I'm gonna chime in as a part of the toy accuracy crowd, Like Diem said "freedom of speech" and junk.
Believe it or not, and while vastly out numbered, there are many fans who's nostalgia lays solely with the toys. I am one of the few. I had Mirage and Bluestreak before I ever saw the show, and even at 9 years old when I saw the show, I was sourly disappointed at what I saw. It didn't stop a 30 + year love affair with these robots and their design. I don't have the same affair with Shogun Warriors, or Gundam, or any of the other Japanese robot toys I've dabbled in over that time.
When I held MP Silverstreak in my hands for the first time it had an effect on me I'd never felt before. My favorite robot toy of all time given to me in the most beautifully updated package beyond what I could of imagined. I was hooked. Yes it pulled some cues from the cartoon, but his design was 90% toy. His form, his engineering, it was wonderful.
Japan is a culture steeped in tradition. Tradition permeates everything they do. Their social behavior, business, and even art. I consider robot design to be art and they do too. When the MP line started, it was paying homage to the years of design and the designers that came before them. Why would they suddenly decide to pay homage to designs that are dumbed down simplifications of a mastered form? IF I designed the first Diaclone car Robots and saw those cartoon models I would have been nothing short of insulted.
Well the only answer I can think of is because there is a huge audience for it. And that proof is in the pudding. They wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't a demand.
Earlier today I was rapping with itscramtastic elsewhere, and I stated I'm done with MPs and their uber toon direction, but I've thought more about it since then. I'm not done, I'm just going to be more selective. Here's why...
Kurona wrote:I think much like Tracks with Loud Pedal, we'll get the toy-accurate head on the eventual Diaclone repaint.
Takara is obviously headed down the cartoon accuracy path, but they know there are the fans out there who go for the toy accuracy, and the Diaclone homages, and with every release we see re-issues that cater to these fans. Loud Pedal's Head. Art Fire's Decals. Primal's second release (can never remember all the fine print and titles slapped on that guy). Clamp Down. Exhaust. And on and on. I am 100% sure Takara will do a release of Megatron that is toy accuracy heavy. That's the one I will buy.
Everything about Suntreaker looks great to me. Except his head. And to me a Transformers head is the ultimate pinnacle in what makes a Transformer a Transformer. It's the designs signature. It's where all the tradition lives. Sooooooo.... Give me the Diaclone Patrol Car deco with a toy accurate head, and I will eat that **** up until I can't eat another bite.
But sadly, there will be no Sunstreaker in my collection. Which sucks. Because I like Sunstreaker.
The good news is, there is and will be something out there for every fan and what ever angle their nostalgia takes.
In Seibertron's defense, I sympathize with him. He has an obligation to his business, the website, and us, the fans to buy this toy he doesn't like and take wonderful photos of it for the world's enjoyment. I'd be upset too. MPs aren't cheap! Thanks for taking another one for the team Ryan. You're a real sport and we love you for it!
End Editorial.
And...
You guys left out one the best Streaker head sculpts of the last several years!
This one!
Q-Transformers Sunstreaker GalleryEven this cutsie cartoony design got his head just right. Down to the awesome wing/fin/horn thing-a-ma-jings.
