Now, I don't want to continue the love for Marty/Godbeast, but I will say that he's a great guy that did help me get back into the hobby. 9 years ago (man, I can't believe it's been nine years, crazy!), I was just starting to get back into Battle Beasts. I had a fraction of the information that the other collectors had. But I was very passionate. And while I loved the original line, Marty's customs on his site and this board were a huge jolt of excitement for me. I starting writing him immediately, and he gave me a lot of great advice to get started, and even helped me get my collection growing in that initial, infant stage. He also inspired me to start making my own customs. Now, I have made almost a hundred hand made customs over the year for different members here, as well some for myself. Marty was a big reason for that. Since, I have kept in touch with Marty often, always seeing him when he comes to Chicago. I also have to give props for Johnny/Jkaris. He also did his massive part to help get me going and keep me going with Battle Beasts, harboring my excitement and customs on this board.
Getting back to battle beasts, I am extremely excited about this line, as I am also very excited for Beast Saga, Marty, Matt and Jason's Armorvors and the Rise of the Beasts. We as collectors, spent so long where our passion for the line alone kept up our interest in this toy line, without anything new outside of custom figures to add to our collections. I have made soo many customs (some successful, some not so much that you guys won't ever see) because I craved new figures for my battle beasts to cross swords with. And now, we are getting a whole slew of new beasts, in different forms and in a very short time span. I can't help but be very excited. And for the customizer and painter in me, I have to say that I love the way I can swap out parts to make a new beast with the minimates. I'll continue to make customs from the old battle beasts, as well as customs from the beast saga line, but I am looking forward to not cutting up my fingers from razor blades and xacto knives customizing the minimates beasts. I think that each new beast line has it's own great properties to it that makes each one a good successor to the battle beasts heritage.
I can see why some people may not like the line. They are similar enough that most of us are going to love the line, but they are different from the original battle beasts, which it seems like something you guys intend to do. These differences may mean that some BB collector's won't like the new line. Pretty much all battle beasts, at 112 different figures, utilized the same core design of a squat body, shoulder articulation only and a rub sticker or orb. These new battle beasts are different from that. They are very poseable. They are a bit more human proportioned. Even though you are using the minimate body underneath, from the looks of the panel, each beast seems to be very different than the other. And they don't have the fire/wood/water rubsigns. But for me, the things that were most important to me about battle beasts were; they were anthromorphic animal warriors in battle armor, were small in size (about 2") so that I could easily fit them in my pocket or have an army of them fighting, and that there was enough "character" in the sculpt to keep my imagination going and inspire me to create stories and characters for each one. For me, this new line has all the things I am looking for. But everyone has different reasons and qualities in BBs that makes them love the original line. It's not going to be for everyone. But you've got me as an excited customer, waiting anxiously to get my hands on more.
If there is a complaint that I would have, it's that I haven't seen concept art for a chameleon battle beast. You have to do a chameleon. The line will not be complete without one.
Zach, I think that once people see Battle Beasts in toys r us, they are going to get very excited, and most of them will love the line and buy them. I can't wait for that moment, that I can go into the store and buy Battle Beasts again. I am going to relive my 5 year childhood again, saving up allowance money to get my favorite animals. If you told me that this would happen 10 years ago, I wouldn't have believed you.
Zach, it was great to meet you at C2E2. I have also introduced myself on the multiverse board, as Delta Chameleon. Marty, always great to see you. Only regret that I didn't have as much time to talk, since your booth was packed with people! Congrats on that. But next year we'll have to plan to have a bit more time to catch up. And Pete and Gabe, always great to see you two as well. Looking forward to seeing all of you again next year at C2E2. By the way, Pete, when am I going to be making you another lion?
Eric
Edited by koppenschevelle, 23 April 2012 - 07:44 AM.