The Energon Pub

Hasbro has made some really weird decisions with the handling of the Transformers Prime toyline, especially considering that the cartoon is the lead entertainment outlet for the Transformers franchise currently. The First Edition figures were poorly distributed in the US, frustrating collectors. Then proudction value went way down for the Robots in Disguise relaunch of the line, while prices went way up. Previously announced figures have been MIA for almost half a year, or are outright canceled, some of them representing characters that were introduced in the cartoon two years ago. Now new characters in the show with unqiue models are getting the repaint/retool treatment instead of their own unique and show accureate molds for their toys. On the other hand, Takara/Tomy has been showing this line a LOT more love. You can argue back and forth about the pros and cons of the Habro Robots in Disguise releases versus the Takara/Tomy Arms Micron releases, but the fact remains that Japan is getting characters and molds we are not, both from the show and from Transformers history to fill out the world through the toyline. Now, all we have on the horizon are a few Predacons and retools of already released figures with new armor glued on and (more) ridiculous weapons. Even worse, season three may very well be the end of the Prime series. I thought Prime was supposed to be THE new tentpoll continuity for the franchise for many years to come. What happened!?

Wolfman Jake wrote:I thought Prime was supposed to be THE new tentpoll continuity for the franchise for many years to come. What happened!?

You mean the Aligned Continuity, of which WfC, FoC, TF:Prime, etc. are a part of, nothing's changed there.

Nobody's arguing that they handled the tail end of the PRiD line well though, that's for sure. =_=

It seems to be creatives vs. marketing. The idea, as I understand it, was that Prime toys were deliberately held back until later so that the cartoon could stand on its own merits instead of as an extended toy commercial. The problem was that by the time the toys did start to come out characters were dying left right and centre which is the reason the likes of Breakdown and Skyquake got no Hasbro play.

The fact that Smokescreen so closely resembles a kitbash in show is likely for budgetary reasons, which leads to problems with his toy. And the increase of prices of Deluxes recently is mildly exonerated by the fact that later FOC and Prime figures are coming with larger weapons with action features.

Personally I hate the Prime cartoon so I would rather it ends. But it's a little premature to say it's over...finished, before the new season even starts airing.

RAcast wrote:Nobody's arguing that they handled the tail end of the PRiD line well though, that's for sure. =_=

You'd think after all the failed handling of their previous End of Lines (Universe 2.0, Generations, Animated and Universe 2.0/Reveal The Shield come to mind) they'd have better formulas and plans to make it all go smoothly.

Guess not.

I'm still waiting for my RtS Bodyblock.

It's not just the end of the PRID line that's been mishandled, IMO. Hasbro dropping releases of already dead characters makes sense, up until you remember they're releasing figures for characters that don't even exist in the show. Add in a shortened third season and the likelyhood that the third season will be the last, and it looks like Hasbro has given up on Prime. Compared to another recent Transformers franchise that only got three seasons of episodes, Animated, Hasbro put in a lot more effort (still managing to drop the ball at the end, or course). I think the writing is on the wall for Prime. Forgive me, but I was under the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that Transformers: Prime was to have the legs to last for years. Now I feel like it's all been a waste.

Has Hasbro ever really explained the weird sharp turn after the First Edition figures when they decided to go forward with the PRID stuff instead? I'm guessing, given that FE Bumblebee, Arcee, and Starscream were originally slotted for Generations a few years ago, that they and the other few First Edition figures were devloped well before Hasbro switched to their "less plastic/higher price" strategy. Were the limited FE releases just attempt to break even on the development costs?

Hasbro stock is up like $8 over the past year. Just because we don't like how they're handling things from a fanboy perspective doesn't mean they're wrong. Clearly they know more then we do.

FellintoOblivion wrote:Hasbro stock is up like $8 over the past year. Just because we don't like how they're handling things from a fanboy perspective doesn't mean they're wrong. Clearly they know more then we do.

That doesn't say anything, how have their stocks been over this past quarter as compared to, say, the last 8 quarters? It's only this quarter that they jacked prices to insane levels.

RAcast wrote:

FellintoOblivion wrote:Hasbro stock is up like $8 over the past year. Just because we don't like how they're handling things from a fanboy perspective doesn't mean they're wrong. Clearly they know more then we do.

That doesn't say anything, how have their stocks been over this past quarter as compared to, say, the last 8 quarters? It's only this quarter that they jacked prices to insane levels.

Yea a 25% stock price increase in 12 months doesn't mean anything

Additionally, the MSRP on toys hasn't changed, it's the retailers who are raising prices which means Hasbro isn't seeing any added revenue from that.