November Qs for Hasbro (closes 25th Oct)

[griffin]

Some questions I might be asking if we run short of Qs to submit:

Thoughts on Fans project City Commander/UM trailer? Would they consider something like that in future?

Why is Robot Heroes 'Hardshell' not called 'Decepticon Bombshell', or Universe 'Tankor' not called 'Decepticon Octane'? Is there some sort of Trademark issue, or a problem with the use of the actual word, like the Dinobot 'Slag' being called 'Snarl' now.

Which fan-sites are involved in the Hasbro TFs Q&A program, including non-US sites.

Have any of the recent factory closures in China been ones that produce Transformers, and if so, has it affected any upcoming releases?

Are records kept of exactly how many units of each toy is produced, including limited edition store exclusives?

Universe Galvatron was reduced to a Deluxe size because it was decided that there shouldn't be 2 similar figures (dark military vehicles) closely released in the one size class, so why was Universe Powerglide done in white, despite Silverbolt also being released as a white plane at about the same time?

Will Hasbro be releasing Disney Crossover Transformers, or is the toy revealed by TakaraTomy a one-off figure that will not be released by Hasbro?

Is the 'Crossover' concept something Hasbro would like to expand further, into other franchises in the future?

[griffin]

And since no one posted this from the MP Grimlock discussion:

Do each Hasbro and TakaraTomy produce their own toys with different quality standards, or does one manage the production of all stock, and just forwards on the stock the other has ordered to their own design/deco specifications? If the latter, does TakaraTomy have higher production standards, or just better luck with their resulting product?

(I think they will be a bit defensive of that Q, and might not respond to it. If they don't I may resubmit the first part in the future, as the second part sounds like I'm insinuating something.)

[Autocon]

Universe Galvatron was reduced to a Deluxe size because it was decided that there shouldn't be 2 similar figures (dark military vehicles) closely released in the one size class, so why was Universe Powerglide done in white, despite Silverbolt also being released as a white plane at about the same time?

can also use the example of dropshot and 'insert other name here' of that tank mould perhaps?

also if theyve changed slag to snarl, what do we call snarl then?

[Gutsman Heavy]

also if theyve changed slag to snarl, what do we call snarl then?

non-existent?

[griffin]

Okay, these will be the questions I'll be submitting for November, this friday. I haven't asked for updates on store exclusives, because we only just had an update, and probably only need it every 2 months. It will help free up question slots every two months though.

If anyone has any suggestions or complaints about the following, please let me know before Friday.

1 - The Transformers Advent Calendar has been seen in Coles and Kmart already, are there any other officially licensed TF Christmas merchandise items for Australia this year?
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2 - Takara have released Transformers Model kits in the past, is there any interest for Hasbro to do something similar? Or maybe even a kit of parts from an actual Transformers toy to 'build-it-yourself' type of concept, for a select character toy, allowing for custom detailing and painting, or just the self satisfaction of building your own Transformers toy?
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3 - Can we see the old 80s toy commercials released somehow, either as a future DVD bonus feature or on the Hasbro Transformers website?
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4 - Can Hasbro look at doing a Roleplay toy resembling the Beast Wars Rhinox chaingun, which could be similar to the Nerf Vulcan dart Gun?
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5 - Do each Hasbro and TakaraTomy produce their own toys, or does one manage the production of all stock, and just forwards on the stock the other has ordered to their own design/deco specifications?
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6 - Hasbro US were kind enough to detail the design process (from concept to finished product) of Transformers toys at BotCon 2007. Is it possible to get some details and photos of the actual production procedure in the factories to see just how these amazingly complex toys are actually produced, constructed, painted and packaged?
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7 - Hasbro US announced in one of their US Q&As that they would be releasing another Masterpiece figure late next year, is it the new MP Grimlock, or is it too early to reveal yet?
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8 - Will Hasbro be releasing Disney Crossover Transformers, or is the 'Mickey' toy revealed by TakaraTomy a one-off figure that will not likely be released by Hasbro?
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9 - Is the 'Crossover' concept something Hasbro would like to expand further, into other franchises in the future?
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10 - Have any of the recent factory closures in China been ones that produce Transformers, and if so, has it affected any upcoming releases?
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11 - Are records (production or accounting) kept of exactly how many units of each toy is produced, including limited edition store exclusives?
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12 - Colour mismatching, like on Universe Sunstreaker and Animated Bumblebee - was this an unexpected occurance from the factory campared to the prototype, an economic decision (limited by number of paint apps allowed), or just unavoidable due to paint and plastic colours currently available. And would this explain why the 25th Anniversary Optimus is a pinky red instead of its original deep red?
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13 - Mr Toys Toyworld (a franchise of 20-odd Toyworlds in SE QLD) stocked about 200 Alternator Rodimus Toys last year. Since Hasbro have minimum order quantities, was the quantity of these so small because it was leftover stock at the factory's warehouse that Hasbro wanted to clear (Toyworld gets a lot of clearance items)? And since the precedent has now officially been set, can we now do this (with Toyworld's help as our agent) for various other figures not being released here, because we actually secured almost half of those 200 figures for fellow collectors (at little to no mark-up), and should be able to easily move that total figure in the local collector market if necessary.
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14 - A comic book website last week with writer Shane McCarthy confirmed the upcoming 'Autobot Drift' toy. Will this be in the 25th line, and when is it likely to be released?
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15 - Does Hasbro US or Hasbro AUS administrate the Australian section of the Hasbro Transformers website, and will it be updated soon, as it has been neglected for over a year now? And is it possible to get Hasbro US to disable the auto-redirect on their website, which prevents collectors from accessing the most of the main site (it registers your location as being non-US and auto-directs you to the applicable country page). I know that Hasbro US may not want to confuse the foreign markets (kids & parents) with product that may not be available there, but the outdated sections like ours is promoting unavailable product anyway.
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16 - Why is Robot Heroes 'Hardshell' not called 'Decepticon Bombshell', or Universe 'Tankor' not called 'Decepticon Octane'? Is there some sort of Trademark issue, or a problem with the use of certain actual words (like the Dinobot 'Slag' being called 'Snarl'), because fans would rather see the prefex 'Autobot' or 'Decepticon' to the name, than see a new name for a toy that is clearly a homage to an existing toy/character.
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17 - If Slag toys (Triceratops) are now being called Snarl, what would a Snarl homage toy (Stegasaurus) likely to be called, if we ever get one?
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18 - Universe Galvatron was reduced to a Deluxe size because it was decided that there shouldn't be 2 similar figures (dark military vehicles) closely released in the one size class, so why was Universe Powerglide done in white, despite Silverbolt also being released as a white plane at about the same time?
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19 - Around the time of Beast Wars (1997-2001), prices went up because the exchange rate dropped to US50c, but then stayed the same as the exchange rate went up to US98c. With the recent drop in the exchange rate back to below US60c, are we likely to see another increase in prices here soon?
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20 - Is there any interest by Hasbro AUS or Australian toy companies in general, to have a convention or promotional event to market the toy products to the consumer, similar to how the annual Toyfair markets the toy products to the retailers? Or would this have to be instigated by an independant party or business?

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And the questions I couldn't fit in this month, or don't need to ask yet.
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Were the Movie 'Preview' (Protoform Optimus and Starscream) concept figures last April considered a success or failure to Hasbro in terms of sales and retailer interest?
(this question is to find out if there is a chance for more protoform or preview toys next year, without actually asking them, because they won't tell us - but it can wait until next month)
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What are Hasbro's thoughts on the Fans-Project City Commander (Classics Ultra Magnus Trailer/exosuit), and would Hasbro ever consider doing something like that in the future?
(couldn't fit this one in this month, so will submit it next month)
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Which fan-sites are involved in the Hasbro TFs Q&A program, including non-US sites.
(also couldn't fit this one in this month, but it is low priority, as all participating sites are probably now known)
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Would it be possible, if Hasbro does open an online store, to work closer with the current TFCC and allow some of their exclusives? That is, if an Australian based TFCC is not formed.
(Will ask this again when Hasbro AUS decides to open an online store)
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For the Transformers Universe 25th Anniversary line, are there plans to feature any of the G1 gimmicks (Pretender Shells, Headmaster, Powermaster, Micromaster bases), or will there be further Targetmasters like Cyclonus or cassettes like Hound/Ravage? Fans really appreciate the homage to classic G1 toys.
How many more BW characters will be introduced in the universe line?
(some of this has already been vaguely answered, but will ask again later)
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Will there be any more anniversary beastwars toys comming out?
(probably not now that the 25th line is being done, but will ask in a future submission)
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Gijoe crossovers?
(this has been answered as 'not in 2009', so will ask again later)
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Any idea if TakaraTomy are planning to have the Alternity series be a long term series like Binaltech, and if they do, would Hasbro look at the viability of releasing them as well, after the Movie next year?
(this has been answered as 'not in 2009', so will ask it in a later Q&A submission)
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And the SWs faqs eventually, to get our own official answers.
http://www.mousedroid.com/hasbro/faq.html
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(I think that within a few months, we will be struggling to submit 20 questions each month, so it shouldn't take long to clear out all those extra questions - and I'm gonna have to do up an archive of all Q&As to keep track of what has been asked, and what should be asked and hasn't)

[i_amtrunks]

Looks good Griffin, but if Hasbro AU raise prices in the not too distant future, I'll be blaming you for putting the idea in their head with #19!

Also love that we technically ask multiple smaller questions in the one larger question!

[dirge]

1 - The Transformers Advent Calendar has been seen in Coles and Kmart already, are there any other officially licensed TF Christmas merchandise items for Australia this year?

Oh I so want to go all PC and ask you to include Hannukah in this question

[MV75]

And ask if there is a Jihad version with a tiny bomb for each day for the extremists that believe in a little physical suffering for a period will bring eternal happiness.

Of course, the bombs will have to adhere to child safety laws, so they can only singe the eyebrows, and be 1 meter long so that they can't be swallowed by infants.

[Oilspill]

One to add to the list of questions for later:

Does Hasbro have plans to re-release all of the 1984 characters in the Classics/Universe range? There's a lot of potential Legends class figures, plus some fan favourites like Jazz, Ratchet and Wheeljack and Soundwave and his cassettes (excluding Ravage).

[Golden Phoenix]

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19 - Around the time of Beast Wars (1997-2001), prices went up because the exchange rate dropped to US50c, but then stayed the same as the exchange rate went up to US98c. With the recent drop in the exchange rate back to below US60c, are we likely to see another increase in prices here soon?

SSHHHH!! You'll give them ideas