The Titan series of Transformers releases continues to grow and diversify, with the latest series being “Titan Changers”. The Titan Changers, which were first announced back in March at the Australian Toy Fair, are Titans that transform – they are the Action Master Elites to the regular Titan figures’ Action Masters. Via the Mexican Hasbro Transformers site, we have official images of both the Optimus Prime and the Bumblebee who are presently the only two known releases in this series.
They feature very simplified transformations along with limited articulation, however they are big and are good entry-level transforming toys for younger fans. They are already out in Hong Kong, so a US release is unlikely to be far off.
Metroplex79
I'm looking at these pics again, and I think I see them half of a carrying case.
I would have made these things big and with limited articulation, but you can split them in half, and it'll be like a carrying case for Legends sized figs and accessories.
Afterburner
There are lots of variables that go into the success or failure of anything, but it is pretty easy to tell this line is very generic with little style to offer other than the TMNT mutant Decepticons.
Hopefully we aren't looking at the future of the main line toys here. The fact that they continue to produce more and more kinds of cheap garbage has to be worrisome. TF used to stand for high quality above other lines for the price, but that has been turned upside down. It certainly doesn't appear to have helped sales any.
Murasame
That looks like something you find in a lucky bag.
User_136440
Fair point, there's quite a lot of the AOE Generations stuff left in my local TRU too…
*applause*
Jalaguy
I don't think we know their US MSRP yet, but based on the way they're ordered between Warriors and Three-Steps in the mobile game, it's somewhere in the range $14.99-$19.99.
I'm guessing they're probably $15.
KnightHawkke
Well, they don't have to worry about Kreo anymore, at least not Transformers. Did that Cittyville nonsense even move?
Ribieconvoy
Prime looks okay, but Bumblebee could've used some painted stripes. How much are these again? If they're like ten bucks, I'd say they're not that bad of a deal for what they are. Nothing I'd buy, but if pick one up for my kid if I had one that wanted it.
griffin-of-oz
Just to stoke the fire of hate for these things, some actual toy photos to go with the official images…
(These images from the previous topic, which has more photos in it).
With regular Titans.
Where's the paint?
Sooo hollow.
It's worth noting that Bumblebee is really just a 2-step, as they have padded out an extra 2 steps on the back… including laying it down, which isn't a step for Optimus.
.
Hollywood Hoist
I have never heard any complaints about Duplo as a member of Lego User Group with a large number of members. They complain regularly about Megabloks and Kre-o though.
Nevermore
Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
Hollywood Hoist
And some of those games are still being played today… by kids. It's not about needing simplicity it's about some kids want it. They don't want a puzzle action figure, they want a regular action figure.
Are kids capable of transforming the most complex Transformers? Yes, does that mean they want to? I don't know. I do know that Hasbro has kids play with these toys before they're released to see what kids enjoy.
Hollywood Hoist
How much longer will this ridiculous "shampoo bottle" comparison last. It's the same people saying the same thing about the same toys.
Do you think Lego fans are complaining about Duplo taking up prescious space for Lego?
Complaining about toys that were never intended for you is silly. j
As for the anecdotal evidence of kids of collectors. Our kids are hardly the norm, they grow up with Transformers all around them, they're parents or at least one parent is quite well versed in how to Transform them. The average kid has parents who don't necessarily want to spend a long time trying to make a toy work for their kid. It's not about lazy parents, it's about parents who believe that a kids toy should be able to be played with by the kid without parent supervision or assistance.
The other thing that "adults" fail to understand is that kids have an entirely different way they play with their toys then adults. Until I see adult collectors laying on the floor reciting dialogue, making pew pew noises, yelling out "transform and roll out" while transforming the character, then I'll believe that adult collectors have an argument in regards to the simplification of Transformers.
Shin-Gouki
That's the same as saying that all kids should be playing Atari 2600 because they need simplicity.
Hollywood Hoist
I know, those simple figures. I hate to think what those kids would be like as adults.
Shin-Gouki
Bingo! Way to insult the intelligence of kids. Then again that seems to be the status quo these days.
TFanPage101
I will applaud them on one thing, giving 'Titan' figures a purpose to buy them. (Other than buying them because they're so bad, they're good, if you're into that.)
Seriously, transformation was the major key thing that made this a fail for me, because it had little-no articulation, but still didn't do anything after that. I feel that this is a little unnecessary, giving that we already get spammed with 3 year old toys (remind me again why the main line has to be simplified, if they're going to do simplified lines anyways) but I'd prefer these, rather than gigantic titan cake toppers. Well done on giving titans something to do.
Metroplex79
Wow those are for those guys here on the boards who are "leg men".
Those things are like oversized basics, or mid-G1 toys.
CapnScumbone
You know what was a good entry-level toy for young kids when g1 came out? REGULAR GODDAMNED TRANSFORMERS. When you don't challenge kids, they stay stupid.
BigRed
Thank you for completely proving my point that "well I say that this this and that" anedoctal arguments are worthless, glad we agree.
Jalaguy
I dread to think what G1 toys say about the children of the '80s…