RadioShack: Difference between revisions
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'''RadioShack''' is an American-based chain of electronics stores, | '''RadioShack''' is an American-based chain of electronics stores, formerly one of the largest in the country throughout the 80s and 90s. Their retail presence has drastically declined since, with the company filing for bankruptcy in 2015 and most physical stores eventually disappearing as they moved towards a primarily online-centric business model. | ||
They've sold some unique ''Transformers'' merchandise over the years, as well as being the progenitors of a rather popular [[pre-Transformers]] toy. | |||
{{TOCclear}} | {{TOCclear}} | ||
== | ==Overview== | ||
[[File:Galactic Man.png|300px|thumb|Oh, you thought [[Megatron (G1)/toys|the other guy]] had it bad?]] | [[File:Galactic Man.png|300px|thumb|Oh, you thought [[Megatron (G1)/toys|the other guy]] had it bad?]] | ||
RadioShack's first interaction of sorts with the ''Transformers'' franchise came during the run of [[The Transformers (franchise)|the original toyline]] in the mid-80s, when they sold an [[exclusive]], Tandy-licensed version of the [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] mold, named "Galactic Man" (though, among the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]], its often referred to by the nickname "Shackwave"). Contrary to early-fandom belief, Galactic Man is not actually a [[knockoff]] and was fully licensed by [[ToyCo]] (the original owner and distributor of the toy's mold), despite the packaging omitting any form of ToyCo branding. | |||
The figure features four modes; a [[robot mode]], an "Anti-Aircraft Gun" mode, a "Vulcan Base Destroyer" mode, and a "Handheld Laser Gun" {{sic}} mode. Much like [[Hasbro]]'s Shockwave, the toy features lights and sounds that are activated by pulling the gun's trigger. There are two settings for this toy: rapid-fire sound effects and long-beam sound effects—both of which can be changed by flicking a switch. A pulsating light also flashes down the barrel to the rhythm of either of the sound effect settings. | |||
There are some small similarities between Galactic Man and Shockwave, as both were produced together in [[South Korea]].<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-astro-magnum-tracking-down-the-shockwave-mold/9709/news.html "After the Astro Magnum was produced in South Korea, during the Transformers period, production shifted to China where the production cost was cheaper."] - Interview with ToyCo at Tokyo Toy Show in [[2008]].</ref> On the battery covers both have a "Made in Korea" stamp, whereas the original Astro Magnum has a "Made in Japan" stamp. Further, the copyright on the inside of Galactic Man and Shockwave's legs is stamped "ToyCo Trademark [[1983]]"; however, the copyright on Astro Magnum does not include the "1983".<ref>https://soundwavesoblivion.blogspot.com/2015/06/galactic-man-toyco.html</ref> | |||
About two decades later, in conjunction with the [[Transformers (film)|2007 ''Transformers'' movie]], RadioShack introduced a variety of ''Transformers'' radio-controlled cars under license from [[Hasbro]] and [[DreamWorks]], under their ''ZipZaps'', ''XMODS Evolution'' and ''Micro IR'' brands, the last of which are capable of transforming to robot mode. | |||
{{--}} | {{--}} | ||
==Merchandise== | ==Merchandise== | ||
===''Transformers'' (2007)=== | ===''Transformers'' (2007)=== | ||
[[File:Movie_OptimusPrime_ZipZaps.jpg|200px|thumb|ZipZaps Optimus Prime]] | |||
{{stub}} | |||
==Note== | |||
*At one point, RadioShack sold a toy called "AM Robot Radio", featuring a design identical to Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. This same mold would also be released by [[Nasta]] as an official Transformers-branded toy called "Robot AM Radio", which suggests that RadioShack's version was a [[knockoff|bootleg]]... Or, possibly, that it might as well have been the original toy and Nasta's version was simply a rebrand with the official Transformers logo stamped on it. "But it seems unlikely that a very clearly copyright-infringing design would just get the Transformers license from Hasbro", you say? Well, [[Walkie Talkie Robot|think again]]. "Okay, but not when the copyright being infringed is the Transformers brand itself", you right respond? Ohohoh, [[Radio AM Robot|you fool]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 01:14, 17 April 2025
RadioShack is an American-based chain of electronics stores, formerly one of the largest in the country throughout the 80s and 90s. Their retail presence has drastically declined since, with the company filing for bankruptcy in 2015 and most physical stores eventually disappearing as they moved towards a primarily online-centric business model.
They've sold some unique Transformers merchandise over the years, as well as being the progenitors of a rather popular pre-Transformers toy.
Overview
RadioShack's first interaction of sorts with the Transformers franchise came during the run of the original toyline in the mid-80s, when they sold an exclusive, Tandy-licensed version of the Shockwave mold, named "Galactic Man" (though, among the Transformers fandom, its often referred to by the nickname "Shackwave"). Contrary to early-fandom belief, Galactic Man is not actually a knockoff and was fully licensed by ToyCo (the original owner and distributor of the toy's mold), despite the packaging omitting any form of ToyCo branding.
The figure features four modes; a robot mode, an "Anti-Aircraft Gun" mode, a "Vulcan Base Destroyer" mode, and a "Handheld Laser Gun" [sic] mode. Much like Hasbro's Shockwave, the toy features lights and sounds that are activated by pulling the gun's trigger. There are two settings for this toy: rapid-fire sound effects and long-beam sound effects—both of which can be changed by flicking a switch. A pulsating light also flashes down the barrel to the rhythm of either of the sound effect settings.
There are some small similarities between Galactic Man and Shockwave, as both were produced together in South Korea.[1] On the battery covers both have a "Made in Korea" stamp, whereas the original Astro Magnum has a "Made in Japan" stamp. Further, the copyright on the inside of Galactic Man and Shockwave's legs is stamped "ToyCo Trademark 1983"; however, the copyright on Astro Magnum does not include the "1983".[2]
About two decades later, in conjunction with the 2007 Transformers movie, RadioShack introduced a variety of Transformers radio-controlled cars under license from Hasbro and DreamWorks, under their ZipZaps, XMODS Evolution and Micro IR brands, the last of which are capable of transforming to robot mode.
Merchandise
Transformers (2007)
Note
- At one point, RadioShack sold a toy called "AM Robot Radio", featuring a design identical to Generation 1 Optimus Prime. This same mold would also be released by Nasta as an official Transformers-branded toy called "Robot AM Radio", which suggests that RadioShack's version was a bootleg... Or, possibly, that it might as well have been the original toy and Nasta's version was simply a rebrand with the official Transformers logo stamped on it. "But it seems unlikely that a very clearly copyright-infringing design would just get the Transformers license from Hasbro", you say? Well, think again. "Okay, but not when the copyright being infringed is the Transformers brand itself", you right respond? Ohohoh, you fool.
References
External links
- RadioShack at Wikipedia
- Tandy Corporation at Wikipedia
- Official homepage
