The Energon Pub

What are these KOs that I see sold in stores like BigLots? They don't look like any TFs I've ever seen, except for a few that share similar molds, however people show and discuss them as if they are.

What are they?

Pictures help a lot.

Big Lots carries lots of transforming toys. Some of them are official Hasbro Transformers. They also carry transforming toys from other companies. They also have directly ko'd Transformers. Which ones are you talking about?

We use the term "KO" in a broader sense than we actually should. Personally, I have three categories:

1) Toys that directly imitate the real deal, give or take a few details. Bootlegs, a sub-category of that, take that to the limit, imitating everything possible, down to the packaging.

2) Knock-Offs with changes done when compared to the original toy. That includes:

- up- or downsizing
- new or retooled parts
- colors from the rainbow and then some

Toys that share engineering would also fall under this category, even if the mold is totally original.

3) Non-Transformer based toys. Calling them KO's would be doing them a disservice, but more often than not, they're actually based on more obscure robot toys from Japan. There are some that are actually Japan-only, but KO's of them can be found all over.

You should try and hang out at the 3rd Party & Knock-Offs Forum (do it at your own risk however, especially concerning 3rd Party), especially at the local haul threads there.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:We use the term "KO" in a broader sense than we actually should. Personally, I have three categories:

1) Toys that directly imitate the real deal, give or take a few details. Bootlegs, a sub-category of that, take that to the limit, imitating everything possible, down to the packaging.

2) Knock-Offs with changes done when compared to the original toy. That includes:

- up- or downsizing
- new or retooled parts
- colors from the rainbow and then some

Toys that share engineering would also fall under this category, even if the mold is totally original.

3) Non-Transformer based toys. Calling them KO's would be doing them a disservice, but more often than not, they're actually based on more obscure robot toys from Japan. There are some that are actually Japan-only, but KO's of them can be found all over.

You should try and hang out at the 3rd Party & Knock-Offs Forum (do it at your own risk however, especially concerning 3rd Party), especially at the local haul threads there.

ah, this explains it perfectly.

I was referring to the thread in KO section....something like "New KO toys?"

I recognized a bunch, but some I've never seen in my life.

I always thought KO referred to the 99% accurate ones you can get on Ioffer.com