The Energon Pub

I am a hardcore fan and watched so avidly as a child. I have a impressive G1 collection. I am very seriously thinking about selling them off. Let me just share with you why. I am not going to troll (maybe a little) The first movie was hopeful and fair to good. The second movie was blasphemy. to me anyways. I look around and see transformers really milked dry with commercialism and merchandise. (and i really do know transformers was and always will be for boys 5-12) but im just over it. im over the movies and pursuing my g1 collection even further. to me the movieverse doesnt even seem related to geewun. but now ive reverted from a hardcore fan to just a casual fan and with my distaste for this era of new transformers maybe not a fan at all. to be the devils advocate in parting at least. I am very glad to see that bringing the transformers back was more successful than the turtles, he man and maybe even star wars when they tried to bring them back.

If you are a hardcore Transformers fan as you call yourself, then why do you care about what is going on with a specific line or what is happening in the movies to the extent that you now feel the way you do? If a comic comes out that you disagree with, does that make you question everything else in the Transformers universe? If it is the case that you are becoming less interested interested in TF, I have to doubt that it is because of the live action movies and the way you feel about them. If you like something, pay attention to it. If you don't like something, don't pay attention to it. It really is that simple.

And don't troll, even if it is "a little".

Idk maybe Im maturing???? Maybe there diluting the talent pool a little bit? dont be so quick to the sword, I am just sharing some thoughts

I wasn't quick to the sword. I am asking questions and wondering how anything about the movieverse has anything to do with whether or not your love for G1 declining. Since Transformers Animated is different from G1, has it also crippled your love for the past?

I still love g1, I always will. I am just a little farther removed than most fans i guess

I know someone who's going to love this thread ...

SamYarbrough77 wrote: to me anyways. I look around and see transformers really milked dry with commercialism and merchandise.

Wasn't the original show a toy commercial anyways?

to me the movieverse doesnt even seem related to geewun.

Well...because it's not, it's the movies...
Just two things I wanted to respond to.

IMO, a person's views of Transformers as a child are always going to be more fond than as an adult.

As a child, you just loved the cartoon and the toy and played with them with all your friends. As an adult, a person sees the commercial and business aspects. They also more likely to analyze every character, toy, movie dialogue, continuity changes, etc., etc. I mean, they're viewing it as a mature adult rather than a 6-12 year-old kid.

Do I have any advice for you? Honestly, not a whole lot, lol.

I'd say go buy a couple new TFs. Maybe start with the Generations figures, as they're more G1-styled. Transform 'em a bunch of times, check 'em out, etc. I think you'll come around, even if only a little. The toys are cooler now than they've ever been!

Prime Riblet wrote:If you are a hardcore Transformers fan as you call yourself, then why do you care about what is going on with a specific line or what is happening in the movies to the extent that you now feel the way you do? If a comic comes out that you disagree with, does that make you question everything else in the Transformers universe? If it is the case that you are becoming less interested interested in TF, I have to doubt that it is because of the live action movies and the way you feel about them. If you like something, pay attention to it. If you don't like something, don't pay attention to it. It really is that simple.

And don't troll, even if it is "a little".

Good points.

See, this is the problem for me about being a "hardcore fan" of anything. Not just TF's. People who are hardcore anything see there hobby in a certain light, and have very little room change. When a new part of the franchise comes out and it meets their approval, its like walking on air for them. But when it doesn't..... Well, many feel like someone took a sledge hammer to their childhood.

Yes, I'm a TF fan. And being a fan means your bound to be disappointed at one point or another. And you know what? That's fine. Personally, i can probably find something in each generation that i like, and dislike. But I'm not going to let whan i dislike about my hobby ruin what i like and what has kept me interested in my hobby for the last 20+ yrs.

Energon Is My Drug wrote:IMO, a person's views of Transformers as a child are always going to be more fond than as an adult.

As a child, you just loved the cartoon and the toy and played with them with all your friends. As an adult, a person sees the commercial and business aspects. They also more likely to analyze every character, toy, movie dialogue, continuity changes, etc., etc. I mean, they're viewing it as a mature adult rather than a 6-12 year-old kid.

I don't think more true words have ever been spoken on this forum.

So basically, you're letting a new changed era ruin the original for you? In that case, since I don't like Beast Machines very much, I should sell my whole movie, classics, and Unicron trilogy collection because I hate the whole brand for that ONE series.
And people usually don't get this, but the movies aren't SUPPOSED to be related to G1. They are something new and different. Michael Bay didn't go into the job intending to fulfill the wishes of older fans that wanted a G1 throwback. If that's what you want though, fine. I don't see that happening though.
Let's face it, G1 rocks. You shouldn't let your dislike of one series ruin it for you. I can agree with you on the commercialism to some extent, and I think some products could be left out. But you know what? A lot of those movie toys sell! And the movie toylines offer a myriad of something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Little kids put down their video game controllers and turn off their televisions to play with Optimus Prime and Megatron for the first time. The series has exposed people to something great that has been hiding under their noses. Transformers has finally gotten the publicity it needs to, possibly, be immortal. And that means we'll get more G1 throwbacks in the future.

SamYarbrough77 wrote:I look around and see transformers really milked dry with commercialism and merchandise.

The Transformers was born out of commercialism and merchandise. It is the reason for the very existence of the franchise. That's all G1 was originally. 30 minute commercials to sell toys. Fortunatley people like us latched on to the franchise and have held it close to our hearts to this very day. I believe that's what the franchise is doing with the kids of today. Kids are different in this high tech world than we were back in the 80's. Different world, different Transformers.

I'm no fan of the movies either, but they're not going to change how I view G1. And I still remember that Hasbro and Takara are toy companies out to sell a product. So the franchise is commercial and will always be commercial.

And besides, I know that with how Hollywood is, in about 5 years there will be a reboot anyway and we'll have a whole different take on the franchise.

MagnusRex wrote:I'm no fan of the movies either, but they're not going to change how I view G1. And I still remember that Hasbro and Takara are toy companies out to sell a product. So the franchise is commercial and will always be commercial.

And besides, I know that with how Hollywood is, in about 5 years there will be a reboot anyway and we'll have a whole different take on the franchise.

Most concise post on this thread.

HasTak is ALWAYS wanting to sell toys, and they'll go to great lengths to do just that. I mean, if they never did anything big to promote the product, and just put it next to the cheap military action figures at the stores and just left it where it was, where would Transformers be right now?
Remember the original G1 Movie? Was that not commercial? Are the TV series themselves not commercial?

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

SamYarbrough77 wrote:I look around and see transformers really milked dry with commercialism and merchandise.

The Transformers was born out of commercialism and merchandise. It is the reason for the very existence of the franchise. That's all G1 was originally. 30 minute commercials to sell toys. Fortunatley people like us latched on to the franchise and have held it close to our hearts to this very day. I believe that's what the franchise is doing with the kids of today. Kids are different in this high tech world than we were back in the 80's. Different world, different Transformers.

Good points there.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:

MagnusRex wrote:I'm no fan of the movies either, but they're not going to change how I view G1. And I still remember that Hasbro and Takara are toy companies out to sell a product. So the franchise is commercial and will always be commercial.

And besides, I know that with how Hollywood is, in about 5 years there will be a reboot anyway and we'll have a whole different take on the franchise.

Most concise post on this thread.

HasTak is ALWAYS wanting to sell toys, and they'll go to great lengths to do just that. I mean, if they never did anything big to promote the product, and just put it next to the cheap military action figures at the stores and just left it where it was, where would Transformers be right now?
Remember the original G1 Movie? Was that not commercial? Are the TV series themselves not commercial?

And the original posters fondness for G1 illustrates how well and how successful their product was sold and marketed. The fact that most of us here are grown ass men, still enjoying Transformers, shows how well HasTak has done at their job of marketing this commercial product to the masses.

I try not to get so bogged down in G1 that I automatically hate everything that came after. Some of the newer series have been pretty decent. I've enjoyed the Prime miniseries and enjoyed Animated despite the hideous character designs.

Basically, as long as Optimus Prime is in it and is recognizably himself, I'm cool with most other changes. Of course, I always enjoy Prime most when Cullen voices him, but it's not a total deal breaker if he doesn't.

MagnusRex wrote:

OptiMagnus10 wrote:

MagnusRex wrote:I'm no fan of the movies either, but they're not going to change how I view G1. And I still remember that Hasbro and Takara are toy companies out to sell a product. So the franchise is commercial and will always be commercial.

And besides, I know that with how Hollywood is, in about 5 years there will be a reboot anyway and we'll have a whole different take on the franchise.

Most concise post on this thread.

HasTak is ALWAYS wanting to sell toys, and they'll go to great lengths to do just that. I mean, if they never did anything big to promote the product, and just put it next to the cheap military action figures at the stores and just left it where it was, where would Transformers be right now?
Remember the original G1 Movie? Was that not commercial? Are the TV series themselves not commercial?

And the original posters fondness for G1 illustrates how well and how successful their product was sold and marketed. The fact that most of us here are grown ass men, still enjoying Transformers, shows how well HasTak has done at their job of marketing this commercial product to the masses.

Yep, right on.