On a facebook group devoted to Transformers, a guy posted the news of Zeta's forthcoming clear version of Superion.
Once again the debate started: why? Why producing something that doesn't fit any collection, that noone (at least on that group) wants to buy? What's the reason, considering clear versions usually end up in the "sale" section of online stores (say hello to Magic Square's clear Optimus Prime at 80something dollars on ShowZ Store)?

We came up to the conclusion that there's a hidden group of people somewhere secretly collecting them without any other to know, at that seemed the only plausible explaination.

And, yes, I know that there's some of you who's already thinking that a clear version of Mirage or Starscream would make sense, we are debating the senseless clear versions of Skyfire, Superion, Reflector, Brawn, etc.  

 

answer this for me... why the hell as an adult do you buy toys?

 

as an adult?

 

how old are you?

why do you collect toys?

 

I think it's just that there is a percentage that likes clear versions of everything? I'm only going to guess a very conservative 10%. And if there are 1,000,000 fans of a figure and you can sell to those 10% at a good profit, you're good. But I pulled that number out of no research  
I do have this (took the pic for @Lockon Prime to enjoy hehe [couldn't get into the Nemesis version, though who knows]):

 

answer that above and you will have your answer as to why people like to buy clear versions

 

Having one clear Optimus Prime is more than ok, especially if you collect different version of the characther, but

 

Because there's a market for translucent versions of characters and so they produce them for that market to make money?

These items are usually produced in limited quantities as they're niche, but the reason why they're produced at all is because there is a known demand for them.

 

still can't answer my question

 

I mean... for Starscream it kinda works, you know, as a reference to the episode where he was a ghost.

But for everyone else it's just weird.

 

"Everybody needs a hobby."
Tony Stark - 2013

 

Mirage works as well. Maybe Megatron, Galvatron, Scourge, Cyclonus, Insecticons and the other Seekers because of their encounter with Unicron.

 

"why collect transparent?"

Some people must have every version of some characters, they could be used for dream/hologram sequences, could be ghosts, could just like see-through things.

I personally don't have any tranformers that I got for the sole purpose of being transparent except that furai model kit in my PoL because I'm headcanoning is Ultra Instinct OP.

"You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing. Be geek, be proud. PALM IN YOUR FAAAAACE!"
-Emgo316.

 

Just to make things *clear*: I'd like to let you know that I haven't added you to mi ignore list, so I can't see you questions, I'm seeing them and ignoring you on purpose.  

 

I expected questions like this, infact I wrote:

 

That's because they likely overestimated demand. It doesn't mean that there's not a market for them. Nobody produces something to not sell it.

 

still not getting it............... we collect because we like it , people who collect clear like them , simple as .... there's an obvious market for them or they wouldn't be produced ! i have seen many members on here buy clear versions for the sheer novelty of it plus they pop under leds

 

I think there’s a wide array of answers to this. One, there’s always the engineering types who like to see how the toy works, getting clear plastic allows for this. It also makes the figure visually distinctive & pop, maybe not in a way you like, but it’s there. It also might be cheaper to make a toy using clear plastic.

My only issues with clear plastic is it’s inherent fragility issues that get worse with time. That and the nebulous concern that said toy (,which I admittedly don’t want), is taking up factory time that could be used on a toy I do want,

But neither is anything I get really worked up about. I’ll admit, I do think clear plastic tends to be overproduced, hence why I think it might be due to cheaper production costs.

 

i wasn't being a troll if you read my last post you will get where i was going with it

 

But I'm pretty sure that you, just like me, can't believe producing a clear FT Skyfire would be better than reprinting one of the standard versions, from a commercial point of view