The Energon Pub

well hasbro these days are trying to offer something new to stimulate the youth market by putting gimmicks or electronics into their products by giving them a soul. when parents purchase something over a 100 bucks, they wanted value like sturdy and playable or even better interactive piece. so as a collector do you prefer something like a masterpiece toy that has extreme details such as paint jobs and very detail molds or toys that are playable with rich entertainment purposes. if i were the designers at hasbro/takara/tomy, i would combine the two such as creating very detailed and interactive figure that can serve both as a display or a fun interactive toy.

ive never had the honor of owning a masterpeice, but i will say i have a softspot for lights. whenever any figures i purchase have piping i like to stick a light behind their head to see their eyes glow, even if its like a deluxe classic grimlock or voyager classic prime.

it really depends on the tf cause i mean look at 09 bumblebee he is a amazing figure i would never compare him to masterpiece starscream

I like to have a toy that has the X-Factor. We are not in the 90s! Toys that only have good articulation are not enough! We expect more from Hasbro.

both

But If i had to choose it would be for detailing/articulation over the gimicks that almost never fail to take away posability, or detail.

Then again I am a 33 year old collector, and pose my figures as display pieces instead of playing with them as I did in my youth. I can see younger folks getting attatched to lights and sounds etc. I know I liked some things like that as a kid.

Thats why the MP line and the altenators have/had such appeal to me. Yes a few lights like the matrix backlight and the scope on Megs, but overall much more focused on detailing and articulation. The fact that altenators died shows that younger folks would rather have cheaper, more gimicky figures, and liek it or not kids are what drives a toy market.

uhmm i'm just wondering..if some collectors don't want to take the figures out of their boxes..will the batteries included leak or something in some number of years?

alexsuzy wrote:uhmm i'm just wondering..if some collectors don't want to take the figures out of their boxes..will the batteries included leak or something in some number of years?

Theoretically, it's possible. However, if the batteries are not conducting a current, it is less likely.

If you're hinting at the piece-of-crap ultimate bumblebee, I would definitely go with more detail. And not just better paint jobs and molding, but a better, more complex one that looks like the movie version. I don't think that gimmicks and lights (and in bumblebee's case motors) should ever take too much out of the actual design of the toy.

yup i do prefer them but i like a talking figure and lights should be at least accomodating the backround of the character... BUT, i can sacrifice those on a normal toy with killer detail in sculpt and paint and that's what you call accuracy

alexsuzy wrote:uhmm i'm just wondering..if some collectors don't want to take the figures out of their boxes..will the batteries included leak or something in some number of years?

absolutely...

I prefer sculpting and articulation myself. Sure lights, sounds and other such gimmickry can be fun but I've never yet bought a toy because of them.

craggy wrote:I prefer sculpting and articulation myself. Sure lights, sounds and other such gimmickry can be fun but I've never yet bought a toy because of them.

i agree i prefer killer looks than killer gimmicks because the gimmicks sometimes flop

do you think it's stupid and childlish to have toys to include electronic gimmicks? again to consider a hardcore toy collectors, should we collect something that's close to statutes or toy that's highly detail?

All kinds of toys are needed, but I enjoy masterpiece-like and Ultimate Bumblebee-like figures the most.

I've never been a lights and sounds kind of collector. I too am more of a detail freak. I'll tell ya what gimmick I'd totally support though...Press a button and your Transformer transforms itself! I'm sure we'd all back that one!

I definately prefer scultping and articulation to gimmicks. Especially when electronics and extra mechaninics get in the way of the transformation scheme and the articulation.

One of the reason I walked away from the lines in the Unicron Trilogy is because of the gimmicks. (Though I admit that I'm regretting it now.)

I'd prefer a more detailed and articulated figure with a better overall design to a figure with electronics added. Personally They could leave out all gimmicks (well other then combiners:)) and I'd be happier. No more keys, minicon powers, automorphing, etc. Just give me detailed, well articulated, well painted figures. I don't even care if the prices stay the same, I jsut hate how many figures have had their designs compromised by the addition of a sound box of a few flickering lights. If they have to have them put them in a weapon that doesn't hurt the figure.

Seeing as many figures with sound get so very annoying, I am
glad that fewer figures are coming with sound grabs. If sounds continue to be added, I hope they keep them to button activated sounds, rather than motion activated.

Lights however, could be very good addition to some figures. Larger ones in particular.

The only problem with any electronics is getting the wiring to mesh with the Transformation.

I think Cybertron overdid the electronic lights and sounds a little.

I am actually very impressed with the movie Leaders, there are only two sounds for Prime and Megs, and Brawl's funness comes from his diverse sound systems.

alexsuzy wrote:uhmm i'm just wondering..if some collectors don't want to take the figures out of their boxes..will the batteries included leak or something in some number of years?

It SURELY will. Especially more so that most batteries are now made in china. The time span is even shorter.

For me, gimmicks is ok. It's fun. But NO batteries please.
Light piping is one of the best gimmick pull off by Hasbro. Other favorite gimmicks are extreme posability, individually movable fingers, see-thru windows, and detailed interiors.

Rubber wheels are nice. But can't last long. So, for the sake of longevity, i may prefer to drop the rubber bit.

Recent plastic wheels are finely detailed. Looks great and feels great to the touch. Examples are those implemented on Movie BB and Movie Ironhide.

Just a normal toy for me.

Raymond101 wrote:I think Cybertron overdid the electronic lights and sounds a little.

I am actually very impressed with the movie Leaders, there are only two sounds for Prime and Megs, and Brawl's funness comes from his diverse sound systems.

i think in the movie line leader class, brawl has the best sound and lights..in tank mode the main turret gets activited by pushing it and the smaller transparent machine guns are activated by turning the smaller turrets around..but they won't stop until you turn it back to center or fire the main turret..

jacksonspade wrote:I've never been a lights and sounds kind of collector. I too am more of a detail freak. I'll tell ya what gimmick I'd totally support though...Press a button and your Transformer transforms itself! I'm sure we'd all back that one!

If it were a true robot, then yeah that would be kind of cool. But if it were just a massive retardomorph, then we'd have some problems.

Plus, for me, part of the fun of having a transforming toy is actually transforming it(without instructions of course).

I like posability, detail, and individual flexible fingers. I wouldn't want sounds or lights as that can get annoying if the sound is too loud. Anybody remeber Bio Bugs? They ahd a sound chip that was super loud, and VERY screechy. I hated that gimmick.

What is light piping?

Light-piping is when a figure has a translucent plastic built into his head, so that when a strong light source is behind it, the figure's eyes glow.

It can be a really awesome effect, though I personally wouldn't call it a "gimmick." But technically I suppose it is.