william-james88 wrote:I have a question for you, o.supreme, I know you often expressed confusion as to people (including me) stating that the generations line targetted kids and that kids were still a big focus for Hasbro even in a Generations line. Has watching Scott's videos helped you see that as well?
Excellent Question; and I think confused/puzzled was definitely the right word usage in this case (instead of opposed to the idea). I definitely think that for a toyline to succeed, yes Children have to be the target for the majority of the marketing (not all but most).
I do believe mainlines such as RiD15, Cyberverse, etc. are definitely targeted at kids. Generations I believe definitely has to be made to be
appealing to kids, since it is assumed/hoped their families will be the largest consumers for them, but there is definitely a collector motivated
slant I guess you could say. I mean I still don't see as many kids directing their relatives etc.... to buy certain toys as I'd like, but I know if a toyline is to succeed this has to happen.
I also understand why most media is targeted at younger audiences as well. It makes perfect sense. But as an adult who enjoys media actually more than the toys themselves, you can understand how this would be frustrating.
As for me, buying toys as a child was a little all-over the place. As we've discussed before, my mom was way ahead of the game, she saw the wave of advertising way before it happened, and had me commit to one line, which, in 1982, was MOTU, (I collected them all despite their appearance on TV) while I watched all the other shows, MOTU dominated my toybox. Slowly but surely some Transformers did make their way in. I basically got Omega Supreme because I initially wanted Jetfire, but he was too expensive and was hard to find by late 1985. My first exposure to Omega Supreme was the catalogue below:
37 years later, I may be interpreting this wrong, but for one Robot to single handedly blast ALL those Decepticons, was a powerhouse I wanted to own! Without seeing any comic books, when he first appeared on the S2 episode Blaster Blues, he was
exactly how I interpreted him in my mind. Large, powerful, and a thunderously imposing voice. I knew this bot could take down Devastator, and eventually I got wish fulfillment, additionally part of the setting of that episode was in a city I was very fond of as a child, it was almost as if that episode had been written specifically for me.
But before I get too far off, yes, I understand why all these lines are to a greater or lesser degree aimed at children. I just wish more of them would be interested. I guess it's just hard to compete with the almighty mobile games.
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics
Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak