I've been nothing but positive about the new movie, so far, but it kind of seems, especially with this design that they're making it complicated looking just to be visually complex. First rule of design is to keep it simple when possible.

 

I do have to agree with that. There is now way in hell the toys could acually look like these autobots look. I doubt that the rumored Ultimate class ($69 I think) will be as complex as these movie images. That's my main worry. I hated that G1 toys looked nothing like the show. *Pete, for me, the show came first* Rachet not having a head sucked like crazy.

The way I figure the toys will work is like this:

 

Larger pieces of Alt. Kibble like the chest, shoulders, grille, bars, and pieces of the legs will move and shift as needed. The actual intricate and smaller Alt. Kibble pieces will actually be part of the sculpt on the arms and legs, so that the overall robot design looks like it does in the movie, it just won't have as many moveable and complex smaller pieces to fiddle with as they will be molded onto the full arms and legs and such.

I've been nothing but positive about the new movie, so far, but it kind of seems, especially with this design that they're making it complicated looking just to be visually complex. First rule of design is to keep it simple when possible.

 

I do have to agree with that. There is now way in hell the toys could acually look like these autobots look. I doubt that the rumored Ultimate class ($69 I think) will be as complex as these movie images. That's my main worry. I hated that G1 toys looked nothing like the show. *Pete, for me, the show came first* Rachet not having a head sucked like crazy.

The way I figure the toys will work is like this:

 

Larger pieces of Alt. Kibble like the chest, shoulders, grille, bars, and pieces of the legs will move and shift as needed. The actual intricate and smaller Alt. Kibble pieces will actually be part of the sculpt on the arms and legs, so that the overall robot design looks like it does in the movie, it just won't have as many moveable and complex smaller pieces to fiddle with as they will be molded onto the full arms and legs and such.

So they are all gonna transform like Thunderblast and Sideburn

I'm probably as G1/Bw purist as it gets, but I don't think the designs are that bad when you think about it, just not to be redundant, I think if the heads looked more like what we are used to, there wouldn't be as much, but who cares. When they make it a toy, I'll give it a new head and make myself happy. Nothing new, just adding my opinion

-D

And those mouths on the Transformers' metal faces moving just like normal flesh mouths won't work outside of a cartoon.

 

Why not. It worked in I, Robot. My theory is, that they have a slightly solid like liquid metal on their faces that allows them to make facial expressions and move their mouths. Just like some people think that the stuff that makes up Alpha Trion's mustache is a metallic alloy that is extremely flimsy. They're an advanced race of robots that probably have ways of making it work.

The robots in I, Robot were made by humans, and were therefore engineered to make facial expressions that would be familiar and comfortable for humans. Transformers, on the other hand, are an alien race that has nothing to do with humans or their faces. So regardless of what there metal composite can and cannot do, they have no reason to use it for smiling.

 

You seem to forget the the Transformers, while a race on their own with no human influence (save for the invention of said line), have things like emotions, thus enabling them to feel things like friendship, hatred, pain, fear, and in the case of G1 Prime and Elita-1, possibly love. So yes, they would have a use for smiling at something pleasing, frowning at something that is dissapointing or bad, grimicing from pain, or feeling hatred for something that they feel is personally evil that must be destroyed.

 

When the original packaging for Optimus Prime's quote said "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" he means it. A sentient being is one who is aware of their existence and can feel emotions. And in the case of some speicies (a majority of them primates), they can express their feelings facially. Dogs can somewhat smile depending on the breed (very common with a happy labrador retriever).

 

The TFs are sentient beings who are aware of their existence. They feel pain, rage, anger, love, friendship and all the other great things we can feel.

 

So I still stick to my guns when I say give them faces that are reasonably able to express themselves and not just a blank robotic staring look (aside from the fact that they are robots).

 

You are making the mistake of assuming that an alien race has to express emotion in the same way a human does. For example, a bird can have emotions, but have you ever seen one smile or cry? No, because they are not humans, and even if they wanted to, they couldn't because beaks aren't flexible like flesh. Just like metal isn't.

Nice. I was wondering how they were gonna make that work. Now, bring on Ironhide!

NOTE: Previous post was removed.

 

 

I wonder why. God forbid that someone with the username 'News Staff' would ever actually get the scoop on something like this.

 

 

....I'm sure this post will go missing too.

This process of movie bot reveals followed by fan backlash is getting old and predictable by now.

although, would you expect any less from a message board? i agree with everyone who says wait for the movie to formulate your opinion, but i don't mind the debate either. it's refreshing to see the fan community debate this endlessly, or at the very least entertaining. what's old and predictable, at least from my point of view, is the backlash between opinions. it's not fair to trash each other for reaction; after all, that's the point of starting these threads in the first place.

 

perspective is ultimately what defines emotion here, and empathy is lacking without this consideration. it could be argued that generation 1 made all things possible, and it's strength is what carries this franchise onward. it could also be said that change is good, and realizing transformers for new generations is important. perhaps the dichotomy of old and new schools is what really keeps transformers going; i don't know. all i do know is that it's important for everyone to keep saying what they feel. how i feel may be irrelevant to some, but i'm a firm believer that respect goes a long way - so i don't trash people who feel differently.

 

personally i was looking for a movie with a strong generation 1 look & feel. i'm not going throw a fit or ignore it's release because of what i'm seeing now, i'm well aware than i'm 30 years old with a heart rooted in the '80s. i want it to be awesome like any other fan too- but i'm also not going to just sit on my hands if i have chance to voice my opinion. this conversation has happened a thousand times, but what the hell- i don't mind saying i don't care for the alien look and feel, and would have preferred some white, red and some generation 1 face on ratchet. the argument of plausibility in real life is moot, if you asked me- suspension of disbelief goes a long way when taken in context.

Maybe he's got a "beak" because it's supposed to mimic a surgical mask aesthetic. And I can totally see all sorts of tools and sh*t popping out of those hands.

I see the same thing happening with this provided the story in the movie isn't rubbish.

This is something I think people need to keep in mind. I doubt that the robots' lack of G1-design aestheics is going to make or break this movie.

 

I see constant references comparing this TF film to the "American" Godzilla movie. For some reason people seem to blame the design of Godzilla in that movie for disappointing fanboy expectations - when in reality, if the movie had a better story it would have likely performed better at the box-office.

 

I won't use the word "failure" with regard to the US Godzilla, because the movie didn't actually flop, it just didn't do as well as expected (although, ironically, it made more money in Japan than any of their homegrown G-movies). Maybe what the G-fans - and, by extension, TFans - should have prepared themselves for was the reality that their movie wasn't as important on the "must-see" pop-culture radar as they imaginined it would be.

GINO *looked* fantastic IMO.

 

the movie sucked balls though