Theory about Botcon Mold Selection

[jaydisc]

So, after seeing the preview pics of Kup and Scourge and realizing both molds are quite familiar, I started to think....

Firstly, I get the impression from many peoples' posts (not from just here) that it is assumed that FunPub can choose virtually any mold in Hasbro's legal arsenal, with the exception of molds co-owned by other entities (Paramount Pictures). I've heard it mentioned (although not from an authoritive source) that they also don't have access to molds currently on shelves. From a completely subjective perspective, I can't believe FunPub would have such vast choices and still chose the mold for Kup that they did. So, here's what I think....

Hasbro supplies FunPub with a list of available molds (source: Pete @ Botcon). This list IS NOT LARGE (my theory). I'm guessing 20-40 molds. I'm also going so far as to suspect that these molds have no dust on them, either because they were just recently used or are expected to be used soon.

Basis:

2009 Boxset (Wings of Honor)
Kup - recently used for Movie repaint Crankcase
Scourge - recently used for Universe repaint Ratbat

2008 Boxset (Shattered Glass)
Optimus Prime - relatively recent Classics mold
Grimlock - relatively recent Classics mold
Jazz - recently used for Movie repaint Jolt
Goldbug - recently used for Movie repaint Breakaway
Starscream - recently used for Universe repaint Dirge

2008 Extras
Ricochet - recently used for Movie repaint Jolt
Rodimus - relatively recent Classics mold
Sideswipe
Blurr
Megatron

2007 Boxset (Games of Deception)
Thundercracker, Dirge, Thrust, Bugbite and Dreadwind - relatively recent Classics molds

2007 Extras
Mirage - relatively recent Classics mold
Weirdwolf - relatively recent Cybertron mold
Alpha Trion - relatively recent Cybertron mold AND recently used for Universe Vector Prime
Huffer - relatively recent Cybertron mold AND recently used for Movie Armorhide
Springer - relatively recent Cybertron mold AND recently used for Universe Roadbuster

I'm not familiar with previous years.

So, the only three that don't perfectly fit in with my theory are 2008 Sideswipe, Blurr & Megatron. Perhaps all that means is that we can expect to see Hasbro use these as the basis of repaints soon?

[Paulbot]

The Botcon toys have always repaints of fairly recent toys right back to Nightracer.

It is interesting where a toy like CYB DEF Hot Shot was used for a Botcon toy and then rereleased as a Universe toy. This shows that a Botcon repaint isn't the end of the line graveyard for particular toys.

There's a couple of cases where the toy was a few years old, like 2005 Deathsaurus using the RID Galvatron toy, and the 2008 Megatron example. But I don't think though it follows that Hasbro plans to re-release as it seems to me that there are more toys that haven't been rereleased since Botcon than toys that have been.

I think there was a rumoured chance that the Animated toys could be used as (it's rumoured) the factories aren't producing Animated toys anymore as they are producing the Movie toys now. That would open up the opportunity for them to be used, but maybe in 2010?

It should be noted that traditionally the toys (or most of them) had been from the series on shelves the year before. This year and last year's sets are a bit of a departure.

Botcon 2007 - Classic toys
Botcon 2006 - Cybertron toys
Botcon 2005 - Energon toys
OTFCC 2004 - Armada toys
OTFCC 2003 - RID toys
Botcon 2002 - Beast Machines toys
Botcon 2001 - Beast Wars toys

[kup]

Recent molds are not always used. 2006 Waspinator was Machine Wars.

However I do agree that despite whatever age molds they use, Hasbro for whatever reason probably offers a limited amount of molds which can be used for the Botcon toys for a given year. What irks me a bit is that for some reason at least as far as this set is concerned, it seems that the theme was thought up and developed without taking into account if the available molds were suitable to represent the characters they wanted to portray.

Assuming that the circumstances and processes allow this, I would have waited to see what molds will be available as exclusives before I commit to a given theme. That way I won't have to force characters into a molds that don't suit them such as this Kup and Scourge toys. However its also possible that the people behind the set simply planned it this way and the result was purely their creative choice even if its unappealing to me.

Kup is the more problematic one since he is supposed to be representing a 'young' Kup, yet he has a very earthly vehicle mode. It wouldn't be too bad if he was some sort of sci-fi type car even if not a pick up truck but that wasn't what was done.

[Sky Shadow]

Recent molds are not always used. 2006 Waspinator was Machine Wars.

Yes, originally, but that mould had also been reused a lot, most 'recently' (at the time) in use for Robot Masters Wing Stun. (And likewise, Jay - Armada Blurr had been reused more recently for Cybertron, while Sideswipe's mould had been taken out for a walk for the aborted Universe Drench. So I think the dustless mould theory is a very good one.)

In relation to this thread, the other 'rule' Botcon has is that they will not use a mould for Botcon that has been used at a previous Botcon.

(Sounds a bit like Fight Club.)

[griffin]

There are so many TFs toys out there, it would be pretty poor form if they were stuck with reusing a mould. Unless they could do some remoulding (something they showed was now possible, with Thrust) and make a new, better character from it.

It's bad enough when they offer multilple redecos of the one mould at the one Con - which they wouldn't need to do if they cut back on the massive amount of toys they feel they 'must release' because it works for GIJoe cons.

But I think the only time they have 'reused' a mould, is BW Scorponok. The JP BotCon had it in 98, and the US BotCon used it in 99. Different countries, but still 'official' BotCon toys.

[Firecracker]

Well now there's an Energon Mold in the mix... How does that fit in? I don't think that Starscream mold has been used at all since it's Energon Energon Power Energon Link whatever repaint.

[Golden Phoenix]

Well now there's an Energon Mold in the mix... How does that fit in? I don't think that Starscream mold has been used at all since it's Energon Energon Power Energon Link whatever repaint.

It could be because they are using it twice. They used the BW Buzzclaw mould in 05 for Buzzclaw/Dirge, and the Energon Divebomb mould for Laserbeak and Buzzsaw in 06

[Deonasis]

Yes it does feel like the theme has been chosen (and maybe even the characters to some extent) before they are given mould choices by Hasbro. I don't mind using obscure characters (Skyquake Leozack) for the sets but on what shelf would I sit a young Kup? None. No theme is nessecary, just make a story or battle containing these obscure characters that can sit within Classics say. People would love to see these characters fleshed out a bit more in the comic.

I believe Hasbro is tells FP that their exclusives cannot simply sit within an current/existing line (e.g. Classics) for fear of FP messing with one of their lines or TF universe. So FP have to make up their own theme/crap so the figures don't mess Hasbro's "real" tf universe. Even though the chances of Hasbro making say, more breastforce figures is close to nil.

When FP are allowed to use the TF:A moulds, a line that will be finished, they better at least be able to work out how to turn Rachet into Ironhide.

[kup]

They may officially say that its not but much of these two toys appear to be heavily influenced by Animated including 'warped' G1 tributes (such as a young kup just like young prime) but still obvious G1 referenced characters and very bright cartoony colors. The Elite Guard theme also gives that away.

It's possible that they planned this set to be in the Animated universe but late in the game Hasbro may have denied them that and FP was forced to shoe horn them into a 'forced' G1 continuity.

[Deonasis]

They may officially say that its not but much of these two toys appear to be heavily influenced by Animated including 'warped' G1 tributes (such as a young kup just like young prime) but still obvious G1 referenced characters and very bright cartoony colors. The Elite Guard theme also gives that away.

It's possible that they planned this set to be in the Animated universe but late in the game Hasbro may have denied them that and FP was forced to shoe horn them into a 'forced' G1 continuity.

Yes, the set does feel shoe horned and ends up sitting between two tf universes, animated and classiverse.

Maybe this was FP's intention from the start but it would be great to get the full (creative and forced) process for the sets from the initial idea to fax registration from FP.