The Energon Pub

fenrir72 wrote:Just interjecting.

Quoting one or two news rags/references/sources is not the way to make thesis defense. At least a minimum of five references.

Also, lame stream media is not what you would the epitome of fair reporting. Most of the time, they'll create and exaggerate an issue or bury an issue if it suits their agenda.

Oh, what now? 5 references or it didn't happen? I'm quite sure some investigative reporting could uncover more instances of parents fighting each other over Transformers specifically. I'm sure names, dates and descriptions of the injuries incurred could still be uncovered too... if someone cared. Keep in mind that these events occurred in a city where the murder rate- not including shootings and assaults- fast approached the 2000 mark yearly by the end of the 80s. Some murders were not even reported. This subject is small fish, and only of importance to a few Transformers fans. Asking for information about shopping riots that occurred in Albee square, Queens center or Roosevelt field malls during the 80s is almost the same as asking for the names of people who got killed when wild animals were set loose in Rome's gladiatorial arenas.

If anyone got punched in the eye over a Combiner Wars or Titans return fig please speak now.

1984forever wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:Just interjecting.

Quoting one or two news rags/references/sources is not the way to make thesis defense. At least a minimum of five references.

Also, lame stream media is not what you would the epitome of fair reporting. Most of the time, they'll create and exaggerate an issue or bury an issue if it suits their agenda.

Oh, what now? 5 references or it didn't happen? I'm quite sure some investigative reporting could uncover more instances of parents fighting each other over Transformers specifically. I'm sure names, dates and descriptions of the injuries incurred could still be uncovered too... if someone cared. Keep in mind that these events occurred in a city where the murder rate- not including shootings and assaults- fast approached the 2000 mark yearly by the end of the 80s. Some murders were not even reported. This subject is small fish, and only of importance to a few Transformers fans. Asking for information about shopping riots that occurred in Albee square, Queens center or Roosevelt field malls during the 80s is almost the same as asking for the names of people who got killed when wild animals were set loose in Rome's gladiatorial arenas.

If anyone got punched in the eye over a Combiner Wars or Titans return fig please speak now.

Each one of you are quoting just one or two sources. In order for another opposing party to shut their trap about doubting such an event ever occurred (like those nut jobs denying the moon landing despite video and other corroborating evidence) should have more than one source to corroborate it. Human/eye witnesses are the LEAST reliable especially in a court case. Also, the evidence being used is just a single source.

If back in 1984, CCTV cameras recorded such, it will bolster your position. Not that I do mind what you claim as I did not go through those toy tug of war jaunts ( My G1 collection of the 1st and second season characters, including Grimlock just lacks the 4 Dinobots.)

But then again, people will only want to believe what they want to believe.

I won't be saying you are wrong or right either as again, my agenda is to dissuade fellow members to avoid the schoolyard toddler route of "neener neenerr" "I'm right and you are wrong."

So mature of y'all

Toys 'R' Us had some sort of award ceremony a few years ago where they were celebrating franchises - they did it for Mr. Potato Head and they did it for Transformers, Monopoly too. likewise there is a Toy hall of fame museum somewhere (I forget where) and Transformers was put in that too.

[ some might remember people mocking their idea of "toy" I think it included "a stick" or some such foolishness ]

Anyway both those things mentioned the early days of Transformers and it's status as a craze, as did the big Chinese convention a couple of years back when they did that 30 years of Transformers display.

You have to remember the articles exist but they'd no always be available on an archive you can get at online if the article was in a newspaper or magazine.

You also get oblique references to shortage where people will say things like "Soundwave was the leader of my Decepticons" as they couldn't actually get a Megatron until later in 1985.

Also internationally it's quite well known in the UK that Optimus Prime was the must have toy in Christmas 1985 in the UK.

As for Toy Crazes that resulted in injury - well most console launches someone gets robbed or killed on the launch night/day.

Cabbage Patch Kids was a prime example of chaos in toystores as what furbies original release and Tickle me Elmo. The Arnie Movie Jingle all the Way (the one with Turboman in) mocks the whole phenomenon.

I suspect one reason shortages would be more likely is that some of te big retailers didn't even exist in the 1980's (in America) and so it would be independents and department stores that took the brunt of any surge in demand.

If I recall correctly Transformers also sold out through much of 1985 in mail order catalogues too.

If you read the "Nostalgia threads" on TFW2005 you will often hear people saying they had to have a GoBot for Christmas/Birthday as the Transformers were all sold out - especially Starscream/Megatron/Bumblebee/Optimus and some of the Autobot cars.

As well as tales of a Parent having to go to lots of stores or drive to other towns to get stuff.

But to suggest toy crazes never happened at all is just plain silly when there is so many people who lived through them as consumers or children who didn't get what they wanted.

RAR wrote:Toys 'R' Us had some sort of award ceremony a few years ago where they were celebrating franchises - they did it for Mr. Potato Head and they did it for Transformers, Monopoly too. likewise there is a Toy hall of fame museum somewhere (I forget where) and Transformers was put in that too.

[ some might remember people mocking their idea of "toy" I think it included "a stick" or some such foolishness ]

Anyway both those things mentioned the early days of Transformers and it's status as a craze, as did the big Chinese convention a couple of years back when they did that 30 years of Transformers display.

You have to remember the articles exist but they'd no always be available on an archive you can get at online if the article was in a newspaper or magazine.

You also get oblique references to shortage where people will say things like "Soundwave was the leader of my Decepticons" as they couldn't actually get a Megatron until later in 1985.

Also internationally it's quite well known in the UK that Optimus Prime was the must have toy in Christmas 1985 in the UK.

As for Toy Crazes that resulted in injury - well most console launches someone gets robbed or killed on the launch night/day.

Cabbage Patch Kids was a prime example of chaos in toystores as what furbies original release and Tickle me Elmo. The Arnie Movie Jingle all the Way (the one with Turboman in) mocks the whole phenomenon.

I suspect one reason shortages would be more likely is that some of te big retailers didn't even exist in the 1980's (in America) and so it would be independents and department stores that took the brunt of any surge in demand.

If I recall correctly Transformers also sold out through much of 1985 in mail order catalogues too.

If you read the "Nostalgia threads" on TFW2005 you will often hear people saying they had to have a GoBot for Christmas/Birthday as the Transformers were all sold out - especially Starscream/Megatron/Bumblebee/Optimus and some of the Autobot cars.

As well as tales of a Parent having to go to lots of stores or drive to other towns to get stuff.

But to suggest toy crazes never happened at all is just plain silly when there is so many people who lived through them as consumers or children who didn't get what they wanted.

Most of the deniers are just doing so because of the messenger aka 1984forever. Thus I opined that in order to quell the opposition, at least 5 articles/references to shut 'em (oppositors) up. Too bad it has relegated to a schoolyard brawl among overage school kids.

I didn't experience the shortage back then because the family didn't have the cash to go 'em in the first place so been compensating ever since 1990 (when I started earning some cash to be able to buy the G1 figs)

The only thing getting denied was the ridiculous claim of open fighting in toy aisles over transformers.

I'm dropping this now, but in the plus side, it's finally convinced me to hide 84s idiotic troll posts. Problem solved.

1984 was a great year for transformers, for those of us old enough to remeber. It was not the best though. All you had were the first line of G1. While awesome, it was very limited. Later years offer so many more options.

Ironhidensh wrote:1984 was a great year for transformers, for those of us old enough to remeber. It was not the best though. All you had were the first line of G1. While awesome, it was very limited. Later years offer so many more options.

Yeah, thats why I find it fair to make sure its mentioned but not to have it as the best year. I mean Transformers arent MC Hammer, big in the begining and then die out. They are more like Shakira, and J Lo, hotter than ever

And if we are talking sales figures, the ones that are easier to find to determine popularity of the brand is for the films. The 86 movie made 5.8 Million $ while the latest film (AOE) made 1.104 Billion $.

But I get that this is talking more of a toy craze and I am sure it was there. But thats like Beatlemania. It happened when the Beatles first came to the US (like transformers toys, they were already known elsewhere first) and it was insane. So much so that they had to stop touring. But any fan knows that the Beatles' best stuff isnt from their early days, its from later, when they really honed in on their craft. Across the Universe beats Please Please Me any day. Same with the toys, they got better. And to stick to the music allegory, all the 84 toys were just covers of previously done toys. The real originality for the brand came later and is still working wonders today.

1986 is a bold choice.
I agree with it, and your reasons for choosing it, but I bet you get some hate from the "GI ended at the end of Season 2!" crowd.
Good job though, I thought these were all pretty good choices.

cruizerdave wrote:1986 is a bold choice.
I agree with it, and your reasons for choosing it, but I bet you get some hate from the "GI ended at the end of Season 2!" crowd.
Good job though, I thought these were all pretty good choices.

Thanks man! I didnt get much hate since, as you noted, all the choices are explained. There is always less hate when people can see where you opinion is coming from

Ironhidensh wrote:The only thing getting denied was the ridiculous claim of open fighting in toy aisles over transformers.

That did happen.I remember the news broadcast, I believe it was on NBC.
My parents talked about it a lot because it was hard to get TFs around Christmas of 84 due to the high demand. It was crazy stuff, and it did happen.

cruizerdave wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:The only thing getting denied was the ridiculous claim of open fighting in toy aisles over transformers.

That did happen.I remember the news broadcast, I believe it was on NBC.
My parents talked about it a lot because it was hard to get TFs around Christmas of 84 due to the high demand. It was crazy stuff, and it did happen.

I have done multiple searches, as well as speaking to my parents, my wife's oarents, and my best friends (all together as we just had a b day party for my sons) and have found absolutely zero evidence of this.