GRZ-007 Zeek Dober @ Zoids Corner

[Yurei Avalon]

Laziness or cost cutting, I'm betting. They changed the guns on the TDP deadborder as I recall by quite a bit, though I don't recall if it was in the same way.

It may also be some sort of forced "safety" feature as well, perhaps they were worried about children getting a finger caught in the small space or some such silly thing. Just like the saber tiger neutered teeth. Though oddly enough, the HMM geno's claws are almost razor blade sharp, so go figure -_-

[SkyKnight]

I would think either mold degeneration or toy safety. Keep in mind that NJR Gunblaster had its rear end hose removed, I'm guessing the same for Zeeky here, don't want any kids swallowing broken bits of plastic, do ya?

Also, I'm pretty sure the HMM line is targeted towards a mature fanbase, not kids trying to build for the first time.

[Andy F²]

Dec 3, 2008 11:49:49 GMT -5 Charlie said:

Extra hard points are probably meant for custom weapons.

The extra hardpoints were added when Ice Blazer was designed to hold the extra guns he comes with.

As for the weird remold...it would probably cost more to change the mould than to flat-out reuse it. I'm gussing this is solely a safety feature, no more and no less.

[Snowflake]

Those mold changes look awful, i think i'd have to get my tools out and cut out that negative space.. if I had tools.. suggestions?

[Yurei Avalon]

Yes well, I don't know anyone below the age of 13-14ish that builds the regular models, and yet Hasbro always seemed to think marketing them to 8 year olds was somehow the best strategy. Hasbro is beyond hope at this point though, with the way they've been ruining WOTC lately -_-;

TT usually recognizes the fact that it's major age group is generally older teens and adults at least, though lately I don't know what's up with the odd seeming safety changes since they don't seem to give two yen about exporting to the west where such changes are deemed necessary, and they seem to know that 6 year olds don't generally play with their products, whom are the ones the safety measures are really for. So I dunno, it makes no sense really all around. If I get one though eventually, I am definitely trimming that crap out.

[Tilly]

They're aware of the adult market, but they're still model-toys, and I imagine have to conform to certain toy-related safety stuff. Companies wouldn't remold and rework products and spend money just for giggles or to annoy their fans, they'd do it because they had to.

I'm not sure if that was a safety change or what, but if it was, blame the standards, not the company following them.

[Maethius]

I own and use the heck out of a Dremmil these days... I would re-negative that space with some fine bits and jeweler files.

[Snowflake]

There may not be a lot of youngish kids interested in toys they have to build themselves, but there's more parents-ignorant-of-what-their-kids-actually-want than there are legitimate fans...
and that goes for -anything- and businesspeople know it