How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 3:14PM CDT

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A massive article titled Transforming Grimlock: How High Moon saved the Dinobots has been posted by theverge.com's Russ Pitts. In this extensive article you get to hear from game director Matt Tieger what it takes to create Dinobot's in the current game story arc. There a lot of great new pictures of Grimlock Slag, Snarl and Swoop.

Matt Tieger has decided that what he wants in his next game is a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex from outer space who fights with a sword and a shield and breaths fire. And is a robot.

What he wants, in other words, is Grimlock, the Dinobot. All that stands in his way is the company who owns the Transformers, Hasbro, and they've decided that Grimlock (and the rest of the Dinobots) are being retired.

According to Hasbro, the Dinobots will not be in any Transformers movies. They will not be in any Transformers games. They will not be in any Transformers anything. They are finished.

The people at Hasbro, in other words, tell Tieger that Grimlock will be done away with.

This is the story of how he tried to change their mind.

Matt Tieger wanted to be a paleontologist when he grew up. And a marine biologist. And an artist. But mainly: Paleontologist. He loved dinosaurs. Knew all of their names. He wanted to dig their bones out of the Earth and tell their stories.

By the time he went to college, he'd changed his mind. He wanted to be a marine biologist again. He studied marine biology. Then, just shy of a Ph.D from Rutgers, he changed his mind yet again and left to make videogames.

Now Tieger works as Game Director for High Moon Studios, the company behind 2010's Transformers: War for Cybertron. For Matt, it is the best job in the world. Particularly because he is now in charge.

His new game is the sequel to War for Cybertron, Fall of Cybertron, and what Tieger wants more than anything is to let players be the leader of the Dinobots.

"As a fan of Transformers," Tieger told Polygon, by phone. "Grimlock is, if not my favorite, in my top three favorite Transformers of all time.

Also included in this article is the origins of the Dinobots in Fall of Cybertron, and anyone who has read SPOTLIGHT: SHOCKWAVE, will know just where this is headed:

As Tieger explains it, it goes like this: "It's all about loyalty in the Decepticon.

"Megatron is obviously in charge of the Decepticons, [and has] three lieutenants: Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream (which by the way is very confusing to people who are not big Transformers fans because they're all Ss), but it's all about loyalty.

"Soundwave is loyal to Megatron above all things.

"Starscream is loyal to Starscream above all things.

"Shockwave is loyal to Cybertron above all things.

"So Shockwave's plan is:

"'We're not going to leave Cybertron. I'm going to save it. I'm going to search the cosmos, find a world that is teeming with what I can covert into Energon (the Transformers energy source). And I'm going to suck that planet dry and ... use it to reboot my home.'"

This is a thorough article packed with Dino-information. A great read for Transformer and video game fans alike. Check out this full article by clicking HERE.

Along with the write up are dozens of concept art, reference pictures used by the design team and artwork used to pitch the idea of Dinobots in this game to Hasbro. Mirrored below are some of the new Dino screen shots and concept designs. Click on any image to be taken to the full article.

Credit(s): theverge.com

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Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372514)
Posted by craggy on April 24th, 2012 @ 3:31pm CDT

Me Craggy want plastic Dinos like that, now!

(also, looks like FOC Sludge is off chilling with TF:TM Snarl somewhere)

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372515)
Posted by BeastProwl on April 24th, 2012 @ 3:32pm CDT

Fun read.
If the dinobots are truly retired in hasbro's eyes, does that mean no toys?

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372517)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 24th, 2012 @ 3:43pm CDT

BeastProwl wrote:Fun read.
If the dinobots are truly retired in hasbro's eyes, does that mean no toys?

Clearly the Dinobot's are no longer retired

They've already said something about toys, plus isn't the entire focus of Generations when it returns going to be on FoC?

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372521)
Posted by Sabrblade on April 24th, 2012 @ 4:00pm CDT

Will finish reading this later. gtg

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372523)
Posted by Flux Convoy on April 24th, 2012 @ 4:03pm CDT

Matt Tieger is my new hero. Retire the Dinobots? That's akin to shooting yourself in the foot. Why take a frequently and rabidly requested concept and do away with it?

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372548)
Posted by Mindmaster on April 24th, 2012 @ 5:16pm CDT

So Hasbro ALMOST retired the Dinobots. ALMOST closed the curtains on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysRLZIlcQsU

Skip over to 3:48 for my response to that.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372553)
Posted by Stormrider on April 24th, 2012 @ 5:56pm CDT

Really? Hasbro was considering retiring the dinobots? I am glad they didn't but it does make me question their vision of the Transformers.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372555)
Posted by necr0blivion on April 24th, 2012 @ 5:59pm CDT

Flux Convoy wrote:Why take a frequently and rabidly requested concept and do away with it?

I might have to ask that very question this weekend...

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372556)
Posted by Mindmaster on April 24th, 2012 @ 6:17pm CDT

necr0blivion wrote:
Flux Convoy wrote:Why take a frequently and rabidly requested concept and do away with it?

I might have to ask that very question this weekend...

I sniff a Watergate-scandal-like stench going on here...

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372561)
Posted by RainyDayMan2k on April 24th, 2012 @ 6:39pm CDT

Y'know, when my nephews first got into Transformers when they were little kids about nine years ago, they became huge fans of the Dinobots. They were even happy to get Dinobots in the Energon line. Even though they weren't the "real" Grimlock and Swoop, the boys still had fun playing with them. They've had Classics Grimlock, and all three of the Animated Dinobots as well, and they like to check out my MP Grimlock whenever they come over.

So, yeah... to say that the Dinobots can't draw new fans? I don't think I'm sold, Hasbro.

Major props to Matt Tieger for finding a way to inject some fresh blood into the concept.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372564)
Posted by Trikeboy on April 24th, 2012 @ 6:48pm CDT

that was a great read, it's just a shame that the story of how they get made into dinosaurs has a very large plot hole. 70 million years ago is when Shockwave saw earth. Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops hadn't evolved yet, 67 million years is the oldest estimate. Pteranadon was 80 million years old at the earliest. Also, Apatosaurus and Stegosaurus were long gone. 150 million years ago is the youngest estimate. However, considering this is a game and story featuring giant autonomous robots from another world, I can over look this fact simply because it is so fricking awesome all 5 Dinobots will be in the game.
-paleontological rant over-

On a side note, bad move on Hasbro for planning to retire the Dinobots. Thank god for Matt Tieger. Hear that Hasbro and Michael Bay, Dinobots are still awesome enough to be in the franchise, it just takes someone dedicated to them to make them work again.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372565)
Posted by Mindmaster on April 24th, 2012 @ 6:50pm CDT

Trikeboy wrote:that was a great read, it's just a shame that the story of how they get made into dinosaurs has a very large plot hole. 70 million years ago is when Shockwave saw earth. Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops hadn't evolved yet, 67 million years is the oldest estimate. Pteranadon was 80 million years old at the earliest. Also, Apatosaurus and Stegosaurus were long gone. 150 million years ago is the youngest estimate. However, considering this is a game and story featuring giant autonomous robots from another world, I can over look this fact simply because it is so fricking awesome all 5 Dinobots will be in the game.
-paleontological rant over-

On a side note, bad move on Hasbro for planning to retire the Dinobots. Thank god for Matt Tieger. Hear that Hasbro and Michael Bay, Dinobots are still awesome enough to be in the franchise, it just takes someone dedicated to them to make them work again.

First paragraph: :HEADHURTS:

Second paragraph: :BOWDOWN:

to Mr. Tieger and :APPLAUSE:

to you.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372566)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 24th, 2012 @ 6:58pm CDT

Stormrider wrote:Really? Hasbro was considering retiring the dinobots? I am glad they didn't but it does make me question their vision of the Transformers.

I think the animal transformer as a whole has fallen of Hasbro's radar.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372569)
Posted by DevastaTTor on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:15pm CDT

BeastProwl wrote:Fun read.
If the dinobots are truly retired in hasbro's eyes, does that mean no toys?

We'll should know the answer this weekend.

Based on the hints dropped at the panel I sat through in Singapore, I would bet on seeing at least a new plastic Grimlock this weekend, hopefully the whole team. Sad though that if we do get them, they'll be deluxe figures and not voyagers.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372571)
Posted by Mindmaster on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:23pm CDT

DevastaTTor wrote:Sad though that if we do get them, they'll be deluxe figures and not voyagers.

I'll be severely disappointed if they're Deluxes. I can see the rest of them being Deluxes, but make at least Grimlock a Voyager for the sake of proportions. >:oP

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372574)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:34pm CDT

Mindmaster wrote:
DevastaTTor wrote:Sad though that if we do get them, they'll be deluxe figures and not voyagers.

I'll be severely disappointed if they're Deluxes. I can see the rest of them being Deluxes, but make at least Grimlock a Voyager for the sake of proportions.

Unfortunately, Generations has only been Deluxe class figures.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372576)
Posted by CBratetron on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:52pm CDT

Thank you Matt Tieger for having a steel pair and telling Hasbro to pull their heads out of their arses.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372578)
Posted by Anonymous on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:54pm CDT

Hasbro almost RETIRED the Dinobots? WTF?

I can't get behind a company retiring ANY ideas or characters. It's just... lazy to think that old ideas and characters can't work. You just have to have some dedication and creativity. Though I'm hoping Matt Tieger proved this point to Hasbro once and for all. I'm not too sure about it, but I'm hoping...

Lord Onixprime wrote:Unfortunately, Generations has only been Deluxe class figures.

Well if the first "Generations" line ended, and Generations is going to completely fill 2013's toy lineup, I think it's safe to say that they're planning to give the line more size classes. It might be a bit odd only seeing deluxes on the shelves after TF: Prime finishes.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372579)
Posted by BATTOUSAIXD on April 24th, 2012 @ 7:58pm CDT

Mindmaster wrote:So Hasbro ALMOST retired the Dinobots. ALMOST closed the curtains on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysRLZIlcQsU

Skip over to 3:48 for my response to that.

Haha great response! :lol:

I'm glad Hasbro decided to go with the Dinobots, it will make the game much more fun!
Maybe well get lucky and see the Dinobots in the next Movie :PRAY:

I'd like to see something like that movie concept for Grimlock, that a fan made a while back, on the big screen!

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372580)
Posted by MINDVVIPE on April 24th, 2012 @ 8:05pm CDT

The beginning of this article scared the crap outa me at first, thinking the game was suddenly going to be made (or not made) without the Dinobots.

Pretty great origin story. It makes it kinda cool that Grimlock has such a hatred for Shockwave in Shockwaves spotlight, even though it was from a seperate incident.
Honestly though, considering the garbage Hasbro let fly with Michael Bay, I am surprised they gave Matt such a hard time. All worked out in the end I guess, so whatever. Sounds like Hasbro just wants to grow the future brand, rather than cater to the older crowd. High Moon to the rescue!

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372587)
Posted by Trikeboy on April 24th, 2012 @ 8:44pm CDT

orangeitis wrote:Hasbro almost RETIRED the Dinobots? WTF?

I can't get behind a company retiring ANY ideas or characters. It's just... lazy to think that old ideas and characters can't work. You just have to have some dedication and creativity. Though I'm hoping Matt Tieger proved this point to Hasbro once and for all. I'm not too sure about it, but I'm hoping...

Lord Onixprime wrote:Unfortunately, Generations has only been Deluxe class figures.
Well if the first "Generations" line ended, and Generations is going to completely fill 2013's toy lineup, I think it's safe to say that they're planning to give the line more size classes. It might be a bit odd only seeing deluxes on the shelves after TF: Prime finishes.

Don't worry, people like TFC, Make Toys and iGear are praying that Hasbro drops the ball with the Dinobots. Hasbro know if they don't do the Dinobots properly they will be prime designs for 3rd parties to jump all over. If they fail, while being expensive, we will see voyager sized FoC Dinobots eventually.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372589)
Posted by Bumblevivisector on April 24th, 2012 @ 8:52pm CDT

So Hasbro was seriously going to retire the Dinobots, apparently because they don't have a logical place in the live-action movies.

Interesting term there, "RETIRE". So if Hasbro retires a part of its I.P., with no intention to ever use it again, could that mean that it becomes public domain? As in, had they not turned around and made the sound decision to include them in FOC, 3rd party companies could have started cranking out Voyager-to-Masterpiece-sized toys that look EXACTLY like G1 animation and comic model dinobots, or even unlimited KOs of the actual Dinobot toys without ANY fear of legal reprisals?

Someone please, please ask this question at a panel! And follow up with a question about allowing sales of fan art, 3rd party items, and KOs that strongly resemble "retired" concepts and characters. Yes, it's a dickish issue to push, but I think we'd all like this clarified long before BotCon 2013.

Now I'm really sorry I can't go this year.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372618)
Posted by funeralthirst7 on April 24th, 2012 @ 10:05pm CDT

WTF is wrong with Hasbro? I can't imagine any good reason to retire 5 of your most successful characters. They should all be slapped in the back of the head.

On a side note, I hope some of you give them a hard time at Botcon for some of their more idiotic decisions this past year.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372619)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 24th, 2012 @ 10:05pm CDT

orangeitis wrote:It might be a bit odd only seeing deluxes on the shelves after TF: Prime finishes.

I highly doubt Prime will only run till the end of the year.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372630)
Posted by Anonymous on April 24th, 2012 @ 10:30pm CDT

Lord Onixprime wrote:
orangeitis wrote:It might be a bit odd only seeing deluxes on the shelves after TF: Prime finishes.

I highly doubt Prime will only run till the end of the year.

True, but that Hasbro rep did say there'll be 40 Generations toys coming out in 2013. That's statistically at least half of their yearly main line quota, unless they made so much from DotM that they can have more. I'm not discounting the possibility at all, I'm just really doubting that every single one of those 40 figures will all be deluxe.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372643)
Posted by MINDVVIPE on April 24th, 2012 @ 10:52pm CDT

orangeitis wrote:
Lord Onixprime wrote:
orangeitis wrote:It might be a bit odd only seeing deluxes on the shelves after TF: Prime finishes.

I highly doubt Prime will only run till the end of the year.
True, but that Hasbro rep did say there'll be 40 Generations toys coming out in 2013. That's statistically at least half of their yearly main line quota, unless they made so much from DotM that they can have more. I'm not discounting the possibility at all, I'm just really doubting that every single one of those 40 figures will all be deluxe.

Have the last classics and older "generations" lines been all deluxe? Either way, they could just as easily introduce some "reveal the shield" type of line and have voyagers show up. Who knows... ?

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372653)
Posted by Anonymous on April 24th, 2012 @ 11:10pm CDT

MINDVVIPE wrote:Who knows... ?

Yeah, it's all speculation till we get more info.

By the way, how about those FoC Dinobots? I heard they almost didn't make it to the game. >:oP

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372670)
Posted by NatsumeRyu on April 24th, 2012 @ 11:51pm CDT

The words are a broken record, but those images are fresh and pretty.

:9 mmm...

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372673)
Posted by MINDVVIPE on April 24th, 2012 @ 11:55pm CDT

NatsumeRyu wrote:The words are a broken record, but those images are fresh and pretty. :9 mmm...

How is it that we've gone this long without talking about how SICK those screenshots are. Damn, the anti-aliasing looks nice and clean. Hopefully still looks that way when seen on the Xbox.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372692)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on April 25th, 2012 @ 1:51am CDT

retire the dinobots? this is just more proof that hasbro has no clue what they're doing anymore. But at least they were smart enough to change their minds. Im just really glad to see that there is an actual back story for the dinobots and that they werent just thrown in for the hell of it.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372701)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 25th, 2012 @ 3:13am CDT

Retiring the dinobots would be corporate suicide in my book. They're like the definitive GET KIDS' ATTENTION item. Kids like robots. Kids LOVE dinosaurs. Dinosaur robots? Can you say EASY MONEY? That's why I seriously hope they make toys of them. And I hope Grimlock and maybe Sludge are Voyager sized. They're dinosaurs, if anything can sell at a $20 price point it's that. So thank you Mr. Tieger for saving the Dinobots from the depths of obscurity.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372704)
Posted by Downbeat on April 25th, 2012 @ 4:36am CDT

So. Reading this again after reading the thread at TFW2005... this was just a fluff piece with Tieger trying to make himself look like a good guy.

The reason I say this is that the idea that Hasbro would retire the Dinobots is preposterous. They were in Animated, Masterpiece Grimlock happened, and there was that Power Core Combiner. Plus, they're gonna show up in Prime on Earth.

He didn't rescue them from extinction, he came up with a reason to put his favorite character on Cybertron in a way that fit the story. I'm extremely happy about it, I love the Dinobots, but Tieger is setting himself up as a hero.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372710)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 25th, 2012 @ 5:44am CDT

Downbeat wrote: Plus, they're gonna show up in Prime on Earth.

When did we learn that?

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372711)
Posted by Downbeat on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:02am CDT

Botcon

Dinobots and combiners

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372740)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:58am CDT

Downbeat wrote:Botcon

Dinobots and combiners

They said they'd love to, not necessarily that they were actually going to.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372762)
Posted by Sabrblade on April 25th, 2012 @ 9:38am CDT

Lord Onixprime wrote:
Downbeat wrote:Botcon

Dinobots and combiners

They said they'd love to, not necessarily that they were actually going to.

Their exact words about the dinobots in Prime were that the Dinobots were "on the radar", which is vague enough to have different meanings.

Though, this decision could have even come about after High Moon convinced Hasbro to let the Dinobots be in FOC. We know that this decision did happen, but not exactly when it happened (unless I missed it in the article).

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372767)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on April 25th, 2012 @ 9:52am CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
Lord Onixprime wrote:
Downbeat wrote:Botcon

Dinobots and combiners

They said they'd love to, not necessarily that they were actually going to.
Their exact words about the dinobots in Prime were that the Dinobots were "on the radar", which is vague enough to have different meanings.

Though, this decision could have even come about after High Moon convinced Hasbro to let the Dinobots be in FOC. We know that this decision did happen, but not exactly when it happened (unless I missed it in the article).

Well, game development take 1.5-2 years usually. So, they could have been pitching the Dinobots full force during DoTM, and Hasbro could very well have been in the Bay mentality at the time that Dinobots are stupid and don't make sense. Never know really.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372845)
Posted by r3devi7 on April 25th, 2012 @ 12:12pm CDT

They really gave Tieger crap over this but let Bay get away with all kinds of inconsistencies...

MATT TIEGER FOR PREZ!!

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1372878)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 25th, 2012 @ 1:16pm CDT

r3devi7 wrote:They really gave Tieger crap over this but let Bay get away with all kinds of inconsistencies...

That's because Bay could make a movie about humans literally pissing all over the Transformers and it would still make a billion dollars. The game has no such guarantee of success, even if it is comparatively the better entertainment.

Re: How Matt Tieger and High Moon Studios Developed the Fall of Cybertron Dinobots (1377861)
Posted by elp_help on May 7th, 2012 @ 9:21pm CDT

Why take a frequently and rabidly requested concept and do away with it?