Edit: I should have named this thread "sad, but true." It didn't occur to me...

I was recently thinking about aspects of Transformers collecting that I just don't like, or don't sit well with me. I thought I'd start a thread about these uncomfortable truths of collecting and Transformers in general. Here's a few that come to mind...

For every mold, there will almost always be a redeco.

For every line, there will always be at least one figure that is hard to find (and you will never know which one).

Prime and Megs will almost always get large figures first. If you want a different character in leader class, you'll have to wait.

Japanese figures will usually look better, but they will also usually cost twice as much as their Hasbro counterparts.

In Transformers fiction, it's best not to get too attached to Prime. (Just sayin')

Wheeljack and Shockwave and (insert character) are not nearly as popular outside of the rabid fanbase as enthusiasm would have you believe.

The Michael Bay films will have an enormous influence on the Transformers brand for years to come.

The G1 cartoons are not as good as you remember.

The animated movie is still pretty sweet, even though it's a blatant rip off of Star Wars.

The concept of robots from space that turn into cars is pretty ridiculous...

 

1. Scalpers will always be around.

2. Sometimes, you'll have to pay a little extra (garage kits, custom commissions) to get the toys you really want.

3. Some of the greatest Transformers toys go unmade/unreleased.

 

I think Japanese culture just appreciates this stuff more, where as here its all about how cheap/fast hasbro can manufacture and take money.

However, that being said, i totally agree with this sad but true reality.

 

Awesome things about Transfomers collecting.

For every mold, there will almost always be a cool redeco.

For every line, there will always be at least one figure that is hard to find (and when you get him, you are extremely pumped).

Prime and Megs will almost always get large figures first. Thank goodness I didn't have to wait too long for ROTF Leader Prime.

Japanese figures will usually look better, and this applies especially to Beast Wars Neo.

In Transformers fiction, Optimus Prime will always save the day in the end.

Wheeljack and Shockwave and (insert character) are awesome.

The Michael Bay films will have an enormous influence on the Transformers brand for years to come, and because of that, Hasbro has large amounts of loot to spend on developement of toys.

The G1 cartoons are awesome shows to watch with your kids.

The animated movie is still pretty sweet, especially because of Orson Wells voicing Unicron.

The concept of robots from space that turn into cars is awesome.

 

1. The fan base is a double edged sword. Once you say something that goes against the main stream (I would love a Beast Wars......), your stoned, and insulted.

2. That super expensive Takara/Botcon toy you just brought..... do some research because Hasbro is probably about to turn that 100+ dollar figure into 20 dollars lol

 

Star Wars rip off... Could you elaborate on this?

 

Honestly, I have to disagree with this, especially in perspective.
Now He-man, comparatively...absolutely horrible compared to what I had remembered.

 

They both have space ships.

 

Unicron = Death Star
Springer = Han Solo
Arcee = Leia (even has the hair!)
Optimus Prime = Obi Wan
Hot Rod = Luke
Matrix = The force
Galvatron = Darth Vader (though this one is sort of stretching it)

 

Blue Steak will always be Silver

G1 figs never look as good as there boxart

Soundwave will always be remembered as a TAPEDECK..Some young collectors dont even know what that is.

Figures are never in scale with one and other. It alway annoyed me that Metroplex was the size of Blaster..He was a boombox but how big is that compaired to a city??

Rodimus will never be Prime, but I liked him better.

One this that really gets to me is scaplers that have BST threads right here on this board. It almost a insult when people post new (rare) stuff priced higher then a graded G1 Fig.

 

The SW/TF similarities...

-Arcee's "hair" looking like the Princess Leia buns
-Lightsabers and lightsaber sounds
-Hot Rod's similarities to Luke Skywalker

...among many other things.

 

The only rip off I remember is the VHS release used the Star Wars "In a galaxy far far away" intro paragraphs .

Well, didn't the swords sound like light sabers also? Its been forever since I watched the movie.

 

As far as the similarites from Star Wars and the animated movie, didn't Floro Dery state that Star Wars was an inspiration for the animated movie?

 

lol, that is really stretching it . You could do that with any movie...

The Hangover

Mike Tyson= Obi Wan (Knocks sense into everyone)
Mr. Chow= Darth Vader Mutha Fukaaaaaaa 
Phil= Han Solo
Alan= The gold Robot
Doug= Luke
Alcohol and gambling= the Force

 

The fandom will always be filled with annoying 15 year olds and whiny man-children.

 

Naw, I believe in one of the trailers for the '86 movie, the narrator (Vince Dicola?) said something like "In the tradition of Star Wars" or something to that effect.

 

Its more likely that they'll make characters scales toy-accurate to the show than the other way around. So no big guys actually be big in most cases.

 

You will always spend more than you anticipated.

Your Wallet will hurt

Your family/girlfriend will complain at some point

 

$100/month = $1200/year...and you usually go over that monthly "budget", no problem