HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August

Monday, August 24th, 2009 5:09PM CDT

Categories: Site News, Toy News, Company News, Collectables
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August Results for the HASBRO Questions and Answers.

Seibertron.com knows you want hard-hitting answers, and are working on getting more questions that you might want to hear us try to get HASBRO to answer. Remember, HASBRO has a Revenge of the Fallen focus at this point, and does not seem very forthcoming for questions related to Classics/Universe, or the next possible cartoon that they are considering.

You should know that we are working on the process, but can only submit 3 questions, and can only return the answers we are given.

The next question and answer session will be at the end of September/Early October. Look for a discussion thread to be started in September so that the staff can work to bring the best questions to HASBRO for you, our Seibertron friends.

Here are our results for August. As stated the next Q/A will be submitted first week of October.

1.) How much involvement does Hasbro have in Japanese-only TF releases such as BinalTech: Alternity and Device Label? Why does HASBRO not want to bring those ideas, and molds over to the U.S., or outside Japan, for release domestically, or in other markets, or at least make them available as HASBRO TOY SHOP exclusives?

1)"Our relationship with Takara Tomy is one that is based on mutual
respect and collaboration. We work hand in hand on the development of the
Transformers product line in order to produce the best toys every year!

With that said, the Japansese and the U.S. markets each have their own
individual needs, thus requiring the development of specific product to
meet these needs.

2.) Any chance of doing Human Alliance Figures for other TF ranges, for example Animated, and Universe (ala Starscream and Dr. Arcehville, G1 Bumblebee and Spike, Chip Chase and G1 Prowl, G1 Ratchet and Sparkplug, etc.)? Is the Human Alliance concept a design element that HASBRO likes enough to carry over into its other generations of Transformers?

2) We certainly share your excitement for this new addition to the
Transformers line. As with everything new, we need to gauge how it
performs in the market before deciding how we want to move forward with
the line.

3.) Any expected re-start date of the Classics/Universe line? Are there any plans to re-release previous classics series toys for those who missed out on the original release? I. E. Classics Optimus Prime, Megatron.

3)"As we have mentioned in this forum previously, the Universe line ended
once the Revenge of the Fallen product line hit shelves on May 30th.
Therefore, there will be no new development for this line moving forward.

However, the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as
reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion
in the future."

Seibertron.com for all of your Transformers news and resource needs.

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Credit(s): tigertracks 24

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Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981167)
Posted by skywarp-2 on August 24th, 2009 @ 5:54pm CDT

tigertracks 24 wrote:August Results for the HASBRO Questions and Answers.

Seibertron.com knows you want hard-hitting answers, and are working on getting more questions that you might want to hear us try to get HASBRO to answer. Remember, HASBRO has a Revenge of the Fallen focus at this point, and does not seem very forthcoming for questions related to Classics/Universe, or the next possible cartoon that they are considering.

You should know that we are working on the process, but can only submit 3 questions, and can only return the answers we are given.

The next question and answer session will be at the end of September/Early October. Look for a discussion thread to be started in September so that the staff can work to bring the best questions to HASBRO for you, our Seibertron friends.

Here are our results for August. As stated the next Q/A will be submitted first week of October.

1.) How much involvement does Hasbro have int Japanese-only TF releases such as BinalTech: Alternity and Device Label? Why does HASBRO not want to bring those ideas, and molds over to the U.S., or outside Japan, for release domestically, or in other markets, or at least make them available as HASBRO TOY SHOP exclusives?

1)"Our relationship with Takara Tomy is one that is based on mutual
respect and collaboration. We work hand in hand on the development of the
Transformers product line in order to produce the best toys every year!

With that said, the Japansese and the U.S. markets each have their own
individual needs, thus requiring the development of specific product to
meet these needs.

2.) Any chance of doing Human Alliance Figures for other TF ranges, for example Animated, and Universe (ala Starscream and Dr. Arcehville, G1 Bumblebee and Spike, Chip Chase and G1 Prowl, G1 Ratchet and Sparkplug, etc.)? Is the Human Alliance concept a design element that HASBRO likes enough to carry over into its other generations of Transformers?

2) We certainly share your excitement for this new addition to the
Transformers line. As with everything new, we need to gauge how it
performs in the market before deciding how we want to move forward with
the line.

3.) Any expected re-start date of the Classics/Universe line? Are there any plans to re-release previous classics series toys for those who missed out on the original release? I. E. Classics Optimus Prime, Megatron.

3)"As we have mentioned in this forum previously, the Universe line ended
once the Revenge of the Fallen product line hit shelves on May 30th.
Therefore, there will be no new development for this line moving forward.

However, the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as
reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion
in the future."

Seibertron.com for all of your Transformers news and resource needs.

Vector Sigma Database
Comprehensive Photo Galleries
Most Recent Transformers News

these questions were good.. no doubt about it!!

1. so we now know that if you want to get something from takara Tomy, buy it online.. otherwise we may not see it here..good to know.. MP Megatron is a perfect example.. Skywarp and the variations with US starscream to Takara Tomy's Star Scream are good examples that we may get those molds but in different decos.. so the difference in Market is determined by the colors, chrome apps, and specific tastes..we now have that as official.. good..no more wishing on things I will go by the past releases as a guide to what Takara Tomy will not be releasing here in the us Under Hasbro's Label..and vice verse..

2. So the future of the HA line is base don the sales of the initial figures..nice.. I would love to see a super cool release of the Movie Optimus Prime larger with a Peter Cullen figure..

3. Sweet! so basically Universe and the classics line up as of right now is dead, and my not return.. but figures based on the original G-1 toys may be released in the future in an as yet unnamed toyline.. good to know.. so hope of getting a Classics Style Jazz and a Classics Style Shockwave still exist..

but to satisfy my hunger for all things classics, I am very thankful for that Botcon Punch/counterpunch figure coming out soon!!

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981172)
Posted by joevill on August 24th, 2009 @ 6:00pm CDT

1)"...the Japansese and the U.S. markets each have their own individual needs, thus requiring the development of specific product to meet these needs.

So they are basically saying the Japanese market have a need better product than the US market?

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981190)
Posted by Mkall on August 24th, 2009 @ 6:14pm CDT

joevill wrote:
1)"...the Japansese and the U.S. markets each have their own individual needs, thus requiring the development of specific product to meet these needs.

So they are basically saying the Japanese market have a need better product than the US market?

Not quite. Here in N America. Transformers are seen only as a toy by 98% of the population, and thus that is what they get. Very few people would shell out 50 bucks for a transforming 2GB USB stick that turns into Ravage while they could get a 16 GB stick for 20 bucks. Thus transformers are sold to kids at prices their parents might pay. If they have to sacrifice some quality for that price point, then so be it.

Japan sees Transformers more like a collector's item, and such they are aimed at an older audiance with higher standards and more expendible money

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981220)
Posted by NuclearConvoy on August 24th, 2009 @ 6:40pm CDT

Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981226)
Posted by Solrac333 on August 24th, 2009 @ 6:46pm CDT

Mkall wrote:
joevill wrote:
1)"...the Japansese and the U.S. markets each have their own individual needs, thus requiring the development of specific product to meet these needs.

So they are basically saying the Japanese market have a need better product than the US market?

Not quite. Here in N America. Transformers are seen only as a toy by 98% of the population, and thus that is what they get. Very few people would shell out 50 bucks for a transforming 2GB USB stick that turns into Ravage while they could get a 16 GB stick for 20 bucks. Thus transformers are sold to kids at prices their parents might pay. If they have to sacrifice some quality for that price point, then so be it.

Japan sees Transformers more like a collector's item, and such they are aimed at an older audiance with higher standards and more expendible money

Oh I get it. So the Japanese market DO need a better product than the US market.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981230)
Posted by Kibble on August 24th, 2009 @ 6:49pm CDT

So are the questions from the other sites going to be posted or linked to in this thread?

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981241)
Posted by Counterpunch on August 24th, 2009 @ 7:03pm CDT

NuclearConvoy wrote:Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

No you couldn't.

Swindle and several other figures from the first movie game were given figures. With at least the first question, the final answer to whether or not the second game characters would have figures was answered.

That was a clear and entirely new answer.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981263)
Posted by Convotron on August 24th, 2009 @ 7:22pm CDT

I'm just happy to see some of the answers we're getting. While you never can guarantee things will go as planned, hearing certain things like the confirmation of the end of the Universe line saves me from futile hoping while the statement of:

"...the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion in the future."

makes me happy to know that continued plans for homages are still in the works.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981266)
Posted by NuclearConvoy on August 24th, 2009 @ 7:24pm CDT

Counterpunch wrote:
NuclearConvoy wrote:Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

No you couldn't.

Swindle and several other figures from the first movie game were given figures. With at least the first question, the final answer to whether or not the second game characters would have figures was answered.

That was a clear and entirely new answer.

To be fair, when I posted my answer it was directly from the front page about the August answers and I didn't know it related directly back to this thread.
I was expecting video game characters as well, this go around.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981269)
Posted by Nemesis Rodimus on August 24th, 2009 @ 7:29pm CDT

That's it. I must know! When will the new show come out?!? Next Q&A session, I am asking this question, along with a question about Animated, Universe, and future plans. I'm sick of Hasbro only saying things about their precious ROTF! I'm not upset at them, I mean, it is the current line, but I want to know about the future! The movie is over, so let's move on and get the new channel and cartoon on the air. Channel 101 on my TV, I believe. I have meorized it so that the very instant we find out anything about the show, I can know where to turn when it airs. I want airdates, characters, images, amounts of seasons, and episodes in seasons. All in good time, of course. :grin:

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981316)
Posted by DMSL on August 24th, 2009 @ 8:30pm CDT

Please tell Hasbro that i want the following figures:

Movie Leader Class Blackout
Movie Voyager Class Scrapper
Movie Voyager Class High Tower

Classic Deluxe Class Blitzwing
Classic Deluxe Class Brawn
Classic Deluxe Class Huffer
Classic Deluxe Class Jazz
Classic Deluxe Class Powerglide
Classic Deluxe Class Scourge
Classic Deluxe Class Wheeljack
Classic Voyager Class Galvatron

I'd be very happy if these saw the light of day.

:grin:

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981334)
Posted by Mkall on August 24th, 2009 @ 8:44pm CDT

Next set of questions will be sent in sometime in october, so hold your horses kiddies. We'll be putting up a thread when the time draws nearer

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981419)
Posted by Tigertrack on August 24th, 2009 @ 10:23pm CDT

Convotron wrote:I'm just happy to see some of the answers we're getting. While you never can guarantee things will go as planned, hearing certain things like the confirmation of the end of the Universe line saves me from futile hoping while the statement of:

"...the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion in the future."

makes me happy to know that continued plans for homages are still in the works.

I believe that this means, like the GI JOE line, they will have all movie product on the shelf, but will repaint figures from older series into G1 selves or other homages, like Crasher, Crackcase, etc. Even though they are in the movie line, they would basically be considered classics/universe figures. These will be few and far between and probably limited to store exclusives, but still there.

Another example would be ROTF Superion, and Bruticus. G1 coloring and names (mostly), but ROTF line.

NuclearConvoy wrote:Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

It's always so nice to have the support of posters on the site when you try to do something for them. Really you could answer the Human Alliance question from HASBRO's POV for sure? I don't think so. You can tell us if HASBRO might put some of the TakaraTomy items for sale on Hasbrotoyshop.com, I'm impressed! And you knew they would tell us nothing about Universe/Classics 3.0 even though that is all people are clamoring to hear more about (see posts below). :-B

Save me some trouble, start a thread and have people ask you the questions... I'll spend my time elsewhere.

I will be looking for your name and questions at the end of September, make them good ones... :wink:

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981493)
Posted by tyranus on August 24th, 2009 @ 11:55pm CDT

asking hasbro questions at this point, isn't going to help anyway.
it all boils down to, all hasbro is going to do is churn out more and more re-paints, retools, and old figures, in ROTF packages. new figures cost money to make, and hasbro would rather cut cost, then give us what we want.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981498)
Posted by Heckfire on August 24th, 2009 @ 11:59pm CDT

*coughcoughCOPOUTcough*
Sorry, allergies...

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981516)
Posted by Mkall on August 25th, 2009 @ 1:29am CDT

tyranus wrote:asking hasbro questions at this point, isn't going to help anyway.
it all boils down to, all hasbro is going to do is churn out more and more re-paints, retools, and old figures, in ROTF packages. new figures cost money to make, and hasbro would rather cut cost, then give us what we want.

You didn't see the figs they showed off at SDCC did you?

All new figs and molds there.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981591)
Posted by skywarp-2 on August 25th, 2009 @ 7:02am CDT

tigertracks 24 wrote:
Convotron wrote:I'm just happy to see some of the answers we're getting. While you never can guarantee things will go as planned, hearing certain things like the confirmation of the end of the Universe line saves me from futile hoping while the statement of:

"...the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion in the future."

makes me happy to know that continued plans for homages are still in the works.

I believe that this means, like the GI JOE line, they will have all movie product on the shelf, but will repaint figures from older series into G1 selves or other homages, like Crasher, Crackcase, etc. Even though they are in the movie line, they would basically be considered classics/universe figures. These will be few and far between and probably limited to store exclusives, but still there.

Another example would be ROTF Superion, and Bruticus. G1 coloring and names (mostly), but ROTF line.

NuclearConvoy wrote:Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

It's always so nice to have the support of posters on the site when you try to do something for them. Really you could answer the Human Alliance question from HASBRO's POV for sure? I don't think so. You can tell us if HASBRO might put some of the TakaraTomy items for sale on Hasbrotoyshop.com, I'm impressed! And you knew they would tell us nothing about Universe/Classics 3.0 even though that is all people are clamoring to hear more about (see posts below). Save me some trouble, start a thread and have people ask you the questions... I'll spend my time elsewhere.

I will be looking for your name and questions at the end of September, make them good ones...

don't worry about the Negatives...

sure the July questions sucked.. but hey we are all human, and we don't always make good decisions, even in mass...so in mass submissions we all failed..

but these August answers and questions are great...they answer what we wanted to know to some degree.. and I for one am glad to know that the classics/Universe is dead..why? because I now know that they will still strive to release updated G-1 and such figures in their future lines..

so great Job on both July and August! :APPLAUSE:

we just need to ask better questions as a community and let what we can readily answer become a seibertron.com thread or sticky..

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (981595)
Posted by NuclearConvoy on August 25th, 2009 @ 7:19am CDT

tigertracks 24 wrote:
Convotron wrote:I'm just happy to see some of the answers we're getting. While you never can guarantee things will go as planned, hearing certain things like the confirmation of the end of the Universe line saves me from futile hoping while the statement of:

"...the design intentions behind the Universe line, such as reimagining our heritage characters, will continue in some form or fashion in the future."

makes me happy to know that continued plans for homages are still in the works.

I believe that this means, like the GI JOE line, they will have all movie product on the shelf, but will repaint figures from older series into G1 selves or other homages, like Crasher, Crackcase, etc. Even though they are in the movie line, they would basically be considered classics/universe figures. These will be few and far between and probably limited to store exclusives, but still there.

Another example would be ROTF Superion, and Bruticus. G1 coloring and names (mostly), but ROTF line.

NuclearConvoy wrote:Those questions were lame. I could have answered them all without ever being a Hasbro exec...

It's always so nice to have the support of posters on the site when you try to do something for them. Really you could answer the Human Alliance question from HASBRO's POV for sure? I don't think so. You can tell us if HASBRO might put some of the TakaraTomy items for sale on Hasbrotoyshop.com, I'm impressed! And you knew they would tell us nothing about Universe/Classics 3.0 even though that is all people are clamoring to hear more about (see posts below). Save me some trouble, start a thread and have people ask you the questions... I'll spend my time elsewhere.

I will be looking for your name and questions at the end of September, make them good ones...

They're the same answers we've gotten before, or they are answers that really don't take much effort to think through from a business perspective. Hasbro has been, since at least 2004, very reticent to bring over product developed exclusively for the Japanese market by Takara (see Robot Masters, Music Label, Sports Label). Any new product, like Human Alliance, needs to be guaged as to popularity and success before they would even think about moving it further than the mega-marketing push that is RotF (and the same answer would likely be given for GravityBots as well, though I don't see anybody caring much for them at all) and Hasbro has pretty much blatantly said before that Classics/Universe would be dead during the foreseable future while the movie line is running and that they like the idea and might bring it back in some way in the future (which they pretty much said at the time of the first film as well), and have been reluctant to say anything more than "its dead, but we will always return to making new toys based on our 'heritage characters'". Furthermore, ever sin ce the movie line kicked up, Hasbro has become even more tight lipped and unwilling to share information, which makes their lawyer approved statements all the more predictable. Sure the fandom and the message boards are clamouring for answers to certain questions, but that doesn't mean that those answers aren't going to be predictable or, frankly, already answered in some form beforehand.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (982079)
Posted by skywarp-2 on August 25th, 2009 @ 9:01pm CDT

these were the questions on tfw2005.. I didn't know about the new communications deal.. the way they answered our questions seemed vague..

1. When will we hear about the new line / cartoon coming out after Revenge of the Fallen?

As you can imagine, TRANSFORMERS is a very important brand for Hasbro and we continue to look for new ways to bring the story to our fan base. Hasbro is looking forward to delivering exciting new content to kids and fans through our recently announced joint venture with Discovery Communications. We're excited to share this news with you and look forward to doing so when we have more specifics to share but it is still very early in the process to discuss what direction the entertainment will take. Stay tuned for future announcements.

2. Would Hasbro be willing to sell Takara-Tomy Transformer products such as Henkei/encore figures to the collector's market in the United States similar to what Takara does with their "USA Edition" figures such as Universe powerglide/Masterpiece Starscream?

As we have done in the past, we make sure to release those Takara-Tomy developed products that make sense for the U.S. market.

3. The large sized Robot Heroes toys (The Fallen, Demolishor, Devastator) in giftsets are a big success. Any plans on giving us G1-style large Robot Heroes (Unicron and Devastator were mentioned in last years Botcon) in 2010?

We do not have any plans to do any G1-style large Robot Heroes at this point in time.

so what do you guys think?? I think they don't know what they are going to do for a new series past ROTF...

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (982087)
Posted by Tigertrack on August 25th, 2009 @ 9:12pm CDT

I think they want to suck us all dry before we see what's new and stop buying ROTF in favor of saving for the new.

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (982098)
Posted by skywarp-2 on August 25th, 2009 @ 9:30pm CDT

tigertracks 24 wrote:I think they want to suck us all dry before we see what's new and stop buying ROTF in favor of saving for the new.

QFT

Re: HASBRO Answers Your Questions From August (984146)
Posted by Kibble on August 27th, 2009 @ 10:04pm CDT

skywarp-2 wrote:these were the questions on tfw2005.. I didn't know about the new communications deal.. the way they answered our questions seemed vague..

1. When will we hear about the new line / cartoon coming out after Revenge of the Fallen?

As you can imagine, TRANSFORMERS is a very important brand for Hasbro and we continue to look for new ways to bring the story to our fan base. Hasbro is looking forward to delivering exciting new content to kids and fans through our recently announced joint venture with Discovery Communications. We're excited to share this news with you and look forward to doing so when we have more specifics to share but it is still very early in the process to discuss what direction the entertainment will take. Stay tuned for future announcements.

2. Would Hasbro be willing to sell Takara-Tomy Transformer products such as Henkei/encore figures to the collector's market in the United States similar to what Takara does with their "USA Edition" figures such as Universe powerglide/Masterpiece Starscream?

As we have done in the past, we make sure to release those Takara-Tomy developed products that make sense for the U.S. market.

3. The large sized Robot Heroes toys (The Fallen, Demolishor, Devastator) in giftsets are a big success. Any plans on giving us G1-style large Robot Heroes (Unicron and Devastator were mentioned in last years Botcon) in 2010?

We do not have any plans to do any G1-style large Robot Heroes at this point in time.

so what do you guys think?? I think they don't know what they are going to do for a new series past ROTF...

And "we" thought "our" questions we just so-so...either that or the answers were just really bland.