The Energon Pub

I just don’t get it.

Whenever any line gets even ONE repaint, let alone two or three even or from other lines everyone starts all this crap about how the line is from there “ruined” and such.

Like with Universe, almost everyone who posted in the Botcon threads had to bash the repaints. Acid Storm couldn’t have got a good reaction for being the first green seeker that everyone seemingly wanted, no. Instead everyone bashes and complains about it, which leads to another reason I think it was a good decision to make the remaining seekers from first classics Botcon exclusives. Everyone bashed Silverstreak and called Sideswipe (despite having a new head) “lazy”, who’s to say people wouldn’t have looked at TC and just said its lazy and went on. This company has given its fans so much and yet they still whine and complain, Hasbro could’ve made Silverstreak and Sideswipe Botcon exclusives, but no, they’re releasing them at retail for everyone.

I just don’t see what some people want anymore.

Some people in the Botcon threads were just mindlessly saying how horrible the repaints are being in wave two, but didn’t even seem to realize what Hasbro showed on their site was wave three.

I guess I’m just tired of hearing all of this neglect to what are good toys. People, a year later are STILL whining on end of how horrid it was that Hasbro made the seekers Botcon exclusives. But when Hasbro releases all of these other repaints, not making the mistake they made in the past, at MASS RETAIL people just seem to give them a “meh” reaction. And its because of people JUST LIKE THAT, we didn’t get the seekers at retail.

No one would have bought all of them.

No collector.

No adult.

No kids.

No one.


Still, I just don’t get what some people want anymore. Well anyway, that’s my rant, have fun reading this crazy repaint lovers ramblings, then curl your toes and laugh that anyone actually buys repaints…

I stopped caring about the opinions of others when it comes to TF's a long time ago.

Nothing someone else says will change my mind from either liking, or disliking a figure.

Do I like repaints? If there's a reasonable amount of thought put into them as well as giving them decent characterisation.

For example, Cybertron Cannonball. A repaint of Cybertron Red Alert. Now the paint scheme in it's self is pretty good, but the characterisation just made it all the more better.

On the other end of the spectrum was the likes of the "Powerlink" repaints. Same characters, but they were supposed to be "upgraded" forms. Little to no effort was put into the characterisations, it was a simple slap a new coat of paint on 'em and pump 'em out.

Then you have the obligatory repaints of Optimus Prime into Ultra Magnus (with no trailer armour) and/or Nemesis Prime. Great idea first time round, maybe even the second, but after the 4th time it gets pretty boring.

Unless I realy like them, I just don't buy them.

But when everything started, a repainted figure was either part of a group, like say the Seekers, or it was a specialty item.

Take the Premovie MiniBots vs the Post, they where mostly retooled. That little bit of effort went a long way in making these characters unique.

Even during Beast Wars, you had the Hasbro version, a Takara version, and repaints where reserved for either exclusives or reissues(thanks Fox Kids).

RID is where it all changed though with color schemes changing due to "Upgrades" while the actual figure stayed the same, what happened to the retooling?

To a lesser extent the initial Universe line added to this. That realy didn't bother me though because they where using figured from 5 to 10 years back. Now we get a universe repaint version before the first figure is even released.

The worst though had to be the Cybertron line, lots of great figures, but it's entire second year consisted of mainly first year figures with new colors and their factions flipped!?!

What happened to the idea of new figures?

So now it's a norm, and there is no such thing as a line having only 1 repaint, and great Characters like Blaster who was very different from Soundwave except in the similar type of alt they had are going to be one in the same, while CliffJumper is BumbleBees red twin.

It's discouraging, take things like the recent BotCon displays, those use to be new and exciting and you couldn't wait to see what was going to be new...

This year we got a handful of new molds, which aren't even out yet, but already have 2 or 3 color schemes waiting in the wings. Then the rest of the display is all stuff you most likely already have.

No Retools
No New Weapons
No Intrest

Just a new color and name for more of the same ol'

And since it happens for EVERY figure, it becomes very discouraging when the only thing new is what you already have.

Liege Evilmus wrote:And since it happens for EVERY figure, it becomes very discouraging when the only thing new is what you already have.

Well, I own a Cybertron Sideways, but I don’t own a pink one so that’s new. I never was able to get a version of Cybertron Evac, so Springer will work well for me and I don’t own a green seeker from any line so Acid Storm is new.

You do bring up some good points however. I just don’t get what some people were expecting though, Hasbro had already said Sideswipe would be an altered Sunstreaker repaint, and if Silverstreak were to be made, why would Hasbro take the time to retool it, just to make it different from its G1 counterpart and therefore defeat the purpose of an G1 update.

Liege Evilmus wrote:It's discouraging, take things like the recent BotCon displays, those use to be new and exciting and you couldn't wait to see what was going to be new...

This year we got a handful of new molds, which aren't even out yet, but already have 2 or 3 color schemes waiting in the wings. Then the rest of the display is all stuff you most likely already have.

Yes, repaints of figures were shown before the original figure came out, but what’s the big surprise? Sideswipe and Silverstreak are both in wave three and Cliffjumper and Ramjet were also in wave three of original classics, so what’s the big deal here?

Man, there ain't a damn thing wrong with repaints, and I am completely with Burn on this one. I stopped caring what others were complaining about in the TF realm, because no one ever seems to be happy about anything at all.
Repaints offer us new characters who didn't previously exist in the universe (like Cyb-Cannonball), chances to see old characters redone (like the upcoming Walmart Crankcase), other characters who do exist (like the Seekers or Bluestreak and Co.), and a lot of other great stuff. What bugs me is the duality of this issue. How can you damn repaints, and then cry for the other Seekers and Silverstreak and Smokescreen and Bluestreak? How is a green Seeker stupid because it's a repaint, but Stealth Bumblebee and Cliffjumper from the movie line are awesome? Bull. Now granted, no one is ever going to get us all to agree, and that's fine too. Personally, I'm getting tired of Optimus and Prowl and BB and Megatron and Soundwave and JAzz and Ironhide and Starscream and the Constructions. I want new characters, unfamiliar names and personalities, even if they fill the same roles as better known characters. I'd like a different cool-guy Autobot, and a different treacherous Decepticon lieutenant. It doesn't always have to be the same guys, but then we cry about how TF2 MUST have Soundwave and the Constructicons and Hound. It doesn't have to have anyone. No toy line has to give us a Prowl, and it doesn't have to be the same Prowl from 25 years ago. I'm a hardcore G1er, and have really grown to hate the 2007 movie characters, but I applaud them for being and doing something different.
Give me repaints, and give me different characters behind them. If you don't like them, you can keep searching for Cliffjumper, which is a repaint but you'll find some way to justify why this repaint is so much better or different in principle than the Cybertron movie repaints. I'll buy the Cyb repaints, because they appeal to me.

Whew. Sorry for the rant there, team. Meaning no disrespect or anything, but it's always the same conversation when it comes to repaints around here.

Dagon wrote:How can you damn repaints, and then cry for the other Seekers and Silverstreak and Smokescreen and Bluestreak?

And this is the main reason I’m here. This is what I don’t understand.

People cry blasphemy at Hasbro for making the seekers Botcon exclusives, yet those same people will bash another repaint into the ground.

Big double standard there.

At this point I really only collect repaints...

I paid $30 a piece for two Basic sized Superlink Reptaints and $60 for GF Blue Ramble...

I SO can not wait to get new pictures of my collection when we move.

It's going to be glorious.

(for me...in anticipation.)

I like repaints if their done well and are based on a great figure. I wasn't impressed with the movie-line Dreadwing, so Overcast doesn't help sell that mold. But say, Classics Mirage now being made into a Walmart exclusive with some nice colors - I can handle. I guess if the original figure was great, the repaint can be great, too - and that sells the figure to me.

Nekoman wrote:

Dagon wrote:How can you damn repaints, and then cry for the other Seekers and Silverstreak and Smokescreen and Bluestreak?

And this is the main reason I’m here. This is what I don’t understand.

People cry blasphemy at Hasbro for making the seekers Botcon exclusives, yet those same people will bash another repaint into the ground.

Big double standard there.

Yep. And just for reference, it will never cease to be the main sentiment of most people who do that. Those who cry foul at paying $200+ for Botcon Dirge will cry foul if all the Datsun Autobot cars are not released. What are you going to do really? Not going to make everyone happy, so you just grin and bear it. Whatever, I like Transformers, and I buy toys I like. If someone doesn't like the repaints, leave them on the shelf for me. That'll solve your repaint problem.

I actually quite like the repaints.

Acid storm is awesome, as are the other cybertron repaints.

Sideswipe is nice, although I did expect a slightly different leg transformation (I'll live).


The only repaint I don't like is the Blaster one. The Cybertron Soundwave mould really doesn't suit him.



I'm happy to have repaints. As long as we keep seeing new moulds (like we do), they can chuck as many out as they care to spend money on. As long as I get my new moulds.


Like Ironhide, Cyclonus, and the Hound + Ravage duo. They are brilliant .

Dealer wrote:I actually quite like the repaints.

Acid storm is awesome, as are the other cybertron repaints.

Sideswipe is nice, although I did expect a slightly different leg transformation (I'll live).


The only repaint I don't like is the Blaster one. The Cybertron Soundwave mould really doesn't suit him.



I'm happy to have repaints. As long as we keep seeing new moulds (like we do), they can chuck as many out as they care to spend money on. As long as I get my new moulds.


Like Ironhide, Cyclonus, and the Hound + Ravage duo. They are brilliant .

Dealer, you seem reasonable. Do you remember how the original Universe line was ONLY repaints? Do you remember how we got no new molds in the previous incarnation of Universe? Don'tcha think a new Universe line would contain repaints based on the notion that the original Universe line was all repaints? I'm just wondering, because that part always seems to get overlooked. This line is called Universe, and it contains Classics 2.0. it's not a line supposed to be all brand new figures.
Me, I'm just glad we're getting new toys, honestly.
But I'm with you on the Blaster thing. I just don't like that mold at all, so I'm going to pass.

But really, Dealer, your statements are true, and well put. But you know how we are as a fandom, never happy at all.

I came expecting a thread about repaints and I find it's actually about people bashing. D'oh.

Anyhow...

What's wrong with repaints:
-Recycling of figures you may have bought before.
-Uninspiring show repaints. (Megatron -> Galvatron "Haha! It's just me painted white! I'm so clever.")
-Uninspiring non-show repaints. (Allspark powered Barricade, etc.)
-Collectors with completionist tendencies can't move around their homes because every inch of space is covered with Transformers.

What's good about repaints:
-Nostalgic childhood references.
-Second chance to buy a figure you missed the first time.
-More money in the Hasbro/Takara coffers.
-Troop building fodder.
-Skywarp.

I for one am of the mindset that the repaints for Sideswipe, Silverstreak, and if they do a Ratchet from Ironhide,
are AWESOME.

My point, and this was a point for the Botcon Seekers, is this:

These are characters that were in the cartoon, that yes, use basically the same molds with slight re-tooling of others,
but are ACTUAL characters!!

We're not talking about taking the Cybertron Soundwave mold and trying to finagle a "Classics" Blaster from it.



And please don't try and make the blanket statement that no one would've bought any of the Seekers now.
That has no validity whatsoever.

It would've been just as easy to put them in the Universe line as any of the other repaints.
I still don't see how people here on the forum don't get that at the end of this summer in August (or later),
there will be adults and kids who will buy their first Transformers figures EVER.
People who don't even know what Botcon is, or that there ever was a Classics line before now.
Remember that stat; fans only make-up 15-20% of the sales.
So trying to say that people wouldn't buy all 6 Seekers isn't even a realistic argument any more!!
Hasbro could've sold 2 separately, one in the first wave, one in wave 3, and the last in a two pack.
So even if only 2 of the 3 sold very well, THEY'RE ONLY REPAINTS.
Guaranteed, there will be a Universe repainted figure that won't sell well anyway.
At least one figure of that line will take on the "Payload" role.
We can agree there's obviously no way they'll all sell out.

If people who have been collecting for years, or heck since early '07,
were to only end up buying 4-5 of the Seekers total, Hasbro has still made money!!

Hasbro must think something of the Seeker mold, we're getting Acid Storm, right?

My last argument that I'll make for now in favor of the potential that the 3 Seekers had:
Hasbro has already stated that they'd like to see the Universe line expand, and that it will most likely come back after the 2nd movie toys have had their run.
So at least 1 of the Seekers could've been put out in '09.

Thrust could've been sold separately.
TC could've been part of a 2 pack (potentially helping sell another repaint).
Dirge (who has the most retooling) could've been released in '09.

So one more Seeker than what Hasbro's putting out anyway would've come out in this next series of waves for Universe.

NO FREAKIN' WAY!!!!!

And let's face it, with how many vehicles are being released
(including basically all 3 Decepticons), having a couple smaller, non-Ultra class jets thrown in there probably would've appealed to the mass market.

I, like many others, don't really mind repaints when they're done right (again, Blaster is a shame).
I understand that having them makes new molds more likely and possible.
It's matter of buying what you like.

I personally see nothing wrong with repaints, mostly because I have no problem have multiples of a mold that I really like. Classics Bumblebee for example, I really like that mold and I had no problem shelling out the money for Classics Cliffjumper, though I'll admit I would of liked a remolded head, but it's not a huge deal for me. Now I guess I have a double standard as I was a little annoyed at first when I saw the first images of Universe Sideswipe with just a black Sunstreaker head, but at the same time I wasn't all that bothered by it. I think repaitns have their place, I really don't think we can reasonably expcet every single character that gets a toy to have a new and different mold. I think that what they should do when doing repaints of characters like Cliffjumper they should get a little creative, give them different weapons and if they character in the show had a different look (say a different head then his near twin) then they should get a new head.

Bottom line for me, I just think repaitns are a good way to create I diverse line where people can get access to molds they like without buying the same character over and over again, but at the same time repaints should get a distinctive physical look that differs slightly from the original.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I for one am of the mindset that the repaints for Sideswipe, Silverstreak, and if they do a Ratchet from Ironhide,
are AWESOME.

Then put a smile on your face cause they said at Botcon there will be a Ratchet repaint.

Sowndwave76 wrote:And please don't try and make the blanket statement that no one would've bought any of the Seekers now.
That has no validity whatsoever.

Logically someone would’ve bought them, so yes, but no one can say for sure since they were never released at mass retail. This being the case, anything could’ve happened, making it an valid statement.

Also, I’ll be surprised if we get another seeker in Universe, so we may have not seen Hasbro ever make the remaining seekers after the first in this line.

And when Acid Storm comes out I’d love to see how often he’ll be at the store, when he does come out he may be one of the worst self warmers we’ve seen in a while.

Dagon wrote:

Dealer wrote:I actually quite like the repaints.

Acid storm is awesome, as are the other cybertron repaints.

Sideswipe is nice, although I did expect a slightly different leg transformation (I'll live).


The only repaint I don't like is the Blaster one. The Cybertron Soundwave mould really doesn't suit him.



I'm happy to have repaints. As long as we keep seeing new moulds (like we do), they can chuck as many out as they care to spend money on. As long as I get my new moulds.


Like Ironhide, Cyclonus, and the Hound + Ravage duo. They are brilliant .

Dealer, you seem reasonable. Do you remember how the original Universe line was ONLY repaints? Do you remember how we got no new molds in the previous incarnation of Universe? Don'tcha think a new Universe line would contain repaints based on the notion that the original Universe line was all repaints? I'm just wondering, because that part always seems to get overlooked. This line is called Universe, and it contains Classics 2.0. it's not a line supposed to be all brand new figures.
Me, I'm just glad we're getting new toys, honestly.
But I'm with you on the Blaster thing. I just don't like that mold at all, so I'm going to pass.

But really, Dealer, your statements are true, and well put. But you know how we are as a fandom, never happy at all.

It did seem pretty obvious at the time that Hasbro wanted to keep making repaints under the universe. They do help make some decent revenue for them.

Making new classics figures and releasing them in the universe line seems more of a bone for the fans; a way of saying 'ta muchly!' to us for keeping things chugging (but let's be honest. I can see kids buying these classics figures just as much as us lot, who will no doubt own two or three of each )


K always hope that they continue though. A line made entirely of old moulds will run out of steam at some point (like universe had). New moulds are needed to keep us all interested.


And yes, it does seem that the fandom is never truly happy. There's always something to bitch about eh?
(btw, thanks! I do try to write things in the best way I can. Even if it reads like dribble to me when I'm checking SPAG. )

Tekka wrote:-Skywarp.

I saw you coming with that one from a million, bazillion, gazillion miles away

I've always been a thundercracker man meself.



EDIT:--

RATCHET!!!! That's put a smile on my face that's for sure.

I'll buy Acid Storm...

Dealer wrote:I saw you coming with that one from a million, bazillion, gazillion miles away

Couldn't have been that far. After reading the senseless bashing I almost didn't post at all.

Tekka wrote:

Dealer wrote:I saw you coming with that one from a million, bazillion, gazillion miles away

Couldn't have been that far. After reading the senseless bashing I almost didn't post at all.

The giant neon "I heart Skywarp" sign kinda gives the game away

Tekka wrote:

Dealer wrote:I saw you coming with that one from a million, bazillion, gazillion miles away

Couldn't have been that far. After reading the senseless bashing I almost didn't post at all.

Now hold it just an minute!

I didn’t start this thread to bash anyone or force my opinion, that’s not what I intended at all and if that’s what you think, you’ve got the wrong idea.

I’m just kind of baffled by the negative reaction to this years Botcon and the Universe line.

In no way did I mean to bash anyone.

I INDORSE others opinion and am just curious as to why people feel this way.

I have heard some excellent points in this thread which has made for some interesting points of view to consider. If I were to make an educated guess on the nature of this issue I'd say this.

There is alot of duality in our little fandom and there are ALOT of different desires from ALOT of different fans as to what we want to see released. I think this is where the bash repaints in one instance and praise repaints in another instance stems from.

But there are some realities here that we should probably be excepting of. New molds cost $$$ but repiants make Hasbro more $$$$. Hasbro is a toy company out to make money. I don't care if their company slogan is "To Make The World Smile!" They are a business out to make money, I think we can all except that fact.

No matter the amount of repaint bashing that is slung around repaints don't seem to hurt Hasbro's bottom line and still sell well for them. There are plenty of repaints that we eat up as collectors and there are plenty of repaints that kids eat up too.

But if you really consider alot of recent repaints, future repaints we know are coming and the designer comments shown on Transformers.com there is alot of thought and consideration by the designers now about what molds to use and the inspiration of the repaints that get done. Repaints aren't done as arbitrarily as they may have been before.

Like repaints or not the Hasbro designers are putting more thought into them and I say as collectors we just buy then ones each of us like and let the kids buy the rest. Besides isn't the most imnportant thing that Transformers continue for us to enjoy?

Right.

The repaints pay for the plastic and card to make the new moulds.
It's a process that's worked thus far, and we've doen fine so far too.


I do like how Hasbro are making repaints that homage the G1 (and such) characters they best represent.

If I ever see the Roadbuster and Springer sets, I'll snap them up like that.

Dealer wrote:

Tekka wrote:

Dealer wrote:I saw you coming with that one from a million, bazillion, gazillion miles away

Couldn't have been that far. After reading the senseless bashing I almost didn't post at all.

The giant neon "I heart Skywarp" sign kinda gives the game away

Okay... you got me.

Nekoman wrote:Now hold it just an minute!

I didn’t start this thread to bash anyone or force my opinion, that’s not what I intended at all and if that’s what you think, you’ve got the wrong idea.

I’m just kind of baffled by the negative reaction to this years Botcon and the Universe line.

In no way did I mean to bash anyone.

I INDORSE others opinion and am just curious as to why people feel this way.

Unfortunately, regardless of your intentions, bait is still bait.

Tekka wrote:

Nekoman wrote:Now hold it just an minute!

I didn’t start this thread to bash anyone or force my opinion, that’s not what I intended at all and if that’s what you think, you’ve got the wrong idea.

I’m just kind of baffled by the negative reaction to this years Botcon and the Universe line.

In no way did I mean to bash anyone.

I INDORSE others opinion and am just curious as to why people feel this way.

Unfortunately, regardless of your intentions, bait is still bait.

And this is not Bait, lets stay on subject.

I do not want to bash anyone about their opinions about repaints, you are entitled to your opinions on a subject. Here is mine:

Up to a point, I do not mind repaints. Sometimes repaints are good to work with. The new mold of the Nissans (Bluestreak, Prowl, and possibly Smokescreen) in the Universe/Classics 2.0 line is a good example. Since the beginning of Transformers, these three were always repaints and retooled of each other. The list above is the apparent ordering when they appeared in the 1980s. Both of the figures are on my list to get this Fall.

When the line came about with Prowl, we knew it was going to happen again. Some people appeared to like it but others did not like it when it came to be.

Now, where I do not like repaints is the movie line. How many times do they have to repaint one figure in less a year? Jazz has been repainted 5 times if my memory serves me correctly. The two original Bumblebee figures ('74/'76 and '08), I do not entirely mind, but the '08 Bumblebee has been repainted a lot too in less than a year (maybe 4 or 5 times).

In other words, I do not mind repaints if they are entirely different characters. However, when it is the same character that is repainted several times that is when I draw the line.

Tekka wrote:

Dealer wrote:The giant neon "I heart Skywarp" sign kinda gives the game away

Okay... you got me.

That is just damn awesome. I salute you!

Tekka wrote:Unfortunately, regardless of your intentions, bait is still bait.

Fight! Fight! Fight!


Joke