The Energon Pub

[Mkall]

How much of a line is decided before the line is actually in distribution. For example, is it known how many waves it will consist of? What the average figure size breakdown will be (legends/scouts/etc) and which figures will be in it?

[Down_Shift]

During the Investor's Podcast, Hasbro mentioned its theme; The Hunt for the Decepticons. Can hasbro please elaborate on the meaning of this phrase, and perhaps shed some light on what it means for future figures/toylines?

Hunt For the Decepticons is the mail away offer in N.E.S.T. packaged figures like the Soundwave/BB two pack, Evac, or Mindwipe, to name a few.

I've got a good one me'thinks.

What does Hasbro look for in an animation studio? What do they compare it to? Do they consider how well the Marvel DVD/Blu-Rays do, or how well G.I. Joe Resolute went over with fans when thinking about the next possible show or Direct To Video?

Why did Hasbro decide to NOT run commercials for Universe, but (just now) we are seeing commercials for Marvel Crossovers?

[Mkall]

Questions have been submitted, and this time we will make sure we get an answer. In the meantime, feel free to ask other questions to Hasbro here. We don't know when the next Q&A session will be, but when we know, we'll let you know.

[Down_Shift]

Questions have been submitted, and this time we will make sure we get an answer. In the meantime, feel free to ask other questions to Hasbro here. We don't know when the next Q&A session will be, but when we know, we'll let you know.

Wait. Where & when did we decide? I've been looking through staff forums and couldn't find jack all!

[Mkall]

Questions have been submitted, and this time we will make sure we get an answer. In the meantime, feel free to ask other questions to Hasbro here. We don't know when the next Q&A session will be, but when we know, we'll let you know.

Wait. Where & when did we decide? I've been looking through staff forums and couldn't find jack all!

Check your email more often

[starfish]

Hmm... seems I'm a bit late to this party. However, I have a question, perhaps for the next round:

I notice that in recent years the Transformers franchise has entered into marketing deals with companies such as Burger King, Mountain Dew and M&Ms, just to name three. Last week in my local supermaket I also noticed a Transformers-branded chocolate advent calendar.

My question is this: all the deals mentioned above involve 'junk food'. Transformers is a very infuential brand, especially to small children. Shouldn't Hasbro have a socal and moral responsibilty to avoid corporate partnerships that encourage kids to eat sugary or fatty foods?

That is all.

[stocky]

I know this is a couple of days late, but I'm hoping it will still get submitted. I wanted to know, with the popularity of the Human Alliance figures, are these types of figures being considered for continuation into the Universe line? We could get larger-scale, better-articulated classic figures, on par with the Alternators figures, but they could come with and "interact" with characters from the G1 TV and comic series, such as Spike, Circuit Breaker, Chip Chase, Sparkplug, Dr. Arkeville, Raul (Tracks' little pal), etc.

I think these would be an awesome addition to the Universe line, and still cross the lines to be compatible with the Human Alliance Movie figures...

[Down_Shift]

Questions have been submitted, and this time we will make sure we get an answer. In the meantime, feel free to ask other questions to Hasbro here. We don't know when the next Q&A session will be, but when we know, we'll let you know.

f'n hotmail wouldn't let me in!

[Kibble]

I know this is a couple of days late, but I'm hoping it will still get submitted. I wanted to know, with the popularity of the Human Alliance figures, are these types of figures being considered for continuation into the Universe line? We could get larger-scale, better-articulated classic figures, on par with the Alternators figures, but they could come with and "interact" with characters from the G1 TV and comic series, such as Spike, Circuit Breaker, Chip Chase, Sparkplug, Dr. Arkeville, Raul (Tracks' little pal), etc.

I think these would be an awesome addition to the Universe line, and still cross the lines to be compatible with the Human Alliance Movie figures...

Do we really know the popularity of the HA line? I kinda get the impression they don't fly off the shelves... And while I'm all for anything on par with Alternators, feel free to leave the small, interactive "figures" out. IMO it takes away from the "real" figure as it causes the designers to have to force things and compromise.

[Counterpunch]

Universe Ironhide.

What went wrong?

[starfish]

I know this is a couple of days late, but I'm hoping it will still get submitted. I wanted to know, with the popularity of the Human Alliance figures, are these types of figures being considered for continuation into the Universe line? We could get larger-scale, better-articulated classic figures, on par with the Alternators figures, but they could come with and "interact" with characters from the G1 TV and comic series, such as Spike, Circuit Breaker, Chip Chase, Sparkplug, Dr. Arkeville, Raul (Tracks' little pal), etc.

I think these would be an awesome addition to the Universe line, and still cross the lines to be compatible with the Human Alliance Movie figures...

Do we really know the popularity of the HA line? I kinda get the impression they don't fly off the shelves... And while I'm all for anything on par with Alternators, feel free to leave the small, interactive "figures" out. IMO it takes away from the "real" figure as it causes the designers to have to force things and compromise.

On that subject, I was very interested to read some of the reviews of HA Bumblebee by customers on the webasite of Argos (a UK retailer). The thread was full of complaints by parents claiming that the transformation was too complex for their young children - indeed some of the adults themselves weren't able to figure it out. One dissatisfied customer claimed that the toy had never been out of car mode, as they were unable to fathom the instructions.

So whilst highly-detailed toys with intricate transformations do appeal to the older children and the hard-core collecter, there's evidence to suggest that children in a younger age bracket (i.e. the core demographic) are turned off by the more complex figures... and for the very same reasons that we adult collectors love them so much!

[Mkall]

Ok, I got one.

It is no secret that Hasbro uses simpler paint apps for the Universe figures than TomyTakara uses for its henkei line. How much more would the average deluxe figure cost if Hasbro kept the same detailed paint applications?

[IceWilly]

Ignore this if it hasn been asked, and it may go hand in hand with the inquiries about Classics 3.0.

What is the standard you hold for mass producing toys/molds that were previously convention exclusives, most notably Botcon? For some of the exclusives there are more than just repaints, (remolds, head tweaks) there would have to be unique tooling, and thus cost involved. Is it out of the question to think that these toys could ever see retail availability because it would be unfair to those who purchased them as an "exclusive"? The 6 Decepticon seekers are one of the big ones I am referring to.

[Down_Shift]

Ignore this if it hasn been asked, and it may go hand in hand with the inquiries about Classics 3.0.

What is the standard you hold for mass producing toys/molds that were previously convention exclusives, most notably Botcon? For some of the exclusives there are more than just repaints, (remolds, head tweaks) there would have to be unique tooling, and thus cost involved. Is it out of the question to think that these toys could ever see retail availability because it would be unfair to those who purchased them as an "exclusive"? The 6 Decepticon seekers are one of the big ones I am referring to.

No need to ignore the question when we can answer it for you!

In short, no, the exclusive remolds and repaints will never hit brick and mortar retail. This question has been asked in the past and is always answered in the same manner. "sorry, but no"

[IceWilly]

Would you considering the Henkei seekers to be the same toy as the BotCon exclusives? or because of the different market collectors' only choice was to let them off the hook?

[Down_Shift]

Would you considering the Henkei seekers to be the same toy as the BotCon exclusives? or because of the different market collectors' only choice was to let them off the hook?

Dirge, Thrust, Thundercracker and Skywarp were store exclusives in Japan. So they would also fall under the same banner as the Botcon seekers.

[Kibble]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought I recall the answer to the seekers question being more up in the air, neither a yes or a definitive no, but that if they were ever to do them at retail they would certainly differ from the exclusives to keep their "exclusivity."

[Down_Shift]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought I recall the answer to the seekers question being more up in the air, neither a yes or a definitive no, but that if they were ever to do them at retail they would certainly differ from the exclusives to keep their "exclusivity."

In a instance like this I look at ROTF Dirge. He's G1 enough to pass as a classics/universe/whateverisnext figure, but movie enough to stick in the ROTF line to avoid a shitstorm of complaints from rabid fanboys & girls. Even the face feels IDW ongoing to me.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Ignore this if it hasn been asked, and it may go hand in hand with the inquiries about Classics 3.0.

What is the standard you hold for mass producing toys/molds that were previously convention exclusives, most notably Botcon? For some of the exclusives there are more than just repaints, (remolds, head tweaks) there would have to be unique tooling, and thus cost involved. Is it out of the question to think that these toys could ever see retail availability because it would be unfair to those who purchased them as an "exclusive"? The 6 Decepticon seekers are one of the big ones I am referring to.

No need to ignore the question when we can answer it for you!

In short, no, the exclusive remolds and repaints will never hit brick and mortar retail. This question has been asked in the past and is always answered in the same manner. "sorry, but no"

It wouldn't be possible anyway. Any head mold or other modification that's made exclusively for the convention is destroyed after the figures have been made.

[Down_Shift]

It wouldn't be possible anyway. Any head mold or other modification that's made exclusively for the convention is destroyed after the figures have been made.

Yes sir, how'd I forget about that? Good thing you're always lurking in the shadows JG

[Jelze Bunnycat]

It wouldn't be possible anyway. Any head mold or other modification that's made exclusively for the convention is destroyed after the figures have been made.

Yes sir, how'd I forget about that? Good thing you're always lurking in the shadows JG

That's what ninja bunnies are for.

[JazZeke]

Crap, I totally missed this thread. >_<

Anyway, for future reference:

Have you considered releasing Lio Convoy to the American market in the Universe line, perhaps labeled as a "Beast Era Optimus Prime?" Many fans have been wanting that mold for a while and eBay prices are ludicrous.

Is there someone in charge of coordinating the movieverse to make sure that the films never contradict the IDW comics revolving around them and vice versa?

(For that matter,) How did so much off-color humor, such as Devastator's testicles and the plethora of humping jokes, get sanctioned by Hasbro? For a movie partially meant to market toys to children, you're really shooting yourselves in the foot by allowing elements that would preempt parents from allowing their children to have seen Revenge of The Fallen.

[bigevil801]

This is late and Hasbro doesn't answer exact character questions, so asking Hasbro about a US release of Buster Optimus Prime would go unanswered. I love the paint job and the fuel tanks becoming a gun but the price is ridiculous.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Have you considered releasing Lio Convoy to the American market in the Universe line, perhaps labeled as a "Beast Era Optimus Prime?" Many fans have been wanting that mold for a while and eBay prices are ludicrous.

The now defunct 3H Productions has actually tried to get Hasbro to acquire the Lio Convoy mold for one of their BotCon exclusives, as a new body for Alpha Trion. It was actually featured (a 3D outline at least) in the Wreckers comics. However, Takara either lost sight of or refused to license the mold. The fallback was Beast Machines Snarl, but that never got past a hand-painted prototype.In short, the chances of Hasbro or TakaraTomy using the mold are fairly slim, especially now the opportunities have past, like Beast Wars Anniversary and Universe.
Another something I've realised: it may not pass Toy Safety Laws! The launchers that you can plug into the manes could act as projectiles themselves, and since they're an inch or so long, they present a choking hazard. That's the same reason Armada Thrust has the launchers permanently attached to his legs.

[JazZeke]

Have you considered releasing Lio Convoy to the American market in the Universe line, perhaps labeled as a "Beast Era Optimus Prime?" Many fans have been wanting that mold for a while and eBay prices are ludicrous.

The now defunct 3H Productions has actually tried to get Hasbro to acquire the Lio Convoy mold for one of their BotCon exclusives, as a new body for Alpha Trion. It was actually featured (a 3D outline at least) in the Wreckers comics. However, Takara either lost sight of or refused to license the mold. The fallback was Beast Machines Snarl, but that never got past a hand-painted prototype.In short, the chances of Hasbro or TakaraTomy using the mold are fairly slim, especially now the opportunities have past, like Beast Wars Anniversary and Universe.
Another something I've realised: it may not pass Toy Safety Laws! The launchers that you can plug into the manes could act as projectiles themselves, and since they're an inch or so long, they present a choking hazard. That's the same reason Armada Thrust has the launchers permanently attached to his legs.

Huh, thanks for that bit of info. Guess one of these days I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay a pretty penny for him on eBay. I should have gotten him before the 07 movie came out and his price soared.