how we’d communicate, though. (Laughter)

I’ll be your personal interpreter! (Laughter) If you had the chance, would you be interested in taking part in one of the overseas Transformers conventions?

Yoshioka: I’d really like to. We don’t have that kind of thing in Japan.

I feel like if there was a Transformers-only event in Japan, a lot of fans would flock to it.

Yoshioka: At general events like Wonder Festival and Super Festival, it’s not focused on Transformers, and there’s no official booth, either. I wonder how many fans would come together in Japan for a TF-themed event?

Looking at the number of fans who line up to buy exclusives at the events we have now, I definitely think it’s possible.

Yoshioka: It’d probably be those same people who would take part in a Transformers event. But that should be enough, as long as they don’t mess up with the capacity of the convention center. (Laughter)

eHobby Magazine has a three part interview with Hidetsugu Yoshioka, an illustrator who has been working with the Transformers brand from the beginning.

Part one is here:
Hidetsugu Yoshioka Special Interview Vol. 1 |

YouTuber Wartator has posted a video review of the upcoming Transformers Prime Weaponizer Optimus Prime figure. Watator was given the toy by Hasbro Poland to review and has stated that he believes the figure is 2 months away from a general release. You can watch the video below.

It's catch-up time here at Transformers At The Moon and what better place to start than by uploading the rest of the Japanese Hobby Magazine scans we're collected for the last 6 months (don't worry we still have about another 30-50 back issues from the 90s to scan through yet).  So without further-a-do, here's the list of which magazines are now available:

Dengeki Hobby

I've added the Feb 2012 and June 2012 issues.

Figure King

Issues 168, 169 and 171 are also now available.

Hobby Japan

The June 2012 issue is now available.

Hyper Hobby

For Hyper Hobby, you can now find issues for March, April and May 2012 all online.

TV Boy

We've added the March, April, May and June 2012 issues of TV Boy to our archive.

TV Magazine

The Jan 2012 issue has finally been added.

The promotion drive for High Moon Studios pcoming Transformers: Fall of Cybertron video game continues in the form of an interview their president, Peter Della Penna, and Marketing Manager, Greg Agiu, have held with TheAlistDaily.com in which they discuss Transformers both at a brand level as well as specifically regarding Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Some of the highlights include how they obtained the license to make a Transformers game in the first place, how they were tapping up the veteran voice actors to wokr on the products and how they managed to get the Dinobots into the new game. Check it out by following the link within this story.

PlayworksOnline has posted an interview with Takara's legendary lead Transformers designer Hideaki Yoke from Cybertron Con 2012.  You can read the full interview here

PW: Did you ever imagine Transformers to become the success that it is today?

HY: Never ever! The franchise we see today is more than something that I could have imagined. All I can say is that all of this is  more than a dream come true to me.

PW: Which is harder? Trying to put character and personality into a machine, or trying to design the way the robots Transform? Because it is one thing to see the robots transform on screen, but to have toys that do the same thing? That’s looks like a lot of planning to us.

HY: I understand why this question came up as we keep aiming to amaze customers by designing rich personalities in both vehicle and robot mode with great transforming skills. The fact is however, that they are not that hard to design in either way. There will be some challenges in matching the products with the screen characters, but our designers enjoy accomplishing their job and at the same time, raise the bar a couple of notches

PW: We’re sure you go through a hundred and one different designs and prototypes before a Transformer is born. What factors do you consider when deciding on a new Transformer? Are the factors the same as they were back then in Gen 1 & 2?

HY: Our customers today are of a broader demographic and their expectations to the brand are also not the same for each each group. I need to proof the design concept brief more carefully before the gray models are made. Looking back to Gen 1 & 2, I think we were more optimistic and our aim was to design just nice Transformers.

PW: This 28-year franchise has seen comics, cartoons, video games and movies. We can safely say that, like Mario, The Transformers is yet another trancendent force that Dad’s of today can share with their children. Do you think the parents of today will be able to sit down with their grandchildren and tell them stories of the first generation of The Transformers? Will Transformers still be coherent?

HY: Yes, I can proudly say that the Transformers not just a content, but also a toyline that fathers and their children can sit down to spend time playing/ watching together.

As for the factors of its long lasting popularity, I think it is the “Transforming” concept itself which has intrigued people. Transforming is in fact a great pattern of play itself. Of course, we have been putting a lot of effort to innovate the product line every year to make it fresh exciting. Our designers’ expertise and passion make this heavy task possible.

I’m convinced that the Transformers can be an ever-green playground for future customers if the tradition is passed down – next generation of designers following the key factors to success. The Transformers can be a universal language for every generation all over the world.

PW: You have overseen dozens of designs and development of Transformers, what is your all-time favourite Transformer and why?

HY: Perceptor is my favorite. The 2nd is Reflector even though it is not a popular character and it has less of a transforming magic. I was totally absorbed in designing or engineering those smaller robots of pre-Transformers. These designs make me recall those days.

PW: Finally, what can fans of the franchise expect to see at the first-ever Cybertron Convention in Singapore?

HY: I am hoping that the Cybertron Convention in Singapore offers the greatest opportunity for all the fans to celebrate and enjoy the Transformers of today together. You will see the great collection of toys from every era of the Transformers history in Singapore, so don't miss it!

GT TV (GameTailers.com video channel) has posted up a video that includes footage from the Transformers Fall of Cybertron game.  During the video they also annouced that the gameplay follows a single story arc where you will switch between Autobt and Decepticon and that during Optimus Prime's level you will be able to summon Metroplex.

The official Transformers Facebook page has updated with another quick Q&A, and this week, it is the turn of the voice of Bulkhead, Kevin Michael Richardson.

Transformers Prime Tuesday Q&A: Bulkhead Voice Actor Kevin Michael Richardson

Each week, we’re taking questions for the cast and crew of the hit animated series “Transformers Prime” from fans of the official Transformers Facebook page. Check out this week’s Fan Q&A with the voice of Bulkhead, Kevin Michael Richardson!

Kevin Samanta asked: Who inspired you to become a voice acting legend?

KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON: I don't know about calling me a legend. But thanks for saying that Kevin! Honestly there were quite a few early influences. Flip Wilson did a character called Geraldine. Watching him hop in and out of a high-pitched sassy woman's voice and then back into his coarse tone was just phenomenal to me as a kid. Remember the guy who played the Dean in ANIMAL HOUSE? John Vernon had a serious influence on my career. Big voices like James Earl Jones and Sir Lawrence Oliver were obvious examples of guys I looked up to. Then there's the guys I get to work with on PRIME. I mean, you can't beat Peter Cullen and Frank Welker when it comes to inspirations for voice work. Frank and Peter are two legends that I'm blown away by every time I work with them.


Ben Maddison asked: Were you a Transformers fan as a kid and how do you feel about its evolution into the awesome series it is today?

KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON: Yes. I loved watching the cartoon— especially the main title credits. But sadly, didn't get to watch enough of them since I was busy studying at Syracuse University. But even back then, I remember I was always fascinated by Peter Cullen's voice. And now I get to work with him! I'm blown away by this series. It's fantastic that we've been able to reach out to another generation of Transformers fans. I was a big fan of the toys growing up for sure.


Trevor Stairs asked: Do you have a favorite Transformers character outside of the ones involved in Transformers PRIME? And are there any that you could see yourself being the voice of?

KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON: I can't see myself being any other voice than Bulkhead. I mean, there's so many Transformers in the Transformers universe — where do you even start to say which one I'd play? Tough question Trevor! I guess in another universe, and in another lifetime, I would love to be Optimus. But don't hold your breath for that one. Those would be some big shoes to try and fill!


Julia In-Gyong Handschin asked: Big fan of yours, Mr Richardson; I've grown attached to characters you voiced. What's it like to be part of a cast with prominent voice-actors, from legends to rising stars?

KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON: First of all, many thanks to you Julia. That means so much to me. What's it like to be part of this cast with these amazing and gifted voice actors? It's so wild! It's definitely a high-powered cast and certainly one of my favorite shows to work on. But do you know what the best thing is about this cast? These guys are funny. I mean, we are always cracking jokes in between lines. I'm just thankful the producers and directors are cool because it sometimes takes a while to get us all serious about reading our lines. We definitely have a great time!


Yessie Nieves asked: Thank you for being here and let us asks some questions. How much of Bulkhead is you and how much of you is Bulkhead? And what do you think or believe separates your interpretation of Bulkhead from other roles you had done before?

KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON: Well physically, Bulkhead and I are both barrel-chested. We have a similar walk. And I guess I'm a little more lucky, because I can eat and Bulkhead can't! Aside from our shared physical attributes, I do have somewhat of a soft side when it comes to protecting kids. The bond between Miko and Bulkhead is like how I feel about my nieces and nephews. The need to protect them is definitely a similarity. Another thing we definitely have in common is that sometimes I don't always get in on the joke. And sometimes Bulkhead doesn't get in on the joke. We both just shrug and move on just to get the job done.

The biggest difference about playing Bulkhead is that he's a robot. So playing him – especially his protective nature over Miko- is very different from the other roles I've played. He's a powerful Transformer who has never really dealt with humans before, so I have to play with trying to understand what humans are all about and in the meantime create a slow bond with these characters. He's always concerned about Miko the most, so I would say that's what differentiates this role from the others — his vulnerability for Miko.


BIO: Kevin Michael Richardson, known to his friends as KMR, is one of the most renowned voice of artists of our time. His deep voice and love for all things animated make him a fan favorite. But, don’t let his deep voice fool you, KMR is known for his fun-loving antics, sense of humor and devotion to his fans.

Despite being one of the most famous voices of our time, only his most devoted fans recognize this awesome king-sized actor in person. Regardless of having voiced hundreds of animated TV shows, commercials and video game characters his dedication to his craft often keeps him in disguise, not dissimilar to his character BULKHEAD. But, when he does transform you never know what voice is going to come out; some of his voices include Panthro on the new Thundercats, Cleveland JR on The Cleveland Show, Kilowog on The Green Lantern, The Shredder on Tenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Maurice in The Penguins of Madagascar, Prime 2 in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and the list goes on! His work has also been recognized with a nomination for a Daytime Emmy as the voice of The Joker in The Batman series.

If all that was not enough KMR has also sung with some of our generation’s most famous singers. He has had a rap off with Kanye West, chimed in with the cast of Glee, gotten vocal with Harry Connick, Jr and joined in a tune with Seth MacFarlane and Frank Sinatra Jr. accompanied by a 62 piece band.

So, if you cant find KMR locked inside an animation studio, he is probably singing at a karaoke bar with one of his famous friends.

The Allspark member HellCat got his hands on the recently released Sergeant Kerokero Starscream figure and has scanned some images of the accompanying manga for your enjoyment!  Keroroscream is a redeco Legends Starscream with several different sticker options cast in green and yellow plastic.

Click the link above to see the short, but funny, Manga strip