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Beyblade (toy)

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Beyblade is a brand name for a line of spinning top toys originally developed and manufactured by Takara Tomy, first released in 2000. The main premise of the series that the Beyblade (sometimes shortened to "Bey" or "Blade") is customizable, with interchangeable parts

Contents

Both the toys and their name were inspired by "Beigoma", a traditional spinning top. The concept is similar to Battling Tops, a board game developed by Ideal Toy Company in 1968. The introduction of the toy corresponded with the broadcast of the Beyblade anime television series of the same name. In 2001, the series was licensed by Korean toymaker Sonokong. In 2002, Hasbro began to sell Beyblade toys internationally (under license from, and produced by, Takara) along with a coordinated country-by-country release of localized versions of the TV series. In August 2008, Takara Tomy released Beyblade: Metal Fusion; the first incarnation of the toy in three and a half years. The series was followed up in 2015 with Beyblade: Burst.

Rules

The game is played with two players. Each player is allowed up to three Beyblades to choose from during a match. Players may use any parts available to them to make their Beyblades as long as they are not restricted (such as in tournament play), but may not switch parts once a match has started. Players may choose from any of the three Beyblades they have with them for any battle in a match. The first player to reach seven points wins.

Points are awarded to the player based on how their Beyblade knocks out the opponent's:

  • One point is awarded if the opponent's Beyblade stops spinning (Spin-out).
  • One point is awarded if the opponent's Beyblade is knocked out of the stadium or into a pocket on the edge of the ring (Ring-Out).
  • Beginning with Beyblade: Burst, two points are awarded if the opponent's Beyblade bursts (hence the name) during a battle (Burst Finish).

    • In the event of a draw (both Beyblades are knocked out of the ring, stop spinning simultaneously, or burst at the same time), points are awarded to both players. If both players reach seven points as a result of a draw, the first player to definitively win a battle is the winner.

    Types of Beyblades

    Each Beyblade has a different type. It determines what Type they are best at. The types follow a "Rock-Paper-Scissors" sort of program: Attack beats Stamina, Stamina beats Defense, Defense beats Attack. Also there is a "Balance" type listed below.

  • Attack/Striker: These Beyblades specialize in attacking other Beyblades. They battle fiercely and try to knock out the other Beyblade as fast as they can. They tend to outperform Stamina-Type Beyblades due to their lack of defense.
  • Defense/Defendor: These Beyblades specialize in knocking back attacks. They tend to travel slowly and are heavier than other types, resulting in opponents being deflected. Their weight also causes them to launch slower, resulting in less stamina. They tend to wear down Attack-types but are outlasted by Stamina.
  • Endurance/Stamina/Survivor: These Beyblades specialize in stamina. They are used so they can out-spin the enemy Bey and win. In exchange for a lack of power, their stamina last-longer against other Type of Beyblades making them naturally advantageous over Defense-Types, which focus on resisting hits.
  • Combination/Balance: These Beyblades specialize in a mix of the other three types listed above, giving them no glaring strengths or weaknesses. They use a mix of Attack, Defense, and Stamina Types put together to make an even mix to win.

    • Stadiums

    All Beyblade battles take place in a special arena called a Beystadium. Most stadiums are standard, while others have gravity effects and more. Some stadiums include gimmicks such as spinning discs or small recesses that affect gameplay.

    Different stadiums were released in different markets. TakaraTomy and Sonokong used Beystadiums similar to those featured in the anime, with open sections in the walls and pockets on the sides to launch into, Hasbro designed new stadiums with high walls and pockets that counted as a ring-out instead.

    Common features of a Beystadium include a shallow impression called a cyclone ridge, which allows Attack type Beyblades to move around quickly without accidentally knocking themselves out, and cyclone points, which are recessed disks in the stadium floor that spin freely to add randomness to a battle.

    System

    The "Basic System" tops are the first generation of Beyblade tops. They are made entirely of plastic, with the exception of Weight Disks and some tips. These Beyblades consist of four basic parts:

  • Face: A decorative plate inserted into the Attack Ring of the Beyblade, adorned with a small icon of a mythical creature. In the anime, these creatures' souls were actually housed in the Beyblades themselves. Later Beyblades included a clear Bit Protector that prevented damage to the Bit Chip.
  • Attack Ring (AR): The Attack Ring determines the blade's effect when it impacts against its opponent, as this is normally the first part to come into contact with the opposing blade. Also, the Attack Ring holds the Bit Chip in place on the top, preventing it from coming off mid-battle.
  • Weight Disk (WD): The metal Weight Disk adds weight to the bey, making it harder to bash around.
  • Blade Base (BB): The Blade Base determines how the Beyblade spins, and also affects its movement pattern. The Blade Base determines the direction of the Beyblade's rotation; either clockwise (right) or counterclockwise (left) dependent on what Spin Gear is used. The BB is attached to the AR.

    • Magnacore System (MG)

    Introduced with the V-series, the "Magnacore" line of Beyblade toys featured magnetic Spin Gears and Weight Disks to attract or repel blades from each other. Additionally, one could purchase magnets that were affixed to the bottom of one's Beystadium, which affected the movement patterns of the Beyblades.

    Engine Gear System (EG)

    Engine Gear tops were introduced with the G-series, and retain the same major design of a typical Beyblade, including a Bit Piece, an Attack Ring, a Weight Disk, and a Blade Base; Engine Gear tops, however, replace the typical Spin Gear with a more advanced Engine Gear, which affects the movement of the top during the battle. Each Engine Gear includes a Turbo Winder to wind-up the engine core. When in action, the Blade Base releases the Engine Gear determined by the Blade Base's clutch lock system. This series of beyblades were the last ones to be made of plastic parts with the exception of the weight disks. The later ones were semi metal or completely metal.

    Engine gear types

  • Engine Gear: The default engine gear that comes with most beyblades in G-revolution, but their tip is varied.
  • Turbo Engine Gear: First released with the left-spinning Dragoon GT, the Turbo Engine Gear gives an even more powerful release than that of the original engine gear that comes with a larger turbo winder.
  • Reverse Gear: The Engine Gear spins in the opposite direction of the rest of the top. This engine gear is only bundled with Dranzer GT, which uses this gear for a reverse zig-zag attack. Although this attack can be very effective, the beyblade loses spin when the gear kicks in. As with Dragoon GT, it comes with a larger turbo winder.
  • Gyro Engine Gear: This unique type allows the tip of the Beyblade to spin independently. Thus the beyblade can be launched without a launcher, as a ripcord can be inserted into the beyblade.

    • Blade base types

  • Instant Release or First Clutch: The Engine Gear triggers at the beginning of the battle, resulting in a large burst of speed almost immediately after launch.
  • Steady Release: The Engine Gear triggers at the beginning of the battle, but releases earlier because of the weight of the beyblade on the larger or wider revolving blade base, which is attached directly to the engine gear. Used in Rock Bison and Wolborg 4.
  • Hit Release or Final Clutch: The Engine Gear triggers when the blade base collides with an object, or when the beyblade is running out of spin, and releases a quick burst of speed. The clutches must be pulled prior to winding the spin gear.
  • Middle Clutch: Built exclusively for Dranzer GT, the middle clutch has a similar design to the final clutch base, but releases the engine gear in the middle of the match; earlier than a final clutch but not instant as in the First Clutch base.

    • Hard/Heavy Metal System (HMS)

    Beyblade HMS (Hard Metal System) is a line of Beyblade toys released after the Engine Gear line of blades in respect to the anime series. This series, unlike ones in the past, use smaller pieces made mostly of metal. HMS Beyblades have a distinct advantage over previously released Beyblades, that being that their spin velocities are 1.5-2× faster.

    These tops are composed of a four-layer part system:

  • Bit Protector: This holds the parts together, unlike its plastic counterpart, the Bit Chip, which was merely decorative. With the release of the first 5 HMS Beyblades, 2 different stickers for made for the Bit Protector, one of a "bit beast" and one of the emblem. The emblem stickers were the only ones that appeared in later Beyblade toys.
  • Attack Ring: This is composed of an inner metal part screwed to an outer ABS caul. Typically there would be a ring made of plastic that connected to the second ring made of metal. The attack rings were fashioned in many different styles.
  • Weight Disk: HMS Weight Disks are completely round, unlike plastic Weight Disks which were shaped as hexa-, octa-, and decagons. There are also Customizable Weight Disks, which have plastic and metal parts, the plastic parts giving the Weight Disk a certain feature.
  • Running Core: The Blade Base of HMS. It goes through the weight disk & attack ring and attaches to the Bit Protector. This piece also replaces the Spin Gear/Engine Gear. Spin direction is now determined entirely by which launcher is used.

    • Hybrid Wheel System (HWS)

    This system was released in 2008 in Japan and in 2010 worldwide. Hasbro renamed it the Performance Top System. It introduces new components making the Beyblades more complex, including a wheel made of polycarbonate and more technically advanced bottoms. These kinds of Beyblades are part of Beyblade: Metal Fusion. All parts of an HWS beyblade are plastic except for the Fusion Wheel. A Key Tool is used to assemble the Beyblade, locking the Face Bolt and Performance Tip to the Spin Track.

    Names of Beyblades can now be determined by their parts. For example, Storm Pegasus 105RF has a 'Pegasus' Energy Ring/Clear Wheel, 'Storm' Fusion Wheel/Metal Wheel, '105(10.5mm)' Spin Track/Track, and a 'RF (Rubber Flat)' Bottom/Performance Tip.

  • Face Bolt: A screw which holds the bey together
  • Clear Wheel/Energy Ring: A plastic ring which provides a hold for launchers. Some aerodynamics are involved.
  • Metal Wheel/Fusion Wheel: This part is made of metal and is the main point of contact in battle. It also provides the necessary weight to the top.
  • Track/Spin Track: The part of the bey which connects to the face and helps to hold the top together. It also defines the height of the top.
  • Tip/Performance Tip: The tip will change the spin patterns of the top as well as its stamina in battle. Flatter tips will cause Beys to behave more aggressively, while pointed ones create a stable, calm spin pattern.

    • Beyblade Metal System (Pre-HWS)

    Beyblades have 4 different parts (instead of 5 from the Hybrid Wheel System):

  • Face: A screw with a colorful sticker that holds the bey together.
  • Wheel: A metal part that attacks and comes with stickers for color.
  • Track: It shows the height of the beyblade
  • Bottom: It determines how the beyblade will move and attack.

    • 4D System

    4D system beyblades were introduced in March 2011. It is an expansion of the Hybrid Wheel System which introduced new parts including the 4D Fusion Wheel and 4D Bottom. Additionally, the plastic parts of the wheels are made of a heavier, stronger material.

    The 4D Fusion Wheel is a multi-part wheel that replaces the standard Fusion Wheel. It is made of multiple parts, including the PC Frame, Metal Frame, and Core. Some omit a standard frame and core design, such as L-Drago Destroy which has an upper metal frame to replace the Energy Ring and a lower PC core with rubber inserts to replace the Fusion Wheel, essentially flipping the common construction of most tops from this system.

    The 4D Bottom replaces the Spin Track and includes a built-in tip. All are designed around a gimmick involving the tip, such as being quickly changed between battles without disassembly, changing performance based on stamina, or spinning freely on a bearing.

    Zero G/Shogun Steel System

    The Zero G System continues the trend of the Hybrid Wheel System by using compatible parts. In uses the same engineering for the Spin Track and Performance Tip while introducing parts that can be used in place of others. The Crystal Wheel and Warrior/Chrome Wheel replace the Fusion Wheel and Energy Ring, while a similar but slightly longer Face Bolt is used due to the extra thickness of the new wheels. Stadiums for this system have rounded bottoms that cause them to pivot, which changes the movement patterns of the battling Beyblades. Additionally, the Crystal Wheel may be replaced with a second Warrior Wheel to create a heavier Synchrome Beyblade.

    Burst System

    The Beyblades fall apart after a heavy hit, which creates a burst gimmick due to a spring in the Performance Tip. The Burst System consists of 3 parts:

  • Layer/Energy Layer: The top part of the Beyblade, it is the part where the launcher attaches as will as where most contact during battles takes place. They consist of a two-piece polycarbonate disk. Those that have inner layers with exposed edges are called Dual Layers.
  • Disk/Forge Disk: Analogous to the Weight Disk from the original series, it provides momentum and stability.
  • Driver/Performance Tip: Forms the main body of Beyblade as well as point of contact for the stadium floor. Tips affect the agility, balance, and movement speed based on their shape.

    • Extreme Top System (XTS)

    Beyblade: XTS (Xtreme Top System) is a system of Beyblades by Hasbro released in Beyblade: Metal Masters. They have advanced top designs, light and sound effects, as well as being bigger and more aggressive than normal Beyblades. They are separated into four groups, "Tornado Battlers", "Electro Battlers", "IR Spin Control Beyblades", and ¨Stealth Battlers¨. None of these are customizable.

    Tornado Battlers: Taller than normal Beyblades and have a "tornado" design that enable them to battle more extreme, tilt, weave, and spin. Electro Battlers: Include flashing lights and battle sounds. IR Spin Control: These are Beyblades that are able to be controlled with a Launcher. Stealth Battlers: These Beyblades that are able to "fling" out weapons while battling.

    Accessories

    In addition to standard accessories such as launchers or assembly tools, extras such as launcher grips and point trackers are available. For example, the Beypointer is used to keep track of wins and losses for the Hybrid Wheel System, and the Beylogger performs a similar function for Burst. Other accessories include more powerful launchers, carrying cases, and launch sights.

    Differences between international releases

  • Hasbro's tops tend to use stronger plastics and retool metal parts to be lighter, especially for Hybrid Wheel and 4D parts.
  • Several accessories were reworked for the Hasbro release to be less prone to breakage, while others were skipped.
  • Some gimmicks such as those used by Driger V2, Dranzer V, the MG Core series, and VariAres were disabled or removed but later had them restored.
  • Hasbro has weaker adhesives for the Beyblade stickers.
  • Hasbro's versions of the "Hidden Spirit" Beyblades had small joints for the "dragon parts" to attach to on the Attack Ring, while in Takara's version they attach to the Blade Base, so they look like the Blade in the anime, but neither version can actually be launched with the accessories attached.
  • Hasbro has changed the names of some Beyblades, such as Beafowl and Cancer. Due to the Hasbro's policy, Beyblade: Burst changes the name of the Beyblades named after religious figures into a more generic names. Burst also had the majority of its Energy Layers renamed for similar reasons as well as to make their trademarks more easily defensible.
  • Hasbro's version of Beyblade: Burst omits the teeth on the underside of the Energy Layer, replaced by a sloped friction mechanism to reduce breakage and wear from constant bursting. This has made some more prone to bursting compared to Takara's, resulting in less advantage to some while improving others.

    • References

    Beyblade (toy) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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