More answers from Hasbro UK thanks to TFAuctions

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Nevermore
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More answers from Hasbro UK thanks to TFAuctions

Post by Nevermore »

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.ph ... opic=91831

I found question 15 the most interesting one.

Beast Wars

1) Is the UK going to get the BW anniversary figures anytime soon?

Answer: There is a strong possibility that the UK will see the beast wars anniversary products this year but Hasbro.co.uk could not commit to anything more specific at this time.

2) What other Beast Wars re-issues are planned after Tarantulas, Rattrap,
Dinobot, Optimus, and Megatron? What about other size class reissues?
3) When will we see the new Optimus Primal and Megatron?

Answer: Hasbro.co.uk cannot comment as to what new products will be shown on this line. The only comment they gave us was that of the possible release of beast wars in the UK.

Cybertron
4) - How many new mold Cybertron releases are left (ie. not repaints or
remolds?)

Answer: Cybertron will now run until the release of the movie, there will be more figures coming up but how many and in what light is unsure at this moment in time.

5) - What will Hasbro include w/ Primus that will make us want to buy the
Cybertron version even if we already have the Galaxy Force version? (This
is a reference to a comment at Botcon by a Hasbro rep, saying that there was
something the US version of the toy would have which the Japanese version
would not have.) Also, what's the target release date for Primus?

Answer: No date has been announced as of yet. We have been advised the planet keys have some kind of use in the chest cavity of Primus, but what its full use will be is still unknown. There were strong hints that the keys may be placed on the tool and then inserted into his chest, I believe this would work either on a spring mechanism or simply turning the keys once inserted. More concrete info on Primus this coming week.

Alternators
6) Can you please outline Hasbro's plans for Alternators, as they stand right
Now? Specifically, can you please tell us details about characters and car
models we haven't seen, release dates for Mirage (Ford GT), Rumble (Civic),
and the Jaguar you mentioned elsewhere this week? Also, how close are we to
a Bumblebee Alternator?

Answer: There are plans to possibly bring a Transformers Alternators comic book series out. This all depends on fans reaction to this idea. TFAuctions.com will be running a poll to establish fans thoughts on this project. Bumblebee is something they have always had in mind so don’t count out seeing him sometime soon.


7) Will we see any more new Alternators who are Decepticons (like Rumble)
instead of all the Decepticons being remolds of Autobot Alternators? What
prompted the decision to make the Civic a Decepticon from the get-go instead
of starting out with an Autobot like the others?

Answer: Hasbro are developing Alternators and hope to improve and expand further with a great range of different vehicles and characters. No specific reason was given for the decision relating to the Civic.

8) Will we see more straight recolors (like Ricochet and Rollbar) or will
you go back to remolding for second or third uses of each car model?

Answer: Hasbro UK was unable to provide an answer.

9) Can you tell us what these "2-in-1 Alternators" repacks of older
Alternators (Swindle, Shockblast) are for?

Answer: Hasbro UK was unable to provide an answer.

10) re: Ricochet, did you decide to do another WRX and then pick Ricochet
for the character, or did you decide to do Ricochet and then pick the WRX
for the mold? Why the WRX and not the RX8, arguably a much nicer mold?

Answer: Hasbro UK was unable to provide an answer.

Hasbro UK and Misc
11) What is the current status of the G1 reissue license? If Toys'R'Us is
no longer the license holder, have any other companies shown an interest in
selling reissues?

Answer: No interest as to date, keep trying e-hobby but nothing at this moment in time.

12) Can you tell us any details about the G1 Classic line?

Answer: Hasbro UK was unable to provide an answer.

13) Any news on the G1 Seacons set that was shown during OTFCC '04, but
since then has been homeless?

Answer: No plans at this moment in time for the Seacons.

14) There is a large UK Transformers fan community, with sites like
[url]http://www.thetransformers.net,[/url] [url]http://www.transformertoys.co.uk,[/url] http://www.autoassmebly.org.uk.
Additionally, there is a convention in the UK called Auto Assembly, which
draws a lot of attention. Does Hasbro UK know that we are out here, and do
they have any plans to make more contact with the fan community (like
attending the Auto Assembly convention!)

Answer: Hasbro.co.uk are fully aware of the various fan sites in the United Kingdom and are also aware of the auto assembly. They cannot commit to anything at the moment due to various projects they’re currently working on but were very keen to attend the show in June with TFauctions.com. We can only hope and see what happens as the months pan out.

15) Can you please elaborate on some of the answers you've given this week
regarding Hasbro UK, European distribution, etc?

- Why are Transformers in the UK so much more expensive than in the US?
- Why does it take SO long to make decisions one way or the other about
toys like 20th Prime? How can you still be trying to decide if you should
release him, when he came out in January 2004 in the US?
- Distribution in the UK makes no sense. We've had some explanations that
there's no way to avoid releasing toys long after the US, but then sometimes
various European countries get toys very shortly after, or even BEFORE, the
US. What would help is a concrete, detailed explanation for how
distribution works, who decides the timing of releases, why some countries
get toys but not others, and why lines are released in an incomplete,
haphazad way. This is the big question on MANY, MANY UK and European
Transformers fans' minds. The toys come out late, sporadically, or not at
all, and consumers are forced to import from the US, but then when toys DO
come out, they don't need them any more, and the line doesn't sell as well.
What is the obstacle to releasing toys concurrently with the US, or at least
releasing them in a timely manner, consistently, across Europe, and making
sure that all toys from a line make it out in decent numbers (instead of
gobs of one or two toys and little or none of the others)?
- Given the obvious difficulties in getting product to the shelves, have
you considered making entire toy lines (Cybertron, for example) available
through Hasbro.co.uk, or a UK equivalent of http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com?

Answer: The problem with the United Kingdom getting the hottest lines later than everyone else is because Hasbro.co.uk have to wait for the UK Toy Fair to showcase all new lines to the UK’s retailers. They cannot answer why there are some pieces missing from the line but this is something they are now looking into. The Hasbro team did say that the success of American companies in the UK (such as Walmart) would ultimately lead to earlier availability for the UK fan, as they would carry similar lines to their American counterparts. We can also announce that we were assured that the Hasbro.co.uk online store would return very soon and that fans will be able to
Looking for a complete Energon Sky Shadow (from Superion Maximus).
Offering: Binaltech Hound, Swindle, Ravage (Corvette), Skids.
Can buy in stores: Robot Heroes Tigatron/Inferno, Ricochet/Predaking.
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Post by Denyer »

I had a long post typed out... but screw it. The problem is noise-to-signal. Too many competing lines, too many competing products within a line.

We've reached the stage where a better selection of fewer toys would probably be better for both companies and customers. Always having something new on the shelf (regardless of quality or recognisability) is counterproductive. Too broad a focus (something for everyone but no-one can find it or keep track) can be as damaging as monofocus (you'll buy what we put out, dammit.)

IMO, companies need to get more people buying things, rather than chasing fewer people to buy more things like a terrier.

Is that achievable in saturated markets? Maybe.
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Post by Darth Zax »

yay, possible alternator comics!
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Post by Denyer »

Does anyone have a cached copy, since the Allspark seems to have rolled over and died this weekend?
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Post by Nevermore »

Fixed.
Looking for a complete Energon Sky Shadow (from Superion Maximus).
Offering: Binaltech Hound, Swindle, Ravage (Corvette), Skids.
Can buy in stores: Robot Heroes Tigatron/Inferno, Ricochet/Predaking.
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Post by Angelophile »

Fixed? Still looks broke to me...
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Post by Darth Zax »

Originally posted by Angelophile
Fixed? Still looks broke to me...


i think he means the cached copy Denyer asked about.
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Post by Thefallenone »

Habro UK seems to be avoiding questions alot don't they?
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Post by Darth Zax »

Originally posted by Thefallenone
Habro UK seems to be avoiding questions alot don't they?


we could expect that.
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Post by Thefallenone »

how so???
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Post by Darth Zax »

Originally posted by Thefallenone
how so???


did you really expect answers?
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Post by Thefallenone »

Hmmm Good point:glance:
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Post by Halfshell »

Well, the UK arm are only really best placed to answer questions that relate to the UK. A lot of the questions that they couldn't answer would be better aimed at a source in the US offices, where actual the decisions about products get made. Hasbro UK can cherry-pick what they want from the US-decided range, but I doubt they have much to say on the actual important stuff... and if they do, they probably aren't allowed to say it.
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Post by Cliffjumper »

It'd be a bit like phoning your local Smiths and asking why they don't stock American comics or something... they're just going to be able to tell you whatever head office have handed down to them, if they've even bothered.
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Post by Denyer »

Originally posted by Brendocon
Hasbro UK can cherry-pick what they want from the US-decided range
Can they?

Case in point: Energon Ironhide.
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Post by Darth Zax »

Originally posted by Denyer
Can they?

Case in point: Energon Ironhide.


what's with him?
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Post by Denyer »

Blocky piece of crap that warmed a lot of shelves.

Now, it's possible that Hasbro UK simply lack any judgement whatsoever -- on the other hand, being able to look at US figures and US sales figures and pick toys on the basis of what's successful would imply we'd be likely to see fewer duff moulds that don't sell.

I think European subsidiaries are under a certain amount of pressure to take stuff already produced, rather than just put in orders for stock.
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Post by Halfshell »

Originally posted by Denyer
Can they?

Case in point: Energon Ironhide.


Well, perhaps cherry pick is a bit rose tinted. I meant that they get to select a portion of the existing range, based on whatever factors, rather than having much clout in the realm of what actually gets designed.
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Post by Thefallenone »

Energon Ironhide was a pest EVERY toy store or woolworths i went to had 10 off the frigging figure:rant:
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Post by Cliffjumper »

Wow, you mean Energon Ironhide is a shelf-warmer where you are? He barely came out in most of the world. I'd buy up all you can and sell 'em on ebay for a massive profit.
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