The Energon Pub

Minicons,Powerlink, Cyber planet keys, Automorph? Why is it that Hasbro keeps giving TF toys stupid gimmicks? TFs are not about gimmicks they're about Transformering them. Classics no gimmicks and they turn out to be the best TF toyline in most people's opinion. I'm just glad the Animated toys don't have any gimmicks(but yet people still complain about them with their great poseability ). I hope that gimmicks like these stop before they ruin TFs

I agree. They are all lame.

I quite like gimmicks. They can be overdone, but they can also add an extra element to a toy's enjoyability, and an extra element of variety between lines. Plus, let's face it, they're a great way of selling toys, which is Hasbro's main concern.

They're not essential by any means, and I'm very glad that not all the lines have them, but I don't think they're a problem at all.

While some gimmicks can hurt a toy more than they help it.
(Leers* at the Energon Autobot Combiners). some of them are pretty good.

I particularly find the headmasters and action master gimmick to be very interesting. As are the minicons that take on those roles in the newer series. The minicons that turn into weapons really add more value to a figure.

The key gimmick is one I could do with out. Some of the gimmicks activated by keys are just lame. While other while pretty good, like CD Scattorshot, require you go dig for the key before you can deploy them.

Still if designed well, gimmicks can enhance the toy, its when they get in the way that can be very devastating to the toy.

I'm sure without the combiner gimmick, the Energon Autobots would have been quite a but better than they were.

It's true, the combiners turned those toys into power ranger rejects (I'm sure someone's said that before, but I thought it was funny so I' saying it again :p)

Who here hates gimmicks in TF toys? It depends in the gimmick and bot I guess. I admit that Cybertron keys and rub signs are probably my least favorite gimmicks. But otherwise, they are fine and add to the uniqueness of the character.

Powerlink, and the Planet Keys are probably the most pointless gimmicks. The BW gimmick was another unneeded gimmick. Lift the tail, and it's transformed.

The Minicons, however, are a mix of Powermasters, Headmasters, and Targetmasters. Armada Blurr (to an extent), Armada Sideways, and Armada Mega/Galvatron, respectively.

Then there are the Minicon teams. Star Saber, Skyboom Shield, and Requiem Blaster. Which added another element of play.

There's my two cents for the day.

I'm fine with Gimmicks, they make Transformers what they are.

I like the mini cons that turn into guns and turn into heads because that was a kind of transformer a Headmaster and Targetmaster. Powerlinking is not about transformers, Keys are not about transformers. Normal TFs transform and Headmasters, and Targetmasters were different kind of transformers as were the combiners. Gimmicks are not Transformers but I guess I said that

OptitronPrime wrote:Powerlinking is not about transformers, Keys are not about transformers.

In my opinion it’s a Transformer if it has that brand name at the top of the box/card.

Cyber keys are really underrated, they weren’t as bad as a lot of people seem to think. Minicons were a bad concept, but most of the figures are still real good. Please explain to me how Powerlinking is not about Transformers? The toys them selves transform, it says transformers at the top of the card, how are they not transformers?

I can live without the gimmicks. The only action feature I'll ever need is the transformation from alt mode to robot.

Blurrz wrote:I'm fine with Gimmicks, they make Transformers what they are.

Winner!

TF's have always had gimmicks and always will.

(G1 had rub signs and if you don't think that was a big deal back in the day, then you are too young to talk about G1.)

Counterpunch wrote:G1 had rub signs and if you don't think that was a big deal back in the day, then you are too young to talk about G1.

how about Color Changers for G2? just add water and magic happens.

zemper wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:G1 had rub signs and if you don't think that was a big deal back in the day, then you are too young to talk about G1.

how about Color Changers for G2? just add water and magic happens.

Word up.

We all knew the Decepticons were going to lose the war when Megatron started handing out "Megatron Rulz!" bumper stickers.

Counterpunch wrote:

zemper wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:G1 had rub signs and if you don't think that was a big deal back in the day, then you are too young to talk about G1.

how about Color Changers for G2? just add water and magic happens.

Word up.

We all knew the Decepticons were going to lose the war when Megatron started handing out "Megatron Rulz!" bumper stickers.

ugh, yeah.

but FYI i loved that mold haha. violets galore and the big air-powered blaster at the back, plus big guns all over - too bad that bumper sticker musta scared off all potential Con recruits. heh. plus the name rocked. "Hero" Megatron? if there's ever a gimmick involving names, G2's got lots of them.

ok i dont wanna sound rude but this is a stupid question, arnt transforming toys already a gimmic? i mean TF is bassicly a gimminc in a gimmic....but anyways i dont care. i like them. the cyberkey was a bit lame but minicons, powerlinx (which is just combiners) and ect is what makes TF fun. i mean it sucks to try and find all the combiners when there sold seperate but what ever.

its one of the reasons why i still buy legos bionicals. there robotic action figures and the newest series that just came out are pretty sweet. each main bionical has a little side kick thats sold seperate but u can combine then together and it makes it a bit bigger and kewler looking so i see that has their copying the minicon thing but it works.

but hey the TF series is so big and they have so many kinds u can buy what you want.

OptitronPrime wrote: I'm just glad the Animated toys don't have any gimmicks

I'm glad too. Only their heads pop out (they're springloaded)

I just don't like the lights and sounds.

It's not that it's anything bad. But it hinders proper transformations. And batteries are potential problems.

If you take the gimmick out of transformers you are left with...

...an action figure.

The TF line is all about gimmicks. True some work better than others but gimmicks are the "soul" of the toyline.