The Energon Pub

Looking at the list, DC collectibles and Hot Toys don't make a lot of figures. Not every store carries McFarlane or NECA figures either. I've never heard of most of the other companies before

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:Looking at the list, DC collectibles and Hot Toys don't make a lot of figures. Not every store carries McFarlane or NECA figures either. I've never heard of most of the other companies before

Just because you haven't heard of them , doesn't mean they don't exist

I think the point is though that their is more then enough competition for hasbro and Mattel to merge. Also I suspect that if the other licence owners had a problem with it they would just take their property else where, once they were able to of course.

I will just point out that Mattel and Hasbro are companies with a Large international footprint - they both sell products globally.

Some of the other toymakers people are mentioning only really operate in North America in any meaningful sense. Playmates being an example of that... They have in the past had to get other people to distribute there stuff internationally.

McFarlane Toys has hardly any international Presence any more - and if you wanted to buy things by say NECA you'd be talking about Comic shops and specialist collectables stores mainly when it comes to operating outside North America.

Even Bandai or Tomy have very little international footprint - yet they do sell in other countries - but look how idiotically difficult it is to Get PowerRangers toys in the UK since Woolworths shut, and Tomy barely operate at all now they just sell a bit of Baby aimed under 5's electronic stuff an not much else - where as at one point they actually used to sell things like Zoids internationally themselves.

So my point is Hasbro and Mattel may be not quite unique but they are at least A typical in that respect.

That said I may be overlooking some Girls Brands, Soft toys and more Model like stuff - but you get the point I hope.

@stu all I can say is "?" Those vids aren't really relevant to this conversation...at least I don't think they are (still not sure what point you're trying to make)

@Rar I can find power rangers stuff quite easily in tru, smyths and the entertainer. It's just what stuff they release for power rangers pales in comparison to the older stuff.

Really we should wait and see what happens next, though I'm not sure about all these bad news vibes people are giving off here. Reminds me a little of conversations when any big company buy any other, like with Disney and marvel.

RAR wrote:look how idiotically difficult it is to Get PowerRangers toys in the UK since Woolworths shut

I've honestly never had this issue in Brighton Toys R Us.

My issue is getting Transformers toys when they're supposed to be out.

Emerje wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:So will that make the new company that emerges "Hastel" or "Matbro"?

I dare them to call it "HasMat", I'm sure nobody would think their products are toxic after that. Hazmat, get it? No? Nevermind...

SillySpringer wrote:I wonder if Hotwheels Transformers will become a reality again? Maybe Transformers will finally have diecast again.

When was that ever a reality before? I think you're thinking of Tonka. Speaking of Tonka, they're still made of metal so Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to still use the stuff, they just don't like the weight and associated shipping costs. They make Transformers hollow to make them lighter and use less plastic, they aren't about to fill them with diecast.

Amelie wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote:This wouldn't necessarily affect those of us mostly interested in Hasbro brands, but Mattel brands (MOTU, lookin atchoo) would probably see this as a God-send.

As a doll collector - I beg to differ. I have this feeling all the clothes will suddenly be cheaply printed one or two piece things without much detail (ala how TF detailing in terms of paint or tampographing has gone)

I don't know if that would be the case. Mattel is even more notorious for making cuts than Hasbro is. Look at the garbage they've been putting out for their DC lines, or their ability to destroy their own toy lines like the Master of the Universe 20XX series, or getting a big license like Voltron Force and failing to launch it at retail (I do love my 24" Voltron, though). I don't think we'd see much change with the Barbie division as long as their budget remains the same.

Emerje

Stuartmaximus wrote:

Emerje wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:So will that make the new company that emerges "Hastel" or "Matbro"?

I dare them to call it "HasMat", I'm sure nobody would think their products are toxic after that. Hazmat, get it? No? Nevermind...

SillySpringer wrote:I wonder if Hotwheels Transformers will become a reality again? Maybe Transformers will finally have diecast again.

When was that ever a reality before? I think you're thinking of Tonka. Speaking of Tonka, they're still made of metal so Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to still use the stuff, they just don't like the weight and associated shipping costs. They make Transformers hollow to make them lighter and use less plastic, they aren't about to fill them with diecast.

Amelie wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote:This wouldn't necessarily affect those of us mostly interested in Hasbro brands, but Mattel brands (MOTU, lookin atchoo) would probably see this as a God-send.

As a doll collector - I beg to differ. I have this feeling all the clothes will suddenly be cheaply printed one or two piece things without much detail (ala how TF detailing in terms of paint or tampographing has gone)

I don't know if that would be the case. Mattel is even more notorious for making cuts than Hasbro is. Look at the garbage they've been putting out for their DC lines, or their ability to destroy their own toy lines like the Master of the Universe 20XX series, or getting a big license like Voltron Force and failing to launch it at retail (I do love my 24" Voltron, though). I don't think we'd see much change with the Barbie division as long as their budget remains the same.

Emerje

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That is quite obviously a Gundam though.

Delta Magnus wrote:
That is quite obviously a Gundam though.

Yes That is a gundam, a bit surprising that whoever put that together used that photo as their is plenty of better choices to use.

Also wouldn't barbie transformer just be arcee?

If a person were going to do something like that, Polly Pocket Titan Masters would be the way to go.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:
That is quite obviously a Gundam though.

Yes That is a gundam, a bit surprising that whoever put that together used that photo as their is plenty of better choices to use.

Also wouldn't barbie transformer just be arcee?

I'd think Arcee would be more Princess Leia than Barbie.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:
That is quite obviously a Gundam though.

Yes That is a gundam, a bit surprising that whoever put that together used that photo as their is plenty of better choices to use.

Also wouldn't barbie transformer just be arcee?

I'd think Arcee would be more Princess Leia than Barbie.

Well, for her concept work the designers described her as a "naked mechanical princess Leia". Which I am more than cool with.


(Bugger me, I should really replace my broken-thumbed poorly panel-lined Animated Arcee with the Legends version...)

So Carrie Fisher will be happy then having many, many action figures of her self and a few transformers to boot

Emerje wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I wonder if Hotwheels Transformers will become a reality again? Maybe Transformers will finally have diecast again.

When was that ever a reality before? I think you're thinking of Tonka. Speaking of Tonka, they're still made of metal so Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to still use the stuff, they just don't like the weight and associated shipping costs. They make Transformers hollow to make them lighter and use less plastic, they aren't about to fill them with diecast.

I was referring to HotWheels cars. And it was meant to be a joke. I don't expect Hasbro to do anything like that. At the most I expect their Transformers to get heftier than they are now. Maybe they'll go back to Classics quality hopefully.

If this happened, little girls would get upset that they wouldn't be able to find their Barbies in stores and have to buy them online.

SillySpringer wrote:

Emerje wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I wonder if Hotwheels Transformers will become a reality again? Maybe Transformers will finally have diecast again.

When was that ever a reality before? I think you're thinking of Tonka. Speaking of Tonka, they're still made of metal so Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to still use the stuff, they just don't like the weight and associated shipping costs. They make Transformers hollow to make them lighter and use less plastic, they aren't about to fill them with diecast.

I was referring to HotWheels cars. And it was meant to be a joke. I don't expect Hasbro to do anything like that. At the most I expect their Transformers to get heftier than they are now. Maybe they'll go back to Classics quality hopefully.

I know what Hot Wheels cars are. You said they'd be a "reality again" as if you believed it had happened once before.

Now Hot Wheels Power Rangers, that's a thing. I'd sure like to know how Mattel and Bandai agreed on that one since Bandai has done PR cars themselves in the past.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:

Emerje wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I wonder if Hotwheels Transformers will become a reality again? Maybe Transformers will finally have diecast again.

When was that ever a reality before? I think you're thinking of Tonka. Speaking of Tonka, they're still made of metal so Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to still use the stuff, they just don't like the weight and associated shipping costs. They make Transformers hollow to make them lighter and use less plastic, they aren't about to fill them with diecast.

I was referring to HotWheels cars. And it was meant to be a joke. I don't expect Hasbro to do anything like that. At the most I expect their Transformers to get heftier than they are now. Maybe they'll go back to Classics quality hopefully.

I know what Hot Wheels cars are. You said they'd be a "reality again" as if you believed it had happened once before.

Now Hot Wheels Power Rangers, that's a thing. I'd sure like to know how Mattel and Bandai agreed on that one since Bandai has done PR cars themselves in the past.

Emerje

Actually, there were transforming hotwheels before: Hotwheels Robowheels.

Technically, they 'transformed' and if this happened, it'd be cool to see this explored

I remember those and really hated how they looked like they were all on skateboards and didn't even use all of the car parts. And they're still not Hot Wheels Transformers.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:I remember those and really hated how they looked like they were all on skateboards and didn't even use all of the car parts. And they're still not Hot Wheels Transformers.

Emerje

Well, I can't say what he actually meant by that, but they are Hot Wheels, and they do indeed 'transform', so, technically, they are

Hot Wheels "Speedblaster" (1995)



Go-Bots High Beam (1995)



I wouldn't have minded seeing some other Hot Wheels designs translated to Transformer form. The more unique ones, you know - the shark cruiser, the two headed dragon thing, etc. - and those would probably require joint licensing of some sort.