Can Toy Crossovers Work?

Joe Moore · 09-30-2009, 04:30 AM

Discussion Of The Week - Can Toy Crossovers Work Long Term?

Enigma2K2 · 09-30-2009, 04:42 AM

Hell, I'm still waiting for the CURRENT two Crossover lines to die.

Jmacq1 · 09-30-2009, 06:45 AM

Ultimately, if the crossover is purely at a "toy" level and not an actual blending of mythos it can probably work. Arguably there are two different types of crossover to be discussed here: The type that's purely conceptual (as we see with the Star Wars and Marvel Transformers lines, or the various Mr. Potato Head variants we've seen over the past several years), and those that blend the actual storylines and characters together (Like the G.I. Joe vs. Transformers comic book series). The first version obviously can work on some level, but the latter is almost impossible to maintain in the long-term, whether due to licensing conflicts, dilution of the fanbase (some of the hardcore fans of either franchise will no doubt dislike the crossover idea/feel that it's "stealing thunder" from their favored half of the franchise), and likely a lack of media support (because licensing out a Transformers/G.I. Joe weekly cartoon would be twice as hard as licensing out one or the other). With the mass-media tie-ins, it's very difficult to maintain long-term popularity.

I do think there's some room for crossover, but largely with defunct properties wholly owned by the same company. For instance, I could potentially see MASK and COPS as sublines of Transformers (Think Human Alliance-style toys for MASK) or G.I. Joe.

nomad1632 · 09-30-2009, 07:35 AM

they can work but unfortunately as in the star wars transformers the execution of the vehicles are well done but the alternate robots are very disappointing and just look terrible, then the marvel transformers are done nicely for what they are the robots look like a decent crossover but some vehicle selections kinda leave you guessing why? they could have picked something better.

I think if done right crossover series can be successful but only if they do it right and if their taken well by the market.

mattwrightkitty · 09-30-2009, 08:14 AM

As much as I'm not a fan of the Star Wars and Marvel cross-overs with Transformers I DO believe they are sustainable! Not only do they represent preferred toy-lines, but they build play-value into character likenesses in ways with which kids can identify.
Combining licenses seems to be something that LEGO picked-up-on decades ago, right after it started coming out with distinctly themed sets (prior to themed sets, LEGO was a building block toy the sets of which were no more themed than 'this is a house' and 'this is a car.') Since then, toy companies nibbled at the idea, but it seems to have been in the past decade that we've seen really ambitious combinations where license is concerned (most notably the SW/TF and Marv/TF crossovers.)
The 80s produced a lot of toys that, though not married by license, resembled one another aesthetically so much that kids couldn't help but combine-play!
Some kinds of 'play' are simply more readily realized in combined-play-value and cross-over toys. It's just natural.
As well, marrying licenses is way to sustain brand-identities across the board, so that none of the big licenses fall by the way-side. Think of the cross-over phenomenon as being like a rope binding cargo on a ship.
The toy industry (Hasbro in particular), in general, is wise to have picked up on this, and has made decent decisions in it's license selections.

darthjota · 09-30-2009, 08:32 AM

The crossovers are horrible. They look horrible online and even worse in package at a store. It makes no sense what so ever to have them. Frankly this makes Hasbro look like total money whores, Hasbro so desperately want to cross over all toy lines, be it Transformers, Mr. Potato Head, Titanium series or the even more God awful Mighty Mugs, just to make another buck. This ultimately ruins the quality and reputation of all there toy lines. Thirty years from now I doubt anyone well be longing for a Luke Skywalk Transformers X-Wing fighter, it’s just crab on Hasbro part.

Cavbeast · 09-30-2009, 10:16 AM

Crossovers are a huge gamble and except for the Star Wars Transformers line and the Super soaker Transformers/Star Wars Nerf line, the longevity is an unknown variable. The Star Wars Transformers line is really cool just for the fact that it takes the vehicles from the Star Wars universe, the playability of their Action Fleet line and mixes in the Transformers gimmick. Now the robot/SW character forms suck but then again why would they transform into a giant human and then back to a robot, also the heads certain G1 Transformers and Beast Wars are not cartoon accurate either but given longevity a happy medium could be achieved.

Plus I actually wish I bought the Action Fleet playsets now, how cool would it be to fly into the Death Star Hanger in your X-Wing, transform into your Jedi Robot Form and kick some Imperial butt inside the station instead of the chaos outside. Forget the 2m vent port when you have Prime's Ion Cannon. >

dlkm · 09-30-2009, 11:21 AM

it also depends on what two lines are crossed over. taking star wars and transformers and crossing them over was a brilliant move. if you take a look at the mythology of both lines they can be compatible. by that I mean that star wars takes place in a long time ago in a galaxy far far away and transformers have been establised as living millions upon millions of years and it has been established that some transformers have left cybertron, either to escape the war or if you follow the current mythology to find the allspark . so really there's no reason to believe that they couldn't have ended up in the star wars universe.

the same can't really be said for the marvel or disney crossovers . lets be blunt , neither donald duck or mickey mouse are fighters . why would the hulk need to be a tank to smash things? why would thor need to be an airplane when he flys because of his hammer.

If one were to do a superhero crossover line it would make sence to do it with a superhero who actually uses vehicals . the best example I can think of would be if a transformer copied batman's vehicals (batmobile, batcoptor, batwing , batboat, batcycle, redbird.) you could suspend your disbelief because he actually uses those vehicals .

as stated before it would also work with gijoe becasue they have already crossed over in comics

CyberScream95 · 09-30-2009, 02:04 PM

I enjoy getting one of each crossover line, but they can't go on forever.. Their just not original.

scarecrow · 09-30-2009, 02:47 PM

In general, most Toy crossovers could work if they combine the right things. I assume that we're talking about "blending" lines as jmacq said, and Star Wars is proof they work - to an extent. On a long term scale I doubt they will continue though, because it's just not as popular as the real thing.

Why would you need to have crossovers if you can just buy multiple lines anyway? Ultimately, there will probably never be a good reason to buy a lame combination of lines or concepts(like Marvel Transformers) when you can enjoy the real thing. But I'm rambling and everyone else has already said this in less words.

Ian7 · 09-30-2009, 03:23 PM

I have everyone of the clone crossovers so far. And a few others and Vader. But The only decent one. Is Vader (Death Star). The others just LOOK ugly, and aren't pose able their weapons fall off. Random pieces of kibble all over the body. I even got a few of the marvels ones. And the transformations of those are HORRIBLE. I looked back at the instructions and still couldn't get it. And I've been around transformers my whole life. I think that the marvel ones are actually decent. But the star wars ones are just crap. And should stop being made. So what if kids buy them? They're an embarrassment.

Shin Densetsu · 09-30-2009, 04:43 PM

With quality product and media tie ins, I think long term crossovers can work. SWTF's go on primarily through the strength of the brand, though the figures can be much, much better.

I think G.I. Joe and TF can work, because they can draw from many different continuities, and most importantly, both brands are owned by Hasbro.

megatronkicksas · 09-30-2009, 05:17 PM

God I hope not, they are ugly.

Johnnyakiba · 09-30-2009, 06:59 PM

I personally think that the Star Wars / Transformers line is atrocious. It was a great concept at heart, but it was executed poorly. I honestly don't know many people that actually collect them. The toyline is greatly adapted to what children favor, 2 great icons that do 2 great things.

Snowflakian · 09-30-2009, 07:52 PM

It can vary.
One of the best things about the starwars crossover is the death star itself. How many lines really have things of that epic that could work?

Marvel only 'works' as is for now because of the idea of the marvel scientists getting ahold of classic G1 tech. Reed, and tony, forge, and so on. But it'd be nicer if they went more accurate vehicles from within the mythos. Which were also joe scale compatible. Like 4 pieces of the fantasticar, ghostrider's bike, or just more accurate vehicles like blade's car. The Venom Crossover works in this regard as it's like a symbiote possessing Downshift.

But even on a subtler route, why not a GI Joe off shoot like inhumanoids was?
You could then have a crossover of figures with various aesthetics, from joe to inhumanoids, to centurions, and even a silverhawks space program...

Some anime could work, but it's best to blend the lines that are most compatible.
Like the 2012 upcoming bubblegum crisis movie if it stays on time. Why not let hasbro get the rights to it, and other kenichi sonada works for Joe scale rally vincent, bean bandit, TF crossovers bean bandit car, Bubblegum crisis armors and bikes classic, 90s, and movie. The bridge gaps that allows with the various 'boomers' could even tie to allspark energy. You could cross mikayla into something like that easily. TF Animated Sari proved it popular when done right, whereas Transformers Energon only kinda made it annoying. That was one of the golden things about the 80s. The shows loose ties to each other.
Transformers and Joes intermingled character wise, and references, then joe and inhumanoids, among others. It was one giant net weaved world.

But mostly it's just the scale like crossover that works the best. Not always blatant like transformers ones, we've also seen such a rise in the likes of joe scale usage, from marvel, to terminator, and even ben 10 and motion revive series.
Like the joe scale marvel figures, oh wouldn't I give for joe scale anime icons.
Like ryoko in battle armor, Ryo Ohki mech with sasami, pretty sammy, pretty cure, garo, and others of that ilk, Tenchi in love tenchi masaki in ninja armor, soul and maka, lupin, etc. Besides of course the first 90s Bubblegum crisis armors.
Plus the Ryo Ohki mech can work for plushes and transformering, also stuff like FLCL would work.

Power Rangers and Kamen rider have dabbled in this foray too. Albeit limited success, the japanese toku genre has mastered it pretty well. Looking at Faiz, and decade respectively. Bandai's motion revive also perfected this if they hadn't stopped making riders right before decade.
Though their american attempts have been rather gawdy. That's the one thing to remember, and why SW transformers survive. Accuracy to both a SW character, and a vehicle.
Thankfull something like Bubbgle gum crisis makes this easier with what vehicles are presented, and why not the AD Police guy into his car?

This would really only work well for the overtly capable lines. Stuff like dragonball and naruto, or bleach wouldn't really fit, whereas stuff like soul eater with it's whackiness(SQUARE FTW! SOUL EATERxKINGDOM HEARTS someday?!) or other icons like astroboy or megaman could still work. And who wouldn't want Joe scale kingdom hearts figures? Or Soul Eater ones?

Video game characters could really expand the idea somewhat too. Masterchief in joe scale or turns into vehicles? Sure why not. Capcom characters? Konami? Tecmo, so many could work in joe scale, but only a few like Metal gear solid, viewtiful joe, megaman, and Xenosaga could work in transformers. Burning Rangers is another that could play to both.

Accuracy and capabilities are the key. I would outright buy human alliance michael knight and kitt (with web animation hyper mode robot mode). And Barbie seems to do some crossovers not bad either.

But I don't see the logic in making naruto become a shuriken or vehicle. But Naruto to fox cold work like old school digimon figures. And while yes soul eater to weapons is obvious, but why not also the powered up forms, or simply the whackiness that is Shinigami's robot. Or Maka as the hybrid human weapon awesomeness. Not really transforming but they do use the same principle as automorph and mech alive.

And I won't even bother with the awesomeness, of robotech, exosquad, voltron, macron 3, and more that could benefit. Or SerpentO.R. that turns into a chariot for joe serpentor to ride. Or the Ghost in the Shell spider tanks.

Kingdom hearts seems to be the best approach to this methodology for some worlds.
But media relating it, if even just a one shot special, would help carry them better. That's one of the reasons Kingdom hearts does it well. It just has to have a moderate amount of sense to the presented line, and be cool without becoming a roleplay weapon. No kid wants an ironman axe, or spiderman gun. Thor is probably the only exception to this. But thors hammer is also the name of a military weapon too.

So I guess my final vote is, Accuracy to vehicles is a must for intended purposes to kids. For joe scale it has to be accurate and or just aestheticly pleasing with a wide array of choices, Inhumanoids for example can do this and bridge 3 gaps easily of marvel, joe, and transformers. If the joe scale were to dabble in anime, it'd have to be the surreal or similiar as well.
Bubblegum crisis, Ghost In the Shell, Soul Eater, Trigun, Devil may Cry, Tenchi Muyo, Kingdom hearts, capcom and metal gear solid. Even Samus, and Link, or Mecha Sonic. (Robotnik roboticize!)
Most of these would be ripe to go joescale or transformers.

Besides, who doesn't want Movie GI Joes, using Movie transformers as vehicles? Scarlet with Flareup and a third powered armor mode for reverse pretendering. Or snake eyes, or baroness for that matter. Best of BGC, Transformers, and Joe all in one off shoot line. That could become a new inhumanoids sari/mikayla allspark hunting thing. >.>
Sari in Joe Scale, Mikayla as a movie stylized version of Sari in joe scale, nest, GI Joe, earthcorp, Mask, and so on all being secret organizations like stargate only with allspark tech? Again why not. Then each can have subgroups or 'prototype' armors. Like more loosely based on Sari/Movie stylized Sari/BGC besides just the various inhumanoid monstrous armors, or the joes accel armors, or the reactive armors, or even maskes helmeted plain clothes decon like suits. =D The new weapon X initiative being hired by cobra. Etc.

Of Course then again, I could be biased since I've already made 2 GI joe reactive armor X-23s. And use a Cobra combined with shocker logo for my sig...

That's another that could be amazing to see. Cobra and Shocker merging for one massive genetic supersoldier army nightmare inspired by the red skull, Making GI joe unite with ambassadors like kamen rider 01, 02, and v3, black panther, storm, captain britain and union jack, canada's hero Guardian, captain america, etc. You just have to be selective with the icons and how it's presented.

Marvel VS Capcom, SNK vs capcom chaos, NamcoXKonami, Super robot wars OG saga endless frontier, Kingdom hearts, all of these video games worked as crossovers. And would be perfect for Joe scale figures as well. To mix by that same notion they each use to present it. They could even work for TF crossovers.

Fringe, Sliders, X-files, Reboot, soul eater, tenchi muyo, the gunsmith cats, Knight Rider and others all work for visual gag crossovers at least. That becomes an interesting question when you put references from all over instead of selective ones.
TFA experimented with this on the multiverse like level of it's own characters. Just as the tenchi muyo creator has a tenchi reference in his works. Then we have shows like robot chicken that just use them all. Could a serious show work like that? Maybe. It'd throw people a big enough curve ball while being nostalgic. Like what if megatron tech helped make some of the mechanical stuff, and extreme quantum science stuff. Or what if Jem appeared on heroes as an Idol who could project holograms around herself as a power, and cashed in on the money of her pop star status, and anonymity? Somethings are intrigueing while others are lame, I guess navigating the waters is kinda hard.

Even tron is just begging for joe scale figures, AND TF crossovers ones.
oh and 5 more words.
Cloverfield as an inhumanoids prequel.

Optimus Clyde · 09-30-2009, 08:15 PM

First, let me say that no toy comany would conceive of a toy line unless it can work in the "long term" of the market it inhabits, say 6 months to 2 years...long enough for a Christmas or two...or a summer movie tie-in. If, however, we're talking about "long term" as it applies to the institution of the "crossover" in general, well, as a lifelong geek, I love the idea of crossovers, and they've been around for a long time in geek culture, though mostly in comics. Some of Hasbro's most popular lines have already crossed over in the pages of Marvel comics. With the right timing and support (comics, TV, web), some toy companies could use a crossover to bolster interest in any of their lines.

Transformers Crossovers are cool, but as they are, they're nothing more than a novelty. They're not truly a "crossover" because, in the case of both the Star Wars and Marvel lines, none of the Transformers characters are present.

Otherwise, again thinking along comic-book lines, properties that Hasbro owns outright could be thought of as a "universe" of their own. Given that, anything is possible. GI Joe, Transformers, M.A.S.K., or any other property could be mixed and matched to suit whatever purpose they wish. The same may be be possible for Mattel, I suppose. (I don't know enough about their lines to say if it makes any sense. He-Man / Hot Wheels? :P )

I think the question, though, is to what extent any company would want to take the "crossover". If Hasbro creates more crossover lines, will they just be more novelties like Star Wars and Marvel Crossovers? Will they just be gimmicks like the licensed Mr. Potato Head and Mighty Muggs toys? Or will they flesh out a passable scenario complete with fully realized storylines where characters from each line interact? That's what I want to see, but I don't think it's very likely. At least for now...

Snowflakian · 10-01-2009, 01:35 AM

You know after rethinking it, I'd really like to see TF crossovers tackle the likes of Knight Rider, Team Knight rider, 2k8 knight rider, Stargate, BSG, Inhumanoids, and tron legacy.

302s, the stargate itself, atlantis, daedelus, hive ships, puddle jumpers, light cycles, all could really work, even cylon fighters that turn into cylon like mechs. But honestly the 'human' robots don't really work. The heads need tweaking, storm troopers and droids can skate, even iconic heroes, but the x-wing fighters and pilot, among others are kinda pushing it. You can only cash in on the spaceballs like adaptions for so long.
Speaking of which. Where is robo maid?

boombatty · 10-01-2009, 07:50 AM

I find the "crossovers" I like have to have certain common elements. The SW/TF thing never made any sense to me. The GIJoe/TF does b/c of the history and the fact that GI Joe uses a ton of vehicles. Similarly the GI Joe/MASK mash-up recently produce a cool figure that could easily fit into the line. If MASK 3.75" scale figures as GI Joe agents continued I would scoop up the lot from here until eternity. A GI Joe/Marvel mix wouldn't work, too divergent BUT a Marvel/DC mash-up would score! Similarity breeds if compatibility.

Optimus Clyde · 10-01-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

You know after rethinking it, I'd really like to see TF crossovers tackle the likes of Knight Rider, Team Knight rider, 2k8 knight rider, Stargate, BSG, Inhumanoids, and tron legacy.

302s, the stargate itself, atlantis, daedelus, hive ships, puddle jumpers, light cycles, all could really work, even cylon fighters that turn into cylon like mechs. But honestly the 'human' robots don't really work. The heads need tweaking, storm troopers and droids can skate, even iconic heroes, but the x-wing fighters and pilot, among others are kinda pushing it. You can only cash in on the spaceballs like adaptions for so long.
Speaking of which. Where is robo maid?

I agree. If Hasbro could think more about expanding their licensing opportunities, we could see cool TFs of all kinds of pop-icon machines. I loved when they expanded the Action Fleet line years ago, from just Star Wars vehicles, to include Aliens and Predator vehicles. (Or was that before they bought out Galoob?) They could totally do the same with TFs, they just aren't...and I've always wondered why. I mean, c'mon! Who wouldn't like a Batmobile that transforms into a TF character? I want to see that TIE Fighter turn into Starscream. not Darth Vader! Or Optimus Prime as the Millennium Falcon or something!

TxBart · 10-02-2009, 10:44 AM

If the concept to be crossed over into has sturdy legs, then it can sustain for a couple of Christmas Seasons. Starwars/Transformers works well because Transformers has legs that carries it across generations and genera (Disney Label, Sports label, etc..). The SW/TF crossovers will stay vibarant as long as the brand managers/designers don't start resting on their laurels.

Some had cited Lego and Galoob's Action Fleet. These are play systems that when conceived well from the begining, can withstand all manner of bad decisions about what properties get blended into the mix. Such a well conceived system of play could offer a company an opportunity to dust off some long forgotten properties to try out on a new generation. Action fleet could have sustained had Galoob not gone belly up and had they not rested that system's success on the shoulders of Star Wars.

Can you imagine a 1/48 scale Thunderhawk vs. a 1/48 scale Redlen vs. a 1/48 scale Rattler?

Joe Moore · 10-05-2009, 09:26 AM

Discussion Of The Week Recap - Can Toy Crossovers Work?

Noisemaze · 10-07-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian7

But the star wars ones are just crap. And should stop being made. So what if kids buy them? They're an embarrassment.

Okay lets not get carried away now. They're not that bad! They're no more of an embarrassment than Transformers:Animated is & the TF fans just eat that Animated garbage up.

I'm one of the few Transformers fans that loves Star Wars Crossovers.

I want a new M.A.S.K. line in scale with GI Joe.

Shin Densetsu · 10-07-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Okay lets not get carried away now. They're not that bad! They're no more of an embarrassment than Transformers:Animated is & the TF fans just eat that Animated garbage up.

I thought Animated was great with a great toyline, if you can get past the highly styalized designs the story and characters were good.

The toys I see as better engineered than the SWTF's. There are a few SWTF's I like, but only a few, where as with TF Animated there were far more figures I liked.

The best SWTF hands down is the Death Star Vader. That figure is AWESOME. Even fans who hate SWTF would probably love that damn toy. Even the electronic gimmicks are awesome.

The Galoob team does better with SWTF when they have bigger pieces to work on, take the Vader I mentioned above for example.

Dremare · 10-12-2009, 02:16 PM

Depends on what it is. But for most things, one, simple word is clear: NO.

I mean, if its something like Kamen Rider Decade (the storyline), where its SUPPOSE to crossover with the previous series in Kamen Rider, it works fine. But with Star Wars and Transformers, it doesn't. At all. I mean, the concept ITSELF is cool, but when you see it, it doesn't look remarkable at all. The same goes with the Marvel Superheroes and Transformers line.

Another example is Lilo and Stitch. They crossed over with at least two other Disney series (I think), which were American Dragon: Jake Long and Kim Possible. It sounded cool, but with the other all result, it was horribly. And you CANNOT imagine the horribleness of those Hannah Montana crossovers.....

One particular one I like more than most is the Nostalgia Critic/Angry Video Game Nerd feud. It's not really crossover, it's more of 'two nerds trading back insults and punches on the Internet' thing. That's the best part, to me, at least.

But not all crossovers are bad, just depends on how long it takes to finish the story (if it's like the Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour, though, it stinks).

09-30-2009, 04:30 AM	#1
Joe Moore Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 34,298	Discussion Of The Week - Can Toy Crossovers Work Long Term? __________________

09-30-2009, 03:23 PM	#11
Ian7 Playability or DEATH Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 76	I have everyone of the clone crossovers so far. And a few others and Vader. But The only decent one. Is Vader (Death Star). The others just LOOK ugly, and aren't pose able their weapons fall off. Random pieces of kibble all over the body. I even got a few of the marvels ones. And the transformations of those are HORRIBLE. I looked back at the instructions and still couldn't get it. And I've been around transformers my whole life. I think that the marvel ones are actually decent. But the star wars ones are just crap. And should stop being made. So what if kids buy them? They're an embarrassment. __________________

09-30-2009, 06:59 PM	#14
Johnnyakiba Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois/Wisconsin Posts: 846	I personally think that the Star Wars / Transformers line is atrocious. It was a great concept at heart, but it was executed poorly. I honestly don't know many people that actually collect them. The toyline is greatly adapted to what children favor, 2 great icons that do 2 great things. __________________ ITEMS FOR SALE: http://www.toyark.com/johnnyakibas-final-sale-42114/

09-30-2009, 07:52 PM	#15
Snowflakian Illyria's New Qwa'ha Xahn Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In the clouds. Posts: 4,120	It can vary. One of the best things about the starwars crossover is the death star itself. How many lines really have things of that epic that could work? Marvel only 'works' as is for now because of the idea of the marvel scientists getting ahold of classic G1 tech. Reed, and tony, forge, and so on. But it'd be nicer if they went more accurate vehicles from within the mythos. Which were also joe scale compatible. Like 4 pieces of the fantasticar, ghostrider's bike, or just more accurate vehicles like blade's car. The Venom Crossover works in this regard as it's like a symbiote possessing Downshift. But even on a subtler route, why not a GI Joe off shoot like inhumanoids was? You could then have a crossover of figures with various aesthetics, from joe to inhumanoids, to centurions, and even a silverhawks space program... Some anime could work, but it's best to blend the lines that are most compatible. Like the 2012 upcoming bubblegum crisis movie if it stays on time. Why not let hasbro get the rights to it, and other kenichi sonada works for Joe scale rally vincent, bean bandit, TF crossovers bean bandit car, Bubblegum crisis armors and bikes classic, 90s, and movie. The bridge gaps that allows with the various 'boomers' could even tie to allspark energy. You could cross mikayla into something like that easily. TF Animated Sari proved it popular when done right, whereas Transformers Energon only kinda made it annoying. That was one of the golden things about the 80s. The shows loose ties to each other. Transformers and Joes intermingled character wise, and references, then joe and inhumanoids, among others. It was one giant net weaved world. But mostly it's just the scale like crossover that works the best. Not always blatant like transformers ones, we've also seen such a rise in the likes of joe scale usage, from marvel, to terminator, and even ben 10 and motion revive series. Like the joe scale marvel figures, oh wouldn't I give for joe scale anime icons. Like ryoko in battle armor, Ryo Ohki mech with sasami, pretty sammy, pretty cure, garo, and others of that ilk, Tenchi in love tenchi masaki in ninja armor, soul and maka, lupin, etc. Besides of course the first 90s Bubblegum crisis armors. Plus the Ryo Ohki mech can work for plushes and transformering, also stuff like FLCL would work. Power Rangers and Kamen rider have dabbled in this foray too. Albeit limited success, the japanese toku genre has mastered it pretty well. Looking at Faiz, and decade respectively. Bandai's motion revive also perfected this if they hadn't stopped making riders right before decade. Though their american attempts have been rather gawdy. That's the one thing to remember, and why SW transformers survive. Accuracy to both a SW character, and a vehicle. Thankfull something like Bubbgle gum crisis makes this easier with what vehicles are presented, and why not the AD Police guy into his car? This would really only work well for the overtly capable lines. Stuff like dragonball and naruto, or bleach wouldn't really fit, whereas stuff like soul eater with it's whackiness(SQUARE FTW! SOUL EATERxKINGDOM HEARTS someday?!) or other icons like astroboy or megaman could still work. And who wouldn't want Joe scale kingdom hearts figures? Or Soul Eater ones? Video game characters could really expand the idea somewhat too. Masterchief in joe scale or turns into vehicles? Sure why not. Capcom characters? Konami? Tecmo, so many could work in joe scale, but only a few like Metal gear solid, viewtiful joe, megaman, and Xenosaga could work in transformers. Burning Rangers is another that could play to both. Accuracy and capabilities are the key. I would outright buy human alliance michael knight and kitt (with web animation hyper mode robot mode). And Barbie seems to do some crossovers not bad either. But I don't see the logic in making naruto become a shuriken or vehicle. But Naruto to fox cold work like old school digimon figures. And while yes soul eater to weapons is obvious, but why not also the powered up forms, or simply the whackiness that is Shinigami's robot. Or Maka as the hybrid human weapon awesomeness. Not really transforming but they do use the same principle as automorph and mech alive. And I won't even bother with the awesomeness, of robotech, exosquad, voltron, macron 3, and more that could benefit. Or SerpentO.R. that turns into a chariot for joe serpentor to ride. Or the Ghost in the Shell spider tanks. Kingdom hearts seems to be the best approach to this methodology for some worlds. But media relating it, if even just a one shot special, would help carry them better. That's one of the reasons Kingdom hearts does it well. It just has to have a moderate amount of sense to the presented line, and be cool without becoming a roleplay weapon. No kid wants an ironman axe, or spiderman gun. Thor is probably the only exception to this. But thors hammer is also the name of a military weapon too. So I guess my final vote is, Accuracy to vehicles is a must for intended purposes to kids. For joe scale it has to be accurate and or just aestheticly pleasing with a wide array of choices, Inhumanoids for example can do this and bridge 3 gaps easily of marvel, joe, and transformers. If the joe scale were to dabble in anime, it'd have to be the surreal or similiar as well. Bubblegum crisis, Ghost In the Shell, Soul Eater, Trigun, Devil may Cry, Tenchi Muyo, Kingdom hearts, capcom and metal gear solid. Even Samus, and Link, or Mecha Sonic. (Robotnik roboticize!) Most of these would be ripe to go joescale or transformers. Besides, who doesn't want Movie GI Joes, using Movie transformers as vehicles? Scarlet with Flareup and a third powered armor mode for reverse pretendering. Or snake eyes, or baroness for that matter. Best of BGC, Transformers, and Joe all in one off shoot line. That could become a new inhumanoids sari/mikayla allspark hunting thing. >.> Sari in Joe Scale, Mikayla as a movie stylized version of Sari in joe scale, nest, GI Joe, earthcorp, Mask, and so on all being secret organizations like stargate only with allspark tech? Again why not. Then each can have subgroups or 'prototype' armors. Like more loosely based on Sari/Movie stylized Sari/BGC besides just the various inhumanoid monstrous armors, or the joes accel armors, or the reactive armors, or even maskes helmeted plain clothes decon like suits. =D The new weapon X initiative being hired by cobra. Etc. Of Course then again, I could be biased since I've already made 2 GI joe reactive armor X-23s. And use a Cobra combined with shocker logo for my sig... That's another that could be amazing to see. Cobra and Shocker merging for one massive genetic supersoldier army nightmare inspired by the red skull, Making GI joe unite with ambassadors like kamen rider 01, 02, and v3, black panther, storm, captain britain and union jack, canada's hero Guardian, captain america, etc. You just have to be selective with the icons and how it's presented. Marvel VS Capcom, SNK vs capcom chaos, NamcoXKonami, Super robot wars OG saga endless frontier, Kingdom hearts, all of these video games worked as crossovers. And would be perfect for Joe scale figures as well. To mix by that same notion they each use to present it. They could even work for TF crossovers. Fringe, Sliders, X-files, Reboot, soul eater, tenchi muyo, the gunsmith cats, Knight Rider and others all work for visual gag crossovers at least. That becomes an interesting question when you put references from all over instead of selective ones. TFA experimented with this on the multiverse like level of it's own characters. Just as the tenchi muyo creator has a tenchi reference in his works. Then we have shows like robot chicken that just use them all. Could a serious show work like that? Maybe. It'd throw people a big enough curve ball while being nostalgic. Like what if megatron tech helped make some of the mechanical stuff, and extreme quantum science stuff. Or what if Jem appeared on heroes as an Idol who could project holograms around herself as a power, and cashed in on the money of her pop star status, and anonymity? Somethings are intrigueing while others are lame, I guess navigating the waters is kinda hard. Even tron is just begging for joe scale figures, AND TF crossovers ones. oh and 5 more words. Cloverfield as an inhumanoids prequel. __________________ Last edited by Snowflakian; 10-02-2009 at 01:13 AM..

09-30-2009, 08:15 PM	#16
Optimus Clyde Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 43	First, let me say that no toy comany would conceive of a toy line unless it can work in the "long term" of the market it inhabits, say 6 months to 2 years...long enough for a Christmas or two...or a summer movie tie-in. If, however, we're talking about "long term" as it applies to the institution of the "crossover" in general, well, as a lifelong geek, I love the idea of crossovers, and they've been around for a long time in geek culture, though mostly in comics. Some of Hasbro's most popular lines have already crossed over in the pages of Marvel comics. With the right timing and support (comics, TV, web), some toy companies could use a crossover to bolster interest in any of their lines. Transformers Crossovers are cool, but as they are, they're nothing more than a novelty. They're not truly a "crossover" because, in the case of both the Star Wars and Marvel lines, none of the Transformers characters are present. Otherwise, again thinking along comic-book lines, properties that Hasbro owns outright could be thought of as a "universe" of their own. Given that, anything is possible. GI Joe, Transformers, M.A.S.K., or any other property could be mixed and matched to suit whatever purpose they wish. The same may be be possible for Mattel, I suppose. (I don't know enough about their lines to say if it makes any sense. He-Man / Hot Wheels? :P ) I think the question, though, is to what extent any company would want to take the "crossover". If Hasbro creates more crossover lines, will they just be more novelties like Star Wars and Marvel Crossovers? Will they just be gimmicks like the licensed Mr. Potato Head and Mighty Muggs toys? Or will they flesh out a passable scenario complete with fully realized storylines where characters from each line interact? That's what I want to see, but I don't think it's very likely. At least for now... Last edited by Optimus Clyde; 09-30-2009 at 08:27 PM..