The Energon Pub

[dinogeist]

If it's packaged in robot mode in the box,do you get lazy & not even bother to transform it?

I've done this a few times.

I kinda hate it when Hasbro packages new transformers toys in robort mode in the boxes. I hate this because this means I need to transform the toy twice. FIRST,It transforms from robot mode then into vechicle mode,2nd it's got to be transformed from vechicle mode to robot mode in order to display it in robot mode on a display shelf.

I did this with movie 2007 leader sized Brawl. I kept reading TF internet fans complaing how hard it was to transform this toy back & forth. way too many panels to massage back & forth. SO I FIGURED WHY BOTHER & I DIDN'T TRANSFORM this toy back & forth. this toy went from the box in robot mode & got put on a display shelf without transforming him back & forth.

I did this with Hasbro masterpiece Walmart MP Starscream,Walmart MP Skywarp & TRU MP Grimlock. all three figures were already in my desired display pose. why bother transforming complicated & delicate toys. MP Grimlock I love in dinosaur mode because that's how I liked him in the G-1 TF cartoon,especially season 3.

I kinda wish i didn't bother transforming TF 2007 movie leader sized megatron back & forth twice. what a royal pain it was to get all those panels & pegs lined up to make the vechicle mode look solid & sturdy. after all this some of the feet panels & pegs still didn't blend in nor lock in place in vechicle mode.

[WolfDawg]

I've done that a few times. For example, I've never transformed Leader Sentinel Prime, Battle Blades Bumblebee, nor Leader Ironhide. I think it's mostly with the movie figures though. The majority of them are just needlessly complicated.

[dinogeist]

I've done that a few times. For example, I've never transformed Leader Sentinel Prime, Battle Blades Bumblebee, nor Leader Ironhide. I think it's mostly with the movie figures though. The majority of them are just needlessly complicated.

I also didn't bother to transform DOTM Leader sized sentinel prime nor leader sized ironhide. why go thru all that agony & frusration when the toys are already in my desired robot modes to place on display shelves.

I'm not a fan of the huge bumblebee toys. the only movie verse bumblebee toy i like,bought & displayed on a shelf is $29.99 Human alliance bumblebee in first release colors.

[LOST Cybertronian]

So, you would be happy with non transforming action master type figures then? I don't get having a transformer and not transforming it. You say it can be agony to transform them if they are already in robot mode? Are you in the right hobby?

[Autobot-Hellstriker]

For me i wanted to see how big the truck mode of my voyager class battle blades optimus prime was.
Needless to say transforming the top parts cabin just right, same with legs....these 2 things alone were like wrestling with a alligator .

So i turned the bastard back into bot mode and it's gonna be a DAMN LONG TIME before he's gonna be transformed ever again.

[Evil_the_Nub]

I agree with LOST Cybertronian, if you hate transforming them you're collecting the wrong toy line.

[gavinfuzzy]

Well they are called Transformers for a reason, and I play with my toys before displaying them

[WolfDawg]

I'm not sure if some people are referring to me, but I don't dislike transforming the majority of my figures. I don't particularly care to waste half an hour transforming ROTF, Alternator, Masterpiece, or Alternity figures, though. Why do I buy those figures then? Well I simply adore the aesthetic. I also love the transformers mythos and owning the characters associated with the lore. I like the look of vehicle kibble hanging off heroic or evil looking robots.

I'm just not a fan of transforming my figures too often and messing with my display. Some figures also can't handle constant transformation because joints may be come loose or stressed and paint or metal can scrape.

[Valandar]

I transform them ALL at least once to the other mode, then once back. If it came in robot mode, voila. If it didn't, I transform them a third tome to robot mode. Some, usually the middle ground of difficulty (like the majority of the Classics line) or the simpler yet cooler big figures (like TF:Cybertron Leader class Prime) will see a lot more than that.

[Skyfire77]

Hell no, first thing I do when I get new figures is transform them, even the ones I plan to display boxed (which consists of ROTF Stratosphere and Mixmaster, but still...). I'll transform the ones I've got on display every month or so too, just to keep the look fresh.

[Erailea]

I'm not sure if some people are referring to me, but I don't dislike transforming the majority of my figures. I don't particularly care to waste half an hour transforming ROTF, Alternator, Masterpiece, or Alternity figures, though. Why do I buy those figures then? Well I simply adore the aesthetic. I also love the transformers mythos and owning the characters associated with the lore. I like the look of vehicle kibble hanging off heroic or evil looking robots.

My sentiments exactly. It's the characters, the story telling and the lore that makes me love the franchise and being able to have toys that go along with it is wonderful.

Occasionally I will transform my guys back and forth, but, generally speaking, I prefer having their robot modes displayed (my first-movie guys have been transformed about a 100 times, 3/4 of which happened within the first month of buying them xD I bubbled down after that and it's only on occasion I transform any of my guys now). The car forms are nice and everything, but their robot selves are what appeals most to me (hey, a part of me still wishes I had studied robotics instead of animation in college, even though I love 3D animation). The designs, generally, are pretty awesome and having a tangible product to go along with it makes me adore Transformers even more. It's human nature I suppose. If you can see it, touch it, smell it (erm... you get the point on that one) it makes the shows and movies feel more real (why do you think kids can get so wrapped up in their own little play world? That they sometimes even think a toy is real, even a friend?)


To be honest, even if you are someone who doesn't like transforming them, I don't see how it's any different than those who collect MISB's (of any toy). At least if you take them out of the box and pose them you are interacting with the toy and not gushing over something you can't touch (not making fun of MISB people. I too have some MISB's after all).

The main point of collecting (anything) is to enjoy it. So if you're someone who enjoys robot mode and doesn't want to change them back and forth very often (or at all) well, that's their thing. If you're someone who loves changing them all the time, then that's yours. Just as box loving people value the toys as an overall display (from packaging down to the very toy inside).

The only time I can see saying your collecting of Transformers is pointless is if you're buying them for the sole purpose of making money in the future. That's just stupid because you might very well end up losing money, which'll piss you off. But if you love what you are collecting, who cares how you treat your toys. If your MISB's wind up making you money, great, if not, at least you're enjoying what you have (even if it means marveling them from behind plastic and cardboard). Same with if you are constantly play with your opened guys or not. The point is to enjoy them and I love my Transformers even without transforming them on a regular basis.

Just to play devils advocate with those who are against not transforming them regularly, if you need to constantly play with them in order to like your toys, are you enjoying them when they are sitting idle on your shelf? Let's face it, you can't play with them 24/7. Just a bit of food for thought. Not making fun of anyone.

[dinogeist]

I'm not sure if some people are referring to me, but I don't dislike transforming the majority of my figures. I don't particularly care to waste half an hour transforming ROTF, Alternator, Masterpiece, or Alternity figures, though. Why do I buy those figures then? Well I simply adore the aesthetic. I also love the transformers mythos and owning the characters associated with the lore. I like the look of vehicle kibble hanging off heroic or evil looking robots.

I'm just not a fan of transforming my figures too often and messing with my display. Some figures also can't handle constant transformation because joints may be come loose or stressed and paint or metal can scrape.

Ditto,I agree & am also like this.

[Mykltron]

THEY'RE CALLED TRANSFORMERS. I enjoy transforming them. I sometimes pick them up, transform them into alt mode, back into robot mode and then put them back in the same place in the same pose cos I LOVE TRANSFORMING THEM. With a new figure I relish the challenge of figuring out the transformation without instructions. The harder ones give more feeling of satisfaction when I've finally done it.

There are three reasons that I buy TFs for:
1) I think they look cool
2) they're super-poseable which makes them look cooler
3) they transform and I marvel at the engineering involved

The thought of not transforming them seems absurd. The thought of not posing them seems absurd.

[dinogeist]

THEY'RE CALLED TRANSFORMERS. I enjoy transforming them. I sometimes pick them up, transform them into alt mode, back into robot mode and then put them back in the same place in the same pose cos I LOVE TRANSFORMING THEM. With a new figure I relish the challenge of figuring out the transformation without instructions. The harder ones give more feeling of satisfaction when I've finally done it.

There are three reasons that I buy TFs for:
1) I think they look cool
2) they're super-poseable which makes them look cooler
3) they transform and I marvel at the engineering involved

The thought of not transforming them seems absurd. The thought of not posing them seems absurd.

myltron,in your pic below,is that the Takara masterpiece 09 version 2.0 rodimus convoy toy in alt mode? or is that MP-09 Version 1.0. I ask because I notice the yellow flames look more neon & the burgandy red alt mode pieces look more darker than the version 1.0.

[fenrir72]

MP-05 and MP-08, haven't transformed them ever since I purchased them.

For the former, it's because of all the horror stories I've heard on him while for Grimlock, He really looks bad@ss in 'bot mode.

MP-01 was the 1st and last Masterpiece I transformed (so much paint chipping.....)

MP-10, I just haven't found the time yet.........

[Noideaforaname]

I usually transform a figure a dozen times before feeling it's lost the 'newness,' put it on a shelf somewhere and either buy a new TF or revisit an old one.
I don't really display any of my figures. I mean, I'll pose a bunch on the shelf they happen to be put on, but there's no grand, do-not-touch display anywhere.

[Diem]

EVERYTHING gets transformed back and forth at least once. That said there are figures in my collection that are such a chore to transform that I hardly ever touch them and have to psych myself up to transform them. This is something that has only really come about since the beast era.

[MGrotusque]

I transform everything at least once as well, sometimes.

I've had two figures that i've left untouched for the longest time that i hadn't transformed out of the package.

Unicron. I had him for a year or more before i put him in planet mode. I just really like the bot mode and didn't feel like transforming him. I knew i would sooner of later. Then i did not long ago and it was like having a new figure. I was stoked.

The second was Magmatron. I totally dig the three bot alt mode. They're fantastic. Especially Seasaur. I've had him for about a year maybe but i transformed him last night for the first time and fell in love with him all over again. Pretty rad figure!

I don't know. It was like i did it so that when i had a lull in buying figures i could grab one i haven't transformed and get that rush of a new figure without having to go hunting in toy stores or pay through the nose on Ebay. I just had to go grab him off the shelf.

It's rare that i not transform a bot but i have done it.

[Doubledealer93]

THEY'RE CALLED TRANSFORMERS. I enjoy transforming them. I sometimes pick them up, transform them into alt mode, back into robot mode and then put them back in the same place in the same pose cos I LOVE TRANSFORMING THEM. With a new figure I relish the challenge of figuring out the transformation without instructions. The harder ones give more feeling of satisfaction when I've finally done it.

There are three reasons that I buy TFs for:
1) I think they look cool
2) they're super-poseable which makes them look cooler
3) they transform and I marvel at the engineering involved

The thought of not transforming them seems absurd. The thought of not posing them seems absurd.

me 100%

[fenrir72]

Big Convoy Takara version, only transformed him once.....beast to warrior mode. Up til now, he's still in his bad@ss lone wolf mode(warrior mode that is)

[ubertenorman]

Figuring out the transformation is about 80% of the reason I buy a transformer. As far as the more complicated ones go, I see it more as a challenge than an annoyance. Though, ROTF Leader Jetfire might drive me crazy yet. XP

[Genocide G2.0]

Thats one thing i do dislike/hate about some figures when they are transformed already, i know your still transforming them either way but for me its the hole buzz around makeing the robot even though i know what it looks like on the back of the packet i get real satisfaction out of it

my favorite thing of all is the last thing i do if i can and thats the head reveal
I dont know why i just love it some times if it has to pop up i force my self not to look at it untill the transformation is complete then just buzz checking it out taking it all in as a complete figure

Two examples of this for me personaly Cybertronian Megatron and Soundwave although the alt modes probably arnt exactly cool must haves if seen hanging on the racks so i can see why they wernt in alt mode but for me this was the first time i ever bought these characters in a toon form and i would just of loved to have been able to transform them into robots for the first time .

[paul053]

The only TFs I don't transform often are my customs and repaints cuz doing much will cause too much paint scratch. For all others, I transform them quite often especially I have a son who wants to play with them. Sometimes we even transform about 20 robots into alt modes (really take a while) and play some games and then transform them back. So far I have only one he is not allowed to touch, the FP Bruticus.

[Erailea]

For all others, I transform them quite often especially I have a son who wants to play with them.

Haha. Sounds like me and my niece, except she's 2, so most of my Transformers are off limits (she's good about not putting things in her mouth but I'm not taking chances, what with the small pieces that can pop off)

Ultimate Bee tends to stay in Robot mode because it's the lights and sounds she loves, but my Playskool Optimus and two of my Armada guys get transformed back and forth for her.