I disagree with this. Hasbro has been doing surveys for TF for a few years now. I dont think its coincidence that I answered TFs need good articulation & now every Ani fig has way more joi

 

Right, I see what you're saying. But have you gotten an annual fans' choice figure? or even 2 or 3 a year? Oh wait, no you haven't because HASBRO HAS NEVER GIVEN TF FANS THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY that they give SW fans.

 

And really, EVERYONE wants ALL THEIR TOYS to have better articulation. That's a no-brainer, not a fan-driven product.

The mindset involves a fundamental shift in the way pop culture is digested in this country.

Nah, the mindset Buddykiller speaks of existed way before geek got mainstream.

But that mindset couldn't really exist without the internet. So its, what, 10 years old, tops?

The internet certainly helped it explode - as it has so many things - but the mindset is older than ten years, although not by much. I remember the comic book stores having all those Marvel + DC adult aimed statues and stuff when we were tykes. Fifteen, maybe twenty years, but no older.

 

Although adults have been collecting child's toys since forever. Barbie dolls and old wind up toys from the fifties and sixties and Matchbox cars and stuff like that.

 

None of this helps me understand the mindset, though. I think the "adult collectibles" producers have a lot of fan angst to answer for - "Cartoon show aimed at kids? No, it's a mature and rich myth, full of subtextual layers and political intrigue...I offer my pewter statue of Unicron as proof. Kids can't afford a $180 pewter statue. So, you see, I'm an adult. Fuck Micheal Bay for not understanding that."

The mindset involves a fundamental shift in the way pop culture is digested in this country.

Nah, the mindset Buddykiller speaks of existed way before geek got mainstream.

But that mindset couldn't really exist without the internet. So its, what, 10 years old, tops?

The internet certainly helped it explode - as it has so many things - but the mindset is older than ten years, although not by much. I remember the comic book stores having all those Marvel + DC adult aimed statues and stuff when we were tykes. Fifteen, maybe twenty years, but no older.

 

Although adults have been collecting child's toys since forever. Barbie dolls and old wind up toys from the fifties and sixties and Matchbox cars and stuff like that.

 

None of this helps me understand the mindset, though. I think the "adult collectibles" producers have a lot of fan angst to answer for - "Cartoon show aimed at kids? No, it's a mature and rich myth, full of subtextual layers and political intrigue...I offer my pewter statue of Unicron as proof. Kids can't afford a $180 pewter statue. So, you see, I'm an adult. Fuck Micheal Bay for not understanding that."

Well now you're just opening the whole "taking Fiction X too seriously as an adult" can of worms. What's light and fluffy to some is an obsession to others. Think about it: somewhere there are couples who want to name their kids after aspects of the Whedonverse, just like somewhere there people hankering for a set of Great Gatsby cold-cast porcelain statues. Both notions are inherently ridiculous to some people and completely sane to others.

Well now you're just opening the whole "taking Fiction X too seriously as an adult" can of worms. What's light and fluffy to some is an obsession to others.

Not at all. Take it as seriously as you want, just recognize what it is and who it's intended for - not being a part of the target demographic doesn't mean you can't enjoy it to the Nth degree. Just don't pretend it's something it isn't.

 

And naming the kids "Xander and Willow" was the wife's idea.

 

FWIW, if we have two girls, I get to name the second one "Teela."

 

If it's two boys, I'm trying to get approval for the first and middle name of our second son to be "Thomas Magnum."

Well now you're just opening the whole "taking Fiction X too seriously as an adult" can of worms. What's light and fluffy to some is an obsession to others.

Not at all. Take it as seriously as you want, just recognize what it is and who it's intended for - not being a part of the target demographic doesn't mean you can't enjoy it to the Nth degree. Just don't pretend it's something it isn't.

 

And naming the kids "Xander and Willow" was the wife's idea.

 

FWIW, if we have two girls, I get to name the second one "Teela."

 

If it's two boys, I'm trying to get approval for the first and middle name of our second son to be "Thomas Magnum."

Oh, let 'em have their fun, Gramps. Transformers has about 900 different official continuities as it stands anyway...there's no reason one or two can't be complex and deep and have ancillary products to reflect that.

 

And I pity the children of nerds.

The mindset involves a fundamental shift in the way pop culture is digested in this country.

Nah, the mindset Buddykiller speaks of existed way before geek got mainstream.

But that mindset couldn't really exist without the internet. So its, what, 10 years old, tops?

HOW DID PEOPLE SURVIVE BEFORE THE INNERNETS

I think these topics piss Hasbro off. They've been showing TF major love non stop ever since Alts showed up. Only thing I never got in the passed few years was Alt Bumblebee but then they made up for it with classics. I say shut up and enjoy being a fan. I am. now where's some more money!?

Thank you! This man speaks sense.

Hasbro gives us Alts, North American releases of MPs, Classics/Universe, G1 homages in every line, and a show that's filled with G1 fanwank and yet we still act like spoilt brats.

 

Hasbro gives us, 15% of a market based on a Saturday morning tv show aimed at kids, all of this attention and the fandom responds with comments like "I feel ignored as a collector" and "Transformers is the red-headed step-child of the Hasbro family"?

What does that say about us? Why would Hasbro continue to pander to such an ungrateful group of malcontents?

Sometimes I'm honestly surprised they haven't just said "F the collectors." The way the fandom acts as a whole they would be justified in doing so.

I mean come on people! Look at the new Universe 25th Ann. figures Hasbro previewed at SDCC. Cyclonus and Nightstick, Hound and Ravage that fits in G1 Soundwave's chest, Inferno. Then there's the Universe/Classics releases like Ironhide. The fandom has been demanding a proper G1 Ironhide toy since, well, G1. Hasbro delivers just that with Universe/Classics.

 

We even get releases of figures from a line that while popular, was so unsuccessful it was cancelled with Ti WW Prowl and WW Grimlock. If Hasbro didn't care about TFans would those figures have been released?

 

So yes, :stfu and enjoy being a fan. Because whether you're into the new look (Movie and Animated) or the traditional stuff (Universe) it's a fantastic time to be a TF collector.

they are getting better (they brought classics back), but it'd be nice to have something directed just at collectors.

See, I don't get this mindset. I don't fault you for having it, but I don't understand it.

 

I am a collector of children's toys. I don't want stuff made for an adult. If I did I'd collect sports memorabilia or firearms or something. But I collect toys. I want them to be durable and hold up to my playing with them, like toys should. I don't want Alts or Masterpieces, I don't want Hard Hero statues, I don't want anything I can't get at a Target, Wal-Mart, or Toys R Us. Fragile, meant for display, adults only stuff based on kid's toys is :fail

 

Gimme kid's toys or give me another hobby.

Exactly. I don't want die-cast statues or overly complex puzzle figures that would reduce an 8 year old to tears. I want toys. I'm a toy collector.

 

And as much as Transformers has grown, it's still a franchise rooted in Saturday morning cartoons that are little more then toy commercials. Star Wars, meanwhile, has six blockbusters behind it and a collectors market that dwarfs ours.

 

In answer to the original question though; When TFers has a movie in theatres Transformers > Star Wars to Hasbro. When Star Wars has a movie in theatres Star Wars > Transformers to Hasbro. When neither have a movie on the big screen they're both just brands that keep Hasbro's vaults full.

 

I can really see the reverse of this conversation occurring a year ago on a Star Wars fan message board.

"Man this sucks. Hasbro's giving all the attention to Transformers. So what if it has a blockbuster movie in theatres. It's still just a kiddie brand. Star Wars is where the real money's at. Hasbro must hate us. I feel ignored as a Star Wars collector."

The mindset involves a fundamental shift in the way pop culture is digested in this country.

Nah, the mindset Buddykiller speaks of existed way before geek got mainstream.

But that mindset couldn't really exist without the internet. So its, what, 10 years old, tops?

HOW DID PEOPLE SURVIVE BEFORE THE INNERNETS

 

Hyper-Terminal :thumb

Well now you're just opening the whole "taking Fiction X too seriously as an adult" can of worms. What's light and fluffy to some is an obsession to others.

Not at all. Take it as seriously as you want, just recognize what it is and who it's intended for - not being a part of the target demographic doesn't mean you can't enjoy it to the Nth degree. Just don't pretend it's something it isn't.

 

And naming the kids "Xander and Willow" was the wife's idea.

 

FWIW, if we have two girls, I get to name the second one "Teela."

 

If it's two boys, I'm trying to get approval for the first and middle name of our second son to be "Thomas Magnum."

 

when we have a son we're naming it Damien Xavier, and yes, Xavier is from professor x :P damien is from the bible XD i couldn't believe that my wife agreed to it, i was so happy. we haven't decided on a girl name yet, but if we end up having two sons, i'm going to try to get Szandor in there.

 

back on topic, the point is that hasbro bends over backwards for star wars collectors, but they absolutely refuse to do anything just for transformers collectors. they could have offered mp prime and reissue prime without nuetering the stacks and missiles and they could even offer mp megs if they'd just market it for collectors.