The Energon Pub

I know they were supposed to be a filler line between the end of cybertron and the begining of movie line. But look at how popular they were and you would have to think that hasbro would take that in consideration when deciding weather or not to continue them heck even the botcon exclusive have sold out in both version the boxed and unboxed version as well as the ones for people who are going and the ones people who are not going to be there. So you really have to wonder if hasbro is not going to look at all of this a say hey maybe we have a winner here and without even having to have a cartoon to back it. Also they have three season of g1 figures to choose from as well as headmaster,victory,masterforce character to pick from. So I really beleave that they would be idiot not to continue this line after the movie figures have run there course.

We have yet to see any evidence that Classics will continue after BotCon. Until some evidence is presented, most people will accept that they are finished.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some Classics-style figures show up in the new line, though.

Professor Smooth wrote:We have yet to see any evidence that Classics will continue after BotCon. Until some evidence is presented, most people will accept that they are finished.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some Classics-style figures show up in the new line, though.

Oh, I fully expect to see Classics styled figures in the packaging of the new cartoon line. Hasbro almost always does that.

However, I would imagine, as a line of its own, it is done as most of the primary figures have been released. So it figures that most of the money to be made has been made.

Bonger wrote:
However, I would imagine, as a line of its own, it is done as most of the primary figures have been released. So it figures that most of the money to be made has been made.

Maybe, but only because of incompetence.
There's SOOOO many figures that still need to be done... so many that deserve getting a good sculpt to help forget their bad G1 versions.

Riotflea wrote:

Bonger wrote:
However, I would imagine, as a line of its own, it is done as most of the primary figures have been released. So it figures that most of the money to be made has been made.

Maybe, but only because of incompetence.
There's SOOOO many figures that still need to be done... so many that deserve getting a good sculpt to help forget their bad G1 versions.

Pfft, you're another Wheelie sympathizer aren't you?

Bonger wrote:

Riotflea wrote:

Bonger wrote:
However, I would imagine, as a line of its own, it is done as most of the primary figures have been released. So it figures that most of the money to be made has been made.

Maybe, but only because of incompetence.
There's SOOOO many figures that still need to be done... so many that deserve getting a good sculpt to help forget their bad G1 versions.

Pfft, you're another Wheelie sympathizer aren't you?

Honestly? Yeah, if Hasbro were smart enough to hire this "jizai" guy:
http://jizaitoys.seesaa.net/

Even the most rabid Wheelie hater would have to be intellectually dishonest to say that figure sucks.

Those of you in the 'nay' camp aren't thinking like business people. When something does that well in sales, you don't just hang up the hat and call it a day when the initial run is completed; you find ways to make more and thus sell more. By the sounds of it the line proved to be more popular than Hasbro expected it to be. The likely outcome then is that the line is on hiatus until the movie hype dies down.

My prediction for the film is that its going to bomb, and that the toys won't be far behind. With that Hasbro will be all-too-eager to go back to what was already working for them with this franchise.

Funkmaster Fleximus wrote:Those of you in the 'nay' camp aren't thinking like business people. When something does that well in sales, you don't just hang up the hat and call it a day when the initial run is completed; you find ways to make more and thus sell more. By the sounds of it the line proved to be more popular than Hasbro expected it to be. The likely outcome then is that the line is on hiatus until the movie hype dies down.

My prediction for the film is that its going to bomb, and that the toys won't be far behind. With that Hasbro will be all-too-eager to go back to what was already working for them with this franchise.

I certainly hope so. However, I am not holding my breath.

I'm curious though. How do you figure that his line was wildly sucessful? I certainly saw a ton of Classics warming the shelves until they got discounted.

Riotflea wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Riotflea wrote:

Bonger wrote:
However, I would imagine, as a line of its own, it is done as most of the primary figures have been released. So it figures that most of the money to be made has been made.

Maybe, but only because of incompetence.
There's SOOOO many figures that still need to be done... so many that deserve getting a good sculpt to help forget their bad G1 versions.

Pfft, you're another Wheelie sympathizer aren't you?

Honestly? Yeah, if Hasbro were smart enough to hire this "jizai" guy:
http://jizaitoys.seesaa.net/

Even the most rabid Wheelie hater would have to be intellectually dishonest to say that figure sucks.

Funny you brought that up. I am currently trying to find someone who can read Japanese to help me order one...and I DESPISE that lil bugger.

This guy needs to work on a G1 accurate, transforming Arcee. I think he is the one guy who's work I've seen who could pull it off.

Bonger wrote:

Riotflea wrote:Honestly? Yeah, if Hasbro were smart enough to hire this "jizai" guy:
http://jizaitoys.seesaa.net/

Even the most rabid Wheelie hater would have to be intellectually dishonest to say that figure sucks.

Funny you brought that up. I am currently trying to find someone who can read Japanese to help me order one...and I DESPISE that lil bugger.

This guy needs to work on a G1 accurate, transforming Arcee. I think he is the one guy who's work I've seen who could pull it off.

I'm telling you, by 2009, I'm supposedly getting... eh... "a considerable amount" from a lawsuit that's gone on almost a decade.
Long story short, if Hasbro or noone else is bright enough to hire that genius, I will for my own toy lines I've drawn up plans for.

Riotflea wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Riotflea wrote:Honestly? Yeah, if Hasbro were smart enough to hire this "jizai" guy:
http://jizaitoys.seesaa.net/

Even the most rabid Wheelie hater would have to be intellectually dishonest to say that figure sucks.

Funny you brought that up. I am currently trying to find someone who can read Japanese to help me order one...and I DESPISE that lil bugger.

This guy needs to work on a G1 accurate, transforming Arcee. I think he is the one guy who's work I've seen who could pull it off.

I'm telling you, by 2009, I'm supposedly getting... eh... "a considerable amount" from a lawsuit that's gone on almost a decade.
Long story short, if Hasbro or noone else is bright enough to hire that genius, I will for my own toy lines I've drawn up plans for.

If he agrees wo work for me in exchange fo 99c cheeseburgers from McDonalds, I'd hire him right now!!

On a more serious note, thats an awful long time for a law suit to o on. Damn lawayers.

Bonger wrote:

Riotflea wrote:
I'm telling you, by 2009, I'm supposedly getting... eh... "a considerable amount" from a lawsuit that's gone on almost a decade.
Long story short, if Hasbro or noone else is bright enough to hire that genius, I will for my own toy lines I've drawn up plans for.

If he agrees wo work for me in exchange fo 99c cheeseburgers from McDonalds, I'd hire him right now!!

On a more serious note, thats an awful long time for a law suit to o on. Damn lawayers.

Oh, but the payoff is SO worth it. I'm not even going there, as the amounts defy credibility... or the safety of privacy for that matter.

I imagine Takara/Hasbro/whoever else must have 50 billion patents out there to thwart a high-quality, pseudo Transformers type line. Buuut, I doubt those will be problems when my time comes.

Mmmm... I'd kill for one of those cheeseburgers right now.
Alas, all I have are these:
http://www.maj.com/gallery/JINZONINGEN7 ... sx-13d.jpg

More on topic, I do hope that they get serious again with Classics after the movie junk sputters out.
Although that probably will take awhile, the movie figures being available a month or two after the initial movie's release, THEN getting rejuvenated a short few months later by the DVD being available for the Christmas horde.

So, if there are more Classics... ... ...early 2008, pictures / eBay prototypes sometime late 2007?

Funkmaster Fleximus wrote:Those of you in the 'nay' camp aren't thinking like business people. When something does that well in sales, you don't just hang up the hat and call it a day when the initial run is completed; you find ways to make more and thus sell more. By the sounds of it the line proved to be more popular than Hasbro expected it to be. The likely outcome then is that the line is on hiatus until the movie hype dies down.

My prediction for the film is that its going to bomb, and that the toys won't be far behind. With that Hasbro will be all-too-eager to go back to what was already working for them with this franchise.

:BLEHHHH!!!:

Whoo-hoo-hoops! I just vomited all over everything!

Let me pose a quandary to you…when the majority of a line goes on clearance, has no media (ie TV or movie) support, and has no gimmick which specifically appeals to children…what do we call it folks?

Dead.

Well, that’s what the folks thinking like businessmen would say.

Then again, we’ve had a long and proud tradition of lines being put on hiatus and then later reconstituted…

oh wait, that’s never happened!

As to your prediction about the film ‘bombing’, well it lends more credence to the propensity to not trust your gut reactions. All indications point to a sequel already in the works, a surge in merchandise, and an already rabid fandom who finds more and more of its members becoming accepting of the new movie look.

Good things die hard, (no pun intended, Bruce Willis fans), I liked the classics line but have only been able to get four. My Wal Mart still has them on shelf, somewhere far from the Movie line, but I think that's just the toys that hasn't been sold yet.

With any product that is sold to consumers, the bottom line is the numbers on the accounting sheets. The numbers are what ultimately tells you whether or not something is or isn't moving.
I've seen the Classics go discount as well, but only after Bumblebee or all those other smaller figures sit for weeks on end. Everything else moves pretty quick: Starscream, Hot-Rod, Jetfire, Optimus, Grimlock, Astrotrain and even Mirage, who alone seems to get shipped by the truck load. Contacts I have at TrU and other specialty toy shops tend to agree that the line moves well, and despite almost non-existant marketing. Even the TF Ultimate guide called the line a hit.

Counterpunch: Dude, you need to take a broader view. First off, where you live is a factor. Do you live in a big Metropolitan city? Armpit-Suburbia? Somewhere inbetween? I live in a fairly large city and what I've seen doesn't at all agree with what you've seen. Maybe there aren't many kids in your area or maybe their aren't enough adult collectors. You have to take these things into account before you get so eloquantly absolutist

Bonger: I didn't say that the line was a 'wild' success, only that it did better than Hasbro intended. Good enough that it would be silly to just let the line finish off completely. Ultimately, yes, we have to wait and see what happens.

Meh, I don't doubt that Hasbro made money off the line. However, they have a big budget movie coming out, with a sequel apparantly to soon be on the works and a new cartoon series.

I think one thing that we have noticed over the last 2 and a half decades is that a successful TV show is what sells toys. I am sure Hasbro has picked up on this as well by now.

If Classics continue it will be just a few toys in the new line to throw collectors a bone. Nice easy way to ease us into the new line.

I am not oo concerned though. They have been consistent with dribbling in some G1 homages into every line the last few years. I am sure this will continue. However, the Classics tag on packaging has got to be done for.

On a side note, what I would like to see is Hasbro do a coupple of thing for adults.

#1 Think about working on their own MP molds. Stuff that Takara does not have yet. Soundwave, Galvatron, etc etc.

#2 Branch off the Alternaters line a little and start producing Alternater construction vehicles. Maybe ones that can combine into a bigger robot. Well that is not gonna happen, but it would be nice to see them flesh the line out a bit or maybe branch off a little and do something with it that is not a sedan or Wrangler. Some full size SUVs would be amazing for Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist, etc. Maybe look into making a Dragstrip and another Mirage from an Indy Car.

Is that expecting a little too much?

Maybe not. After all, they are going to be doing an anime accurate Screamer. I think the Alternater line with MP Prime might have showed Hasbro that there are enough adults to make adult focussed lines a profitable venture. With the movie creating more interest in TFs, this will only bhold more true going forwards.

Heres to hoping.

...How many TF Classics topic do we need on this forum?

Vile MK III wrote:...How many TF Classics topic do we need on this forum?

Apparantly we need to keep one on page one at all times or a new one pops up. Time for a sticky?

Bonger wrote:

Vile MK III wrote:...How many TF Classics topic do we need on this forum?

Apparantly we need to keep one on page one at all times or a new one pops up. Time for a sticky?

Yea, a sticky that is titled "TF Classics Disscusion" So we won't have 50 topics called "Are classic gonna come back"

If I was a mod I'd do it, cuz it's starting to drive me nuts too.

I really love the Clasics line, but I think the last we're getting out of it is the last three Seekers. I know there was concept art to do Cosmos, but I don't think that will gon anywhere unfortunately. I would love to see more Classics of characters we all know & love. I myself want to see Tracks or Bombshell. There are so many posibilities, but only so much Hasbro will do.

kirbenvost wrote:If I was a mod I'd do it, cuz it's starting to drive me nuts too.

I've gone beyond nuts. Bohahaahahahahahahaha

Sorry to add to this "deja vu" of a thread but I'd say the Classics are fineeto, done, history and gone. Hasbro has given zero indication to say the classics line will continue. There has been quite a few times they've put something on hiatus only to have it be done. I see this as no exception.

Don't get me wrong. I'd be wetting myself if the Classics line were to continue. I love the Classics line. But Hasbro has said what about it continuing? - - - Nothing - - -!

Theres no room for the toy line. With the Movie toy line now out, there is also Alternators, Titaniums, SWTF's and the upcoming toy line for the new TV show (wonder what that is going to look like since its going to be samurai jack animation). It was a great toyline and cool idea, but it was simply a filler between Cybertron and the Movie Toyline.

Funkmaster Fleximus wrote:With any product that is sold to consumers, the bottom line is the numbers on the accounting sheets. The numbers are what ultimately tells you whether or not something is or isn't moving.
I've seen the Classics go discount as well, but only after Bumblebee or all those other smaller figures sit for weeks on end. Everything else moves pretty quick: Starscream, Hot-Rod, Jetfire, Optimus, Grimlock, Astrotrain and even Mirage, who alone seems to get shipped by the truck load. Contacts I have at TrU and other specialty toy shops tend to agree that the line moves well, and despite almost non-existant marketing. Even the TF Ultimate guide called the line a hit.

Counterpunch: Dude, you need to take a broader view. First off, where you live is a factor. Do you live in a big Metropolitan city? Armpit-Suburbia? Somewhere inbetween? I live in a fairly large city and what I've seen doesn't at all agree with what you've seen. Maybe there aren't many kids in your area or maybe their aren't enough adult collectors. You have to take these things into account before you get so eloquantly absolutist

Bonger: I didn't say that the line was a 'wild' success, only that it did better than Hasbro intended. Good enough that it would be silly to just let the line finish off completely. Ultimately, yes, we have to wait and see what happens.

Store stocking policies can also play a major role in what sits on shelves. The Minden Walmart was still getting cases of Cybertron wave one midway through the line and amazingly complaining that they wern't selling the whole damn time. It took me throwing sever fits at various stockers and finaly at the toy section manager to get any of the newer figures in.

O and I have a feeling we hav'nt seen the last of the Classics line. Just as we have yet to see the end of the Universe line, and it's been officialy dead for how long now?