The Energon Pub

I was in the store the other day and I found myself looking at the new transformer toys. Although I was impressed by their flash I couldn't help but think that the older fully metal toys had something to them that the new ones seemed to lack. I remember going over to a friends house,in the late eighties I believe, solely to play with his transformer figures. They were large and sometimes seamed more like intricate puzzles than action figures. I felt like they were the coolest things I could ever find in a toy store. Is anybody with me on this one?

You're misremembering if you think the old toys were fully metal. Many (particularly early) G1 figures had significant die-cast parts; but there was invariably more plastic than metal.

That said, die-cast parts are pretty much absent from modern figures--with the exceptions of the specialty Masterpiece and Titanium lines. While I'm sure a big part of the reason for that is cost, the fact is that plastics have improved a whole lot in the last 30 years. The plastics used in modern toys are much more durable and flexible than those found in toys from the '80s.

With some exceptions, transformation of the figures has gotten a good deal more sophisticated, too. Some of the Transformers from the '80s had sophisticated conversions; but for the most part, I feel like transformation dumbed down a good deal in the latter days of G1. Also note that most G1 figures did not have very well articulated joints unless their conversions called for it.

But if you look at a modern figure like War For Cybertron Optimus Prime, you just wouldn't find something like this in G1. The plastics used in the '80s just wouldn't hold up to the sort of contortions this guy's conversion requires. Granted, most deluxe-class figures aren't quite this complex. But I think even the simpler ones are at least as complicated as most G1 figures.

funklizard wrote:You're misremembering if you think the old toys were fully metal. Many (particularly early) G1 figures had significant die-cast parts; but there was invariably more plastic than metal.

Right....and most G1 toys werent very much larger then modern deluxe figures.

Sorry skaterat30, but your nostalgia for these toys have distorted your memories of them.

The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and virtually unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and totally unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

Actually TF's were not "totally unique" at the time.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

funklizard wrote:You're misremembering if you think the old toys were fully metal. Many (particularly early) G1 figures had significant die-cast parts; but there was invariably more plastic than metal.

Right....and most G1 toys werent very much larger then modern deluxe figures.

Sorry skaterat30, but your nostalgia for these toys have distorted your memories of them.

Nice.

Sorry dude, but most G1 toys were mostly plastic and had much simpler transformation. Take G1 Optimus vs Movie Optimus. Bigger, highly articulated, very durable, and has sounds! not to mention the rubiks cube level transformation difficulty. Jeez. We're all sorry about your memory problems due to T.N.D: Transformers Nostalgia Disorder.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and totally unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

Actually TF's were not "totally unique" at the time.

Surely the marketing strategy was, with the possible exception of G.I Joe?

I can't remember anything even remotely close to TFs in the UK before they were released in 1985, maybe Gobots, however, I thought they came a little later, after TFs initial popularity?

Please enlighten me.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and totally unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

Actually TF's were not "totally unique" at the time.

Surely the marketing strategy was, with the possible exception of G.I Joe?

I can't remember anything even remotely close to TFs in the UK before they were released in 1985, maybe Gobots, however, I thought they came a little later, after TFs initial popularity?

Please enlighten me.

Go-Bots pre-date TF's, not to mention other toy lines like Showgun Warriors line.Diaclone also had a line of figures out.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and totally unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

Actually TF's were not "totally unique" at the time.

Surely the marketing strategy was, with the possible exception of G.I Joe?

I can't remember anything even remotely close to TFs in the UK before they were released in 1985, maybe Gobots, however, I thought they came a little later, after TFs initial popularity?

Please enlighten me.

Go-Bots predate TF's, not to mention other toy lines like Shogun Warriors line.Diaclone also had a line of figures out.

Thanks sto_vo_kor, I was obviously aware of the Diaclone and Microman lines in the seventies, which formed the bases of the TF line in the eighties. Never heard of Shogun Warriors though. With a name like 'Shogun' it sounds like it was another Japanese import? Don't remember seeing them in the UK either to be honest.

I'll amend my original post to reflect something a little more appropriate.

Thanks

MightyMagnus78 wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:The original G1 series had that initial impact, it was new and totally unique at the time. The success of that original series was responsible for establishing the entire TF franchise.

Although the later incarnations were more diverse and often had better articulation, they could never recreate the same effect.

Actually TF's were not "totally unique" at the time.

Surely the marketing strategy was, with the possible exception of G.I Joe?

I can't remember anything even remotely close to TFs in the UK before they were released in 1985, maybe Gobots, however, I thought they came a little later, after TFs initial popularity?

Please enlighten me.

Go-Bots predate TF's, not to mention other toy lines like Shogun Warriors line.Diaclone also had a line of figures out.

Thanks sto_vo_kor, I was obviously aware of the Diaclone and Microman lines in the seventies, which formed the bases of the TF line in the eighties. Never heard of Shogun Warriors though. With a name like 'Shogun' it sounds like it was another Japanese import? Don't remember seeing them in the UK either to be honest.

I'll amend my original post to reflect something a little more appropriate.

Thanks

If you know Chogokin then you'll know Shogun Warriors and Godaikin.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:Thanks sto_vo_kor, I was obviously aware of the Diaclone and Microman lines in the seventies, which formed the bases of the TF line in the eighties. Never heard of Shogun Warriors though. With a name like 'Shogun' it sounds like it was another Japanese import? Don't remember seeing them in the UK either to be honest.

I'll amend my original post to reflect something a little more appropriate.

Thanks

Showgun was an other Japanese import, and I really dont know when or if it was ever imported to the UK.

I actually think the toys are a little nicer these days; I understand that some of the parts on the originals were die-cast, and that might last longer than plastic, but I lost two figures (Mirage & Jazz)due to the plastic not connecting well to the metal at the joints. I also think the toys look a little nicer these days, but that's a preference I suppose. The only exception I can think of, at least for me, was the rubber on the wheels; that was a very nice touch.

That said, I think the packaging and marketing went a long way in terms of a wow factor for the eighties toys. I think the boxes were cooler, and the color catalogues with the posters on the back that came with the toys were just awesome. I still get a feeling of excitement from purchasing the toys, but it's more of a "wow, I actually found this at Target!" sort of excitement...

Just my opinion. Many of my friends from childhood would disagree with me, but most of them don't collect the toys anymore, so who knows.