So Tformers has a post that says that Hasbro will be releasing "More ''Metallic'' Figures Coming Our Way 1st Half of '08".
The Hasbro regurgitation machine blows my mind.
The thing is, as a now-recovering completist collector (thanks TF movie) I can't imagine the amount of money hardcore completists will waste in buying up all of these.
There was a time not long ago that I would have likely been up there with them.
Now I can understand the metallic thing for vehicles. Some of them (Lawson's Concept Camaro Bumblebee) just look more realistic in a proper metallic but let's face it, this is the kind of activity that has got to make collectors question their habits.
First Hasbro releases the figures separately.
Then the release the same figures in multi-packs, etc.
Then they release additional waves of figures, many of which don't seem to even remotely make it to most US regions.
Then they repaint the same figures, releasing them individually or as multi-packs.
Then they release the same figures yet again repainted again with a metallic paint they they would have probably looked best in the first time around.
I suppose there's a small chance they'll release a Hasbro version of the Japanese Lawson's exclusive but my gut feeling here is that they'll continue the Voyager-class sizing for these. I could be wrong, but the first 2 are that size.
So much shelf-filler.
I just don't see the target kid market giving too much of a shit about any repaints. They end up getting what their parents pretty much buy them.
This strikes right at the collector mentality.
Man the new Classics 2.0 figures and the Animated figures can't get here fast enough!
On a positive note, this news has me hoping that there will finally be a properly painted Movie Leader Megatron, and for that matter, a Movie Prime with chrome areas as opposed to the current dull, gray plastic spots like his bumper and such.
But I also can't wait for the upcoming TF animated goodness.
The only remaining Movie Figs I'll be picking up are gonna be Catcher's Mit face Landmine & Black SUV Stockade. The rest of them are just pointlessly stupid - Seriously, what is the point of all these frickin repaints Hasbro/Takara?
Hell, The Animated Series doesn't tickle my senses at all (I just hope Arcee's Fig looks G1-ish). My G1 Hoist arrived today & I'm much more psyched about him then I am about these friggin Movie Repaints. Damn, I can't wait for those Beast Wars figs to arrive from BBTS either next week or the week after.
Makes you wonder just how many other TF Losers like us feel exactly the same way about the Repainted Movie Figs...
Yeah the movie line seems to be repaint hell right now...
Sadly I heard a rumor about a Black Movie Arcee coming out next year and that may be worth getting since I liked the mold.
Best luck keeping your dinero in your wallet and saving it for Classics 2.0. Your willpower is an inspiration to the rest of us crack addicts who are trying to practice some semblance of discretion in our purchases.
Any clue on when the classics 2.0 hit the shelves. i cant wait to get my hands on Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. and hopefully they make that cosmos they did a pic for?
All we really know is part of the lineup, that it will be of equal size of the initial classics release and that it will likely be Fall 2008.
Now who knows if that's one wave of figures or a few.
I poked around the Seibertron message boards and folks are going nuts over the news of metallics. I just don't understand this self entitlement fans get.
Probably why I've wanted to read boards less and less.
AMEN! and the only movie transformers anything i was interested in (wave 2 robot heros) is no where in sight around here...
i sure hope the classics & tf animated toys get here sooner than later!
Maldroth: You're right - there's a lot the fans get worked up over whilst tending to forget that at the end of the day, most of them are at least fifteen years past the target audience age.
Having said that, it's nice to recognise that (a) the fans have been instrumental in carrying the torch for this particular line (b) so much so arguably Hasbro got an entire multi-million dollar movie deal out of it and (c) Botcon is a nice thank you but with all the exclusive fuck-ups, it's kind of an even score on that one. :)
The movie line just doesn't lend itself well to additional toys. Then again we've gotten loads of repaints out of the last several TF lines.
Welcome to the world of the "Enlightened Hobbyist". Hey that's a good title. I was thinking of writing a whole post on the related topic of being "hardcore" vs "enjoying the hobby".
Essentially what it amounts to is people who are completist may discount those who aren't as not being as knowledgeable or as big a fan as they are. But chances are those who are not completist enjoy their hobby more.
Completist doesn't fit but I've noticed the same trend on Photography. Having a 2,000 dollar camera doesn't make you a better photographer, especially if you discount the potential of a older or cheaper camera completely.
Rambling alert.
Classics 2.0? Sweet. I'm not a hard core collector. I have all my old ones from when I was a kid and I have a bunch of Beast Wars/Machines. I bought a bunch of the Classics line. I think they are as close to new G1 as we're going to see. I hope they do an Ironhide.
I do like the movie Ratchet repaint. I think he's cooler in white but for the most part I just got the Target exclusive Prime and both Bumblebee's plus a few others.
I've been looking at this site for a few days now and I love looking at all these Transformers. I know next to nothing about Armada/Energon/Cybertron/RiD. I own one or two as I saw them on shelves and thought they were cool. I just really appreciate a good collection when I see one.
That Carl Guy: Greetings!
Yes. There will be a continuation of the Classics line under the Universe brand sometime next year.
I think it really sucks that they're doing this, but I guess it's nothing new. When I saw those metallic new voyagers on the shelf here in Taiwan like 3 weeks ago - I was shocked. Granted I couldn't tell just by glancing if there's much difference with Ratchet, but the new Megatron? W.O.W. The beautiful metallic finish just blew my mind. While prices are the same in the US between the metallic and the first voyagers, here it's about 25% more (list is about $30 USD equivalent).
Sigh point is that why do they bother doing an "upgrade" of the same items... you couldn't do this right the first time? Ugh.
I'm not buying the new ones. And no I'm no longer a completist either. Besides, I'm not sure if there are others like me, but I prefer keeping my collection as realistic as possible to the story/movie/comic etc. That's why no way I'd consider getting voyager Prime or Megatron. It'd look real weird when you post them together with the rest of the gangs. Leaders, let them be leaders.
But I just have to say this one more time, the new metallic Meg just looks real sweet... :p