monstrinhotron wrote:The thing about the bayformers that I never liked was the misunderstanding of good design. First of all you need to make a simple and distinct silhouette, then some larger forms with clear purpose and then smaller features to add detail where necessary. The Bayformers are ALL detail in a confusing mess with no clear purpose. Sometimes it's hard to tell if something is even an arm. While these are talented and well executed images, they aren't very well designed.
For an example of good design and what i really wish the movie transformers looked like, have a look at the design on Toyworld's TW02b Black Orion figure
http://www.kapowtoys.co.uk/toyworld-tw- ... orion.html You've got the clear silhouette, the larger forms and the intricate detail. I'd say this figure is detailed enough that it would negate Mr Bay's problem with G1-esque designs. That they would look too simple and boring onscreen. Oh for what might have been.
I'm of the same opinion, to a degree.
The whole thing with the super-complex designs started with Bay wanting to evoke the feel of "mechanical muscles" on the TF's, so they won't look so "man made". Hence, the exposed pistons and gears. I personally think it was a good idea, and it does bridge that gap between being robots, but alien ones that look like they evolved on their own. The thing is, Bay's not one for subtlety or over-thinking a concept, so don't expect him to worry about purpose or practicality.
Personally, I think the original 2007 movie and ROTF designs are fine, in that they are still quite recognizable in shape and silhouette despite the numerous details. It was in DOTM where they started getting lazy, and began hiding car parts using even more "smoke and mirrors" visual trickery. You can clearly see DOTM Megatron's truck parts folding into him and disappearing. The Dreads cheated just as much.