The Energon Pub

[Mkall]

This is it! The last Q&A session for 2009! It's time for Hasbro to answer the questions put forth by us, the fans! If you have any questions regarding Hasbro's processes, thoughts, ponderings or reasonings, please ask them now.

The staff will choose 3 questions to submit to Hasbro on Nov 30th. We are expecting our answers around Dec 14th.

In the interest of trying to get the best questions submitted, Seibertron.com staff and savvy community members will also be answering questions that we KNOW have already been answered.

We are aware that we have not heard back from Hasbro yet on the previous round of questionings and sincerely hope that miscommunication is sorted out shortly.

Hasbro has made it clear that they will not answer questions such as "Will you make this figure?" or anything related to their new animated series. Other than that, everything is fair game!

[The_Cybertronian_Emperor]

Wow, I'm the first one to comment? Oh, happy day.

I only have one question ...

With third party companies like FansProject making add-on and accessory kits that are actually pretty good in quality, is Hasbro going to follow this trend and start making Transformers that the fans want, or are we going to get another series of single molds recolored 4 to 5 times?

[Down_Shift]

I got one that I always forget to ask.

What ever became of Transformers Universe Special Edition? We were rumored at one point to get an upgraded Cliffjumper, a red repaint of Mirage and a few other treats, but never heard anything after the release of Overkill and Drag Strip. Any chance we'll see something from this line or something like it with collectors packaging, exclusive figures, ect. in the future?

(just gonna toss my two cents in, but mail away Universe Omnibots, Red Cross Ratchet or Reflector would be an incredible treat to fans... especially Downshift )

[Razorclaw0000]

I got one that I always forget to ask.

What ever became of Transformers Universe Special Edition? We were rumored at one point to get an upgraded Cliffjumper, a red repaint of Mirage and a few other treats, but never heard anything after the release of Overkill and Drag Strip. Any chance we'll see something from this line or something like it with collectors packaging, exclusive figures, ect. in the future?

(just gonna toss my two cents in, but mail away Universe Omnibots, Red Cross Ratchet or Reflector would be an incredible treat to fans... especially Downshift )

Where have I heard that before I'll definitely vote up that question!

Also, on a side note, whatever happened to the answers to the last round of questions, and what questions did we even submit?

[Blurrz]

Also, on a side note, whatever happened to the answers to the last round of questions, and what questions did we even submit?

They're in the process of being processed.

[leokearon]

Were Animated Arcee and Cybertron Mode Rachet always intended to be ezclusives or was it a last minute deal? If they were intended to be exclsuives wht wasn't it mentioned before?

[Orthobotrex]

I was just wondering who's in charge of quality control at your factories because I come across a lot of defects with some figures that are unforgivable and I think you would have a lot of happier customers if these were prevented from being shipped out in the first place?

And with the recession ending soon, will we still suffer from repaints for new products instead of new molds of new figures?

Thanks!

[Tigertrack]

Wow, I'm the first one to comment? Oh, happy day.

I only have one question ...

With third party companies like FansProject making add-on and accessory kits that are actually pretty good in quality, is Hasbro going to follow this trend and start making Transformers that the fans want, or are we going to get another series of single molds recolored 4 to 5 times?

I think we have done the 3rd party questions before, as far as HASBRO giving fans what they want, well, we do get a lot of what we want...just not everything is what we want.

You can't blame a company for trying to make money (repaint is cheaper than whole new molds).

[Down_Shift]

I was just wondering who's in charge of quality control at your factories because I come across a lot of defects with some figures that are unforgivable and I think you would have a lot of happier customers if these were prevented from being shipped out in the first place?

And with the recession ending soon, will we still suffer from repaints for new products instead of new molds of new figures?

Thanks!

Staff here can answer that.

Quality Control of the figures is still up to standard. Are they your standard because Lockdowns hands don't fold all the way out? Hasbro wouldn't waste money when something as small as that was a product of the mold. Remember they're still for kids, and kids couldn't care less if the little things we as fans notices are there. QC in a factory refers to many other things like drop tests, paint test, razor sharp corners ect.

As for repaints, there will always be repaints. Tons of them. It's an easy way to maximize profit from any particular mold.

[Counterpunch]

What's the friggin point Meat-Man?

[Tigertrack]

What's the friggin point Meat-Man?

What? Is this helpful?

[JRFitzpatrick7]

What's the friggin point Meat-Man?

What? Is this helpful?

aqua teen hunger force is very helpful. Always.
Star Wars has a fans choice section of it's legacy line, why not transformers? I understand sculpting an action figure is much easier than engineering a robot that changes into a (for the most part) seamless vehicle, but it doesn't always need to be a new mold, it could be repaints of existing molds, but repaints the fans choose to represent a character on a certain mold. For example with a little retooling on the face and weapon of animated shockwave, I think we can all see skorponok with the right paint scheme! It already has mandibles! The hands are close to pincers already!

[Swiftknife24]

Right *cracks knuckles*

*Fingers fall off*

Anyway, I asked a seibertron head about this, but I want an answer direct from Hasbro itself about the Sideswipe and Sideways RPMs; why is it that the cars look nothing like their film counterparts? Sideswipe looks NOTHING like his Corvette Stingray and Sideways' Audi looks really peculiar.

It's really disappointing, because the Stingray is such an integral part of Sideswipe's character.

I know that Mattel somehow seems to have the right to produce the Corvette in their 'Hot Wheels' line, so will Hasbro (get the rights and) produce these two characters in RPM cars that resemble the film counterparts in the near future?

(Okay, maybe I can understand why the Audi looks 'off', but even the Deluxe Sideways looks like an Audi. And as far as I can see, there is NO excuse for the Corvette when you consider the Deluxe and Human Alliance Sideswipe figures...)

[Tigertrack]

Right *cracks knuckles*

*Fingers fall off*

Anyway, I asked a seibertron head about this, but I want an answer direct from Hasbro itself about the Sideswipe and Sideways RPMs; why is it that the cars look nothing like their film counterparts? Sideswipe looks NOTHING like his Corvette Stingray and Sideways' Audi looks really peculiar.

It's really disappointing, because the Stingray is such an integral part of Sideswipe's character.

I know that Mattel somehow seems to have the right to produce the Corvette in their 'Hot Wheels' line, so will Hasbro (get the rights and) produce these two characters in RPM cars that resemble the film counterparts in the near future?

(Okay, maybe I can understand why the Audi looks 'off', but even the Deluxe Sideways looks like an Audi. And as far as I can see, there is NO excuse for the Corvette when you consider the Deluxe and Human Alliance Sideswipe figures...)

Diecast car licensing is different than, robot conversion to car licensing toy.

Hot Wheels makes no similar product to the normal or larger sized robots that transform. They do however make a car of the size in which Hot Wheels also makes that. If the RPM transformed they could probably do it. Since it doesn't, Hasbro cannot.

[Kibble]

What's the friggin point Meat-Man?

What? Is this helpful?

I don't even get it and I laughed...so I vote yes, it is helpful.

[yellow Camaro]

As I can't ask "Will you make this figure?" , my question is:

"How many people must sign an on-line petition to convince Hasbro to make a particular figure?"

This is because I would like to see HA Grindor w Alice (a huge Grindor, my forest battle needs it!!!) , but I think this way could be the way to ask for a couple of the most-wanted figures per year!

[SnapTrap]

Will Transformers Animated Season 3 be out soon? What about a boxed set of all three seasons?

[Swiftknife24]

Right *cracks knuckles*

*Fingers fall off*

Anyway, I asked a seibertron head about this, but I want an answer direct from Hasbro itself about the Sideswipe and Sideways RPMs; why is it that the cars look nothing like their film counterparts? Sideswipe looks NOTHING like his Corvette Stingray and Sideways' Audi looks really peculiar.

It's really disappointing, because the Stingray is such an integral part of Sideswipe's character.

I know that Mattel somehow seems to have the right to produce the Corvette in their 'Hot Wheels' line, so will Hasbro (get the rights and) produce these two characters in RPM cars that resemble the film counterparts in the near future?

(Okay, maybe I can understand why the Audi looks 'off', but even the Deluxe Sideways looks like an Audi. And as far as I can see, there is NO excuse for the Corvette when you consider the Deluxe and Human Alliance Sideswipe figures...)

Diecast car licensing is different than, robot conversion to car licensing toy.

Hot Wheels makes no similar product to the normal or larger sized robots that transform. They do however make a car of the size in which Hot Wheels also makes that. If the RPM transformed they could probably do it. Since it doesn't, Hasbro cannot.

Okay, fair enough; I'll reinstate, which is now my primary, question; will Hasbro be obtaining the license to produce a Corvette (screen-accurate Sideswipe) RPM anytime in the future?

[autobot-jolt]

Only two questions here:

1) Are there any more plans for the Universe and Animated toylines past Hardehead, Powerglide, Skyfall, Arcee, Rodimus Electrostaic Soundwave, etc.?

2) Will the Constructicon Scrapper and Flareup/Elita-1 be out soon? (I don't know if I can ask this one; I tried to word as best as I can, it's ok if I can't ask it, my first question is the important one)

[Orthobotrex]

I was just wondering who's in charge of quality control at your factories because I come across a lot of defects with some figures that are unforgivable and I think you would have a lot of happier customers if these were prevented from being shipped out in the first place?

And with the recession ending soon, will we still suffer from repaints for new products instead of new molds of new figures?

Thanks!

Staff here can answer that.

Quality Control of the figures is still up to standard. Are they your standard because Lockdowns hands don't fold all the way out? Hasbro wouldn't waste money when something as small as that was a product of the mold. Remember they're still for kids, and kids couldn't care less if the little things we as fans notices are there. QC in a factory refers to many other things like drop tests, paint test, razor sharp corners ect.


As for repaints, there will always be repaints. Tons of them. It's an easy way to maximize profit from any particular mold.

Well then, fair enough. In that case...it will still take a lot of getting used to.

[Tigertrack]

Only two questions here:

1) Are there any more plans for the Universe and Animated toylines past Hardehead, Powerglide, Skyfall, Arcee, Rodimus Electrostaic Soundwave, etc.?

2) Will the Constructicon Scrapper and Flareup/Elita-1 be out soon? (I don't know if I can ask this one; I tried to word as best as I can, it's ok if I can't ask it, my first question is the important one)

#1) Yes, they are just not being specific with us yet.

#2) We were already told that there will not be a Scrapper made. As for the Elita-1 mold, since we have seen no previews of it, it looks like it will be a summer to late 2010 piece.

[Zeedust]

Will Transformers Animated Season 3 be out soon? What about a boxed set of all three seasons?

This. But I'd phrase it as "Are there any plans to relese the third season of Transformers: Animated on DVD?"

[Mkall]

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?

[Nemesis Rodimus]

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?

This.

Also, if Arcee and Cybertronian Mode Rathcet are Toys R Us exclusives, what are the rest?

[psj333]

1. With Fugitive Waspinator coming out soon, would his toy bio mention about him being a former Autobot cadet who was falsely accused of being a Decepticon spy, before he became Waspinator after he was imprisoned and broke out moments later and became a fugitive?


2. On the package of the Animated Rodimus action figure, his last name was actually his former rank name, Minor. Does this means that he was once a drillmaster just like Sentinel was before they were both being promoted to Primes?


3. When Ratchet and Ironhide made their debut G1, Ratchet was actually quite young; whereas Ironhide was quite old. However, when they returned in Animated, why Hasbro had decided to switch their ages the other way around?