The Random Transformers Thoughts Thread

[GoktimusPrime]

Shinjuku Tokyo has major hospitals, so I'm seeing Ratchets all over the place,

I've been inside a Japanese ambulance! They have loudspeakers where the driver announces that there is an ambulance approaching an intersection and for other traffic to please yield. Of course they also use the siren, but they politely ask drivers to give way as well. And I've never seen a Japanese driver obstruct an emergency vehicle; but admittedly I haven't driven much in Japan.

My brother who's a RFS volunteer has told me that he's had drivers obstruct his fire engine when he's had the siren on.

[Skyfire]

The use of loudspeakers by emergency vehicles is true. I saw that while in a taxi.

I also saw Prowl but wasn't fast enough to get a picture. Shame, as Prowl's livery is iconic and enduring for Japanese police cars.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I've been inside a Japanese ambulance! They have loudspeakers where the driver announces that there is an ambulance approaching an intersection and for other traffic to please yield. Of course they also use the siren, but they politely ask drivers to give way as well. And I've never seen a Japanese driver obstruct an emergency vehicle; but admittedly I haven't driven much in Japan.

My brother who's a RFS volunteer has told me that he's had drivers obstruct his fire engine when he's had the siren on.

Ambulances in Japan seem to be less well equipped than ones I've seen in AU. Not that I've been inside many....
As for Japanese drivers never obstructing an emergency vehicle.... Yeesh, I see it every day. Had one instance where I was a pedestrian waiting for the pedestrian light to change and an Ambulance comes up sirens going and loudspeaker dude telling everyone he wants to turn. Pedestrian light comes on and all the people walk across, and the ambulance waited for them to cross. I was the only one who waited for the ambulance.

I was a tad shocked at that episode.
Japanese always follow the rules (except when they don't)

[Paulbot]

Have been thinking recently about Optimus Prime...

If you only collected Optimus figures (including Primals) your TF collection would be very red and blue, but it'd also be extremely representative of the diversity of 40 years of Transformers toy designs.

Three G1 figures with a Diaclone, a *master gimmick and an Action master. A new figure in each era of the Beast Wars toy line. Toys that represent the designs and gimmicks of RID2001, each part of the Unicron Trilogy and every Movie line. All the various Generations size classes from Legion to Commander (no titan yet but Command and Roll Out Animated Prime is a big boy). Versions from the toylines from Animated, Prime, RID2015, Cyberverse and the video games. Three different MP versions reflecting three different MP eras and some Binaltech and Alternity in the mix too. So many movie gimmick toys. And that's not to count the random items like pens, shoes, hats, playstations, cameras, etc.

Pretty remarkable that one character can capture so much history.

[JJJ]

The triumph of marketing. And now Hasbro are locked into perpetually churning out that same damned character over and over and over again.

[GoktimusPrime]

The triumph of marketing. And now Hasbro are locked into perpetually churning out that same damned character over and over and over again.

It's also dependent on what people are willing to buy. Hasbro keeps on using the same tired-old characters ad nauseum because they know it sells, especially Optimus Prime.

e.g.
+ Canon camera Optimus Prime - okay, they also did Reflector, but why also Optimus Prime? The answer to my own question comes from the fact that I have noticed that the Optimus Prime toy sold faster than Reflector. It sold out on The Gamesmen's website long before Reflector. I bought Reflector but skipped Prime.
+ Volvo VNR Optimus Prime - why is this not Huffer? Oh, because Optimus Prime sells. Granted I bought this toy too.
etc.

Also, how well are new character toys selling vs known characters? I personally love buying new characters, like Axlegrease, Crashbar etc. Although there are some that I skipped simply because I just didn't like the toys or concept; e.g. half of the Fossilisers and the current Legacy Infernac Armourisers (or as I call them, "Flintstoneformers"). I do appreciate that Hasbro are giving us new characters, and I do hope that these toys sell well, but they're not for me.

I did buy Legacy Skar, who was the only Core Class Legacy Dinobot that I bought, because I really don't care about having combining Dinobots - I already have the Dinobots as Deluxe CHUGs and I'm one Swoop away from having them as Studio Series Leaders... I don't need the set again as Core Class figures. But as Skar is a new character, I happily gave Hasbro my money for one. Not only that, but only the third Ankylosaurus Transformer after Beast Wars' Bazooka and Robots in Disguise Slapper (repaint of Bazooka, not the Predacon... so not confusing). Also happily bought Cloudcover and G2 Sandstorm etc. and other new characters based on abandoned concepts or prototypes etc. I skipped most of the other Toxitron range like Sideswipe & Dorito Jazz because they're just new versions of existing characters. I did get Laser Cycle, who's based on an abandoned toy for Jazz, because her name's not Jazz. tfwiki's listed her as a Jazz toy (and I understand why), but to me, she's a new character. And yes, I've head-canonised her as female, since she's using the Legacy Prime Arcee's body (Legacy Road Rocket's is also female, despite the original G2 toy being male). I have no issue with Transformers changing genders, it's an entirely social construct for their species anyway. I just prefer Laser Cycle being a unique character. I have more than enough CHUG Jazz toys.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

It's also dependent on what people are willing to buy. Hasbro keeps on using the same tired-old characters ad nauseum because they know it sells, especially Optimus Prime.

I think it is also because the same old characters require the least amount of effort in advertising. Optimus and G1 has heaps of history and advertising behind it. A new Transformers series and new characters requires effort (=money) to get to a likeable level.

Optimus has that in spades for free!

[Jaxius._]

Have been thinking recently about Optimus Prime...

If you only collected Optimus figures (including Primals) your TF collection would be very red and blue, but it'd also be extremely representative of the diversity of 40 years of Transformers toy designs.

Three G1 figures with a Diaclone, a *master gimmick and an Action master. A new figure in each era of the Beast Wars toy line. Toys that represent the designs and gimmicks of RID2001, each part of the Unicron Trilogy and every Movie line. All the various Generations size classes from Legion to Commander (no titan yet but Command and Roll Out Animated Prime is a big boy). Versions from the toylines from Animated, Prime, RID2015, Cyberverse and the video games. Three different MP versions reflecting three different MP eras and some Binaltech and Alternity in the mix too. So many movie gimmick toys. And that's not to count the random items like pens, shoes, hats, playstations, cameras, etc.

Pretty remarkable that one character can capture so much history.

It is funny, all these optimus's and we have almost all of them with 'modern' toys. If Hasbro continues their 'Prime a year' thing with legacy (or whatever future lines are called) we only have 3 or 4* to go, Energon, alternators, PMOP and Fall of Cybertron. You could argue they can do Prime, RID15 etc but at that point you are up to modern day and then what? Perhaps it's time for some more 'new' Prime designs.

But it is a fun idea we have these all done in the same design philosiphy.


*I'm not including Bat Primal, Action Master or real niche ones like G2 Go Bots here because some of them are real pipe dreams (that i would still buy)