I, too, am in that "minority".

So...Like a realistic raised pickup truck with oversized wheels? You have a strong, worth-arguing objection to that?

To each their own. You are one side of the aisle, and some of us are on the other side.

I think that's a slightly different situation/issue. Blurr's alt-mode is entirely fabricated, so as far as we know it is hyper-realistic. Gears'/4WD's alt-mode is genericized, but not necessarily unrealistic (excepting that camper thingy... WHAT is that?!) or chibified to an inarguable degree. While it may not be any specific make and model, it - for the most part - seemed realistic enough to be (similar to Huffer/Truck) not "super deformed", but simplified.

He looks HORRIBLE for a Masterpiece-style, last-word-aesthetics adult collectible.

But for some, Slavishly-toon-styled = Perfection, even if it's embarassing.

The media models are not the be-all, end-all for me. Nothing about the origins of this property are perfect and don't need a little sanding, paint, and polish. It's because some adhere zealously to "G1" that the mistakes will never be ironed out.

That's my issue with chibi/SD style. IF I were to have my MP-style figures on display, I would be geniunely embarrassed to have this goofy, childish, Duplo-/Playskool-looking out-of-scale truck near the other vehicles and mecha.

 

Harvey Milk?

 

Yes, it's called my personal preference.

Yeah I know. You guys certainly spend more than enough time posting about it in threads for figures you don't want to buy.

 

Never understood that, I guess I'd rather spend time on pages who's figure I actually wanted rather than ones I didn't like just so I could shit on it and anyone that happens to like the figure. I guess that's social media, hide behind a keyboard and spew their stupidity.

 

I know this might have not been targeted at me, but I do buy these. That said, I am honest if I am not thrilled 100% by the design. Fanstoys does make the best Masterpiece figures right now if you display them in bot mode (which I do). That doesn’t mean I won’t complain about missing articulation and alt modes that are to my tastes. I’m definitely not one of the cult members who see an new Fanstoys release and proclaim it, “perfect”. I’m honestly shocked that some folks would say that about Rig, but some did. Rig is super flawed, but the best one out there right now for me. It doesn’t mean I can’t dream about something improved/better!

I was talking to a guy on voice chat today who happens to be a moderator here on the 3rd party forums (not naming names) and he mentioned it was a bit like modern US politics. You are team Fanstoys or not. It’s binary. There seem to be very few Fanstoys moderates. The passionate FT members seem to get ruffled if we don’t like something about a new FT figure, even if we are guys (like me) who do buy them. Anyway thanks my $0.02.

 

4 or 5 years ago I was probably one of those people, but I realized I gained nothing, and didn't contribute anything around 99% of the time so I've stopped going to those threads unless I'm specifically trying to find a picture or a random question pops into my head (like with Alien Attack DOTM Megatron I was curious if how red it came out was correct because I remembered that version being more greenish beneath the rust).

 

Nothing is immune from criticism, and I think there are more compromises to designing MP versions of the mini-bots than there are with the larger figures. Variator is definitely no exception.

I have been waiting anxiously for FT’s take on both Huffer and Gears for years, having never committed to Huff or Grump. BC’s versions are likewise hardly perfect, after all. Fanstoys figures always feel super-solid and their liberal use of paint typically looks great. However, the “folded-up robot” alt modes of Rig and Variator are hugely disappointing to me. If feet are going to be so ridiculously exposed on the truck, they should at least be engineered with great articulation on the robot. These guys should come with a pair of crutches for their double leg casts. The clownish face sculpts aren’t something I can appreciate, either.

I apologize to FT fans if it seems like some of us only came here to sling mud, but I’m guessing I’m not alone in having been very interested in FT’s Gears, but now feel disappointment in seeing the renders. I loved my Huffer and Gears toys as a kid and know FT makes very good figures, but these executions miss the mark. Given that I don’t expect XTB to tackle these anytime soon, I think I’m going to just punt and get the Badcube versions for now and accept their flaws.

I’m still waiting with fingers crossed regarding Parkour, because Takara’s MP Cliffjumper is a train wreck.

 

So does FT Gears and Swerve have different molds completely or is one just heavy moded from the other?

 

That said I personally don't love FT Gears and Swerve's alt modes either! TT is still doing realistic alt modes, even if some of it is painted over in a simplified toon deco like the + carbots. Even on a chibi proportioned alt (Bee, CJ), there are still realistic wheels, details like windscreen wipers, etc, so they fit in with the other figures like some extreme chopped custom. Personally I'd like that to remain and don't care for FT seeming to be carving a path towards 100% toon alt modes. But I see why many would be perfectly happy with that even if it isn't to my taste, and wouldn't passively aggressively imply those who like it are brainwashed fools embarrassing themselves.

I've been perfectly happy to see bot modes go from more detailed to fully toon while others have hated it, so I can't really complain to see alt modes doing the same, if only from FT, and say it must stop, or I'd make myself a hypocrite! Still I really don't love it, and perhaps worse is that FT seem to be all over the shop with realistic vs toon elements in alt modes right now. You've got a fully realistic Powerglide, fully realistic Jazz except with toon wheels, semi-realistic but with toon liberties Mirage (including, bizarely, realistic-ish front wheels and so plain they're not even toon rear wheels), Huffer and Pipes with plenty of realistic details and wheels, and now 100% toon Gears and Swerve! Insane!

 

Checking in to yet another Gears thread to say, wasn’t the original toy alt mode really based on an rc controlled car/toy, and not a real-world car? I swear someone posted pictures of it in one of the other Gears threads years ago.

i haven’t read the rest of the thread and don’t care about the drama but i noticed the comment above about the alt mode being based on a real car and i don’ think it is. One of the few times i actually like the chibi look on the alt mode, especially since Badcube didn’t use it. The original toy alt mode is so cool as an rc truck.

i swear this comes up with every Gears release and we all forget about the rc toy he was originally based on. I wish i could find that old post of the pics someone made years ago.

edit: tried to find the rc car pics in the old Badcube thread and the same alt mode arguments from then are still happening here even with the same realistic photos. 

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he wasn't based on a real vehicle, but just a generic 4x4.

 

In my view, the problem is not criticism, but to me, most or a lot of people that comes to the FT threads simply come here to say things like:
- I already have the other option, no way I will buy this FT
- I already like the other option, FT sucks

This is not criticism, it's basically personal opinion (or, if it is criticism, it's not a constructive criticism). Several of the comments also deal with disapproval for reasons related to perceived faults or mistakes (those are criticisms), but several of these also are related to personal preferences. A good criticism should objective, and not based on preferences.

I collect FT only, and I don't go into the other threads for other options and keep saying that FT is the best, because it's not. It simply the best for me because of a personal decision. And I don't feel a need to try to force my preference onto others.

 

I hadn't heard that no. Perhaps that's slightly mixed up with the fact the original Microchange vehicles were based not on real cars, but ChoroQ/Penny Racer toy cars? That's why they have the ChoroQ proportions and fake penny slot at the back. However, that only really applies to Bee, CJ and Bumper moulds. Gears, Brawn, Huffer and Windcharger arguably arent (as much) super deformed and dont have the faux penny slot. They have a different origin story (which I find super interesting). Not sure if you are aware of the Knickerbocker Mysterians possible origin of these guys?...

Mysterians - Transformers Wiki

If that is true, and all that material really predates any Takara involvement, then I'd say based on this artwork...



...both Brawn and Gears were originally intended to be fictionally customised Willys Jeeps! Because both are, I'd even say blatantly, Jeeps - one made into a pickup and one made into an SUV. Behold - a Jeep just like Hound...



OK the final toys deviated a bit but you can still see the DNA. It's as close, or closer, than any other suggestion of what these guys' real alt modes might be - Brawn being a Land Rover or Jimny, Gears being a Kaiser never fit well to me.

 

No, the original Gears toy was not based on a real truck. For certain. It's just a generic 4x4 truck with squashed proportions-- not exactly chibi, but not an imitation of an actual model.

I didn't realize anyone was on here directly insulting those with animation-leaning design tastes. Brainwashed? Nah, it's just a particular, focused interest. I admit I don't share the preference, but I don't expect (or even necessarily want) people to like what I like. To each their own, really. If we didn't have diversity in our fanbase, there would be no diversity in the product. And that would suck.

However, I do feel it's important that everyone can freely express their opinions. Just because a thread is titled "Figure X from Company Y" doesn't mean the only valid comments can come from Y fanboys who will die on the hill defending the merits of X. If you like it, say so and say why. Likewise, criticisms are worth hearing and appropriate to share. If threads are nothing but echo chambers, there's no point in reading them. I don't need reinforcement from anyone on what I like, but it certainly doesn't bother me to see figures I genuinely appreciate take shots from those that find fault with them. None of my favorite figures are perfect, and in many cases I admittedly even like the "flaws".

I appreciate what Fanstoys is trying to achieve here-- they're attempting to give deliver a 100% cartoon aesthetic in both modes, and doing pretty well at it. Perhaps I personally don't that particular style, but I know a lot of people do. That doesn't mean I'm going to pull punches with my criticism, but that doesn't mean anyone should take offense. We're all just reflecting our impressions in words, and as long as we're talking about the TOY and not the COLLECTOR, then it's fair game. There should be no comments such as "you're a moron if you like this" or "piss off and post somewhere else if you don't". It's a toy. This isn't your sister's honor or your father's good name. It's a toy.

 

Apologies for double-posting but I'm too lazy to edit, and this is really interesting. I've never seen images of these "Mysterians" toys. Thanks for sharing!

 

You generally are able to keep criticism respectful and don't see a need to lace it with unsubtle insinuations that people who have different tastes to yourself must have something wrong with them, so carry on. It's low effort shitposting like luci4, for example, that gets annoying.

 

i really wish i could find the post of the old pics. They showed the rc car from japan with the same curved wind screen and everything, it was a spitting image.

Didn’t find it in the badcube post, but i suspect it could be in any of the old swerve igear or other posts as well so i give up. Really wish who ever posted them would come through and post them again.

 

I mean its not like ppl dont modify real world vehicles to look like other things all the time. Why does this have to look like a specific vehicle?

And no..."im a car guy" doesnt work for me

 

Criticisms are fine, don’t like the silver on hoist? Criticize away. Don’t like what Gears transforms into? State thy opinion.

For example though, I saw a post recently in a figure that simply said “looks like ass, made of balls” that’s not criticism or input it’s just… annoying,