BWprowl wrote:I have no problem with classic stuff and updates where needed; I’m psyched for stuff like Megatron, not to mention previous reveals like, say, Roadbuster. It’s needless updates like Powerglide and Windcharger, trotting out new versions when perfectly fine new versions JUST came out that’s a bridge too far for me.
So it's a shades of gray situation, but somehow your reaction is complete polarization? That doesn't seem balanced.
I OWN the DOTM Powerglide, in fact I specifically bought it because “Ooh neat, Geewunny little Powerglide”. There is nothing Bayformery at all about that mold, it’s G1 through-and-through, and I thought it was fine for that. That’s why I’m so taken aback that they’re releasing another version that’s so similar to it, so soon after the previous release.
I have this fucker on my table with my minibots, I did this just a few days ago, mentioned it in the forums and everything, so I have this figure right here and while it's more G1 than some DOTM stuff, there's no mistaking it for a Generations figure at all. The face has those creepy eyes, the painted and sculpted tech detailing is way beyond anything generations, the weird feet, it doesn't fit in that well. While YOU might accept it, this is another shades of gray situation where the idea that YOUR opinion trumps everybody's, that you are getting actively upset and freaking out because something is slightly newer than you'd like, that thinking seems very closed-minded to me.
There are ways to do it, the Basics could arguably be sold at the ‘Legends’ price point without any mini-weapon-partners. This same size class was selling two-packs of smaller Legends-sized spring disc guys before it moved onto this ‘Commander-size toys with mini-partners’ phase. They could also sell them in multi-packs, store-exclusive or otherwise. There are ways.
Notice how you said "arguably" in there, how you aren't really SURE how they could do this because none of us actually work with the company budgets and retailer demands and so on? That's why we can complain we want things, but we can't force changes; we can have ideas, but not true solutions.
In what world is HFTD Seaspray G1-style? It’s got the color scheme, and the same type of altmode, but everything else is completely different. DOTM Powerglide on the other hand is blatantly G1, at about the same size as the original even. There’s no comparison.
In the world of...
The TransFormers!
Seriously though, Hasbro straight up said so to TFwiki during the 2010 brand Q&A:
Is the new Voyager Sea Spray a character who lives in the live-action film universe?
Sea Spray is continuing under the design philosophy that we started with Classics line and continued through Universe. It is all about reimaging classic characters in a new, 21st century styling.
And backed that up with this answer they gave us at ActionFigs.com 6 months later on December 1st, 2010:
Lately, the Revenge of the Fallen line figures seem to have been moving away from the movie aesthetic, especially since the start of "Hunt for the Decepticons". Brimstone and Hubcap, Terradive and Tomahawk, Seaspray - even Human Alliance Jazz to some degree - those are all movie-line figures that feel in many ways more traditional in their styling. Was that shift away from some of the movie universe's more outlandish design stylings intentional with the latest toys, and what prompted that shift?
Brimstone, Hubcap, Terradive, Tomahawk and Seaspray do not exist in the movie world, so that would explain why they do not fit the aesthetic that was established in the first two movies. Our goal continues to be to design realistic vehicles that could exist in today's world that of course convert into cool looking figures, but at the same time are great toys to be played with. As such, some of the "design" aesthetics might change to fit character designs into the vehicle designs, thus the reason for the style change.
Sea Spray was even designed with Classics in mind, but with no Voyager class in the line at that time, they moved it to the other line. The idea that Seaspray with the simpler detail and classic features is movie and Powerglide with his mountains of modern tech detailing and features is Classics boggles the mind.
Runamuck got a Botcon figure 2 years ago, that usually makes those characters off-limits for exclusivity for a few years. But it's also a very difficult place to go because Runamuck is part of a combiner, so do you make a new combiner figure or do you make a non-combiner figure and piss off expectations? So combiners are "tread lightly" characters for a solid reason.
Runamuck and Runabout aren’t part of a combiner…
Oh yeah, they're Battle Chargers, I always get them mistaken for Stunticons. So they're WORSE than a combiner bot, they're just plain ol' shitty,
and we just got them 2 years ago from FunPub.
Yeah, there are holes in this line that can be filled, we could have had a Beachcomber or Brawn or Huffer or others, but we did just get a new Tailgate and Swerve and Shrapnel after 29 years and are about to get Bombshell too, and there's possibly more to see at SDCC next month.
Yeah, we might get a new Springer or Warpath! It’s been a while since those guys got new toys, and the previous ones are really showing their age!
Look out, ridiculous hyperbole incoming, get to the shelters! Duck and cover! Keep your head low or some hyperbolic nonsense might hit you!
That's code for
and PS the Generations line had 2 Springer figures in a year, where was the bitching then when we went from a FOC remold to an all-new triple-changer? Oh right, there was none? Got it.
I understand the need for ‘popular’ characters in a line, it’s why you won’t see me complain about Hasbro rolling out another Optimus Prime or Bumblebee, fine, I get that. But I’m having a hard time believing friggin’ Powerglide is on that level. He’s no Darth Vader, he’s maybe a Nien Numb at best, and he sure as hell doesn’t warrant two new toys at the same size class in less than three years.
Powerglide is well-remembered for his unusual flying Autobot figure and for his cartoon appearances, he's somewhere between Lando and the Biker Scout. But here's the good news, YOU STILL DON'T HAVE TO BUY HIM.
There’s also the part of me that is nostalgic (heh) for when TF as a toyline didn’t operate like Star Wars, when we just got a pile of all-new, interesting guys with each revision of the line each year. Were this 1987, I’d probably be on Usenet complaining about the Classic Pretenders (“Jazz and Starscream JUST got toys three years ago!”).
I'm sorry, what? You mean new revisions like TF:Prime, which you found endless ways to bitch about, and in fact are now bitching about its sequel, TF:Robots in Disguise?
And this brand endures because sticking to that old marketing system FAILED in 1990, remember? Times have changed, branding has changed, markets and economies and kids have changed. The Generations brand has endured because it is able to navigate the seas of change, and your argument is to drag it back down to when it stopped working? Nobody is forcing you to buy these figures, but to pretend that the line would survive without them is just as wrong-headed as my Star Wars friends who say the line would survive without new main character figures every once in a while - and if we're getting new releases, they damn well better at least be somewhat new toys.
Theoretically this is why Generations Legends OP and Orion Pax exist. Frankly, as in love with the Classics figure as I am, I wouldn’t begrudge the existence of a new one so much as long as it looked…better than the old one. But this is such a wasted effort.
Yeah this new Voyager looks like shit so far, and it's not a quality Leader class we should have to offset Leader Megatron, but Legends is NOT the answer, and Teenamus Prime doesn't really fill that void either.
My mistake, early reports I read had it labeled as a Leader, and that seemed to make sense with a new Leader Megatron also coming out. Really, it being the same size as the old Voyager and still not even being as close to as awesome as that toy makes it come off even worse.
That's why you should trust TFV and not the other guys.
138 Scourge wrote:Man, you guys and your having Cosmos and Swerve around. I still haven't seen one. Don't think I give half a damn for Swerve since Gears is going to happen, but I would still like a Cosmos. Even if I do have the last one that showed up. Maybe we'll get a repaint?
As who?
Don't know why I'm seriously considering the Armada version, but for some reason i am.
It's an illness.
Shockwave wrote:JT, I gotta side with Prowl on Powerglide because... umm... I kinda did the same thing (stuck it immediately on my "Classics" shelf).
But, that figure isn't made anymore and I don't still have mine so this new one will be perfect for me.
Oh, you GOTTA side with him, you're saying nobody is going to buy Powerglide because everybody snatched up the last one and is satisfied since it's been so soon? I'm not saying it doesn't fill the part, but it's obviously an understudy, it doesn't fit in for shit.
EDIT: Also, does anyone possibly wanna work out a deal for Cosmos and Swerve? I could trade that Target glitterbal Prime that came with Grimlock? Anyway, pm if interested.
Not something I want, but I'll tender other offers.