Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 28, 2009 10:15:45 GMT
I'll be going on my third annual trip to Toy Fair in London tomorrow. I might have given it a miss this year, as I already have the details for all the potential new suppliers I'm interested in, but for the fact that there will be lots of new Transformers and G.I.Joe items to be seen, with the films coming out this year. I have to make a decision today. I've avoided looking at any Revenge of the Fallen toy photos, as I don't want to see spoilers and want to be surprised by what I see on the big screen. I'm going to see them tomorrow anyway (barring anything unforeseen), so do I wait for the pleasure of seeing them for the first time tomorrow or do I do a bit of research today ahead of the fair?  Reports to follow, obviously. I'll need to be in Cardiff for a 6am coach and won't get back there till 11.15pm.  |
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Post by blueshift on Jan 28, 2009 10:30:59 GMT
Ooh totally jealous. Let the Toy Fair be your first exposure to them, it is always more exciting that way than just getting poorly transformed pics from hong kong sites
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Hero
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King of RULES!
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Post by Hero on Jan 28, 2009 11:10:44 GMT
Jealous too brah.
I hope you write up a report, Nigel. Have a great time!
===KEN
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Post by blueshift on Jan 28, 2009 11:34:03 GMT
Stuff a camera in your crotch and unzip your flies to take photos. The perfect crime!
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 28, 2009 16:30:39 GMT
My decision's been made for me. Lots of things have gone wrong today so I haven't had and won't have time to do research. Time to suppress my fanboy-response-mechanism again...
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 30, 2009 10:39:27 GMT
I had to sign a non-disclosure form to see Hasbro's Transformers and G.I.Joe rooms, sorry.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 30, 2009 11:35:14 GMT
Didn't stop other people out there from spilling the beans ! See the 2005 boards inc TFTM2 spoilers |
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Post by blueshift on Jan 30, 2009 12:43:58 GMT
What would you rate it on a scale of 1-10?
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 30, 2009 13:40:18 GMT
That doesn't mean that I will. Two wrongs do not make a right. Perhaps the 2005 members do not have the same principles that Hub members too.
Actually, that first post was in part just to tease people. In the words of the great Bugs Bunny, ain't I a stinker? I can say some things without breaking the agreement. Hasbro did have a very few Transformers and G.I.Joe items outside the main rooms, presumably for the benefit of those not able to enter, or not that interested in, the closed rooms. (Which had Group 4 security on them, by the way.) There was a Deluxe Class Bumblebee on display, both in and out of the packaging; I assumed at first that this was a straight repackage but on closer inspection it appeared to be a new toy, with a gun arm. There was also another robot, which appeared to be Megatron; this was a good inch or more shorter than Bumblebee, but from the amount of parts, it appeared to be Deluxe Class. Curiously, Hasbro had no Animated nor Universe on display, though they are in this year's catalogue. There were a few Marvel Crossovers on display - two Hulks and a Spider-Man that are already available; and also a couple of Star Wars, again already available - a Jedi Starfighter and General Grievous, the latter actually just a mockup, with the packaging now in red rather than last year's Clone Wars blue. As I've mentioned there being G.I.Joe outside their main room, I will add that these were just the 3.75" Baroness and Heavy Duty in their packaging (and I think there may have been another, I'm not sure); these were nicely detailed and articulated, with plenty of accessories.
Outside the Hasbro stand, I was a bit disappointed at the lack of licensed products, though I will be going to Spring Fair next week, which covers a wide range of markets and I would expect to see more licensed products there. I found one company that is distributing products in the UK by Singapore-based PopBox Collectibles. These are the same as their products for the first film - 3D fridge magnets (I sell these, so you may have seen them), patches, coins - but now blind-packed in foil packets. (Which is a bit daft as you'd be able to feel which it is through the packaging.) GB Eye continue their poster range with new releases; Re:Creation repackage their 3-D character keychains and revise the Optimus Communicator keychain; and OzBozz, who I think did the skateboards and scooters for the first film, will be releasing yo-yos, laser balls (giant marbles, like the Ben 10 balls recently released) and a playtent that I believe can be set up in different ways. That was all. Mind you, I couldn't find any licensed items at all for poor G.I.Joe.
Now we get to play a game. I'll give you a report of the Transformers room, but I can't say what I saw, so you'll have to fill in the gaps yourselves, like Blankety-Blank. A No-Prize goes to the funniest!
I was surprised to find that Hasbro's Transformers room was about half the size of the 2007 room for the first film and there were strangely few toys on display. I think there are usually more unveiled at New York than London, so perhaps they are being held back for that next month. (I also have other speculations; I'll write a non-Transformers Toy Fair report later or on the weekend and mention them there.) I don't like spoilers, so for those of you who are envious of my visit, you make take solace from the fact that I was unable to avoid seeing the video being played as I entered, which included a scene with BLANKS and an animatic of what I assume was the BLANK involving an impressive BLANK and several BLANKS. (Fortunately, I appeared to have missed most of the video and managed to largely ignore the former scene. Ironically, the video in the GI Joe room, for which I was less bothered about spoilers, wasn't playing.) As for the toys, unsurprisingly there will be some BLANKS and BLANKS in addition to the BLANKS, with releases in the BLANKS. The BLANK class BLANK was shown in robot mode and looked impressive, largely due to detailing. I was surprised to see BLANKS. There will, of course, be more BLANKS, with an expansion including BLANK and more BLANK vehicle modes. On the subject of BLANKS, there was a BLANK that included one; according to the Buyer's Guide, this will be released in an assortment with the Star Wars equivalent. I liked the BLANKS, as the BLANK gives an extra level of play, though it does mess up the BLANK system. The most notable traditional Transformers toy on display was BLANK, which was very BLANK; also on display was a BLANK so perhaps there will be BLANKS released. On display were the now-obligatory BLANKS and BLANKS and new toys in the form of BLANKS and nice but somewhat strange BLANKS, together with a BLANK, rather inticingly in BLANK with BLANK; these new toys should bring new customers into the brand.
If you don't want to play, try the 2005 boards, as Phil says, but beware of spoilers.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 30, 2009 16:31:33 GMT
One thing I forgot to mention is that, quite surprisingly, it seems there will not be new Top Trumps for Revenge of the Fallen.
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 30, 2009 18:09:30 GMT
Nigel said:
'I don't like spoilers, so for those of you who are envious of my visit, you make take solace from the fact that I was unable to avoid seeing the video being played as I entered, which included a scene with MONKEYS ON SCOOTERS and an animatic of what I assume was the PYRAMID FORMATION involving an impressive AMOUNT OF SQUIRRELS and several SLIGHTLY CONFUSED DUCKS. (Fortunately, I appeared to have missed most of the video and managed to largely ignore the former scene. Ironically, the video in the GI Joe room, for which I was less bothered about spoilers, wasn't playing.) As for the toys, unsurprisingly there will be some CHEESE and WINE in addition to the SAUSAGES, with releases in the MAJOR BRANCHES OF ASDA, NOT SURPRISINGLY. The NOT TOO BRIGHT class OF INTREPID ELEPHANTS was shown in robot mode and looked impressive, largely due to detailing. I was surprised to see ELEPHANT MAN-THINGS. There will, of course, be more VACANT EXPRESSION FANBOYS, with an expansion including HYGIENE SKILLS and more EASILY ACCESSABLE vehicle modes. On the subject of PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BASEMENTS CALLED BILLY-BOB, there was a SMALL HOUSE that included one; according to the Buyer's Guide, this will be released in an assortment with the Star Wars equivalent. I liked the BUNK BEDS, as the EXTRA SLATS OF WOOD gives an extra level of play, though it does mess up the 'WHO GOES ON TOP' system. The most notable traditional Transformers toy on display was THE ACCOUNTANT MASTER, which was very GOOD AT BEATING THE CREDIT CRUNCH; also on display was a PAIR OF Y-FRONTS WITH THE FACE OF MEGATRON ON THE FRONT so perhaps there will be WOMEN'S FRILLY KNICKERS released. On display were the now-obligatory HANDCUFFS and OTHER ASSORTED BONDAGE GEAR and new toys in the form of STRANGELY FAMILIAR ROBOTS and nice but somewhat strange GI-JOE TOYS WHO SNUCK IN THROUGH THE BACK, together with a RATHER FABULOUS NUBILE YOUNG WOMAN, rather inticingly in A VERY SMALL BIKINI with A WANTON EXPRESSION; these new toys should bring new customers into the brand.'
-Ralph
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jan 30, 2009 18:32:10 GMT
Hey, you didn't say you were going, too.
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Post by legios on Jan 30, 2009 19:08:44 GMT
That doesn't mean that I will. Two wrongs do not make a right. Perhaps the 2005 members do not have the same principles that Hub members too. Your willingness to stand by your word there makes you rise in my opinion, even as those who are less willing to do so fall. Have some exaltation for your honorable stance. Karl |
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 31, 2009 20:55:39 GMT
Doc's a genious. An Evil genious, but genious non the less.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 31, 2009 20:56:29 GMT
That doesn't mean that I will. Two wrongs do not make a right. Perhaps the 2005 members do not have the same principles that Hub members too. Your willingness to stand by your word there makes you rise in my opinion, even as those who are less willing to do so fall. Have some exaltation for your honorable stance. Karl Yeah, good on ya, Nige! |
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