What is right with Transformers today

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by chazparks, Jan 16, 2007.

  1. chazparks

    chazparks Well-Known Member

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    Just a balance to the other thread.

    I would have to say
    1. articulation
    2. better ability to hide the robot in alt mode (at least for some)
    3. detachable parts instead of parts that just break with no repair.
     
  2. Rodimus Major

    Rodimus Major Custom User Title

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    Variety. Wheteher you're into the old-school G1, beasts, or newer mini-con/cyber key robots, or model-like Alts/BTs, there's plenty availiable for your particular taste.
    And teh interwebs. It makes it easier to find fellow fans to communicate with. Back in the day I always got looked at funny when I mentioned collecting TFs as a hobby.
     
  3. RedHeadKevin

    RedHeadKevin Well-Known Member

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    I agree with the OP. As I just said in another thread, TF for me has always been about playing with the robots. If I wanted a toy car, I could get a better and cheaper one than a Transformer. The articulation of modern TF's really makes them a better overall toy than the originals, and the detail is also outstanding.

    My biggest agreement is with #3 though. I just got Alternators Jazz ( I refuse to call him "Meister.") and I don't think I've ever transformed him without the arms popping off. Maybe a surgeon could do it, but not me. If the arms were connected with screws, or a tougher-plastic connection, this toy would have been broken and essentially useless after the first time I tried to make a robot out of him. Designing parts so that they CAN be broken, but easily fixed is, oddly enough, a giant leap forward in the durability of the toys.
     
  4. rid

    rid Well-Known Member

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    Complex transformations
    Robots that look like robots (with the exceptions of the Alternators line)
    Alt modes that look like alt modes
    You rarely see the robots when they are in alt mode and vice versa.
    Lots of articulations
    No loose parts/accessories/etc.

    But to be fair, I must also say that I can live without the minicons and the keys.
     
  5. PrimeConvoy

    PrimeConvoy Well-Known Member

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    Transformers today are amazing and sure there are a few lemons here and there but overall there great. its the designs, sculpting and engineering behind the figures today that makes them great. It these reasons why we have high articulation, complex transmations and a good balance between bot and all mode.
     
  6. flamepanther

    flamepanther Interested, but not really

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    Add to the points already listed:

    -Weapons and combiner parts that integrate into alt-mode instead of sitting around loose. It especially seems cheap now that old combiners had to use magically appearing parts.
    -More durable plastics, and metal flake plastic that doesn't disintegrate.
    -Accuracy between toy and television.
    -No stickers. Foil stickers had a nasty habit of peeling on their own. Paper ones eventually rotted and disintegrated. No more peeling or mushy edges!
    -Less chipping and flaking of paint (probably due to less diecast metal)
    -Lower prices, when adjusted for inflation.
     
  7. Omegatron

    Omegatron Mandatory Fun. Buy it now TFW2005 Supporter

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    Minicons- not necessarily the gimmicks, but most minicons are more interesting to me then G1 Minibots were.
    Variety- in addition to the mainline (Classics right now), we have Alts, Star Wars, Titaniums, Attactix, and more stuff on the way.
    Rising popularity/ availability- as TFs are becoming more popular, the toys should be easier to find. I have few doubts that I'll be able to get every movie figure I want.

    -Tony!
     
  8. Ops_was_a_truck

    Ops_was_a_truck JOOOLIE ANDREWWWWWS!!!!!!

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    At the risk of having people boo me down, the number of very faithful toy tributes and homages to the original G1 series is very high. The people at Hasbro and Takara recognize that the vintage property is a big moneymaker and can cover a lot of bases by catering to the '80s nostalgia crowd, whether it's through licensing, Masterpieces, Alternators or Classics.
     
  9. rid

    rid Well-Known Member

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    Well, I attribute that to marketing. If Hasbro comes up with an unknown transformer toy, they'd probably sell it to today's kids. But rename that same toy and paint it in the color of an old famous G1 character and they'd get not only today's kids but old timers as well. Not to mention the fact that they get to renew their trademark by re-using the name. So it's mostly marketing with a touch of homage for fan sake.
     
  10. rid

    rid Well-Known Member

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    Well, I'm not sure about this point. G1 has a fair amount of metal and they stood the test of time rather well. Unless people abused them. I still have many of the G1 from when it came out as well as recently purchased G1 (from collectors) and they are in top shape.
     
  11. flamepanther

    flamepanther Interested, but not really

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    Maybe you picked the wrong point or misread the one you quoted, 'cause that one has nothing to do with diecast metal.

    By "more durable plastics" I mean the plastics used in TFs today are often more durable than plastics used in some earlier G1 toys. It shouldn't make a difference to an older collector most of the time, but it's great for the kids (that's who the toys are for) and it's nice on the rare occasion that you need it.

    "Metal flake plastic" is plastic that has a fine metallic powder mixed in with it to give it a reflective appearance. It looks really nice in some toys. It was used a little in G1, but there were problems with it. Perhaps you've heard of "gold plastic syndrome". It used to have a nasty habit of spontaneously crumbling.
     
  12. Deefuzz

    Deefuzz Beard On! Beardmaster! Veteran

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    Much agreeing with OWAT. I love the throwbacks and homages to G1 in both the main line and sublines like Alternators.

    I guess one big thing with newer pieces is the improvement in not only articulation, but the actual sculpting/molds of some figures.

    Like what Omegatron said, the number of different lines available. Back in the day there was only the mainline, now we have Cybertron, Titaniums, Alternators, Classics, SWTFs, BW 10th, and stuff from the Japanese market all coexisting at the same time. If that's not right then I don't know what is.
     
  13. Codimus Prime

    Codimus Prime Missouri Toy Hunter

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    Thank god for those little ball joints!
     
  14. Backscatter

    Backscatter Autobot Brainmaster TFW2005 Supporter

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    That's why I handle Black Zarak so infrequently, and very carefully when I do.
     
  15. flamepanther

    flamepanther Interested, but not really

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    And it really blows to have to treat a toy that way. That's why I feel that better plastics have been a wonderful improvement! :D 
     
  16. blueandwhite

    blueandwhite Well-Known Member

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    I think this pretty much sums it up.

    With such a diverse range of product, there has been something for almost everybody in the past few years. I can't imagine a better time for the TF line than right now. Sure, it may have been more popular back in the 80s, but I think we have it far better today.
     
  17. Team Jetfire

    Team Jetfire Pop-POP!

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    I agree 100%, but still like to see a new idea every once and a while. Once the shook of beast wars subsided (Munky not Trukk...WTF) there was a very well done series that started a regeneration of sorts to the franchise that was essentially dead.

    I'm not sure if I have admitted this publicly, but I am not a huge fan of the classics. Why? Simply because there is nothing new to these figures. We have had these incarnations of the Gen 1 figures for some time from the various homage’s included in the alternators, Unicron trilogy and the titanium series.

    It was nice to have a new Rodimus and starcream, but to the collector that has been colleting all of the Unicron trilogy, it is really just another Red flaming car and grey and red jet.

    This is much the same for Optimus. Another red and blue truck.

    Yes it is a new design, but how long can the transformers sustain themselves on these same old design.

    I think that after the movie transformers should go into a new direction, with a different storyline and different characters much like Beastwars did.
     
  18. Fairlady_Z

    Fairlady_Z Official Voice of Flareup

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    I think variety (in both the toys and the fiction) and the way toy technology has evolved are certainly the best things. Unlike some other fandoms that seem to wait years for the next new thing, there is always something new happening for TFs.
     
  19. Mad Dawg

    Mad Dawg Autobot Brewmeister

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    I'll tell you what is right with Transformers today... Classics Voyagers!
     
  20. rid

    rid Well-Known Member

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    I was merrely commenting on the durability of the G1 versus today's TFs.
    I was trying to say that the construct of G1 (which has lots of metal) can stand the test of time, and maybe better then what you call "today's better plastic".