Delta Magnus wrote:Well, the best Transformers movie we've had in ages, and it's accompanied by one of the worst toylines in years. I mean, we've had amazing Generations/classics stuff, the Prime line was pretty decent (and also proved that simple toys don't have to be terrible- PRID Arcee is very simple to transform and she's a great figure), the DOTM line was nice (5mm posts, oh my!)... and then this load of duds comes along.
Granted, Prime relied heavily on movie magic to transform, and Galvatron completely defied the laws of physics, but they can do better than this. Most of the line seems to be this simplified dreck like the 1-step changers and the power attackers (and all the non-simplified stuff is TRU exclusive in the UK) and even the more complex toys have taken a hit in quality (although some do look pretty good, like Scorn and Crosshairs). After the huge amount of attention and decent figures the last 3 movies got, I'm very disappointed to see the mess that is the AOE line. Maybe they should shelf the Generations/classics line for a bit and use the budget to make more and better AOE toys, before coming back to the Geewunner bait after the AOE toyline finishes.
I don't think it is that the toys are any different than DOTM toys. It might be because children are just losing interest in the line. Which is no surprise, because the toys are so expensive. Even at $10, it is too high. But, you can't effectively make a Transformer for the profit margin Hasbro wants. They had a good idea with the one step stuff and the like, but pricing them at $8-10 is joke. $5 would be more ideal. Hasbro is either going to have to lower their profit margin, which will NEVER happen, or they are going to lose money until they finally scrap the line like they did in the 90's. The difference is in the 90's they could keep the prices down. Now, it is impossible with their expectations. Especially from the shareholders who jumped on board due to the 2007-2011 level of success with the line.
The only market for them that will continue is that of the people who will spend whatever they command for "premium" toys. The third party people better get ready for shutdown. Soon enough Hasbro will fall back on that market for revenue, and when they do people like iGear and the like will be a distant memory. I do think the brand will survive, but I think it will be a situation where most TF's will be of the Masterpiece type quality and will command large amounts of money to collect. But, I hink the days of getting deluxes for $10 or even $15-16 are going to be up very soon. Based on their pricing model and increase, by 2020 a deluxe would be going for about $20 each. And there is no way they could survive at that price point. Hell, even Generations last wave, with Skywarp and Scoop, was self warming at $15 until they lowered the price. and even now they are moving at a slow pace. I would expect more changes to the line come 2015, and maybe even a cancellation of the entire deluxe and voyager models in general. Just like you saw with the legion and commander class toys this year. The new "deluxe" is the legends line in generations. If that even survives.
