Transformers… Go Bots?

[Zing]

I was at Walmart browsing the Skylanders, when I saw something that blew my mind…



What the??? Transformers Go-Bots?

For the youngsters, "Go-Bots" were a line of toys made in direct competition with the Transformers back in the 1980's. The two lines of toys were rivals. Go-Bots were clearly inferior, but nevertheless had a small following and their own TV show.

And now we have both names in one product? I see that Hasbro owns both trademarks, so there is no legal threat imminent, but as someone who grew up solidly on the Transformers side of the rivalry, it is blasphemy to see the Go-Bots name on the packaging.

[dunpeal2064]

Man, what happened? That just seems wrong!

Transformers toys used to be freakin epic. Nice small metal parts that could pinch your fingers up, but they were damn fun.

I still have my old Optimus Prime with his crazy trailer, and tiny, easily-losable hands

[GSZX1337]

Well, PlaySkoll is owned by Hasbro as which owns Transformers and Tonka who owns Go-Bots.

[deathsled]

For the youngsters, "Go-Bots" were a line of toys made in direct competition with the Transformers back in the 1980's. The two lines of toys were rivals. Go-Bots were clearly inferior, but nevertheless had a small following and their own TV show.

Gobots pre-date Transformers by a year I believe, so saying they were made in direct competition with them isn't exactly true lol

[Hobie-wan]

That is just wrong.

Machine Robo (Gobots here) were 1982
Diaclone (became Transformers) were 1980

[fastbilly1]

Well transformers were several toy lines, Diaclone just being the biggest one they took from. Microman was another.

[Hobie-wan]

I thought Diaclone was spun off Microman though with the magnet feet guys. That's why the Autobots and the F-15 jets have cockpits, to put those guys in them.

[fastbilly1]

You are right, they ended up taking from TWO different Microman spinoffs: New Microman and Diaclone.

New Microman gave us Megatron, Soundwave, most of the small cars (Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, etc). Diaclone gave us most of the bigger cars and jets.

Side note, my girlfriend bought me Sunstreaker for Christmas. I have wanted him since I was three and he was always too much money.

[Hobie-wan]

Side note, my girlfriend bought me Sunstreaker for Christmas. I have wanted him since I was three and he was always too much money.

Nice. I really want Wheeljack since I love the Stratos.

[brunoafh]

Just want to drop in and say that Machine Robo kicks ass. Optimus Prime has jack shit on Rom Stoll.