Igear Bumblebee

[gdmetro]

Saw this over at tfw:

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-...-igear-170767/

Seems to take a VW design, using a classics bbee head- which IMO is way too small.

Normally I am quite open to 3rd party items, but this just left a bad taste.

[Hursticon]

I wonder if Volkswagen will notice this at all? and if they do, would they launch action to have it canned?

Based on the fact that it looks like it is going to have a farely accurate VW Beetle (New Version) Alt Mode, I reckon they could have grounds but then again, I guess it's not like it's going to get a mass retail release or anything?

[SkyWarp91]

Real thing:
http://www.volkswagenautosinfo.com/w...w-Beetle-2.jpg
Toy:
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-...1287605980.jpg

For starters the toy doesn't have the VW logo on the front and those circle indents on the front bumpers medial to the lower lights. Also the wheels are different Wonder if that's enough to get away

[Hursticon]

Wonder if that's enough to get away

Are you being sarcastic dude?, I'm not being an ass, I'm genuinely asking - are you?
(Need More Emoticons! )

IMO, what you've listed there is way not enough difference.
A hubcap here, a front bar relocating lights there - even the lack of the VW logo is still not enough difference I reckon, you can still blatantly tell that it's a VW Beetle.
Compare it to the Classics version - yes it's clearly a small hatchback, but I challenge anyone to name the car he's definitively based off.

Personally, I hate the new VW Beetle - compared to the original, it looks horrible - certainly nothing like what BMW achieved with the New Mini, but even that is no where near as cool as an original Mk.II Mini Cooper S!

[SkyWarp91]

Are you being sarcastic dude?, I'm not being an ass, I'm genuinely asking - are you?
(Need More Emoticons! )

IMO, what you've listed there is way not enough difference.
A hubcap here, a front bar relocating lights there - even the lack of the VW logo is still not enough difference I reckon, you can still blatantly tell that it's a VW Beetle.
Compare it to the Classics version - yes it's clearly a small hatchback, but I challenge anyone to name the car he's definitively based off.

Personally, I hate the new VW Beetle - compared to the original, it looks horrible - certainly nothing like what BMW achieved with the New Mini, but even that is no where near as cool as an original Mk.II Mini Cooper S!

Yeah I was being sarcastic lol.

What about ROTF Sideways? His Deluxe toy isn't the same as in the movie but to me it was recognizable as an Audi R8 even though there were differences in the boot and paint apps.

What IGear is doing is probably illegal, regardless of the trivial changes (I'm no lawyer lol) but in the end what can you do about it? The company wants to make illegal toys so let them and if VW want a law suit they can have a one but they should ask themselves this time around - 'why are people doing this type of thing? should we just co-operate with Hasbro and license VW Bumblebees again instead of having to sue these 3rd party companies?'. (I'm not asking you directly Hursti I'm just thinking out loud )

Too many corporations nowadays have too much pride that they're willing to sacrifice the satisfaction of their consumers so that they can look like an almighty power that has control over people (in this case - VW saying 'you want a VW BB? - How about NOOOO'). I understand these businesses do need to be seen with a degree of prestige and dignity in order to be respected but there's a point when it just gets ridiculous...

[SkyWarp91]

Back to the toy, the thing that I don't like is where the pieces end up in robot mode. The rear of the car forming the chest? If it's trying to replace the Classics BB as a better homage to G1 BB it's not off to a good start considering that G1 Bumblebee and Classics BB both have the top of the car forming the torso. And they could have at least done it using the original VW Beetle model.

Also look at this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G96gxvrHqr...1Bumblebee.jpg

HAHAHAHAHAH

[jaydisc]

I reckon that is Classics Bumblebee's head.

[Hursticon]

Cheers for the clarification Skywarp91, I'm thinking about putting it to the requests thread for more emoticons - too many arguments occur I reckon purely out of misinterpreted text.

I too agree that if their setting out to produce a better Classicsverse Bumblebee, assuming that's their intention, then having the arse-end of the car as Bumblebee's chest is definitely a step in the wrong direction.

I reckon that is Classics Bumblebee's head.

Looks pretty 1:1 huh?

[iceburn]

simply said: iGear sucks

[Tallestblue]

All this does is remind me what might have been.