Commercialisation

popebenny16

You may have seen my thread where I'm looking for a specific transformer.

Ah this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me.......

Looking at the links posted in that thread I was brought right back to the old BHS store in O'Connell Street Dublin in the mid-80's when Transformers first started (I see from Rozies post on another Thread that they're regarded as Gen-one nowadays) as there were photographs of those very toys.

What i see from reading this here forum is that there are some "spin-offs" from that time and the like, but do you think that those are being done just to empty your wallet or to explore the "universe"?.

I'm asking not because of Transformers, but Power Rangers! Again my lads are mad into them and now there is Power Rangers Mystic Feckin Force on Jetix, which means more Magazords, more this and that, just after we have had Power Rangers Dino Thunder (oh how Smyths loved me last Christmas) and SPD in the one year.

It pretty obvious that the Power Ranger francise is simply the same old stories, just a new twist, a few new gadgets and sixty euros for the latest megazord.

Do you fear that Transformers (I think there's two ranges on sale at the mo as well as Star Wars Transformers - huh?) may go down the same ally?

Amazing to think that over 20 years later I'd be wandering up and down the aisles looking for more transformers, just goes to show you cant keep a good thing down but what if it gets too good and in the advent of the movie you suddenly see a new incarnation on the telly every six months or so?

Would it ruin the Magic? I have to admit that I think the magic has been lost with the Power Rangers and as they were originally of the same era (sort of) and I would hope it dosnt happen here.

Lets face it, sixty euros is a lot to splash out on the latest incarnation of Optimus Prime.

projectmayhem

well transformers always was, and always will be a commercial venture. remember the toys were simply a way to both promote and make money off the tv show. same as power rangers today.

i think the reason transformers is such a big deal even today is that those storylines were genuinely good, interesting & appeal to kids and adults... so the saga continues. but it's a business idea first and foremost. it's there to make money, even if they get the best writers for the tv show and the comics. if it made no money, it wouldn't exist.

popebenny16

Well, that's correct, and I'm taking that as read, but I think that at the moment, TF is ok commercially but if it got as bad as Power Rangers is getting now would many fans be turned off?

There was a good gap in activity between the old Power rangers stuff and the glut of new programmes and associated merchandise and so there's a clear divide between those who remember PWer Rangers from their orignal serials and those who are into the new stuff. I dont think there is that gap with transforners, as readin the posts here tells me that everyone is pretty well clued up on history, the variations and the like. Would that fanbase start feeling a little peeved off if there was a new cartoon series every six months and a new range to go with it, thats what I'm getting it.

Dominatorx

Generally there is a new ranger show every 12 months (we wont see mystic force here till feb) where as with transformers its more like 18 months between series.
With power rangers the quality of the television seems to increase as the years go by(just finished watching the mystic force series via download and its rather good) transformers the last few shows have been awfull (Im looking at you energon) whether this is attributed to the fact that they were produced in japan or not remains to b seen. The next tv show transformers: heroes is being produced in the states so i guess that will answer that question