The Soapbox V: What makes a good Transformer?

[Kyle]

I'd been thinking about it a bit more since the advent of the Alternators. For where the car panels end up in robot mode, there's just far, far too many moving parts on some of the designs.

Transformation should be FUN. Transforming a BT or AT just feels like a chore... (with constant fear of scratches or damages.) I see them more as collectors pieces rather than "real toys".

[TheDirtyDigger]

Transformation should be FUN

Definitely. I gave my boy who's 4 my Macca's Tf's (Armada, Energon, Animated) for a bit of fun and soon he had his sisters timing how long it took for him to transform them. At last check he was down to 2 and a half seconds on Armada Prime.
He's a beast.

[jgon2098]

the box

[Rampage]

the box

lol

being made between 1984-1987 helps

[Golden Phoenix]

the box

Yes, we all love a good box

[Geminii]

I think a transformation is most clever when you have to move X piece here *while* moving Y there. It's more common and comparatively simple to just move X piece here, before you can move Y piece there.

I'd almost see "X requires simultaenous Y" as a design failure, myself. Then again, I don't like most automorphs (or at least the ones where doing it manually will break it).

[blackie]

Yes, we all love a good box

i most certainly do ;P

[GoktimusPrime]

Most Hasbro boxes have sucked since 1995/6 IMO. (-_-)

[TheDirtyDigger]

Most Hasbro boxes have sucked since 1995/6 IMO. (-_-)

I think the Cybertron series ones are very pleasing (although would be better if they were actually box shape) as well as Universe 2.0.

[Lint]

I have to mention Durability. I remember a time when breaking a toy was an inevitability.

These days I find transformers a lot more durable and 'fool-proof'. While this is partly due to advances in plastics I have to commend the engineers behind modern toys for their design. It's a blessing for both collectors and children.