Crumplezone wrote:
Ironhide and Ratchet were not main line characters in Energon so why quote me to say exactly what I said. The fact that Towline was Demanded by fans to be repainted into Ironhide and Ratchet does not make these characters Main Line, but proves that the Botcon exclusives were made for fans as a bonus. This is exactly the reasoning they have gone back on for the seeker box set.
The fact that your nephews did not know the character of ramjet is neither here or there. Gen-1 is still being released on DVD its in IDW and Dream wave publishings and in many fact file mags so there is still plenty of media out today covering these characters.
I have 6 nephews and a son and most known the full line up of Gen-1 seekers so does this make my personal reason more valid if we went by your logic then yes.
As for sales of reissues both the seekers we got reissued in the UK have sold well. In fact the seekers were the first to be cleared from the shelves in most UK TRUs compaired to their reissue car counterparts.
What is true for the US is not always the same for the rest of the world (TF related argument only). But it seems that Hasbro are only interested in their home market.
Apparently, you took my tone to be negative. I was not trying to be negative, simply to point out an argument for the case using my personal experiences as a basis to begin reasoning.
I thought my stating my apologies toward those who felt they could not get them for whatever reason, and that they were being slighted at the end was showing the kindness that I meant the post to be in, not the negative tone which you drew from it, which can be understandable based on the thread's direction I suppose.
FYI Crumplezone: DVD's do not always equal current cartoon show or create an interest like a cartoon/show on television does. Power rangers has kids going crazy because they get to know the characters because the show is on everywhere, and when. Generation 1 Transformers does not have that kind of coverage. Even the current/old show (Cybertron) did not have that kind of coverage.
Being IDW comics, these are not aimed at kids or the market that does not buy comics at a comic store, or a book store. Jetfire is the only CLASSIC that matches his comic appearance in Stormbringer (which is one damn fine mold that I am thankful for BTW), but no other CLASSICs match any current TF series character's design.
As far as families go, 'touche' as they say, but still, you did not refute that there are shelf cloggers here, of repainted figures... there are, and there very well could be in your part of the world too, but I am not sure because I do not have that experience to draw on.
I am not trying to say HASBRO is not playing favorites, they obviously do favor the local market a bit more, kind of like Takara-Tomy. The exclusives are meant to be rare, not available to everyone. I understand that people feel badly about Thundercracker, especially, but that is why collectibles are what they are. Some very desired pieces are very rare, and thus, seem unfairly created and released.
More FYI: My point about E-Towline was that they had Towline, he was the perfect mold to make into Ironhide and Ratchet...we never got them until Botcon. No they were not part of a mainline, but with a mainline that was full of G1 homages (Downshift, Starscream, Rodimus, Arcee, Bulkhead, Slugslinger, Mega/Galvatron...), one might argue that they should have been. Yes, Ironhide and Ratchet never appeared on the TV show, but nor do a lot of characters who get the 'toy' treatment, and especially the homage treatment. Couldn't they have at least been given the 'Universe' treatment, because at this time, we have yet to have a good Ironhide or Ratchet that is based off G1 in the mass release market. Yet they are heavily desired pieces as well needed to complete a 'set' so to speak.
Now, the seekers. There is no current cartoon, comic (
except the club comic) to support this. IDW's cast has not all been done, and like I said, only Jetfire has been done in CLASSICs. Thus, there is no line to say that the other seekers should have come from, because this is not a 'toyline' it is simply a filler. What is the 'main line'? There isn't one, because there is no CURRENT project that HASBRO is doing that these are related to (except Jetfire!). They were supposed to be a treat to the fans... I am sure that HASBRO thought they were doing us a favor when they gave us this prior to the movie, rather than more Universe type repaints of Cybertron/Energon/Armada stuff. I wanted a new Prowl (who could have been repainted or retooled many times), but never got one. Heck Ironhide and Ratchet would fit right in here, but not considered. There will be many holes left in collector's collections because this line does not look to be continuing.
I wish CLASSICs included every single G1 character too (at the very least all of 'our' favorites), but that was not in the plans apparently (read my part about the direction of the movie--which somehow was missed).
BTW, I am aware that the US does NOT = the rest of the world. I never meant to imply that it does, nor did I mean to imply that I represent the whole U.S., or that I know everything about all places and people. I guess I need that disclaimer in my sig, that my opinions and thoughts are based on my experiences and thoughts, and in no way represent anybody else.
This whole idea of us arguing about (sorry, I mean debating) about repaints seems silly to a degree (stick with me here). Most of the time we hear how HASBRO is only after the mighty dollar because all they do is repaint molds to death (Starscream in general, Hot Shot in general, Prime in general, Megatron to Galvatron, A-Sideswipe, RID Sideburn, RID Prowl....), and yet now HASBRO is the bad guy because they allowed the fan club to repaint some of its figures into club exclusives, and not clog the shelves with more figures that many would feel that they must buy, but who are only repaints (possibly a little retooling), thus a waste of money (past experiences in threads 'talking' of course). Confused yet? Me too, and so is HASBRO probably.
HASBRO probably thinks (yes, I am pretending to know HASBRO now) that TF fans who really want them will find a way to get them, and those that don't care won't. They probably thought that they were doing us a favor by okaying this set anyway instead of something that might more appropriately tie directly to the movie they are releasing in July, which is probably what corporate HASBRO would have liked.
So have I written enough for my own page yet???
I apologize to anyone my comments may have offended. I did not mean to be short-sighted, and unfeeling toward anyone. I understand that I am in a privileged position (until Takara releases some sweet TF figure that costs me a fortune to own, and I must have it...not so privileged then), and I am thankful for it, and am trying not to sound petty about this.
Apologies again.
BTW: I am excited to own the set, because it is a great idea for a convention collector's set.
Crumplezone, sorry if I did not see the point in your argument correctly, or if you do not see the point in mine.
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