What would happen if there were no more Transformers?

[bruticus]

I'm not sure if anyone has already asked this before but...

Hypothetically, What do you guys reckon will happen if the world of Transformers as we all know it, suddenly stopped??

i.e. If HasTakTom announced tmrw that there will be no more transformers cartoons, no more movies, no more comics, no more toys, no more new products.... nothing...nadda...zip...

Would existing TF items go up in value because there is no longer a supply and are rare to find or will they simply all go down in value cos people are no
longer interested or reminded of it?

Also, what would you do with all that you have bought and have collected for all these years??

[Lordy]

I'm sure in the short term there would be a drop in interest, and a drop in value on some TF lines. Give it 5-10 years and people who wanted certain TFs as kids can now afford to buy them, and prices increase.

[Kyle]

This has actually happened before. G1 did stop once but many who loved it eventually formed/joined the fandom after many years. BW stopped too but it still has many fans. I think most of us adult fans are grown up enough (:D) to stick with what we like. I can see this will have a huge impact on the major international news sites/forums though. No new stories/products = fewer "exciting" topics to discuss. These big forums will lose a lot of their traffic from the more casual members, then slowly some more serious fans. I think many might stop their daily participation online but will continue to be fans. There'll be more discussions on the existing stories and characters instead of new products (since there'll be none). And more fans will have time to look back, review, catalog (and most importantly play with and enjoy :D) their existing stuff. There are heaps of other fandoms out there that are going strong without any new series or new products.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

We'd all be very sad but a lot less poor, and Gobots & Macross would see a sudden surge in popularity. I'd be betting on prices going up and plateauing after a while.
My collection's at 70-80-odd and with all the ones I want so far it's going to end up 200-250, so given the effort and cost involved in finishing it I'd probably be keeping the few that mean a lot to me (Predaking and TM2 Megatron), waiting a while and selling the rest a few years down the track once they'd fetch a good price or if I needed the moolah.

[loophole]

what would happen? i would concentrate only on G1 without having to worry about the new excitong/cool stuff coming out!

[blackie]

what would happen? i would concentrate oley on G1 without having to worry about the new excitong/cool stuff coming out!

+1

and more casual collectors getting out of the game = more tfs for me :D

[turtle boy]

Death in many countrys would be imenent. I would rampage around the world killing people pff untill I was caught or they brought TFs back :D

[GoktimusPrime]

This has actually happened before.
This is not true. Transformers has continually and constantly been in production ever since its debut. There were some years which where popularity and production was lower than others - but ever since 1984 we have never had a year where Transformers did not exist.
Reference: TFU.info year index (http://www.tfu.info/year/84index.htm)

The idea of not being into Transformers is a very alien concept to me as I've continuously collected Transformers for the last 25 years. Man... I don't want to even think of a world where Transformers aren't made no more!! I would still be a fan though. It's not as if I stop playing with my toys, read my comics or watch my videos/DVDs just because they're not current any more!

[Kyle]

This is not true.

You didn't read my second sentence. ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

I did... but I think bruticus means like, what if Transformers _completely_ died out (as opposed to a certain line dying out). Sure, G1 did end, but it was quickly replaced with G2 in the same year - so even between G1 and G2 we didn't really have a period where "Transformers" as a brand/franchise ceased to be.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/fearswoop.jpg

[liegeprime]

Aaah Trakkon fearswoop, one of the figs I still need to get. Anyways, If TF died or is never to be again issued in any form. I would be still alright as I am mor eof a G1 guy anyways and would concentrate more on getting the few TFs left to fill the gaps in my collection (G1). Also its not such a big loss for me, as I have lego, comics to fall back on. Also am quite happy with the size of my collection as of now, but yeah there is still that niggling feeling of completeingto an extent I am comfortable with the G1 series figures.

As for what ill do, I definitely would keep all of the figures I have now.

[Ironhide63]

no matter how upset id be...it would be good too because i wouldnt spend money on the figures...but no more movies or cartoons...hasbro....if you're reading this this is a warning...NEVER STOP TRANSFORMERS.

[Kyle]

I did... but I think bruticus means like, what if Transformers _completely_ died out (as opposed to a certain line dying out). Sure, G1 did end, but it was quickly replaced with G2 in the same year - so even between G1 and G2 we didn't really have a period where "Transformers" as a brand/franchise ceased to be.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/fearswoop.jpg

Goktimus, all you have to do is ignore my first sentence if it can make you feel better. :o


This has actually happened before. G1 did stop once but many who loved it eventually formed/joined the fandom after many years. BW stopped too but it still has many fans. I think most of us adult fans are grown up enough (:D) to stick with what we like. I can see this will have a huge impact on the major international news sites/forums though. No new stories/products = fewer "exciting" topics to discuss. These big forums will lose a lot of their traffic from the more casual members, then slowly some more serious fans. I think many might stop their daily participation online but will continue to be fans. There'll be more discussions on the existing stories and characters instead of new products (since there'll be none). And more fans will have time to look back, review, catalog (and most importantly play with and enjoy :D) their existing stuff. There are heaps of other fandoms out there that are going strong without any new series or new products.

[Lord_Zed]

I have many collections so It wouldn't be that big a deal for me, and right now I'm not all that in to the new cartoons and comic. Most other toy lines are finite. GI Joe has come and gone over the years but I still have my collection, I also finished my Zoid collection a few years back as I had most of the moulds I wanted.

As long as there are toy collectors there will always be someone trying to get their hard earned money.

[bruticus]

Thanks for all your responses guys....

I had one of those strange moments where i was just wandering to myself abt the end of TFA series, how ROTF really blows, how rumour has it that MBay wanted to quit, how HasTakTom stopped/slowed production of universe and TFA just so they can focus on ROTF
and so i just thought, what if...what if TFs were to finish right here right now??

HasTakTom were gambling on the success of ROTF...add to that rising costs of everything, disgruntled fans protesting with their wallets, global financial turmoil....
i thought the above scenario was not that far fetched....

Which lead me to wonder what am i going to do with my collection if that was to happen and what am i going to do from here on in with TF collecting in general.....

[Kyle]

I think you worry a little too much... :p

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

i thought the above scenario was not that far fetched.... I can see the news reports now:
"Hasbro/Takara Executives Announce: Screw Yez All, Keep Yer Stinkin' Money.

Noted toy company Hasbro/Takara executives today issued a press statement indicating that, due to the rising costs of everything, disgruntled fans protesting with their wallets, global financial turmoil, the failure of the latest RotF line, and a general sense of spiritual malaise, they are shutting down production of their prominent Transformers toyline. The Daily BS was able to get these quotes from a number of leading Transformers designers, including lead designer Aaron Archer, who is presently refusing all food while meditating under a bodhi tree:
"All Transformers are but maya, the only truth is Brahman." - Aaron Archer.
"Sure, ever since I was a kid it was always my dream to design for Transformers, but then one day I sat down and realised I was missing my true calling...nowadays I sell shoes." - Alex Androski.
"Ever since the adult fanbase started protesting with their wallets and turned to collecting Gobots we've just lost all financial viability...without the death threats, constant bitching, and that vital 10% revenue it just doesn't seem worth it anymore somehow." - Shoji Kawamori.
"Actually, I've always hated Transformers (especially Swindle), I only took the job for the money." - Derrick J. Wyatt.
"So...I still get paid, right?" - Pat Lee.
Following the demise of this 25-year toyline, Hasbro has announced it will be partnering with Volkswagon to create a new line of real-life transforming war machines for the global arms market. Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner offered this comment for Daily BS reporters: "Fools! Fools! Soon I shall destroy you all! Muahahahaha!". Former US President and noted military genius George Bush is on record as saying "Ah support this move entahrly...Ah used ta think the only good thing about Optimus Prahm wuz his neato accent, but evuh since watching that 'Ree-venge a' thuh Fallen' movie Ah see he's mah kinda guy, a real American hero." RotF director Michael Bay, who rumor has it has ruled out directing the next Transformers movie due to being 'tired of explosions' could not be reached for comment, as he is purportedly busy preparing for his newly revealed upcoming project: BALL-E, a Disney-Pixar animated feature about a plucky little leg-humping robot who joins the military.
In related news, rival toy company Mattel has recently announced it will be discarding its iconic Barbie franchise, which has often been a target of criticism for promoting unrealistic body images to small girls, in favour of "Homely Helga", a line focused on dumpy, middle-aged dolls designed to boost self-esteem and promote a more realistic and attainable body image to children."
-Story by Knut Gunnahapen.

Apologies to the Onion, and yes, I know the above post is filled with inaccuracies...just go with it.

Seriously, chill out. I doubt we have to worry about TFs ending for good anytime soon, as long as it's turning a profit and we have some way of making plastic for our plastic-crack there'll still be TFs. Besides, we're not dead yet and quite a few of us have kids, so they're guaranteed to be in business for at least one more generation...

EDIT - @ Liegeprime, I have a loose Fearswoop in good condition (and in long-term storage unfortunately) I was planning on getting rid of, when I get to it (and if I remember) and if you haven't found one by then I'll let you know.:)

[jaydisc]

Awesomely done Grasshopper.

[dirge]

This is not true. Transformers has continually and constantly been in production ever since its debut.

Gok, there was a distinct gap in 1995-1996.

I was online in the online Transfan community in 1995 when G2 was axed. There was a period of several months when we had no idea if the line would be revived or not - Hasbro themselves weren't willing to continue the line - eventually their subsiduary Kenner (which operated separately at the time) decided to revive Transformers through Beast Wars, which debuted in late 1996.

The angst etc that has been alluded to in this thread did in fact take place, although the online fandom, which only numbered maybe 100, had pretty much no market clout, so we were at the mercy of Hasbro. Most US fans (which were the bulk of the online fans at the time - there might have been 8 outside the USA) had already been through their G1 death* so they were relatively accepting of G2's death - it didn't come as that much of a surprise.

* - there was a distinct gap between 1990 and late 1993 in the USA when the line did stop. They didn't get the "G1.5"/"European G1" toys from 1991-1993.

[Golden Phoenix]

If there wasn't Transformers I'd have more Lego and Video Games

[Sky Shadow]

Gok, there was a distinct gap in 1995-1996.

That's right - during the break between the last G2 toys and when I first read in Previews that there was a new Beast Wars Transformers toyline, it seemed like Transformers was gone forever. Equally, there was a big break between the end of the US line and us getting the 1991 Action Masters. That was also during a year when there were no new comic stories (the US comics had come to a teary close and the UK was just reprinting them and old UK stories). That 1990-91 break was the first time it really seemed like Transformers was over.

[TF76]

I thought when the G1 cartoon finished the transformers was over. It was really hard to get over :(

Then later I found out about comic!!! :D Then that ended and it was hard to get over... :(

Apart from seeing the odd weird plastic looking transformer toy (in crazy bright colors) and 'stupid' animal transformer toys, I didnt realise transformers was still going for about 10 years. :rolleyes:

[nettie!]

we would have more money :) lol
i never paid much attention to them when i was little - though i was into them more than my older brother :confused:
but didnt get into them til i met TF76 and now i love them and they're super awesome! :D

[SilverDragon]

I would just sit in my chair going 'UHHHHH?????!!!' for the rest of the day.

Then I'd actually save money for once. :P