How much of G1 would you like to see done as CHUG toys?

[Paulbot]

And from that list, many have CHUG toys including:

Shuffler
Shouki
Artfire (w/ Nightstick)
Stepper (w/ Nebulon)
Soundblaster (w/ Buzzsaw)
Metalhawk (primemaster)
Godbomber
Overlord (w/ Mega & Giga)
Super Ginrai
Minerva (titanmaster)
Grand Maximus
Kakuryu (United EX)
Drillhorn
Guyhawk
Hellbat
Jallguar
Killbison
Leozack
Deszaras
Black Shadow
Star Convoy
Road Police

[GoktimusPrime]

I embrace a lot of the older characters getting new figures, because a lot of the (now really old!) CHUG figures are starting to lose their lustre. Hell, some of those toys were themselves repaints and simple retools. Though getting to every nook and cranny of G1 is super cool and inevitable, I think having more definitive versions of existing characters (and just having more options really) is just as important, especially as the fandom expands. After all, if we’d stopped when a character first got represented, we’d be still stuck with the Springer repaint of Cybertron Evac, or Classics Voyager Megatron!

I definitely understand the desire to see "proper" CHUG toys done of previous toys that were repaints of moulds that just didn't work (e.g. Earthrise Cliffjumper etc.) - and there are still a number of toys that have technically been CHUGgified but could really do with better representations (i.e. not ill-fitting reuses of previous moulds) - e.g. Huffer & Pipes.

I don't object to Hasbro revisiting already CHUGgified toys - I did recently buy ER Sky Lynx and sold off my CW Sky Lynx; but on the other hand I held onto my Henkei Ironhide and Lambor and skipped their CW & Siege counterparts. <shrugs> I also skipped ER Wheeljack as I'm perfectly content with my United Wheeljack, even if he is a shared mould with Tracks (and I'm not saying that this always has to be a thing).

I guess I would prefer if HasTak prioritised characters who've yet to be CHUGgified first and then come back and revisit the already CHUGgified characters at a later point. Yeah, I really do want a better CHUG Huffer and Pipes, but I'd like to see a CHUG Hubcap, Sureshot, Pointblank etc. done first. Having said that, I wouldn't say no to a better CHUG Huffer or Pipes if they released them sooner either. For me, if they release a new CHUG toy of a character that's already CHUGged then it's a "maybe" for me, but if it's a new incarnation of a character that's never been CHUGged before, then it's a definite purchase. With rare exceptions like Grand Maximus because I just don't have the damn space for that thing!

[Tha_Phantom]

I guess I would prefer if HasTak prioritised characters who've yet to be CHUGgified first and then come back and revisit the already CHUGgified characters at a later point.

If I had a dollar for every time I read this. It's not just you Gok, I've seen a few people repeat this sentiment.
The thing is, we will eventually get all those obscure characters I'm sure, but Hasbro also need to keep doing the ones that will be guaranteed to sell (your Primes, your Megatrons, your Starscreams, etc). We've been very fortunate to get things like CHUG combiners, clones, Allicons, Impactor, Powerdashers, Etc.
You yourself aren't a fan of the previous CHUG Cliffjumper as it's just a red Bumblebee, but technically it's a CHUG Cliffjumper, right? Likewise, I'm not all too impressed with some earlier CHUG figures such as Sunstreaker (either version of him) and am much looking forward to Earthrise. The other thing to keep in mind is people are coming and going from the fandom every year and may not have gotten previous versions of these characters. So there are many good reasons to keep giving us options of the more popular characters while also giving us more obscure characters.

[Paulbot]

The other thing to keep in mind is people are coming and going from the fandom every year and may not have gotten previous versions of these characters.

Good point. There are 13 year old Transformers fans today buying Earthrise Cliffjumper and Astrotrain who were not born when the first CHUG versions of those characters were on the shelf.

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually, upon closer analysis they are doing a near half half split nowadays between "old" and "new" CHUG characters. Although there is a 'size bias' with the smaller/cheaper end having many more "new" CHUG characters vs toys on the dearer/bigger end of the scale. We have lots of CHUG Micromasters now but seeing whole new big boxed toys come out in CHUG is not so common. And yes, I will grant that some of these boxed CHUGs are updates of previous CHUGs that bring something completely new to the table (e.g. ER Sky Lynx vs CW Sky Lynx).

Earthrise Wheeljack and Grapple don't interest me, because cosmetic differences aside, they don't bring anything substantially new to make me want to buy them when I already own the previous CHUG toys. I guess if they're going to redo a CHUG character then that toy is going to have to work harder to persuade me to purchase it over the existing toy. Sure, Earthrise Wheeljack and Grapple both do the same basic thing as my United Wheeljack and Grapple; they transform from robots that are immediately recognisable as these characters into vehicle modes which are also immediately identifiable as these characters. Sure, the ER toys have more G1-looking designs, but I don't need my CHUGs to be slavishly G1 accurate in looks (I find that kind of dull); if I want a more G1 accurate Wheeljack and Grapple then I have my G1 Wheeljack and Grapple to scratch that itch! And if I wanted to play with a more cartoon-like Wheeljack and Grapple toy, then I have my Masterpiece to scratch that itch. Basically the toy needs to offer me something that neither the previous CHUG or MP versions offer.

Case in point: Siege Ultra Magnus
This was my third CHUG Ultra Magnus, on top of owning MP Ultra Magnus, but I still bought him anyway. Why? Because that toy does something that no other Ultra Magnus toy anywhere offers. It has a fully articulated autonomous cab robot that can combine with its trailer to become an articulated armoured super robot. G1, Classics, CW, MP... no other UM does this. Just Siege.

So I guess it's all about new CHUG toys scratching a new itch. But if that character already has an existing toy (CHUG and/or MP), then there's a greater chance that this itch has been scratched. Whereas a wholly new CHUG character toy is a no-brainer - just take my money! But yeah, it is true that Hasbro are releasing more new characters in CHUG than before.

I'd just like Hasbro to release more "new" characters for CHUG on the larger and more expensive end of---

...shut. Up. And. Take. My money!

[Tha_Phantom]

Actually, upon closer analysis they are doing a near half half split nowadays between "old" and "new" CHUG characters.

Well there you go, I think that's fair. When people insist on getting only or mostly new/obscure characters I think that's an unrealistic expectation, which I explained above.
I'm happy to skip some of the repeat figures too, since if I have it already in CW then that figure must take priority (since I display my combiners combined together). I was able to make an exception for Sunstreaker because he's a really important character to me. I couldn't for the likes of Hound or Trailbreaker, but at least I was able to get their mould partners that I didn't already have, being Hot Shot and Hoist respectively.
It doesn't bother me at all that they have been redone though. Other people want them so I'm happy for them and I'll enjoy the saving to my wallet.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I've said this a few times elsewhere, but...ideally almost all of it, sooner or later. I don't mind at all if we get an Optimus, a Megatron, a Starscream, and a Bumblebee etc. in every line or two or three. That's what sells, and as a few others have said, it gives people who missed out on previous versions of a character or want to upgrade options to do so without breaking the bank.

But what I'd like to see also is the repaint/remolds of those big-name character toys being used to fill out some of the later/more obscure characters, as well as characters from later series. New Mirage toy? Cool - let's get an Aquaspeeder/Stormtrooper homage there too. New Trailbreaker mold? Sweet - how about a CHUG Armada Red Alert, or this guy? They don't have to be perfect homages, just a new head/chest/whatever will usually do. Same thing for the alt-mode and size-class/price-point - near enough is good enough.
To be fair, Hasbro/Takara have gotten better at this sort of thing lately. I'd kind of like it extended a little bit more is all, maybe including some of the less Bayverse-y designs in Studio Series etc. as well.

[Bidoofdude]

I suppose things can be quite frustrating between camps with the split of new updates and first time updates. Obviously I think a lot of collectors who have been in the game for ages and can afford to do so would prefer a continuous quick stream of those 87-93 obscure characters to just finally get it done. Padding out can also be a reprieve though for people like me, since a lot of close together releases I want mean I’m gonna struggle to get them all! It also caters to those new fans previously mentioned by Tha_Phantom.

It’s definitely not without its problems: it took almost 5 years to get just the 1984 seekers from the original classics mould (blood from a stone), and some figures like Eject from the TR Rewind mould never even got made, which still makes me very angry- the switch to micromaster cassettes makes it pretty much impossible we’ll ever see one, bar something like the Bumblebee movie sneaking in a Frenzy repaint from Rumble.

They seem to be doing a generally better job now, with all the major seekers getting made in the same year or so. We can only hope that better care is given to satisfying all those facets. Some things like the Siege Skywarp disaster still have me wary.

[Deano85]

Still waiting for them to retool the Earthrise Cliffjumper into Bumblebee.
I don't have a CHUG Bumblebee, so that would be useful.

Funny when there's too many bumblebees we complain, but when we actually want a new bumblebee they hold out on us haha. I definitely want an Earthrise Bumblebee too. Cliffjumper is great.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Still waiting for them to retool the Earthrise Cliffjumper into Bumblebee.
I don't have a CHUG Bumblebee, so that would be useful.

Just FYI, there are a few various CHUG Bumblebees for sale in the saleyeards if you look through it.