Hasbro Q&A on TFW2005 Options

[Dake]

What the hell is "TFViews.com"? I've never even heard of it before.

Also, this pisses me off:

Hasbro: Galvatron was initially thought of as being an Ultra or Voyager scale. I wanted him big, he IS Galvatron after all. But we already had larger tank-like vehicles in the Universe line, such as Onslaught and Dropshot/Scattershot. So he was actually moved to Deluxe while he was still in the sketching stage. So he was actually designed and engineered to be a deluxe from pretty much the start, though having him larger would have been my preference.

He got sized down partially due to DROPSHOT?! A REPAINT?

But otherwise, this is sort of amazingly informative.

Yeah, I had to do a double take too. Onslaught (not a tank) and Dropshot? Got Galvy reduced to Deluxe?

[Octavius Prime]

What the hell is "TFViews.com"? I've never even heard of it before.

Also, this pisses me off:

Hasbro: Galvatron was initially thought of as being an Ultra or Voyager scale. I wanted him big, he IS Galvatron after all. But we already had larger tank-like vehicles in the Universe line, such as Onslaught and Dropshot/Scattershot. So he was actually moved to Deluxe while he was still in the sketching stage. So he was actually designed and engineered to be a deluxe from pretty much the start, though having him larger would have been my preference.

He got sized down partially due to DROPSHOT?! A REPAINT?

But otherwise, this is sort of amazingly informative.

I too was pissed to see that Dropshot, a nobody character who didn't warrant a new mold got higher consideration that Galvatron. Of course, if Hasbro had just waited until they decided to do new mold voyagers (i.e. Inferno), I'm sure Galvatron would have gone there.

Overall, mostly non-answers.

Glad to hear that they might do some version of Thundercracker/other seekers. Honestly, though, I'd rather see a new seeker mold based on EJ Su's F-22 design.

I really wish they had decided to do Omega Supreme instead of Big Ass Optimus for Animated, since we now know that at the earliest we'll see him is fall 2010 - a year and a half after his onscreen appearance.

I wish someone had asked about the Female Seeker.

[Robogeek1973]

Galvy was knocked down to a deluxe because of Onslaught and Dropshot, yet we have 3 Ultra Jets in Powergide, Silverbolt, and Stormcloud and that was ok.....gotcha. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-primal.gif)

[Spark]

Galvy was knocked down to a deluxe because of Onslaught and Dropshot, yet we have 3 Ultra Jets in Powergide, Silverbolt, and Stormcloud and that was ok.....gotcha. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-primal.gif)

It just makes me think "Well... S***."

I don't understand the thought processes behind Universe anymore.

[Jesse (M_P)]

What the hell is "TFViews.com"? I've never even heard of it before.

A blogspot blog

[Silent_Magnus]

I too was pissed to see that Dropshot, a nobody character who didn't warrant a new mold got higher consideration that Galvatron. Of course, if Hasbro had just waited until they decided to do new mold voyagers (i.e. Inferno), I'm sure Galvatron would have gone there.

Overall, mostly non-answers.

Glad to hear that they might do some version of Thundercracker/other seekers. Honestly, though, I'd rather see a new seeker mold based on EJ Su's F-22 design.

I really wish they had decided to do Omega Supreme instead of Big Ass Optimus for Animated, since we now know that at the earliest we'll see him is fall 2010 - a year and a half after his onscreen appearance.

I wish someone had asked about the Female Seeker.

I don't see how Hasbro could have done Omega Supreme instead of Optimus.
The supreme Optimus toy was porbably in planning since Animated was conceived.

I'm guessing Omega was probably designed while season 1 was in production.

These are all assumptions though.

[Yami4ct]

I too was pissed to see that Dropshot, a nobody character who didn't warrant a new mold got higher consideration that Galvatron. Of course, if Hasbro had just waited until they decided to do new mold voyagers (i.e. Inferno), I'm sure Galvatron would have gone there.

Overall, mostly non-answers.

Glad to hear that they might do some version of Thundercracker/other seekers. Honestly, though, I'd rather see a new seeker mold based on EJ Su's F-22 design.

I really wish they had decided to do Omega Supreme instead of Big Ass Optimus for Animated, since we now know that at the earliest we'll see him is fall 2010 - a year and a half after his onscreen appearance.

I wish someone had asked about the Female Seeker.

I got the distinct impression if we did get a Dirge, Thrust or TC, it wouldn't be from the classics mold. My bet is if we do see them, it will be in the form of another mold, such as the Dirge we've gotten from the cybertron mold. I wouldn't expect a true 'classics" TC anytime soon. I am glad to hear Sunstorm is very likely, I really love that color scheme.

As for the Galvatron issue, yeah that really sucks. I wished they would have either been able to make him as a voyager, or as a different vehicle entirely. I think they could have come up with another vehicle that would have fit.

[Powered Convoy]

We already have a Universe Dirge with the Target/Zeller's 2 Pack.

Randy

[Moroboshi Ataru]

Heck, I'm just happy to see them releasing non-exclusive versions of Dirge and Springer who fit in nicely with the Classics. That Dirge with the U.K. comic is another example of my enjoying finding story explanations for Hasbro's (Understandable) limitations. Dirge likes to scare people; giant alien jets are scarier to fly around as on Earth than human aircraft. There ya go. ^ ^ (Again, sure they aren't labeled "Classics series," but I have to figure that's more to denote the comic they come with than to say "These don't belong with the Classics".)

I'm not sure if they'd use the Cyb Starscream mold to create a Thundercracker, too, as he would be pretty similar to Dirge in looks (Then again, Battle in the Box Oilslick and Treadshot also weren't radically different from one another...maroon vs. purple). They could always go with Cybertron Thundercracker in blue (I know, I know, but I like that mold!). In any case, funds allowing, I still am interested in seeking out that Botcon set before TOO long, so I haven't ruled that out and I'm not complaining about there not being a mass-release Thundercracker. Hasbro/FP had no way of knowing Classics would come back as a subset of an ongoing series.

My issue with the Henkei...not a huge fan of the chromed parts, and if I'm spending as much as he costs, every detail would have to be right. Sure as heck wouldn't try my dreadful repainting abilities on that expensive a toy, even for a minor adjustment. XDDD

This post has been edited by Moroboshi Ataru: Oct 13 2008, 05:12 PM

[Silent_Magnus]

We already have a Universe Dirge with the Target/Zeller's 2 Pack.

Randy

That wouldn't necessarily stop them from releasing another Dirge.
Onslaught's already being released three times in Universe.

This post has been edited by Silent_Magnus: Oct 13 2008, 05:07 PM

[Chip]

So how does the Allspark get in on this next time?

[Stormrave]

Sigh. I'm really bummed out.

I would much rather Animated go on hiatus than Universe. Don't get me wrong, I understand that having a Cartoon is why one is staying and the other is on hold, and I like Animated fine, I just am not NEARLY as interested in it as I am in Universe/Classics. It's a rare Animated toy I'm interested in enough to buy, where as *ALL* the Classics/Universe have been MUST purchases for me.

Added to that, I actively dislike the Movie aesthetic toys alot. I liked the movie plenty, yes, and look forward to the sequel, just not a fan of that robot aesthetic, especially as it translates to toys.

SOO basicly it means I'm gonna have another LONG stretch of Nothing Much I Really Care About... sigh

Well Zac, on one hand I agree with you as I prefer Universe to Movie or Animated.

On the other hand, I don't necessarily feel bad about the hiatus. The economy's tight and I don't have as much toy money as I used to have. It gives me a chance to have money to go back and get toys that I missed, or concentrate on other toylines, and if they keep releasing Robot Heroes, that's going to be getting some of my money too. And I somehow ended up buying 4 or 5 movie toys anyway, which may happen again.

And it seems clear that Hasbro intends to bring back Universe when Movie 2 product runs its course.

[Sprocket]

Well, there goes a bit of hope as to ever getting a more show-accurate Deluxe Rhinox.

[Adam16bit]

Well, there goes a bit of hope as to ever getting a more show-accurate Deluxe Rhinox.

Not necessarily. One of the things that proved useful with the Star Wars sessions is that fans managed to beat home on some things that we wanted it to happen-- enough demand can grease the wheels and help get a large group of fans on the same page. Community absolutely can cause a toy to see release through the increased awareness created through regular columns and incessant shouting.

Besides, Hasbro said in 2007 (I think) that Classics would be on hold for the movie and should come back in the future-- and it did! I don't doubt it'll come back again in 2010, or maybe for the holidays next year as they start to get desparate to increase their SKU count to meet the always-increasing demand for robots in disguise.

(Also, 16bit.com will be posting their questions overnight...)

[Silent_Magnus]

It seems like Hasbro really likes Universe.
It'll probably be around for a few years. Hopefully more.

During which time, many things could happen.

This post has been edited by Silent_Magnus: Oct 13 2008, 06:00 PM

[Treadshot 2.0]

I don't understand why Hasbro made Aaron Archer take down his "Orson's World" thing because it was 'exclusive' to Allspark and that 'wasn't fair' to other sites... but now they're doing Q&A sessions at TFW2005? I mean, I don't care all that much, because I'm a member of TFW also, but damn, what was the point?

[Canthros]

Galvy was knocked down to a deluxe because of Onslaught and Dropshot, yet we have 3 Ultra Jets in Powergide, Silverbolt, and Stormcloud and that was ok.....gotcha. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-primal.gif)

It just makes me think "Well... S***."

I don't understand the thought processes behind Universe anymore.

Well, Hasbro undoubtedly has better access to sales statistics than we do, and we also know that some of their decisions are influenced by retailer, not consumer demand. At the time Galvy hit the shelves around here, Dropshot is still laying around (and I am tempted, but not that tempted), the Universe Ultras are still available in places that are stocking them, and Blitzwing is in the most recently stocked wave of Animated toys. Of note is that all three of Dropshot, Onslaught and Blitzwing are Decepticons. Of the three (or four, if we're being fair) larger-class jets, two are Autobots (Silverbolt, Powerglide), and two are Decepticons (Treadbolt, Stormcloud).

[G.B.Blackrock]

Galvy was knocked down to a deluxe because of Onslaught and Dropshot, yet we have 3 Ultra Jets in Powergide, Silverbolt, and Stormcloud and that was ok.....gotcha. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-primal.gif)

It just makes me think "Well... S***."

I don't understand the thought processes behind Universe anymore.

I don't pretend to understand much more than you do, but it's pretty easy for me to imagine three different types of jet selling well, but three (or more accurately two, since I still don't see Onslaught in this category) different types of tank just sitting on shelves.

This post has been edited by G.B.Blackrock: Oct 13 2008, 06:19 PM

[Jesse (M_P)]

I don't understand why Hasbro made Aaron Archer take down his "Orson's World" thing because it was 'exclusive' to Allspark and that 'wasn't fair' to other sites... but now they're doing Q&A sessions at TFW2005? I mean, I don't care all that much, because I'm a member of TFW also, but damn, what was the point?

so they could still be exclusive without looking exclusive.

[Silent_Magnus]

I don't understand why Hasbro made Aaron Archer take down his "Orson's World" thing because it was 'exclusive' to Allspark and that 'wasn't fair' to other sites... but now they're doing Q&A sessions at TFW2005? I mean, I don't care all that much, because I'm a member of TFW also, but damn, what was the point?

Other sites also have their own Q&As.
They've already been linked to in this topic.