The Energon Pub

I just got Blackout. The instructions were so vague and terrible, that it led parts to be warped and disfigured. i already sent a complaint letter. It needs to be changed.

FYI:

Ignore the instructions and try transforming figures off your own intuition. It's a lot more fun, and saves you getting frustrated at Hasbro's terrible instructions!

Bad instructions are the least of their faults.

I tend to ignore the instructions, unless I really can't figure it out.

sometimes the instructions do not indicate an important step. So, I have ignore the instructions unless it is too frustrating.

I use the photo galleries here when I get stumped.

I actually don't mind Hasbro's instructions most of the time. If you look closely enough, the detail of the figure on the sheet usually is good enough that you will know what to turn/twist/move, etc. if you're willing to study the instructions. I can't imagine transforming an Alternator or the majority of the movie figures without the instructions.

Sure, some words would be nice, but imagine how complicated some of the descriptions would become: "rotate doo-hickey on robot's foot until it lines up with whatchamacallit on side panel of foot. Rotate outer panel 90 degrees until it is parellel with previous doo-hickey...."

The instructions aren't always all that helpful(movie Voyager Ironhide seems to just gloss over some important steps), but all in all, I think they're just fine for those patient and willing enough to study them.

would have cost way too much ink to print. I follow the instruction, my intuitions always work against me.

It would help if the Movie instructions said "AUTOMORPH" on the parts that are Automorph - some Automorphs are easy to break (Ironhide, Blackout, Bumblebee, every single Automorph with gears), and others if they break are impossible to work around (every single Automorph with springs), and for kids (and collectors), an Automorph signal would help.

Luckily, however, the Automorph gimmick will be dead soon enough.

Speaking of, does anyone know if the non-repaint Allspark Battles figures have Automorph, or no?

I like to use youtube reviews to help me out with transformations. I never use instructions any more, unless the figure i buy doesnt have any online reviews, but so far so good.

i_amtrunks wrote:FYI:

Ignore the instructions and try transforming figures off your own intuition. It's a lot more fun, and saves you getting frustrated at Hasbro's terrible instructions!

This is true most of the time, but I wouldn't advise to think like that on the 1st attempt to gun mode w/ MP-5 Megatron.

Even though that last click with his arms HAS to be figured out by the person transforming him, using the instructions is just a good idea. Instructions are not necessary for those with too much pride, but hey ... I took every precaution so I didn't have to re-buy him.

No Death for Prowl wrote:I actually don't mind Hasbro's instructions most of the time. If you look closely enough, the detail of the figure on the sheet usually is good enough that you will know what to turn/twist/move, etc. if you're willing to study the instructions. I can't imagine transforming an Alternator or the majority of the movie figures without the instructions.

Sure, some words would be nice, but imagine how complicated some of the descriptions would become: "rotate doo-hickey on robot's foot until it lines up with whatchamacallit on side panel of foot. Rotate outer panel 90 degrees until it is parellel with previous doo-hickey...."

The instructions aren't always all that helpful(movie Voyager Ironhide seems to just gloss over some important steps), but all in all, I think they're just fine for those patient and willing enough to study them.

I seem to recall they use to do that. But putting words in the instructions would be helpful. I find myself puzzled on what part of the transformer are they referring in the picture and I sit there stumped, staring at the thing and scratching my head. Eventually, by playing around w/ it myself I figure it out. In reality those are the ones I enjoy transforming the most because it shows challenge.

They neglect some things in the instructions too. Like the spikes on Barricades feet and the buttons on leader Brawls back. I found those on accident.

Evil_the_Nub wrote:They neglect some things in the instructions too. Like the spikes on Barricades feet and the buttons on leader Brawls back. I found those on accident.

Yeah, but finding stuff like that can make an older figure seem new ... for about 10 minutes. However, it can make you feel dumb for a lifetime.

AlienQuiksilver wrote:This is true most of the time, but I wouldn't advise to think like that on the 1st attempt to gun mode w/ MP-5 Megatron.

Even though that last click with his arms HAS to be figured out by the person transforming him, using the instructions is just a good idea. Instructions are not necessary for those with too much pride, but hey ... I took every precaution so I didn't have to re-buy him.

But MP5's instructions are from Takara and not Hasbro. I find Takara's instructions better, they generally depict each step with three pictures (before, mid and after) and if you are capable of Japanese, there are written tips, too. Compared to the one step no hints instructions of Hasbro.

Sarri wrote:

AlienQuiksilver wrote:This is true most of the time, but I wouldn't advise to think like that on the 1st attempt to gun mode w/ MP-5 Megatron.

Even though that last click with his arms HAS to be figured out by the person transforming him, using the instructions is just a good idea. Instructions are not necessary for those with too much pride, but hey ... I took every precaution so I didn't have to re-buy him.

But MP5'S instructiosn are from Takara and not Hasbro. I find Takara's instructions better, they generally depict each step with three pictures (before, mid and after) and if you are capable of Japanese, there are written tips, too. Compared to the one step no hints instructions of Hasbro.

Touche'

Autobotic9 wrote:I just got Blackout. The instructions were so vague and terrible, that it led parts to be warped and disfigured. i already sent a complaint letter. It needs to be changed.

Figure out the damn toy for yourself. Thats all that needs to be said to anyone.

Poor instruction manuals, shortage of movie toys, refusal of releasing anymore g1 reissues, failure of listening to us the consumers on how we feel. All sums up hasbro. When will Hasbro ever listen? If they ever listen? Are you listening yet Hasbro? Knock , knock!

SpacerAM2 wrote:Poor instruction manuals, shortage of movie toys, refusal of releasing anymore g1 reissues, failure of listening to us the consumers on how we feel. All sums up hasbro. When will Hasbro ever listen? If they ever listen? Are you listening yet Hasbro? Knock , knock!

when will you realize the collectors are only a small percentage of their target consumers? You know who these toys are really aimed at? LITTLE KIDS. The only bones we are thrown every now and then are the g1 homages, etc.

THE SHORTAGES ARE NOT ENTIRELY DUE TO HASBRO. Hasbro, and a lot of people here obviously, are surprised as to how well the toys sold, especially with all the negative feedback from fans before the toys even hit shelves. Its only recently that they've been incredibly overwhelmed with the demand, and are beginning to put production into 2nd gear, with shipments arriving at stores more frequently (yes it is happening, I work as a stocking manager in Walmart, and beleive me, the amount of scheduled shipments have doubled, if not tripled since the initial shortage back when the movie first came out. While each shipment actually has a smaller number of figures, looking at the stock numbers now, it is significantly higher overall in total figures hitting the shelves, and with shipments arriving begininning to arrive much closer together, hopefully the demand will finally be quenched at least alittle bit, but with the holidays upon us, you can't expect it to get better yet.)


And the refusal to release g1 reissues is because the last few waves of the reissue series they ran SAT ON SHELVES FOR MONTHS, NOT MOVING EVEN AFTER HUGE MARK DOWNS. I'm sorry, but even I, a die-hard g1 fan, wouldn't be that fu**ing stupid to try it again, after how big of a flop the first time ended. The initial waves (really only wave 1 and wave 2) did well because they were rather small as production runs. But then that brings us to supply and demand again. People were demanding more and more, but Hasbro gave into those demands, and each run grew larger and larger, as more people demanded more. Well the people ended up demanding more, and then guess what happened? They weren't buying the toys anymore. Plus with Takara's reissue line, a large number of the "target" consumer for the reissues went for those, and simply ignored hasbro's reissues. This put an even bigger dent on market, and thus the hasbro reissue series failed. Miserably.

If you seriously beleive hasbro doesn't listen ever, then you're horribly mistaken, they do listen to us believe it or not, however, business comes first, and business usually doesn't involve catering to the fans on everything. Infact, quite the opposite, business usually involves only throwing the fans a bone here and there, while making much more money off the general consumer.

Don't like it? Deal with it. Thats how business works, and I'm getting really sick of reading things that basically boil down to "Hasbro sucks"

If you live in the UK or Canada, then you have a right to complain, but if you live in the US, then please go ask how our friends the Brits or our Friendly neighbors to the north (canada) how they get treated by Hasbro Uk, and Hasbro Canada.

youtube is a good source when getting stuck on transforming a figure.

I personally found that with some patience, I could usually figure out the instructions. I don't believe it's entirely smart to try to transform a figure without instructions for the sake of accomplishment. These toys aren't G1 toys where the transformations are really simple and unlikely to cause breaking.

For example, anyone remember how many people broke their BB77 chest automorph by forcing, because it "looked obvious that it bends that way from the picture"?

I personally also like Youtube reviews, especially those by Bikertrashwolf and JTMitchell. I like them not because I can't figure out the instructions, but because they've got tonnes of experience, and often can advise me on the optimal sequence with which to transform the figures; not always the case with the Hasbro instructions!

The only instructions I can say really, truly sucked was Leader Megatron's legs. I just couldn't figure it out, and when I tried to look at the picture at the back of the box, guess what? No clear shot of them!