... pretty sure the vast majority of fans were of the opinion "It's not perfect, but it's better than the Hasbro version" when it came to Henkei Megs.

 

Just because we didn't consider it perfect didn't mean we hated it.

This is just like Henkei Megatron. Everyone batched about that piece of chrome and claimed the Hasbro version was better, but we all know which Powerglide would warm the shelves over here if Hasbro released both.

Yeah, the red one.

 

Since collectors only amount to a small percentage of sales, I'd bet Hasbro's marketing folks determined that a more realistically colored jet would sell better to the general public (most of which have no nostalgia directed towards a second-tier character from a 20-year old cartoon), particularly after the success of a movie toy-line that, for the most part, consisted of relatively realistic paint jobs.

One sand colored jet isn't going to put the general public into the mindset of, realistic = worth buying. If that were the case then the whole Animated line is destined to fail, and I don't think Hasbro is expecting that.

One sand colored jet isn't going to put the general public into the mindset of, realistic = worth buying. If that were the case then the whole Animated line is destined to fail, and I don't think Hasbro is expecting that.

 

Animated is based on characters appearing in a cartoon, which is a whole different ballgame, as the toys will have appeal based on other things than looks (personality, etc.). The general population will buy Universe 2.0 on the sole basis of how it looks in the package - and from what I've noticed, for the most part all of the alt mode paint decos seem to be a bit more "real life."

For instance, why Galvatron isn't purple in tank mode.

One sand colored jet isn't going to put the general public into the mindset of, realistic = worth buying. If that were the case then the whole Animated line is destined to fail, and I don't think Hasbro is expecting that.

Pretty much all of the jets in the movie line had realistic paint jobs (save possibly the black repaint of Dreadwing and Thundercracker). Add on top of that the rest of the line that was realistically painted, and it proves that Transformers painted with realism in mind will sell.

 

A/E/C pretty much showed us that during those years they thought stylized vehicle modes were the key. The success of the movie line, and to a lesser extent the Classics line, has convinced Hasbro that Transformers painted and moulded with a realistic alt mode/colour scheme in mind will sell.

Not to say that there isn't room for both stylized designs and realism. They're both money in the bank. Animated will feature stylized designs, and Universe will fill in with realistic designs in between the movie lines.

 

So yes, the movie line did prove that realistic=worth buying (I would have thought that the first two years of G1 would have made that common sense). That doesn't mean stylized designs are out, they're just going to sell figures with realistic alt modes in addition to the stylized stuff. Universe will continue to tap the untapped (for years anyway) recourse that they (re)discovered with the movie line; realistic alt modes.

 

Colouring a Transformer who you've sculpted to transform into a realistic looking A-10 rust red kind of defeats the purpose of the whole realistic alt mode angel.

 

... pretty sure the vast majority of fans were of the opinion "It's not perfect, but it's better than the Hasbro version" when it came to Henkei Megs.

 

Just because we didn't consider it perfect didn't mean we hated it.

:pfx

One sand colored jet isn't going to put the general public into the mindset of, realistic = worth buying. If that were the case then the whole Animated line is destined to fail, and I don't think Hasbro is expecting that.

 

Animated is based on characters appearing in a cartoon, which is a whole different ballgame, as the toys will have appeal based on other things than looks (personality, etc.). The general population will buy Universe 2.0 on the sole basis of how it looks in the package - and from what I've noticed, for the most part all of the alt mode paint decos seem to be a bit more "real life."

 

 

 

Yes, and the movie toys were based on Transformers that appeared in the movie, thus requiring the toys to look as they did in the movie.

 

Every other Classics toy has the same basic color scheme as it's G1 toy counterpart. Megatron is the only one that did not, and then it was because of the general problems that comes with toy guns. So how does Hasbro making Powerglide gray, with red trim, make any sense?

Yes, and the movie toys were based on Transformers that appeared in the movie, thus requiring the toys to look as they did in the movie.

Because they (the movie characters) were supposed to look like realistic vehicles...I seem to be missing your point.

Yes, and the movie toys were based on Transformers that appeared in the movie, thus requiring the toys to look as they did in the movie.

Because they (the movie characters) were supposed to look like realistic vehicles...I seem to be missing your point.

 

 

This is about color, not form.

One sand colored jet isn't going to put the general public into the mindset of, realistic = worth buying. If that were the case then the whole Animated line is destined to fail, and I don't think Hasbro is expecting that.

 

Animated is based on characters appearing in a cartoon, which is a whole different ballgame, as the toys will have appeal based on other things than looks (personality, etc.). The general population will buy Universe 2.0 on the sole basis of how it looks in the package - and from what I've noticed, for the most part all of the alt mode paint decos seem to be a bit more "real life."

 

 

 

Yes, and the movie toys were based on Transformers that appeared in the movie, thus requiring the toys to look as they did in the movie.

 

Every other Classics toy has the same basic color scheme as it's G1 toy counterpart. Megatron is the only one that did not, and then it was because of the general problems that comes with toy guns. So how does Hasbro making Powerglide gray, with red trim, make any sense?

Because the Classics line came out before the movie line that proved that realistic alt modes=worth buying.

Universe, in contrast, is coming out after the movie, after Hasbro realized that realistically coloured alt modes sell. With the movie line ending they decided to continue with the trend of realistic alt modes, and decided Universe was the line to do it with, at least until the TF2 line.

 

A white/light grey Powerglide with red trim makes sense because it fits within the theme of trying to appeal to people who want realistic looking alt modes. Which the movie line proved existed, even with the toys of characters that didn't appear on screen, like Jetstorm and Wingsabre.

 

Now I know you're going to say "but grey with red trim isn't realistic."

You would be right, to a point. When designing Transformers with realistic paint jobs, balance is key, especially in an homage line like Universe. You have to balance the colour scheme between the realistic aspects and the homage aspects.

Giving a grey A-10 red trim may not be 100% realistic, but it's pretty close. And the red trim does homage Powerglide. Mission accomplished.

 

And again, the majority of people buying these toys have no nostalgia for a second tier G1 character. I'm not sure if kids today even know who Powerglide is. So there's no real need to keep him rust red.