Favorite recent TF gimmick

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:07 am

Now, I'm of the opinion that the transformation itself is enough of a gimmick, but Takara/Hasbro don't seem to think so. Out of the latest gimmicks, which ones do y'all prefer? I like the Force Chip features on the Galaxy Force TFs, but let's hear what you guys have to say...

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:23 am

I think the Powerlinx idea was the most ambitious. Even though a lot of people didn't like it, the idea of multiple TFs being interchangable with one another adds a whole lot to the play value for the kids.

And STILL managing to pull off some good figs while having to incorporate alt/torso/leg modes was a great job by the designers.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:51 pm

Energon's Powerlinx is okay, but I preferred the Minicons 'cos you got a little extra robot (some of which weren't bad).
Is the GF 'chip' thing just the same as Minicons that aren't robots? It just seems like the same gimmick to me, but only less so.

Like was just said - robot transforming to something else should be the main gimmick, but as so many other toys have that 'becomes something else' ability these days, poor old TFs need an edge. Pity really.

Cyclone_X · Post by **Cyclone_X** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:10 pm

Autobloke wrote: Is the GF 'chip' thing just the same as Minicons that aren't robots? It just seems like the same gimmick to me, but only less so.

yup, the same without the extra robot, thus pretty lame, as kids tend to lose smaller items (like force chips) and there are no 'force chip packs' like with Minicons in case you lost one

I would be happy with no general gimmick, just a TF with something extra that fist that character alone, kinda like the Beast Era, there they had special thrid modes, springloaded gimmicks or just a sweet transformation, I'm happy with that

but what do kids really want? anyone here has kids that play with TFs and willing ot give their opinion?

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:42 pm

Minicons were great, the powerlinx ability they activated were generally rubbish though.

My little brother loves minicons, combining, force chips and energon crystals, it would seem that maybe Hasbro and Takara are getting it right?

Post by **Best First** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:20 pm

Minicons were est, but ironically that was also the worst line.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:40 pm

It would have been better if the Minicons that were partnered with TFs were character-specific - the fact that ANY Minicon could activate the hidden extras was a bit of a disappointment to me. Then again, kids are genetically obligated to lose the damn little things so I suppose there was no choice and they had to be interchangable.
That said, my friend's son (I got him started on TFs - he's eight years old) has a few TFs, but he breaks and loses everything in minutes. He not only lost Energon Hotshots instructions almost immediately, but one of his arms as well!
But as for whether kids appreciate the gimmick of Minicons or not isn't certain - he'd come 'round my house to bug me about something, but only bring the TF and NOT the Minicon partner, so I guess it wasn't as important to him as the bigger transforming toy. Either that or he'd already lost the Minicon. Kids eh?

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:54 am

That's a good point about the Superlink stuff, Shanti. Some of the Energon stuff is pretty decent. And a lot of the Microns are pretty badass, especially for such tiny TFs; I must like them, seeing as how I've got over 100 of the little buggers. There's just something about the Force Chip gimmick that I dig, can't really explain but I think it's cool. The design/scuplting on the Force Chips, especially the leaders and unique characters (Vector Prime's chip comes to mind), is one of the things I find appealing.

Speaking of Force Chips, from the in-package pix of 'Cybertron' TFs I've seen, it appears that the chips don't have much by way of paint compared to the Galaxy Force versions. Eh, just one more excuse for me to buy imported...

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:53 pm

Imports are the way to go with most TF stuff these days it seems. Those Japs have the nicest bookets and extras with their toys compared with Hasbro's lame attempts.
As for the Galaxy Force chips, they just look a bit weird and out of place on the figures. Also, there isn't usually somewhere to store them on the 'bot that doesn't activate the special feature. Perhaps I don't want Starscream's blades out all of the time. The most I can do is slot the chip in just enough to secure it, but not all the way to spring the mechanism. Of course, you just know that it'll get loose and fall out after a while. If only there were other connect points like with Armada. Or have I missed them?
I also noticed a little block/notch on SS's chip that fits snugly into the slot - are these the same on all the chips or is this a character specific difference ie. one chip works with only one robot?
I haven't unpacked my GF Optimus yet, but I'll check and find out for sure.

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:11 am

The plug-in part of the Force Chip is the same for all of them, so any Chip will work with any GF TF. It's the design that's different, between the planets (Earth, Speedia, etc), and the unique characters.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:14 pm

Neo Challenger wrote:The plug-in part of the Force Chip is the same for all of them, so any Chip will work with any GF TF. It's the design that's different, between the planets (Earth, Speedia, etc), and the unique characters.

Pity. Also, I looked all over my GF Optimus Prime and there aren't any slots to just store the chips. The Prime one gets in the way if I store it in its usual slot and I'm afraid I'll chip the paint off it as it knocks against the rest of him while being transformed. Anyone found a place on him (and GF Starscream) that can be used to store the chips safely out of the way when not in use?
By far my biggest beef with the Galaxy Force gimmick is that GF Prime has hardly any features to activate, and what there is is rather pedestrian. Look at Armada Prime's special features: lights, sounds, loads of spring-loaded stuff, hatches and connection points, and of course that 'self-transforming' trailer section. Once more I think Armada beats Galaxy Force for better gimmicks - at least on the Optimus Prime. That said, did anyone notice how the special features got less and less on the later Armada toys - until it was just one rubbish one? If you were lucky.
Also, what's the point of GF Starscream's missile launcher? He really doesn't need it with those swords, so I just left it with the box.

god · Post by **god** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:03 pm

i prefer complex transformation,over any other gimmick

i hate gimmicks, including sound and light

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:25 pm

god wrote:i prefer complex transformation,over any other gimmick

i hate gimmicks, including sound and light

Amen

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:52 am

That's for sure, god. Car Robots certainly fit that bill, and some of the BW II and BW Neo TFs are fairly complex as well.

And Autobloke, some of the GF beast TFs seem to have a place to hold the Force Chips, but the first batch of GF stuff doesn't. Guess we'll see if the Chip holders are a feature of newer GF TFs or just a few.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 1:39 pm

Neo Challenger wrote:That's for sure, god. Car Robots certainly fit that bill, and some of the BW II and BW Neo TFs are fairly complex as well.

Those RID Autobot brothers gave me some hassles. I can tell you. And fitting BW Megatron back into his T-Rex mode was a struggle too.

Neo Challenger wrote:And Autobloke, some of the GF beast TFs seem to have a place to hold the Force Chips, but the first batch of GF stuff doesn't. Guess we'll see if the Chip holders are a feature of newer GF TFs or just a few.

I suppose I'll just have to be patient then. Perhaps Hasbro will amend the early molds when they come to the US/UK. Although, probably not.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:09 am

Minibots. But I suspose the TF's in amarda often sucked ass.

metalhead24 · Post by **metalhead24** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 2:39 pm

So... um... where on the net can I get some of the GF figures?

...I r dum.

Cyclone_X · Post by **Cyclone_X** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:02 pm

metalhead24 wrote:So... um... where on the net can I get some of the GF figures?

at every major online toystore, like BBTS, Digital toys, HLJ, ...
or ebay

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:16 pm

Jetfire wrote:But I suspose the TF's in amarda often sucked ass.

Sorry, but I can't work out if this was a positive or negative opinion.
Also, apart from the actual transforming aspect of the toys, surely the best and most long-running gimmick has been combining. It's still done in the GF line - especially now Prime HAS to combine with his trailer by law. Energon was all about the combining love and Armada had powerlinking (and Minicon combining). In fact, all the lines have had some form of combining. Even early G1 if you count Soundwave's cassettes slotting into his chest. Even without that, combining has to be the most prevalent gimmick in the TF history. It's certainly a favourite with the toymakes 'cos it means we have to buy at least TWO figures to get the full value from our toys. And I just love the mechanics involved with making the toys combine (well, except Energon Grimlock and Swoop).

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:11 pm

TBH, the only recent gimmick that's appealed is poseable figures with realistic alt-modes... the homages in Energon were also welcome.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:17 pm

Denyer wrote:TBH, the only recent gimmick that's appealed is poseable figures with realistic alt-modes... the homages in Energon were also welcome.

Energon homages were indeed cool. If only Downshift had been called Wheeljack (he was called it once in the Dreamwave comics). The Scorponok and Shock(wave)blast homages were brilliant too. And the Megatron/G1 Galvatron. And don't forget Unicron - I nearly WET myself (okay, not really - but it COULD have happened).

Not sure if poseability is a proper gimmick, but we're certainly grateful for it .

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:27 pm

And I just love the mechanics involved with making the toys combine (well, except Energon Grimlock and Swoop).

Yeah, E-Grimlock and Swoop has set the benchmark for a festering pile of craptastic crapitude.

Didn't really think of combining TFs as a gimmick, but that's a good point, Autobloke. Of course, not only does any version of Optimus have to combine with his trailer (we have the Powermaster version to thank for starting that trend), he has to combine with at least one other TF, though it's usually two.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:32 pm

And now GF Prime will have interchangable arms.

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Favorite recent TF gimmick

What is your favorite recent TF gimmick?