The Energon Pub

jay5 wrote:Are they planning a Bruticus release for Combiner Wars?

Or a broader form of the question: Are they planning to cover all of the multi-unit gestalts in the Combiner Wars series? (Predaking, Bruticus, etc) Thanks.

jay5 wrote:Ah, thank you!

How about a Masterpiece Mirage? Have we heard any rumblings about that?

Perhaps that's more a TT question than Hasbro though, since TT tends to release Masterpiece first, followed by Hasbro, right?

• With Lego experiencing double digit growth in the US in FY 2014 (source), there is clear demand for construction play product. That said, initiatives such as Construct-bots, and more recently, Kre-O, have seemingly under-performed and subsequently have been canceled in the US market. What marketing factors do you believe were the primary drivers of the disappointing performance of these attempts at bringing the Transformers brand into the construction play market?
• As Beast Wars approaches its 20th birthday, how far along are plans to recognize that anniversary? Put another way, will it be more likely to see Beast Wars related product or media in early or late 2016?
• Much has been made of the slow but steady trend in price increases on Transformers related products over the past handful of years. What efforts have been made to maintain or improve product quality despite the volatile nature of the supply-side plastic market? Similarly, what, if any, considerations have been given to alternative plastic resin types (in other words, not HDPE for injection molding) that may help provide pricing relief on both the supplier/Hasbro side and the consumer side?
• Alternate super short version of the above: Will the significant decrease in petroleum pricing seen in 2015 eventually be felt by us consumers?
• Are some of the recent homages to older, non-Generation One eras of Transformers indicative of potential for future product lines to rely less on '80s nostalgia? In other words, when taking a look at what IDW seems to be doing with characters from all across the brand's history being increasingly more involved, is it fair to identify this as a trend across the brand?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

jay5 wrote:Ah, thank you!

How about a Masterpiece Mirage? Have we heard any rumblings about that?

Perhaps that's more a TT question than Hasbro though, since TT tends to release Masterpiece first, followed by Hasbro, right?

TakaraTomy employees will be present as far as I know, but asking about speculative releases are best avoided as they would fall under "when is this figure going to be released" and as such could get skipped along with 3rd Party questions (prepare for groaning when such a question gets asked). Also, TakaraTomy releasing a certain figure is no guarantee for a Hasbro release, and vice-versa

I do have one or two questions, but they may be more of a classified nature as it deals with specifics in figure design and require more detailed answers...

TK415 wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

jay5 wrote:Ah, thank you!

How about a Masterpiece Mirage? Have we heard any rumblings about that?

Perhaps that's more a TT question than Hasbro though, since TT tends to release Masterpiece first, followed by Hasbro, right?

TakaraTomy employees will be present as far as I know, but asking about speculative releases are best avoided as they would fall under "when is this figure going to be released" and as such could get skipped along with 3rd Party questions (prepare for groaning when such a question gets asked). Also, TakaraTomy releasing a certain figure is no guarantee for a Hasbro release, and vice-versa

I do have one or two questions, but they may be more of a classified nature as it deals with specifics in figure design and require more detailed answers...

Hey JelZe,
Fair enough if they aren't appropriate for the interview. However, just out of curiosity will you please share with us?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

TK415 wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

jay5 wrote:Ah, thank you!

How about a Masterpiece Mirage? Have we heard any rumblings about that?

Perhaps that's more a TT question than Hasbro though, since TT tends to release Masterpiece first, followed by Hasbro, right?

TakaraTomy employees will be present as far as I know, but asking about speculative releases are best avoided as they would fall under "when is this figure going to be released" and as such could get skipped along with 3rd Party questions (prepare for groaning when such a question gets asked). Also, TakaraTomy releasing a certain figure is no guarantee for a Hasbro release, and vice-versa

I do have one or two questions, but they may be more of a classified nature as it deals with specifics in figure design and require more detailed answers...

Hey JelZe,
Fair enough if they aren't appropriate for the interview. However, just out of curiosity will you please share with us?

Well, since you asked:

1) As we've noticed, a limited number of base figures were used for the first year of Combiner Wars (8 Deluxes, 3 Voyagers), with different heads and vehicle shells for each. Was that done for cost or efficiency reasons (simply put, get the most out of a certain design)?
2) Is the planning for Combiner Wars done one year at a time, or is there some wiggle room, like plan one year completely, and discussing possibilities for the next?

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:Why has Hasbro given up on appealing to a broad audience including older fans with all their toy lines including Rescue bots, Ironman 3 and Star Wars Rebels?

ScottyP wrote:

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:Why has Hasbro given up on appealing to a broad audience including older fans with all their toy lines including Rescue bots, Ironman 3 and Star Wars Rebels?

Answer you would hear: Combiner Wars/Masterpiece/Platinum Edition, Marvel Legends, Black Series aimed at older fans and collectors.

jay5 wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:Why has Hasbro given up on appealing to a broad audience including older fans with all their toy lines including Rescue bots, Ironman 3 and Star Wars Rebels?

Answer you would hear: Combiner Wars/Masterpiece/Platinum Edition, Marvel Legends, Black Series aimed at older fans and collectors.

Also, other companies have the corner on the high-end figurine market and Hasbro likely can't compete at the level of detail/quality/price required as a new entrant into that market. Much easier to be the bulk/volume producer of their mainline brands and license out any special products.

ScottyP wrote:

jay5 wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:Why has Hasbro given up on appealing to a broad audience including older fans with all their toy lines including Rescue bots, Ironman 3 and Star Wars Rebels?

Answer you would hear: Combiner Wars/Masterpiece/Platinum Edition, Marvel Legends, Black Series aimed at older fans and collectors.

Also, other companies have the corner on the high-end figurine market and Hasbro likely can't compete at the level of detail/quality/price required as a new entrant into that market. Much easier to be the bulk/volume producer of their mainline brands and license out any special products.

I'm not even sure it's that so much as a deliberate, purposeful fracturing of the product for their franchises. Now, that said, yes it would be nice to see some RiD 2015 or SW Rebels product aimed at the collector market and not just the kids, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time in either case.