UNACCEPTABLE LOSSES
Size
Paint
Articulation

ACCEPTABLE LOSSES
Gimmicks
Oversized weapons
Complex transformations
Pointless sub-lines
More repaints/remolds and less new molds
Multiple different molds for the same character

 

  I like the terminology of unacceptable and acceptable.

I'll keep my answer directed more towards what I think Hasbro could do better and that's simply to make transformation the gimmick. I think the figures are at their best when the most focus is put into the transformation and not something like an added mech tech weapon. If we were to get rid of those type of gimmicks, it might be a good trickle down effect where we get some more paint apps, advanced engineering, etc.

 

I think they shouldn't decrease size, decrease paint apps, or sacrifice articulation. I'd be okay with gimmicks going since they hinder a figure most of the time anyways. However, I'd say Hasbro's just being a bit cheap at this point. They're supposed to take cost-cutting measures to keep prices down, not increase the price and continue to do these things anyways. I can put up with the size shrinking, but I think subconsciously all these cost-cutting measures have been turning me off of current Transformers toys. I've been making more money recently yet I've only bought 3 Transformers from the store since April. On the other hand, at least I have more money for other lines.

 

"Gimmick" is a pretty broad term.

The light-up mechtech crap from the PRiD voyagers can go to straight to hell, though.

 

Redecos and retools are a cost-cutting measure.

Anyway. Mech Tech weapons have been dropped from the Deluxe Class, so there's not much to worry about there. I could do without them for the Voyagers, but since the Ultra Class is pretty much gone as well, I can understand those gimmicks needing a place to go (since Ultras were the 'Lights and Sounds' Size Class).

 

Unrealistic profit expectations?

 

Read it in Lemongrab's voice.

 

remove the deluxe line altogether
Bring scout line back but slightly taller (4 3/4 ")
remover commander class from just being a cyberverse size
bring back Ultras
stop making leader sizes
weapon that aren't gimmicks

 

Acceptable

Downsizing
Price increase

Unnacceptable

Loss of Paint Apps
Low Quality Plastic
Hollow Limbs

I don't care if they have to charge $20 for a scout-sized figure. If it's solid and has good paint apps, I'll buy it. One of the reasons I like Cyberverse toys so much is that many of them achieve this better than their mainline counterparts.

 

You forgot to put low quality plastic under unacceptable.

 

You also forgot that parents buy these toys for kids.

 

Spring loaded weapons that require you to constantly hold the button for them to be deployed need to go. Heck, I'd even go for pressure launch missles over spring loaded, as long as it's done right.

Sound boxes that hamper or completly remove articulation can go, too. The fact that ROTF Leader Optimus and Leader Megatron were the same price was laughable. Sure they're the same size, but one is an engineering marvel, and the other is a sound box with arms and legs. Granted, Optimus had a sound box too, but think how much BETTER he would have been with a Matrix chamber.

They should keep non-firing guns. Missles should really only be used for shoulder weapons, or very heavy-hitters.

 

I completely disagree with complex transformations being acceptable loss. The new toys like the wave 1 FOC toys and many of the PRID line are boring in part due to the overly simplified transformations. I can understand not needing ROTF Leader Prime complexity. I think animated did it best. Many of the animated figures are brilliantly engineered transformations and are a pure joy to transform and even the more involved animated transformations they still make sense and are a pure joy.

I have no issues with the figures were more expensive if we were getting the same quality of figures we were with Universe 2.0 and ROTF. Its paying more for the mediocre toy lines we are getting now that i cannot stand. For example i just got PRID Kup and putting aside that it should be Ironhide i think its a fine figure in many ways but hardly warranting the 15.47 i payed for it. Hell for RTS Tracks and Jazz i got them at Kohls and paid around 16 a peice for them and was not upset since those figures are worth that price imo/

Bottom line it should be either increase price or take cost cutting measures that we have seen not both.

 

I suspect that changes in the use of plastic was the only viable change. The fandom have spoken when purchasing lesser quality but more expensive "Transformers" AKA party of turds. Decrease in the amount of plastic used per bot is another. Quite drastic but not all surprising turn of events if you think about it. Reviewers have even put 3P products on a higher pedastal by naming them "designer toys" as if to put down what Takara/Hasbro already have to serve the fandom as collectors' toys.

 

I meant that less new molds are an acceptable loss if the result was more repaints and remolds in their place to reduce the costs. I.E. Generations Jazz was remolded into Sideswipe instead of creating a new Sideswipe mold. I find that acceptable. Its not as if a new Sideswipe mold would have been greatly different to Jazz anyway if it had have been a new mold. And the extensive remolding done for Sideswipe makes him significantly different looking to Jazz.

 

Remove:

Some staff, the hub, other less successful toylines & accrued vacation days.

Keep:

G1 related transformers.

 

 
Love it.

 

Price increase is acceptable, anything else apart from losing stupid gimmicks like mechtech or mechalive or automorph is not really.

Some collectors would buy anything Hasbro releases. Some are picky but appreciate a good toy if it's well done. But many kids, as people say they are the main target of hasbro, are have to convince their parents to buy them toys and i imagine those overpriced tiny, paintless figures don't really help their cause.

 

what we could part with
-Powerizer Weapons/ Mechtech Weapons
-Multiple cases of Bumblebee

Things we need
-articulation
-sensible weapons
-more Vehicons