waaaaghlord wrote:As far as designs getting simpler goes this is just something that happens in cycles and we have seen it before. The RiD line was seen as being overly complex and was followed by the over simplified Armada. Complexity crept back in until the movie toys (arguably) overdid it and we're now seeing a reset back to simpler designs. More complex design will creep back into the main lines until we see a similar situation five or ten years down the line. It's just the way things are.
I can overlook complexity, for a moment. And you do make a good point, but there's still the other problems:
Downsizing, plastic quality, construction quality.
Legends, Scouts, Deluxes, Voyagers and Leaders have all shrunken down considerably. We noticed little bits and pieces of it in the beginning of DOTM. Then came PRID. Now, we have FOC and we're seeing this downsizing get a little worse with each iteration.
Plastic quality isn't bad on DOTM, quite the opposite, in fact. PRID, hit or miss, I mean Breakdown's leg panels are THIN. FOC Jazz is so thin, piece of him can actually flex if you apply enough pressure.
Construction quality on DOTM was your standard fare. Rods, screws, capped pins.
Construction quality on PRID has been a mixed bag. Wheels snap on now. The Arcee/Ratchet wave was the last one to have wheels attached with a capped pin. Some of the newer figures are snap together in spots, especially Breakdown. His feet!
Construction quality on FOC has been tremendously cut down. Jazz is hinges galore. I think there's two, perhaps three in the entire figure. Just a few screws here and there on the shell to hold it together. The rest of it is literally snapped together. His arms and legs are attached by ball joint. His elbows and knees and ankles are literally snapped together and they frequently pop out. Those will wear out, or stress, or flat out break, given enough time and handling.
We might get complexity back, but unless these other problems are addressed, the complexity will actually work against the figure, rather than in favor of it.
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.