TF Fever

[ren]

Do you believe that the TF Fever is starting to rise again here in our country? Or is just us? Discuss

[ALeX]

tf fever? well so far i haven't seen any children tuggin at their parents to buy tformers toys but that could change. esp when the film and movie anniv dvd comes out

[Chaoz]

i think its starting with the collectors.. as soon as the movie comes out.. be ready for empty shelves etc.. etc... etc.. hahaha

[zephon]

It could be just because Playkit sent over a shipment of TF's with the 6" Titanium Prime and the bendy Prime and deluxe Unicron. If it weren't for Prime, I don't think casual collectors would have been attracted to TF's again. It's the Optimus magic

One can say that there's also a GI Joe Fever with the arrival of a couple of Sigma sets with a couple of Snake Eyes figs and a Destro that instantly became a chase item.

[cmdrjanjalani]

Not yet. It still would take a while. Probably if they start having actual trailers of the TF movie and our local channels are showing the Energon and Cybertron cartoons. I'm sure they would try to do that in the next few months to build up anticipation for the movie. Now it lies with the movie industry to be able to hype Transformers up into epic proportions to ensure its box office success.

Besides each toy shop/section typically has only one to two cases per outlet. That's why they sold out fast because there's not a lot of stock. Playkit and their customers don't want a repeat of the Armada flop they experienced and are fully aware that TFs for now at least, is still a collector toy. That's why there is not a lot of gimmicks being done to promote them.

I personally think that Playkit is already starting to ride the hype around the movie, but know that their customer base is still the collector market. Still this means that Transformers are selling decently. I don't think there's a lot of Cybertron stock left from their previous shipments.

[lastmaximal]

zephon said:

It's the Optimus magic

aka "Optimus is one of, like, four original TFs the casual buyer remembers."

i wouldn't call it a 'fever' or 'craze' at all, mind you, just the typical thing of [show on TV + some toys coming out + rumblings of "ooh, a movie"].

- last "we're certainly not anywhere close to matching sales figures and public recognizability of, say, F4, hee hee" maximal

[zephon]

Case in point: If the current release of deluxe TF's didn't include Optimus (or Unicron), we wouldn't be scampering all over the malls looking for them (well, at least I won't).

I guess you can say the same for GI Joe -- what if the GI Joe Sigma line didn't have Snake Eyes (or Destro)?

[lastmaximal]

then the shelves might not be drowning in Dukes or Hi-techs right now - IF people realized that there are OTHER toys in the line worth checking out.

this is something that has always puzzled me -- Transformers and GI Joe are two toylines with the best characterization and they've always had balanced, pretty-good figures. But people [here in the Philippines at least, since overseas even *collectors* pick up toys of different characters] only seem to want Mr. Bad@$$ or The Leader Guy -- effectively ignoring the characterization and whatnot. fixation on lone entities -- forsaking all else -- shows a need for more growth.

is this telling of the sort of people we/the buyers are? not bothering to identify with the character anymore, just going with Popular Character # 519?

it's beginning to look like we run our collecting the same way we run politics.

- last "this ends this public service announcement" maximal

[ren]

Maybe the trend will be more exciting when we reach the TF classic and the TF movie. I expect that more young and old will patronize TFs maybe better than before.

[Protoform-S]

lastmaximal said:

But people [here in the Philippines at least, since overseas even *collectors* pick up toys of different characters] only seem to want Mr. Bad@$$ or The Leader Guy -- effectively ignoring the characterization and whatnot. fixation on lone entities -- forsaking all else -- shows a need for more growth.

You have to understand that there are collectors here who collect not only Transformers but other lines as well. If a collector would still want to have a TF in his/her collection...what else would he/she get but Prime/Primal/Convoy or the Megatron...since the leaders are present in every TF series.

If Transformers is your main line or your ONLY line, this wouldn't be much of a problem.

This doesn't mean that growth is needed or that we are an "immature" TF collecting community. It shows collectors are being focused and choosy on what they want.

lastmaximal said:

is this telling of the sort of people we/the buyers are? not bothering to identify with the character anymore, just going with Popular Character # 519?

it's beginning to look like we run our collecting the same way we run politics.

- last "this ends this public service announcement" maximal

The latest bunch of deluxes in the malls with the exception of Unicron are all recolors (including bendy prime). It really depends on the person if he/she wants to get them.

I'm a mold completist...and I go only after the molds with the original colors. I generally avoid recolors...especially if they don't even appear in the show. I only make exception with some recolors (building a sentai team of the BMac Jetstorm mold for instance).

Cmdrjanjalani is a completist. He collects everything. ;D

You like the most mundane/obscure TF character and minicons.

It's all a matter of preference.

[lastmaximal]

firstpredacon said:

You have to understand that there are collectors here who collect not only Transformers but other lines as well. If a collector would still want to have a TF in his/her collection...what else would he/she get but Prime/Primal/Convoy or the Megatron...since the leaders are present in every TF series.

well, this is fair and i acknowledge it. i didn't mean to generalize -- there are people who think that way though.

The latest bunch of deluxes in the malls with the exception of Unicron are all recolors (including bendy prime). It really depends on the person if he/she wants to get them.

that is indeed a factor, and could be affecting the current crop of things that are out. the Primeism has been going on for far longer than that though.

and i'm not expecting people to turn completely around and buy everything; i was just shooting for a little expansion. just a little advocacy from this self-confessed [and properly-identified ;D ] obscuro-supporter. Who weeps for Waspinator?

but hey, whether it's Prime or Pipes purchased, TFs sell either way so at the end of the day that's a good thing.

- last "besides, easier marketing" maximal