MP's Prowl, Smokescreen & Bluestreak released by HASBRO?

AFAIK it mostly comes down to licensing issues.

Does anyone know what the copyright/IP deal is with Datsun, especially re. Hasbro?
I seem to recall that a large part of the hassle with getting a Hasbro - and Takara before that - Countach mold is because Lamborghini was/is pretty picky with their licensing, but I don't know how Datsun (or whoever their parent company is) is on said issue. IIRC TakTom managed to secure a domestic release after giving Lamborghini a certain amount of reassurance on the shade of red used for Lambor, but I don't know about Datsun and their stance on licensing outside of Japan.

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Originally Posted by Ode to a Grasshopper

AFAIK it mostly comes down to licensing issues.

Does anyone know what the copyright/IP deal is with Datsun, especially re. Hasbro?
I seem to recall that a large part of the hassle with getting a Hasbro - and Takara before that - Countach mold is because Lamborghini was/is pretty picky with their licensing, but I don't know how Datsun (or whoever their parent company is) is on said issue. IIRC TakTom managed to secure a domestic release after giving Lamborghini a certain amount of reassurance on the shade of red used for Lambor, but I don't know about Datsun and their stance on licensing outside of Japan.

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We don't know what the state of the Nissan/Datsun license is on the MP-17, ect. But when the Alternity line first came out Hasbro said the Nissan license was Takara only.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ode to a Grasshopper

AFAIK it mostly comes down to licensing issues.

Does anyone know what the copyright/IP deal is with Datsun, especially re. Hasbro?
I seem to recall that a large part of the hassle with getting a Hasbro - and Takara before that - Countach mold is because Lamborghini was/is pretty picky with their licensing, but I don't know how Datsun (or whoever their parent company is) is on said issue. IIRC TakTom managed to secure a domestic release after giving Lamborghini a certain amount of reassurance on the shade of red used for Lambor, but I don't know about Datsun and their stance on licensing outside of Japan.

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Datsun is owned by Nissan. As for licensing outside of Japan, I probably wouldn't want to deal with Hasbro unless they paid a lot of money

After the huge success the car companies saw thanks to the movies, it wouldn't be worth it for Hasbro to pay the license fees to Nissan, Lambo, (and possibly but extremely unlikely to the rally team from the Smokescreen deco. Still, everything ends up in a lawsuit these days, so who knows what one might try) for a limited run exlcusive line like TRU, I'd imagine.

You'd think they'd have to repackage the line as a mass-release proper line to make that even worth considering.

Maybe that'll happen and they're stockpiling licensed mode ones, almost like an Alternators 2.0.

Kinda seems unlikely, though.

I think that they chose to release Acid Storm says a lot though.

I'd play it safe and get the TT releases. The prices wouldn't be that different anyway, really. And worst case scenario, Hasbro would continue their tendency to do the opposite deco to TT - toy accurate vs cartoon accurate. So it could be a win/win.

They're also probably going to be an easy seller in the future if it comes to that anyway, so you shouldn't have any trouble unloading unwanted MP's.

Plus there's the chance for the coins. And they're just awesome.

For the benefit of anyone who may not be aware, the coins only come with the Sinophone-market Asian exclusive versions. The Japanese ones don't come w/ the coins (not that I personally care for them :o)

But now with hasbro releasing and numbering their masterpiece line we might holpfully see a release of the cars or reissue of the older mp line like grimlock!! because from soundwave MP02 sales figures they be crazy not too ...

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Originally Posted by lancalot

But now with hasbro releasing and numbering their masterpiece line we might holpfully see a release of the cars or reissue of the older mp line like grimlock!! because from soundwave MP02 sales figures they be crazy not too ...

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that's the thing, they are crazy.

they chose to release mp-11 mold as Thundercracker and Acid Storm instead of Starscream coronation.

they chose not to release TFPrime Breakdown even though he's a very prominant character to the series.

they're not releasing MP Sideswipe or Red Alert and most likely not the Datsuns either.

I could spend a whole day talking about the questionable decisions Hasbro makes. :rolleyes:

Having previously released a Starscream and Skywarp figure, i can understand why Hasbro has chosen to release TC & AS. Ahh, but what about the MP OP's Hasbro has released over the years, you may ask. Well, that's exactly it. He is Optimus Prime and both Hasbro & TT will release and reissue OP well into the future

TFPrime Voyager Breakdown was the heaviest Voyager by far, so that may have been a factor (not just the extra plastic, but also could add to the cost of transportation). For toys that only cost a couple dollars to manufacture, an extra 10% of plastic and weight could have significant impact on the Hasbro profit margin (TakaraTomy seem to have more flexible price-points, and higher prices, so can charge more if they want and get away with it).