TFViews questions for Hasbro, round 2

[onslaught86]

Hmm, I do like that last one, although I'd be more tempted to ask "What steps are being taken to ensure that popular, well-used moulds don't break down as easily as they have in times past?" We've already had more ClaScream pressings than other moulds that've become very worn, so.

[andersonh1]

Question about Animated (and if the facts I've based my question on are wrong, let me know):

"Why has the decision been made to keep the same character with many upcoming repaints, such as Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead, rather than continuing the practice of giving a repainted figure a new identity? Will this trend be primarily confined to the Animated line, or will it extend to Universe or the upcoming movie line as well?"

[Onslaught Six]

Question about Animated (and if the facts I've based my question on are wrong, let me know):

"Why has the decision been made to keep the same character with many upcoming repaints, such as Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead, rather than continuing the practice of giving a repainted figure a new identity? Will this trend be primarily confined to the Animated line, or will it extend to Universe or the upcoming movie line as well?"

One of the guys already answered this, in a seperate interview:
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=2667

Also said there was going to be a repaint of Voyager Bulkhead. Wouldn't be a new character, it would be like the other Animated repaints. So something like ________ Bulkhead.
Apparently Hasbro is going to do more repaints of the same characters and not make new characters out of them (like in Energon or Cybertron), mainly because by keeping them the same character, they add to something he called "Name Real estate"

Mind, the second half of the question is relatively decent, but it's one of those speculative-nature questions that I honestly don't like too much. It's basically, like, any question that's based on "Is [x] going to happen in the future?" sounds bad to me, because that's based on...pure speculation. Our first batch of questions was all stuff like "What's the deal with [y thing that already exists and has been bugging us for a bit]?"

...Of course, that's me, and I'm not one to shoot down anyone else's questions as to what we're actually submitting. Plus, if we don't have anything 'better' to ask, well, by all means.

[andersonh1]

Well, if the question has already been answered (and that quote certainly answers it as far as I'm concerned), then strike it from the list. No need to ask again.

[JediTricks]

Ok, I've updated the first post with the potential questions.

Here are the questions we didn't ask last round:

• - Light-piping has been part of the Transformers line for quite a while now, but some figures appear to be designed for light-piping and then have these light-pipe designs circumvented through opaque materials or even paint. Why has the extensive use of light-piping been abandoned as a line-wide gimmick? Why are some uses designed, even cast in translucent plastic, and then painted over?
• - With the tech-specs, who generally writes these? What is the process for writing tech-specs? Where does consistency within the theme of that line fall into the level of importance? Where does holding onto old copyrights fall there? Or are those and other issues largely up to the discretion of the writer?
• - With the GI Joe and Star Wars line, they are now offering content pack-ins such as comic-books. The GI Joe line is even comissioning all-new comic books with some of their comic packs. Is there any chance of getting something along those lines as a pack-in for Transformers sets? If so, would it be reissued content, or possibly also all-new comics?

We also had a question about whether the team reads fan sites' toy reviews, and what they think about them, but it wasn't entirely fleshed out. And Prime Wreck had this on the burner, I'm wondering if we should look at it again:

They said they made Galvatron deluxe due to two tank like vehicles being done in the larger scale. I guess if I had to throw a question in for the next round it would be why didn't they just drop the Scattorshot repaint, or simply wait to do Galavtron in a larger scale for a later wave. I already have a pretty good idea what the answer would be, but I'd have taken a larger version of Galvatron over a simple repaint any day.

Dom asked the following, but I'm not entirely sure I understand what he's driving at:

-Will we be seeing any of the late-run Target recolors? (I am talking about the recolors of Hightail and the "Energon" Bruticus limbs.) And, if so, are there any plans to release the main Bruticus body?

He also asked this: "-And, on a "GI Joe" note: Any plans to bring back "MASK" as part of "GI Joe"? " but it's to the wrong team, and it's been answered negatively... HOWEVER, I think we could change that question to make MASK an offshoot of TF, hell, if Animorphs and GoBots can be, why not at least try? That's my favorite line.

Here are a couple of questions. Feel free to reword for clarity and focus if needed. That worked very well the last time.
- I've really enjoyed the fact that Universe is revisiting some characters we haven't seen remade before, such as Powerglide, Onslaught and Stormcloud. How are the characters that are to be included in the Universe line chosen?

Added.

- Along those same lines, what determines the size class that a character is assigned? For example, why did a basic like Powerglide get the Ultra treatment in Universe?

I wanted to include this in the last one, but it would take away from the main point of it so they are separate. I'll add it too. I'm a little off my game right now, I've been sick for 2 weeks now, so please make sure what I rewrite makes sense and sounds good.

One new one for now:

- We know that past interns and freelance designers are sometimes called upon to assist with designs in TF lines, such as the Jungle Planet from Cybertron. Was this done with the 25th Anniversary Cheetor and Dinobot figures, or were they handled entirely by the current design team? As they're established forms revisted rather than entirely new takes on the characters, what differed in designing those versus other Universe figures?

I'm on board for this question, but could you clarify that last sentence? I don't really understand how they're different than anything else in the Universe line,

- Does the design team read toy reviews? While the joy of seeing kids play and love the toys they design must be the best reward, kids aren't likely to go into the depth collectors do. If so, what's the most helpful feedback we can give?

Yeah, I already had that in my... I mean "Dom's" list. (That's what he gets for starting the thread. )

Here is my, considerably less thought provoking, question:

Any chance of getting American versions of the Japanese Thrust and Dirge figures in the US? And, if so, what kind of paint masking will they have?

Dom

I'm not familiar with the figures you reference, what are the differences?

Okay, here are my questions:
2) Has Hasbro made "master-molds" for any recent TF figures, such as "Classics" Starscream? With all of the potential use that mold gets, it would make sense to do so. Are there any other toys that have "master molds"? (Note: "Master molds" are sets of tooling used primarily to create additional sets of tooling that are used for production runs. This adds a small amount to the cost of a production run, but greatly extends the life a popular mold.)

Tooling questions, fun. I can make this into something, I'll add it. Master Molds is not a phrase I've heard before, except from comics, and my step-dad has been a professional toolmaker his entire adult life.

Hmm, I do like that last one, although I'd be more tempted to ask "What steps are being taken to ensure that popular, well-used moulds don't break down as easily as they have in times past?" We've already had more ClaScream pressings than other moulds that've become very worn, so.

Great minds thinking alike, when I rewrote Dom's question, that was pretty much exactly what I said.

Question about Animated (and if the facts I've based my question on are wrong, let me know):

"Why has the decision been made to keep the same character with many upcoming repaints, such as Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead, rather than continuing the practice of giving a repainted figure a new identity? Will this trend be primarily confined to the Animated line, or will it extend to Universe or the upcoming movie line as well?"

Hmm, this will need a bit of bulletproofing, let me see what I can do... Ok, I've given it a new intro, and tossed out the part about it being just Animated since it's not at all alone with that.

Question about Animated (and if the facts I've based my question on are wrong, let me know):

"Why has the decision been made to keep the same character with many upcoming repaints, such as Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead, rather than continuing the practice of giving a repainted figure a new identity? Will this trend be primarily confined to the Animated line, or will it extend to Universe or the upcoming movie line as well?"

One of the guys already answered this, in a seperate interview:
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=2667

Thanks. That's an easy bulletproofing as well, I'll add it now.

[JediTricks]

Ok, so we should discuss something that has come up about Q&A, and I want to separate it from the business above because it's something I want to put out there clearly...

Brian over at The Allspark contacted me via PM with the following:

Hi JediTricks. The Allspark (Allspark.com) is participating in the monthly Q&A this month. We are reaching out to the other participating sites with a proposal. In order to avoid sending duplicate questions (thereby losing out on additional answers from Hasbro), we suggest all participating sites "compare notes" prior to sending a final list of 5 questions to Hasbro. If any site is planning to send a duplicate, they can switch that one out with one that isn't being asked. If other sites agree that this idea would benefit all of our sites and members equally, we can set up a website or thread somewhere to work together on this.

If you want TFViews to be part of this, please send me an email

and he includes a hotmail address for me to do so.

I appreciate the willingness of the gang at the Allspark to try to focus the community as a whole to maximize uniqueness in this limited resource. That said, my gut feeling on this is to remain out of it, to stay neutral and apolitical, and let other sites see what we're doing by being aboveboard and transparent in our own house. I've spent 2.5 years dealing with Hasbro Q&As in the other brands using essentially the same system we've got going here - post potential questions and let readers decide. In all that time and in over 350 questions from the Star Wars brand, only a handful of questions were ever duplicated by other sites. That is due in some part to editing and focus on what makes our community unique from others - we make sure to speak with our own voice.

I am also concerned that doing this via email without a forums environment will hinder communication just as it did for our core group in the first half of this year before I started this site. And there's always the possibility that partially similar questions will get hampered by the fear of crossing paths.

When we did the first round of Q&A, a lot of you guys pointed out that several sites had the same questions asked, but our questions felt fairly unique, and I think this round we can do that again.

However, I want to hear from you all on this, and fairly soon I'm sure as the deadline for Q&A is mere weeks away. Let me know what you want to do with our resource here.

[Onslaught Six]

Dom asked the following, but I'm not entirely sure I understand what he's driving at:

-Will we be seeing any of the late-run Target recolors? (I am talking about the recolors of Hightail and the "Energon" Bruticus limbs.) And, if so, are there any plans to release the main Bruticus body?

We saw pics of Hightail and two recolours of the EnerBruty helicopter. These were assumed to be the final Target Basics wave. However, I'm pretty sure the two helicopters were all ClaBruty limbs that we saw in the box set. Anyway, the existence of ClaBruty to begin with moots this question.

I'm on board for this question, but could you clarify that last sentence? I don't really understand how they're different than anything else in the Universe line.

For one thing, they have realistic beast altmodes as opposed to vehicle ones, and for two....they kind of suck.

I'm not familiar with the figures you reference, what are the differences?

Henkei Dirge and Thrust have entirely new wings and decos. It doesn't look like they were actively discussed here anywhere, so it's not surprising. Here:
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-new ... bo-166197/

However, I want to hear from you all on this, and fairly soon I'm sure as the deadline for Q&A is mere weeks away. Let me know what you want to do with our resource here.

Are all the other sites doing it, too, or is it just us and the AllSpark? Because if everybody starts doing it, then I'd hate to be the odd guys out and that makes us look stupid.

Your concerns about email-only are valid, though, and I'd suggest that...hey, we all *openly* on *all the forums* post the questions they're gonna ask. I mean, anyone who wants to know what 'we're' gonna ask can just show up and look. So, er, why don't we all do that?

[Dominic]

O6 more or less answered all of JT's questions about my questions. The only thing that has not been addressed is the availability of that blue Hightail figure.

Brian over at The Allspark contacted me via PM with the following:

Any and all correspondence should be saved and archived, in case we are asked ot produce documents in the inevitable racketeering case.

The Allspark has their hooks in a little of everything. O6's idea of informally asking other boards what they plan to ask is as good a plan as any. But, formal agreements are best avoided.

[JediTricks]

I'm having computer problems, but I will be able to get the email out tomorrow night. So if you want to give your info on this Q&A, either by giving feedback on existing questions or suggesting a new one, you have until Sunday night to do so.

[JediTricks]

Ok, so here are the questions we have sent in for this round:

1) - What criteria guides the team to determine the size/class of figure that a particular character is assigned? Some examples of this where the size might not be immediately an obvious fit are Universe Powerglide being an Ultra, Movie Bonecrusher a Deluxe, the upcoming Universe Jazz and Red Alert being just Legends. So what goes into that process for specific characters?

2) - Does the TF team at Hasbro ever read fans' online toy reviews, and if so, what do they think about them? Are there times when a review will praise a toy that the designer wasn't expecting? What about criticisms, how are those taken? What could be better in reviews out there?

3) - Light-piping has been part of the Transformers line for quite a while now, but some figures appear to be designed for light-piping and then have these light-pipe designs circumvented through opaque materials or even paint. Why has the extensive use of light-piping been abandoned as a line-wide gimmick? Why are some uses designed, even cast in translucent plastic, and then painted over?

4) - First off, let us make clear that we do understand that repaints are part of Hasbro's business model, and that aspect is often factored into a new mold's budgeting, they are somewhat necessary to make the line happen. That said, why does Hasbro keep making many repaints as the same character, such as Animated Ultra Magnus and Megatron, rather than giving those repaints a new identity? While it might make sense for major characters like Optimus Prime and Bulkhead, something like Movie Jungle Bonecrusher could just as easily have been someone else, right?

5) - With the tech-specs, who generally writes these? What is the process for writing tech-specs? Where does consistency within the theme of that line fall into the level of importance? Where does holding onto old copyrights fall there? Or are those and other issues largely up to the discretion of the writer?


Dom's question about master molds didn't get picked because we're limited to 5 questions and it is one that won't change in a month when we get the opportunity to ask it again.