The Energon Pub

I had an idea.

What if the TFCC offered a new thing for us fans/club members allowing us to create our own figures?

It could be something as simple as a pre-selected/pre-authorized list of molds (different ones available each year). For each figure we could be given the following options (each choice made during creation displayed in a simple preview):

1. Plastic color for parts (up to n# of total plastics for the figure, based on the number of different plastic types available for each of the parts, i.e. the pieces that come from a single sprue must all be the same plastic color)
2. Paint pattern/(similar scheme as above with the sprues, but possibly with additional unique/custom options available only to the club, i.e. "retail paint pattern", "custom paint #1", "custom paint pattern #2" etc.)
3. Choice of color for each major element of chosen paint pattern from #2 above (limited selection of colors based on those available from the manufacturer/Hasbro since paint color affects pricing)
4. Head (select from a few heads, i.e. "retail head", "custom head #1", "custom head #2" etc.)
5. Faction (any faction symbols which aren't molded into the figure will be the faction of your choice, i.e. Autobot, Decepticon, Maximal, Predacon, Vehicon, G2 Autobot, G2 Decepticon, SG Autobot, SG Decepticon etc.)

The choices available for each of the above items would obviously need to be pretty limited to be realistic with regards to manufacturing costs, but I think the fans would go for it and I think it would be an opportunity for the club to do something truly awesome for the fans.

I'd go nuts over something like this, especially if they allowed the use of some molds from much older lines like Beast Wars.

Not gonna lie, I'd go for something like this, but the logistics are mindboggling. Afterall, they're barely getting their act going on their TFSS.

since the club is run by a 3rd party, I'd rather we saw something like this direct from Hasbro. either way it'd be difficult for me to get as a UK collector, but it's definitely not a terrible idea. The problem would come in pricing and logistics. Only way I could really see it working is if all the orders went in before it was all sent off to the factories and done. I'd expect that it'd end up with the less popular options of colours and heads maybe being scrapped, and those who ordered them getting given the option of some of the more popular choices.

craggy wrote:since the club is run by a 3rd party, I'd rather we saw something like this direct from Hasbro. either way it'd be difficult for me to get as a UK collector, but it's definitely not a terrible idea. The problem would come in pricing and logistics. Only way I could really see it working is if all the orders went in before it was all sent off to the factories and done. I'd expect that it'd end up with the less popular options of colours and heads maybe being scrapped, and those who ordered them getting given the option of some of the more popular choices.

Yes, the orders would probably need to be put in at the same time so there would certainly be a time limit (as with the subscription, botcon, club membership and everything else), but no, if they did it right/fair, then they would not scrap the less popular choices. The point of offering multiple options is to give everyone choices, so if some of those choices are eliminated due to being less popular then there would be no point in doing this and they might as well do a fan-poll like they did with that upcoming Generations figure (although doing more stuff like that isn't a bad idea either).

Yes, if this were done directly by Hasbro that would be fine as well, and that's essentially how I see this working, just with Funpub being an intermediary since they already have a way (through the club/club store) of reaching out to the collectors who would be interested in such a service/feature.

They'd have to make a lot of design sacrifices in order to make it work, so you'd basically end up with... Contruct-Bots. I realize Construct-Bots haven't lived up to their potential, but I think that's because it's such a difficult thing to actually implement while still keeping costs in line.

GuyIncognito wrote:They'd have to make a lot of design sacrifices in order to make it work, so you'd basically end up with... Contruct-Bots. I realize Construct-Bots haven't lived up to their potential, but I think that's because it's such a difficult thing to actually implement while still keeping costs in line.

No, these wouldn't be like toys you build from different parts of other bots or anything, these would be existing molds used in lines in the past, but with paint schemes and plastic colors of your choosing and possibly with a few alternate heads for each particular mold they have available to choose from.

Ah, I misunderstood. So you wouldn't assemble it yourself, then. You'd choose your options, like choosing the options on a new car, and then Hasbro would make it based on your specs?

GuyIncognito wrote:Ah, I misunderstood. So you wouldn't assemble it yourself, then. You'd choose your options, like choosing the options on a new car, and then Hasbro would make it based on your specs?

Yep, exactly

If children are to be included in that scheme, we'd better prepare for this:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:If children are to be included in that scheme, we'd better prepare for this:

Ooh, see, I'd actually buy the second one on the top as well as the second to last one on the bottom (the yellow/orange and black and the blue red and black).

But yeah, something like that is pretty much the general idea (though more sane color schemes would obviously be available as well).

xyl360 wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:If children are to be included in that scheme, we'd better prepare for this:

Ooh, see, I'd actually buy the second one on the top as well as the second to last one on the bottom (the yellow/orange and black and the blue red and black).

The yellow and black kinda remids me a G1 Razorclaw.