The Energon Pub

BLACKOUT2007 wrote:
I buy them cause they look cool. And when painted realistically, make nice display peices. I'm a fan of miniatures!

Are you aware of the World's Smallest Transformers line?

http://search.ebay.com/smallest-transfo ... eNameZWLRS

upther wrote:Regardless of the possible reasons for using the thinner plastic, the toys still feel cheap. The plastic just feels like it will break at anytime. I'm all for complex and fun transformations but I'd definately exchange some complexity for a little sturdier feel to the toys. Blackout stays in bot mode because both the tabs on his head got stress marks after one transformation and one of them is bent in such a way that it won't lock into place in alt mode.

I don't like the automorph gimmick either. Seems pointless and needlessly complicates things.

I also think a lot of them are kinda on the ugly side. Bonecrusher looks like a bridge troll. I'm not crazy about Blackout who seems misproportioned. Same goes for Jazz and Barricade who seem to be all legs. Lets not forget Barricade's stupid punch arm that will spring out at the slightest touch.

I am quite fond of Dreadwing though.

Agree completely. Plus they had production issues so you couldn't find any for quite some time-very frustrating!

PorQPine wrote:Well, I am 32 and a 20+yr collector(well, minus that 5yr hiatus when I was in college and broke...), and I quite enjoy the Movie line.

Realistic alt modes+complicated transformations+articulation=WIN.

There are some figures that I don't like, and scaling could have been much better, but I enjoy the overall puzzle approach and they make for great display pieces. Some of the head-sculpts are a little out there for me.

Never had a problem transforming them, but maybe it's because I'm used to complicated assemblies and intricate moving parts. A couple were tricky the first time through. I do agree that these toys are generally not for kids under the age of 10. But that's what the RGs, Basics, FABs, and Cyberslammers are for.

Yeah, a 5 year old IS going to have a problem with a figure like leader Brawl.

maybe because transformers fans are really hard to please?

Malikon wrote:I guess for me I really enjoy the 'overly complex' transformations. That's what I really love about Leader Prime, it's very intricate. I'm really hoping that Iron Hide is the same way. I love the way his chest his split open and angled to the sides. I just know that if it weren't for the movie toys being the way they are, *transformation wise* then I probably wouldn't have gotten so into them again and started collecting them again.

Agree 100%. I loved TFs as a kid...and I saw re-issues the last couple years around the holidays. I was tempted, but the adult in me decided not to waste money on toys. After the movie, though, I got pumped and decided I'd just buy a Prime for old time's sake. I wanted leader Prime, but couldn't find him, but I ended up finding the Robo-vision Prime and thought good enough. I came away quite impressed with the complexity and solid alt mode, but still thought good enough.

Then I saw the transformation process for leader Prime on the website, saw that it was totally different...and better! Had to have it! While searching that out I picked up another figure or two just because all the time I was putting into searching and walking away empty handed. I continued to be impressed with the complexity of them and became addicted.

If not for the complexity of the movie line, I probably would have bought my Prime, said cool, and moved on. And the couple classics I've gotten along the ride...they're really cool from a nostalgic standpoint, but most just haven't been as "fun." Me "playing" with my TFs is just transforming them back and forth...I don't do much in the way of battles or whatever, so quick & easy transformation isn't a bonus for me.

But from a toy perspective, I'd agree, they definitely seem like a terrible toy for a 5 year old. I thought they were trying to gear them more toward adults or something at first, figuring they were trying to impress their fans from way back. Worked on me...

I liked the movie line. They are the reason I got back into the hobby.

Some of the parts that are troublesome are designed to pop off... My nephew has a few and he hasn't had any problems... I think it would take alot of pressure and user error to actually cause stress marks, breaks, etc... These toys were made for kids, so if you know any kids with man hands that can cause stress fractures... get him into the guiness books lol.

That and I think you will have quality control issues with all figures and the dislike probably stems from the movie as well lol. I haven't had any issues with my movie line, while my 06 skywarp has a very loose left leg and my ml soundwave feels super cheap for a 90 figure.

My $9 barricade is much more durable than the $90 ml soundwave I recently got... and his paint doesn't chip/smudge as easy.

Ironhide is cool, but if redeco jazz had better arms and legs that were pose worthy, he would be the best figure; as is I think barricade is tops with the detailing.

08 bb good, but overrated.

parts

jazz reborn wrote:im a 12 year old and it only takes me 5-7 minutes to transform my toys for the 1st time. after that it only takes me 1 minute or less.

ahh...I remember being 12 and able to transform mine without looking at the instructions......however they were G1 headmasters which converted in 5 or 6 steps. This kid though will be going to MIT and making the big bucks when he gets out of school. I still need the instructions on the new stuff and it takes me 15-20 minutes on some of them....Im getting old

Anywho....I like the movie line but the plastic couldve been a bit heavier duty though. Ive already had to replace a voyager Ratchet and my Blackout has those pesky stress marks in the typical places.

I like most of what I see from the movie line, but I only got Barracade. Eventually I'll get a G1 Prowl to compliment him.

QC issues plague alot of lines. Like Classics Grimlock having those mismatched shoulder joints .... and they're riveted in so there's no fixing them. The only thing about Barracade that I dislike is his floppy midsection!

But as cool as some of the toys from the movie are, they just aren't "my" Transformers, you know? G1 got me mad about TFs as a kid and Beast Wars brought me back into the franchise .... 20th Prime was the one that really hooked me. So, to me, these are great figures for another person. I don't have any animosity towards them and the movie's fine, but they aren't special to me.