|
Economy was a maxim for the series, with near-identical backing cards and boxes used (individual designations were generally stickered on), and no media support was commissioned. |
With
Transformers experiencing a moderate revival in 1993, it was
perhaps inevitable Bandai would try for the same. Europe had always
been a strong market for the company in the 1980s, and was thus selected
to receive the new line. Named Robo Machines - a clear nod to
predecessor |
New to the West were the first five CG Robo designs, marketed as Robo Machines Light & Sound. In the UK - at least - these were given names, uniquely among the line, which largely used simple designations (Hasbro, by now, owned the various trademarks used on Robo Machine figures in the 1980s, even though Bandai retained the rights to the actual moulds). |
The
backbone of the series were reissues of old Machine Robo Series moulds.
Seventeen of these were issued in all, most of which used their Robo
Machine colour schemes. All, however, received substantially modified
sticker sheets, removing any registered trademarks or text referencing
specific armed forces. Six old larger figures were issued too, as De
Luxe Robo Machines - three from the original Scalerobo DX series, two
from the Big Machine Robo series, and one that had only been released
as a Super Gobot. |
The line also made several rarer figures and variants more common in Europe, including Ace, Bent Wing, Zero, Carry-All, the silver version of Throttle and the white/blue version of Water Walk. |
While
the sticker sheet changes did technically produce a whole new line of
variants, only a handful of figures are really worthy of note. Firstly,
there was the wider release of the five CG Robo figures. Secondly,
the De Luxe Sports Coupe II (a.k.a. Porsche 928 S Scalerobo, a.k.a.
Herr Fiend) was given a brand new red and black colour scheme, for no
readily apparent reason. Thirdly, the standard Sports Car figure (a.k.a.
Porsche Robo, a.k.a. Crasher) had to have an entirely new sticker sheet,
totally obliterating any sign of the Rothmans branding from the original,
and while the toy remained largely white, the overall effect is notably
different.|
As it is, Robo Machines remains a footnote in history, best known now as a way of getting some Gobots on the cheap. It remains Bandai's most recent attempt to relaunch Machine Robo in the West. |
Robo
Machines wasn't much of a success - continuing the line for another
year with further 1980s reissues and CG Robo moulds would have
been pretty cheap, and the line couldn't even justify that expense,
ending after a single year. Any mooted American relaunch was quickly
abandoned. The 1980s toys were probably incredibly archaic and outdated
in the hands of small children at that time, and ever-tightening toy
safety rules probably didn't help. |
Robo
Machines Resources on Counter-X.net: - See
Also: |
