The Soapbox V: What makes a good Transformer?

[GoktimusPrime]

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.

Compared to Galaxy Force and Henkei? (language differences aside)

[TheDirtyDigger]

Compared to Galaxy Force and Henkei? (language differences aside)

Yeah Henkeis are nice but not as nice as Universe/Classics 2.0.
Galaxy Force to my untrained, Western-bred eyes really look like KO boxes to me. I'd imagine they look completely different to someone with an understanding of the Japanese script.

[GoktimusPrime]

Visual/cosmetic differences aside, one thing that I much prefer about Takara's packaging over Hasbro's is when it comes to carded figures; Takara's carded TFs usually have bubbles/blisters that can be removed without damaging the card because they're not glued on! They have wrap-around tabs which are sealed with sticky tape. Once you cut through the tape, you can remove the bubble to access the toy. If you want to display your figure on card, you can stick the bubble back on. You cannot do this with Hasbro's figures because their bubbles are glued on and you have to either tear or cut them open with a knife - and even then, you are permanently damaging the bubble so there's no chance of putting the toy back inside.

And I cannot see how Hasbro's glue-on bubbles are necessarily cheaper or more cost-saving that Takara's. And the cost of using more tape would be negated by money saved on not using glue! As for preventing shop-lifting, again, a well taped up bubble wouldn't be on par with a glued-on bubble in terms of deterring theft. A shop lifter would have to break through all that tape to get to the toy - which is what they would have to do with a boxed toy anyway.

I should ask this question in the Hasbro Q&A thread.

P.S.: Then in 2005 Hasbro started using half-glued bubbles (I first noticed them on the Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith toys)... where the sides of the bubble wrap around but the top and bottom are still glued on - which entirely defeats the purpose of the wrap-around tabs on the sides in the first place, so why bother doing it?!?

[jaydisc]

While Takara's packaging is definitely easier to preserve after removing the figures, Henkei packaging looks like Loud KO packaging. Hasbro Classics, Universe and Animated are superior in aesthetics and design, especially for the MISBers among us.

[GoktimusPrime]

Aesthetics is a difficult thing to argue since it's very much based on people's personal tastes, hence why I decided to sway toward the line of practicality. Another thing that bugs me about Hasbro packaging is the immense waste of space/cardboard... they're so bloody needlessly oversized. As a result I throw out most of my Hasbro boxes. I know other people choose to flatten them, although some of the Universe boxes look hard to flatten. It's such a cheap way to make the toy look big on shelves - but you can easily see that 50% of the box content is air... :/

[jaydisc]

hence why I decided to sway toward the line of practicality.

Another area of Takara fail. Henkei deluxes cannot be displayed sideways.

[GoktimusPrime]

What do you mean by "displayed sideways"? I'm guessing you mean either:
1/ The toy inside the bubble is displayed at a diagonal angle, rather than perfectly horizontally or vertically.
2/ The packaging cannot be displayed on its side, front or back.

If so, to that I would say:
1/ Carded Universe figures are also packaged-displayed at a 45 degree angle.
2/ Henkei figures can be displayed on its side, front or back. Although I have no idea why anyone would want to display a carded figure like this.

...this sounds more like an issue of visual aesthetics rather than functionality though, unless I have interpreted your statement incorrectly.

[jaydisc]

Dictionary.com defines "displayed" as:

To exhibit ostentatiously; show off.

And "sideways" as:

with a side foremost or facing to the side

HENKEI
Nothing to see here (and come to realize it, a bit wonky. They don't really stay level):



UNIVERSE and ANIMATED:
MUCH better.

Although I have no idea why anyone would want to display a carded figure like this.

As someone that seemingly does not keep anything MISB or have packaging on display, I did not expect you to.

...this sounds more like an issue of visual aesthetics rather than functionality though, unless I have interpreted your statement incorrectly.

Yes, I did say aesthetically:

Hasbro Classics, Universe and Animated are superior in aesthetics and design, especially for the MISBers among us.

However, upon closer inspection, the Henkei deluxes have a varying forward lean as well.

[dirge]

I don't see too many wanting to display their stuff sideways...

[jacksplatt11]

Dictionary.com defines "displayed" as:

To exhibit ostentatiously; show off.

And "sideways" as:

with a side foremost or facing to the side

Haha, Nice one, I get it...