Transformers: Age of the Primes Thread: ll First Post All Listings II Update : April 12th, 2027 Bonus Wave: Repaint fun, Beast Wars, G2, Machine Wars

unluckiness

Somehow still sane
Citizen
And hands.

I've tried to learn 3D modeling. It boggles my mind that they willingly start from scratch scratch every time instead of standardizing some things. Custom potential aside, why not save some work?
Since they have to design new forearms and other parts for transformation anyway, they probably find it easier to take measurements and make new attachment points that are relatively simple geometry on the fly rather than dig through archives to find an attachment method then modify it to fit the new design.
 

wonko the sane?

You may test that assumption at your convinience.
Citizen
And hands.

I've tried to learn 3D modeling. It boggles my mind that they willingly start from scratch scratch every time instead of standardizing some things. Custom potential aside, why not save some work?
At moments like this: I am reminded of a quote from MASH.

"It's not that we're better than you, it's just that through sheer repetition we're fast."
 

Rustron

Member
Citizen
And hands.

I've tried to learn 3D modeling. It boggles my mind that they willingly start from scratch scratch every time instead of standardizing some things. Custom potential aside, why not save some work?
Because it's very difficult to standardize that kind of stuff with a transforming robot, since you're never quite sure how those parts will have to be to end up in the correct configuration for the other mode. Which will also influence materials, which then influences any attempt at standardization in return. And that's without even getting into the colors. 3D modeling is the easiest step of the whole thing. They probably do reuse 3d models though, and then edit them so much they end up looking nothing like the original. Although sometimes (many times) when 3D modeling, starting from scratch IS way easier than reusing something. Specially when you're doing parametric modeling.

Edit: What I mean is, Transformers are so varied in form and function that I can imagine them having like, maybe, a cube with a hole going through it that they use as a base for hands? But then maybe the toy has opening hands! Or a non-five number of fingers. Or the hand has to split in half or do something crazy during transformation. Or they just straight up have non-humanoid hands. And then the wrist connection will be different depending on how it has to work with the transformation. So there's not much room for reuse there beyond that cube with a hole in it, and at that point, you might as well just start from scratch. Or grab the model of a previous figure with similar hands and edit the hell out of it until it's an entirely different hand anyway. And that's assuming they do it entirely on mesh modeling, which I'm sure they don't, because of tolerances and physical production. They probably combine mesh and parametric at some point in the process, but we have no idea of what their modeling pipeline really is like in that aspect.
 
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DefaultOption

Sourball
Citizen
And he doesn't even have lungs. Impressive.
I mean, G1 Prime walked out of a burning building with his optics squinted shut and coughing despite having a mouthplate.

Hacktimus_Prime.jpg

Although it's at least good to see that he was practicing good hygiene and coughing into his arm and not his hands.
 

Agent X

Kreon Bastard
Citizen
Because it's very difficult to standardize that kind of stuff with a transforming robot, since you're never quite sure how those parts will have to be to end up in the correct configuration for the other mode. Which will also influence materials, which then influences any attempt at standardization in return. And that's without even getting into the colors. 3D modeling is the easiest step of the whole thing. They probably do reuse 3d models though, and then edit them so much they end up looking nothing like the original. Although sometimes (many times) when 3D modeling, starting from scratch IS way easier than reusing something. Specially when you're doing parametric modeling.

Edit: What I mean is, Transformers are so varied in form and function that I can imagine them having like, maybe, a cube with a hole going through it that they use as a base for hands? But then maybe the toy has opening hands! Or a non-five number of fingers. Or the hand has to split in half or do something crazy during transformation. Or they just straight up have non-humanoid hands. And then the wrist connection will be different depending on how it has to work with the transformation. So there's not much room for reuse there beyond that cube with a hole in it, and at that point, you might as well just start from scratch. Or grab the model of a previous figure with similar hands and edit the hell out of it until it's an entirely different hand anyway. And that's assuming they do it entirely on mesh modeling, which I'm sure they don't, because of tolerances and physical production. They probably combine mesh and parametric at some point in the process, but we have no idea of what their modeling pipeline really is like in that aspect.
When has anyone let logistics interfere with irrational desires.
 

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Probably pretty often, you just don't hear about it because "someone had an idea but quickly realized it was impractical and therefore didn't do it" isn't much of a story.
Hence the many many casualties in all the Jurassic Park/World movies that could have been averted had those scientists stopped to think about if they should rather than if they could. :p
 

wonko the sane?

You may test that assumption at your convinience.
Citizen
Quintus Prime!

He's... he's green.

Alright, so he's got good proportions, decent range of motion, and the both modes individually (I find, anyway.) look very good. Very organic, even sleek. His spaceship mode looks like a missile, or dart; very fast, almost insectile. There's basically nothing to the transformation, so easy to remember. He poses fairly well: but while his dress looks scholarly and wise: it's largely in the way of the legs, but he's also got a decent center of gravity so he's not hard to stand up or pose.

But, realistically: there's not much here. The outstanding part of this one is the biological styling. Unless you're doing what I am and going after all the primes: you might save some money and skip this one. Sure he looks pretty good pondering his orb, but... to each their own. Don't regret getting him, wouldn't miss him if he's gone.
 

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Quintus should have come with the Oracle.
 

Noip

I'll think of something later.
Citizen
Quintus Prime!

He's... he's green.

Alright, so he's got good proportions, decent range of motion, and the both modes individually (I find, anyway.) look very good. Very organic, even sleek. His spaceship mode looks like a missile, or dart; very fast, almost insectile. There's basically nothing to the transformation, so easy to remember. He poses fairly well: but while his dress looks scholarly and wise: it's largely in the way of the legs, but he's also got a decent center of gravity so he's not hard to stand up or pose.

But, realistically: there's not much here. The outstanding part of this one is the biological styling. Unless you're doing what I am and going after all the primes: you might save some money and skip this one. Sure he looks pretty good pondering his orb, but... to each their own. Don't regret getting him, wouldn't miss him if he's gone.
If you hit the artifact with a black light you get instant Loc-Nar.
 

Gizmoboy

Administrator
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Brawl is in my PoL at BBTS right now. Trying to decided if I'm going to pull the trigger on Nemesis or not before shipping. As stated in a different thread, I want Nemesis, but I don't know if I want her $240 bad.
 

Platypus Prime

Well-known member
Citizen
The only thing left right now that I'd want to preorder is Swindle and Monstructor. Beyond that I think I'm pretty set. Pulse Premium ends shortly, and given life issues I'm unlikely to renew as I probably don't have the budget for much next year, a HazLab is definitely unlikely. I'm still surprised I am this close to Bruticus seeing as I thought it might be a lost opportunity at the start. Liokaiser got cancelled from the waiting room of a doctor's office.
 

LordGigaIce

Another babka?
Citizen
Right now? Onslaught, Swindle, Nexus Prime, and Liege Maximo are the only four things we've seen I'm committed to getting. Everything else will be wait and see.
 

unluckiness

Somehow still sane
Citizen
I’m finishing Bruticus, maybe Shockwave if Bruticus impresses me enough to invest in him and maaaaybe the Matrix. The redos of characters I already have really aren’t getting me.
 


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