I have to agree with most of this. I am not personally bothered by the deco and accurate racing logos. To me, the line represents the closest 'reality' of the brand, and that's what I love. They are licensed, scale representations in a similar way to the Hot Toys 1/6 scale figures. While the Alternity line suffers familiar issues - multiple repaints, limited (core) characters, limited sources for alt modes - I actually prefer the Alternity line. The smaller size makes them even less cartoony, and the aesthetic is a little darker. Add in diecast and interesting reimaginings rather that just updates and the line is win for me. However, Alternity is also grinding to a halt right now, with yet another four repaints and only a total of 4 (?) designs in the entire line.
If nothing else, I'd love a Binaltech Kup with an alt mode similar to Binaltech Convoy, but with a transformation and robot mode closer to the Generations Kup figure. I'd also like a Binaltech Rodimus, so I could get a version with die-cast (and hopefully not yellow hands and elbow joints. Who the hell's idea was that?!) I'd also love more Alternity, although that line seems to be done other than these last couple re-paints trickling out.
Snap. MP-01 dragged me back into collecting, Alts/BT's continued it. Due to their size I see them as Autobot MP's anyway. I'm really am not interested in anything else other than any 3P MP styled figure. Oh and a little Alt/BT eyecandy for fellow aficionados....
I was just happy to finish up the alternator line last year. They were the toys that got me back into buying TF's, and I had missed out on the last few of the line due to poor distribution. Due to this board and some good sellers on it though, I was able to get the remaining toys that I needed (rumble, jaguar ravage, camshaft) MISB for less then other retailers were trying to sell loose products at. They are still right up there with classics for me in terms of what I enjoy most about my collection. Not to mention they look fantastic on display. Really happy though I caught them at retail and was able to amass a majority of my alt collection then at decent prices.
Alternators Prime got me back into collecting TFs after a long hiatus. I have seen my collection come and go and lines sold off and some retained. There is one line that I will keep, that is the Alternators / Binaltech line. I love the line so much that I created a FB group for it and invite like minded ppl to join. Anyone I interested, just shoot me a PM.
I've got nearly all the alts and love them. (just missing camshaft and swerve) There really is no substitute to what they accomplished with that line. They are great display pieces that are as durable as action figures its just that their engineering went into a perfect grade licensed transformation with seats. Rather than making the robot more mobile. Design prioritys and budget. I really don't mind their limited movement. Since the look is pleasant to the scope of diakron updates. They don't look like toys I guess. The chrome was always used inteligently like the chrome behind clear plastic headlights. And rubber wheels do help the authentic G1 car vibe excel. I'm just glad the line happened. If they brought it back. I'm not quite sure what they would do, its not like they have a ton more characters to cover. Gears, Huffer, Trailbreaker, Ratchet, and Ironhide. Maybe do more stunticons. Many people dig the masterpiece seekers to bulk up their decepticon resistance to Alternators. If they did bring the line back I would like to see licensed aircraft. I've got quite a nice collection of binaltechs coming from bigbadtoystore as well. Now that they dropped between $30-$50 each. I hav'ent messed with them before but some swear that the die cast makes the hasbro alternators feel like knock offs. While some others say the alternators were more enjoyable because you did'nt have to worry about scraping paint off of the metal. Right now its movie Human alliance and Classics-Generations that have equally tried to fill in for this lines impact on transforming robot toy collectibles. Realistic updates of G1 characters into the modern day and Larger scale licensed vehicle Transformers.
Little tricky? Don't remind me... I never did find that Ravage. Now I am the sad face. I have to say, I HATE Alt. Sideswipe. The robot mode just looks frumpy. In fact, seeing him turned me off the entire Alt. line... which I only got into when I get SDCC Rodimus (I was looking for the WalMart wave as well but... ah well). I am so resentful of that Sideswipe.
The viper mold wasn't the greatest but I still dig them. Sideswipe has a very nice headsculpt too despite the body design. Still I agree with you for the most part, it's not a shining example of the alt line. Kinda glad my first alt was silverstreak cause he got me hooked immediately. I still think the subaru impreza/wrx mold is one of, if not the best.
The Human Alliance figures have been pretty good, but yeah, I'd love to see that kind of treatment with G1 styling again.
Skids is my favorite one. That bot mode was beautiful. I still need one more of these damn things... never did find Camshaft. Maybe I'll make that my next quest.
The only thing i miss about kotoys was the amount of Binalnators that they had. The Hummer, while flawed, had potential and the amount of police deco(Shockwave,Barricade,Jazz,Alert,Prowl)made me happy. I was giddy a few days ago when i found another Sunstreaker(minus gun) at a salvation army for $1.
See, I am the opposite. I rate the Viper design - and Dead End in particular as the hard top version - as one of the best. I am love the Windcharger design. I would have to say that my favourites are: - Windcharger/Decepticharge/Arcee (I need an Arcee!) - Jag Ravage - Dead End/Sideswipe/Sunstreaker - Hound/Swindle/Rollbar I am not a fan of: - Silverstreak/Smokescreen (although Smokescreen is almost a pass just for being Smokescreen and a specific, identifiable alt mode) - Skids/Broadblast (just don't like the bot mode) - Camshaft/Alert/Prowl I kind of like the Jazz/Shockwave design, and Rumble.
I have some very fond (and frustrating) memories of driving to 4 different stores all the time to try and get them. In the end, I got everyone I needed at retail except for Tracks (this was before the bubble re-release mind you), Hound, Dead End, Swerve and Camshaft. And yes, the case assortment was horrid. Smokescreen was bad during the initial waves, and Swindle/Battle Ravage were bad as well. Some figures saw multiple waves, others only one (and at that, packed 1 per case). As someone else said earlier, if the waves and figures per case were balanced out a bit better, I don't think ANY of the line would have shelf warmed at all. As much as I'd love the line to come back, part of me is glad its done. Aside from the nightmare of trying to find them, its nice for there to be an independant line of Tf's thats relatively easy to complete. Prices on these have crashed as well, so barring a Swerve, or some of the BT variants, you can pick the line up pretty cheaply (at least compared to what secondary was during the line). As for my personal favorite? I'd have to go with the Ford GT (Mirage/Hot Rod) (and specifically Mirage) just because that was such an awesome car, and the figure looked equally as awesome transformed. Special honor goes to Tracks though, because I really truly feel that was the first Transformer toy ever to be a perfect image of the cartoon.
er, not entirely, it would depend on the region. Alts actually outlived Cybertron releases in the US. Mainline release continued into 2006 and 2007, with 2 exclusives thrown in as well - exclusives that were regular retail releases in the East. ....and SDCC releases of Nemesis Prime and Rodimus Indeed - 2008 release if the Resources section is accurate, as it usually is. The Ford GT mold has to be one of the best TF toys ever, period. The entire line was worth it for that one toy, even though there were so many great toys made. I remember the relentless hunt for Mirage, and how excited I was to finally find him in a store after weeks of hunting.
If they ever did bring the line back, they shouldn't limit themselves to 1984-1986 G1 characters. I need Breakdown and Wildrider, and there are plenty of Micromaster car characters they could do. Go beyond G1 entirely. How about Alternator Rapido? I'd buy Alt/BTs of UT Hot Shot, regardless of whether he was an Audi TT, Aston Martin Vanquish or Chrysler ME Four-Twelve. Cybertron Crosswise as a 1:24 scale Bugatti Veyron? Instant buy.
