The Energon Pub

Yo Seibtrono's, the "What went wrong with DOTM" thread got me thinking again about the trend of releasing multiple versions of the same character in a short time span. You know what I'm talking about, how some waves will have say three or four Spider-Man varients and one villian, or every wave must have a Wolverine.

I know every kid wants a Batman/Bumblebee/He-Man/etc., and that character should be available in some form, but sometimes it feels like overkill.

Luckily Transformers hasn't gotten to that point yet, but Prime and Bumblebee are getting an awful lot of plastic devoted to them recently.

So the question is, do you like this marketing strategy? Did you seek out another version of a character you already had when you were a kid? Parents, if I may ask, do your children like getting more than one version of a character?

For me personally, I usually only get one version of a character, unless the looks are vastly different or it's in a multi-pack. For example, I have one deluxe live action Bumblebee, the 08 one from the first film(remember the scarcity of the figure? Ironic now), and I'm fine with it. No reason to get any others of that scale.

I do have a Classics Bee, but that's technically a different Universe, and I did get Legends Gold Bumblebee, but that's another scale and can be considered Goldbug.

Going to another end of the spectrum, I have four Arcee's(Energon, ROTF, Animated, PRID), and more than a few Starscreams, but they all look pretty different so I pass them off as seperate characters.

As a kid, if I had a version of a character, I didn't really want another one. I had one Wolverine, one Batman, one Robin, one Venom, a couple Spider-Men(one red and blue, one black suit), you get the idea. If I did get another version of a character from a Yard sale or Fast Food Premium (I did have two of each Turtle), the other version was an evil Robot. I never cared much for super weird costumes or ultra upgrade weapons either.

So that pretty much wraps it up for me. What about you guys? Also, if it's ok with mods, can we keep it to toys in general? Limiting it to just Transformers, which has hardly scratched the subject by comparison just feels so...limiting.

I don't see any problem with discussing non-tf lines in terms of variation collecting... that said, it's not something I indulge in outside of TFs much anyway.

The only times I really tend to care about a variation of a figure/character I already own is if it comes across as being truly better than the previous one... or perhaps the last one I had is not in the best condition. I have Classics, Henkei, and RTS Bumblebee primarily because of the windshield crack issue... which in un-ignorable on my classics bb, and was starting right in the package of my Henkei one... and even then the choice to get another variation to replace the last wasn't entirely my decision.

Variations of a character from different eras or continuities though? I don't see a problem with it, but it is getting to a point where I am getting sick of seeing yet another take on Optimus, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Starscream every year. I practically have whole shelves devoted to those f**king characters!

Prime and Megatron i understand because theyre the leaders. And i can understand having one FE and one RID. Bug then it gets overkill.

All the retail by me suffers from bumblebonic plagueand i cant stand it. And thats only the first rid one. I shudder to think what will happen when more bumblebees roll out

I'm tired of new takes on the same characters (and same story) over and over again, but as long as it's selling, that's what Has/Tak will do.

They are plagued by the same problem that the record and movie industries are, namely a total lack of creativity and originality caused by fear of lost profits from changing direction and alienating their consumer base, thus losing their foothold in the industry.

They do and re-do and re-do and re-do what has worked in the past, but I swear, eventually everyone will get bored of watching the 90th remake of the same movie, or the 1000th song that sounds exactly the same and has generic, unoriginal lyrics and yes, they will get sick and tired (as I have) of seeing the same damn Transformers characters and story over and over again and their industries will be forced to evolve by doing something novel and new.

Creativity and originality will return once the funds dry up, so the sooner people get bored of the same old crap, the sooner we'll see Has/Tak evolve what they're doing, otherwise they'll just discontinue the franchise.

I like variety in my characters. I do have a lot of Primes and Megatrons, but can't think of an instance where I've 2 from the same line, or representing the same version of a character. If a particularly popular mold comes along of a major character I already have a good version of, I'll tend to get the repaint that looks most like a different character. I picked up Armada Powerlinx Prime (the blue one) and usually think of him as Thunderclash. Likewise, in my Classicsverse RiD Prime is Optimus Pyre, sort of Pyro/Spark-like character inspired by the real guy. RiD Megatron is a Unicron-empowered super-version of BW Megatron.

I'll sometimes have multiples of the same character to represent different time-periods. Pre-Earth/Cybertron modes of some of the characters are fine to represent War Within or War For Cybertron versions of the characters. I own Classics Bee, as well as Legends (well, EZ Collection) Bumble and thats mainly because I like the Legends scale for the original Minibots, but Bumblebee is such a major character now that I like having a version thats a)poseable and b)doesn't look totally stupid standing next to a normal Deluxe.

Generally I like to buy the best available version of a character to fit my personal idea of what they look like, and have little qualms about upgrading that when a better one comes along. I missed out on Classics/Henkei Prime, only having the one from the 2pack with tank Megatron. When RTS Prime and Battle Tanker came along, that was a worthwhile upgrade for me. Sometimes the newer versions of characters are different enough from the look I have in mind for them that I can get the new toy as a different character - PRiD Cyberverse Cliffjumper stands in the same group as Henkei Cliff, representing a new character "Rockjumper".

xyl360 wrote:their industries will be forced to evolve by doing something novel and new.

Creativity and originality will return once the funds dry up, so the sooner people get bored of the same old crap, the sooner we'll see Has/Tak evolve what they're doing, otherwise they'll just discontinue the franchise.

They were headed down the right path with Animated's storyline...

I hate you Cartoon Network.

There was a thread similar to this a while back called "how many bees"

I try and keep it "realistic" But like some have said, if it's a better version then I'll get it. Example 07 movie star scream vs voyager ROTF starscream. The thing I am tired of is the "lets put this out...and then dup them into another one later"

For example the yellow rampage that most of us bought, only to have a red Rampage show up later!

07 movie Arcee and then what she actually looked like in ROTF. I know, some like the 07 Arcee, but I'd have rather not gotten it for the movie accurate one.

How many of us would have bought the 07 movie voyager prime or leader prime if we would have known how much better ROTF voyager and leader would have been? I didn't buy the DOTM skids and mudflap for this one reason alone. I didn't need the repaints for two characters that were not in the movie.

Going way back, it never bugged me that there were multiple Luke Skywalkers or Han Solos in the original Kenner Star Wars line. They were usually different enough from each other AND based on another appearance from the actual movies, that it didn't seem like overkill to have so many. It's not like they put out SHADOW STEALTH HAN SOLO or crap like that just to sell an extra toy. It all fit into the existing universe, you had Han in his classic vest, Han in his Bespin Jacket, Han frozen in carbonite, etc.

Characters that didn't change appearance in the movie, even if super popular, rarely got more than one figure. There was only one Darth Vader, only one Boba Fett, etc. The only real exceptions were R2 and 3PO, but that was more a case of upgrading the figures (and they didn't keep the old versions around, so they weren't selling regular R2 after sensor scope R2 came out).

I agree with Optimum and the rest of you guys when it comes to numerous variants.

The SW analogy is a good example.

For Luke Skywalker, based on the storyline, you had the Tatooine version, Pilot version, Tawntawn version, Bespin etc. It all fit the universes' story.

In the G1 line we have to admit, there were a slew of repaints(I am not including the AM line)the Datsun guys, the penny racers guys (though for the racers, they had some re-tooling done similar to Smokescreen), the seekers (but the storyline compensated for it) and a bunch of micromasters too were repaints but had added new features like a frickin' huge mobile base(Groundshaker)

Now, we have like a zillion BBs, Optimus' etc. Sure, as a toy company, I want to sell as much as I want but at a risk of diluting the brand and causing a potential TF "fatigue" I fear this might be TF 1992+ in the USA which cause the brand to collapse.(It was different of course in Japan but you get my drift right?)

If I was to advice the Hasbro suits, if you want to milk BB, just release like one version of him. Take the Prime edition, (not mentioning the FE brouhaha) just focus on that particular BB, press out like 100,000 figures and be done with it. Not stealth version, environmental version, politically correct version....... if the storyline warrants a variant, then do so.

Again, iirc, the original BB pennyracer version continued to sell like hotcakes even until 1986 when the other figs already got canned. Just stick to that winning formula and not dilute the brand.

In the G1 line we have to admit, there were a slew of repaints(I am not including the AM line)the Datsun guys, the penny racers guys (though for the racers, they had some re-tooling done similar to Smokescreen), the seekers (but the storyline compensated for it) and a bunch of micromasters too were repaints but had added new features like a frickin' huge mobile base(Groundshaker)

Yeah, they were repaints, but they were also distinctly different characters. Unlike now, where we have twenty different BBs for no apparent reason. I mean, maybe they do sell to a certain extent...but from what I can clearly see when I got to stores, the market is saturated with BBs. While I do concede that kids probably enjoy having a normal version of a character and sometimes an "evil" counterpart, meh. It still seems like WAYY too much.

fenrir72 wrote:Again, iirc, the original BB pennyracer version continued to sell like hotcakes even until 1986 when the other figs already got canned. Just stick to that winning formula and not dilute the brand.

Part of that, I'm sure, has to do with them being small and easy "impluse buys" for parents, as well.

@RAcast

But only for BB. Noticed that the other pennyracers weren't being issued anymore? Impulse buy or not, the little "bug" has a certain charisma/appeal that made him last that long.

And my mentioning of the repaints in G1 (the Datsun guys etc)
I think you didn't get the gist of my post. Those were the prime example of doing "relevant" repaints to the storyline. Granted we also have to owe this to the creative minds of Marvel (Bob Budiansky in particular) to best market what essentially is the same toy/figure with a new color scheme or slight retool. That gets a 5 out of 5.

Today, I feel that it like comes off as, BB?" lets make version 1,2,3,4 etc " because he's BB and the kids will just buy him for the heck of it.

Tomy too is somewhat of an offender too, though in their case, the G1 Convoy mold, has been raped too many times!

New Year Convoy (10/5 for the Matrix and AM anime accurate color figure)
TFC Convoy (10/5 for all the bells and whistles!)
Encore Convoy ( 4.5/5 for the lack of accessories)
Pepsi Convoy
Ipod Convoy (5 out of 5 for the new head)
Ipod G1 Convoy (5 out of 5 for the new head)
Ipod Convoy red color boy band style whatchamacalit
Bape Convoy version 1 and the latest
Convoy movie package

But then again, most of these are for the adult market who have too much disposable income and not force fed into gullible consumers.

Tomy too is somewhat of an offender too, though in their case, the G1 Convoy mold, has been raped too many times!

New Year Convoy (10/5 for the Matrix and AM anime accurate color figure)
TFC Convoy (10/5 for all the bells and whistles!)
Encore Convoy ( 4.5/5 for the lack of accessories)
Pepsi Convoy
Ipod Convoy (5 out of 5 for the new head)
Ipod G1 Convoy (5 out of 5 for the new head)
Ipod Convoy red color boy band style whatchamacalit
Bape Convoy version 1 and the latest
Convoy movie package

But then again, most of these are for the adult market who have too much disposable income and not force fed into gullible consumers.[/quote]

That made me laugh, because it's true, for me anyway. See, I collect all the Prime variations of his G1 incarnation. I just decided it's something I want to do and I enjoy it. From the WST through to the MP10, if it's red, white and blue and transforms into a flat nosed truck, I'll be looking to add it to my collection. Apart from that, I'm a sucker for G1 Starscream and ROTF/DOTM tattooed Starscream variations.

BeastProwl wrote:

xyl360 wrote:their industries will be forced to evolve by doing something novel and new.

Creativity and originality will return once the funds dry up, so the sooner people get bored of the same old crap, the sooner we'll see Has/Tak evolve what they're doing, otherwise they'll just discontinue the franchise.

They were headed down the right path with Animated's storyline...

I hate you Cartoon Network.

Yeah, Animated did take more risks with the characters and universe than Prime has so far. Heck, as has been pointed out, even the main cast is like an amalgam of live action and Animated:

Ratchet is older and cranky like the Animated version. Bulkhead isn't too far removed from the Animated version either, having similar proportions and looks.

Arcee is essentially a ninja motercycle like Prowl, but is obviously female and blue, much like the live action incarnation.

Bee may as well be movie Bee, and Prime may as well be too, though he's a little softer and gentler.

Truth be told though, this isn't a new trend for Autobots. AEC had Prime, Hot Shot, and Jetfire all get new figures in each series, but they were very different from each other, and had storyline reasons for existing, even if it was as shallow as a literal upgrade. However Hot Shot and Jetfire never had more than one main mold per line, so it didn't feel like over-saturation.

The Decepticons though do have a variety. Yeah Megs and Starscream are their two main players, but nearly everyone else has been new in every series since G1.

I don't buy the useless repaints of characters. Most of my collection is US G1 cartoon homages. If it wasn't in the cartoon, it isn't in my collection. I have some Animated stuff as well as some movie stuff, but those are all G1 homages as well (one version of those characters.)

I echo a lot of the same sentiments that have already been said. I will say if it serves the story i.e. Beast Wars orginial designs replaced my Transmetal bodies (huge plot point) then I will upgrade (which I did much to the chagrin of my parents). TF 07 kind of created a monster out of Bumblebee. I mean you talk to people who just know about the movies and like them and may have never watched an episode of G1 or read a comic etc. they like Bumblebee. His popularity has transcended Transformers and entered the broad lexicon of mainstream pop culture. He's big with non-TF fans which makes up about 90% of the market. So it's wise to push B and even Prime because they sell. If a parent buys one TF for their kid it's going to be Prime or B. Now if they actually had something happen to where Bumblebee gets a significant upgrade then maybe I would be more apt to buy multiple version. But for me one is enough. If it's a character I LOVE then I'd be more hard-pressed to buy multiple versions. What really gets me with this Prime line is Cyberverse vs regular classes. These Cyberverse figs are amazing and in some ways outshine their larger (more expensive) selves. Take Megatron for instance. I like his Voyager class but man that Commander version is rockin'- looks just like his character model on the cartoon. In this case I feel drawn to the Cyberverse line as well. I think Hasbro is on to something with these Cyberverse (small amounts of plastic, cheaper to make, lower price points, easier for kids to play with) whether right or wrong and I forsee them focusing more and more on them as time goes on but that's a debate for another thread.

The Bumblebee Drinking Game: Take one shot for every unsold Bumblebee you see. You will not be sober for long.

Twitchythe3rd wrote:The Bumblebee Drinking Game: Take one shot for every unsold Bumblebee you see. You will not be sober for long.

Hey, I don't to die of alcohol poisoning. Those PRID Bees are the biggest shelfwarmers I've ever seen. I regret ever buying even one of the buggers, I'm so pissed about it.

I have the FE bee and refuse to get a PRID bee. However, I might get the PRID Hotshot if its ever on clearance or something.