The reasons that Universe will be a better homage line than the Alternators is twofold, IMO:

1. Molds that KIDS can transform.
2. Still homages to classic characters that are very posable
3. CHEAPER Pricepoints.

 

The idea of the Alts may come from the idea of making versions of real cars into transformers and then assigning them character from existing, well, characters. This is just a guess, if somebody knows the truth post it up. My original arguement was that the classics are a direct line based on the G1 cartoon, using similar vehicle and robot looks from that cartoon, Which the Alts don't. I stated before that they are G1-ish, but not that close a represantation to the cartoon. turning Prime into a pickup truck, Grimlock into a car etc....doesn't scream that they are direct from the g1 cartoon. Sure the Alt characters are G1 based and I don't beleive I said they weren't. It's accuracy to the G1 cartoon I'm talking about. Anyway the pros and cons of all this has been covered over the past many posts.
Again I think the Alts are a good line, and certainly G1-ish but for me personally Prime needs to be a Semi-truck, Grimlock a T-Rex, Starscream a fighter jet, Ravage a cassette tape, etc.....etc....

 

Well, Robimus, the Binaltech series calls it G1 based on the cartoon in the booklet that came with each toy. Yes that's the Japanese and not the US, but in the wake of the fact that there were no stories done for the Alt line, most people refer to the Binaltech line. As far as intent goes, since both the US and Japan worked to produce the line, and the characters were made to fit the story for the Binaltechs, it can be argued that the line is an updated (tho Alternate history) version of the old G1 Cartoon/Comic.

Circumstances of what they became aside, remember that the line was based on cars so everyone got made into a car. (Grimlock as a muscle car fit his character and his BT card said he wasn't happy about it so I give it an acceptable pass.)

 

Maybe the G1 comics, or the G1 Toys?  

 

Interesting, they made a story out of the Alts in Japan, at least a description with the toy.? Thats kinda cool, they put more thought into it than I would have imagined. Still doesn't change my veiw. Hasbro or Takara could come out tomorrow and tell me that Armada or Cybertron are G1 cartoon/comic based as well and I still wouldn't feel that way about it. Thanks for the Alt history, I learn new stuff all the time. I'll still stick to the classics for the G1 cartoon type transformers, even if it is all in my head  

 

Yes, Agreed for sure.

 

You must be the only person who hasn't heard of the Binaltech story yet.

http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Alternators_(toyline)#Fiction

 

Are you sure Takara has such a problem with selling collector items?
There are a lot of collectors in Asian (not being racist, I am one myself) countries.
And virtually every 20 year + asian male that I've spoken to appreciate Transformers in some way, whether it be interested or collector.
And non of them could resist the artistic designs of the Masterpiece collection.

It's true what you say about Hasbro though, I seriously believe that they do pay attention to fans. Their main market are children (who may become collectors in the future I might add) but they still cater for us.

It's just more prestigious to have your bot in "Takara packaging" among collectors, they are nicer boxes IMO.
Classics rule, Ultimate Bumblebee rules and Supreme Starscream rules.

Both "sides" of the manufacturers of Transformers have done a fair bit to satisfy the collector fan base.
can't argue with that right?

 

I never said we weren't, and I'm quite glad we'll be getting more Classics themed toys. But unless Hasbro really puts MAJOR money into what is, in effect, a side line (Animated being the primary), I don't see Universe 2.0 being Classics in new packaging. The whole reintroduction of Universe smacks of its original introduction in 2003 (ie, repaint some old molds in new packaging to make a few extra bucks while the brand is hot)

Yes, we'll get new molds, but I also expect plenty of old repaints and I don't think 2-3 new molds per wave will be a regular occurance.

IMO

 

Let me try to re-explain what I was trying to explain in the first place (I rambled a little too much in that post). Next year's Universe line has nothing to do with the old one, except for the name. They even said at SDCC that it was "Classics 2.0" and that the Universe name was being used to basically just give it a name, since Classics 1.0 was just "Transformers".

Edit: Here's an example for you. It's like saying that Cybertron Optimus Prime, and Movie Optimus Prime were the same just because of the name.

 

I think his point is less about the name, and more about the fact that there wont be a singular focus on a line, since there will be split attention between Classics 2.0 and Animated.

... But then again, this wont be any different from Classics 1.0, as I'm sure design teams were split there with the classics and movie team (which actually probably took MORE people away than Animated will).

This thread has sort of gotten off track, hasn't it?

 

In my opinion, it'll also be easier for them to focus on each line, as they are the only 2 lines that Hasbro is focussing on next year. This thread got off-topic a while ago, and has switched topics a couple of times  .

 

Deleted Post

 

That's false! We would have a BotCon ... a very different, unofficial BotCon with unofficial exclusives.  

Pretty good post though. And as someone who was a member during the Orson's World days and the 20th Anniversary Figure poll days, I second everything you said.

And who needs a better explanation about Hasbro caring for the fan base when they took us to their offices and didn't charge us for it.  

(I think if you take out the last Myth from your essay, your post should be included in the Wiki)

OMG! Alf and Star Trek take place in the same universe!  

What?!

I pretty much agree with most of what you typed, but I think Hasbro was making the best of an impossible situation called "can't please everyone".

Case in point: releasing Thundercracker instead of Ramjet on wave 2 of Classics. Have that happened the complaints (and complainers) wouldn't be the same, but would still be there. Just change it from "Hasbro didn't allow me to complete the seekers" to "I want the coneheads" or "another repaint! give us some remolds damn it!". And there's no way in that scenario to get a proper Thrust homage like we got from Botcon '07.

On the Alternators' side of things, you suggest keeping to true G1 homages and avoiding things like Grimlock, Ravage, etc. Again, I agree with you ... I could have done without an Alternator Grimlock, but one of the main complaints regarding Alternators was the lack of Decepticons in the line ... most of which were not cars to begin with. Once Dead End was introduced, and then Ravage, I think every G1 character was fair game, no matter what its original alt mode was.

Thing is, Alternators was more similar to early G1 than Classics was.

What about Silverstreak, Smokescreen, Tracks, Hound, Mirage, Hot Rod, Wheeljack, etc?

P.S.: all this (tiring) talk of Botcon '07 set, Classic Thundercracker @ retail, and Classics and Alternators status as G1 homages is pretty funny. Funnier still will be by the time Universe comes and we not only get G1 homages, but other lines as well.

-airfox

 

Yeah, saying the Alternators and to an extent, some of the Titaniums weren't Generation 1 homages is just somebody's own personal opinion. When clearly, in all respects, that's what they're meant to be. Not Geewun enough for you? Tough cookies,
I don't think some G1 fans realize just how MUCH they're spoiled sometimes. What about all the other lines that've been released over the years? Beast Wars got its 10th Anniversary line, which it totally deserved (but could've done with a couple more figures...), and then you had Titanium. While initial execution of the line was poor, its the most wasted potential in a TF line ever IMO. We weren't just limited to Geewun or Geewunesque characters, EVERYTHING would've been fair game, and I don't doubt that if the line continued we could've seen some obscure characters get a little more spotlight (See: The Fallen and the as of yet unreleased Primal Prime). I was really hoping it could've expanded out into other comic stories like Hearts of Steel and TF/GiJoe (which they tried with Megs, albeit they failed completely). The problem was that the line was so poorly carried out, and the release of the shelfwarming Marvel Titanium licensed figures didn't help at all.
Which is why I'm looking forward to Universe, b/c maybe it won't be all G1 like the last Universe, and we will get some more variety character wise (though I will admit some G1 characters are WAYYY overdue for a total overhaul).

Seriously though people, how many freaking redo's of Generation 1 Optimus Prime do we REALLY need =P
DN

 

Actually, there would be a way. It would just involve making the "coneheads" NON-coneheads just like the original toys were!

But then, I'm one of only two or three people in the known multiverse that actually thinks that the Season 2 Seekers should never have been given cone-heads in the animation (and subsequently every other medium) in the first place.

 

Add to that the original plan was not to have Decepticons in the Alt/BT line, and we still got some (2 of which are new molds/not repaints) . . .

 

How 'bout a voyager sized figure that actually looks more like the G1 cartoon and comes with a trailer?

Now that would be sweet!

 

I'm all for new molds. I love the Galaxy Force/Cybertron molds. Especially Sonic Convoy and Liger Convoy. In fact, GF Convoy was the first Optimus Prime I got (not counting MP-2 which is pretty close to a prime). I never loved the Classics Optimus or Megatron (resembles a water pistol, and I can understand why,... toy gun issues). Classics Grimlock was a brilliant update on the G1 mold. Movie prime and bumblebee's nice and a few other smaller ones take my fancy. But SS and Megs are hideous IMHO.
like some, hate some, that's how it goes.
The G1 molds are always there, always recognised, always remembered.