Something that bugs me about the new Prime toys. Options

[Bug-Saw]

Prime and Megatron are suppose to be the main draws of every TF toyline, but their TF: Prime: RiD toys are made from a lot of transparent plastic which will probably crack and break within two years. To me, that kind of makes it feel like Hasbro isn't planning long term with this toyline. It kind of feels like Hasbro expects kids to get bored of Prime long before they end up breaking the toys of the two most important characters.

[NightViper]

And then in two years when the toys break, the kids have to by another representation of Optimus and Megatron. Whereas if the toys remained intact, kids would have a lot less strong inclination to buy more toys of those same two characters.

Seems like they are looking at the long-term to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

[Pony of Merak]

I don't think that's exactly what's going to happen. Plastic formulas on toys are different nowadays, and have different mechanical properties. I was fearing that my PCC caliburst was going to bite the dust early beacause he's comprised almost entirely of transluscent plastic. and god knows I've fiddled with the litlle bugger's arms and powerlinked him to nearly half of my collection but he's still solid. his transluscent plastic and PCC pinpoint's seems to be a just a liiiitle gummier than the old energon clear-tinted gunk, and maybe that helps the figures lifespan somehow.

[Esser-Z]

None of my BM toys have broken and they're covered in clear plastic.

[Nyarlathotep]

The clear plastic is actually rock candy.

[Gunrage]

The clear plastic is actually rock candy.

Say goodbye PCC Minicons.

[Pony of Merak]

most of my BM stuff is okay but sadly that wasn't my case with BM Mirage. I bought him twice and bot times the shoulder pins were too tight , and the clear pieces broke, starting with a teeeensy crack. same with my Movie 1 Jazz sword cannon. I don't know if it's the weather here or anything, but some older toys plastics feel really stiff and not flexible at all compared to the new ones: My movie 1 legends movie barricade arms feel more fragile than his DOTM Cyberverse counterpart. Even a peg broke while just transforming him! but nothing happened to his DOTM self while doing the same thing.

This post has been edited by Pony of Merak: Feb 14 2012, 10:41 AM

[Bug-Saw]

his transluscent plastic and PCC pinpoint's seems to be a just a liiiitle gummier than the old energon clear-tinted gunk,

I did notice this with the Animated toys. The transparent plastic seemed to become more flexible when the temperature was warm and didn't feel quit as brittle.

[Benbot]

To me, that kind of makes it feel like Hasbro isn't planning long term with this toyline.

I don't think they're planning short-term with this toyline either.

[Pony of Merak]

his transluscent plastic and PCC pinpoint's seems to be a just a liiiitle gummier than the old energon clear-tinted gunk,

I did notice this with the Animated toys. The transparent plastic seemed to become more flexible when the temperature was warm and didn't feel quit as brittle.

DOTM roadbuster small back windows have this same feel you describe , in fact, except for the green plastic used for the car shell, he seems mostly made of a semi-fleshy plastic of sorts. it makes it hard for him to hold some of the mech tech weapons since the thumb bends and provides no solid grip, but is a minor inconvenience because of the forearm ports and the 3mm bars close to the hands.

[Cheetimus Primal]

his transluscent plastic and PCC pinpoint's seems to be a just a liiiitle gummier than the old energon clear-tinted gunk,

I did notice this with the Animated toys. The transparent plastic seemed to become more flexible when the temperature was warm and didn't feel quit as brittle.

That's physics for ya!

[Dake]

Aside from plastic being a bit different and seemingly better now - a two year play pattern is probably about all Hasbro aims for with "average" kids. Maybe three at most. Don't forget, we are the anomaly in the equation. The target audience for say, Transmetal Megatron was not expected to still be tfing him fifteen or even ten years later. It sucks that he snaps at the waist now if you're not careful, but he met and exceeded his planned lifespan.

[Destron D-69]

yeah its not like the idea was ever for people to still have massive collections of the things for their grandkids to come over and look at all mint on card and graded.

[CORVUS]

Aside from plastic being a bit different and seemingly better now - a two year play pattern is probably about all Hasbro aims for with "average" kids. Maybe three at most. Don't forget, we are the anomaly in the equation. The target audience for say, Transmetal Megatron was not expected to still be tfing him fifteen or even ten years later. It sucks that he snaps at the waist now if you're not careful, but he met and exceeded his planned lifespan.

Transmetal Megatron thinks he's G1 Mirage!

[Guest_MagmatronPrime_*]

And then in two years when the toys break, the kids have to by another representation of Optimus and Megatron. Whereas if the toys remained intact, kids would have a lot less strong inclination to buy more toys of those same two characters.

Seems like they are looking at the long-term to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

Moral questions about designed-to-fail products aside...

I'm pretty sure Hasbro would have to go even further down hill if they can't put out a better Prime and Megatron figure than the Prime line's figures. In fact, considering the absurd availability of Prime 1st edition... you know what? Never mind. I've got laundry I could be doing, and nails I could be clipping, and phone books I could be reading. All of which are far more interesting than talking about transformers these days it seems. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-screamer.gif)

This post has been edited by MagmatronPrime: Feb 14 2012, 09:35 PM

[Dake]

And then in two years when the toys break, the kids have to by another representation of Optimus and Megatron. Whereas if the toys remained intact, kids would have a lot less strong inclination to buy more toys of those same two characters.

Seems like they are looking at the long-term to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

Moral questions about designed-to-fail products aside...

I'm pretty sure Hasbro would have to go even further down hill if they can't put out a better Prime and Megatron figure than the Prime line's figures. In fact, considering the absurd availability of Prime 1st edition... you know what? Never mind. I've got laundry I could be doing, and nails I could be clipping, and phone books I could be reading. All of which are far more interesting than talking about transformers these days it seems. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-screamer.gif)

One really has to stretch to state Hasbro is guilty of planned obsolescence. These aren't real cars and planes - they're plastic toys for what, ten to twelve year olds? I mean, I know we're all crusty and bitter that Hasbro hasn't done what we specifically want them to but one teeters on the brink of conspiracy theorists if one believes Hasbro actively designs toys to self-destruct in a couple of years. If that's truly the case they're actually doing a pretty lousy job considering the few that go bad compared to the many many MANY that do not.

And hey, if you're really that disappointed in Prime I've got great news for ya - there will be something new in a couple of years! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

[Professor]

I dislike the clear plastic because I don't think it looks good. Prime's arms just look weird.

[The Doctor Who]

I dislike the clear plastic because I don't think it looks good. Prime's arms just look weird.

This. I would be a lot less adverse to the RiD Prime if his arms wasn't so translucent. I mean, it looks like a neat gimmick, but yeah...

[Database]

I always worry more when its used as joints. The biggest contributer to this is E Demolishor. I don't know about others, but trying to move his elbows was always extremly stiff, and after few years, both elbows crumbled into dust. I've never had much problem with it when used otherwise. But It makes me always cuatious about my Animated Swindle as he has a lot of transparent joints.

[Esser-Z]

My Demolishor is fine, too!