Transformers Prime First Edition, Come and gone and staying gone? Options

[ChessPieceFace]

Yeah it was the TakaraTomy one. The instructions didn't point out (at least I hadn't noticed) flipping that section out, and how his legs were supposed to fold at the knees to fit inside the car.

Randy

Yeah, the Takara instructions were terrible. I'm still not convinced I'm doing it right--the car's sides still bulge out way more easily than it seems they should--but trying to figure out how to get that toy from robot to car the first time using those instructions was just hopeless. There were clearly notes pointing out important non-pictured steps, but, well, I don't speak Japanese.

I think the Hasbro version, packaged as a car, would be much easier to deal with.

Did you fold the black parts of his legs down (the knees), as they fold down and to the side sort of like the below when transforming him?

Wrong
[attachment=28006:Cliff_Legs_Wrong.jpg]

Right
[attachment=28005:Cliff_Legs.png]

Or a approximation of the above.

Randy

Yeah, that was definitely a key discovery, after about 20 minutes of effort. At the moment, he's all put together with no gaps. Still, the car's side panels just seem like they want to pop out at the slightest touch.

This post has been edited by ChessPieceFace: Feb 7 2012, 02:48 PM

[ChessPieceFace]

TRANSFORMERS fans,

As we greatly value our TRANSFORMERS fans and consumers, we appreciate the opportunity to clarify and explain the current situation with TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figure availability in the U.S.

We very much apologize for the miscommunication with our great retailers in the U.S. Regrettably, as a result, the TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition Wave 2 Deluxe, Wave 1 Voyager and Entertainment Pack figures were posted for pre-sale in error. Final product was not produced for these figures to ship within the U.S. As such, any consumer who placed a pre-sale order with Big Bad Toy Store or Entertainment Earth in the U.S. received a note that their order had been cancelled and these orders will not be fulfilled. While it is common for Hasbro to cancel production and/or shipment of collectible figures prior to being listed for pre-sale, this particular situation was unique. We deeply regret this circumstance and understand your frustration.

We would also like to express that we hear the fan community in the U.S. loud and clear – you want these specific TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figures. While we can’t confirm anything at this time, and the format in which these figures are packaged and distributed may change, the team is looking into ways to make these available at a later date in the U.S. and will keep the fan community and our retailers posted as opportunities develop. We want to make this right, and making these figures available to the U.S. fans is a top priority for the team. We greatly appreciate your understanding and ongoing enthusiasm for the brand and hope in the mean time, you enjoy the TRANSFORMERS PRIME figures that are hitting shelves now and in the coming weeks.


Regards,

The TRANSFORMERS Team

Well, that's actually nice to hear. Usually Hasbro reps seem to be surprised when someone asks at BotCon why one toy or another didn't get solid distribution. I guess since this stuff really didn't get released at all, they were aware.

Now I can still hope FE Voyager Optimus gets a U.S. release at some point. With painted hubcaps please.

This post has been edited by ChessPieceFace: Feb 7 2012, 02:51 PM

[gargunkle]

Better than nothing I guess, but in essence probably no different from any other time they really want to get a product out (like Animated Blackout).

[Paladin]

That just raises further questions IMO.


Why did they not expect to sell these items in the US???

[Powered Convoy]

That's nice they at least acknowledge it and the fact that fans were disappointed they were not released.

Randy

[ExVee]

The statement seems to boil down to "we decided not to try to sell these in the US, and that's why you couldn't get them," which doesn't actually say anything we hadn't figured out before. The only new information is the implication that there's not a stock of these toys in US packaging sitting somewhere waiting to go to TJ Maxx, which means we're screwed over for these toys completely now.

[Phlis]

That just raises further questions IMO.


Why did they not expect to sell these items in the US???

Because the Toys R Us in the US did not order any. Takara and other Asian distrubutors got theirs, Canadian TRUs got theirs, but US TRU's didn't order any, so they never came to the rest of US retail.

[GodmasterElvis]

While we can’t confirm anything at this time, and the format in which these figures are packaged and distributed may change, the team is looking into ways to make these available at a later date in the U.S. and will keep the fan community and our retailers posted as opportunities develop. We want to make this right, and making these figures available to the U.S. fans is a top priority for the team. We greatly appreciate your understanding and ongoing enthusiasm for the brand and hope in the mean time, you enjoy the TRANSFORMERS PRIME figures that are hitting shelves now and in the coming weeks.

Isn't this basically exactly what they said about Windcharger?

[Master Fwiffo]

They better live up on that promise to deliver them later. I'm ok with waiting a bit.




A LITTLE bit.

[ZacWilliam1]

They better live up on that promise to deliver them later.

They don't promise that.

They say they're looking into possible options to release them.

Those are two very different things.


ZacWilliam, sees two packs next holiday as a possibility for Deluxes at least...

This post has been edited by ZacWilliam1: Feb 7 2012, 03:24 PM

[Phlis]

They better live up on that promise to deliver them later.

They don't promise that.

They say they're looking into possible options to release them.

Those are two very different things.


ZacWilliam, sees two packs next holiday as a possibility for Deluxes at least...

Didn't they also say this about the end of the Animated line? The did deliver on a few of those, but no Black Out.

[Walky]

They better live up on that promise to deliver them later.

Promise, huh? I'm glad we're already misconstruing the announcement.

[Master Fwiffo]

DAMNIT DONT TAKE MY HOPE FROM ME

[ZacWilliam1]

They better live up on that promise to deliver them later.

They don't promise that.

They say they're looking into possible options to release them.

Those are two very different things.


ZacWilliam, sees two packs next holiday as a possibility for Deluxes at least...

Didn't they also say this about the end of the Animated line? The did deliver on a few of those, but no Black Out.

The main difference is that at the time Animated was ending/over whereas Prime is literally just starting. They should have a lot more chances and time to try and fit these in. That still doesn't make it a promise though, but it gives us a better shot at a few of them at least.


-ZacWilliam, doesn't actually care himself, not really interested in any but Bulkhead and willing to wait to see the second version on him...

[Chip]

Pretty sure it all depends on how the Bumblebee/Starscream pack sells. If there's reason to do more packs like that, they'll come.

[Jeremy]

Problem is, I wonder how many people have already found other avenues for getting the toys, and won't necessarily care about a release later?

This post has been edited by Jeremy: Feb 7 2012, 03:45 PM

[Octavius Prime]

Well, I'd like to get the toys now, but there's a cap On what I'm willing to spend on FE CJ and I'm simply not going to pay the eBay prices for any others Voyager Optimus, Bulkhead, or the entertainment pack. But we have zero options on getting Terrorcon CJ (I'm not worried about the older Eradicon design).

The fact that we are (supposed) to get FE BB and Starscream in that two pack makes me hopeful, as does the fact that we're just now starting the TFP line. As someone else mentioned, this isn't quite like Animated where the show's over and there's no retail market for these toys.

[Quantumhawk]

This makes sense if you assume that the people who actually know anything about this told the PR and Legal people to draft a message so they don't get beat up at Toyfair.

[Nanite]

I actually think Hasbro will do what it can to get these molds to the USDM, since this is only the begging of the line, and it's an easy PR win for them when they do get the molds out.

Unlike with the Animated tail-enders, which would have been a struggle to fit anywhere.

[Sean Whitmore]

I actually think Hasbro will do what it can to get these molds to the USDM, since this is only the begging of the line, and it's an easy PR win for them when they do get the molds out.

Unlike with the Animated tail-enders, which would have been a struggle to fit anywhere.

That's a pretty important distinction. People make comparisons to the unreleased Animated molds, but in hindsight, I think it was pretty obvious that when Hasbro said they were looking for avenues to release them, they were doing it in that "parents telling you your sick dog is going to go live on a farm" tone of voice.

That said, I could easily see us still waiting for the FE molds in 2013, and Hasbro saying, "Hey, we released the Starscream/Bumblebee pack, didn't we?"