Variant

That which varies is known as a variant. Changes in the manufacturing process, design adjustments, and other alterations often lead to Transformers toys which differ somehow from other examples of the same toy. Variants may also occur with packaging or other product besides toys.

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 Generation 1 Ultra Magnus.

Collectors consider the term to have a specific sense that distinguishes a variant from an error. A variant is something that they might want; an error is something they don't. This is not very helpful as a definition, unfortunately.

Generally, however, a variant is an alteration with neutral or positive consequences to the toy that is not an isolated incident, but has been found in some quantity. A variant, furthermore, is almost never an accident, but something the factory added by intent.

For example:


 * Cybertron Red Alert is assembled without a head. This is an error, not a variant; it is an isolated incident.


 * Armada Supercon Prime's toy had incorrectly assembled and less-poseable arms for a considerable part of its various production runs. This is a mistake which harms the toy; it is an error, not a variant.


 * Generation 1 Optimus Prime had remolded fist holes so that he could better hold his gun. This is an intentional change which improves the toy; it is a variant.


 * Some Scramble City-style combiners were produced both with and without rubsign indents. Neither version is harmed by this intentional change; it is a variant.


 * Dinobot Terranotron was also packaged as Swoop. This is a packaging variant.