HASBRO Answers Seibertron's Questions

1) - The press release posted on Hasbro.com just prior to Toy Fair indicated that there would be 10 Deluxe figures for Universe in 2009. 8 of those figures have been made public (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet), leaving 2 unknown figures. Is there any chance that you can elaborate what these two figures are, or if one of them will be Red Alert, similar to Takara Tomy's release schedule with Henkei?

Hasbro: Unfortunately, the press release prior to Toy Fair regarding Universe Deluxe was incorrect. For 2009, there will only be 8 Deluxe figures (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet).

tigertracks 24 wrote:Allspark's Q/A Answers For Round 1 2009

-no more Universe deluxes this year past Ratchet!

1) - The press release posted on Hasbro.com just prior to Toy Fair indicated that there would be 10 Deluxe figures for Universe in 2009. 8 of those figures have been made public (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet), leaving 2 unknown figures. Is there any chance that you can elaborate what these two figures are, or if one of them will be Red Alert, similar to Takara Tomy's release schedule with Henkei?

Hasbro: Unfortunately, the press release prior to Toy Fair regarding Universe Deluxe was incorrect. For 2009, there will only be 8 Deluxe figures (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet).

Q1) Can we expect to see Universe Classics Jazz, Soundwave and especially Wheeljack? TFUC seems like the perfect line to debut a true Wheeljack figure since he hasn’t really been given the proper treatment since G1. It also seems like a tease getting Ravage with Hound without a Soundwave out there!

A1) These are three of the names that keep poping up on our radar. Soundwave is difficult because we can’t make his alt mode a cassette player - kids today just wouldn’t even know what that is. I can tell you that he is being discussed for future release but nothing is definite at this time. Jazz is a favorite as well but nothing has been discussed as of now. Wheeljack on the other hand, has been discussed more in-depth and we’re excited about prospects for his appearance in the near future.

Barrelass wrote:As far as Soundwave goes, maybe I am just out of it (don't have any kids myself), but kids today still know what a radio is. Yea cassettes may be a little outdated, but we still have radios. And I highly doubt kids would think "what's this foreign object that I am putting in my radio", and even if they really really don't know what a cassette tape is, will they really be that opposed to little square boxes that combine with their radio? For christ sakes, you gave us ravage already, it's not like the tapes would be major figures in the line, and I honestly don't think you would have that big of a problem selling a radio as a character, especially when he was one of the characters that their dad (who is probably making the purchase) grew up with, and a popular character at that. But I could be wrong. Can't be any worse than a three headed dragon or some of the other things they have slapped together in the last year.

Megatron_Wolf wrote:Please give us Animated Hot Rod.

Scaleface wrote:

Barrelass wrote:As far as Soundwave goes, maybe I am just out of it (don't have any kids myself), but kids today still know what a radio is. Yea cassettes may be a little outdated, but we still have radios. And I highly doubt kids would think "what's this foreign object that I am putting in my radio", and even if they really really don't know what a cassette tape is, will they really be that opposed to little square boxes that combine with their radio? For christ sakes, you gave us ravage already, it's not like the tapes would be major figures in the line, and I honestly don't think you would have that big of a problem selling a radio as a character, especially when he was one of the characters that their dad (who is probably making the purchase) grew up with, and a popular character at that. But I could be wrong. Can't be any worse than a three headed dragon or some of the other things they have slapped together in the last year.

My point exactly. If they made a CASSETTE, why not make a Soundwave that's a CASSETTE PLAYER? Their answer to this defeats their own logic.

You have it completely wrong. You see they made a toy of Ravage for Universe, so they must think kids know what a cassette is, but they won't make Soundwave because these kids won't recognize the strange alien device that plays the cassettes! Righto. Yet somehow biplanes to alien spaceships, because kids see those every day in real life.

While we can't provide exact details on any upcoming G1-based or Premium figures, rest assured that we will be making them whenever they make sense.

tigertracks 24 wrote:Allspark's Q/A Answers For Round 1 2009

-no more Universe deluxes this year past Ratchet!

1) - The press release posted on Hasbro.com just prior to Toy Fair indicated that there would be 10 Deluxe figures for Universe in 2009. 8 of those figures have been made public (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet), leaving 2 unknown figures. Is there any chance that you can elaborate what these two figures are, or if one of them will be Red Alert, similar to Takara Tomy's release schedule with Henkei?

Hasbro: Unfortunately, the press release prior to Toy Fair regarding Universe Deluxe was incorrect. For 2009, there will only be 8 Deluxe figures (Cheetor, Cyclonus, Hound, Starscream, Dinobot, Smokescreen, Hot Shot and Ratchet).

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There will be new toys of season 3 characters throughout 2009. Unfortunately, we cannot speak to any rumors regarding the animated series at this time."

Stormrider wrote:Regarding the movie repaints - I am starting to get the feeling that the characters in the movie are dilebrately a different color than their G1 counterparts, just so that Hasbro can release a G1 repaint version later. Am I being too cynical?