Hasbro Question and Answer, round 5.

[Onslaught Six]

The forklift guy Prime killed? You mean Bonecrusher? Again, he barely fought our heroes, just another blank menace for a few seconds that is then quickly and viciously dispatched by our "heroes".

Of course *I* mean Bonecrusher. But Joe Blow Movie Goer doesn't know who the hell Bonecrusher is, just that wicked forklift guy who got decapitated. And that badass helicopter guy at the beginning. And wasn't there a tank? I remember a tank.

I just don't think Brawl was as prominent as you're making him out to be.

I would love to try and expand this, but I'm not good at structuring these questions. I just wonder how Hasbro chooses which toys to spend more time on. Besides say Prime and Megatron, are they given hints about which characters will feature the most in the movie? How far does the communication go? Clearly their are still issues when characters and scenes can get cut (or put in; see Jolt) at the last minutes, so how do they decide where to focus their attention?

In a short group: Not much. It seems like the movie guys just don't like to give HasTak a lot of information. I mean, when the guy who designed Movie 1 Starscream sees the movie and goes, "Oh, shit, that's how that part's supposed to go," *something is wrong.*

Plus, Hasbro already said last year or something that, had they known Bonecrusher would be as prominent in the film (and that fans were going to like him as much as they did) they probably would have done him as a Voyager to make him more in scale with Prime.

[JediTricks]

Of course *I* mean Bonecrusher. But Joe Blow Movie Goer doesn't know who the hell Bonecrusher is, just that wicked forklift guy who got decapitated. And that badass helicopter guy at the beginning. And wasn't there a tank? I remember a tank.

Bonecrusher isn't going to be recognizable by the term "forklift guy", seeing as there's no forklift involved. I have a feeling the average moviegoer isn't going to remember ANY Decepticon except Megs and Barricade because they're the only ones who talked and didn't get shaky-cammed out.

[138 Scourge]

How about "The guy that took out that bus?" Non-TF fans I know that saw the movie loved that robot, whoever the hell he was. Also, the "Killer robot scorpion".

Also, everyone loved Barricade because of the Mustang thing.

[Onslaught Six]

Meh, forklift, crushy car flippy mine detector thing, what the hell ever. <.<

[138 Scourge]

Meh, forklift, crushy car flippy mine detector thing, what the hell ever. <.<

Do I have Dirt Boss or Bonecrusher? I have no earthly idea...

Lil' bit of a diff. Lil' bit.

Though, spending two seconds to think about it, your average guy doesn't have any the hell idea what Bonecrusher's alt. mode would be called, probably. Truck with big claw deal?

[Dominic]

Considering how high profile that vehicle is, most people should have some familiarity.

Oh, and by the way, the clock is ticking on Round 6.

Dom

[Onslaught Six]

TFWiki have gotten their answers for Round 5, so the rest should start trickling in by tomorrow.

Also, there's some *really* impressive BSing around about The Fallen in theirs: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Hasbro_Q%26A_July_2009:_Answers

[JediTricks]

Round 5 answers are in! http://www.tfviews.com/news/main/hasbro-q-and-a/499

[138 Scourge]

Interesting stuff there. Y'know, on one hand, I can see what they're saying about the IP, but on the other hand, if they're not gonna make the stuff. I wonder what the licensing fees on something like, say, the City Commander armor would be, if they'd drive cost of producing such a thing up to be prohibitively high to make, or if that just might be what those kinda places do from here on in.

For the second question, as much as I like the idea of Hasbro intentionally leaving kinda "Easter Eggs" in the toys to be found later, I think the first part of it's closer to the truth. Either way, it's kinda neat when you find a bonus feature like that.

As for the third, well, that seemed like a kinda stock answer thing, I'm not surprised the Animated stuff came out better than they'd thought it might, because the look of the things is amazing. Still, was kinda hoping for more specific examples. My eye did get kinda drawn to that bit at the end, is this thing about Bulkhead getting a non-Animated release something previously known about, or what's happenin' there? I'd buy a Bulkhead Movie toy, if that's what it they're talking about, because I do love some Bulkhead.

[JediTricks]

Interesting stuff there. Y'know, on one hand, I can see what they're saying about the IP, but on the other hand, if they're not gonna make the stuff. I wonder what the licensing fees on something like, say, the City Commander armor would be, if they'd drive cost of producing such a thing up to be prohibitively high to make, or if that just might be what those kinda places do from here on in.

Totally agree, it feels like they just don't get it or don't want it to get done.

My eye did get kinda drawn to that bit at the end, is this thing about Bulkhead getting a non-Animated release something previously known about, or what's happenin' there? I'd buy a Bulkhead Movie toy, if that's what it they're talking about, because I do love some Bulkhead.

I didn't even notice that part, good catch!


BTW, here are the ActionFigs answers: http://www.actionfigs.com/index.php?cat ... cleid=2471
That first answer IMO is a total flop.

The second answer blaming Bay is kinda funny, but I don't think they meant to disparage.

That third answer kills me as it's just completely ignoring the question.