Questions for Hasbro, round 3

[JediTricks]

I think I'm going to go with the "what happened with Cheetor & Dinobot?" question, as it seems more timely, and the Fireblast one can wait. That said, I'm dropping the Fireblast one here since I just wrote it up, that way I don't need to rewrite it later when either site decides to use it:

Among the fans, there's a few theories about this next one, so we figure we should just get it cleared it up once and for all. Why did the techspecs change the term "Firepower" to "Fireblast" a few years ago? The former not only was around since the inception of the line, but is a real and descriptive word, while the latter enjoys neither standing. Was there a concern that parents might not like the idea of their kids playing with toys that have "firepower" despite some figures bristling with cannons, or was it something else?

[JediTricks]

Ok, so here's what we're submitting this round:

1) - What roles do mythology and symbolism play in character design? As a character's personality is designed right into the toy, features such as spikes and horns obviously help shape the character. What sources do the design team turn to for this, and how does the team go about this process?

2) - Given that many of the recent toy designs in Transformers are planned with potential reuses in mind (repaints or partial retoolings), are there steps being taken to preserve the original tooling for those designs? For example, the "Classics" Starscream mold has been reused thrice more at retail in the US, plus several times for conventions and the foreign market. In an effort to ensure a reusable figure design for years to come, is Hasbro (or TakaraTomy) keeping a master mold for figures such as this, or might there come a point in years to come where the tools of today wear down so far or suffer significant breakage that they become completely unusable and thus are forever lost?

3) - The use of a prefix "Autobot-" or "Decepticon-" in front of otherwise unobtainable character names is a great solution that allows a character to retain its original name in some form. I.e., since "Jazz" cannot be used on its own, "Autobot Jazz" is a good compromise. That being said, why is the approach used for some characters but not others? For example, why "Insecticon" rather than "Decepticon Shrapnel", or "Tankor" instead of "Decepticon Octane"?

[andersonh1]

Ok, so here's what we're submitting this round:

1) - What roles do mythology and symbolism play in character design? As a character's personality is designed right into the toy, features such as spikes and horns obviously help shape the character. What sources do the design team turn to for this, and how does the team go about this process?

2) - Given that many of the recent toy designs in Transformers are planned with potential reuses in mind (repaints or partial retoolings), are there steps being taken to preserve the original tooling for those designs? For example, the "Classics" Starscream mold has been reused thrice more at retail in the US, plus several times for conventions and the foreign market. In an effort to ensure a reusable figure design for years to come, is Hasbro (or TakaraTomy) keeping a master mold for figures such as this, or might there come a point in years to come where the tools of today wear down so far or suffer significant breakage that they become completely unusable and thus are forever lost?

3) - The use of a prefix "Autobot-" or "Decepticon-" in front of otherwise unobtainable character names is a great solution that allows a character to retain its original name in some form. I.e., since "Jazz" cannot be used on its own, "Autobot Jazz" is a good compromise. That being said, why is the approach used for some characters but not others? For example, why "Insecticon" rather than "Decepticon Shrapnel", or "Tankor" instead of "Decepticon Octane"?

Sounds like a good mix of interesting topics to ask about. I'm still curious about 'firepower vs. fireblast' of course, but that's a question that can be asked any time.

[Onslaught Six]

I'd throw in a vote for "Devastator: What the fuck?" but I'm sure that's going to be asked by the mainstream sites.

[Dominic]

Voting is closed.

By my count:

Question 2:
Given the number of repaints and repaint-friendly designs in the TF line, are there steps being taken to preserve original molding? For example, the US "Classics" F15 (Starscream and co) mold has been repainted thrice at retail in the US, and several more times for conventions and foreign releases. Is Hasbro keeping a master mold for figures such as this, to allow for additonal recolors later? We have heard this sort of model is used for certain "troop-builder" type toys in "Star Wars", such as Clone Troops.

Question 4:
What roles do mythology and symbolism play in character design? How often is a character's personality incoporated into the toy's design? During "Armada", there were many examples of this. Could you describe the steps of this process, and what the design team tends to draw inspiration from?

Question 3:
The use of "Autobot" or "Decepticon" in front of otherwise unobtainable character names is a great solution that allows a character to retain its original name in some form. For example, since "Jazz" cannot be trademarked on its own, "Autobot Jazz" is a good compromise. That being said, why is that approach used for some characters but not others? For example, why "Insecticon" rather than "Decepticon Shrapnel.

Now, I will let JT know the questions are ready.


Dom

[JediTricks]

Sounds like a good mix of interesting topics to ask about. I'm still curious about 'firepower vs. fireblast' of course, but that's a question that can be asked any time.

Yeah, me too. I definitely will use that one next round on AF if it doesn't get asked this round by another outlet.

I'd throw in a vote for "Devastator: What the fuck?" but I'm sure that's going to be asked by the mainstream sites.

Boy, you guys are on fire today, that was another question I was considering for AF's 3rd slot.

Voting is closed.

By my count:

Question 2:
Given the number of repaints and repaint-friendly designs in the TF line, are there steps being taken to preserve original molding? For example, the US "Classics" F15 (Starscream and co) mold has been repainted thrice at retail in the US, and several more times for conventions and foreign releases. Is Hasbro keeping a master mold for figures such as this, to allow for additonal recolors later? We have heard this sort of model is used for certain "troop-builder" type toys in "Star Wars", such as Clone Troops.

Question 4:
What roles do mythology and symbolism play in character design? How often is a character's personality incoporated into the toy's design? During "Armada", there were many examples of this. Could you describe the steps of this process, and what the design team tends to draw inspiration from?

Question 3:
The use of "Autobot" or "Decepticon" in front of otherwise unobtainable character names is a great solution that allows a character to retain its original name in some form. For example, since "Jazz" cannot be trademarked on its own, "Autobot Jazz" is a good compromise. That being said, why is that approach used for some characters but not others? For example, why "Insecticon" rather than "Decepticon Shrapnel.

Now, I will let JT know the questions are ready.


Dom

The deadline was 8 minutes after your post, so I hope you don't mind that I already had tallied and rewritten the questions which we sent in, and you'll notice that I said as much a few posts up.

Also, you left this thread as an announcement.

EDIT: I reread the info, the deadline is actually 3pm EST, not 2pm as it is with Star Wars. Still, I don't want to wait till the last minute.


DOUBLE EDIT: I just realized, we need to leave this thread open until we start the next thread, in case people have new ideas.

[onslaught86]

Well, I would've said "Mega Octane", myself.

I like this selection, should hopefully get some good answers for this round. Although I still want to be all "What the FUCK, Hasbro?" about Cheetor and Devastator.

Who's taking bets on how many other sites are asking why Devastator sucks?

[andersonh1]

When can we expect answers to the questions?

[Dominic]

I think it takes a couple of weeks or so.

As far as Devastator goes, we can try to refine that one a bit. Of course, all we have seen are very early images of a toy that is still in the mock-up stage.


Does anybody want to ask why Hasbro is signing off on Brian Savage's antics relating to registration for the 'Con and distribution of movie toys?

Dom

[Mirage]

Does anybody want to ask why Hasbro is signing off on Brian Savage's antics relating to registration for the 'Con and distribution of movie toys?
Dom

What do you mean, specifically? If you're talking about the good ol' fashioned mail-or-fax registration set-up, it's irritating, yes, but that's their choice as a private organization. I doubt Hasbro cares all that much. And as for the distribution of the movie toys, Botcon guests are getting the chance to buy them the same weekend everyone else does. I figured this was the reason for the date being set when it was, so I was expecting something along these lines. Instead of Botcon being centered around the movie premiere, this time it's centered around the toy premiere. And the gold stamps on the figures don't mean a hoot to me, and probably not to too many other people either (perhaps that's a broad assumption, but still). Personally, I'm being selective on the movie toys to begin with, so I'll probably hold off on them 'til I get back from the con. More money to spend on things I can't get at home, and that are actually worth the trouble of flying back with.