The Energon Pub

I don't mean in the context of "OMFG teh designs is teh suxors!!!!!!" I mean, should the alt modes and robot modes be modified? It's wouldn't be hard to sell figures based soley on the new characters introduced, but could you guys see them releasing a new version of Bumblebee? How would you solve the problem of selling the original characters?

They might be able to tweak it slightly. Its not like they can do a full-on make over, that just costs money that should go to putting in more transformers.

Sell the new transformers and try and minimize toy appearances of the first film characters, unless they will undergo major change in the 2nd movie (eg. Prime upgrades to new armour).

I imagine that ALL the returning characters will get redone for the second. Not so much for new product / car placements, but to create new toys to sell.

Likewise, I think they'll probably take a less alienish looking dealie this time around...
...since these current designs were splashed with much urine by older fans and critics. I wouldn't be suprised to see a heavy slant towards the ostracized "blockiness" that designers were driving off the road into gutters to avoid.

why would they change them? they already have forms so i doubt they will end up changing. it could happen eventually but i kinda doubt it with the current ones.

No, I like the forms the way they are.

As an "older fan", I don't think they will redo all of the characters already seen.
- it will cost more money and time to redesign/model/animate that will give less time to making NEW characters
- They will have to reintroduce them all so everyone knows who is who
- They, as designers, will have more fun designing lots of *new* characters to supply more toys

Why they would buckle to some whiney fans to completely go back on themselves and make "blocky" robots is beyond me. Not only will that completely remove any originality the new film offered and cripple progression, it will show that they weren't certain about the new designs themselves and were quite happy to reverse back to G1.
As a fan I would be disappointed if they did that; if I want G1 I'll watch G1. If I want transforming robots that look more than just puzzle toys, I'll watch these new ones.

As an "older fan", I don't think they will redo all of the characters already seen.
- it will cost more money and time to redesign/model/animate that will give less time to making NEW characters

They have these resources.

- They will have to reintroduce them all so everyone knows who is who

Apparently, all a robot has to be is any shade of yellow to be "Bumblebee".

- They, as designers, will have more fun designing lots of *new* characters to supply more toys

Yeah, but there's certain staple characters that sell, sell, sell.
You can't have a Transformers 2 line and either have NONE of the returning characters or returning characters looking identical.

Why they would buckle to some whiney fans to completely go back on themselves and make "blocky" robots is beyond me. Not only will that completely remove any originality the new film offered and cripple progression, it will show that they weren't certain about the new designs themselves and were quite happy to reverse back to G1.

They would do it because it wouldn't be a bad thing.
They were introduced, they were aliens, fresh from the meteorite, and the audience knows that.

Well, they had a lil' war, got beat up a bit... so assimilating our technology might not be so crazy a concept.
In the process, blockiness could be more expressed... ...sanely, of course.
Now they're not as alien, having hung around us.

It's their perfect excuse for a transition to something oldskool fans unhappy with the designs wanted and a fresh look for the returning movie fans.

Of course they're going to be redesigned. Gotta sell new toys. Basic business.

the toys may be remade or something, but not in the movie.

I think they might change Megatron and Starscream at least. Those seemed to be the most hated designs, and what I have heard from some people is that they liked the old designs better then the new movie designs. And they weren't even around when the old designs were out.

I think they should at least give Megatron the "bucket head," and give him a true arm cannon. The arm cannon he has in G1 could work here, as it is big and noticable and could be easily said to be very powerful. I haven't seen the movie yet, but hearing it described as "fusion cannon" will not fail to convey the idea of power to the audience. It could be conveyed to be very powerful, and its sheer size alone prevents it from being incorperated into his body as is usual.

With Starscream, he is very ugly. He is beastly looking instead of 'handsome.' If they changed his head, maybe it might work. It won't hurt to change his alt mode either. I have found out that the US isn't really planning on selling the F-22 to other countries, so unless Screamer plans on sticking mainly to the US, he will be very noticable as his particular alt mode isn't very common. There are a lot more F-15s then there are F-22s, and plus they are in some other countries as well. I say this not only as a "Geewunner," but also because it makes sense too. Nobody will really notice another F-15, simply because there are a lot more of them still then the F-22s.

primalVICTORY wrote:the toys may be remade or something, but not in the movie.

Would you not think such an act as having a movie, but not having a toy counterpart of the main characters to rush out and buy after the credits roll, would be a terrible business decision?

Be rational here.

In 1985, all of the 1984 Transformers were re-released alongside the new items (though even in 1985, good luck finding them). Why would history not repeat itself?

I'm sure we will get some leader class prime "now with uber sword fighting automorph action!" or what not

Also, i noticed, that in all stores in this area, and sightings boards, they really not a HUGE amount of toys being released. I mean, i visit the same 5-6 stores every week, and at most they have 3-4 leader class figs.. so who knows, maybe they will just re-release when the next movie comes out. Deluxe is another story, alot of those

we all know how the alternators thing turne dout, you see sporadic releases of them !

Of course this could just be my area, but I have the feeling this is the same in a lot of places.. hoarding? not a lot produced? who knows.

But it will be annoying to see another leader class prime for TF2 that looks REALLY similiar to movie 1 prime.. will have to buy him, but I wont like it!

briggs wrote:I'm sure we will get some leader class prime "now with uber sword fighting automorph action!" or what not

They will, and he'll use the gun that came with the current Leader Prime in the next movie. Genius!

Riotflea wrote:

primalVICTORY wrote:the toys may be remade or something, but not in the movie.

Would you not think such an act as having a movie, but not having a toy counterpart of the main characters to rush out and buy after the credits roll, would be a terrible business decision?

Be rational here.

They would never reuse a mold now would they, Of course they are going to make completely new redesigned ones. I mean all those pepsi primes are a completely differren mold than the g1 prime, let alone 4 mp style optimus primes.

oops. I mean 3 and a naked magnus

Robinson wrote:I mean all those pepsi primes are a completely differren mold than the g1 prime

Which one?
http://www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/vprime.html


But we're talking about a movie here, presumably a year or longer away. Also, the current Prime look has been SMASHED into the public's face on a massive scale.
To do it all over again (him being the main "good guy", of course)... it might not work.

Out of curiosity to anyone who saw all of them... did designs change for characters in X-Men 1 through 3?

I didn't see the third X-Men movie, but I know that the costumes and related things like hairstyle have been changed for each movie.

They were also considering it for Spider-Man 2 and finally managed to pull it off in 3 with the black costume. (Probably the main reason for the inclusion of the Venom storyline: Marketable outfit change).

And of course it's not just about toys - it's about the entirety of merchandising.

Costumes didn't change throughout X-Men films, even in X3 which I found surprising given it wasn't Bryan Singer directing. Their X-men outfits remained the same, Magneto and Xavier remained the same, as did Cerebro. Hairstyles may have changed but not greatly. They fleshed out the jet in the 2nd film due to higher budget - the first one got a below-average budget because the studio thought it wouldn't do well enough. The 3rd film also had "the danger room" or whatever it was called, which fans apparently wanted in the first two but didn't get.
The two sequels introduced a LOT of characters not seen in the previous ones, both in primary roles and in the background. No idea about X-Men toys but all these additions undoubtedly helped sell it.

I see your points Riotflea, but I still think they will retain the design methods they have made. Perhaps the Tfs will change due to being around humans, but that doesn't mean they will become "blocky", they are in disguise and it isn't believable that becoming blocky improves their disguise.
I guess decepticons may try and become more human (less alien faces) however, perhaps to decieve the humans that they are like the Autobots.

I agree with others posting about the current Transformers getting "upgraded" weapons etc to provide new toys. Although given all our technology as stated in the film was reverse-engineered from Megatron, how can they "assimilate our techology" and get anything new? Transformers are clearly more advanced than us

CJH wrote:Costumes didn't change throughout X-Men films, even in X3 which I found surprising given it wasn't Bryan Singer directing. Their X-men outfits remained the same, Magneto and Xavier remained the same, as did Cerebro.

I'm afraid that you are mistaken. The costumes didn't change greatly, but the patterns didn't quite remain the same. And Magneto's helmet and cape were revised completely between part 1 and 2. Some of this was even mentioned in the DVD extras, if I recall right.

X-Men 1 Magneto Helmet



X-Men 3 Magneto Helmet



The changes look to me like they got more money and could simply improve on it. I know that Cyclops visor changed to be more slimline (without the bits that looked like ear-muffs ) but that actually makes it less like the original comic design.

In actual fact, comparing X-Men with Transformers might not be the best idea. Had X-Men properly changed over 2 films to be more like the original comic (and to reflect Tfs change to G1 style) they would have to chuck Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto and get some muscle-bound Vin Diesel instead! Sorry to say it, but that would have bombed.
Or, having Huge Jackman in yellow and blue spandex after seeing him originally in black

Of course, that's my opinion

Don't get me wrong, I'm none to say that the X-Men movies are the perfect example to follow. It's just an example of designs changing from movie to movie on a big franchise.

oorazumus primal wrote:I don't mean in the context of "OMFG teh designs is teh suxors!!!!!!" I mean, should the alt modes and robot modes be modified? It's wouldn't be hard to sell figures based soley on the new characters introduced, but could you guys see them releasing a new version of Bumblebee? How would you solve the problem of selling the original characters?

Bad idea. The look needs to remain constant through out all the film. It already hard enough to know is who watching the movie ONCE. All the TFs need to remain the same.

i am not so sure because when they redesigned them that only mean onething more toys to buy and im gonna have a harg looking for a new bb again if that's gonna happen...

I don't collect the toys. I am not into that, I would hope Hasbro is not that greedy to make new toys from the bots of the first film. Just new toys for the new Bots of the sequels. I mean they have 2 more movies they can cash in on. Do they really need to release a new Prime or Bumblebee? I hope they just re release the toys for TF1 for you collectors when TF2 come out. Gas is high I know some of you cats have families. I understand the whole collecting thing. I just hope they don't make more of the TF1 bots.