New Plarails at Tokyo Toy Show 2016

Let's hope not. Plarail is a toy that has been around for more than 50 years and has remained the same. The same design has allowed high compatibility between toys in the past and the future - a key factor why we are still buying them. We know that things will be compatible and so our money is not wasted on random ideas coming from the company.

Changing the design of the train for the purpose of 'realism' for older people and breaking the compatibility is a tactic to increase short-term sales but in the long term is bad for all the people that have bought so much Plarail. We don't want a million different ways to remote control the train. We want one simple way that is consistent.

Trying different things is good as the new Dr Yellow is quite interesting. However, I do not want to think that this could end up like a Mattel strategy where so many toys are interesting on their own but never work together to create something bigger or greater which is a key factor why Plarail has survived for more than 50 years.

-plarnold

I think that the RC-tablet-first-person-bogie-wheeled-thingies should become a whole range, but normal Plarail should in no means be forgotten.

I would be content with the remote controller being no more than either packaged with the toy or an app on a mobile device like a tablet or phone.

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Because Mr. Motorman didn't have English on the controller, I suppose the app would also be available only in Japanese. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Motorman users were able to find out what the functions did by guessing the words. Therefore, when this comes out, the same might have to apply.

I'll just use Google Translate or somethin'. xP
Although, are apps region locked like video games sometimes are?! Would we be able to find the app on the appstores (including Amazon and Google Play please thank you) with a device sold somewhere other than Japan?