Upcoming G1 Hasbro reissues

[TheDirtyDigger]

We don't want a similar scandal like in the 80s were kids were loosing their eyes by the millions from small spring loaded missiles and long smokestaks. A whole generation of kids ended up crippled in those days we still see those Gen Xers all scared and mangled to this day from their unsafe transformer toys.

I actually found the story last night of why the toy safety/missiles/springs things occured in the U.S.
Apparently in, I think, 1979, one child choked to death on a missile fired from a Battlestar Galactica toy. I'm sure I bookmarked it at home and will post a link later.

I just hope the Insecticons come with chrome guns.

[Adzma]

Aw it's good news and bad news. Good because the idea of buying G1 reissues locally is always a fun prospect. Bad because they'll have nerfed missles and no chrome. Bittersweet.

[kup]

I think the Nerfed missiles are a more likely prospect than lack of chrome. Hasbro could not possible be dumb enough to release reissues without chrome knowing that there is a better Takara/TakTom release out there. They should have already learned from the debacle that were the Commemorative Reissues that were denied chrome and nerfed vs the Takara Book reissues.

[GoktimusPrime]

It was a Battlestar Galactica Viper to be precise. And these laws are nothing new to Transformers - that's why in the 1980s, early G1 Transformers with missile launchers had intentionally weakened springs. They were only intended to hold projectiles in place but not to fire them. Although the Japanese reissues have strengthened launchers, the originals were never like that.

The basic test for launchable missiles is that they must be no shorter than a container of film. If it can fit inside a film container then it's considered to be a choking hazard. The other alternative (as we've seen) is to newter the launcher so that the missile is no longer a missile (launchable projectile). I prefer the newtering of launchers over lenghtening missiles. It doesn't effect the visual aesthetic of the toy. The counterargument is that they're not as fun to play with - but let's face it, the majority of people interested in G1 reissues would be adults rather than kids. And hey, none of our G1 TFs' missiles could launch properly when we were kids anyway!

I much prefer Takara's approach where they just market the toy exclusively to 15+ mature collectors which exempts them from child safety laws. But for whatever reason it's clear that Hasbro cannot or will not take this path, so for them I'd prefer to see newtered launchers and more visually accurate reissues.

...but of course, child safety has no bearing on their lack of CHROME. (-_-)

[roller]

the shinyness of the chrome might blind a poor child

[GoktimusPrime]

...meanwhile middle-class and wealthy kids are immune. <bada-boom-TISH>

[TheDirtyDigger]

...but of course, child safety has no bearing on their lack of CHROME. (-_-)

I've heard from the horse's mouth (and as we all can attest) Hasbro have a smaller paint budget per figure than Takara.
I guess Hasbro just aren't making enough money from Transformers.

is to newter the launcher so that the missile is no longer a missile (launchable projectile). I prefer the newtering

Haha I'm hoping you meant neuter!

[Adzma]

I much prefer Takara's approach where they just market the toy exclusively to 15+ mature collectors which exempts them from child safety laws. But for whatever reason it's clear that Hasbro cannot or will not take this path, so for them I'd prefer to see newtered launchers and more visually accurate reissues.

Well I don't know how it works in the US but certainly here they can market it at people aged 15+ and forget about choking hazards. After all, we received MP Magnus and Convoy with no trouble.

[MV75]

And those were sold in target, not as a hasbro/tru deal.

And yes, as Linthart said in post 6, encore immediately came to my mind too.

[jaydisc]

Comment written down at Hasbro Q & A

Will all have vac metal, Perceptor no missile launcher