The Energon Pub

As I was perusing the Transformers at my local TRU, I was checking out the new Universe Unicron figure. Though its been an ongoing issue with me, the size and cost of the figure really brought to life the absurdity of direct repaints using identical existing molds.
Im not talking about the seekers here, as they are one of the few cases where this kind of thing is justified. I'm talking about repeated releases of the same molds with no changes other than a shiny new paint job and packaging.
Now many here have their own opinions regarding this, and I respect those opinions, and am only proffering my own. Truth be told, it bugs me to no end.
Take the stately Unicron for example.
I bought the Armada version, had to, he was the first.
Got the Energon version as a gift, and since he was one of the FEW cases where the darker paint scheme with the bits of superstructure showing was actually rather striking, I kept him.
Now we have yet a third version available with no changes. I had considered it a crime back during Armada that for a character this prominent Hasbro did not go all the way with at least some freakin' sound effects to accompany the rather lackluster lighting effects. If Hasbro had added something like this to the newest version ("I am...Unicron" or "Proceed...on your way to OBLIVION!") I would have actually been glad to pay more for it. But as it is, its the same darn thing. Not interested.
Which brings me to my point. A change, ANY change to the mold makes a figure a NEW figure, in which case I buy it.
Take the movie line for instance.
Evac was clearly a remold of Blackout, but the addition of the new head and weapon made him an instant purchase for me. Same with Stealth Bumblebee, who I would have skipped if the only change had been the dark paint. Same holds true with Thundercracker. I even laid down money for premium Prime, despite already having the original release BECAUSE of the new head and blade weapon, while not even glancing twice at Nightwatch Prime, Salvage, Camshaft, and the plethora of other "Premium" or "Allspark Power" repainted but otherwise unaltered figs.
In today's economy, things are tough. I cannot justify spending my hard earned (and limited!) cash on repainted items that I already have. If they change it in any way that I can't do myself with a couple jars of acryllic paint, I will buy it. If they don't, the item can rot on the pegs for all I care, even if they're throwing them out the door for 2 bucks.
If there are a good number of people out there who share this opinion, would it not make sense for Hasbro to invest a couple bucks towards SOME tiny but noticeable retool of these items before releasing them to the public? As it is, it leaves the impression that these unchanged products are merely serving as fillers....that "give em' the smallest bunch for the buck" philosophy that seems to be all pervasive in American business today
Think how much more desirable the repaints of Cybertron and Energon figures that were thrown into the movie line would have been if they had only given them scrap-pile faces to match the overall style of the movie ( I copiously avoided purchasing ALL of these). Why not give the crappy Cybertron Soundwave mold they are passing off as Blaster a humanoid face like the original, or paste a freakin' mouthplate onto that Cybertron Defense Scattorshot repaint that they're passing off as a Decepticon? The face really establishes the character's identity and SHOULD vary, ESPECIALLY if using the same mold to represent the opposite faction ( Universe Stormcloud, anyone? ).
Unfortunately, that new Hasbro survey didn't leave a blank for opinions such as this, so I had to vent my feelings here. I'm done.
Anyone else feel the same about this?

Molds are an expensive investment, even for companies like Hasbro, more so in a climate where toy sales are starting to fall. I'm not too bothered by repaints of used molds - my G1 collection is full of them. ( )

If the recolour is genuine and not something minor, I'll gladly part with my money for the toy if the toy itself is worth buying in those colours. I always thinking when I see a new Transformer "what recolour could change this into a suitably new, cool character?"

You are right.
Sometimes, like in the case of movie Off-road Ironhide or Rescue Ratchet where the repaint actually looks better than the original bland color scheme it can be somewhat justified. But to take a strikingly unique mold like Dropkick and turn it into an Autobot or vise versa with Swindle still seems kinda well, wrong. The mold is very distinct.

Which brings me to my point. A change, ANY change to the mold makes a figure a NEW figure, in which case I buy it.

You make a very good argument. People are more willing to buy something they already have if there is some change to the mold - it could be a weapon, new face, etc. Perhaps Takara has picked on that, which is why may characters in the Encore line feature small but interesting mold changes - Omega Supreme's face. Metroplex's tank/tower, Ironhide/Ratchet cardboard faces (thought the 3rd party faces are far better). It's the little things like that excite fans.

I think that this may be a case of rereleasing a figure that would appeal to people who have recently been brought back in by the movie. Alot of people were out of the loop for quite some time and no nothing of Armada Unicron, but they still know who Unicron is from the '86 movie. I think of it not as a release for people already into Transformers, but for those that have come back.

Geekee1 wrote:I think that this may be a case of rereleasing a figure that would appeal to people who have recently been brought back in by the movie. Alot of people were out of the loop for quite some time and no nothing of Armada Unicron, but they still know who Unicron is from the '86 movie. I think of it not as a release for people already into Transformers, but for those that have come back.

that's pretty accurate. there's a lot that people can miss after 15 or 20 years of being out of the loop.

To be fair, Hasbro have picked up on that of late. Yeah, we're not going to see alterations to molds for older lines, but Hasbro have said they're now considering different heads and so on when designing a mold. Sideswipe/Sunstreaker and Ratchet/Ironhide are good examples of that.

You do have a decent point there, sort of a "the decade in retrospect" for wayward fans returning to the franchise, which is cool in its own way.
Of course, here's another side of the coin:
I treasure the vintage Japan-only 'formers I have on my shelves at home. Overlord, Star Saber, Lio Kaiser, Dai-Atlas, etc. I treasure them because not only are they awesome characters, but because they are unique. There aren't any other versions out there; there have not been nor will there be any re-release of these molds (unless they decide to encore them). This makes them special, and an important part of my collection.
Now what if we had been treated to eight or nine versions of Overlord over the past 20 years?
What if Dezanrus had been treated to a bunch of repaintings?
The original molds would still be wicked, but at the same time, somewhat diminished.
While this long term approach does not necessarily affect "the bottom line" goals of Hasbro as a company, it has for the fans (and fans to come) greatly reduced the number of "special" pieces that would have been the thing to chase down and own years from now.
Am I making sense here? It seems to be a two edged sword.

I can see what you're saying, but the Japanese only figures that you mention came at a time when the series was coming to an end. There wasn't much life left in the franchise at that time so it made no sense to re-release them.

Right now we have a huge surge in popularity and re-releasing popular characters makes sense. Yes it is more difficult to have those "special" pieces, but that really doesn't figure into Hasbro and Takaras plans.

Cobalt Prime wrote:Now what if we had been treated to eight or nine versions of Overlord over the past 20 years?

Indeed. Three times is quite enough for Overlord.

(I am of course lying, I wish I'd picked him up third time.)

wow thats alot i onyl read 1/4 of it but i agree but sometimes toy companites release the figure with the same features soemtimtes so others if buy a chance missed out the first time they can get them a second time.

but its strange there havent done it yet with primus though but they did with unircon i though primus sold more than unicron.

I just got the Target 2 packs the other day and they are awesome! You can tell a lot of thought went into them and the comics were a nice touch.

Diem wrote:

Cobalt Prime wrote:Now what if we had been treated to eight or nine versions of Overlord over the past 20 years?

Indeed. Three times is quite enough for Overlord.

(I am of course lying, I wish I'd picked him up third time.)

Are'nt you forgetting Sentinal Maximus? I know it's a remold, but it's technically the same mold apart from the head.

Sledge wrote:

This thread should be locked now. Ain't no topping that!

robofreak wrote:

Diem wrote:

Cobalt Prime wrote:Now what if we had been treated to eight or nine versions of Overlord over the past 20 years?

Indeed. Three times is quite enough for Overlord.

(I am of course lying, I wish I'd picked him up third time.)

Are'nt you forgetting Sentinal Maximus? I know it's a remold, but it's technically the same mold apart from the head.

Lord, not Load.