Thanks again guys, I always look forward to these when Im at work.

 

Ugh. I'm not half-way through, and I'm depressed. It's like Vangelus is fighting an uphill battle against pessimism and apathy.

I hear all the complaints against recent trends of lower quality, fewer parts, and hollowness, and I agree. 2012 was the worst non-movie year I can remember since Beast Machines' first year.

But for god's sake man, you're talking about the back of a Transformer you can't see!

This was the most exciting ToyFair I can remember in years. We're getting a Classics-style Traibreaker toy! Is it going to be as good as the 2010 Generations? Probably not. But I don't think it's going to be as bad as the worst of PRID and 2012 Generations.

 

Are these comments for real? Seriously?

This Podcast crew is not obligated what so ever to give positive reviews of everything Transformers. What kind of BS show would this be if we wanted nothing but praise or optimism? It's an opinionated show where these guys are giving constructive and well thought opinions - this isn't fan rage like we see on these boards! This is hysterically ridiculous.

 

Ever since the DOTM line premiered I knew the next Generations line would be a quality step down. I don't see how it's at all unreasonable to call that out, and I can't see how anyone paying attention could NOT see that coming. I don't want to listen to the opinions of monolithic Hasbro cheerleaders (LOVE pleated skirts though). I'll just read the press releases if I want that.

Still, I'm grading these Generations toys so far on a curve, mostly positively. That's my personal choice and I don't fault anyone one bit if they decide to take a more pessimistic look at the current and upcoming releases. ESPECIALLY given the sharp hike on the price tags on the pegs.

 

Pretty much this. The show wouldn't be enjoyable either if all they did was sing Hasbro's praises all day, especially so if they're not honest about it.

 

Personally I'm relieved I didn't have to hear Vange1us gushing all over something for once... you optimist, you.

.. and they expect us to be happy about this?

 

I'm sorry if I came across as depressing. I didn't think I was being negative, just trying to keep my expectations in check. As someone who has been very disappointed with retail TF figures lately, it's hard to get excited.

I was excited to get that Grimlock, especially after voyager Soundwave turned out better then expected. But I read in-hand reports, then got to handle one in person, and my hopes for the line diminished again. IMO, it's not a great figure, and not a great omen of things to come. If you dont agree, that's fine. But that's where I'm coming from.

So when I see figures coming up that make me excited again, I have to keep my perspective in check. Like I said, Voyager Blitwing is my dream figure. I've been wanting this for years. But frankly, the only way I can see this being amazing is if Hasbro decides to up their quality back to previous standards basically instantly. Is that impossible? No. They have years of history of making suburb toys, just not as much so recently. But is that realistic? I don't know, and that's scary to me.

I guess people got bummed out about the comic stuff too? It's cool if people can stil get excited for more Bumblebees and Primes. They sell, people love them, and they'll make 30 more versions of each of them. And they'll sell again. I can't get excited for them. I hope to see the line expand and I'll be watching with childlike eyes to see subsequent waves.

I want nothing more than to have entire pegs full of stuff at retail that I want to buy. But I can't sit here and say that pretty pictures make everything ok after the last year of history. This Toy Fair was about the best possible PR event they could have possibly had from my point of view. But now begins the wait of getting them in hand. It's a two part process in that regard, Hasbro won the first, and the second hasn't happened yet.

 

I don't really disagree with anything that's been said on the podcast. TFs have been rather stinky in the past year.

But this episode made me a little bummed. Not trying to deny your opinions.    

 

Yeah, pretty much every new TF I buy lately has me sighing and whishing for the glory days of 2010 again. The only real exception to that lately is Beast Hunters Optimus, who still feels cheap as hell, but hits all the right aesthetic buttons for me.

 

I don't think anyone is saying to force positivity. You guys are comletely entitled to your opinions. It's not that being negative is bad but when everything in the discussion is met with a 10 minute rant about how everything sucks, it tends to not be all that entertaining. If something is causing nothing but negativity in your life, perhaps it is time to reevaluate its place.

But I'm also with Vangelus and like the current stuff. Yeah things aren't as they were in 2010 but that's the economy for you. Hasbro has to make things affordable and that means cutting back on things. That is just the reality of the world. Viewed with that light, the current figures are still fun and look good.

 

Do you have any balance issues with Fem Shep?

The heels have me kinda worried because I have the Bayonetta figure I can't get her to stand to save my life.

 

You're right. Current retail figures are (IMO) mostly crap. I have evaluated them as such, and their place in my life has been mostly removed. So you are right.

Luckily there are more aspects to the brand than what Hasbro currently has on retail shelves, and it allows my enjoyment of the brand to continue.

But the topic of the show was Toy Fair, so regardless, it had to be discussed.

 

I think criticism of something you enjoy is a good thing as long as it is thought out and discussed reasonably as it has been on the podcasts. I'd rather be well informed about varying opinions than listen to a podcast that only has good things to say about everything, because then whats the point?

 

They're expressing concern, and that's why I respect them. I mean let me tell you, Predaking is a toy that is most certainly out of the gate on the new standard of Transformers construction and it's a solid (thematically), lovely toy. And Gog paid it respects for that.

I will say this though, I totally understand that if someone at Hasbro wants IDW toys, there's no way that line was getting pitched to corporate without a Bumblebee tax imposed on it. This is post-movie. Rescue Bots has a Bumblebee and he's not even IN THE SHOW. The Bumblebee we have now is not the G1 character, he's a focus-tested character designed to appeal specifically to children. If Megaman killed Bumblebee, he'd gain the Brand Awareness Magnum and Market Synergy for Rush. He NEEDS to make an appearance in a toyline, and he needs to evoke the aspects of the toy that Hasbro has deemed he represents. Same with Megs, same with Prime.

In my mind, the first wave of any new TF Toyline is always an experimental writeoff. The last TF toyline I can think of that had a solid launch was Animated. So they frontload the marketing heavy-hitters, and if that sells, it BLOWS OPEN THE LINE to anything. We got Black Shadow LATER because they did Prime and Megatron in an awful Classics two-pack EARLIER. Once that line got going, we got all sorts of crazy shit. But Universe 2.0 had an AWFUL launch, I was THERE at TFCon when they were selling the dumb things early. Prowl had gummy, sticky paint and was generally an awful toy. Octane was a DISASTER, with the only really positive figure being Sunstreaker.

That Bumblebee wasn't half-bad, I should really dig him out sometime.

edit: The internet has informed me I fucked up the chronology all over the place. I don't own a time machine, so we're just going to have to get through this together.

 

I'm with Ryoku on the fact that I honestly don't believe anyone here is seriously saying that they're entitled to hearing the podcasters speak only positively about thigns, (As that's never always been the case) but at the same time, the talk on the Generations toys was still surprisingly pessimistic. It was legitimately hard to listen to without feeling a bit down afterward. And I think that caught some off guard.

But I will also say that all of it -or most of it- was based on valid issues. Though Gog's comment about the non comic book reading fans really can't be taken as anything more then a verbal middle finger.  

 

I mean, it sucks that folks don't like what's at retail. But hey, that's their opinion. Gog "harshing" on the current figures doesn't ruin my enjoyment of them. Though I don't think it's him "harshing". He's just so mundane with the whole Optimus, Bumblebee, and Megatron status quote. My opinion is, I see where that comes from, and I agree, though what would one expect, with all due respect. That's the stuff that the kids recognize.
It all does down to if ya like it, buy it, and if ya don't, ya don't. If a gentlemen voicing his opinion in an audio podcast angers you, well~

 

I enjoy the pod and appreciate the work the boys put in no matter what. However I was irritated as a mofo listening to this over the top "lets take a poop" episode. I for one am excited for what was revealed at TF this year and I guess I expected the pod to reflect my feelings. Still, people are as different as can be and opinions vary greatly. I honestly hope that Blitzwing doesn't let Gog down 

 

I dont think anyone is really angry. Just a little bummed out. =p

 

I agree with anikenvader.

Personally, I'm liking the new Generations. I like Generations Grimlock. The IDW figures look interesting.

Yes, Gog and Seth aren't as enthusiastic about them. And Gog hates Generations Grimlock? Do I disagree? Yes. Am I annoyed that we don't agree on the same thing? Sure, who doesn't? But, you get over it. I did. The whole point of the podcast is for these 3 to give their opinions on stuff, right?

 

I got to say that I can't wait for these new Generations figures, no matter how derpy, cheapy made, and etc. they are because those things really don't bother me as much as other people do, but hey its they're opinion and thats cool. Still I have some ideas for some of those figures already in my mind. So great job guys on this Toy Fair edition of the podcast.