Does anyone else just not care anymore?

[Omega Metro]

QFT! Personally I can't imagine being able to switch off like that, but hey, if people wanna be bandwagoners who am I to complain. More product is bought in the shops increasing our chances as collectors to get waves that would otherwise be skipped

It's not a case of 'bandwagoning' (been a fan of TFs since the 80s). It's more the fact that I'm out growing my obsession with 'plastic toys' as I believe there's better things to spend my money on, such as investing money.

[GoktimusPrime]

It should be pointed out that just because someone is no longer an active collector of Transformers doesn't mean that they've necessarily lost interest in Transformers. They may have merely lost interest in that one aspect of Transformers. One can still remain highly passionate (and obsessed ) with Transformers in other ways, such as continuing to read the comics, watch the cartoons/movies, and play with the toys that you've already collected. It just means that you're not adding new toys to your collection so much.

I know that my collecting significantly slowed down during the G2 years. I still did collect a few toys during that time, but not nearly as much as I used to during the G1 years. To this day I still have a relatively modest G2 collection. But it never meant that I lost interest in Transformers though. I did collect the G2 comics and continued to read the G1 comics, watch the G1 cartoons (and TFTM ), drawing fan art and continued to actively play with my G1 Transformer toys.

I personally don't feel the need to 'quit' Transformers just because there's little current stuff to keep me engaged. If current TFs ever failed to adequately engage my interest (as with G2), then I wouldn't give up on Transformers, I would just enjoy everything that I'd already accumulated. Sure, G2 sucked (as a franchise), but it didn't make G1 any less great. I mean... it's not as if the Original Star Wars Trilogy (in its original form) has gotten any worse just because of the Prequels! You can hate Jar Jar Binks and Hayden Christensen's cardboard acting all you like, it doesn't suddenly make The Empire Strikes Back an inferior movie because of it. That's why I think cries like, "Michael Bay killed my childhood!" are stupid. No matter how much you might hate the Bay films, they do NOT affect or influence anything that came before it. Far out.

[Sinnertwin]

Ive only recently begun to catch on the 90's-00's era with Armada toys, more specifically the Japanese/Korean versions. I won't be collecting them all, but it's something that i find enjoyable. Until the TRU G1/TFC collection came around my collecting was almost stagnate, with a few purchases here and there. I'd still be actively involved in folowing the franchise, but i can put it down to the G1 reissues that really reignited the interest in me. Finally, toys that i never had as a child, made readily available. Then the Classics followed and the rest is history.

ive always preferred The Family Guy's version

[5FDP]

It's not a case of 'bandwagoning' (been a fan of TFs since the 80s). It's more the fact that I'm out growing my obsession with 'plastic toys' as I believe there's better things to spend my money on, such as investing money.

Strange... I don't recall quoting you so I'm at a loss to understand why you feel the need to explain yourself to me Fact - it is bandwagoning when we see an increase in board registrations and activity every time a movie is released... or an increase in people wearing Transformers apparel... or shiny new Autobot logos on cars etc. etc. Like I said, it's not a bad thing, just human nature to associate themselves with current trends.

[GoktimusPrime]

Strange... I don't recall quoting you so I'm at a loss to understand why you feel the need to explain yourself to me Fact - it is bandwagoning when we see an increase in board registrations and activity every time a movie is released... or an increase in people wearing Transformers apparel... or shiny new Autobot logos on cars etc. etc. Like I said, it's not a bad thing, just human nature to associate themselves with current trends.

Also didn't Hasbro's stats show that toy sales doubled in the year following the release of the first Bay film? I personally think there are pros and cons about Transformers having become more mainstream since the 2007 film came out. Either way, many of us were devoted fans long before the film came along, and we'll remain devoted fans long after they're gone.

[Skullcruncher]

Strange... I don't recall quoting you so I'm at a loss to understand why you feel the need to explain yourself to me Fact - it is bandwagoning when we see an increase in board registrations and activity every time a movie is released... or an increase in people wearing Transformers apparel... or shiny new Autobot logos on cars etc. etc. Like I said, it's not a bad thing, just human nature to associate themselves with current trends.

Many new members have a long standing interest in transformers, and they bay films just gave them that extra push to become active in either collecting or the community. Bandwagoning to me would be like new sports teams - where groups of people are following the team because of the hype and they dont really know much about the sport itself

Also didn't Hasbro's stats show that toy sales doubled in the year following the release of the first Bay film? I personally think there are pros and cons about Transformers having become more mainstream since the 2007 film came out. Either way, many of us were devoted fans long before the film came along, and we'll remain devoted fans long after they're gone.

And you are surprised? Newer members can't be devoted?

[GoktimusPrime]

Hmm, I noticed you joined just after ROTF was released in 2009. You must of loved that movie. Do you have an Autobot logo on your car and a Tshirt? Cos i don't.

5FDP was a member here before making his current account. Also a lot of people are fans of Transformers long before joining OTCA. SMHFConvoy's a relatively new member, but I can personally atest that he's been a fan of Transformers for MUCH longer than his join date suggests.

Many new members have a long standing interest in transformers, and they bay films just gave them that extra push to become active in either collecting or the community. Bandwagoning to me would be like new sports teams - where groups of people are following the team because of the hype and they dont really know much about the sport itself

Some (not all) people who identify themselves as Transformers fans are like that. I've occasionally bump into people who parade around in Transformers apparel or have TF badges on their cars etc., and when I strike up a conversation with them about Transformers it becomes abundantly clear thast they don't really know much about Transformers itself (beyond what pretty much every man and his dog would know ).

And you are surprised?

I didn't say that it came as a surprise. Far from it, it was something I was definitely expecting. That's why when news of the live action movie came out (about 10 years ago) I went and hunted down the remaining early G1 TFs that I still needed (all two of them ) just in case the increase in fandom would drive aftermarket prices for G1 toys up. In hindsight I'm glad I did it, because both of the toys that I needed and acquired have since been KOed.

Newer members can't be devoted?

I didn't say that either.

It all depends on whether or not they decide to remain devoted to Transformers or if they choose to quit. Some people may change the nature of their devotion (e.g. become more fans of the comics rather than collecting toys), but they still remain dedicated and devoted to Transformers.

[5FDP]

Many new members have a long standing interest in transformers, and they bay films just gave them that extra push to become active in either collecting or the community. Bandwagoning to me would be like new sports teams - where groups of people are following the team because of the hype and they dont really know much about the sport itself

I agree with your first point however disagree with the analogy of your second.

A friend of mine - from memory he registered here under the handle Optus Prime, has always been interested in Transformers, he just didn't have time to devote himself to an online community such as Ozformers as he was already active in several others.

I wouldn't consider it 'Bandwagoning' for people to start following a new team based on hype alone because at least they were there from the beginning unlike an existing team that has just made the finals for the first time. In a Transformers sense, there were quite a few kids at my school in the 80's that hadn't heard of Transformers and therefore knew nothing of them aside from word of mouth i.e. hype, in the school yard (no internet back then - go figure ). Quite a few of them still collect to this day. I would hardly refer to them as Bandwagoners.

[DELTAprime]

I'm went through a period where most Hasbro's lines since DOTM didn't appeal to me. DOTM was ok, but the line got cut off half way through. The FE line was good but never saw the light of day in most retailers around the world and most PRID toys just didn't seem as good as previous toys since the team that made the older lines got moved to other IP's. I can count on two hands the number of Hasbro releases I've bought since DOTM. But Generations Metroplex is a must have, and I've ordered the Triple Changers and the IDW wave. I just wish they where getting released in Australia.

Takara on the other hand has always had my interest. Fort Max, the Masterpiece line, Alternity and Arms Micron are all far more interesting to me than anything Hasbro did between DOTM and this years Generations releases.

[Trent]

Not sure what your deal is but I'd suggest getting your facts straight before pointing the finger at anyone. I was a member here in early 2006 under the handle S0undwave. Personal reasons and the board being relocated meant that I was absent for a little while. Now go away little man.

I wouldn't consider it 'Bandwagoning' for people to start following a new team based on hype alone because at least they were there from the beginning unlike an existing team that has just made the finals for the first time. In a Transformers sense, there were quite a few kids at my school in the 80's that hadn't heard of Transformers and therefore knew nothing of them aside from word of mouth i.e. hype, in the school yard (no internet back then - go figure ). Quite a few of them still collect to this day. I would hardly refer to them as Bandwagoners.

So anyone that became a fan because of the movies, which would easily qualify as the peak of the hype surrounding the TF franchise, these people are somehow beneath you in your perceived fandom hierarchy?

I know it probably wasn't your intention, but that is how those 2 posts read.