I feel like after Zeta broke up with Toyworld, Toyworld mind broke and now they are throwing anything at the wall.

They have done a legends wheel jack.

They are doing: AOE/TLK Optimus, BB Optimus, Dropkick, Shatter, BB Soundwave, BB Shockwave, SS Bulldog, SSWWI Bumblebee, SSWWI Starscream, BB Bumblebee, Prediking and others.

What do you think of this?

 

They are prototyping anything and everything that may get fan tongues wagging and therefore justify going into production with something. This was pretty standard for most third party companies up until roughly two years ago, when companies hedged more towards being secretive. This was likely done to avoid alerting other third party companies as to what they were doing and therefore incurring competition, but that's just my guess.

The bigger question is; why did Toyworld decide to make Bulldog as their first release?! If they could have produced a really solid triple-changer Shatter or Dropkick they would have been the talk of third party world for a bit, but instead they go after a lesser known (and lesser desired) background character from a movie most didn't like. They also created said figure in a smaller than most would prefer scale. Lastly, what is the deal with those very obvious pins that show on the top of alt mode and could very definitely have used a coat of paint to obscure them. IMHO an all-around fail and for what third party often charges, not the right price for me to dip my toe back into the Toyworld waters.

 

I think toyworld chose bulldog because that's the only one they have done. All the BB character are just very early posters. They also teased more BW stuff and the seacons.

 

Right... but I meant why did they choose Bulldog as their inaugural release as a renewed Toyworld? For all of my aforementioned reasons, it seems like business plan 101 that you start strong and perhaps sandwich in a few lesser knowns like Bulldog once you've established yourself and can perhaps afford to take greater chances. Releasing BD first seems like business suicide.

 

I think they do want to die because they clearly have no plan.

 

Why would any company want to die? They aren't here for the good of their hearts, they're here to make money. Whether that happens remains to be seen but to flat out state they want to die because they're showing stuff you might not want is a little silly.

 

I don't want them to die, I'm pointing out that it seems like they have a death wish business wise. I love everything they have shown off (art and all) but I'm confused by there strategy.

 

On the death issue:

I think they were able to make money because they screwed over the Zeta people and could make money hand over fist without much effort or cost involved. Zeta fought back and broke off and said "you're on your own, now." leaving Toy World twiddling their thumbs.

Toy World probably has some form of investors, whether it's a businessman who's feeding a childhood dream, a group of fans who want custom made figures, etc, and they're wanting a return on their investment but TW can't make it happen. So yeah, they'll produce something, anything to say "See? We're doing our jobs!" and when it doesn't pan out, they can close the doors and say they tried. Companies have done that before.

They just leave destruction in their wake and move on when they do that.

That said, maybe they're not crazy. Masterpiece is indeed a massive part of the market, but CHUG (and CHUG+) is starting to make a big return push in the market and it's turning heads. I'd include Studio Series in that as well. Everything is shrinking in size, everything is becoming boutique, etc. Hasbro and Takara Tomy have proven they CAN make the figures we ask for, but they WON'T, at least not until they're ready or they just don't want to for some reason or another. (You can somewhat blame Star Wars fans for this. They want all the ships, playsets and figures until they actually get them and then cry all day long about it and trust me, Hasbro hears ALL the whining. I'm not sure why they haven't thrown in the towel...)

An accurate Motormaster? Bulldog? An accurate WWII Bumblebee? All of those are wanted items. They fit in current CHUG/SS collections. People have been asking for more 3rd party support in that area and TW is trying to step up. Maybe they're crazy, or maybe they're crazy like a fox.

 

I'd buy Bulldog to complement the Staff car Bumblebee if that ever gets made.
I do kinda run hot and cold on Movie toys - but I like the change of pace now and again.
But it's nice to say for a change I have some official stuff I'm looking forward to getting so Hasbro might be getting a bit more of my money than they did last year.

 

Personallly, I want more chug stuff. I don't have room for MP and I also love the Studio series. But just focus on good SS and Chug. Don't also have MPM, MP and Legend stuff too. Make some stuff good and not everything but poorly.

 

I think @TFXProtector is on it. This is pure speculation, but:

Toyworld had a fairly solid market prior to the Zeta breakup, insofar as the design team(s) they had working for them were providing competitive cost MPs that fit a lot of people's collections and budgets even before Zeta engaged in massive undercutting. Losing those teams meant losing that competitive edge.

That said, as we progress down the pike, there's actually a scant few Sunbow Season 1-2 MPs and 3P MPs left to do. Toyworld's options are: 1) court more designers/designs that are entrenched in doing the same tired S1-2P MPs which means competing in a saturated market; 2) attempting to shoot for S3+ MPs which have shown to be largely non-starters for other companies; 3) going for the saturated but still fairly open "Legends" class crowd; 4) jumping on the movie bandwagon.

If you look at the examples you've given, it's largely "untouched" movie toys and legends class, along with the one Sunbow 3P MP combiner without a recent update. So yeah, they're throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks, but I also suspect that they'll shift gears and get behind whatever product/design is the profit leader.

So no, I don't think they're crazy. I think they're trying to find focus. Whether they're doing it in a way that's cost effective or not is a totally different kettle of fish.

 

Correction: They have done THE Legends Wheeljack. At least for fans of the Lancia Stratos, they have made the most accurate and full-deco car mode for Wheeljack that has ever been made in any TF toy form, not a model form. Ever. Not to mention the balls it takes to go full Marlboro racing livery on the alternate Exhaust version.
That's a niche of a niche - do the one for the fans of the Real Car series. I'm waiting on their Jazz for that exact reason. That's finding the right segment of the franchise that isn't being served - smart move for a 3P.
While they diversify their portfolio, they are making good work, and in at least one case, fanTAStic work. There is no law that says they have to do one thing. That doesn't indicate a lack of a plan. There are so many segments of the fandom to serve, why not hit a bunch of them?

 

The title of the thread could have been more respectful as their rep post on these threads too...Also why would you think "they want to die"? Their doing the most relevant stuff right now with their bumblebee movie Prime and stuff....Would you like them to do pnly g1 stuff?It really annoys me when people talk like that "death" and "looney" and shit like...How about you learn how to express your opinions like adults.HOW ABOUT THAT.

 

I'd really like to see those Menasor and Bruticus add on kits for Unite Warriors personally. They teased them and then they were never seen again.

 

I believe that they hired a designer who had already begun these characters before he/she approached or was approached by the company. That's kind of how some of them do business. Several of these designers even work from home and have worked with other 3P companies.

This is just a guess but maybe even the hiring process requires a portfolio of a certain amount of ideas or proof of concept.

 

"maybe finish one cookie before moving onto another" is all I can think....

 

Ok to clarify, It APPEARS they have a death wish because they are going all over the place with no clear plan. that isn't a good business strategy. And I thought the title was funny, I don't want them to go away. This is a discussion.

Same here, Maybe I could get a good Menasor then.

I don't feel legends is too open. MFT, Newage, Papa toys, DX9, Unique toys (sometimes), Iron factory, MS, etc. Movie stuff I don't feel is a big bandwagon. You Have Unique toys, Dx9, alien attack, Zeta (clearly only to spite TW) and now TW

 

I'm not 100% clued in on the situation, but didn't some of their designers leave to form Zeta? I could see that causing problems.

I don't buy much TW stuff so if they want to do different things it's no skin off my nose.

 

The legends field has many companies seeking to get a piece of the pie, yes. I did state the market was saturated. But it's open, insofar as there are many characters/designs that haven't been made. For example, I haven't seen a legends class Superion yet. Not many options for legends Skids, Hoist, Etc. In addition, the lower price point means a little more possible exposure for Season 3+ robots. Someone may not be willing to fork over $150 for an MP Sureshot, but he'd likely go at legends class for $25-30.

Also, I never stated the movie bandwagon is big. That said, don't forget the companies that upgrade/update existing toys like Wei Jiang and Black Mamba. The fact that it exists at all shows that there's general interest in 3P movie toys, and Toyworld is likely going to explore this space as far safer than trying to compete in an arena where most people already have their "definitive" toy or gallivanting off and trying to make something completely unproven, like MP Unicron Trilogy toys or something.

 

Oh my bad, I forgot about the 4th party guys. And yes I see what you mean with it being open.