The Energon Pub

As the subject poses, does Hasbro hate the fans? It's a regular thing for TF fans to claim how much Hasbro craps on "us" or how 3rd party companies step up to do things that Hasbro won't but from the recent slew of Generations toy news I've seen, I just can't agree with the notion of Hasbro being on the opposite side of fans.

The Generations toyline, so far, is full of catering to TF fans, especially those who have fondness for G1. It also offers some goodies to WFC fans with some toys as well.

To me, devoting an entire line like Generations to mainly fan desires is something rare in the toy business. Granted, we do see special exclusives once in a while from some toy companies that are solely for the diehard fans but what other toy company does as much as Hasbro and/or TakaraTomy for tapping into diehard fan interest with their products?

Now, one could mention some Japanese toy companies but they're basically high end products that are specifically for adult collectors: Of course they're catering to fans. As much as I'm a fan of some of Bandai's products, they really kick dirt on fans with how they've been handling their Tamashii exclusives lately.

A toyline like Generations is something that Hasbro didn't have to develop. They could have gone a less fan focused route with a Universe 3.0 or something of the sort that could still throw fans a bone every once in a while but what we're getting is a lot of fan specific toys for TF fans through the Generation line.

Hasbro may not cater to the fan on every single toy release but it's not supposed to. Hasbro doesn't do business strictly with the niche market of hardcore TF collectors. Hasbro was NEVER such a company. I think a lot of people overlook the fact that the Transformers franchise started out as purely a toyline advertised through a mediocre cartoon. The fact that Hasbro's treatment of the TF franchise has evolved to a point where they will interact with fans and market to the fans every once in a while is a damn good thing and it's something that many other franchises do not have.

Now it's not that Hasbro hasn't made mistakes or anything but the amount of pissing and moaning and bitching so called fans partake in over Hasbro's business decisions far outweighs any acknowledgement of what they do right. The Generations toyline isn't the only example of when Hasbro does right by fans but it's the latest example as far as I'm concerned. Criticize Hasbro when they deserve it but let's also give credit when it's due to the company that has provided all of us TF fans some measure of enjoyment over the last few decades.

I belive they must because i've been a fan since 1985 and Hasbro keeps doing one anonying thing. Rubsigns I hate them i hated them in the 80s ,In Beast wars ,classic07 ,reissues .They ruin the look of the figure and now i just found out i've got more to look foward to!

inb4 "That's stupid why would they haet fans look you got Darkmount!!!!!!!11!!!"

Anyhow, no I don't think Hasbro hates fans. But if we avoid all of the cliches for this arguement, we don't have anything left to say, so I'm going with a historical example.

Judas Priest was sued becasue some fools attempted to kill themselves after listening to the song Better By You, Better Than Me. We can ignore all of the conservative legal failings in this case, such as not bothering to find out the Priest didn't even write the song but rather covered it, and just stick with a bit of food for thought:
if someone/thing was sustained by money generated by people who like said person or thing, what interest does it serve to upset them to the point of driving them away or killing themselves?
inb4 pointless fear of "the devil in music"
Really, if a band promotes that its fans kill themselves, who's going to be around to buy their stuff and keep them in business?
If Hasbro hated fans and tried to chase us away, who's going to buy their products? Yeah yeah yeah, toys are for kids, I know, but how many kids have the disposable income for $50 Leader class toys? Like, how many 5-12 year olds work enough hours to afford that? Toys may be bought FOR kids, but kids don't work overtime to get extra cash to buy toys.

Hasbro doesn't hate fans. We fans just hate each other, so that's why we argue all the time, becuase we dont all play with our toys the same way. There's a life lesson in there somewhere.

Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

But what do you define as "fans"?

Do you honestly think Hasbro could turn a profit for TF's based on catering the whims and wishes of the "collector fans"?

Come on ... they HAVE to cater to the kids first.

I think you'll find there's more than just "they're junk" behind the reason TF's aren't selling. The economy is a big thing for starters, plus rival toy lines that actually have a show/movie on the air or in theatres.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

Worst post of the week. Bravo. A perfect blend of lacking in fact with an overabundance of opinion, sprinkled heavily with Troll flavoring.

I don't know about Hasbro america but I'm pretty sure Hasblo UK does.

munkimus prime wrote:I don't know about Hasbro america but I'm pretty sure Hasblo UK does.

You beat me to it....

I would have to say no Hasbro doesn't hate there fans.I was at Botcon this year and they introduced some of there designers.Aron Archer is a bit cocky but the new guys seems very optimistic and excited about making more figures aimed at fan.They looked like fans them selves.I felt very optimistic about them after there panel.I think fans need to keep in mind there are deadlines and experimenting in this.Not every figure is going to be a gem.They really do put out a lot of figures these days.They make so many that everyone should be able to pick out one a year they really like.If they can do that there doing a good job in my eyes.For me personally I really like a lot of the figures that come out.I can see the problems in a few but over all Hasbro really has stepped up to try making fans happy.They could say screw us and just make toys for kids.There really isnt as many of us as you like to think compared to children.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

Let me guess.... "G1! they need to go back to G1! That is the only thing that Transformers should ever do is G1!"

G1 is not profitable it stopped being profitable in like 90/91 that is why they ended the line. We have Classics now that is as close to "going back to G1" as you are going to get. And no the Hasbro team dose not hate the fans. Trust me on this, I know that for a fact. I met the Team at Botcon and Aaron Archer and his team ARE fans. Seriously did you even see the new figure dump last week? Yeah they're fans.

I have to say this: Hasbro likes us adult fans, but they like the kids even more. But what's more important:

Nobody likes a whiner.

Unfortunately, the only remaining constant over time is fanboy complaint... (Quote taken from Sabrina-Online, September 2006)

Counterpunch wrote:

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

Worst post of the week. Bravo. A perfect blend of lacking in fact with an overabundance of opinion, sprinkled heavily with Troll flavoring.

Thank you, thank you. I appreciate your opinion. Yes, maybe I was too opinionated and coincidentally I am trying to be a bit more factual. Hasbro just makes me mad that they release stuff like Tuner Mudflap a lot.

Burn wrote:

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

But what do you define as "fans"?

Do you honestly think Hasbro could turn a profit for TF's based on catering the whims and wishes of the "collector fans"?

Come on ... they HAVE to cater to the kids first.

I think you'll find there's more than just "they're junk" behind the reason TF's aren't selling. The economy is a big thing for starters, plus rival toy lines that actually have a show/movie on the air or in theatres.

Well, you have a point. The economy is a big issue here, and I was thinking of posting a thread concerning the tv show thing which I have given more thought than this post. And the "junk" concerns the myriad of unsatisfactory malfuntioning products I have purchased since 2007.

Skice wrote:

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

Let me guess.... "G1! they need to go back to G1! That is the only thing that Transformers should ever do is G1!"

G1 is not profitable it stopped being profitable in like 90/91 that is why they ended the line. We have Classics now that is as close to "going back to G1" as you are going to get. And no the Hasbro team dose not hate the fans. Trust me on this, I know that for a fact. I met the Team at Botcon and Aaron Archer and his team ARE fans. Seriously did you even see the new figure dump last week? Yeah they're fans.

NO NO NO!!!! Please don't criticize me of wanting more G1!!! I am so sick of it, and I am sick of the GeeWunners that support G1 and only G1. I want G1 phased out slightly so we can move on a little. The random junk I referred to was G1, then again, when I think about it, there are a good amount of fans who want to stick to G1.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:Here's the bottom line: Hasbro is stupid, but they don't hate the fans. They release random junk that nobody wants then they ponder why they can't sell toys. If they would actually do something to listen to the fans there would be huge success.

I am sorry for this post, therefore I shall make a clearer point: No, Hasbro does not hate the fans! That makes no sense whatsoever. How can you sell toys with the intent of the buyers hating you and the product you sell? I believe they have just made some...maybe more than enough...experimentations that did not work as well as thought.

Hasbro doesn't, but Michael Bay does. Seems like he only wants to make what he wants to see. When H lets him & the film company do whatever they want -this blows. They need to put their foot down more. end rant

vectorA3 wrote:Hasbro doesn't, but Michael Bay does. Seems like he only wants to make what he wants to see. When H lets him & the film company do whatever they want -this blows. They need to put their foot down more. end rant

Please don't tell me you want more G1. I honestly think movies were the next step in TF evolution. They have made TF's popularity skyrocket, believe it or not.

yes, of course, any version, Bay or not would've improved TF popularity. Unless it were extremely extremely piss poor. Yes, i'd like more G1. Two movies full of military vehicles, planes & weapons out the wazoo and no Jeep or Humvee for Hound??? WTF???!?!!!?!!?

some of the "new g1" stuff is ok. like the new Wreck-Gar looks bad-ass.

I'm not saying nothing but g1 stuff should be pumped out, but i also like the idea of characters like lockdown or drift becoming "new g1" characters (lugnut and bulkhead could too and i wouldn't mind)

I gotta admit i pick and choose what i like. i dont let the fact a figure came from a line i dont like the rest of stop me. I think the PCC characters look like crap, except for smolder and i really want him (and maybe the dino-combiner too)

i'll be the first to agree we dont need another bumblebee figure for a long while, but they gotta make what (they predict) will sell

No they don't hate the fans at all. They're doing pretty well for the most part. Other than QC,paint apps and an overall complete understanding of their product from a design standpoint.
THey're very hit and miss.
Some figures are amazing and others i just sorta scratch my head at in bewilderment as to what they were thinking to sign that design off into mass production.

A serious answer is...........they love our money more!

fenrir72 wrote:A serious answer is...........they love our money more!

Bravo Fenrir, bravo!

My answer: They do not. If they did, we would never have Classics, Generations, Universe, and all of those other Collector-Oriented lines. And i also despise Geewunners.

vectorA3 wrote:yes, of course, any version, Bay or not would've improved TF popularity. Unless it were extremely extremely piss poor. Yes, i'd like more G1. Two movies full of military vehicles, planes & weapons out the wazoo and no Jeep or Humvee for Hound??? WTF???!?!!!?!!?

C'mon, what is the basis of ALL of the classic lines? G1!!!!!! The movies are what brought me into following TF storylines, so I praise them. But maybe, if we pretend to step back in time 20 years or so, we can just stay with G1 for the rest of the brand's history. That way, the innovation dies and we can prevent newer generations of fans (like myself, actually) from liking anything else. And what do you expect to be in the movies besides miltary vehicles, planes, and weapons? Do you want to watch a bunch of Transforming late-model Honda Civics in fist fights? (Hope I'm not being too rude)

JetOptimus23 wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:A serious answer is...........they love our money more!

Bravo Fenrir, bravo!

My answer: They do not. If they did, we would never have Classics, Generations, Universe, and all of those other Collector-Oriented lines. And i also despise Geewunners.

Thank you for that very last sentence.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:

vectorA3 wrote:yes, of course, any version, Bay or not would've improved TF popularity. Unless it were extremely extremely piss poor. Yes, i'd like more G1. Two movies full of military vehicles, planes & weapons out the wazoo and no Jeep or Humvee for Hound??? WTF???!?!!!?!!?

C'mon, what is the basis of ALL of the classic lines? G1!!!!!! The movies are what brought me into following TF storylines, so I praise them. But maybe, if we pretend to step back in time 20 years or so, we can just stay with G1 for the rest of the brand's history. That way, the innovation dies and we can prevent newer generations of fans (like myself, actually) from liking anything else. And what do you expect to be in the movies besides miltary vehicles, planes, and weapons? Do you want to watch a bunch of Transforming late-model Honda Civics in fist fights? (Hope I'm not being too rude)

No. But there's just flat-out no excuse for not having Hound with all of the military vehicles available.