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Post by grahamthomson on Jul 9, 2008 9:00:52 GMT
Okay. Say you had a research and development budget of $20,000* from Hasbro to use to design some new Transformers, what would you do?
Which character would you pick? A remake of a classic character or someone new?
What alternate mode would you give it? Something realistic/fantastic/never before seen?
What size would it be?
What features/gimmicks would it have?
Would you design one massive Transformer or a new army of Mini-Cons?
The possibilities are endless!
*I have no idea at all how much it costs to develop hi-eng toys like Transformers, so the figure here is pretty meaningless
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 9, 2008 9:37:22 GMT
A transforming Ark playset. I've been waiting for one for over 20 years, damn it, and my patience begins to wear thin. If I don't get one soon I may have to kill scots Nick. It's not his fault, but that is the extent of my despair. It's just making me lash out at random innocents. I am not responsible for my actions in this fevered state. Come on. Hasbro, make my wish come true OR MORE WILL DIE!
-Ralph
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
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Post by kayevcee on Jul 9, 2008 10:39:25 GMT
There's a transforming Ark coming up in Animated. No word on playsetness, however. Will that get me a stay of execution, or at least enough time to finish upgrading my defenses?
-Nick
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Nigel
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
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Post by Nigel on Jul 9, 2008 11:47:36 GMT
A Nigel-sized super-duper Pretender role-play costume!
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 9, 2008 14:13:27 GMT
There's a transforming Ark coming up in Animated. No word on playsetness, -Nick I'm confused. Do you mean a toy or character in the show? -Ralph |
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Post by legios on Jul 9, 2008 21:25:16 GMT
Well, that is a difficult one - bearing in mind that you stipulate that it is Hasbro providing the budget, and they would want to see a decent return on the money. I don't really have much of a grasp of what sells and what doesn't in the broader US toy market to know what I would do (actually, there is my first step - get data on what has succeeded in the past to guide my decision making).
If it was Takara providing the budget... well, they wouldn't need me - they have already done what I would suggest - get one of the Diaclone designers who went on to greater fame and invite him back to do a pass over a design intended to be one of the "iconic" characters. (The end result when this was actually done being, of course, Masterpiece Starscream.)
If, on the other hand, I had carte-blanche to do as I willed and please myself (as opposed to actually trying to be a commercial success) ...... I would start by hiring either Kawamori or Aramaki, telling them I needed a transformable aircraft robot - and to take their pick of any real-world fast jet for the alt-mode, except that it can't be American(and that it needs to be scaled for 1/60th Arigato Gozaemas). Then I'd ask Bob Budiansky nicely to create a character bio for it, and get it to be colour-modeled such that the fighter mode had real-world colours.
Then it would be released and probably fail miserably at retail... But that is what I would do if I was indulging myself.
Karl
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Post by Mark_Stevenson on Jul 9, 2008 21:40:09 GMT
I'd get some of the 'Transformers that never made it' from Robo-Capers made. Specifically, Pushalong the pram...
Mx
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 9, 2008 23:09:49 GMT
If real-world sales didn't have to factor in, a transforming Spanner space bridge playset based on the Marvel comics space bridge. Also: Figures of Scrounge and Straxus.
Oh, and a smelting pool playset as well.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 10, 2008 6:25:04 GMT
Ooh, I like Mark's idea. A full set of Pushalong, Lamphead, John and the other TFs who didn't make the grade would be excellent.
If I was still into my TF toys, I might otherwise suggest re-doing the original 1984/5 cast of vehicles (i.e. Autobots, Decepticon jets and Constructicons), but all of them to correct scale with one another as vehicles. I dunno, maybe keep Prime his original size and do everything correct scale relative to him. I don't mind if this makes most of them smaller than they were before, if they keep the same level of detail.
Oh, and while we're at it, get rid of the stickers. And give the Mini Autobots clear windscreens.
Martin
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
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Post by kayevcee on Jul 10, 2008 10:59:42 GMT
Animated Straxus. He'd fit right in.
-Nick
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jul 10, 2008 12:36:52 GMT
I'm with Martin. A good scale accurate line of the first few years of Transformers would be an awesome sight to behold.
Andy
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Dezzeh
Thunderjet
Wait, what?
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Post by Dezzeh on Jul 10, 2008 13:18:44 GMT
I would quite like to see an MP combiner actually, now that would be nice!
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Post by legios on Jul 10, 2008 19:02:48 GMT
I think Martin's idea is the best one we have had in this thread. "true scale" versions of the 84/85 cast to a common scale would be a fantastic idea.
There would certainly be an enormous size difference between the Autobot car and the Decepticon jets (with the Jets coming up on the heftier size by a considerable amount).
(It would cause problems for the Constructicons I think - I'm not sure Devestator would be workable if the Constructicons were all the same scale.....)
The idea is a definite winner though.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 10, 2008 19:56:48 GMT
I will admit to being nonplussed by the idea. Scale in Transformers has never really been a concern for me! Still, to each their own!
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 11, 2008 19:13:46 GMT
Good question! I'd prob go for really well designed multi-changers. Prob voyager and ultr sized. I'd do my fave characters (Prime, Prowl, Jazz, Wheeljack, Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave with a Laserbeak, Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp and an independent Ravage -maybe some others as well) in a kinda of super-updated Classics meets multi-changers crazyness. Each would have four, five or six modes with robot modes resembeling their G1 selves and an alt mode similar to their original alt mode, but then different, really cool extra modes like space ships, weapons, tanks, jets, dinosaurs etc etc. It'd be great!
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 11, 2008 20:03:43 GMT
Or!
TRANSFORMERS: GENERATION 3! VEG WARS!
They crashland in an allotment and must disguise themselves as the native organisms.
And they could turn into fruit and vegetables, and have really cool names like Potator, Bananor, Carrotron, and combine into a fruit salad!
And when they fire their weapons, the sound effect would be MU-SHROOOM!!!
And... and... and... they would have little companions that transform into their backsides in robot mode, enabling them to sit down, and these would be called Arsemasters!
And they would have really witty banter, such as "I'll give you five a day, fool!" and "I'll give you a taste of my cauliflower!"
Oh, the possibilities... not to mention inspiring kids to eat healthily.
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 11, 2008 20:20:40 GMT
I would buy that line.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
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Post by Gav on Jul 11, 2008 21:10:38 GMT
MASTERPIECE LONGTOOTH
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 11, 2008 21:12:26 GMT
DAMN YOU!
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Jul 11, 2008 21:29:39 GMT
Muahaha!
Actually, Martin's idea reminded me of an idea i had in college. I'm drawing a new and improved version now, taken from my scrawled notes which were supposed to be for my Photoshop class.
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Gav
Drone
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Post by Gav on Jul 11, 2008 21:34:56 GMT
I can't believe the amount of crap I've got in this notebook:  DEEP FREEZE: HEROIC LEADER OF THE KITCHENAPPLIANCEBOTS - |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 13, 2008 6:45:19 GMT
Sorry, Gav, lew Stringer beat you to it there, with Chiller. See below:    Martin |
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Post by Mark_Stevenson on Jul 13, 2008 9:21:47 GMT
OK, hands up everyone who thinks Hasbro should give Lew Stringer a job RIGHT NOW...
Mx
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 13, 2008 10:20:13 GMT
*raises hands*
-Ralph
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2008 10:34:33 GMT
*also raises hand*
We could also have ones that transform into less than fashionable vehicles like a Citreon 2CV, a Reliant Robin or a double decker bus.
On a more serious note though how would a toy of Emirate Xaaron sound?
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 13, 2008 10:42:36 GMT
I am sure there was a double decker bus from another robot line. I'm sure Nick pointed it out to me once on-line. Looked similar to the Titanic-bot.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Jul 13, 2008 15:29:30 GMT
I don't mind the fridge idea already being out there, because those delicious puns.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jul 14, 2008 12:27:53 GMT
I remember many moons ago I came up with the Housebots - a large team of tiny Autobots that transformed into toasters and the like. Their headquarters were a house.
That's not so far from a comic strip idea I had recently.....
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Post by grahamthomson on Jul 14, 2008 17:16:11 GMT
*also raises hand* We could also have ones that transform into less than fashionable vehicles like a Citreon 2CV, a Reliant Robin or a double decker bus. On a more serious note though how would a toy of Emirate Xaaron sound? Well, there was an Alternator of a Honda Civic which is pretty dull. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2008 16:32:35 GMT
About a couple of years ago I started writing a story featuring transforming robots that transformed into vehicles such as a Citreon 2CV, a Reliant Robin and a Sinclair C5 among others. I never got round to finishing it though.
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