Where have all the good toy lines gone?

[proteus]

whats happened to the toy industry in the last 10 years? i look at the shelves in the store now and theres nothing- is it just me being older, is it me being nostalgic? i dont think so....i think theres nothing really good anymore.

all i see is endless power rangers and ben 10 the only line any good is star wars.

whats goin on? playmates used to do the best star trek figures, but the ones they did for the last film were awful- im talkin about the 3 3/4 inch ones.when i look back i remember when toys were interesting and well made and fun- like starcom, air raiders, sectaurs,mask,centurions, legions of power, zoids, roboforce,is it just nostalgia?

even all the overpriced Japanese rah figures are nothing compared to the old megos, and still not as well made as a 70s gi joe.

whas goin on? whered all the imagination go?

how come the new dr who figures are not as good as the 1976 denys fisher ones? that was nearly 40 years ago .

how come the new 12 inch gi joes are not as good as the ones we had in the 70s how come most of the accessories are molded on, why do they have painted on shirts and cloth trousers?

why do they have LESS play value, less accessories, less joints and less durability than the ones we had 30 years ago?

come on guys- this isnt just nostalgia- is it?

[wraith]

I agree.There is no magic with these new toys, at least for me there isn't. I;m pretty sure that it has a lot to do with kids shifting from toys that require imagination, to electronics and video games.
It's almost like kids these days need the toys to think for them. I mean, sure we had some toy lines with "gimicks" ( think superpowers or He-man with the twist action punch) but so many os the toys these days are either poorly made (parts falling off when moved)nor so over the top with gimicks and or electrical stuff that it just sucks all of the imagination out of playing with it.
Give me a beat up old 70 or 80's toy over this new stuff anyday. Odds are it's still more durable than it's new counterpart, fresh off the assembly line.
Vintage Starwars for example. These figures, I played with when I was 5 years old. I'm 37 now/ I have boxes full of SW figuers that are STILL in as good of shape now as they were 32 years ago when they were first popped off the card ( a little paint wear not withstanding...Heck, my At-at still freakin' works! Built to last!)
My son has some of the newer SW figures and hardly touches them because the darned things won't stand up without stands (at least most of them) and the limbs seem to pop off every time you touch them.
This isn't the only example that I can give, but it is one of the better ones.
I Think with toy quality getting worse and video games getting better, this trend will continue. Imagination....a dying art.

[bowspearer]

In short- multinationals. These days practically every single sotre out there in terms of the vast bulk of the department stores out there which in turn are the vast bulk of business for toy companies, have become controlled by a handful or corporations in each country, with enough buying power to have their marketting companies effectively dictate to toy companies just what gets made in terms of what they want to sell based on current trends.

At the same time, with the exception of some minor players, most toy companies are either owned by Mattel or asbro, reducing compentition to effectively a duopoly.

In short, with a complete lack of competition, there is simply no need nor desire within most of the toy industry as the old phrase of "innovate or perish" stopped applying a while ago.

[drbo]

Oct 25, 2010 3:25:50 GMT -6 proteus said:

come on guys- this isnt just nostalgia- is it?

No, it's not all, but I think it's a great part of it.

Toys from 1976 and 1986 were made for you and me, not the kids of today. Toys of today are made for today kids and I'm sure they will have nice memories of these toys and they'll find toys from 20, 30 years from now would miss something those from 2010 had.

Speak of toys, cartoons, kid movie around you; you'll see most will remember those from their childhood as the best and will be saying something in the line "those of today are not as good". And in a generation or so thos will be remembered fondly.

My father have fond memories of metal cars with wooden wheels, for me it's Masters of the Universe and the original Nintendo and my nephew will remember their Bakugans and Wii with much fondness I'm pretty sure.

[bowspearer]

I have to disagree. Sure nostalgia is a part of it, but that's like saying that a roof is a part of a house (and yes that analogy is deliberate). I would argue that while certainly there was the whole "these toys are a part of our childhood" component definitely exists; from Star Wars and onwards it was different.

The problem with pinning it all down to nostalgia is that you're ignoring the toy cartoon and the side effects of it in terms of the "risks" which toy companies took.

The reality is that the "toy cartoon" did what no other marketing effort with toys had done to date- it merged advertising with folklore. Kids weren't simply hearing and being inspired by tales of heroes, but were actually able to go out and buy them. That then resulted in an explosion of properties, with a myriad of ideas coming out, the diversity of which had arguably never been seen before, including toys with interacted with televisions.

Unfortunately, in the giant melting pot, some companies fared better than others, and those which fared the best wound up devouring the smaller and less successful players, leaving only the most successful companies standing.

This in turn had a flow on effect of less competition, and thus less need to innovate and in turn, companies sticking with the same old things for the most part, with the one notable exception of Ben10.

In short, nostalgia isn't so much a factor as the inevitable bi-product of the real cause of the greatness of the 80s- namely the advent of the toy cartoon in a competition rich environment- the former of which not happening prior to this time and the later becoming a thing of the past not long after it.

[drbo]

Oct 25, 2010 13:23:53 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

The reality is that the "toy cartoon" did what no other marketing effort with toys had done to date- it merged advertising with folklore. Kids weren't simply hearing and being inspired by tales of heroes, but were actually able to go out and buy them. That then resulted in an explosion of properties, with a myriad of ideas coming out, the diversity of which had arguably never been seen before, including toys with interacted with televisions.

Unfortunately, in the giant melting pot, some companies fared better than others, and those which fared the best wound up devouring the smaller and less successful players, leaving only the most successful companies standing.

You're absolutely right; in the 1980's they're was much more innovation toward action figure; cartoon tie-in, saturation campaign, video games emerged, action features soared, electronics features evolved, line were often created as toys from the get-go and expanded in other medium. The action figure were often to driving forces behind a franchise.

Now it's either franchise that are devellopped on multiple plattorm or as video games, animation or film. We seldom see action figure as start for a franchise. Action figure are tie-in for bigger outlet.

My answer was skewed; instead of responding to "whats happened to the toy industry in the last 10 years?" like proteus asked I talked about "will todays kids have fond memories of the toy that are out today". That I don't have any fear they'll have great memories of their toys, good or bad (just like the ones we had). I think they're some line that don't appeal to us that'll appeal to today kids because indeed, the toy industry have changed tremendously.

In short, nostalgia isn't so much a factor as the inevitable bi-product of the real cause of the greatness of the 80s- namely the advent of the toy cartoon in a competition rich environment- the former of which not happening prior to this time and the later becoming a thing of the past not long after it.

Indeed the 1980's were a golden age and really innovative. It's our not just great toys, they were the one made for us. As exploitative the campaign, tie-in and cartoons were, it was great to be a kid in the 1980's. If you were drooling over a said hero, you could spent coutless hour before the tv, video game console, library and toy room enjoying these fantasy universe.

[victoryleo19]

i think it has a lot to do with how aggressive we've become also. i mean in the 70's, 80's, and even 90's, the profit requirements from new projects weren't nearly as high as right now. people even consider movies "failures" if they don't make 30 million their first week out. its getting kind of ridiculous. there was such a diversity of ideas and properties in the past 30 years, that just didn't have the financial support to stay afloat in today's world. hasbro and mattel gobbled up everyone in the past 10 years practically. you guys hit everyt nail on the head, its such a shame we can't have new ideas because of the glutton of "stick with what works"

[bowspearer]

Oct 25, 2010 14:16:07 GMT -6 drbo said:

My answer was skewed; instead of responding to "whats happened to the toy industry in the last 10 years?" like proteus asked I talked about "will todays kids have fond memories of the toy that are out today". That I don't have any fear they'll have great memories of their toys, good or bad (just like the ones we had). I think they're some line that don't appeal to us that'll appeal to today kids because indeed, the toy industry have changed tremendously.

But that was also my point, that current trends actually suggest that kids aren't even that fond of their toys now (as opposed to gaming consoles) let alone the nostalgia factor kicking in.

In fact the only toyline which seems to be doing well enough to suggest nostalgia down the track with the current generation is Ben10. Kids are moving more and more over to video games at a younger and younger age and it's not hard to see why- most toylines out there these days are stale, rehashing gimmicks.

Transformers has been the worst offender for this in since 2002, with the vast bulk of lines rehashing gimmicks which have effectively been around in the toyline as a whole since the 1980s.

Meanwhile, with action figues in general, noone has made any major innovations since Toy Biz first brought out the Marvel Legends and their Spiderman predecessors.

Kids pick up on things pretty easily and considering how stale the toy market as a whole is these days in terms of offerings; it's not hard to see why kids are jumping over to where there is constant innovation and pushing of boundaries- video games.

The toy industry is akin to a rabbit being slowly and gradually boiled in water- where the temperature rises so slowly that the rabbit doesn't even notice until it's too late. The question is, will the toy industry have anything left in the tank to save themselves when it faces the inevitable crisis of irrelevance? Time will tell I guess.

[dannyrand]

I'm not a Chap Mei collector, but some of the stuff they put out is pretty cool IMHO. A throw-back to some 80's lines that had awesome playsets and stuff. I agree with pretty much everything that has been said. My nephew is 5 and loves Star Wars Galactic Heroes, for him those will be part of his childhood nostalgia. On the same hand, he is pretty interested in different web games and Wii. The internet has helped kill off toys to some degree.

[shaxper]

While I don't see a whole lot of exciting new toy lines out there, I have been impressed with how some of the older toy lines have been treated over the past few years. The clearest example of this to me is the new Star Wars vehicles, particularly the redesigns of classics like the Millennium Falcon and the AT-AT. I've been very excited to see those.

Then there's the Marvel Universe 3.5" figures -- such an expansive toy line, and did you see that enormous Galactus figure???

I'll also say that I'm thoroughly amazed by the Fisher Price Imaginext stuff. That's where the real imagination and innovation in toy making is these days. Funny, though I'm a 31 year old successful professional, I'm entirely comfortable playing with toys, and yet I sadly draw the comfort line at toys like Imaginext which, although clearly tremendously fun, were designed for kids younger than I was in my earliest toy nostalgia memories.

[drbo]

Oct 25, 2010 18:07:20 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

Oct 25, 2010 14:16:07 GMT -6 drbo said:

But that was also my point, that current trends actually suggest that kids aren't even that fond of their toys now (as opposed to gaming consoles) let alone the nostalgia factor kicking in.

In fact the only toyline which seems to be doing well enough to suggest nostalgia down the track with the current generation is Ben10. Kids are moving more and more over to video games at a younger and younger age and it's not hard to see why- most toylines out there these days are stale, rehashing gimmicks.

Ben 10 indeed will be fondly remembered, but I think many super Heroes toys, Pokemons, Bakugans and TMNT will also get 2000 - 2010s kids nostalgic. And some other line we adult may as forgetable or uninteresting they may well get praised in the future.

I remember seeing the first Power Rangers stuff getting collectable and not getting it at first (I was too old for those when they came out), and then I reliazed "yeah, some kids were ten when this came out; of course they like it now!".

Some of my older friends who grew up in the 1960's told me the same thing about my Masters of the Universe and Rambo toys...

I'll also say that I'm thoroughly amazed by the Fisher Price Imaginext stuff. That's where the real imagination and innovation in toy making is these days. Funny, though I'm a 31 year old successful professional, I'm entirely comfortable playing with toys, and yet I sadly draw the comfort line at toys like Imaginext which, although clearly tremendously fun, were designed for kids younger than I was in my earliest toy nostalgia memories.

That's my point; they're is still some great toys out there, but to a point they are not mean't for us!

[proteus]

I think i broadly agree with everyone- i started this thread because i go to the store and theres nothing that grabs me- even 15 years ago, i was a grown man, an adult collector but there were still new figures that i liked and wanted- skeleton warriors, spawn,legends of batman, aliens good stuff- now its all crap. i really dont know what went wrong with the last playmates star trek figures but they were apalling! the lil ones i mean.

in the 70s we had wonderful toys, figures that moved and stood up, that were durable like gi joe, star wars, tiny tuffys, busy bodies, the original mego super heroes , planet of the apes, and dr who lines are still the best toys ever made for those licences.they absolutly beet the hell out of the new stuff- the 70s who line was incredible that tom baker figure is just perfect and well made, with real clothes not all molded on rubbish

in the 80s we still have well made stuff, and still imagination is required- he man, centurions, mantech, robotech, starcom, sectaurs bravestarr transformers....

in the 90s we still get grest toys, although style starts to be more important than substance but still legends of batman, spawn, wildcats, star wars returns, alien predator and terminator all get toys- real playable durable toys.

then suddenly nothing, i walk around the store now and come out empty handed, theres nothing of interest, the old stuff- particularly 70s and 80s era stuff even used and dirty -is just better than anything on sale today. which seems a little sad, in a way.

[Ebessan]

The era of good toys is long dead. A whole wave of creativity and such, it's long gone. Not since the mid-'90s have toy designers and/or cartoonists had to think outside the box.

I was born in '89, the first line I became addicted to was the original TMNT. Absolutely amazing little cartoonish toys. Soon followed a wave of incredible wacky stuff most of us will remember the '90s for. I wish I'd been born a decade earlier but I'm real glad I wasn't born a decade later. Look at today's absolute crap!

Just imagine growing up with the current TMNT toys. Ugh.

It certainly has a ton to do with one's own nostalgia about their childhood memories. I've had so many instances where I'll watch Nick or Cartoon Network, get annoyed and bitter in 2 minutes and think back a show I grew up on. Same with toys, it's just the way it is for most people. However I've had instances where I'll watch a show I used to love and realize I enjoyed the idea of it more than the show itself (nostalgia).

This doesn't happen with toys nowadays, because the toy industry truly is dying a sad death. You'll never see a creative individual sell his toy idea in the 21st century without some odd pull. Yet the '80s are filled with so much awesome obscurity.

I love toys from my youth (and before) even more now because it's an era that'll never be duplicated. From the bigtime (MOTU, TMNT) to the obscure (Animax, Toxic Crusaders) were all awesome and original in their own way.

You'll never see anything like that ever again.

[toy tracker]

I blame all the hot wheels and toy car products. when I go to any sotre (Walmart, toys r us, etc) over half the boys toy area is taken up by cars. Yet where do I see the kids looking and screaming around, mostly certainly not in cars area. But the cars are cheap to sell and amke so they will continue to push out the good stuff.

[proteus]

i think the internet-electronic games point is a very good one, kids are much more wanting a nintendo ds than a gi joe these days, but thats not really an excuse is it- i just find it so strange that a 12 inch gi joe or action man as its called here that you buy today in this era , is worse than one from 1977, less posable, less well made less durable and the thing is stuck being just one character in one costume cos most of his accessories are molded on.

and like i was sayin about dr who- the new figures are brilliant, dont misunderstand me but the 30 year old ones are twice as big, twice as posable, with stitched clothes and removable hats and shoes and just biger, better and better quality. the old star wars figures also were better, stronger more playable than the superdetailed but mega fragile stuff they make now.

perhaps its just me

[madmartigan37]

nope it is not just you, I will give my kids some of the older toys to play with before I give them some of the modern ones, the older ones are much more durable. The McFarlane's figures are terribly fragile. I had a Cpl.Hicks figure sitting on the shelf for the last three years, 2 days ago his arm just fell off, no reason, just broke.

[Ebessan]

Oct 27, 2010 9:10:57 GMT -6 toy tracker said:

I blame all the hot wheels and toy car products. when I go to any sotre (Walmart, toys r us, etc) over half the boys toy area is taken up by cars. Yet where do I see the kids looking and screaming around, mostly certainly not in cars area. But the cars are cheap to sell and amke so they will continue to push out the good stuff.

I was at a TRU this week and sadly the Hot Wheels are the least of that place's problems.

Literally a "Tween" section in the store. Geoffrey the Giraffe would've ate his balls if he were alive to see that.

[else3573]

I agree that alot of the magics gone, although I do think JLU is a GREAT line. The shows been off the air for a few years now (at least new episodes) and they continue to make figures, they have made some of the most obscure figure known to DC comics (whoever thought they'd see a Psycho Pirate figure? Or a Forager? Or Atomic Skull, Vibe, Commander Steel, The Ray, Nemesis, Blue Devil, Vigilante,etc.?), plus they have exclusives on Mattycolletor, and really cool Comic Con exclusives (Giganta and Solomon Grundy are both great figures, and the packaging on Grundy is some of the coolest packaging of all times). One factor other than us having cartoons in the 80's, is that alot of our action figures were actually ACTION figures (they had an action feature which increased their playability. You could flap their wings, spin their heads, watch their armor get dented or have them stink up the room, ala Stinkor)

[tfnut]

I think it all boils down to this:
There are 3 types of toys being marketed now:
1) Toys aimed at older collectors (think Marvel Legends, TF Generations, SW Vintage Collection, GI Joe, etc)
2) Toys aimed at children (Ben 10, Rescue Heroes, etc)
3) Toys aimed at both (Smaller DC/Marvel superhero lines, distorted "Heroes" lines of toys, the main transformer line, etc)

#2 aren't likely to interest you, Proteus. Try looking at things from category #1 and #3.
Transformers for instance, can often be amazing now. Sure, the limbs pop off all the bloody time, but the were designed to do that, and then get popped back on (hurray ball joints!). The articulation and accuracy (especially in robot modes) are MUCH improved over anything previously released.

The same can be said for the 25th GI Joe line... those were near perfect. Amazing sculpts, tons of accessories, improved articulation... and they didn't mess with what was perfect from the vintage Joe line, the vehicles! Sadly, 25th have been replaced by ROC/POC, but if you search hard enough some of them were still originally intended to be a continuation of the 25th line.

[it better be red]

The new Galactus 19" figure... Now there's a sweet toy. (if you want to part with 54.95)

[Ghouldrool]

Oct 25, 2010 19:15:02 GMT -6 dannyrand said:

I'm not a Chap Mei collector, but some of the stuff they put out is pretty cool IMHO. A throw-back to some 80's lines that had awesome playsets and stuff.

This. Well said about Chap Mei. What I love most about Chap Mei right now is that they provide a template, a very generic setting, and play environment, and leave everything else to the kid's imagination. There are only a few other toy lines that basically do this and the most well knowns are Playmobil and Lego - both 'eternal' formats that have been around for decades and continue to re-invent themselves. To find that in an action figure line is very rare. In a way, MOTU did this, before the comic and cartoon tie-in. I prefer to compare Chap Mei to lines like Fisher-Price's Adventure People and Arco's Other World . Nowadays I only tend to collect the generic lines - most of them knock off lines of some sort - instead of the character driven franchises that have taken over the toy market. Star Wars, JOE, Transformers are all highly character dirven lines, just like all superhero lines are... and I get the feeling they're very collector-oriented as well. I suppose that's why I like them less and less... Yes, I love the characters they offer, but the toys themselves don't trigger my imagination like they used to... in contrast to Chap Mei, who gets away with doing just that.

[bowspearer]

Oct 26, 2010 9:32:15 GMT -6 drbo said:

That's my point; they're is still some great toys out there, but to a point they are not mean't for us!

And yet it isn't about them being made for us. The issue here is that the stuff which was there when we were kids was meant for us as kids, but wound up attracting us as adults.

Now while we can say the toys of today are marketed at kids, it's highly doubtful that they'll attract these same kids as adults. That's the key difference here.

Jan 29, 2011 16:35:20 GMT -6 @tfnut said:

Transformers for instance, can often be amazing now.

With some incredibly rare exceptions, we'll have to agree to disagree here .

[tfnut]

Feb 4, 2011 4:27:34 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

With some incredibly rare exceptions, we'll have to agree to disagree here .

Ok. But this begs the question: What are your exceptions?

[drbo]

Feb 4, 2011 4:27:34 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

Oct 26, 2010 9:32:15 GMT -6 drbo said:

And yet it isn't about them being made for us. The issue here is that the stuff which was there when we were kids was meant for us as kids, but wound up attracting us as adults.

Indeed, indeed. Will have to wait 15 - 20 years to see how it come up!

[bowspearer]

Feb 4, 2011 12:55:39 GMT -6 @tfnut said:

Feb 4, 2011 4:27:34 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

With some incredibly rare exceptions, we'll have to agree to disagree here .

Ok. But this begs the question: What are your exceptions?

Masterpiece, WSTF, Atlernity and the odd Classics 2.0/Universe 2.0/Generations figure.

The big problem with most of the toyline, is that they keep rehashing the same secondary gimmicks from the late 80s and with many of the homages they do re classics et al, the reinvent the wheel badly. That's when they're not churning out movie crap that looks more at home in a relaunched Machine Men (aka Gobots/Machine Robo) toyline- oh and that too rehashes the automorph gimmick which showed up in designs at the tail end of G2.

Case in point, why are the original alt modes for Cyclonus & Hot Rod's ok for the Classics 2.0 line, but things have to be 'more realistic' when it comes to Kup, Perceptor, Blurr and Scourge? That's when they're not calling characters "Spastic" (what's next, a "General Gook" or "Major black dude" showing up in the Clone Wars toyline or GIJOE?).

Hate to say it, but a lack of competition has made Hasbro completely lose the plot.

[slm2024]

Oct 25, 2010 3:25:50 GMT -6 proteus said:

why do they have LESS play value, less accessories, less joints and less durability than the ones we had 30 years ago?

really? i disagree with this. maybe it depends on what you collect from yesteryear. for modern stuff i like Lego a lot. and i don't think any toy has more play value than lego. and its a wide market. you got your "build your own idea" buckets, the pre-sorted with instructions sets, and minifigures (which attracts the action figure side of me ).

as for accessories:
i love motu, which each figure had at most 1 weapon, 1 removable armor. stuff like clash of the titans, had the same, sword and/or shield. mattel flash gordon and battlestar galactica most figures didn't even have anything in the package other than the figure. maybe a piece of cloth that can be slipped over the head. my son is heavy into the clone wars figures. and man, some of those weapons are pretty awesome. some of them come with removable helmets and various armor pieces, 2 or 3 guns that are visible from looking at the package, and when you opened them up, there was a little rectangular box inside that had a load of guns. plus you have the added bonus (obviously to get you to buy more products, but for some of the youth it just makes them feel "involved"). like the upc mail-away offers, the dice and game card with each figure to collect and work towards building a gaming deck. star wars had the "build a droid" pieces in some packaging, dcu classics have the body parts to collect and connect and make a massive character. sure, us older folk notice this for what it is, a marketing tool. but could you imagine being a kid and finally getting the last piece to build a massive chemo or galactus?!

and the whole "less articulation" thing i disagree with too. i honestly feel there is too much articulation! motu = 5 points of articulation throughout the entire figure, as apposed to any given 3.75" figure out now that has that much articuation in just one arm. why does my action figure need to bend mid-torso? and you pose these figures around enough, that loosens up joints, and eventually when you try to stand a figure up, a million loose joints give and your figure collapses! i love my 5" 70s bullmark / 80s bandai figures. 1 point of articulation: the waist!

my problem with modern toys is how fragile they are! the worst was the whole "collector toy" era that started late 90s. i totally blame McFarlane. that toy company is complete crap! they sacrificed durability and playability for visual detail. soon, all figure lines have to compete with the high detail. whereas i am glad my son is into the whole star wars figure craze, but the playtime is cut down with trying to keep helmets on and put hands back into sockets that get pulled out trying to get guns in there grasp.

old school figures with sculpted hands and one simple hole in the center to slide your sword handle in. love it!

[primalfear]

this has been a very good post to read. I think it all boils down to the fact that toy companies know their time is running out. Kids these days want video games and cell phones. they don't want to use their imagination to play with a toy when they can launch cod4 or something of the sorts and be inside a battlefield. It is a shame as I am a product of the 80's and just don't understand how any kid would not want to play with action figures. It truly is a shame. The best I can do is pass it on to my kids. My son (6) is really into action figures. He doesn't really like the new stuff. I can buy him all the stuff from the pegs in walmart but he comes home and plays with joes and star wars form the 80's. LOL

[bananamuffin2024]

Jan 30, 2011 2:50:39 GMT -6 it better be red said:

The new Galactus 19" figure... Now there's a sweet toy. (if you want to part with 54.95)

That's only because you have two of them dear...

-_-

[BoogDoc7]

I'll give this to the modern GI Joe line over the older one - the vehicles seem to be a LOT sturdier. I've got a newer AWE Striker and I don't think the axle will break as quickly as the old ones did...I DO think that quality in newer figures that aren't high-detail may be better.

But, yeah, with the push of video games and the more-or-less demise of Saturday morning and weekday afternoon cartoons (outside of Ben10), it DOES appear that the mass-marketing and aisles and aisles of toys are yesterday's news.

One note about the classic toys, though - there's a reason that Hot Wheels (which hasn't had a serious price increase in YEARS), Barbie, and some other classic toys are classics.

Boys like cars. I have an 18-month-old. LOVES CARS.

Girls like dolls.

[countzackula]

Eh...I've noticed a lot of the stuff I did collect on the modern front seems to be geared toward adult collectors who'll end up paying waaay too much just to have something cool to display and/or keep in the package. No offense to those who do so, mind you...just saying. Case in point: Marvel Universe. A good example 'cause they look pretty cool, seem to have decent articulation, and are classic beloved characters mixed in with neat-o obscure gems. Problem is, once you treat 'em as they are...toys...they fall short! No fun in 'em! You can't pose them since the joints are either too loose or too tight...or just break because of poor paint or materials rubbing together. Plus...too much money...always with the money!!! Don't get me started on availability and scalpers, either...yoy!
Transformers need to take a step back too. Admittedly, I never really dug the vintage stuff...no offense TF collectors, just my opinion, but the figures were bricks in 'bot mode! I loved BEast Wars and the early modern stuff, but I noticed the various TF collections getting way to fragile and complicated. Transforming them takes, like fifteen frustrating minutes. Hasbro seems to be trying too hard to make the toys more complicated. No wonder they make "kiddie" versions and preschool versions! I still love TFs, but please take a step back Hasbro! These are toys, meant to be played with...not work! I shouldn't hafta worry about breaking my toys or getting frustrated. I've seen people return toys because they couldn't re-transform their TFs...hilarious!
Too many media tie-in toys. Obviously, a movie, TV, video game, or even book tie-in toy will survive on the market. You see the stuff and you want a little plastic man to continue the adventures at home or even just honor your beloved characters by displaying 'em. To a degree, you need other media...it helps...I understand. Most vintage stuff I had or have either had a media tie-in or one was created to carry the toy line. However, there's just no in-betweens anymore...or they are rare. Just once, I'd love too see a really good action figure line that doesn't have some fancy, extended media tie-in...I'd love to see more Chap Mei stuff, for example...makes younger kids use the ol' noodle (imagination) a little more. I always loved the idea of having toys that relied on pure, bare bones imagination...like Battle Beasts, Other World, Bugmen of Insecta...awesome toys, no real tie-ins...no pressure or undue influence...your adventures fueled by pure opinion and imagination.
Granted, not to sound like an old fart picking on modern whippersnapper toy lines...some are cool or decent...they just need to make the toys work as fun as they look...Honestly, weird as it seems...Imaginext stuff is awesome. A great toy line for kids to just sit and play with...plus they look great! No stupid show or movie neither!