Variant

2011-06-28T20:55:17Z

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[[Image:G1 Bumblebee Cliffjumper Red Yellow.jpg|thumb|right|310px|Wait till you see what crazy colors other countries got.]]
A '''variant''' is a product, usually a toy (in recent years, also often a comic), that is available in more than one version, but is technically considered the "same" product from a manufacturing standpoint. Each version differs from the other(s) in one or more ways. The exact definition of a variant is not cut-and-dry and varies from person to person. Though a variant is generally different from a [[redeco]] or re-release, even that line is blurry in some cases.

The distinction between an error and a variant is equally unclear: A variant is something that someone might want; an error is something people usually don't want. However, if the error becomes widespread, some people might start considering it a genuine variant. Generally, a variant does require some quantity of each version: Isolated one-of-a-kind freak incidents are not variants.

There are several possible causes for variants: In some instances, the manufacturer creates variants on purpose with the intention to sell more product to [[completist]]s; in other cases, a variation is the result of an effort to improve the product by altering it in some way in the middle of its production run, with some quantities of the unaltered version having been produced (and possibly already distributed) before the alteration was implemented. This is also referred to as a "'''running change'''". In some drastic cases, errors have been found during [[quality control]] which then have to be corrected. Sometimes these changes aren't even a conscious decision, but the by-product of subtle changes in the manufacturing process, minor differences in the materials used for different batches of the production run, etc. In the case of toys, variants aren't just limited to the toys themselves, but can also occur with their packaging or the paperwork included.

Many collectors enjoy finding variants. It can be fun to discover some difference in two supposedly-identical toys, and some differences are quite major. Some collectors make a hobby of collecting all variants of a particular toy, which can lead to impecunious insanity if this toy is one like [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Generation 1 Ultra Magnus]].

==Collector-incentive variants==
[[Image:Binaltech Smokescreen Toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Buy me twice!]]
Companies want to sell their products. Sometimes they try to sell multiples of the same product to the same buyer. One way to achieve this is by offering variants:
*''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Bumblebee]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Generation 1 2|Cliffjumper]] were both available in yellow and red versions well into the 1985 assortments. According to former [[Hasbro]] R&D Vice President [[George Dunsay]], this was a conscious decision to "make the line look bigger".<ref name="dunsay">[http://www.tfarchive.com/fandom/interviews/george_dunsay/george_dunsay_interview.php Interview with George Dunsay at TFArchive.com]</ref> Less clear is the case of [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]], an entirely different sculpt who was also sold in "Cliffjumper" packaging.
*[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] has offered quite a few simultaneously released variants of ''Transformers'' toys, usually marketed as such. Sometimes they are just color swaps using the same [[paint operation|paint mask]]s and [[tampograph]]s, while occasionaly, they are outright simultaneously released [[redeco]]s:
**''[[Alternators|Binaltech]]'' [[Smokescreen (G1)#Alternators/Binaltech|Smokescreen]] and his retool "Smokescreen GT" were both available in two slightly different decos, with two different driver-specific sets of decals each, based on the real-life rally cars the toys were based on. Similarily, ''Binaltech'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Alternators|Meister]] was available in both white and red versions, and [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Alternators|Prowl]] was even available with [[mold]] differences, as a black and white police car including a lightbar and as a blue civilian vehicle with a different rear spoiler. [[Tracks (G1)#Alternators|Tracks]] was also available in yellow and blue versions, but the blue version was released months after the yellow one and shipped all by itself, unlike the other ''Binaltech'' variants, each of which shipped in mixed [[case]]s.[[Image:G1 Vol.1 Issue1 all covers.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Buy me six times!]]
**Similarly, ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Galaxy Force]]'' [[Scrapmetal (race)|Ramble]] was simultaneously available in red, blue and yellow versions.
**Also, let's not forget the [[chase figure]]s from various [[blindpacking|blind-packed]] assortments like ''[[The Transformers: Micromaster|Micromaster]]'' or the [[JUSCO]] [[exclusive]] [[Spy Changer]]s.
*Sometimes stores also get [[exclusive]] variants of toys that include bonus non-toy accessories, such as DVDs (e.g. ''Cybertron'' Deluxes at [[Walmart]]), posters (e.g. ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' Deluxe "preview figures" at Walmart) or comic books (e.g. ''Movie'' [[Unleashed]] [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Merchandise|Bumblebee]] at [[Kmart]]). Occasionally the exclusive version is released in redesigned packaging (arguably making it a different product, see below), but not always.
*While '''variant covers''' have been a common staple in the comic book industry since the early 1990s, usually reserved for the first issue of a new series or special occasions (issue numbers like 500, 333 etc., major story-based events), both the late [[Dreamwave Productions]] and current ''Transformers'' comic publisher [[IDW Publishing]] took the concept to the max, with nearly ''every single'' ''Transformers'' comic published to date having been released with more than one cover.

==Market-specific variants==
[[Image:SunstreakerComparison.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Buy my superior deco!]]
Sometimes a toy is available in different versions in different markets. This mostly affects the toys' packaging, but differences between the toys themselves can also happen:
*The most common difference is between [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] versions of a toy. These can range from minor differences in the plastic colors to different plastic color layouts, different [[paint operation|paint masks]], different [[tampograph]]s and fully-blown different decos.
*Material differences can also occur, such as the [[die-cast]] metal parts used for Takara's ''[[Alternators|Binaltech]]'' toys versus Hasbro's mostly-plastic ''Alternators'' versions, ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Landmine (Movie)|Landmine]]'s Japanese version sporting [[rubber tires]] instead of the Hasbro version's plastic wheels, or the soft, flexible plastic used for [[for safety reasons|pointy parts]] on Hasbro's toys in the place of the harder plastic used on Takara's versions. (See also [[unpaintable plastic]].)
*In some cases there are even [[mold]] differences, such as some ''Binaltech'' toys having their steering wheels on the right side of their dashboards, whereas Hasbro's ''Alternators'' usually had the steering wheel on the left side. In addition, Hasbro's [[Windcharger (G1)#Alternators|Windcharger]] lacked the long gun barrel his ''Binaltech'' counterpart [[Overdrive#Binaltech|Overdrive]] came with, and [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Alternators|Prowl]] sported several changes with his car shell reflecting the differences between the real-life Acura RSX (''Alternators'' Prowl) and the Honda Integra Type R (''Binaltech'' Prowl).
[[Image:UniRedAlertThreeVersions.jpg|right|280px|thumb|Buy me in different countries!]]
*Packaging differences can range from "Hasbro-derived packaging with additional stickers for the Japanese market" ([[USA Edition]]s, ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' and ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' toys) to entirely different Japanese packaging for the Takara versions. Likewise, Japanese toys traditionally come with their own (oftentimes superior) [[instructions]].
*Hasbro themselves also have packaging differences between different markets: Whereas the United States market (as well as Australia, New Zealand and some other English-speaking countries) typically gets toys in English-only packaging, Canada and Central/South America used to be stuck with English/French/Spanish [[Multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]] and instructions and recently moved on to quadrilingual packaging including Portuguese, and [[Europe]] has to deal with an increasing number of languages on their packaging (currently twelve), and even ''more'' in the accompanying instructions.
*The European versions also replaced the US versions' [[package art]] with [[stock photography|stock photos]] of the toys themselves for undisclosed reasons between the tail end of ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and the launch of ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' and the second ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line.
[[Image:UltimateBattleUSEuro.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Buy me in another country without extras!]]
*Packaging shapes and sizes can also differ between markets, such as the smaller, DVD-less European version of the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' "Ultimate Battle" two-pack or the smaller ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Human Alliance]] packaging Australia got.
*Toys may even be distributed in packaging attributed to different [[franchise]]s in different Hasbro markets: For example, the original ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line's [[Micromaster]] [[combiner]] waves (originally [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]]s in the USA) were released in ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' ([[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]) and ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' ([[Railbot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]) packaging in European markets, but retained the same product code numbers. More complicated are the [[Superion (G1)#Universe (2008)|Superion]] and [[Bruticus (G1)#Universe (2008)|Bruticus Maximus]] combiner giftsets that were originally intended for the second ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line and were released in some markets (Australia, Singapore) in intended-for-the-US-market ''Universe'' packaging, but were released in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' packaging in the USA. Since the ''Revenge'' versions sported different product codes than their ''Universe'' counterparts, this raises the question whether they are to be considered "packaging variants" or different products (see below).
*Name variants mostly exist between Hasbro and Takara versions of toys; however, in the 1980s and 1990s, [[Generation 1 (European toyline)|European]] releases could even have different names on the toys' packaging for different markets (such as the [[Turbomaster]]s aka "Cannonmasters" and the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]]s). This practice has been abandoned with the introduction of uniform multilingual European packaging.
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==Running changes==
When companies come up with a way to slightly tweak and improve their product, they sometimes do so in the middle of the production run. This creates "running change" variants, but as far as the company is concerned, the later version is usually considered the "superior" product that is supposed to "replace" the earlier, "inferior" version. This can be an improved tooling of a toy, allowing for more stability of joints or pegs or higher plastic tolerances improving the toy's [[articulation]]; it can be minor changes to the coloration or deco, occasionally in an attempt to make the toy more [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]]; or it can be limited to the packaging and/or paperwork included with the toy.

Sometimes the changes of a toy's colors are very noticeable, suggesting other intentions than cosmetic improvements.
===Tooling===
[[Image:G2OptimusPrimeFuelTanksComp.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Variants not only drive completists insane, they also make it a lot more difficult to use toys [[for parts]].]]
*Many ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' toys were available both with and without [[rubsign]] indents.
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] had [[retool|retooled]] fist [[Peg|holes]] so that he could better hold his [[ion blaster]]. Furthermore, the weapon was also available with a larger barrel than the standard version.
*[[Transmetal]] [[Rattrap]]'s neck-hinge was retooled to include a "catch" that keeps his head upright better in robot mode.
*The first [[wave]] containing ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Bluestreak (G1)#Alternators|Silverstreak]] had the toy sport its steering wheel on the right side of the dashboard, a carry-over from the Japanese ''Binaltech'' release of the toy. Subsequent shipments replaced the interior with the tooling from its (earlier released) [[retool]] [[Smokescreen (G1)#Alternators|Smokescreen]], with the steering wheel on the left side.
*''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s air scoop on the roof of his car mode was made a touch bigger after the first half of his run when it was found that the [[rubsign]] did not fit on top of the scoop itself. Classics [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was made from the bigger air scoop [[mold]], as were [[BotCon]] 2007's [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] and "Classic" Bumblebee from the [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' "Legacy of Bumblebee" three-pack.
*''Movie'' [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class|Deluxe Class Classic Camaro Bumblebee]] saw two changes to his mold during its production run: The initial version had even tabs on its [[Automorph Technology|Automorph]] gimmick; the first modification saw that changed to an uneven tab, which frequently caused the gimmick to break, which in turn resulted in the toy refusing to stay in its [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]]; and the second modification, which was only available with the UK [[exclusive]] "Towed to Safety" two-pack with [[Longarm (Movie)|Longarm]] and with the more widely available "Evolution of a Hero" two-pack with Concept Camaro Bumblebee, saw the addition of another small tab which fixed the gimmick's fragility.<ref name="moviebbtab">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=38149 Comparison photos for all three tab variants of Movie Bumblebee's Automorph gimmick.]</ref> All three versions are, by definition, "variants", since they were intentional changes on behalf of the factory; but since the intermediate version worsened the toy, not all fans interested in collecting variants would want it.

===Materials===
*The "gray [[Roller (G1)|Roller]]" version of ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] (see below) had metal plates on the insides of his trailer/[[Combat Deck]] instead of stickers.
*''Generation 1'' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] were all originally available with rubber tires, while later shipments saw them replaced with plastic wheels. In addition, the first version of Rodimus Prime had toes made of [[die-cast]] metal, which were also replaced with plastic toes on the later version, and the second version of Metroplex replaced the [[vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] legs with flat white plastic legs.
*Some ''Generation 1'' [[Scramble City]]-style [[Combiner]] components were alternatively available with metal parts or in all-plastic versions.

===Colors and deco===
[[Image:Movie legends ratchet colorvariants.jpg|right|280px|thumb|Ignore the left one! Buy the right one!]]
*''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] was available with a gray [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] and gray missiles for his [[Combat Deck]], and with a blue Roller and black missiles. Furthermore, he second version also had an ''additional'' variant with a lighter shade of blue for both Roller and the Combat Deck components.
*The ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Grimlock]], [[Snarl (G1)#Generation 2 2|Snarl]] and [[Slag (G1)#Generation 2 2|Slag]] were all available in three different color variants, each released in sequence.
*The ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal 2]] toys [[Dinobot II]] and [[Prowl II|Prowl]] were some of Hasbro's early attempts at same-[[character]] [[redeco]]s: The first few [[wave]]s featured Dinobot in a bone-tan and purple coloration, whereas Prowl was white, turquoise, and red; several waves in, Dinobot's colors were changed to bright white with blue, and Prowl was now black, blue, and red. Neither toy's packaging made mention of the change, and both toys' packaging retained the same individual SKU rather than having them as completely new releases, as later lines would do with redecos.
*Early shipments of ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Unicron]] also had the toy still sporting the same colors as the original ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' release, eventually being replaced by an all-new [[redeco]].
*''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Legends Class]] [[Ratchet (Movie)#Legends Class|Autobot Ratchet]] was originally released in a very saturated green color, but later shipments saw his color changed to a lime-ish tone closer to the character's larger Voyager Class toy.
*Similarly, [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] [[Power Core Combiners]] [[Huffer (PCC)|Huffer]] originally had his truck mode hood painted in a notably dífferent shade of orange than the orange plastic used for the rest of the truck body. Later shipments changed the [[paint operation]] to a different shade that matched the plastic much better.
*''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] and [[Scattorshot (ROTF)|Scattorshot]] all had their colors changed to slightly darker tones in later shipments. It's possibly that this change wasn't actually intentional, but just the result of slightly differently mixed colors for the batch.
*Similarly, some toys with [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts were available in slightly different shades, such as ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Seaspray (G1)#Generation 2|Seaspray]] or ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal]] [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal]] (both with either "blue" or "purple" parts).

===Packaging and paperwork===
[[Image:EnergonPerceptorPackagingVariant.jpg|right|260px|thumb|''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' is dead! Long live ''[[The Powerlinx Battles]]''!]][[Image:ThunderwingInstructionsChange.jpg|right|190px|thumb|Not so fast, bucko.]]
*The ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] originally used a Roman numeral, "Transmetal '''II'''", but later changed it to an Arabic number, "Transmetal '''2'''".
*The [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] ''[[Transformers: Dinobots|Dinobots]]'' line had the name "Swoop" changed to "[[Terranotron (Dinobots)|Terranotron]]" on the toy's character card after initial shipments.
*Similarly, early versions of [[Red Alert (Armada)|Cybertron Defense Red Alert]] were also available with the "Cybertron Defense" prefix missing on the packaging.
*Lines that run longer than a year often see the introduction of a [[subline imprint]] such as the ''[[The Unicron Battles|Unicron Battles]]'' for ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'', the ''[[The Powerlinx Battles|Powerlinx Battles]]'' for ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'', ''[[Primus Unleashed]]'' for ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' or ''[[AllSpark Power]]'' for the [[Movie (toyline)|Movie line]]. This often coincides with a slight change of the packaging design. Sometimes, toys originally released before the packaging design change will also be available in the new design.
*The packaging ''size'' can also change. For example, some ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Mini-Con]] two-packs were also available in slightly smaller packaging at [[Walmart]] stores. Likewise, ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Human Alliance]] packaging was severely shrunk down for the Australian market following [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Human Alliance|Bumblebee's]] initial release, with a running change for Bumblebee himself.
*Some toys were available alternatively packaged in robot or [[alternate mode]]. Examples include the 1984 ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Cars]] for the 1985 lineup, or assorted ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' and ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Deluxe and Voyager Class toys. In the latter case, the packaging's orientation was also flipped sideways to keep the same dimensions. However, most of those alternate versions have only been released in Asia, so they might rather fall under "market-specific variants".
*Various ''[[Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toys came with [[instructions]] that depicted different heads and other sculpt differences compared to the actual toys, hinting at planned [[retool]]s for those toys. The line art for ''Generations'' [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing's]] instructions, for example, depicted a head and chest more reminiscent of ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' Thunderwing's Japanese counterpart, ''[[Victory (toyline)|Victory]]'' [[Black Shadow]]. However, a running change version of the instructions changed the head (but not the chest) to Thunderwing's.
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==Variants from gang-molding==
In some rare cases, toys that were [[gang-molding|gang-molded]] with other toys were available in unintentional variants when the toys they were gang-molded with were [[redeco]]ed for a subsequent [[wave]]:
*The ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]] [[Gearhead]] and [[Motormouth]] were both available with either clear or solid plastic parts. The clear plastic parts corresponded with the clear car shells of their wave-mates [[Firecracker]] and [[Blowout]], the solid plastic parts with the car shells of Go-Bot [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Megatron]] (redecos of Firecracker and Blowout, respectively).

==Borderline cases==
===Variant or different product?===
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|Buy two of us for exclusive accessories, and the third one for the toy itself!]]
Following ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal 2]] [[Dinobot II]] and [[Prowl II|Prowl]], [[Hasbro]] decided to become more straightforward about same-character [[redeco]]s, which have been treated as separate products since then:
*The "new style" redecos of ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]], [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] and [[X-Brawn]] sported different product code numbers, as did the red and yellow versions of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]].
*Likewise, the limited edition version of ''Cybertron'' [[Primus]] with the [[Unicron]] head accessory also had different product code and assortment numbers than the regular, bonus-free release, as did the re-releases of ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Alternators|Prowl]], [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Alternators|Meister]] and [[Tracks (G1)#Alternators|Autobot Tracks]] in the new "bubble" style packaging.
*The same applies to store exclusive versions of toys containing "Bonus" figures such as [[Mini-Con]]s or [[Legends Class]] toys. Officially, they are separate products; but some collectors might consider them "variants".
[[Image:SteamhammerEnergonUniverse.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Buy me again for less money!]]
*Furthermore, various ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toys were re-released in [[rebranding|rebranded]] ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' packaging as "Dollar store" exclusives, again sporting different product code numbers than their initial releases.
*The [[Target]]-exclusive ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]] and [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]] [[combiner]] giftsets sported different product code numbers than their ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' counterparts released in Australia and Singapore, though the Target versions ''were'' originally intended to be released in ''Universe'' packaging as well. (One might argue that the different-franchise packaging makes them different [[character]]s, though chances are the marketing department didn't put nearly as much thought into this as fans do.)
*On the other hand, there's things like the re-release of ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]] in ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' packaging ([[exclusive]] to [[Toys"R"Us]]) five years after his ''Armada'' release, but sporting the same product code number (the fact that he sports minor color differences compared to the ''Armada'' version doesn't help either).
*Similarly, several ''[[Alternators]]'' toys ([[Bluestreak (G1)#Alternators|Silverstreak]], [[Swindle (G1)#Alternators|Swindle]]) were re-released in Europe in the new "bubble" style packaging or were ''only'' released in that packaging style ([[Shockwave (G1)#Alternators|Shockblast]], [[Decepticharge#Alternators|Decepticharge]], [[Dead End (G1)#Alternators|Dead End]]), even though they were only released in one of the earlier packaging styles in the USA. And whereas the bubble-style re-releases in the USA sported different product code and assortment numbers than their previous releases, the Europe-only bubble-style ''Alternators'' sported the same product codes as their original US (and European, in Silverstreak and Swindle's cases) releases. Needless to say, the line between "variant" and "different product" gets very blurry here.
*Probably the most bizarre case were redecos of ''Movie'' [[Legends Class]] [[Jazz (Movie)#Legends Class|Autobot Jazz]] and [[Barricade (Movie)#Legends Class|Barricade]] (a minor, yet distinct redeco in Jazz's case) that were released in "Allspark Battles" two-packs (possibly part of the ''[[AllSpark Power]]'' [[subline imprint]], based on the similar packaging design) with a new Legends Class sculpt of [[Bonecrusher (Movie)#Legends Class|Bonecrusher]] and Legends [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Legends Class|Bumblebee's]] redeco [[Cliffjumper (Movie)#Legends Class|Cliffjumper]] in the USA, respectively. While the two-packs are clearly different products to most collectors, the Jazz and Barricade redecos were released as single packs in Europe, sporting the same product codes as their original releases... even though Barricade not only sported an entirely different deco, but also a modified name, "Recon Barricade".

===Errors===
[[Image:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|thumb|230px|right|Buy me and fix me!]][[Image:GrappelGripMudflapEuro.jpg‎|thumb|230px|right|Make mistake?]]
Sometimes running changes do not simply tweak the toys slightly, but are actually intended to fix errors that were caught during [[quality control]], but not until some quantities of the flawed version had already shipped. In some cases the difference between outright "errors" and genuine "variants" is blurry (see the examples for ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Legends Class]] [[Ratchet (Movie)#Legends Class|Autobot Ratchet]] or [[Power Core Combiners]] [[Huffer (PCC)|Huffer]] above), but even in instances where something is objectively a defect, some collectors still consider the earlier, faulty versions as "variants":
*Considerable quantities of the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Jumpstarter]]s were available with each other's [[Package art|character artwork]] depicted in the [[Tech Spec]]/[[bio]] strips.
*Early shipments of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] (a redeco of the ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' Super-Con Optimus Prime toy) had incorrectly assembled and less-poseable arms, just like the ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Battle in a Box]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] release of the sculpt before it. In Prime's case, some people consider the incorrectly assembled version an "error" because it was done unintentionally; others, however, consider it a "variant", because it has been released in considerable quantities, and the later, corrected version was an intentional change.
*The European version of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Scout Class [[Dead End (ROTF)#Scout Class|Dead End]] was initially released with the name "Detour", an early working name of the toy, on the cardboard insert inside the packaging's blister bubble (though the back of the card and the instructions correctly identified him as "Dead End"). Later shipments replaced the cardboard insert with a corrected "Dead End" version.
*A particularly odd case: ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Fast Action Battlers]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)#Fast Action Battlers|Grapple Grip Mudflap]] had his name spelled as "Grapp'''el''' Grip Mudflap" all over his [[multilingual packaging|European packaging]], whereas the North American version had it corrected into "Grapple". However, considering that the spelling was ''also'' used on [[Hasbro]]'s public website<ref name="fabhasbro">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/shop/details.cfm?guid=B237456C-7A23-1014-B596-FBA5EE4D560D&product_id=24286&src=endeca Hasbro website entry for FAB "Grappel Grip" Mudflap]</ref>, and is repeated with [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] "[[Grapple|Solar Storm Grapp'''el''']]", this raises the question ''which'' version is officially to be considered the "incorrect" one, and whether the "Grappel" (mis)spelling is in fact intentionally used for [[trademark]] reasons...
*While less common, running changes can also occur in comics: The original printing run of [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' [[Movie Prequel issue 1|issue 1]] featured a printing error, with the text captions from page 2 repeated on page 5. The shipment was recalled by IDW, and a second printing run with the error corrected was shipped to retailers. Some fans kept the flawed version of the comic instead of exchanging it for the fixed version, considering it a "variant".

==Not variants==
===An isolated incident does not a variant make===
[[Image:BTAltProwlMisassemblies.jpg|thumb|180px|left|One variant? ''Hundreds''!]]While the errors listed above are considered genuine variants by some collectors, there are lots of other cases where the common consensus is that these are ''not'' variants: Every collector has probably encountered at least one one-of-a-kind freak error over the years ([[Red Alert (Armada)|Cybertron Red Alert]] assembled without a head, a toy lacking some of its [[paint operation]]s etc.). Unless this error affected considerable quantities of the production run, and is found on all specimens of the same toy packed in multiple [[case]]s, this isn't considered a "variant" by the vast majority of the [[fandom]].

Likewise, if a single specimen contains an entirely different toy (or at least an entirely different deco of the toy) than depicted on the packaging, this was most likely done by somebody who didn't want to pay for the toy and thus returned the packaging to the store with another toy inside. This is a case of [[toy swapping]] (simply put, a variety of store theft), and no more a "variant" than a fan-made [[Customizing|custom]]. A genuine ''variant'' requires something to occur at the factory stage.
{{-}}
===Pre-release items===
[[Image:Universe2008 G1Cyclonus.jpg|thumb|200px|right|You can't get it in the market NOW! Woh!!!]]
Pre-release items such as [[prototype]]s, test shots and packaged samples that differ from the final products in sculpt, plastic color, paint, deco or packaging details do not count as "variants" either. True variants only exist between different specimen of officially released and distributed products. So unless the pre-release version has been officially released in some quantities before a running change replaced it with the more common version, it's not a variant. Stolen prototypes do not count.
{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.Fredsworkshop.com/ Fred's Complete Variants Page] — Very thorough online variant resource.

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Unofficial conventions

2010-09-09T01:44:25Z

75.73.63.74: /* Conventions */

With ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' being such a popular brand with a well-spread-out fan base, numerous '''unofficial conventions''' have sprung up over the years, often featuring many guests who worked on official ''Transformers'' projects.

{{note|Due to this wiki's policy on unofficial material, we do not have full pages for any of these events.}}

==Conventions==
* '''[http://www.autoassembly.org.uk Auto Assembly]'''
**Auto Assembly 2009: August 15th and 16th - Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, England
**Auto Assembly 2010: scheduled for August 13th to 15th - Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, England

* '''[[BotCon 2004]]''' (There was an unofficial [[BotCon]].)
**BotCon 2004 (unofficial): June 19th and 20th - Pasadena, California, USA

* '''[http://www.cyberconexpo.com/ Cybercon Expo]'''
**Cybercon Expo I 2003: April 5th - Holiday Inn, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA
**Cybercon Expo Wave 2 2003 : November 1st - Radisson Hotel, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, USA
**Cybercon Expo Act 3 2004: April 10th - Radisson Hotel, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, USA
**Cybercon Expo 2005: July 29th and 30th - New York City, New York, USA

* '''[http://www.ntf-cons.de/ C.O.N.S.]'''
**C.O.N.S. 2009: July 19th - Viersen, Germany

* '''[http://www.freewebs.com/dairylandtransfans/DTFdairycon.html Dairycon]'''
**Dairycon 1.0 2001: November 24th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2.0 2002: September 14th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 3.0 2003: October 18th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 4.0 2004: April 10th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2005: April 9th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2006: April 8th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2007: April 14th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2008: March 29th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2009: April 24th and 25th - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2010: April 9th and 10th -Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA
**Dairycon 2011: TBD

* '''[http://www.iaconone.com/ Iacon One]'''
**Iacon One 2006: July 7th and 8th - Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

* '''[http://www.ntfa.net/ntfa/minicons/index.php NTFA Mini-Con]'''
**NTFA Mini-Con 2007: November 3rd to 5th - Arlöv, Sweden

* '''[http://www.slagacon.com/ Slag-a-con]'''
**Slag-a-con 2010: scheduled for October 9th - Chesterfield, Indiana, USA

* '''[http://www.tfcon.ca/ TFcon]'''
**TransformersCon 2002: November 10th - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
**TransformersCon 2003: June 22nd - Burlington, Ontario, Canada
**TransformersCon 2004: March 12th and 13th - [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
**TransformersCon 2005: March 25th and 26th - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
**TransformersCon 2006: April 28th and 29th - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
**TransformersCon 2007: April 27th and 28th - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
**TFcon 2008: June 20th and 21st - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
**TFcon 2009: April 25th and 26th - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
**TFcon 2010: July 17th and 18th - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

* '''[http://www.tf-conversions.com/ TF-Conversions]''' (Convention was originally called B.O.T.S. before changing names in 2009.)
**B.O.T.S. 2007: ??? - Nieuwegein, Holland
**B.O.T.S. 2008: June 8 - Nieuwegein, Holland
**TF-Conversions 2009: June 14 - Nieuwegein, Holland

* '''[http://homepage2.nifty.com/Q-M1022/ TraFest]'''
**TraFest 2010: scheduled for November 28th - Higashi Betsuin Kaikan, Tachibana, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Japan

* '''Transcon''' (organized by [[Men in Black]] Productions)
**Transcon II: July 1997 - Chicago, IL, USA
**Transcon III: September 1998 - Toledo, OH, USA
::(Held simultaneously with "Microcon", a ''[[Microman]]'' convention, and "Megocon".)

* '''[http://www.cybph.com/the-philippine-transformers-cybercon/ Transformers Cybercon]'''
**Transformers Cybercon 2007: June 23rd and 24th - Shangri La Mall, Philippines

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[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Conventions]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Variant

Unofficial conventions