Masterpiece Soundwave and Acid Storm appearing a bit early at US TRU

[Thorns2010]

This was discussed at SDCC/Botcon, Hasbro currently have no intention of releasing the Autobot cars because of licensing issues.

Can you provide a source of a Hasbro rep actually saying licensing issues is the reason?

I've followed all the info I could find from the recent conventions and haven't come across anything suggesting this.

[Sinnertwin]

Can you provide a source of a Hasbro rep actually saying licensing issues is the reason?

I've followed all the info I could find from the recent conventions and haven't come across anything suggesting this.

If i may, TJ

Seibertron.com / Ryan:*"Then again with the Takara Masterpieces, it seems like the smaller scale might be more appealing to American retailers such as Walmart and Target. Are you working with Takara on that or is that too far down the road?"*

Hasbro / Aaron:*"No we work with them on concept with "here's the next one we're thinking about", "what do you think?" so we do discuss it even though we know on the offset that it's for their market. Doing the smaller cars has helped but it's really about the market for Jerry. Do we do a non-connected high end item as an exclusive or where does it fit?"*

Hasbro / Jerry:*"The other thing with Sideswipe too is we have to get the Lamborghini license, which they have, which they were able to secure for the Japanese market. We have not [secured that]. If we're going to do that, we're going to need to approach Lamborghini and setup a licensing deal with them to do that.But we've seen them, we love them, we'd love to bring them to the US, there's no plans exactly yet but Masterpiece will continue. You've got Optimus Prime and Thundercracker this year, so we definitely see the value in bringing them over because fans love them."

You can read the SDCC 2012 interview here
Doesn't look like Hasbro have made any inroads towards licensing since.

[Thorns2010]

If i may, TJ



You can read the SDCC 2012 interview here
Doesn't look like Hasbro have made any inroads towards licensing since.

I wasn't thinking of 2012, my bad. Just the 2013 ones where there was sadly no comments one way or the other.

Although I will say, to me it just sounds like they were commenting that Hasbro have to get a separate license than Takara, but not that they had tried to get it and got shot down.

Maybe its just me, but I view it as Hasbro hasn't put any major effort or plans into releasing the car MP's, rather than they can't or aren't able to.

[kaiden]

Hasbro hasn't put any major effort or plans into releasing the car MP's, rather than they can't or aren't able to.

well takara only needed to get a license for the japanese market which most people imported from anyway whereas hasbro would have to get a worldwide license which i think would cost more.

any sane person would say hey! those MP cars are awesome and have a tonne of redeco potential but then you go to your local stores and see all those wave 1/2 Transformers shelf warming and go 'ohhh..... yeah -_-'

hasbro just don't know (or want to) how to create demand like the japanese market does.

[GoktimusPrime]

Maybe its just me, but I view it as Hasbro hasn't put any major effort or plans into releasing the car MP's, rather than they can't or aren't able to.

Hasbro don't put a major effort into releasing any Masterpieces at all -- at least, not in terms of developing new moulds. Essentially all they do is adapt Tak(TOM) MPs for their market; it's more of a reactive rather than proactive approach. Ditto G1 reissues.

[drifand]

Hasbro don't put a major effort into releasing any Masterpieces at all -- at least, not in terms of developing new moulds. Essentially all they do is adapt Tak(TOM) MPs for their market; it's more of a reactive rather than proactive approach. Ditto G1 reissues.

Found it strange when there is Acid Storm and Takara doesn't have.

[Sinnertwin]

Found it strange when there is Acid Storm and Takara doesn't have.

Hasbro doesn't have a Sunstorm & Takara doesn't have a Thundercracker in the new moulds either

[Trent]

Found it strange when there is Acid Storm and Takara doesn't have.

That's not a new mould as Gok said. All Hasbro do are repaints and accessories.

[drifand]

Yes guys, I KNOW, just pointing out "isn't a waste of the mould?"

[drifand]

I wasn't thinking of 2012, my bad. Just the 2013 ones where there was sadly no comments one way or the other.

Although I will say, to me it just sounds like they were commenting that Hasbro have to get a separate license than Takara, but not that they had tried to get it and got shot down.

Maybe its just me, but I view it as Hasbro hasn't put any major effort or plans into releasing the car MP's, rather than they can't or aren't able to.

You are with me dude, from my view, the toy is made and ready, just needed a new box and permission to sell.

If you technically ask me, I think this is one that Hasbro and Takara should have worked hand in hand, thus making the mould more useful than only a one sided product. Again, not my call, and is just a productive view of a toy which I felt it was shared between the two companies. after all it is Transformers.