Quote Originally Posted by Zommael View Post
I don't really think Hasbro are intentionally playing any sort of "game" with regard to the release of the G1 characters. They (rightly, IMO) decided it would be better to have a set of unique moulds make up each combiner, and so created new characters to take the spots of the two most redundant characters. Then, after Takara went a different direction and they were able to gauge fan demand, they decided to release redecos that would serve as those characters. It's not game playing or an attempt to trick anyone, it's just marketing.

I don't think Takara's version had much (if any) influence on Hasbro's decision to release the original team members. The first listings for Slingshot and Wildrider in the TRU computers came only a week or two from when the first silhouette teaser of UW Superion was shown. Hasbro has never (to my knowledge) buckled under to fan demand over something like this - especially in such a short time frame

If Hasbro never originally intended to release those two figures, I have a hard time believing they decided to change their minds just for some of us who prefer the original characters. When have they done anything like that in the past? And by making them "shared exclusives" their production run can't be that large, so it's not like Slingshot and Wildrider will become cash cows for them.

I don't have a problem with new molds or new characters. I might not like them, but I'm not having a go at the fans who do. However, I'm annoyed with original team members being replaced, and then suddenly announced/offered a short time after the new characters' figures have already been bought.

But it looks like I'm in the minority.