A question archive of, and links to the answers from, the December 2009 Hasbro Q&As, released on December the 23rd or shortly thereafter.

Questions

16bit.com

1. Word on the street is that Universe will return in 2010, with more G1-flavored toys. However, we were wondering if it might be like the last range, which also included newly molded toys of existing characters from Beast Wars (Dinobot, Cheetor) and Armada (Hot Shot). Can we expect the line to continue in that direction, perhaps with more Beast Wars, a Beast Machines character, or someone from another era of robots in disguises?
2. The big $100 Devastator toy seems to be doing pretty well. Does Hasbro have plans to do more high-dollar ($60+) items for 2010, or is this a special item for a movie year?
3. Are there plans to release any Transformers television shows (Beast Wars, Generation 1, Animated) on the blu-ray disc format? Assuming this is up to the licensor, do you have a media contact we can ask?

• 16bit.com answers

Actionfigs.com

1. On a purely hypothetical level, what Transformers characters would the Hasbro team like to see appear in the next live-action movie beyond what was in the first 2 films? Are there fans on the team of, say Mirage, Hound, and Wheeljack around? How about Astrotrain?
2. Does Hasbro have an opinion about IDW rebooting the comic book series several times now? Are the hybrid designs from the G1 and Movie stylings in the comic Hasbro's idea or IDW's?
3. After Comic-Con 4 months ago, we've seen released just 2 new Scout-class figures (only 1 new mold), 2 new Deluxe-class figures (no new molds, only 1 partial retool), and nothing for Voyager or Leader-classes. There have however been a number of exclusives, but none of those are new molds, just repaints. While next year does have some new figures coming up in the next month or so, why has the release schedule for the whole of the Transformers brand been so spotty in the second half when both the movie's DVD has come out and the holiday shopping season is in full effect? What is going on with the pacing for the Transformers brand?

• Actionfigs.com answers (archive copy)

AllSpark.com

1. The motorcycle that comes with Human Alliance Skids is called "Arcee", yet neither mode looks like the female Autobot; the robot mode looks to be based on "Chromia", while the bike mode seems to be based on Mikaela's ordinary, non-transforming bike. The color scheme supports the latter as well. What's the story behind this Human Alliance "Arcee"design? Was it intended to be a new character that just had the Arcee named applied later on?
2. The concept of relatives is a little strange in a species that doesn't reproduce by human methods. As such, what is the basis of the many established familial relationships among Transformers? How do things like Sideswipe and Sunstreaker being brothers, some Transformers having parents or children, etc. work exactly? Does Hasbro maintain an overall concept/idea on how these relationships work, or do they allow those that hold the fiction licenses free rein when it comes to how/which Transformers are "related"?
3. When concept art for unproduced designs is revealed to the public, is it forever off the table or is it possible to revisit them for viable toys later on down the road?

• AllSpark.com answers

ASM

1. It's understood that Hasbro now owns much of intellectual property related to the Tonka GoBots, with the original cartoon left out due to rights issues. Seeing as M.A.S.K. was revived with Matt Trakker appearing in the GI Joe line, and Fracture was an homage to a GoBots character, is it possible that the GoBots stories and concepts (again, leaving out the cartoon proper) could one day be retroactively integrated into TF continuity?
2. At BotCon 2005, photos were shown of an unreleased redeco of Generation 2 "Laser" Optimus Prime as a new character called Toxitron; Toxitron was shown again later on the BotCon 2007 Hasbro tour. Meanwhile, artwork of a cancelled redeco of Machine Wars Optimus Prime called "Menasor" surfaced, as did an unpainted test shot. How far along did these two redecos actually get? Were they both meant for the original Universe toyline? Would we be able to see their stock photography or deco sheets?
3. We know that because toy safety laws have changed, we will never get certain items again, such as a realistic gun mode for Megatron. What about other gimmicks that worked well in the 80's and 90's but may not meet requirements today? We've heard that the "spark-shooting" action might be a similar impossibility -- can you confirm this?

• ASM answers

Cybertron.ca

1. Will the K-Mart Exclusive Nebular Starscream be released in Canada?
2. Will Universe Powerglide, Hardhead and Skyfall be released in Canada?
3. When can we expect to see the new Animated figures in Canada?

• Cybertron.ca answers

Parry Game Preserve

1. Universe / 25th Anniversary toys keep trickling out, which is great. Will we see a strengthening of this sub-line with additional 2010 releases, since it is very popular, or do you feel it is better to move on to products for the 3rd movie and the new upcoming tv presence (whatever it may be)?
2. Do you plan to continue the Robot Heroes line beyond the current movie figures?
3. Having now released a number of figures for the recent feature film, does the team have an overall favorite?

• Parry Game Preserve answers

Seibertron.com

1. It is no secret that Paramount has quite a bit of pull and ownership when it comes to Transformers Movie figures. Can Hasbro please elaborate on who owns the molds. For example, would it be feasible to see the upcoming Voyager Bludgeon, ROTF Brawn, Mindwipe etc figures re-released (or re-deco'd) under a non-movie related line such as Universe? Or is that not possible because Hasbro doesn't actually own the molds?
2. Setting aside the 2 limited G1 Reissues released recently this year, how does Hasbro plan to reach out to the adult collector market? With Alternators not planned for the near future, the homage based Classics "on hold", and no further Special Edition figures announced (didn't Overkill, Dragstrip, Megatron, and Optimus Prime sell well?), there appears to be more incentive for adult collectors to purchase reissues and other more targeted merchandise from outside import vendors and '3rd party' companies. Why has Hasbrotoyshop.com not established a collector service to provide Encore, Alternity, and Masterpiece figures in the same manner that MattyCollector is attending to their adult fan-base? Where are the previously seen 'Red Classics Mirage', and upgraded Classics Cliffjumper going to appear (theorized to be next in line as Special Edition toys)? Is there anything in the plans that caters more to the Transformer collector market, rather than just the whole of the Transformers brand market?
3. How much of a line is decided before the line is actually in distribution? For example, is it known how many waves it will consist of? What the average figure size breakdown will be (legends/scouts/etc) and which figures will be in it? Or is there a set amount of each size class of mold that you use as a guide when you go to produce/design each new line?

• Seibertron.com answers

TFormers.com

1. As late as SDCC 2009, Hasbro has stated that they are going to get all of the unreleased Transformers Animated figures on the shelves no matter what, but don't know the exactly when. Now that it's a little farther off and we've been given a ballpark dates for Arcee and Cybertron Ratchet (Spring 2010), do you have any other ballpark dates for the other figures and exclusivity deals that you can divulge?
2. The new Hasbro and Discovery Network joint venture is shaping up quite well with the recent appointments. During the announcement of the network, Brian Goldner said that there will "most likely" be a new series based off of Transformers in 2010. Is there any new information regarding this new series such as the the direction, style, or release date?
3. Is there a chance that the Tomy Takara reissues such as Metroplex, Seacons, or the cassettes will make be released in the US by Hasbro?

• TFormers.com answers

TFViews.com

1. Not that the ROTF Swerve redeco isn’t great (because it is) and a good way to somewhat rectify some early fan complaints that "Sideswipe is supposed to be red!" but considering ROTF Sideswipe turns into a Corvette concept car, was there ever a dark blue redeco considered under the name of Tracks? After all, G1 Tracks was a dark blue Corvette – it basically writes itself.
2. Several Constructicon characters in ROTF have multiples throughout the film – multiple Mixmasters, Rampages and Long Hauls are running around, and Scavenger and Demolishor share a body type, if not deco. Early in the film, several Constructicons, along with Ravage and Scalpel, head down the Laurentian Abyss to revive Megatron. The other Decepticons cannibalize one of the Constructicons, which fans have nicknamed "Ze Little One" after Scalpel’s line. Our question is, which of the existing Constructicon designs (most say it’s Rampage or Scrapper), if any, is Ze Little One supposed to be?
3. What is Hasbro’s point of view on how IDW comics have approached the Transformers brand? How much input do they have on characters and storylines, and are they happy with the end result when it comes to the treatment of character and mythology? How does this compare to how Dreamwave approached the same material?

• TFViews.com answers

TFWiki.net

1. When the Constructicons formed Devastator in Revenge of the Fallen, the film showed two unnamed construction vehicles helping to form Devastator that aren't seen anywhere else. There's a yellow dump truck that's not the same kind of dump truck that Long Haul is, and there's a tiny treaded shovel that forms Devastator's left hand. Do you guys have names for these two Constructicons? If not, could you make some up for us right now?
2. The company which syndicated the original Transformers cartoon, Claster, was a Hasbro subsidiary that has since been merged into Hasbro's media division. Since their records would now be completely in-house at Hasbro, would it be possible to get a list of the TV stations that broadcasted the original Transformers cartoon? Or barring that, the number of stations that broadcast it?
3. We now know that the voice of the Universe cartoon Optimus Prime is Ron Hayden, but who are the voices of Megatron, Cyclonus and Bumblebee in the episode "Fight for Energon"? Are there also more episodes planned now the Universe line ended?

• TFWiki.net answers

Transformerland.com

1. What is the decision-making process behind making certain Transformers characters correlate with particular "nationalities?" For example, how is the decision made to have characters speak with a British accent (a la G1 Sky Lynx) or a Scottish accent (ROTF Jetfire) or a Russian accent (Animated Jetfire and Jetstorm)?
2. In previous Q&A sections, it was explained that various differences between transformers toys in different global marketplaces are to sell "what makes sense" to that market or demographic. What sorts of differences between the target markets in the western world and Japan exist that cause Transformers released in Japan to vary so wildly from their "export" counterparts? For example, it is well understood that some series target younger, general public buyers like Classics, while Henkei targets Japanese adult collectors. But what market differences exist that series geared to adult collectors in both markets (Alternators & BinalTech) to be so divergent in features and decoration? Or, conversely, what demographic differences determine the variance in paint applications on otherwise alike Revenge of the Fallen toys?
3. While I understand the need for the lack of verbal instructions on newer style instruction manuals (to better serve an international audience), I don't understand why additional art rendering is included in the newer style manuals. There are MANY more lines drawn in that don't correspond with anything on the actual toy (such as over exaggerated detailing), which serves to complicate identification of parts during the transformation process. While we understand detail is to help be specific, what was the decision making process that lead to the designs of the instructions being as they are now (once again, understanding that text free makes it easier for international release)? Recent examples would include ROTF Leader Jetfire (Whose instruction art is so detailed one cannot tell which part is to be moved) and ROTF Voyager Mixmaster (especially the instructions for cannon mode, as there is a hinge that likes to change directions in the instructions, that is not possible on the actual figure).

• Transformerland.com answers

Transformers Collectors' Club

1. While line-wide gimmicks (Pretender shells, Powerlinking, Force Chips, etc.) have been done away with for now, what old gimmicks would the design team most like to see visted again in a one-off homage, maybe done better this time than it was in the past (i.e. Universe Targetmaster Cyclonus).
2. Several fans have noticed that a small number of the Revenge of the Fallen and other Transformers toys have codes painted on the bottom of the figure. You can find examples here: [1] [2] What are the significance of these painted codes, and why do they only appear on a select few toys of a given character?
3. How do the "repackaged" retailer exclusive figures come to be? Take for example the Walmart exclusive Scout figures released on Black Friday. Were these left over figures from the first production run for Target stores, or were they entirely a new run of toys? If it was a new run of figures, what was the basis of the decision to not include the "unreleased" Gunbarrel, Reverb and Backtrack figures?

• Transformers Collectors' Club answers (login required)
• Paraphrased summary, no login required