Been out of the game...pony books and generation naming questi

[SoSoftClaire]

Hey guys!

I haven’t been active in the pony community since probably 2012 or 2013, and I am not up on all the terms.

I am a mainly G1 collector, but also have G2s, 3s, and 4s. I collected G4’s in their first few years, then life happened hard and I’m still sort of getting back on track.

So a few questions: What is the deal with the generation names between G4 and G5? I hear G4.5 being used and also Pony Life. I’m confused. Are the potion ponies the same as Pony Life?

Here’s a pic... can you help me identify what the generation naming conventions for these are called?

—
Also I love printed book pony inventories- the latest one I have is by Summer Hayes, which is 2009-2012.

Does anyone know of an updated inventory book? I’d love a full G4 inventory book now that it’s over and on to G5.
Thanks!!

 

[AzaleaArt]

So for your pictures the first is g4, the second (top right) is g4 reboot I believe, and then the bottom 2 are both pony life ones which some people call g4.5 like there was g3.5 because they were short lived things that basically filled the gap

 

[tsukikakushi]

Hi @SoSoftClaire ! It's good to see you.

Unfortunately there isn't an updated inventory book for the rest if the G4 line. I've been wanting one too. I'm not even sure if Summer had even planned to do one.

 

[Skybreeze]

So for your pictures the first is g4, the second (top right) is g4 reboot I believe, and then the bottom 2 are both pony life ones which some people call g4.5 like there was g3.5 because they were short lived things that basically filled the gap

@AzaleaArt nailed it on the head for you.

No word on a book but also not sure if Summer planned on it. Last I heard the current G4 book was it for her, but that could be totally wrong.

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

Pony Life and G4.5 are the same generation, Pony Life is most particularly the name of the show, while the potion ponies are the toyline that goes with it, but they are both G4.5.

As for the pictures, the top two are both G4. The one of the upper left is the original G4 style, the one on the top right is the G4 reboot style, which was done to make the toyline more visually accurate to the show. The bottom two are both G4.5. You could probably call them Pony Life as well if you wanted, but like I mentioned I think Pony Life mostly refers to the show since that is the G4.5 show's name.

As for inventories, the only other one for FiM that I know of is the My Little Pony Mini Pony Collector's Guide, which apparently covers blind bag minis from 2011-2013. It's listed on the MLP Merch site, so I assume it's official.

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

Oh! I just found this, as well! The "Collector's Guides: My Little Pony Cutie Mark Crew Collector's Guide (Paperback)" at Walmart.

Robot or human?

I don't see it listed on the MLP Merch site so I've let them know about it as well.

Edit: This is now on the MLP Merch site as well! ^^

 

[starbritesprinkles]

Hey, stranger!

Yeah, I refer to G4.5/Potion Ponies as Pony Life. I have not heard plans for a guide from 2012-end of G4. @SweetTune?

MLP Merch is the best site for IDing G4s, in my opinion. It would be nice to have an actual book, though.

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

MLP Merch is the best site for IDing G4s, in my opinion. It would be nice to have an actual book, though.

Yes and no, I think. I've spent quite a lot of time on both the MLP Merch site and the My Little Wiki, and what I've found it that sometimes the images on the Merch site are a lot more dull than the ones on the Wiki, to the extent that sometimes I genuinely cannot recognize the same pony between the two.

On top of that I'd argue that the Wiki has more pictures overall and tends to include descriptions explaining exactly what is different between each variant, in the case that you might be looking at a variant.

I think the MLP Merch site is improving almost every day, I think it has a better search system as long as you use the correct search bar, and in general I think it's a fantastic site for tracking what you have and want, but I'm inclined to think the Wiki is better if you're trying to get really detailed with IDing your pony.

Just my own thoughts on that matter. c: I really love both sites regardless haha

Edit: Well, I said all that, and then I looked at Sapphire Shores between the two. I suppose I have tended to pay more attention to these discrepancies for older gens, perhaps you're right in regards to G4.

 

[SoSoftClaire]

Hi @SoSoftClaire ! It's good to see you.

Unfortunately there isn't an updated inventory book for the rest if the G4 line. I've been wanting one too. I'm not even sure if Summer had even planned to do one.

Great to see you too!
This makes me so sad- is there a resident G4 obsessed collector here who has any interest in putting one together?

Pony Life and G4.5 are the same generation, Pony Life is most particularly the name of the show, while the potion ponies are the toyline that goes with it, but they are both G4.5.

As for the pictures, the top two are both G4. The one of the upper left is the original G4 style, the one on the top right is the G4 reboot style, which was done to make the toyline more visually accurate to the show. The bottom two are both G4.5. You could probably call them Pony Life as well if you wanted, but like I mentioned I think Pony Life mostly refers to the show since that is the G4.5 show's name.

As for inventories, the only other one for FiM that I know of is the My Little Pony Mini Pony Collector's Guide, which apparently covers blind bag minis from 2011-2013. It's listed on the MLP Merch site, so I assume it's official.

Thank you so much for explaining! I feel like I understand everything much better now. I was out of the game from 2012-2021 so yikes that’s a lot of time I’ve been out!

Hey, stranger!

Yeah, I refer to G4.5/Potion Ponies as Pony Life. I have not heard plans for a guide from 2012-end of G4. @SweetTune?

MLP Merch is the best site for IDing G4s, in my opinion. It would be nice to have an actual book, though.

Hey skig! Awesome to see you, love your website and I have fond memories of you from the mid-2000s tp! Awesome, thanks for the tip on the MLP merch website!