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Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:07 pm
by El Duque
Hasbro and Innovation First have officially announced their upcoming Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG collaboration. We were able to view the set at Toy Fair, but only after signing a nondisclosure agreement. The full press release can be found below:


Innovation First Stitches Licensing Agreement with Bioworld


Local Partnership to Bring HEXBUG® Apparel & Sleepwear to Retail Spring 2014


February 18, 2014 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

MAGIC MARKET WEEK 2014

GREENVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation First International, creators of the internationally popular HEXBUG® brand, today announced a partnership with Bioworld Merchandising, granting apparel licensing rights for HEXBUG branded t-shirts and sleepwear. Due to appear at selected retailers in the United States this Spring, the hot new HEXBUG themed boys’ apparel will be on display at MAGIC MARKET WEEK, a trade show for contemporary men’s and women’s apparel and footwear, from February 18 – 20, 2014.

“We are excited to extend the HEXBUG brand into the youth apparel market with smart, cutting-edge apparel designs, which we know our fans will geek-out over,” said Tony Norman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovation First International. “Bioworld’s hip, savvy, non-traditional approach to creative design, manufacturing and merchandising goes hand in hand with our brand philosophy and creative culture.”

Bioworld and Innovation First are two of the fastest-growing companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Bioworld Merchandising is a licensed brand apparel and accessory manufacturer that has built a solid infrastructure to support design, manufacturing, and distribution to all retail channels. Bioworld has strong relationships with major retailers and has demonstrated a keen ability to spot exciting, relevant partnerships with key youth brands.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with the Innovation First team. The HEXBUG brand embodies the attributes we find to be important in our products: innovation, quality and fun,” said Jennifer Staley, Vice President of Licensing for Bioworld. “This project is a great fit for us.”

Innovation First is a high-tech robotics and engineering company at the bleeding edge of consumer technology. HEXBUG products are designed to give children a positive experience with robotics at a young age. HEXBUG branded apparel and sleepwear joins other fun licensing partnerships that the company has forged for 2014, including a partnership with Crocs to create HEXBUG Jibbitz, decorative shoe charms that fit into the holes of Crocs shoes, as well as a new partnership with one of the year’s biggest blockbuster movies: “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” in which HEXBUG is bringing the iconic, franchise characters to life for fans of all ages, with the Transformers HEXBUG Warriors & Nano product lines.

For more information on HEXBUG, please visit: http://www.HEXBUG.com. Follow the HEXBUG brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for up to date information on this and other product news and promotions.

About Innovation First International:

Innovation First International was founded on the belief that innovation very early in the design process is necessary to produce simple and elegant product designs. Innovation First International’s three main subsidiaries, VEX Robotics, Inc., Innovation First Labs, Inc. (makers of HEXBUG® Micro Robotic Creatures), and RackSolutions, Inc. span the education, consumer and business-to-business markets.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:59 pm
by XDMan
Insecticons, please?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 6:05 pm
by Bumblevivisector
Aww, hexagonal nuts! Those little things always did remind me of some some new Scraplet evolution, but I never paid close attention.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:17 pm
by TFStopMotions123
Image

Found this on Instagram

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:37 pm
by Mindmaster
TFStopMotions123 wrote:Image

Found this on Instagram


Meh, just what I thought. Redecoes of what they already have using decoes from characters featured in the film.

Also, doesn't this image violate the nondisclosure agreement?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:20 pm
by TFStopMotions123
Mindmaster wrote:
TFStopMotions123 wrote:Image

Found this on Instagram


Meh, just what I thought. Redecoes of what they already have using decoes from characters featured in the film.

Also, doesn't this image violate the nondisclosure agreement?



Uh oh, did I violate something? #-o Didn't know, sorry about that.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:22 pm
by Mindmaster
TFStopMotions123 wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:
TFStopMotions123 wrote:Image

Found this on Instagram


Meh, just what I thought. Redecoes of what they already have using decoes from characters featured in the film.

Also, doesn't this image violate the nondisclosure agreement?



Uh oh, did I violate something? #-o Didn't know, sorry about that.


Oh, no, it wasn't you who might be in violation. It's whoever uploaded the image that might get in trouble. ;)

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:41 am
by El Duque
Courtesy of the Idle Hands Blog we have some images of the upcoming Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUGS. We've mirrored a selection of their images below, many more can be found by clicking here.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:10 am
by Autobot032
Well...not my cup of tea, but I like seeing Transformers branch out and making a bigger name for themselves. This could be a great step forward.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:34 am
by zwann
Looks fun. Remind me of the Japanese anime battle car thingy, with their weapons and stuff.

Well, looks like there's a Galvatron there. Possible box art to be revealed soon?

And why is there "Decepticon" prefix on his name? Thought Hasbro secured that?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:34 am
by Bumblevivisector
"Warriors race into battle using vibration technology"

Maybe there isn't a better way to phrase that, but Primus help us all if they do one of Scorn. Or Waspinator's next incarnation. Or that other FunPub exclusive.


*ahem* As for the characters they are doing, Galvatron's the same colors as Rescue Bots Blades?!? Did a designer stumble across info on Shatterd Glass Galvatron, trace his roots back to Evac, and get confused?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:47 am
by Manterax Prime
My only question: Is Stinger's deluxe figure gonna have the battle mask to differentiate him from BB?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:54 am
by Autobot032
Bumblevivisector wrote:"Warriors race into battle using vibration technology"

Maybe there isn't a better way to phrase that, but Primus help us all if they do one of Scorn. Or Waspinator's next incarnation. Or that other FunPub exclusive.


*spit take* #-o Possibly the worst choice of words to sell a product like this. lol

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:11 am
by swagitron
I guess that means Stinger is an evil Bumblebee. Wait wasn't there supposed to be a deluxe Stinger and 2014 Camaro Bumblebee?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:35 am
by durroth
Okay, now Michael Bay has gone too far. The dinobots aren't half bad, but these insecticons are clearly just lazy. They don't even look to have robot modes, they all look like they're trying to disguise themselves as other transformers, and we don't even get one recognizable bot from the original group. I'd expect them to at least put sharpshot/shrapnel or kickback in the group if they want fans to accept them as proper insecticons. Moreover, the gimmick for the toys is kind of lame, especially if it means no transformations. I'd even take those plastic titan figures instead of these weird robot modeless bugs.


...


:WHISTLE:

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:49 am
by Sabrblade
They... look like Morphers. With Stinger reminding me most of the one from Gokaiger/PRSMF.

Autobot032 wrote:
Bumblevivisector wrote:"Warriors race into battle using vibration technology"

Maybe there isn't a better way to phrase that, but Primus help us all if they do one of Scorn. Or Waspinator's next incarnation. Or that other FunPub exclusive.


*spit take* #-o Possibly the worst choice of words to sell a product like this. lol
Nexus Maximus. :WHISTLE:

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:13 am
by GuyIncognito
Thank God they didn't try to make these look more like the characters. I applaud their choice to use the TF characters as inspiration for the designs rather than trying to literally make them look like the movie characters.

They could actually cool as part of a TF display; they could be like companion pets or drones for the TFs.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:22 am
by durroth
on a completely unrelated note, why does stinger remind me so much of FoC vortex?

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:01 am
by welcometothedarksyde
I hope they have a bio for these. Like all the Transformers decided to assume robotic bug modes and settle their differences that way

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:34 am
by Mindmaster
Wait wasn't there supposed to be a deluxe Stinger and 2014 Camaro Bumblebee?


We know there will be a Stinger. We're assuming there will be a 2014 Camaro Bumblebee after the first few waves.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:55 pm
by shockblast2
Really?


Hasbro is really reaching now.

More fodder for the Christmas clearance section.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:02 pm
by GuyIncognito
shockblast2 wrote:Really?


Hasbro is really reaching now.

More fodder for the Christmas clearance section.


You don't understand the concept of licensing, I guess.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:57 pm
by Stormtalon
I'm a little disappointed. You have Hexbugs doing a tie in and don't think to use any of the Insecticons. No kickback? No Shrapnel? Hardshell? Waspinator? Anyone. For the Autobots, Bumblebee is the logical choice, but the Decepticons/Insecticons have a deep bench of names. As I said, disppointing.

Re: Innovation First and Hasbro Announce Transformers: Age of Extinction HEXBUG Collaboration

PostPosted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:37 am
by Sabrblade
Stormtalon wrote:I'm a little disappointed. You have Hexbugs doing a tie in and don't think to use any of the Insecticons. No kickback? No Shrapnel? Hardshell? Waspinator? Anyone. For the Autobots, Bumblebee is the logical choice, but the Decepticons/Insecticons have a deep bench of names. As I said, disppointing.
How could they do Insecticons for an Age of Extinction tie in? Age of Extinction is obviously gonna be the mainstream moneymaker, so it makes sense to want to get in on its action. But there aren't any Insecticons in that movie/line, so it wouldn't make sense to use them here for an AOE tie in.