Hasbro Panel Products Interview, what's in store for us in the future
FIRST THINGS FIRST+ 2007 was a great year for Transformers including a $700 million box office on "Transformers" movie, #1 action figure toy brand NPD Data, Movie Deluxe action toy of the year at Toy Fair, and #1 FANS
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+ "Transformers" DVD was #1 in the USA in 2007.
+ The rest of 2008 toys are mostly represented in the cases being put out today.
ANIMATED+ Toy launch for Animated toys is June 22.
+ Full licensing program will launch in August when stores reset their toy displays.
+ Deluxe Sentinel Prime, Elite Guard Bumblebee, and Swoop are coming in September 2008. Swoop looks really sweet and has a mace weapon.
+ Leader Ultra Magnus is also coming in September 2008. Images shown depict a very cool-looking figure, as described in the Animated panel. The Hammer does not light up but he does have a transformation feature.
UNIVERSE+ Universe is not a storyline unto itself. It is a compilation of stories.
+ Universe Ultra Silverbolt coming August 2008. Will have sounds in robot and jet including the transformation sound. Gun sounds and Jet sounds too.
+ Universe Ultra Storm Cloud coming in September 2008. Redeco of the Powerglide figure.
+ Universe Deluxes Ironhide and Sideswipe are coming October 2008.
+ Ironhide's license plate says Oregon and looks like a modern SUV/Van-type vehicle. He will have a mid-level transformers difficulty
+ Sideswipe is the same mold as Sunstreaker with new hands. The image that is shown on the presentation is the wrong head and the chest plate is not turned around.
+ Universe Legends coming August 2008.
+ G2 Megatron and Jazz coming August 2008.
+ Robot Heroes Kickback vs. Ironhide, Thrust vs. Blaster, and Megatron vs. Silverbolt will arrive in October 2008.
Fall 2008 exclusives
+ San Diego Comic Con Hasbro Toy Shop - Nemesis Prime with blue windows. There is a Japan exclusive that will have red windows. Probably for summer Wonderfestival.
+ Comic Cons Hasbro Toy Shop Titanium 6" War Within Skywarp.
+ Wal-mart off-screen Deluxes Sept 08 Breakway (Cybertron Hot Shot repaint) , Fracture (Classics Mirage repaint), Crankcase (Cybertron Red Alert repaint).
+ Target Universe comic packs nov 08: Dirge + Roadbuster (Cybertron Hot Shot 2 repaint / Cybertron Starscream), Springer + Ratbat (Cybertron Evac vs Cybertron Sideways). These sets are Deluxe figure with a voyager figure and a comic.
+ KMart Mini-con 12 pack in September 2008.
+ TRU 6" Titaniums in September 2008 - War Within Prowl, War Within Grimlock.
TRANSFORMERS 25th ANNIVERSARY - 1984-2009
+ 25th anniversary culminates with movie 2.
+ Animated will continue.
+ Thanksgiving release to kick off G1 re-issue of original Optimus Prime US version with silver roller. Also includes reprint of issue 1 comic from marvel and more then meets the eye 3 episode digital re-master DVD and a sound box with Cullen quotes. 5 panel window package. Silver foil 25th anniversary logo with classic type package.
+ They will be celebrating all eras of TFs not just G1.
+ Universe Deluxe Hound w/ Ravage. G1 type mold. The clips on the back of Hound fit Ravage. Shoulder cannon on Hound comes off.
+ Universe Deluxe Cyclonus w/ Nightstick Targetmaster. G1 type mold. Nightsitck can be held by Cyclonus. Almost looks black. Very nice.
+ Universe Deluxe Beast Wars Cheetor. Eyes turn green to red, maybe thats a running change.
+ All these are all updated modernized sculpts.
+ Universe Legends Brawn and Beachcomber.
+ Universe Robot Heroes Cheetor vs Tankor ala Beast Machines.
+ Optimus vs Megatron ala RID.
+ There will be another 25th revealed tomorrow that Archer said fans will be very happy about.
+ G1 counterfeit knockoffs - Hasbro is making a long statement. Basically they do not condone it and all that business stuff with a hint at legal issues. More on this later we're sure.
Q&A
+
MP Thundercracker is on their shortlist, they are looking to do as an exclusive in 09 for 25th anniversary - not confirmed but def looking at.
+ Not many off screen characters for animated. Oil Slick was a exception to the rule.
+ Attackix are pushed to the side for now.
+ Fans wants 6" Titanium Cliffjumper and Bumblebee but no plans right now.
+
Any chance of a Sari toy? They want to find a way to bring human characters to market, but its not in the cards right now.
+ Fan wants to see those Titaniums that were shown last year at BotCon as protos. They are looking to just use molds that have already been made but tools cost a lot of money. The Titanium line was popular with the collector market, but not beyond that. So its hard to justify making new tools. They recognize the characters are important.
+ No plans for a Voyager Soundwave for Classics - they just did the re-issue.
+
Alternators any plans? This fan wants a G1 RC. The response:
Just cause you haven't seen it doesn't mean its not being worked on according to Hasbro. Alternators are still on the back burner for Hasbro.
+Still no plans for G1 Dinobot reissues.
+ We will see variation on the standard size of Robot Heroes in the future. Much like with larger scale figures in the Marvel Super Hero Squad line.
+ Might see some combiners worked into 25th Anniversary.
+ All the 25th anniversary they showed comes in as wave 3 of 4 of Universe so prob wont see at the end of Dec 08 or Jan 09.
+ 25th G1-Prime comes out in November, the rest basically end of this year early next.
+ The GM exclusive Aveo was created as a promotional give-away in Europe for GM and was never meant to be sold. It was supposed to be a give-away and they created that toy for that specific purpose. They chose that type of car cause its more popular in Europe. They didnt have a toy already made that they could give GM to be given away so GM paid to have that one made.
+ Universe will expand and contract as other things happen. So basically in movie years, the movie stuff will have priority, but Universe wont go away.
+ No plans for G.I.Joe / Transformers crossover toys right now. Archer jokingly suggests to just put your G.I.Joe and Transformer toys on the same shelf right now.
+ Wheeljack, Sunstorm or Trailbreaker will they be made? Hasbro said Possibly. Headmasters are on the list along with those 3.
+ There are no plans in the next year or two for G1 DVDs far as they know.
+ Megatron has risen many times according to Archer in regards to weather he will be in TF2.
+ Archer says he had to buy the USA MP Starscream on Ebay because he couldn't find it at the store.
+ Acid Storm, is he a generic Seeker. Archer came up with the idea. Was supposed to be rainmaker or acid rainmaker, but couldn't get the name so it ended up as Acid Storm.
+ Music Label TFs are for Takara and Hasbro doesn't really do that format.
+ They respect each other exclusives. So if Takara re-released any seekers that were exclusive here, they would be different in some way so they weren't exact.
+ Might see a movie Despensor eventually - the Mountain dew guy.
+ Hasbro took a poll with raise of hands for accessory packs. About half the room raised their hand.
+ Even Hasbro was surprised at just how successful the move was.
+
There are so many movie repaints because they had not planned for the demand on Movie stuff to last so long.+ For TF 2 they will be better prepared. There will be more new molds and less repaints as they get into Spring period.
+
Any chance for a larger Bonecrusher? He's one they would like to do in a better way if he is in the sequel.
+ Any character in TF1 that is in TF2, they will try to improve the toy on, not just re-release the TF1 versions.
+ Animated Prime trailer? Since he has had several different trailers so they are trying to figure out the best way to do that.
+ No plans for Hasbro re-issue of all of Soundwaves cassettes.
+ Any chance to re-visit Go-Bots molds? Hasbro owns the names and owns the name of Go-Bots, but not the Bandai molds. So not much chance of is paying homage to the original Go-Bots.
+ Why no sludge and snarl in animated? They hope to maybe do them down the road. Snarl is coming.
+ They are talking about doing TF Q&A with fan sites like they do now with Star Wars and other lines.
+
Alternators are not dead, just sleeping.
sauce:
http://tformers.com/transformers-botcon-20.../9351/news.htmlI got the feeling that Hasbro and Takara got a heck alot of Alternator prototypes in their R&D, but they cannot reveal them coz due to past experiences some car manufacturers turn the plug on them when the prototypes were leaked. So next year its going to be fun!!
Also now Hasbro too busy with Animated, TF2, universe etc.
Apr 27 2008, 05:01 AM
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the trend continues...
Sure was fun at the gath, ima stay home play with new hauls 
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