Toys Then and Now

[DELTAprime]

I'm somewhat dismayed at the rise of loot box toys. These parents are buying toys up to around $80 for their kids that they don't know what is inside.

I've seen parents buy these stupid things for their kids then have the kid hurridly open it once it's paid for only to have the kid start crying because they already own the toy.

It's like a pokie machine for kids, sometimes you hit the jackpot and get the toy you want, sometimes you get the same toy you already own three of.

What's wrong with knowing what's in the box before you pay for it?

[Autocon]

I'm somewhat dismayed at the rise of loot box toys. These parents are buying toys up to around $80 for their kids that they don't know what is inside.

I've seen parents buy these stupid things for their kids then have the kid hurridly open it once it's paid for only to have the kid start crying because they already own the toy.

It's like a pokie machine for kids, sometimes you hit the jackpot and get the toy you want, sometimes you get the same toy you already own three of.

What's wrong with knowing what's in the box before you pay for it?

Greed.

[shockNwave]

I'm somewhat dismayed at the rise of loot box toys. These parents are buying toys up to around $80 for their kids that they don't know what is inside.

I've seen parents buy these stupid things for their kids then have the kid hurridly open it once it's paid for only to have the kid start crying because they already own the toy.

It's like a pokie machine for kids, sometimes you hit the jackpot and get the toy you want, sometimes you get the same toy you already own three of.

What's wrong with knowing what's in the box before you pay for it?

The best (and ethical as well) loot boxes I know of are the $5 TF Botbot ones.

[kovert]

Evolution of Hasbro Star Wars figures. Modern articulation with better detail and finish. I didn't bother featuring earlier versions of AT-AT Commander/General Veers because the current 6 inch version is probably the best version (premium format such at Hot Toys aside). The Black Series 6 inch figures, especially with face printing technology, are better representations of the characters than the ones in 3.75 inch form.

[Autocon]

^ how do prices compare?

[kovert]

Back in 1995, 3.75 inch Star Wars figures (five points of articulation) were priced at $8.99 at Toys R Us. In the mid 2000s, 3.75 inch figures were priced at around $14.99 or more. Now, the 3.75 inch figures are priced at around $24.99 or more. Back in 2014, the 6 inch figures were priced at $34.99. The 6 inch figures are now priced at around $39.99.

Prices in AUD and at RRP.

[drifand]

If we are talking from Transformers POINT OF VIEW, I feel it became worse than 10 years ago. Materials are bad, Quality control is bad, paint is lacking, lot of cut corners using holes in plastic.
There used to be a time I am wowed, and I am not talking about just masterpieces, just decent good transformers. I used to ignore 3p figures completely, now I dont.

I also think Toys today are drive by Fandom. It blinds the majority completely whenever a toy is badly made is been "Justified", in complete denial.
Whenever someone points its flaws or stating is at ridiculous prices, it is purely DEFENDED, and justified.

Toys today for collectors are marked up, plus the ridiculous hype of exclusive and Fear of Missing Out causing a toy going up 2 to three times higher than what is actually is.
Companies such as Bandai make "exclusives" as an excuse to justify a high price when an regular is like 1/4 of the price cheaper.

I no longer enjoy collecting toys as an hobby, I feel some people have taken this on board way out of hand and are spending way too much. I seen people spending more than they earn. Give yourself a reality check, How much were you spending 5 years ago on toys, and compare how much are you spending in just a month now. You be in a real shocker.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I no longer enjoy collecting toys as an hobby

Really? But every post I read from you is so upbeat and positive - I would have never have guessed

I also think Toys today are drive by Fandom. It blinds the majority completely whenever a toy is badly made is been "Justified", in complete denial.
Whenever someone points its flaws or stating is at ridiculous prices, it is purely DEFENDED, and justified.

Yes, like the great 'paint decline' of the Masterpiece line, it's always the rest of the Fandom's fault isn't it

I feel some people have taken this on board way out of hand and are spending way too much. I seen people spending more than they earn. Give yourself a reality check, How much were you spending 5 years ago on toys, and compare how much are you spending in just a month now. You be in a real shocker.

Who? Who have you seen doing this? Are you being literal? Are there really OzF members that are going increasingly into debt with their bank and/or credit cards because they are spending more money on toys than they actually earn? Do they still buy food, clothing, transport?

If we are talking from Transformers POINT OF VIEW, I feel it became worse than 10 years ago. Materials are bad, Quality control is bad, paint is lacking, lot of cut corners using holes in plastic.
There used to be a time I am wowed, and I am not talking about just masterpieces, just decent good transformers.

Toys today for collectors are marked up, plus the ridiculous hype of exclusive and Fear of Missing Out causing a toy going up 2 to three times higher than what is actually is.
Companies such as Bandai make "exclusives" as an excuse to justify a high price when an regular is like 1/4 of the price cheaper.

I no longer enjoy collecting toys as an hobby

Dude, all jokes aside, I remember writing a genuine response to one of your posts like 3 years ago, suggesting that if you don't enjoy TF's then there are a million other hobbies and interests out there that you may enjoy more. It's 3 years later and you are still bitching about how you don't like the hobby - WHY ARE YOU STILL DOING IT THEN?!

Seriously man, for your own mental health, find something you like to do more.

We all know that Beast Wars was the big game changer, but even then things continued to be a mixed bag. BW gave us loads of incredible figures that forever changed the landscape of toy design, but it also gave us some questionable toys like Retrax etc.]

The only big game changer it was for many of us was it put us off buying TFs for years because we didn’t like organic looking alt-modes and weird looking animals hybrid things

I know from the hundreds and hundreds of posts you’ve written about it that you love Beast Wars and you are more than welcome to do so, I like it well enough myself. But you really do give it too much credit. Like when you said Transformers wouldn’t exist without Beast Wars and I pointed out that RID(01) was actually what brought many of us back into the fold.

In this case I don’t reckon Beast Wars was THE big game changer - but it’s fine if you do. Just don’t speak for the rest of us. Personally BW marked the lowest point in my toy collecting over the past 35 years.