The Energon Pub

Seems that the movie toyline is going to be rather small compared to previous lines. I'm not counting FAB's or any of the other bizarre movie-related merchandise, just the normal figures; Scout, Deluxe, Voyager, Ultra, and Leader class.

Now, Classics as a toyline was very small but that's because it was meant to serve as a gap between Cybertron and the movie toyline. According to my count (could be off by a few) this is how many figures were released in each size class for the Cybertron toyline:

Scout: 16 (Not counting Minicon 3 packs)
Deluxe: 23
Voyagers: 11
Ultras: 7
Leaders: 4

So far for the movie we have:

Scout: 8
Spy Shot 6
Longview
Speed Dial 800
Power Up VT6
Zoom Out 25X
Booster X10
Real Gear Watch
Real Gear Game Controller

Deluxe: 13
Protoform Optimus
Protoform Starscream
Bumblee
Jazz
Barricade
Scorponok
Brawl
Wreckage
Bonecrusher
Swindle
Dreadwing
Arcee
Bumblebee '08 version

Voyagers: 6
Blackout
Ironhide
Starscream
Rachet
Rachet Repaint (Red Alert?)
Thundercracker (Starscream remold)

Ultras: 0

Leaders: 3
Optimus
Megatron
Brawl

That means they're either scaling back the amount of figure they're doing (which seems unlikely due to the hype for this movie), they've got more new designs up their sleeves, or they're planning to repaint every figure.

What do you guys think? Is the movie toyline going to be smaller than past lines or is there a whole bunch of stuff we haven't seen yet?

Well, you are missing a couple there. Voyager Megatron for starters, and if you're including the white Ratchet, you may as well include the G1 coloured Starscream. And the Speed Dial (I think it was ) repaint. And I'd expect quite a few other repaints as well.

edit: don't forget the other basic repaints... Hardtop, Arcee and Longarm. Maybe others I forget.

Well, the movies not even out yet and they already padded the line with at least 2 Cons that aren't in the movie (Swindle and Wreckage) plus the Real Gear line (but if you read the back of their cards, it sounds like they could be there in the end) so I'd say its off to a rough start. There are a lot more Cons than Bots so I'm already going to call Swindle Perceptor and if they (or I) make it purple, Shockwave. With two "Expanded Universe" toys out before the movie hits screens, it seems like even Hasbro doesn't have faith that it'll have staying power. Or even better, the Movie line is just a filler line until the new series and Classics come back! Wouldn't that be ironic.

I guess Hasbro decided that they were gonna keep it movie and game only for the time being

It's Hasbro though, so if even a single frame of film in the move shows a crowd on Cybertron, they'll milk it until we stop buying it. Star Wars, people! They have full page ads that brag about "1.03 Seconds of Screen Time But Immortalized in Plastic Forever" so I think they'll beat this movie horse dead and then beat the bones if they think they'll shake a nickel loose.

What gives with this line anyways? Are they creating some artificial hype by making them hard to find? Maybe it is some new strategy because there "should have been a cash cow" Spider-Man 3 toys have been out forever and it seems they can't even give them away.

As a matter of fact I noticed that movie licensed toys are selling really slowly right now. Pirates of the Carribean doesn't appear to be selling all that great either.

The Protoform Transformers, while not overcrowding the shelves like other toys aren't moving, but how many kids do you know want to play with a robot that transforms into space dookie? Did Rocklords sell really well when they were marketed by Tonka under the Gobots line and I just didn't know about it?

The protoforms seemed more of an "exclusive" toy or mail away. After the movie comes out people in hind sight might say, "I wish they made a figure like the protoforms in the movie." I guess maybe it was some marketing idea to release the protoforms first "just like the protoforms come to Earth before disguising themselves in the movie" to create a buzz for the figures and movie.

zodconvoy wrote:It's Hasbro though, so if even a single frame of film in the move shows a crowd on Cybertron, they'll milk it until we stop buying it. Star Wars, people! They have full page ads that brag about "1.03 Seconds of Screen Time But Immortalized in Plastic Forever" so I think they'll beat this movie horse dead and then beat the bones if they think they'll shake a nickel loose.

Hmmm, so it might be possible at 00:23:46 into the movie I see Devestator's "toe" we could get a Devestator's toe figure.

I know what you are talking about with the Star Wars toys though. They do get ridiculous with that at times and I question how Hasbro (and Kenner for that matter) can justify creating a mold for characters like that.

They are movie preview figures. I doubt you will see them on the shelves in a month or two.

2 more Voyagers forgetten on the list: Optimus Prime general release and Target exclusive Robo-Vision

Why is everybody being so neg about the new toyline?

The movie isn't even out yet and they've got THAT many figures slated? AWESOME!

I thought you were on a TF forum because you LOVED TF's, not hated them.

Who cares about screen time, or exclusivity? I just want as many formers as I can get my hands on! LC

I'd say that after this weekend there will be more of the deluxe figures available. I picked up Bumblebee, Jazz, Barricade & Brawl my local Fred Meyers. My local Walmart finally put up the isle overhead TF sign and are clearing out there ridiculously high number of Cybertron figures. But when you think about the entire 1st wave will be on shelves in a week and will be easy to find.

Patience grasshopper!

I think the movie toyline seems small to you because of all the things you're secifically not counting, such as the FABs and Ultimate Bumblebee. Plus, like everyone's said, this is just what we've heard about so far, and you even missed some of that. I'm pretty sure the movie line will have a lot of merchandise in it.

Swerve wrote:What gives with this line anyways? Are they creating some artificial hype by making them hard to find? Maybe it is some new strategy because there "should have been a cash cow" Spider-Man 3 toys have been out forever and it seems they can't even give them away.

As a matter of fact I noticed that movie licensed toys are selling really slowly right now. Pirates of the Carribean doesn't appear to be selling all that great either.

The Protoform Transformers, while not overcrowding the shelves like other toys aren't moving, but how many kids do you know want to play with a robot that transforms into space dookie? Did Rocklords sell really well when they were marketed by Tonka under the Gobots line and I just didn't know about it?

The protoforms seemed more of an "exclusive" toy or mail away. After the movie comes out people in hind sight might say, "I wish they made a figure like the protoforms in the movie." I guess maybe it was some marketing idea to release the protoforms first "just like the protoforms come to Earth before disguising themselves in the movie" to create a buzz for the figures and movie.

well actually pirates is moving slow and so was Spiderman, because of the movies and kids know, Spiderman was ok, but how many times can you get a new spiderman toy before you get sick of seeing him.. and pirates.. those toys are made very crappy, and who wants a toy of a guy in a pirate suite when you can have the coolest Alien transforming robots around!!! they know all about the upcoming movie, its all I hear my sons friends and kids at school talking about....sigh... it reminds me of 1984.. ahhh memories.. hat first year back to class with a transformer notebook folder for my homework, and friends wanting to borrow it in class so they could trace the drawing on it..yep Transformers is set to be the dominant species this summer. you watch...there will be more merchandise then botcon exclusives this year..(not by much) and thats alot considering...Sarcasm.. i love it..

we are all gonna drop our mouths with other stuff coming out from Hasbro and their partnership with takara Tomy..you'll see...I gotta go, so this is my last post today..I have to move into my new house today..

skywarp-2 wrote:

Swerve wrote:What gives with this line anyways? Are they creating some artificial hype by making them hard to find? Maybe it is some new strategy because there "should have been a cash cow" Spider-Man 3 toys have been out forever and it seems they can't even give them away.

As a matter of fact I noticed that movie licensed toys are selling really slowly right now. Pirates of the Carribean doesn't appear to be selling all that great either.

The Protoform Transformers, while not overcrowding the shelves like other toys aren't moving, but how many kids do you know want to play with a robot that transforms into space dookie? Did Rocklords sell really well when they were marketed by Tonka under the Gobots line and I just didn't know about it?

The protoforms seemed more of an "exclusive" toy or mail away. After the movie comes out people in hind sight might say, "I wish they made a figure like the protoforms in the movie." I guess maybe it was some marketing idea to release the protoforms first "just like the protoforms come to Earth before disguising themselves in the movie" to create a buzz for the figures and movie.

well actually pirates is moving slow and so was Spiderman, because of the movies and kids know, Spiderman was ok, but how many times can you get a new spiderman toy before you get sick of seeing him.. and pirates.. those toys are made very crappy, and who wants a toy of a guy in a pirate suite when you can have the coolest Alien transforming robots around!!! they know all about the upcoming movie, its all I hear my sons friends and kids at school talking about....sigh... it reminds me of 1984.. ahhh memories.. hat first year back to class with a transformer notebook folder for my homework, and friends wanting to borrow it in class so they could trace the drawing on it..yep Transformers is set to be the dominant species this summer. you watch...there will be more merchandise then botcon exclusives this year..(not by much) and thats alot considering...Sarcasm.. i love it..

we are all gonna drop our mouths with other stuff coming out from Hasbro and their partnership with takara Tomy..you'll see...I gotta go, so this is my last post today..I have to move into my new house today..

Wow. Congrats, Skywarp-2. My mother bought her first house about 9 months ago...I am sure it is a great feeing.

Redimus' Ego +1 wrote:I think your forgetting, most transformers lines are released over the period it takes to air the cartoon series (52 weeks if one epsode a week is shown). This toy line is to be released during the cinima run of ONE movie.

That's a really good point, I didn't think about that. Most of the toylines are drawn out over the span of almost a year but the movie isn't going to stay in theaters for a year.

Just give them time. New figures will show up eventually.

skywarp-2 wrote:

Swerve wrote:What gives with this line anyways? Are they creating some artificial hype by making them hard to find? Maybe it is some new strategy because there "should have been a cash cow" Spider-Man 3 toys have been out forever and it seems they can't even give them away.

As a matter of fact I noticed that movie licensed toys are selling really slowly right now. Pirates of the Carribean doesn't appear to be selling all that great either.

The Protoform Transformers, while not overcrowding the shelves like other toys aren't moving, but how many kids do you know want to play with a robot that transforms into space dookie? Did Rocklords sell really well when they were marketed by Tonka under the Gobots line and I just didn't know about it?

The protoforms seemed more of an "exclusive" toy or mail away. After the movie comes out people in hind sight might say, "I wish they made a figure like the protoforms in the movie." I guess maybe it was some marketing idea to release the protoforms first "just like the protoforms come to Earth before disguising themselves in the movie" to create a buzz for the figures and movie.

well actually pirates is moving slow and so was Spiderman, because of the movies and kids know, Spiderman was ok, but how many times can you get a new spiderman toy before you get sick of seeing him.. and pirates.. those toys are made very crappy, and who wants a toy of a guy in a pirate suite when you can have the coolest Alien transforming robots around!!! they know all about the upcoming movie, its all I hear my sons friends and kids at school talking about....sigh... it reminds me of 1984.. ahhh memories.. hat first year back to class with a transformer notebook folder for my homework, and friends wanting to borrow it in class so they could trace the drawing on it..yep Transformers is set to be the dominant species this summer. you watch...there will be more merchandise then botcon exclusives this year..(not by much) and thats alot considering...Sarcasm.. i love it..

we are all gonna drop our mouths with other stuff coming out from Hasbro and their partnership with takara Tomy..you'll see...I gotta go, so this is my last post today..I have to move into my new house today..

I'm basically just trying to get an idea based off how well the other movie licenses are doing. Usually a movie license will warrant purchases no matter how crappy the product (I'm looking at you video game indusrty) or the movie, however both Pirates and Spider-Man are some of the biggest movies of the year and the toys aren't moving. Then again, toy manufacturers have to compete against video games, cell phones, MP3 players, and other stuff as well.

Well, judging on the amount of peg space I've seen at local stores, I wouldn't call this line small in any sense. Then again, if you are only counting the 'core' toys such as the legitamate figures and not the FABs, then yes, it looks like it might be kinda small.

Honestly with all the ancilliary merchandise we are bound to see I'm glad the toyline is small. I mean come on we are bound to see and influx of shirts, bathroom products, placemats, kitchenware, video games, and whatever else the merchandising monster thinks it can squeeze out of us. Frankly while the toy line is the primary focus I do want alot of this other stuff. More Transformer decor never hurts. And it isn't like the left overs from 80s are easily attainable or in some cases in desirable condition.