Studio Series discussion
- Thread starter Paladin
- Start date
As always it's a chicken-and-egg situation, but I miss when Hasbro would be able to have a solid design that they could then slap additional ideas or gimmicks on to, rather than (perhaps) the budget being able to accommodate only one of those interests. Engineering and material that enables one thing pulls away from another.
The moving side bits on the train are nifty and actually novel. But I'd trade those for a less weedy robot mode in a heartbeat. Then again, I'm just assuming that tradeoff went down that way.
This is notable for being an Astrotrain with the most distinct, solid altmodes that don't have a lot of the other hanging off each. I appreciate that a whole lot and I am very impressed. But I usually display things (when I can) in robot mode, and that's weak enough on this to make me think twice about it.
The moving side bits on the train are nifty and actually novel. But I'd trade those for a less weedy robot mode in a heartbeat. Then again, I'm just assuming that tradeoff went down that way.
This is notable for being an Astrotrain with the most distinct, solid altmodes that don't have a lot of the other hanging off each. I appreciate that a whole lot and I am very impressed. But I usually display things (when I can) in robot mode, and that's weak enough on this to make me think twice about it.
To be fair, that was when Hasbro was willing to compromise on the base design and wasn’t completely restricted to replicating prior (often, ”reality challenged”) designs from decades ago. I’ll probably die on the hill that Hasbro made better products when they weren’t “restricted” to recreating prior media designs.
We’ve seen in Cyberworld the joyously crazy concepts being free(er) from the past provides. Imagine those designs and concepts being allowed the budget of Generation….
Counterpoint- that era also saw them being utterly unwilling to do basic stuff the fanbase wanted. Like... no I don't need everything to replicate G1 designs to the letter... but I also love that we can do Diaclone Ironhide and not need some bs justification to fit into whatever the current thing is.
There's a trade off, is what I'm saying.
I just want them to use modern altmodes again. The 80's transformers series used contemporary sportscars and military vehicles of that era, stuff you could conceivably see on the road or the news. In contrast, Generations/SS86 use vehicles that'll be drawing pensions pretty soon.
Maybe once they finish the 84-86 cast in Generations.
Jk, they'll just do them again with even less detail.
Maybe once they finish the 84-86 cast in Generations.
Jk, they'll just do them again with even less detail.
And taller by just enough to "justify" remaking everyone else by that same margin.
I'm of two minds on this.
On one hand, yeah, that would be really cool. There's no reason the Seekers shouldn't be F-35s, for example.
On the other hand, late 70s/early-mid 80s cars are kind of my jam.
You mean besides the F-35 being an unstylish bore?
It's quite possibly the most advanced fighter jet on the planet.
Like... the F-15 may have a GOAT'd K
ratio that will never be topped... but there's no reason why the Seekers would choose F-15s over F-35s for their alt modes, aside from OOC nostalgia.
Unless they first arrived/awoke on Earth in the 1980s, of course (which some modern fiction still maintains as backstory info when the action is set in the present day of the 21st century).Like... the F-15 may have a GOAT'd K
You'd think they'd want to upgrade though! Like... I wouldn't trust a F-15 in a fight with a F-22, much less a F-35.Unless they first arrived/awoke on Earth in the 1980s, of course (which some modern fiction still maintains as backstory info when the action is set in the present day of the 21st century).
Plus... from Hasbro's perspective... they're going to run out of ways to make F-15 Seekers eventually so might as well find a new design to milk!
Funnily enough, IDW1 had them arrive on Earth in the mid-2000s, and Starscream took a F-22 alt mode, which was then the most advanced jet around. It made sense!
And then All Hail Megatron happened and suddenly he's a F-15, which is a massive downgrade in terms of hardware. Why? GOTTA HOOK NEW READERS WITH NOSTALGIA, BRO!
I have no idea why I just assumed Vince Russo was working for IDW.
This just makes me want the Timelines line to dip into making the four of them classic cars. It'll be retro on multiple levels, from the vehicle choices to bringing back Go-Bots or Alternators.
Modern/contemporary altmodes would be interesting too (again, like Alternators was for its time, or even the Bugatti at one point), but more for some categories than others. I look around at the stuff I encounter when driving and I have zero desire to see that in toy form. And if we never get a Cybertruck it'll be a gift.
Modern/contemporary altmodes would be interesting too (again, like Alternators was for its time, or even the Bugatti at one point), but more for some categories than others. I look around at the stuff I encounter when driving and I have zero desire to see that in toy form. And if we never get a Cybertruck it'll be a gift.
I'm glad alt modes are stuck in the 80s. I don't want to see a bunch of boring crash-safe bubble cars. I can't tell them apart.
Or worse: A cybertruck.
I do like the 16-bit 3D look.
While I wouldn't want to see it replace all the sportscars and pickups, I think a Cybertruck wouldn't be too bad. It's not pretty but if you slap some Tron lines on it, it could pass for a RID 2015 altmode.
This is why I keep my old phones around.
Oh, sure, call me out...
Frankly, it wasn't that robust.
For a mighty hunger?
Maybe you need glasses?