Igear Bumblebee

[gdmetro]

Saw this over at tfw:

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/other-news-20/bumblebee-volkswagon-new-beetle-custom-transformer-may-be-coming-soon-from-igear-170767/

Seems to take a VW design, using a classics bbee head- which IMO is way too small.

Normally I am quite open to 3rd party items, but this just left a bad taste.

[Hursticon]

I wonder if Volkswagen will notice this at all? and if they do, would they launch action to have it canned?

Based on the fact that it looks like it is going to have a farely accurate VW Beetle (New Version) Alt Mode, I reckon they could have grounds but then again, I guess it's not like it's going to get a mass retail release or anything?

[SkyWarp91]

Real thing:
http://www.volkswagenautosinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Volkswagen-New-Beetle-2.jpg
Toy:
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/4/0/5/9/7/73082_153516271357033_100000959844909_248615_70972 96_n_1287605980.jpg

For starters the toy doesn't have the VW logo on the front and those circle indents on the front bumpers medial to the lower lights. Also the wheels are different :) Wonder if that's enough to get away :p

[Hursticon]

Wonder if that's enough to get away :p

Are you being sarcastic dude?, I'm not being an ass, I'm genuinely asking - are you? :p
(Need More Emoticons! :D)

IMO, what you've listed there is way not enough difference.
A hubcap here, a front bar relocating lights there - even the lack of the VW logo is still not enough difference I reckon, you can still blatantly tell that it's a VW Beetle.
Compare it to the Classics version - yes it's clearly a small hatchback, but I challenge anyone to name the car he's definitively based off. ;)

Personally, I hate the new VW Beetle - compared to the original, it looks horrible - certainly nothing like what BMW achieved with the New Mini, but even that is no where near as cool as an original Mk.II Mini Cooper S! :D:D:D

[SkyWarp91]

Are you being sarcastic dude?, I'm not being an ass, I'm genuinely asking - are you? :p
(Need More Emoticons! :D)

IMO, what you've listed there is way not enough difference.
A hubcap here, a front bar relocating lights there - even the lack of the VW logo is still not enough difference I reckon, you can still blatantly tell that it's a VW Beetle.
Compare it to the Classics version - yes it's clearly a small hatchback, but I challenge anyone to name the car he's definitively based off. ;)

Personally, I hate the new VW Beetle - compared to the original, it looks horrible - certainly nothing like what BMW achieved with the New Mini, but even that is no where near as cool as an original Mk.II Mini Cooper S! :D:D:D

Yeah I was being sarcastic lol.

What about ROTF Sideways? His Deluxe toy isn't the same as in the movie but to me it was recognizable as an Audi R8 even though there were differences in the boot and paint apps.

What IGear is doing is probably illegal, regardless of the trivial changes (I'm no lawyer lol) but in the end what can you do about it? The company wants to make illegal toys so let them and if VW want a law suit they can have a one but they should ask themselves this time around - 'why are people doing this type of thing? should we just co-operate with Hasbro and license VW Bumblebees again instead of having to sue these 3rd party companies?'. (I'm not asking you directly Hursti I'm just thinking out loud :D)

Too many corporations nowadays have too much pride that they're willing to sacrifice the satisfaction of their consumers so that they can look like an almighty power that has control over people (in this case - VW saying 'you want a VW BB? - How about NOOOO'). I understand these businesses do need to be seen with a degree of prestige and dignity in order to be respected but there's a point when it just gets ridiculous...

[SkyWarp91]

Back to the toy, the thing that I don't like is where the pieces end up in robot mode. The rear of the car forming the chest? If it's trying to replace the Classics BB as a better homage to G1 BB it's not off to a good start considering that G1 Bumblebee and Classics BB both have the top of the car forming the torso. And they could have at least done it using the original VW Beetle model.

Also look at this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G96gxvrHqrE/SjyUjvUmtfI/AAAAAAAAG2c/vKEOShh9k2M/s400/FanLifeSizeG1Bumblebee.jpg

HAHAHAHAHAH

[jaydisc]

I reckon that is Classics Bumblebee's head.

[Hursticon]

Cheers for the clarification Skywarp91, I'm thinking about putting it to the requests thread for more emoticons - too many arguments occur I reckon purely out of misinterpreted text. ;)

I too agree that if their setting out to produce a better Classicsverse Bumblebee, assuming that's their intention, then having the arse-end of the car as Bumblebee's chest is definitely a step in the wrong direction. :o


I reckon that is Classics Bumblebee's head.

Looks pretty 1:1 huh?

[iceburn]

simply said: iGear sucks

[Tallestblue]

All this does is remind me what might have been.

[1AZRAEL1]

I'm not sold on it, even though Classics BB is not a VW, I think it looks better than this attempt.

[kaiden]

I'm not sold on it, even though Classics BB is not a VW, I think it looks better than this attempt.

Henkei Bumblebee is one of my most favourite designs.

This one just looks like ass.

[kup]

The head clearly doesn't fit the body. It looks as if someone broke the head off a Road Bot figure and decided to replace it with that of Classics Bumblebee.

I wonder why they decided to go through so much effort as to re-create the prototype and then just rip off the Classics Bumblebee head.

[jaydisc]

My guess is it's just a temporary head to stick on for the photo.

[kup]

My guess is it's just a temporary head to stick on for the photo.

I am not sure otherwise they would have used an actual Classics Bumblebee head instead of going through the trouble of remaking it.

[kristofferrer]

i think they would have got more support from me if they made this into his alternate mode.

http://onscreencars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/TheHomer.jpg

[kaiden]

i think they would have got more support from me if they made this into his alternate mode.

http://onscreencars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/TheHomer.jpg

That would be pretty cool if they could get it to transform into homer and just call it 'radioactive homer' i'm pretty sure i've seen him all green in 1 or 2 episodes.

[jaydisc]

I am not sure otherwise they would have used an actual Classics Bumblebee head instead of going through the trouble of remaking it.

That's exactly what I'm insinuating.

[Hursticon]

Courtesy of Seibertron.com (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/igear-bee-01bumblebee-and-02cliffjumper-preorder-at-tfsource/20639/), here is the evolution of iGear's upcoming Bumblebee (http://www.tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/2219/) & Cliffjumper (http://www.tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/2220/) Repaint, up for pre-order over at TFsource (http://www.tfsource.com/).

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Webpics/1295678447_Bee.jpg

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Webpics/1295678447_Bee2.jpg

[kup]

This to me seems more like a 'Let's cash in on the 3rd party craze!' attempt.

[Hursticon]

This to me seems more like a 'Let's cash in on the 3rd party craze!' attempt.

Hehe :p:D, recognise the engineering? :cool:

[kup]

Hehe :p:D, recognise the engineering? :cool:

Yes I do which makes this release even worse than just a totally redundant product.

[Sky Shadow]

Holy cow! A Bumblebee toy. Ingenious! These third-party toymakers really think outside the box. :rolleyes:

[1AZRAEL1]

Holy cow! A Bumblebee toy. Ingenious! These third-party toymakers really think outside the box. :rolleyes:

Yea just what we all wanted, another Bumblebee :p :rolleyes:

[Hursticon]

Holy cow! A Bumblebee toy. Ingenious! These third-party toymakers really think outside the box. :rolleyes:


Yea just what we all wanted, another Bumblebee :p :rolleyes:

Yeah, I thought you might get just a little annoyed at this one Sky Shadow. :o
(Just confirms iGear's ineptitude really :rolleyes:)

[Tallestblue]

This actually vaguely offensive to me.

Seriously, Igear just takes the Legends Bumblebee and adds VW parts?

Really?

[kup]

Yeah, I thought you might get just a little annoyed at this one Sky Shadow. :o
(Just confirms iGear's ineptitude really :rolleyes:)

I wouldn't call it ineptitude, more like mindless greed to me. I hope they are not calling themselves 'fans'