The Energon Pub

by **southpawdragon** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:59 pm

Is there an Official response by hasbro for Masterpiece Sideswipe?
Is sideswipe officially Persona non grata by hasbro?

thanks

News Credits: 402 · by **Mkall** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:16 pm

No word yet. Their 2013 MPs seem to be Acid Storm and Soundwave.

Maybe we'll hear something at Botcon? But I think it's unlikely.

by **RAcast** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:49 pm

The problem is the Lambo license. They didn't want to have their cars representing war machines for the longest time (it's why Classics Bumlbebee is not even remotely a VW Beetle). If and when Hasbro gets that cleared, they'll do Sideswipe.

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:38 pm

RAcast wrote:The problem is the Lambo license. They didn't want to have their cars representing war machines for the longest time (it's why Classics Bumlbebee is not even remotely a VW Beetle). If and when Hasbro gets that cleared, they'll do Sideswipe.

But if that were the case, how did Takara Tomy get the license to make MP Lambor in the first place? Lambor and Sideswipe are basically the same character, and Transformers in Japan is still about warlike robots fighting each other.

That said, it was true in the past, but with TT's acquisition of the Lamborghini license, VW has probably changed its stance somewhat. Maybe with TT being a separate entity from Hasbro, they can't just pass the license over to make Sideswipe.

Just a theory, though.

by **RAcast** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:45 pm

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:
RAcast wrote:The problem is the Lambo license. They didn't want to have their cars representing war machines for the longest time (it's why Classics Bumlbebee is not even remotely a VW Beetle). If and when Hasbro gets that cleared, they'll do Sideswipe.

But if that were the case, how did Takara Tomy get the license to make MP Lambor in the first place? Lambor and Sideswipe are basically the same character, and Transformers in Japan is still about warlike robots fighting each other.

Labor and Sideswipe ARE the same character. :lol:

Also, they paid for it.

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:50 pm

RAcast wrote:
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:
RAcast wrote:The problem is the Lambo license. They didn't want to have their cars representing war machines for the longest time (it's why Classics Bumlbebee is not even remotely a VW Beetle). If and when Hasbro gets that cleared, they'll do Sideswipe.

But if that were the case, how did Takara Tomy get the license to make MP Lambor in the first place? Lambor and Sideswipe are basically the same character, and Transformers in Japan is still about warlike robots fighting each other.

Labor and Sideswipe ARE the same character. Also, they paid for it.

LOL! Took too long to edit my post!

Newly added portion: "...That said, it was true in the past, but with TT's acquisition of the Lamborghini license, VW has probably changed its stance somewhat. Maybe with TT being a separate entity from Hasbro, they can't just pass the license over to make Sideswipe.

Just a theory, though."

by **RAcast** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:55 pm

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:
RAcast wrote:
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:
RAcast wrote:The problem is the Lambo license. They didn't want to have their cars representing war machines for the longest time (it's why Classics Bumlbebee is not even remotely a VW Beetle). If and when Hasbro gets that cleared, they'll do Sideswipe.

But if that were the case, how did Takara Tomy get the license to make MP Lambor in the first place? Lambor and Sideswipe are basically the same character, and Transformers in Japan is still about warlike robots fighting each other.

Labor and Sideswipe ARE the same character. Also, they paid for it.

LOL! Took too long to edit my post!

Yup, yup it did.

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:That said, it was true in the past, but with TT's acquisition of the Lamborghini license, VW has probably changed its stance somewhat. Maybe with TT being a separate entity from Hasbro, they can't just pass the license over to make Sideswipe.

Just a theory, though.

First, Lamborghini is owned by VW, so that's why the issue coincides on that matter. I wouldn't mind seeing a Masterpiece Bumblebee from Takara, and it could certainly happen. And yes, TakaraTomy and Hasbro are separate companies, so Hasbro would also have to pay for the license if they wanted to use it.

News Credits: 2 · by **Convotron** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:57 pm

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:But if that were the case, how did Takara Tomy get the license to make MP Lambor in the first place? Lambor and Sideswipe are basically the same character, and Transformers in Japan is still about warlike robots fighting each other.

That said, it was true in the past, but with TT's acquisition of the Lamborghini license, VW has probably changed its stance somewhat. Maybe with TT being a separate entity from Hasbro, they can't just pass the license over to make Sideswipe.

Just a theory, though.

I'm of a similar mind on this matter. I think that if TT was able to acquire the license to use the Countach for MP Lambor, it wouldn't be impossible for Hasbro to release MP Sideswipe.

Has there ever been a case where either TakaraTomy or Hasbro could use a licensed design but the other company could not?

by **RAcast** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:04 pm

Convotron wrote:Has there ever been a case where either TakaraTomy or Hasbro could use a licensed design but the other company could not?

It's not that Hasbro can't use the mold, but they would have to pay for the license. In any situation where a licensed vehicle would have been involved, any company who wished to produce that mold would have had to pay to use it. It's important to keep in mind that TT and Hasbro are entirely separate entities, they just share an IP.

Now, I'm not sure how the movie lines were handled. I know that Paramount has the licenses to all of the on-screen cast and anything that appeared in the movie games (which is why we won't see those molds at Botcon, the cost of using those molds would likely be significantly higher than just using molds owned by Hasbro). In any case, I suspect that Paramount required some fee to use their designs from both Hasbro and TT, as well.

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:53 pm

Convotron wrote:I'm of a similar mind on this matter. I think that if TT was able to acquire the license to use the Countach for MP Lambor, it wouldn't be impossible for Hasbro to release MP Sideswipe.

I'm thinking Hasbro is unwilling to buy the license; I'm almost certain it's not going to be cheap. If they were to pay the same amount that TT paid for it, the price point for Hasbro's MP Sideswipe would have to be substantially raised in order to off-set the licensing cost.

RAcast wrote:Now, I'm not sure how the movie lines were handled. I know that Paramount has the licenses to all of the on-screen cast and anything that appeared in the movie games (which is why we won't see those molds at Botcon, the cost of using those molds would likely be significantly higher than just using molds owned by Hasbro). In any case, I suspect that Paramount required some fee to use their designs from both Hasbro and TT, as well.

Yeah, that's pretty much how it is, as far as the movie designs were concerned. Paramount buys the license for all the alt modes (GM, Peterbilt, Lockheed Martin etc.) as well as the bot modes (ILM?), and HasTak in turn pays a secondary amount to both parties to make toys from the designs.

...more or less. :???:

News Credits: 2 · by **Convotron** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:53 pm

I know that they are two different companies...I'm asking whether or not there was an instance where there was an issue with one company gaining rights to use a vehicle design while the other could not.

If it's simply a case of Hasbro simply buying the rights to use the Countach design in a toy then it's just a matter of them deciding whether or not it's worth the money to make MP Sideswipe.

I think that if Hasbro is willing to produce MP Soundwave, MP Sideswipe/MP Red Alert shouldn't be so unlikely since they would be offered at a lower MSRP(sub $100 like TRU MP Thundercracker) and their alt modes would have more universal appeal as sports cars versus a cassette player from the 1980s. This is assuming that Hasbro only has to purchase license rights for the Countach design.

by **RAcast** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:00 pm

Convotron wrote:If it's simply a case of Hasbro simply buying the rights to use the Countach design in a toy then it's just a matter of them deciding whether or not it's worth the money to make MP Sideswipe.

That should be the case exactly. Only time will tell whether they do or not. I would imagine that there's money to be made here, but I'm not a marketing guy. :lol:

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:22 pm

Convotron wrote:Has there ever been a case where either TakaraTomy or Hasbro could use a licensed design but the other company could not?

Perhaps not a licensing issue on the whole mold but there was that little thing with Alternators Windcharger that Hasbro couldn't include the barrel of his gun and had to call it a shield while Binaltech Overdrive did include it.

TFwiki wrote:Aside from the lack of die-cast metal, the major difference between Windcharger and Overdrive is that Windcharger lacks the long drive-shaft/barrel for his engine/rifle accessory, which was even called a "shield" on the packaging. This was at the request of Honda's USA branch, who didn't like the idea of "their" toy toting a gun around. Since Honda's Japanese department had no such objections, however, Binaltech Overdrive did include an unchanged barrel.

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:31 am

It is a long shot but I think we could see MP Sideswipe via the club.

by **Sinnertwin** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:41 am

Personally, i dont think the bean counters at Hasbro are willing to cough up the moolah.

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:42 am

Sinnertwin wrote:Personally, i dont think the bean counters at Hasbro are willing to cough up the moolah.

This.

by **the_fandom_sucks** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:46 pm

The response is you get nothing.

There's a very vocal element in this fandom, however big they are, who demand to be treated like serious collectors.

Economies of scale are a big big factor in how companies like Hasbro make money...but the things some people are clamoring for have very specific, targeted, demand.

So the only way they're are viable is for Hasbro or Takara to make limited quantities and charge a premium for them.

..and what happens once Hasbro respond for your calls to be taken seriously?

You guys flake.

You can't buy it because you have a mortgage payment, 2 car payments, 3 kids in college, and four cats who are sick.

Hasbro don't care about your personal circumstances. If you can't or won't go the extra distance to get one of their products you are not the serious collector you think you are.

You guys make me laugh, and you know what, Hasbro are probably laughing at you too.

by **Wh33l Jck** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 8:56 pm

ˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ
Wow harsh...

I don't think you can count on Hasbro, to me its "now or never" with these toys.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:08 pm

warzon3 wrote:ˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ
Wow harsh...

Harsh indeed.

But also fairly accurate. Most of us think it, we just never want to admit it.

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:52 am

warzon3 wrote:I don't think you can count on Hasbro, to me its "now or never" with these toys.

Yup. The best way to ensure you don't miss out on an MP fig is to go Takara, especially where those with licensed alt modes are concerned. As commendable as it is for Hasbro to make whatever MP figs they can, G1 Autobots usually have alt modes of actual cars. Hasbro probably thinks it's too much of a budgetary risk to buy the license in the first place, as unlike TakaraTomy, their main market isn't adult collectors who'll willingly pay a premium for G1 toys.

Getting back on topic, it might not be so much VW's refusal to sell the license to Hasbro (they did grant Takara the license for Lambor's Countach alt mode, after all) as much as Hasbro not wanting to pay that much to make Sideswipe.