The Ongoing Hasbro Q&A Question Submission Thread, Don't wait, post your questions now! Options

[Blacknife]

I'm hoping they quickly overturn this no beast route. I'm hoping they have it constantly going in some format {even mecha-beasts like ROTF Ravage Scorponok etc}

I can understand the logic that the complete BW type format has not been done in some time and therefore not kept "fresh" in the minds of consumers...

Still, there's a lot to explore with it.

[Fortress Ironhol...]

I'm hoping they quickly overturn this no beast route. I'm hoping they have it constantly going in some format {even mecha-beasts like ROTF Ravage Scorponok etc}

I can understand the logic that the complete BW type format has not been done in some time and therefore not kept "fresh" in the minds of consumers...

Still, there's a lot to explore with it.

Hasbro could always go the "Sky Lynx" route, wherein they have a beast that turns into a vehicle.

[Timelord Megs]

In a recent Q&A session, you (Hasbro) stated that if and when you revisit a universe/classics style line, that you have no plans to revisit any of the characters from Beast Wars or Beast Machines. Can you elaborate on any reason why these characters would be omitted?

Can you name any "beast" alt mode toys or toys of Beast Wars characters from recent years that weren't shelfwarmers?

Yeah, I figure that's probably part of the reason why, but I'd like to hear more about it and have an official reason from, you know, the source...

[Nevermore]

In a recent Q&A session, you (Hasbro) stated that if and when you revisit a universe/classics style line, that you have no plans to revisit any of the characters from Beast Wars or Beast Machines. Can you elaborate on any reason why these characters would be omitted?

Can you name any "beast" alt mode toys or toys of Beast Wars characters from recent years that weren't shelfwarmers?

Yeah, I figure that's probably part of the reason why, but I'd like to hear more about it and have an official reason from, you know, the source...

I don't expect Hasbro to admit that any toys didn't sell well. Expect a very fluffy PR-washed answer.

[NightViper]

Since this debate has raged on within the fan community for almost 24 years, perhaps Hasbro can clarify their stance on the matter. What's the deal with the Little White Optimus Prime figure that came with the G1 Ultra Magnus toy? We all know the history of the figure and its Diaclone roots, so this is more of a fiction question. Little White Optimus didn't appear in the G1 fiction. At all. And later toys such as the Titanium Ultra Magnus and Animated Ultra Magnus ignore this mode completely, instead transforming from vehicle mode straight to the big blue and red Ultra Magnus robot. So what is Hasbro's stance on G1 Ultra Magnus? Does he have both smaller and larger robot modes? Or just the larger one?

[Dake]

I understand my question isn't terribly exciting, but I think it's important. If we vote, hopefully others might think so:

Dear Hasbro. I know packaging styles come and go and we appreciate your efforts in maintaining packaging that is dynamic and exciting while still being secure. The one draw-back is there is still a lot of plastic and the nature of the plastic makes it hard to recycle. Here in Houston there is only one recycling center in the greater Houston area that accepts #3-7 plastics, which is the category into which the packaging falls. Apparently, it's so costly to recycle that even they will probably stop accepting it soon. Is there any chance Hasbro, as a company, might look into changing the plastic packaging used for toys to a type 1? This is the type often used for things like 2 liter bottles; it seems to have about the same strength as the current type of plastic being used and could then be thrown into most neighborhood recycling bins. There are days that I come home with a giant bag full of Tfs, Joes and Star Wars toys, and by the time I have everything opened, it takes a bigger bag to hold the left over packaging.

[Fortress Ironhol...]

I understand my question isn't terribly exciting, but I think it's important. If we vote, hopefully others might think so:

Dear Hasbro. I know packaging styles come and go and we appreciate your efforts in maintaining packaging that is dynamic and exciting while still being secure. The one draw-back is there is still a lot of plastic and the nature of the plastic makes it hard to recycle. Here in Houston there is only one recycling center in the greater Houston area that accepts #3-7 plastics, which is the category into which the packaging falls. Apparently, it's so costly to recycle that even they will probably stop accepting it soon. Is there any chance Hasbro, as a company, might look into changing the plastic packaging used for toys to a type 1? This is the type often used for things like 2 liter bottles; it seems to have about the same strength as the current type of plastic being used and could then be thrown into most neighborhood recycling bins. There are days that I come home with a giant bag full of Tfs, Joes and Star Wars toys, and by the time I have everything opened, it takes a bigger bag to hold the left over packaging.

I think this one was up for discussion a few months back.

Supposedly, Hasbro is aware of such concerns and is looking at matters already, but no other details were forthcoming.

[Shockwave 75]

Has any consideration been given toward producing direct-to-video animated films, either to expand on some parts of the franchise (Transformers Animated, or the Movies), or to shed light on ones not fully realized (Hearts of Steel)?

Love this question! I would love to see some STV TF movies. I know the remaining G1 cast have almost all said that they'd be up for it too.

Here's a resubmitted question from me:

Fans have come up with unofficial terms to refer to certain properties of Transformers toys, such as:
a) "kibble" for parts of one form that serve no function in the other form and basically just hang off or stick out (such as the robot "backpack" on Human Alliance Autobot Skids, the "wings" on Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Sideswipe's back, or the visible hands on Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Class Starscream in his F-22 mode)
b) "faux-parts" for elements of the robot mode that are sculpted to resemble characteristic parts of the alternate mode which end up elsewhere on the robot mode due to the conversion scheme (such as the fake wheels on Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class Sideswipe's feet, or the fake truck windows on Voyager Class Optimus Prime's chest)
c) "shellformer" for Transformers toys that basically convert by hiding the robot body inside a "shell" that makes up most of the alternate mode (such as Revenge of the Fallen Human Alliance Sideswipe, or Cybertron Deluxe Class Thunderblast)

Do these elements ever come up during the design process? And if yes, does the design team have its own terminology to refer to them?

I like this too. I'd be very interested to know if they have their own terminology.

I'd like to know if we will be seeing anymore uses of the Classics/Universe Seeker mold. Either as more of the "generic" characters like Acidstorm, or maybe a mass release of the remaining G1 Seekers.

[Bass X0]

In a previous Q&A, Hasbro announced the end of the Robot Heroes line. Could Hasbro go into further detail about the reasons behind the ending? Did Robot Heroes not sell as well as it was hoped for? How did Robot Heroes fare compared to other similar figures from other brands by Hasbro? The other brands got vehicles and other accessories that Robot Heroes did not; were such items unsuitable for inclusion in the Transformers brand? And is there any possibility that Robot Heroes could return at some future point even if its just for store exclusive repaint sets?

This post has been edited by Bass X0: Jan 19 2010, 07:31 AM

[Nevermore]

In a previous Q&A, Hasbro announced the end of the Robot Heroes line. Could Hasbro go into further detail about the reasons behind the ending? Did Robot Heroes not sell as well as it was hoped for? How did Robot Heroes fare compared to other similar figures from other brands by Hasbro? The other brands got vehicles and other accessories that Robot Heroes did not; were such items unsuitable for inclusion in the Transformers brand? And is there any possibility that Robot Heroes could return at some future point even if its just for store exclusive repaint sets?

This question begs for a generic PR-washed non-answer.

"Thank you for your interest in the TRANSFORMERS® brand! The ROBOT HEROES™ range has been an exciting feature for us here at Hasbro too. However, due to various considerations, we have decided to focus on other offerings for the future of the brand. We currently have no plans to continue the ROBOT HEROES™ range, but stay tuned for exciting news about other upcoming products for the new year."

This post has been edited by Nevermore: Jan 19 2010, 10:09 AM

[ZacWilliam1]

A while back you told us in several Q&A answers that Hasbro had the story of Primus' Original Thirteen Transformers all planned out (giving us hints like "only 7 of the 13 were named Primes," and "one of the 13 was an important female warrior.") We were told to stand-by to learn more about this mysterious legendary era of Cybertron soon. It's very exciting to hear there's a plan for this mysterious and important piece of Transformer "history," would you be able to give us any hints now on where (what format) and when you plan on telling this epic story?

[Esser-Z]

Isn't IDW going to be doing a comic about the Thirteen?

[NightViper]

It was. I think plans have changed.

[ZacWilliam1]

It was. I think plans have changed.

Yes. IDW said Thirteen is off their schedual and they have no plans to touch this stuff just before Hasbro gave us all the info last time and said they're gonna tell the story very soon. So the question is where? Fan Club comic? Toy line? Web Cartoon? War for Cybertron? Who knows? and how soon is soon? I'm hoping they could give us an idea.

This post has been edited by ZacWilliam1: Jan 19 2010, 10:48 AM

[Celsius]

Is the shiny Takara Animated look available for future Hasbro Transformers releases, no matter the subline?

[deathy]

Here's goes my 3 questions.

(1) were both TF Animated optimus prime & leader sized megatron updatted homages based off the 1991 battle stars/return of convoy designs of starconvoy & super megatron.
(2) since it's 2010,will there be any Rodimus Prime new molds or recolors in 2010?
(3) will all the war for cybertron toys be only made in the deluxe size scale? will there be any made in the voyager,ultra or leader size scale?

[soundman006]

When will we see the last of the animated toys?

[Shadowbreaker]

I was surprised and excited to see the return os the mail away. Will we see more in the future?

[Agent X]

As orginal characters, like Lockdown (Animated) and Trenchmouth and Deadlift (RotF exclusives), are few and far between, has Hasbro given any thought of pushing "New" characters in the various media?

[Spark]

Given the revelation of an entirely different and apparently non-combining Legends Long Haul at ToyFair 2010, will the other ROTF Constructicons be following? What is the reasoning behind creating two entirely different Long Hauls with the same robot and vehicle modes?