The Energon Pub

News Credits: 12 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:13 am

#firstworldproblems

They're doing what they have to in order to stay profitable. You're still getting a cool toy for the price of lunch. Keep calm and carry on.

>:oP

News Credits: 129 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:21 am

GuyIncognito wrote:#firstworldproblems

They're doing what they have to in order to stay profitable. You're still getting a cool toy for the price of lunch. Keep calm and carry on.

No one is really flipping out.

Calling something "First World Problems" is just another way of being dismissive on a topic of relevant conversation.

At what point will you say something about the price/quality/size issue?

Do you need to pay $20? $30? for an inferior figure of smaller size? What is your line that will finally make you put your wallet away?

News Credits: 4 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:26 am

At $20 I would stop buying lines completely, and be much more discerning as to what the hobby would justify. At $20 you are also prospectively losing a large part of the market. I didn't think that Transformers as a brand could justify a $15 figure, the last time they tried this was probably the Mega Class in Beast Wars if my memory is accurate. We will see.

News Credits: 241 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:31 am

I'm comparing Scout Windcharger with Deluxe PRiD Cliffjumper, and Cliffjumper is still bigger, though the difference is so small it's getting worrisome I admit. Quality is still the same from what I can tell, but the price, well...

:DANCE:

Long live End-of-Line + Imported overstock 50% Off Sales! :DANCE:

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:32 am

As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:37 am

MightyMagnus78 wrote:As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

Very true, and modern engineering and articulation (as a result of the engineering) is far superior as well. As figures, the modern TF's are far better IMO.

News Credits: 129 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:50 am

MightyMagnus78 wrote:As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

A 25 year old comparison?

I'm not sure that holds water. Even still, the G1 toys you mentioned were about 2-3x the mass of current toys.

Why not compare Beast Wars? Or even RiD? Those were the last times we had $15 sized figures with BWs Megas and the RiD Rail Team.

News Credits: 241 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:54 am

Counterpunch wrote:
MightyMagnus78 wrote:As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

A 25 year old comparison?

I'm not sure that holds water. Even still, the G1 toys you mentioned were about 2-3x the mass of current toys.

Why not compare Beast Wars? Or even RiD? Those were the last times we had $15 sized figures with BWs Megas and the RiD Rail Team.

2000's $15 =/= 2010's $15, in terms of absolute value.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:10 am

Gas was once 10 cents a gallon (it was less than $1 a gallon not too many years ago), cigarrettes were once 50 cents a pack and a Coke was once 5 cents. Prices change. Inflation increases and quality gets cut. It's business and it's economics, period.

News Credits: 129 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:12 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:
MightyMagnus78 wrote:As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

A 25 year old comparison?

I'm not sure that holds water. Even still, the G1 toys you mentioned were about 2-3x the mass of current toys.

Why not compare Beast Wars? Or even RiD? Those were the last times we had $15 sized figures with BWs Megas and the RiD Rail Team.

2000's $15 =/= 2010's $15, in terms of absolute value.

No kidding? You don't say. >:oP

Does that apply to the comparison with G1 figures a post or two back from mine too?

Sorry to be snarky but surely you realize that I understand this. I'm not sure why you're pointing it out.

If you really want to go there you can compare real dollar value by year and the cost of labor when factoring in the whole thing.

This whole thing boils down to getting less toy for more money and depending on how long you've been a part of the hobby being a primary factor in how willing you are to just "suck it up". Of course, you have to set aside both sides of "Obvious" arguments.

Yelling at Hasbro and getting aggro on the matter helps nothing.

Just as claiming climbing oil and labor prices really don't help either (after all, we were getting larger and cheaper toys just two years ago and economic indicators have improved since then).

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:17 am

Counterpunch wrote:
MightyMagnus78 wrote:As a G1 collector I don't see the issue, maybe I'm missing something? If you compare a modern TF deluxe toy like TF:P Knock Out for example, against a G1 Autobot car like Mirage Wheeljack or Jazz then I'm pretty sure in terms of size it would be a favourable comparison.

A 25 year old comparison?

I'm not sure that holds water. Even still, the G1 toys you mentioned were about 2-3x the mass of current toys.

Why not compare Beast Wars? Or even RiD? Those were the last times we had $15 sized figures with BWs Megas and the RiD Rail Team.

To me at least it seemed an obvious comparison, the very first Transformers compared to the very latest in terms of size class. To me if you're going to make a comparison why not start at the very beginning? 'since records began' as they say.

Interestingly I just compared my reissue G1 BB against my sons Legion class TF:P Ratchet and in terms of height they almost exactly the same.

News Credits: 767 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:19 am

I'm fine with paying a little more, but not if that also bring with it a smaller size.

I have already made my decision and stopped collecting. I was going to concentrate only on MPs now, due to my Classics collection being in a horrible shape due to the new figure size, but my experience with MP Hot Rod has put me off.

The hobby has stopped being fun, it just pisses me off now, adding to that that Prime hasn't aired for a while there is literally nothing to keep me interested.

News Credits: 7 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:33 am

I'm more concerned about the overall "cheapening." Less paint apps, no insignia for many PRiD figures, less mass, thinner plastic, more gaps, less complex, cheating transformations with faux parts, FoC figures not using pins for their wheels.... all the while prices are increasing.

I can deal with a few cutbacks while prices go up, but this is getting to be a little too much.

Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:19 pm

I've definitely been cutting back on my TF spending. Paying more for less isn't the way to go. My primary goal is to flesh out my Classics collection, anyway.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:19 pm

it really just comes down to buy the figures you like and pass on the ones you don't. if you don't like any right now there will be other years(I hope). so just take a break save your money maybe take your significant other out on a awesome date with your savings. there are tons of things to do in this world, go try them.....then come back when it feels right, and well if it never does at least ya have the memories.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:06 pm

If even the adult collectible MP line has started shrinking, what hope is there for Hasbro's lines?

Still, Takara's excuse reason for this is more palatable, being that they're trying to set a more standardized size for their MP line starting from MP-10.

Personally, I'm sticking to the MP line for now, and seriously cherry picking the best TF Prime and FOC figs. The smaller size is bad enough without the faux kibble and cheating transformations.

Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:12 pm

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:If even the adult collectible MP line has started shrinking, what hope is there for Hasbro's lines?

I wouldn't say it's shrinking, it's just scaling everyone together.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:20 pm

orangeitis wrote:
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:If even the adult collectible MP line has started shrinking, what hope is there for Hasbro's lines?
I wouldn't say it's shrinking, it's just scaling everyone together.

No offense meant or taken, but I did mention this in my second paragraph. :grin:

Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:23 pm

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:
orangeitis wrote:
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:If even the adult collectible MP line has started shrinking, what hope is there for Hasbro's lines?
I wouldn't say it's shrinking, it's just scaling everyone together.

No offense meant or taken, but I did mention this in my second paragraph.

Oh you did :lol:

sorry about that.

News Credits: 60 · Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:20 am

This downsizing is also prevalent in the food we eat. :-(

Don't know whether it's the high petrol prices or whatever reason........but its starting to suck eggs big time!

Not only are they shrinking, they're becoming hollow too. Optimus Maximus for instance (and if the info from tfwiki is accurate.......all the more) was said to be intentionally made from the same amount of plastics like the Cyberverse Ark.......... 8-}

If only Hasbro saved all their plastic stock from the excess Bayformers junk and BBs and focused them to more worthy TF incarnations :lol:

News Credits: 36 · Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:05 am

Given that I have to import most stuff now anyway, here in the UK I'm looking at over £20 for a deluxe. When PRID has run its course, I'm done.

It'll be MP's and aftermarket sales only from then on.

News Credits: 4 · Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:21 pm

fenrir72 wrote:If only Hasbro saved all their plastic stock from the excess Bayformers junk and BBs and focused them to more worthy TF incarnations

Who decides what's "worthy"? The movie toylines are their big moneymakers. Without the movies, we wouldn't have Universe 2.0, Reveal the Shield, Generations, etc. Who knows if we'd even have Prime. So don't bite the hand that feeds.

News Credits: 12 · Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:11 am

There are some things that are starting to bug me quite a bit with all this.

First. Compare Cybertron Hotshot to PRID Vehicon. Hotshot is not only massive compared to Vehicon, my scale also says that Hotshot is 4X heavier then Vehicon. DOTM ROadbuster was only 1/3 of the weight of Hotshot.

Some of you will say that's cause toy tech is improving, but I call shennanigans. For $15, I expect to get more figure than what I just opened up today.

Let's also look at the Singapore exchange rates. $30 SGD equals about $23 which is the cost of an AM figure. SO by those standards, for an additional $8 about the PRID version, I get a cool little Minicon. Okay, I can live with that since I've paid a fair amount on Minicons already.

How is it that AEC era figures could be deluxe sized, massive, and have a Minicon or similar weapon and make me feel like I spent my money well while the new stuff makes me feel like I overpaid?

Now let's look at Sentai machines. I own most of the Gokaiger and Gobuster lines and those figures are just as heavy and well engineered as their predecessors. Add to that, they maintain the same pricepoints and I know exactly how much I need to spend each year to own a complete set of mechs from that show. Also add in that I get about the same amount of plastic weight-wise with each Sentai set.

Hasbro is just trying to make more money by giving us a size class inbetween scout and deluxe.

And don't get me started on voyagers and the now dead Ultra class.

News Credits: 60 · Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:23 am

That Bot wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:If only Hasbro saved all their plastic stock from the excess Bayformers junk and BBs and focused them to more worthy TF incarnations

Who decides what's "worthy"? The movie toylines are their big moneymakers. Without the movies, we wouldn't have Universe 2.0, Reveal the Shield, Generations, etc. Who knows if we'd even have Prime. So don't bite the hand that feeds.

Who decides? That is the question indeed >:oP

Btw, I'm one of the "thousand" hands that feeds Hasbro/Takara (well mostly Takara because I buy mostly the Japan versions). So Hasbro............"bite me!" At your peril!

robofreak makes a nice analogy........Bandai's sentai figures not only has the mass, they more or less go toe to toe with the price point comparison with TF figures. Seems like we are getting shortchanged!

If this keeps up, I'll probably focus on the MP series and Encore (at least the ones I missed years ago collecting)

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:07 am

fenrir72 wrote:If this keeps up, I'll probably focus on the MP series and Encore (at least the ones I missed years ago collecting)

I'm already doing that right now. Less than a quarter of the PRID and FOC lines impress me enough to put any money on them. The size and faux kibble on a lot of them are just ridiculous, not to mention piss poor designs on certain ones (lookin' at you, Airachnid).