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EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Your repaints are awesome as always dude!

Why we can't have some SS Selects is beyond me, some of those alternate color schemes were super good, why we can't get them again when we have a line basically dedicated to fan service is beyond me

Thank you! I'm surprised we haven't seen any Studio Selects either, though we have gotten a couple new offscreen repaints in the line (Thundercracker, NEST Bumblebee)

Probably because Hasbro does not technically own those designs and any repaints would need to go through Paramount and of course kick back money to Paramount for the use of said designs.

Hasbro has never actually used movie molds in anything but movie lines. Movie designs are very much off limits for re-uses outside of sanctioned repaints in movie or movie related toy-lines.

And yes, I'm aware X-Overs X-Panse used a singe panel from SS Jetfire. But I guess the end result was different enough to not anger the powers that be at Paramount.

Movie figures have always been a complex issue.

Overcracker wrote:

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Your repaints are awesome as always dude!

Why we can't have some SS Selects is beyond me, some of those alternate color schemes were super good, why we can't get them again when we have a line basically dedicated to fan service is beyond me

Thank you! I'm surprised we haven't seen any Studio Selects either, though we have gotten a couple new offscreen repaints in the line (Thundercracker, NEST Bumblebee)

Probably because Hasbro does not technically own those designs and any repaints would need to go through Paramount and of course kick back money to Paramount for the use of said designs.

Hasbro has never actually used movie molds in anything but movie lines. Movie designs are very much off limits for re-uses outside of sanctioned repaints in movie or movie related toy-lines.

I only half agree here. Yes, they probably would have to move some money Paramount's way if they use their designs and maybe that alone is enough for them to not want to do repaints, but I think you're a little off with the rest of what you said. A Studio Series Selects line would still be a movie related line so there's no issue there. We've even had several online-only SS releases that the only difference between them and Selects in their release was they didn't come in a cardboard box (Drift with Baby Dinobots, Retro Pop Highway). Most recently is the aforementioned upcoming Nest Bumblebee which isn't based on anything, it's just something someone imagined up (there's a theory that it was meant to be a Universal Studios exclusive, but that'll likely never be confirmed and doesn't actually change my point).

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Your repaints are awesome as always dude!

Why we can't have some SS Selects is beyond me, some of those alternate color schemes were super good, why we can't get them again when we have a line basically dedicated to fan service is beyond me

Thank you! I'm surprised we haven't seen any Studio Selects either, though we have gotten a couple new offscreen repaints in the line (Thundercracker, NEST Bumblebee)

Probably because Hasbro does not technically own those designs and any repaints would need to go through Paramount and of course kick back money to Paramount for the use of said designs.

Hasbro has never actually used movie molds in anything but movie lines. Movie designs are very much off limits for re-uses outside of sanctioned repaints in movie or movie related toy-lines.

I only half agree here. Yes, they probably would have to move some money Paramount's way if they use their designs and maybe that alone is enough for them to not want to do repaints, but I think you're a little off with the rest of what you said. A Studio Series Selects line would still be a movie related line so there's no issue there. We've even had several online-only SS releases that the only difference between them and Selects in their release was they didn't come in a cardboard box (Drift with Baby Dinobots, Retro Pop Highway). Most recently is the aforementioned upcoming Nest Bumblebee which isn't based on anything, it's just something someone imagined up (there's a theory that it was meant to be a Universal Studios exclusive, but that'll likely never be confirmed and doesn't actually change my point).

Emerje

The standard Studio Series box might make all the difference in this case, specifically the movie title and logo on the box. That would be traceable back to Paramount regardless of the design of the bot inside.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:The standard Studio Series box might make all the difference in this case, specifically the movie title and logo on the box. That would be traceable back to Paramount regardless of the design of the bot inside.

Maybe that's the answer then. Call it Selects, sell it like Selects, just don't sell it in a cardboard box. I wonder if they could use a generic, full color window box with a sticker on the front?

Emerje

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Your repaints are awesome as always dude!

Why we can't have some SS Selects is beyond me, some of those alternate color schemes were super good, why we can't get them again when we have a line basically dedicated to fan service is beyond me

Thank you! I'm surprised we haven't seen any Studio Selects either, though we have gotten a couple new offscreen repaints in the line (Thundercracker, NEST Bumblebee)

Probably because Hasbro does not technically own those designs and any repaints would need to go through Paramount and of course kick back money to Paramount for the use of said designs.

Hasbro has never actually used movie molds in anything but movie lines. Movie designs are very much off limits for re-uses outside of sanctioned repaints in movie or movie related toy-lines.

I only half agree here. Yes, they probably would have to move some money Paramount's way if they use their designs and maybe that alone is enough for them to not want to do repaints, but I think you're a little off with the rest of what you said. A Studio Series Selects line would still be a movie related line so there's no issue there. We've even had several online-only SS releases that the only difference between them and Selects in their release was they didn't come in a cardboard box (Drift with Baby Dinobots, Retro Pop Highway). Most recently is the aforementioned upcoming Nest Bumblebee which isn't based on anything, it's just something someone imagined up (there's a theory that it was meant to be a Universal Studios exclusive, but that'll likely never be confirmed and doesn't actually change my point).

Emerje

The standard Studio Series box might make all the difference in this case, specifically the movie title and logo on the box. That would be traceable back to Paramount regardless of the design of the bot inside.

Possibly a specifically SS Selects Line with the correct Box with all the required logos would work.

Releasing SS molds in the current Selects line, i don’t see happening.

The other question is whether Paramount would need to approve the releases. The color changes and other modifications to the mold for a Selects Release and whether Paramount would even let them do that if they did have approval in those cases.

I’m not sure Hasbro would be willing to go to the trouble of designing a Selects version of a figure / mold if they knew it could simply be denied by Paramount.

I think Paramount cares more about making money than preserving the integrity the characters' on screen likenesses.

Emerje

What I'm saying is I think they can re-use/retool movie molds without having to pay off Paramount, but in order to do that, 1) they cant use the name of the movie or logo on the box and 2) they likely can't use any on screen characters and alt modes. So something like Selects should be able to work, but the tradeoff would be separating the figures and packaging from any connection to the movie.

The question for Hasbro is whether they feel that the movie reference on the packaging helps sell the figures. If not, there should be no reason not to push some SS molds through Selects or other means. Call the SS Selects, but leave the movie names out.

Now, making things a little more complicated would be licensing for the alt modes, as those may still apply.

I’m a little confused about the conversation, why would paramount licensing be a problem now? The first 3 movie lines were full of repaints that still had the movie logo and character renders on the box.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:I’m a little confused about the conversation, why would paramount licensing be a problem now? The first 3 movie lines were full of repaints that still had the movie logo and character renders on the box.

Yeah, I think nobody has really hit on the real reason, because of the simple fact that we don't really knot the actual reason. The only thing we know for sure is that the on-screen bots are co-owned by paramount. And that you have to pay a license for realistic vehicle modes. So that may make Studio Series a little more expensive to make. How that relates to them not putting out Selects versions of the movie designs is anyone's guess, as this thread shows.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:I’m a little confused about the conversation, why would paramount licensing be a problem now? The first 3 movie lines were full of repaints that still had the movie logo and character renders on the box.

Just bored speculation as to why Hasbro hasn't redecoed or re-used the hell out of the SS (non-SS86) molds in any other lines like Selects or the various exclusives, aside from Buzzworthy Bee.

There has to be a reason for why in 3+ years of SS, it has not happened. Something has to be holding Hasbro back. Wether Paramounts box requirements, or the vehicle licensing, specific contractual obligations for the line etc.... Something is clearly preventing Hasbro from doing this.

They did in the past things like N.E.S.T, HftD, Mechtech movie sub lines and gave us some super weird repaints / retools like Dark Steel a.k.a Dark of the Moon Beast Wars Quickstrike off of Sideswipe.




.

Overcracker wrote:There has to be a reason for why in 3+ years of SS, it has not happened. Something has to be holding Hasbro back. Wether Paramounts box requirements, or the vehicle licensing, specific contractual obligations for the line etc.... Something is clearly preventing Hasbro from doing this.

They did in the past things like N.E.S.T, HftD, Mechtech movie sub lines and gave us some super weird repaints / retools like Dark Steel a.k.a Dark of the Moon Beast Wars Quickstrike off of Sideswipe.




.

It could be something much simpler than that. Back during the first 3 movies, universe/generations was in its infancy and the movie lines were the bigger lines, therefore they got the weird repaints. The NEST, HFTD and Mechtec lines of back then are the Netflix, Golden Disc and Buzzworthy Bee lines of today. Unfortunately the current brand team is all G1 all the time, so they ignore the movie figures for these sublines (aside from Buzzworthy) because they are much more difficult to G1-ify. It could be a simple lack of interest from the design team.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:There has to be a reason for why in 3+ years of SS, it has not happened. Something has to be holding Hasbro back. Wether Paramounts box requirements, or the vehicle licensing, specific contractual obligations for the line etc.... Something is clearly preventing Hasbro from doing this.

They did in the past things like N.E.S.T, HftD, Mechtech movie sub lines and gave us some super weird repaints / retools like Dark Steel a.k.a Dark of the Moon Beast Wars Quickstrike off of Sideswipe.




.

It could be something much simpler than that. Back during the first 3 movies, universe/generations was in its infancy and the movie lines were the bigger lines, therefore they got the weird repaints. The NEST, HFTD and Mechtec lines of back then are the Netflix, Golden Disc and Buzzworthy Bee lines of today. Unfortunately the current brand team is all G1 all the time, so they ignore the movie figures for these sublines (aside from Buzzworthy) because they are much more difficult to G1-ify. It could be a simple lack of interest from the design team.

But aren't the SS team and the generation team separate?

Whatever one does, should not affect the other.

Overcracker wrote:But aren't the SS team and the generation team separate?

Whatever one does, should not affect the other.

Studio Series is and has always been a Generations line.

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:But aren't the SS team and the generation team separate?

Whatever one does, should not affect the other.

Studio Series is and has always been a Generations line.

Yes. Its under there Generations Umbrella if you will as opposed to being a specifically dedicated Movie line, but the design teams are different ones no? Or are they same people is what I want to know?

Overcracker wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:But aren't the SS team and the generation team separate?

Whatever one does, should not affect the other.

Studio Series is and has always been a Generations line.

Yes. Its under there Generations Umbrella if you will as opposed to being a specifically dedicated Movie line, but the design teams are different ones no? Or are they same people is what I want to know?

Same peeps.

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Overcracker wrote:But aren't the SS team and the generation team separate?

Whatever one does, should not affect the other.

Studio Series is and has always been a Generations line.

Yes. Its under there Generations Umbrella if you will as opposed to being a specifically dedicated Movie line, but the design teams are different ones no? Or are they same people is what I want to know?

Same peeps.

Ahh, then disregard my previous comments.

Rtron wrote:
Yeah, I think nobody has really hit on the real reason, because of the simple fact that we don't really knot the actual reason. The only thing we know for sure is that the on-screen bots are co-owned by paramount. And that you have to pay a license for realistic vehicle modes. So that may make Studio Series a little more expensive to make. How that relates to them not putting out Selects versions of the movie designs is anyone's guess, as this thread shows.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:Just bored speculation as to why Hasbro hasn't redecoed or re-used the hell out of the SS (non-SS86) molds in any other lines like Selects or the various exclusives, aside from Buzzworthy Bee.

Gotcha. Thanks guys!

On an unrelated note, I'm really excited to see The Fallen's box art with how Leader class boxes are done now. Wave 3 can't come soon enough!

TF-fan kev777 wrote:It could be something much simpler than that. Back during the first 3 movies, universe/generations was in its infancy and the movie lines were the bigger lines, therefore they got the weird repaints. The NEST, HFTD and Mechtec lines of back then are the Netflix, Golden Disc and Buzzworthy Bee lines of today. Unfortunately the current brand team is all G1 all the time, so they ignore the movie figures for these sublines (aside from Buzzworthy) because they are much more difficult to G1-ify. It could be a simple lack of interest from the design team.

The difference is that those movie lines weren't exclusives. NEST and HFTD were just promotions at the tail end of the RotF and Transformers (2010) toy lines respectively, Mechtec was the play theme for the bulk of the Dark of the Moon toy line. Unless I'm forgetting something, thus far in the Buzzworthy line the non-86 movie figures have had only minor paint differences compared to the original releases rather than drastic deco changes so it might be more difficult to get extensive movie repaints as exclusives than we think.

Emerje

My walmart finally got a case with the new Soundwave in and I've picked one up. I was never too excited for the figure since its design is not really my cup of tea, but he was just disappointing. Of course the alt mode is bad, but even the robot mode is flawed. His head is massive and I wish he could hit the chest door button. I do really like his colors though, the white really pops. Overall he is at the bottom of the SS ranking for me.

LinaNui wrote:My walmart finally got a case with the new Soundwave in and I've picked one up. I was never too excited for the figure since its design is not really my cup of tea, but he was just disappointing. Of course the alt mode is bad, but even the robot mode is flawed. His head is massive and I wish he could hit the chest door button. I do really like his colors though, the white really pops. Overall he is at the bottom of the SS ranking for me.

I'm pretty much right there with you. Just okay. The white really pops.

However, in looking at ER Starscream and Netflix Soundwave next to Bee movie Starscream and Soundwave, something occurred to me. If you adjust for scale/height, then the Bee movie versions are just old man versions of G1 Screamer and Soundwave. Here me out. Their G1 selves are at their physical peak with the squared, angular bodies representing peak fitness, like us humans being ripped and defined. Bee movie is what happens over time as they age. they lose the sharp angles and general squareness.

Starscream got lanky and droopy with almost no meat left on his arms, and his ecess mass eventuall settling into his calves.

LinaNui wrote:His head is massive and I wish he could hit the chest door button.

Poor Soundwave on the other hand just got fat, with his head and chest swelling enough that his sausage arms can no longer hit eject. Its a shame really, Ravage really needs to go...

I agree on the Soundwave thoughts. His design isn't a favorite, so the toy comes off kinda weak there. He's not bad, just lacking any real stand out features

Honestly, I was on the fence about Soundwave for a long time, but his head with the split mouthplate reminds me of BW Rampage so it just kinda ruined the Soundwave "look."

wow, those are some big voyagers

william-james88 wrote:wow, those are some big voyagers

Kinda neat to see how big the Bee movie voyagers are. SS overall has given some nice chunky voyagers, if anything I'd say voyager is its strongest overall class