Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[KUMA-NIN Maximus]

OOO, Called it. I don't know WHY hasbro won't release it, seeing as how hes a simple redeco, but this is what we should expect from the d-bags at hasbro.

Don't forget that if it was not for those d-bags, there would be no such thing as Transformers.

Besides... We should not rule out a reason for this, much less a nice WFC/FOC Ironhide from them.

[griftimus prime]

good news is there will be plenty of bbs and repaints for all in the us.

[Duke of Luns]

It seems to me that Hasbro is convinced the only figures anyone really wants are Optimus Prime and Mutebot/Hot Shot/"Bumblebee". They don't seem convinced that the other characters are going to sell well enough to justify putting more than one to a case.

Considering that Optimus Prime and "Bumblebee" are the only ones I can ever find on the shelves anymore, and they never seem to move, I'd say they're seriously wrong on that score, only they're unwilling to realize it. All they'll seem to see see is "None of these others are moving, none of the retailers will order them, so lets stick with a dozen versions of these two."

I don't even consider the line to be Transformers anymore: it's The Optimus Prime and "Bumblebee" Fashion Showcase.

It kinda does seem that way, and I so hope that doesn't end up being the case. Overproduction of He-Man/Skelator killed the MOTU 200X line.

As for the topic at hand, well d'oh. Ironhide was one of the figures on my radar because the classics version...kinda stinks, mostly because of that dang blasted poorly designed looking down head.

I will not cry foul against Hasbro because I rarely import and 99% of my collection is made up of Hasbro Transformers, but this is a pretty weird and dumb move.

[Hypershock]

And now the preorder is sold out, of course. Dammit, why is Hasbro half-assing every toy line nowadays? Used to be we got silly repaints no one wanted, now we don't even get figures that are on the show that everybody wants.

I don't think they're half-assing it, i think they're just really unsure of where they want this line to go. They've had some hits and misses with Prid, admittedly more misses than hits, so they're probably taking a step back, looking at the reactions to the current figures and trying to come up with a game plan of where they wanna go from here. We haven't heard anything past voyager wave five/deluxe wave five, and that's the current wave for deluxes, plus i'm assuming that those voyagers will be out shortly.

I think they're not sure whether to do new molds of existing characters, or release molds that havent been released, or just straight up repaints of everybody from now on with a new figure here and there. I wouldn't say it with 100% certainty, but i do think it's a strong likelihood that we get at least some of these guys by the middle of next year

[Flakmaster]

Just look at my signature. That's about what I think of these constantly cancelled US releases.

There's a reason that I stopped buying TFs in the last 2 months.

[Doc bot]

I'm sure we'll still get Ironhide here in the US. Probably a later wave or even a Walmart/Target/KMart/TRU exclusive. He's all set for US standards (as evident by Kup's release) and he's a pickup truck which us yanks love.

After looking at Voyager Breakdown closely, you can tell he was never intended for US release. He's covered in Micron attach points, has thinner plastic in various spots and seems way too expensive to produce at current Voyager Price points. Probably will be the same with Unicron.

Looks like the completist will need to rely on importers from now on.

[rpetras]

Just look at my signature. That's about what I think of these constantly cancelled US releases.

There's a reason that I stopped buying TFs in the last 2 months.



my thoughts on Hasbro's current marketing strategy is above.

You're assuming they HAVE a marketing strategy, which I'm no longer convinced they do.

It isn't possible to make money selling toys if you don't actually release the frigging toys.

[Doc bot]

Actually, Hasbro has a pretty good marketing strategy this year. It's Avengers >>> Furby >>>> Transformers. The less space Transformers taker on those cargo containers from China means more space for Avengers toys. Spiderman toys are probably up there too.

It's great as a Hasbro investor. Sucks as a collector.

[paul053]

A mold that is supposed to be an Ironhide but not an Ironhide? I thought Ironhide is much more famous than Kup at least he appeared in all three movies (if not, where those arm cannons from) and the previous Animated series.

[Cobalt Prime]

Hasbro is deliberately f***king with us. No other way to say it.