Haven't read through the posts, I'm just replying to the opening one.

 

I think you're a little off base here. It wasn't the GeeWun'ers that got the plans for TransTech scrapped, it was the lagging sales of the toyline. And trust me, there aren't enough GeeWun'ers to account for that. The fact is that BM just wasn't written with the target market in mind. It was joyless, humorless, pretentious, preachy, and a tad bit repetitive. And the Maximal toys just weren't that good in my opinion (and I'm not alone as I think the Vehicon toys outsold them like 3 to 1, which is very rare as good guy toys typically outsell bad guy toys). BW had achieved excellent sales volumes, while BM had lost much of that ground, and no matter what you tell yourself, it's backward slide was not the fault of those longing for G1. Add that to the high cost of the BM show, and Hasbro just wasn't pleased with their investment and was hesitant to make it again.

 

They were faced with the decision to drop a lot of $ on a new line and a similarly priced cartoon, or they could adopt a line and show from Japan which were already existing, and therefore unbelievably cheaper to put onto the market. The bottom line, and not GeeWun'ers, was the basis for their decision.

 

The success of RiD again wasn't due to GeeWun'ers; hell, most of us had already imported the CR toys and therefore didn't buy the RiD ones (at least until they went onto clearance), nor was it due to the show (the sales surged more than a month prior to the show's airing). Seeing the success that could be attained with a nickle and dime budget, Hasbro immediately adopted the more cheaply made shows.

 

So if you really want to get pissed at someone, get pissed at the millions of young children that have no knowledge of G1, as they constitute the target market. Hasbro doesn't give a rat's hairy ass about a bunch of 20-somethings moaning that Skir sucks, or the even smaller number screaming truk not munky. They base decisions on the almighty dollar, and GeeWun'ers just don't constitute enough of the green stuff for them to make a decision that large to appease us.

 

And few, if any, G1 fans had any desire to go the 'alternate reality' route, and even fewer had any desire to see scripts written for the kids on the short bus. And I don't think any of us were anticipating the Playskool bricks that the Armada toys would be.

 

Now, all that said, I still think that FireConvoy was a better mold than what they had planned for Prime or Primal, Mach alert was a great mold (haven't seen any TransTech sketches that would be the equivalent for comparrison), etc. And keep in mind, the final toys rarely if ever wind up as good as the concept sketches. Admittedly, the turn that TF's have taken the last three years in terms of fiction, and 2002 and 2003 in terms of toys, is very lamentable, but it's not the fault of GeeWun'ers.

Haven't read through the posts, I'm just replying to the opening one.

 

I think you're a little off base here. It wasn't the GeeWun'ers that got the plans for TransTech scrapped, it was the lagging sales of the toyline. And trust me, there aren't enough GeeWun'ers to account for that. The fact is that BM just wasn't written with the target market in mind. It was joyless, humorless, pretentious, preachy, and a tad bit repetitive. And the Maximal toys just weren't that good in my opinion (and I'm not alone as I think the Vehicon toys outsold them like 3 to 1, which is very rare as good guy toys typically outsell bad guy toys). BW had achieved excellent sales volumes, while BM had lost much of that ground, and no matter what you tell yourself, it's backward slide was not the fault of those longing for G1. Add that to the high cost of the BM show, and Hasbro just wasn't pleased with their investment and was hesitant to make it again.

 

They were faced with the decision to drop a lot of $ on a new line and a similarly priced cartoon, or they could adopt a line and show from Japan which were already existing, and therefore unbelievably cheaper to put onto the market. The bottom line, and not GeeWun'ers, was the basis for their decision.

 

The success of RiD again wasn't due to GeeWun'ers; hell, most of us had already imported the CR toys and therefore didn't buy the RiD ones (at least until they went onto clearance), nor was it due to the show (the sales surged more than a month prior to the show's airing). Seeing the success that could be attained with a nickle and dime budget, Hasbro immediately adopted the more cheaply made shows.

 

So if you really want to get pissed at someone, get pissed at the millions of young children that have no knowledge of G1, as they constitute the target market. Hasbro doesn't give a rat's hairy ass about a bunch of 20-somethings moaning that Skir sucks, or the even smaller number screaming truk not munky. They base decisions on the almighty dollar, and GeeWun'ers just don't constitute enough of the green stuff for them to make a decision that large to appease us.

 

And few, if any, G1 fans had any desire to go the 'alternate reality' route, and even fewer had any desire to see scripts written for the kids on the short bus. And I don't think any of us were anticipating the Playskool bricks that the Armada toys would be.

 

Now, all that said, I still think that FireConvoy was a better mold than what they had planned for Prime or Primal, Mach alert was a great mold (haven't seen any TransTech sketches that would be the equivalent for comparrison), etc. And keep in mind, the final toys rarely if ever wind up as good as the concept sketches. Admittedly, the turn that TF's have taken the last three years in terms of fiction, and 2002 and 2003 in terms of toys, is very lamentable, but it's not the fault of GeeWun'ers.

\m/ = Metal!!! a.k.a. Rock On!!!

 

Muawahahha...I feel death coming soon on this...but I agree man.

HAH-HAH-HEH-HEH-HO-HO...And even though I agree, I still respect some part of each and every toyline...so IF TT ever comes back I'll roll with the good and the bad, but it ain't gonna happen for a long while, if ever.

 

On another Note...when the hell did this cool thread become a Japanese Continuity Discussion. It took a major turn into the crapper...hehe...Anyhoo. Some people, I guess, just need to burn out their vices in every which way.

Haven't read through the posts, I'm just replying to the opening one.

 

I think you're a little off base here. It wasn't the GeeWun'ers that got the plans for TransTech scrapped, it was the lagging sales of the toyline. And trust me, there aren't enough GeeWun'ers to account for that. The fact is that BM just wasn't written with the target market in mind. It was joyless, humorless, pretentious, preachy, and a tad bit repetitive. And the Maximal toys just weren't that good in my opinion (and I'm not alone as I think the Vehicon toys outsold them like 3 to 1, which is very rare as good guy toys typically outsell bad guy toys). BW had achieved excellent sales volumes, while BM had lost much of that ground, and no matter what you tell yourself, it's backward slide was not the fault of those longing for G1. Add that to the high cost of the BM show, and Hasbro just wasn't pleased with their investment and was hesitant to make it again.

 

They were faced with the decision to drop a lot of $ on a new line and a similarly priced cartoon, or they could adopt a line and show from Japan which were already existing, and therefore unbelievably cheaper to put onto the market. The bottom line, and not GeeWun'ers, was the basis for their decision.

 

The success of RiD again wasn't due to GeeWun'ers; hell, most of us had already imported the CR toys and therefore didn't buy the RiD ones (at least until they went onto clearance), nor was it due to the show (the sales surged more than a month prior to the show's airing). Seeing the success that could be attained with a nickle and dime budget, Hasbro immediately adopted the more cheaply made shows.

 

So if you really want to get pissed at someone, get pissed at the millions of young children that have no knowledge of G1, as they constitute the target market. Hasbro doesn't give a rat's hairy ass about a bunch of 20-somethings moaning that Skir sucks, or the even smaller number screaming truk not munky. They base decisions on the almighty dollar, and GeeWun'ers just don't constitute enough of the green stuff for them to make a decision that large to appease us.

 

And few, if any, G1 fans had any desire to go the 'alternate reality' route, and even fewer had any desire to see scripts written for the kids on the short bus. And I don't think any of us were anticipating the Playskool bricks that the Armada toys would be.

 

Now, all that said, I still think that FireConvoy was a better mold than what they had planned for Prime or Primal, Mach alert was a great mold (haven't seen any TransTech sketches that would be the equivalent for comparrison), etc. And keep in mind, the final toys rarely if ever wind up as good as the concept sketches. Admittedly, the turn that TF's have taken the last three years in terms of fiction, and 2002 and 2003 in terms of toys, is very lamentable, but it's not the fault of GeeWun'ers.

:pfx As in the words of Randy "Macho Man" Savage, "Oooooh Yeeeeaaah!"

I won't quote your post a third time, peteynorth, but I do agree that there isn't "one" reason why TransTech got axed. There were a lot of factors. But what I was zeroing in on was the fact that so few people seem to care that Transformers is now on a level with Shaman King or Kirby or any other disposable anime toon. TransTech is, to me, symbolic of the potential for further development of the TF story. Conversely, Armada/Energon (to me) are symbolic of the stagnation of the TF brand that's occurred over the past few years. I'm sick to death of homages, both in story and toys. So FWIW that's really the issue I was raising. I may be alone in my point of view, but judging from the response this thread has gotten (tangents notwithstanding) I don't think I am. (At least MarcusPrime knows where I'm coming from! :thumb)

I won't quote your post a third time, peteynorth, but I do agree that there isn't "one" reason why TransTech got axed. There were a lot of factors. But what I was zeroing in on was the fact that so few people seem to care that Transformers is now on a level with Shaman King or Kirby or any other disposable anime toon. TransTech is, to me, symbolic of the potential for further development of the TF story. Conversely, Armada/Energon (to me) are symbolic of the stagnation of the TF brand that's occurred over the past few years. I'm sick to death of homages, both in story and toys. So FWIW that's really the issue I was raising. I may be alone in my point of view, but judging from the response this thread has gotten (tangents notwithstanding) I don't think I am. (At least MarcusPrime knows where I'm coming from! :thumb)

 

*Salutes LM*

 

\m/ Metal!!!

 

I like Homages, in certain aspects like Alternators. But I completely agree with you in the Stagnation. Completely Agree...and you are the Man LM!!!

TransTech is, to me, symbolic of the potential for further development of the TF story. Conversely, Armada/Energon (to me) are symbolic of the stagnation of the TF brand that's occurred over the past few years.

 

It is stagnant in some aspects, but we mustn't confuse stagnation with being grounded.

 

Transformers are robots who transform and fight for seperate ideals. Beast Machines and, by extension, Transtech were either dangerously close or already over the line into territory best not entered.

 

Look at Batman, he's been around for decades and hasn't left the main premise (except in Elseworlds) and yet still manages to be entertaining.

 

The writing, not the "new development," is the most important thing. Forget that and you alienate the entire, or a significant portion, of the established fanbase. :tfgrin

eh, the fanbase doesnt know what it wants.

oh wait, Complain! my bad..

TransTech is, to me, symbolic of the potential for further development of the TF story. Conversely, Armada/Energon (to me) are symbolic of the stagnation of the TF brand that's occurred over the past few years.

 

It is stagnant in some aspects, but we mustn't confuse stagnation with being grounded.

 

Transformers are robots who transform and fight for seperate ideals. Beast Machines and, by extension, Transtech were either dangerously close or already over the line into territory best not entered.

 

Look at Batman, he's been around for decades and hasn't left the main premise (except in Elseworlds) and yet still manages to be entertaining.

 

The writing, not the "new development," is the most important thing. Forget that and you alienate the entire, or a significant portion, of the established fanbase. :tfgrin

This is what bothers me about successful properties. After some initial success, they "become" what they are at that moment, and thereafter cannot deviate too far from what was originally established. Just looking at this from an artistic/creative perspective, that's the kiss of death. The enemy of originality is the status quo. "It's always been that way." Your comment about Beast Machines being close to the line makes sense, so long as G1 defines what Transformers are. But does it? It certainly started the series, but must TF always remain within the confines established in G1?

 

Have we forgotten that Transformers has a TV continuity that ran (albeit not continuously) from 1984 to 2001? How many other cartoons can say that? How many other cartoons have evolved over time the way Transformers has? Not many. It's because of this that my disappointment is so strong. Beast Machines was daring and original, and didn't take the easy way out (i.e. just repeat Beast Wars). Whether or not it ultimately succeeded is almost beside the point IMO.

 

I may be in the minority on this, but oh well.

Actualy it was 1984, to 2004, Universe was in the G1 vountuitcy too! but now that Hasbro has killed 3h, what will the future hold for G1?

Actualy it was 1984, to 2004, Universe was in the G1 vountuitcy too! but now that Hasbro has killed 3h, what will the future hold for G1?

Actually I said "TV," but good point, Xbob.

 

P.S. I think your spelling of "continuity" should win an award or something. :thumb :clap