Hasbro (Round 9) Q and A

[Dominic]

Objectively, those are good answers.

Dom
-assuming Anderson inherits this thread, and its curse.

[andersonh1]

TFviews.com: Will we see more secondary characters from one aesthetic being translated to others? This questions is especially focused on new character-specific molds (like movie Lockdown) rather than recolors (like movie Gears). We know it helps when the character has an interesting story to add to the lore, or interacts with a main character in their line. So beyond that, what is the process behind deciding which characters get that treatment?

Hasbro: This is something that is determined case by case. Choosing characters is a very selective process. Many factors come into play, but few are as important as Vehicle type and Character Variety within the line. ROTF Lockdown was a good candidate because there was a need for his type of vehicle in the toyline, and it was a perfect opportunity to make some parallels between different continuities by making him mortal enemies with Ratchet. As we move forward we will certain take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.

That's not a bad answer, actually. It looks like they're happy enough with the first cross-line attempt that others might turn up in the future.

Parry Game Preserve has a similar question:

Preserve: What design considerations did the team discuss to bring the character Lockdown from the Transformers Animated world over to the Revenge of the Fallen line?
Hasbro: Basically, it started out as the designer of ROTF Lockdown liked the design execution of Animated Lockdown and translating this fan favorite into a realistically stylized vehicle. Incidentally, he was already working on the DLX version of Ratchet and needed a mortal enemy. He took great care in keeping the iconic design elements from the animated figure (spikes, crazy face, signature vehicle…) while translating the design into a style that is more aligned with the realistic styling of the current line.

[Onslaught Six]

Well, somebody up there apparently likes Lugnut, too, if the recent Wal-Mart listings are any indication. Though it might just be Stratosphere-repainted-like-Lugnut. Or a new character altogether.

[JediTricks]

Objectively, those are good answers.

Dom
-assuming Anderson inherits this thread, and its curse.

I wasn't satisfied with the Leader sounds answer. The TFA leaders have more sounds AND lines than the movie ones, so that cannot be an acceptable excuse they made.

Anybody know why Hasbro is totally disinterested in releasing season 3 of TFA on dvd? We got that answer over on ActionFigs.
http://www.actionfigs.com/index.php?cat ... cleid=2471

That's not a bad answer, actually. It looks like they're happy enough with the first cross-line attempt that others might turn up in the future.

Parry Game Preserve has a similar question:

Preserve: What design considerations did the team discuss to bring the character Lockdown from the Transformers Animated world over to the Revenge of the Fallen line?
Hasbro: Basically, it started out as the designer of ROTF Lockdown liked the design execution of Animated Lockdown and translating this fan favorite into a realistically stylized vehicle. Incidentally, he was already working on the DLX version of Ratchet and needed a mortal enemy. He took great care in keeping the iconic design elements from the animated figure (spikes, crazy face, signature vehicle…) while translating the design into a style that is more aligned with the realistic styling of the current line.

Yeah. You wanna see similarity though? No less than 3 sites got the same answer about Rodimus Minor and friends (and in my book, it's a totally unacceptable response since their promise to release all the TFA figs isn't going to be met when the Voyagers are being put to the wind).

[Onslaught Six]

I wasn't satisfied with the Leader sounds answer. The TFA leaders have more sounds AND lines than the movie ones, so that cannot be an acceptable excuse they made.

Perhaps the budget? Remember, Animated was made after the first movie, when Hasbro was likely riding high off the possibility of TF being a huge name now--remember the Drought of July '07?--and many early ROTF figures show signs of cancelled features.

Anybody know why Hasbro is totally disinterested in releasing season 3 of TFA on dvd? We got that answer over on ActionFigs.
http://www.actionfigs.com/index.php?cat ... cleid=2471

Low sales? I'd say something like brand identity/confusion, but they released Energon and Cybertron box sets years after the original serieses ended. (Then again, nobody paid much attention to those shows when they were airing, let alone afterward.)

Yeah. You wanna see similarity though? No less than 3 sites got the same answer about Rodimus Minor and friends (and in my book, it's a totally unacceptable response since their promise to release all the TFA figs isn't going to be met when the Voyagers are being put to the wind).

It's not the only line Hasbro is doing this with. Remember how GI Joe's last wave of 25th/Modern/Resolute figures got shitcanned in favour of the upcoming Movie stuff? And then *again* with the Pursuit of Cobra stuff, which was going to be the NEST-style Rise of Cobra line extension, only to get pushed back to Fall?

It's looking to me like Hasbro made all these deals to make movies, and then in the mean time came up with all these other great ideas for lines. Then, just as those lines were reaching the good bits, they had to cut them off in time for the movie product.

And don't forget--it's not like the Hasbro guys can objectively sit there and go, "We're releasing Animated Rodimus and friends, right now." There's manufacturing costs and all the stuff associated with that--and in addition, they also have to deal with the retailers. Remember, Hasbro and other toy companies are basically at the mercy of the retailers. If nobody wants to sell it, Hasbro literally can't. Best they can do in that case is sell it online, and even that's another problem entirely.

And that's not even to mention shit like brand confusion, or, perhaps more importantly, potential sales. As much as some of the fans are clamouring, a *lot* of Animated toys just plain didn't sell. For some reason, the show was not very popular with kids. I mean, there's a degree of it--for one thing, it's Transformers, and kids will always be interested--but kids just didn't connect with the line. And I think part of it is why the line was successful to collectors--it was a fangasm show wrapped up like a kid-friendly beast, essentially.

It may even be that Hasbro has done market studies that proves to the guys who make the *real* decisions--i.e. the people who deal with the money that releasing the last few Voyager etc. waves 'will not be profitable.' And considering ROTF isn't doing too well to begin with either, it's an accomplishment that they were able to get Arcee and Ratchet out at all.

And I think part of the frustration with these FAQs--they're all labeled as being Frum Hasbro. The one big corporate entity name. If we knew more about who was providing what answer, or what department, we'd have a better time directing our occasional anger. For example, I'm not blaming the lack of Animated stuff coming out on Aaron Archer because I'm sure he doesn't really have a say in it.

Also, I can be cynical and hard-facted about this whole situation because, well...I'm not going to buy any of the new Animated toys. I didn't like the toyline. The show was good, but not great, and had too many problems with its third season, and that's my whole take.

[JediTricks]

Perhaps the budget? Remember, Animated was made after the first movie, when Hasbro was likely riding high off the possibility of TF being a huge name now--remember the Drought of July '07?--and many early ROTF figures show signs of cancelled features.

"Perhaps", but if that's the case, why didn't they say THAT instead?

Don't make excuses for them, they have the power to bury or redeem themselves, they don't need apologists to do it for them. They gave an answer, it's a shoddy one, either it's incomplete based on the question, or it's plain wrong, but either way it's what they brought on themselves.

Low sales? I'd say something like brand identity/confusion, but they released Energon and Cybertron box sets years after the original serieses ended. (Then again, nobody paid much attention to those shows when they were airing, let alone afterward.)

I wish they had at least tried to make any excuse, at least then it'd be understandable. As now, it's just nebulous and thus pointlessly arbitrary.

And don't forget--it's not like the Hasbro guys can objectively sit there and go, "We're releasing Animated Rodimus and friends, right now." There's manufacturing costs and all the stuff associated with that--and in addition, they also have to deal with the retailers. Remember, Hasbro and other toy companies are basically at the mercy of the retailers. If nobody wants to sell it, Hasbro literally can't. Best they can do in that case is sell it online, and even that's another problem entirely.

They have 18 months to figure all that out, actually. It's their primary job. If the retailers aren't buying at the end, then they shouldn't make promises to their loyal brand customers which they can't keep.

And that's not even to mention shit like brand confusion, or, perhaps more importantly, potential sales. As much as some of the fans are clamouring, a *lot* of Animated toys just plain didn't sell. For some reason, the show was not very popular with kids. I mean, there's a degree of it--for one thing, it's Transformers, and kids will always be interested--but kids just didn't connect with the line. And I think part of it is why the line was successful to collectors--it was a fangasm show wrapped up like a kid-friendly beast, essentially.

You know what would have helped the show? Being aired consistently. But Hasbro keeps getting into bed with Cartoon Network, and surprise surprise, they keep getting burned by it. Now they're going to The Hub which will take years to ramp up if it ever works at all.

[Dominic]

You know what would have helped the show? Being aired consistently. But Hasbro keeps getting into bed with Cartoon Network, and surprise surprise, they keep getting burned by it. Now they're going to The Hub which will take years to ramp up if it ever works at all.

The real problem here is that Hasbro just rolled over for CN. They could have demanded consistent scheduling for a show with a built in following. They could have syndicated TF through most any venue.

Hub is fundamentally viable, and Hasbro has the punch to make it work. The real question is are they willing to make the effort and do they have the patience?


Given how well TF store exclusives have been selling, Hasbro likely could have found someone to sell the the last waves of "Animated", including the Voyagers.


Dom

[138 Scourge]

Well, they haven't said that they for certain won't find someplace to sell the Voyagers, just that they haven't as yet. I'm gonna keep holding out hope.

If they wanted to bring back the whole "Robot Points" thing and sell exclusives that way, I'd be okay with it.

[Dominic]

Given the way Hasbro runs its mail-order exclusive offers now, I am going come out against that. They screwed up both of the Joe offers this decade. And, I am waiting to hear horror stories about NEST Ravage.

Dom

[138 Scourge]

Given the way Hasbro runs its mail-order exclusive offers now, I am going come out against that. They screwed up both of the Joe offers this decade.

Ooooohhhh yeah, didn't think about that.

What'll happen is they'll offer all the cancelled Animated Exclusives, as well as the cancelled Robot Heroes, as a BotCon set. It'll be my karmic retribution for finding the whole Seeker debacle hilarious.