The Soapbox VI: Don’t like Gimmicks? Start dealing with it.

[The Scream Man]

i tend to agree with Goktimus; when fans say "No gimmicks" they mean "No gimmicks that detract from the toy".

Animated Starscreams Auto transform was kind of cool I thought. DIdnt get in the way, was kind of cool.

Animated Leader Bulkheads non turning head with electronics: THAT annoys me.

[Sky Shadow]

This is an appropriate "Did You Know?" for this thread. (And keep them coming! It's rare to find such a worthwhile sig.)

And re: the new 'Did You Know' ("In G1 there were two women who have had romances [with] Transformers: Astoria Carlton-Ritz and Charlene.") Astoria and Powerglide have a romance but not Cindy Newell and Ultra Magnus? Not Carissa Carr and Skullgrin? Not Marissa Fairborne and Sky Lynx? (Okay, scratch that last one. And I guess Arcee and Daniel don't count either since Daniel's apparently not a woman.) So what makes a romance? And was there no inter-species romance at all in Japanese G1?

[GoktimusPrime]

Eeehhh... I've personally never seen the relationship between Cindy and Ultra Magnus to be a romantic one - more like really good friends - ditto Carissa and Skullgrin. Astoria-Powerglide and Charlene-Skids was different in that there seemed to be a more emotionally intimate bond between those couples. But is it love?

With Powerglide and Astoria I would say that it was love because they care very deeply for each other unconditionally... to the point that they were both willing to sacrifice their lives to protect one another. Charlene and Skids had a strong attraction between them based on deep caring for one another (similar to the romance between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in The Phantom Menace). Skids' dream where he sacrifices himself to protect Charlene demonstrates a deep sense of affection/love for Charlene. Although Skids and Charlene did break up in the end, I think that there was a noteable level of romance between them when they were together.

And was there no inter-species romance at all in Japanese G1?

None that come to mind. The only romances in Japanese G1 I can think of are:
1/ Minerva and Cancer - an unspoken attraction, but it's between two humans.
2/ The Victory Decepticons and their wives and children. But this is of course between Decepticons, so again, not inter-species.

Not Marissa Fairborne and Sky Lynx? (Okay, scratch that last one.

And scratch Marissa and KISS Play Convoy - or KISS Play period. The KISS Play girls don't appear to have any strong romantic emotional bonds with Transformers, but are required to kiss them as a plot device. Yeah, it's weird.

[Paulbot]

Goktimus you may wish to consider starting an ongoing thread where you log your trivia so people can comment on it there? Sky Shadow's post makes little sense now that your sig has changed again. And the last two posts aren't on topic.


Back on topic:

I like some gimmicks, I dislike some. I won't deal with it though

As others have said Transforming it self is a gimmick and plenty of one.

Although I dislike it when an Action Figure is marketed on it's weapon/accessories, I do prefer it if the gimmick is something separate from the main toy (and can be disregarded). Action Masters was the most extreme case of this, but in Cybertron for instance I prefered those toys where the Cyber Planet Key worked on the robot's weapon (Override, Ransack etc) over ones where it was built into the toy.

As for the growth of electronics? Flashing lights don't interest me (and they lead to absurb things like Powerglide's flashing breasts) but sound effects (done well) do. The Animated Bumper Battlers and the the Leaders are nice because they have the 'real' voices which is a nice touch, rather than random jet or car noises. The inclusion of the transformation sound effect is also a great touch. If they could get every Transformers to make that sound when it was transformed I wouldn't complain.

[GoktimusPrime]

I always take a Transformer with me whenever I go out ('cept to work or training). Earlier this week my wife and I went out for dinner and I was picking a TF to take with me... I thought of Powerglide, but the orange boobs made me change my mind - they're so embarrassing! I might take him out if I'm just going shopping maybe... but not to a restaurant. :/

[TheDirtyDigger]

I always take a Transformer with me whenever I go out

Haha..that's funny as! Is that a habit/ritual you've continuously done since you were a child? I used to take a Lego knight or spaceman with me wherever I went as Tf's were a bit too big but I'm sure Seaspray and Cliffjumper accompanied me on some youthful adventures.



Ok ok...on topic: I agree with the general consensus and arguments put forward by the majority of posters in this thread. It's pretty logical.

[GoktimusPrime]

Haha..that's funny as! Is that a habit/ritual you've continuously done since you were a child?

Not really, it's only something I've done since uni. About 10 years ago I realised that I had enough Transformers that I could bring a different Transformer to uni every day. So a lot of my friends (and some of my tutors) were interested in seeing my "Transformer of the day" on campus. It became a habit to have a Transformer on my desk whenever I was in a lecture or tutorial... like a mascot.

[Lord_Zed]

Eeehhh... I've personally never seen the relationship between Cindy and Ultra Magnus to be a romantic one - more like really good friends - ditto Carissa and Skullgrin. Astoria-Powerglide and Charlene-Skids was different in that there seemed to be a more emotionally intimate bond between those couples. But is it love?

I would think the length Cindy went to save Ultra Magnus was pretty intense in terms of risk taking and mutual sacrafice, and then there was the fact she even dreamed about Ultramagnus. I personaly can't see any big difference between them and Astoria-Powerglide. The Cindy-Ultramagnus bond to me was at very least as strong. Although how one defines a relationship between a human an a sentient alien robot is open to conjecture.

[STL]

I think that when people say "gimmicks" they tend to mean "gimmicks that detract from the toy" but perhaps they're too lazy to specify that.

Let's face it, making a robot transform into a car, animal, object etc. and back again is a gimmick in itself!!

Not that I disagree with you. But I think the point of this Soapbox has been missed. The point is gimmicks, good or bad, are entirely necessary and aren't precisely new. We as a fanbase really need to get over it and accept that fact. Properly executed or not, gimmicks are needed to differentiate classes and prices and complaining about Hasbro's lack of good design is immaterial. Their objective is to incorporate this extra gimmick to justify a price point or bring out some other aspect that can become a selling point. IE. Activators or Bumper Battlers.

The point of this Soapbox wasn't to delineate between good and bad gimmicks or how gimmicks should be done but to emphasise that like it or not they are part and parcel of Transformers. We need to look beyond our own incessant whining as fans about poor gimmicks and accept them as a commercial and practical reality.

[roller]

The Soapbox VI: Don’t like Gimmicks? Start dealing with it.

you want me to deal with it huh?! eh?!!!! Dont hide in there, i know your in there!!!

i dont like to deal with things, im notoriously lazy

plus, after the breakup you know, its like a pasta, you eat it, you like the sauce, but you keep some for tommorow