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Post by shinobi03 on Feb 19, 2011 14:37:09 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who think some new Transformers releases got some flaws, right?
This is a list of things I see wrong:
1- Poorly designed characters:
This is probably one of the biggest ones. You have a figure with a transformation that doesn't match the actual one (From a cartoon series or the movies). Some poor designing also result to a lot of unnecessary kibble, fake parts like fake wheels or fake cockpits instead of the actual one, VHS cases and other problems that could be avoided if handled properly. And you have the cases when a figure is released based on a prototype draft that ends up different looking than the final look when it's reviled on TV or a movie.
2- Out-of-scale releases:
This is mostly with the Classics/Universe/Generations/RTS releases. They are full of Deluxe-class figures. But for larger characters like the leaders, they look dwarfed when there's only deluxe-class and nothing larger like the Voyager-class. Going to a similar tangent, the newer toys look like they are smaller than the previous releases for the same character.
3- Screwed-upped Light-Piping.
Probably not a big deal to some, but it is for me. Light-Piping is one of the well known gimmicks and a personal favorite. But sometimes, you think the designers didn't do much research on some characters. For example, you get the wrong colored plastic for a figure (red/brown for an Autobot, blue/purple for a Decepticon) or, painting them and therefore, rendering them useless.
4- Lame Gimmicks:
Some gimmicks like the Automorphing and Mech-Alive were nice additions to the toylines. But some like the new Mech-Tech, they ruin the whole look of the figures with these huge weapons attached to the vehicles ((Unless it's actually in the movie)). And you have the whole "rubsign" gimmick. They made a whole new line based on the previous ones (Classics/Universe/Generations) and made a lot of confusion when they first announced it.
Well, these are what I thought up for now. If you have something to add or a comment, go on a head.
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Post by speedy on Mar 2, 2011 16:28:48 GMT -5
1- When they design a character for a movie the transformations are false (animated) or too much complicated (movies or prime). It's a job for takara and hasbro to try to take the designs to an actual toy. First the animated designs, then the toys. I think Hasbro and Takara are making a good job in most of the cases. Look at the masterpiece for example.
2- Well, this point is annoying too much people, but I never have a problem with the scales. The fact that annoys me it's that in some cases they don't add details according to the scale. For example, a leader class toy is asking for a complex transformation, lots of articulations and lots of painted details. Because they are toys and no "collector's figure" they don't bother to add those things. I can't stop remembering Cybertron Starscream. My god what were they thinking?
3- The real problem in this point it's not a misscolored figure, it's that they don't paint them anymore. As simple as that. The colored plastic it's awful but cheaper. And because it's cheaper, why we need to add some real paint?. What happened to the beautiful metallic grey when a robot has a lot of parts in that color?.
4- I think I started to hate the Transformers gimmicks in Armada. I don't want more gimmicks, they ruin the designs by adding mechanisms or something else. Animated toys and classics were so good without gimmicks... The new Mech-alive is... well... at least the minicons can transform into a robot but... these...
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Post by newtype78 on Mar 4, 2011 11:27:15 GMT -5
1 - Transformers character designs from the cartoons, comics, and live action movies all have heavy visual cheating and trickery involved with the transformation sequences. The only times that we've had literal transformation designs reflected in TF toys was during the Micron Trilogy/Unicron Trilogy cartoons where the animation models were basically CAD models for the toys. If you want accurate transformation design in TF toys, you need to first have a basis in the transformation design from the source material that actually adheres to the restrictions of three dimensional form, which has never happened outside of the cartoons I've mentioned.
I think that current TF toy designs have made a significant step forward in transformation design because they often approximate transformation design and make it work so that both the alt and bot modes have good likeness to the character design(ie. RotF Leader Class Optimus Prime). However, consider that many current TF toys aside from the movie line toys don't come from an existing design from the cartoons/comics/movies. So with that in mind there is no accuracy issue because the toys utilize character designs made specifically for the toy lines such as Generations.
2 - Scale is something TF toys have rarely been good with. The only lines I know of that had a scale that was adhered to was Binaltech/Alternators and Alternity and that was for the alt modes since those lines used licensed vehicle designs. Going back to G1, scale matching for characters has been all over the map. Scale problems are not isolated to the current TF toys. We might as well complain that Metroplex wasn't scaled properly compared to G1 Bumblebee.
Now the reason for so many Deluxe class toys is simple and pragmatic. Deluxe class toys are the most "bang for your buck" TF toys. For their price, they offer the best combination of size and playability. Don't forget that TF toys are largely children's toys and that adult collectors are a small fraction of the consumers who buy TF toys. Parents buying TF toys for their children aren't concerned with scale, they're concerned with whether or not they think a particular toy would be a good buy for their child(ren).
Trying to sell Voyager($20 USD) and Leader($45) class toys is far riskier than selling Deluxe($12) class toys, especially in the current economy. By making Deluxe class toys that are known to TF fans, Hasbro/TakaraTomy are trying to hit all bases. They can still make toys that are more appealing to the parents who buy most of the toys but also give a wink and nod to TF fans who would enjoy seeing a contemporary version of G1 Wreck-Gar, for example.
3 - I like light piping a lot and do wish the toys didn't have light piped eyes painted over. However, I would say that it's not an issue with TF toy designers not knowing their stuff when production units are released. The toy designers are fans and are just as knowledgeable as anyone else about colour schemes. The one to blame for colour problems is usually the production department who is in charge of taking the prototypes to make into the production units.
4 - I rarely like gimmicks in toys as they are usually poorly designed and executed. I definitely agree with the sentiment of wanting less or no gimmicks. However, I do understand why they exist in toys that are usually made for children.
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Post by quinjester on Mar 4, 2011 12:39:34 GMT -5
I'll tell you what's the REAL problem with current TF releases.
There's none of them in my store shelves. Just old toys, as far as the eyes can see. BAH.
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Post by Orbitron on Mar 5, 2011 16:55:18 GMT -5
I'll tell you what's the REAL problem with current TF releases. There's none of them in my store shelves. Just old toys, as far as the eyes can see. BAH. I agree quinjester we have 5 Walmarts, 6 Targets and 3 Toys R' Us in our area but I haven't seen any single new transformers.
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Post by xiombarg on Mar 5, 2011 19:39:59 GMT -5
Our Wal-Marts in my area carry only the most traditional and usually boring Transformers. I hate our Wal-Marts toy selections generally.
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Post by supergetterv on Mar 5, 2011 21:16:56 GMT -5
And living in California's Bay Area region is especially tough. Seem like every other person is a Collector.
Point # 4, about the Gimmick of the "Rub Sign", I don't get what you are talking about when you said that they cause confusion.
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Post by shinobi03 on Mar 6, 2011 13:27:42 GMT -5
Point # 4, about the Gimmick of the "Rub Sign", I don't get what you are talking about when you said that they cause confusion. I meant the line confusion that started when they first got released. You have the Generations line on a side, and the Reveal The Shield line on one side. They're both the same concept, right? The only different here is the inclusion of the rub sign in RTS and it's absent in the Generations.
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Post by supergetterv on Mar 7, 2011 0:51:16 GMT -5
I supposed, but I didn't find it confusing and I understand why it was done. They wanted to throw out numerous releases with short time periods. And putting Tracks and Jazz in the Hunt for the Decepticons line wouldn't make sense. So starting a new line allows them to have kind of a simultaneous release on more classic figures and allow them to repaint some of those shelfwarmers like Hailstorm which was repainted as Mindset. And by having two lines, retailers will have to carry more of their product. Problem is, I am having problems spotting some of the releases at retail.
Still the biggest problem with the current transformers release is the lack of availability, especially the ones people consider classics or classics 3.0. Current shelfwarmers, Skullgrin and thunderwing and the war for cybertron figures. I still see WFC bumblebee, cliffjumper, megatron, soundwave at toys r us. On the RTS side, I still see Mindset and Fallback but no Jazz or Track. I have yet to see Perceptor or Wreckgar at a regular retail store but Bumblebee and G2 Prime were available at a couple of Targets. So the only Classics that I have no problems finding now is Red Alert, Bumblebee and the Battle in Space 2 pack with Rodimus and Cyclonus.
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Post by coul567 on Mar 9, 2011 18:58:18 GMT -5
actually there kinda cool just the complexity of the transformation bugs me.
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