The Energon Pub

Does anyone have any information on how Hasbro engineers and designs Transformers? I assume it starts with concept art and then moves into computer design before prototypes are made. The special features on the 2007 movie dvd show a quick scene of a toy being manipulated in a 3D design program and I assume this is the norm for creating complex toys like Transformers. Links or descriptions of this process would be really interesting.

Also, I've seen images of unreleased G2 toys in packaging. How do those things get made yet never come to market? How do people get early toys (like the images of the upcoming Generations Warpath) so far ahead of the time when they show up in stores?

I'm curious how this all happens after having become a Transformers fan/geek. Thanks in advance for sharing any info on this!

Check this out
http://pingmag.jp/2007/06/29/transformers/

Might not answer all your questions, but it's cool, pretty inspiring too if you're into design.

retrothomas wrote:How do people get early toys (like the images of the upcoming Generations Warpath) so far ahead of the time when they show up in stores?

Sometimes they are stolen from the factory in China and sold. Sometimes they are QC rejects that are disregarded and ends up in the hands of someone who sells them. I am sure there are many ways these things ends of in the hands of the public. Usually sold for an outragous price.