AUS Toyfair 2010 - Transformers stuff.

[griffin]

Three words - no new stuff.
Well, unlike the last two years, we didn't have anything at the AUS Toyfair (like figures, cardboard mockups or prototypes) that people viewing the US Toyfair reports haven't already seen.

It kinda defeated the purpose of giving us permission to take photos (which was only possible thanks to the Hasbro AUS people questioning Hasbro US's no-photo policy, despite endorsing full media coverage of their own US Toyfair). But a huge thanks to the Hasbro AUS people for once again putting up with me harassing them for info, taking photos, and playing with the toys that they did have on display.

The main Transformers Display:


My full report and all the photos can be found here.

And for more details on this year's product line-up, check out the US Toyfair wrap-up here.

Mid year should see a big change in packaging styles for TFs and SW.
Animated - no more new figures to be released here. No Arcee or Ratchet either.
Human Alliance - still aKmart exclusive here, and they are still committed to the line. But - only releasing 3 mid year and 3 at the end of the year, probably to make them look like a range/variety of figures, instead of one at a time.
Recon Ravage (the mailaway one) will be released here at TRU next month.
MP Grimlock will also be a TRU exclusive here.
TF2 Robot Replicas definitly not being released here.
80% increase in sales for TFs during 2009 ($40mil), compared to 2008($17mil).

As usual, our TFs display is much smaller than the US one, but still saw the following:

TF2 (red ROTF packaging) - until mid year.
Nothing on display that hasn't been released, or should be (Bludgeon and Ironhide).

Transformers (yellow packaging) - starts mid year with 'Hunt for Decepticons' promo.
The 'Hunt for Decepticons' promo will be open to AUS collectors - with info and codes packed in with the yellow packed figures only.

Legends - Ravage, Fireblast Optimus, Cyberfire Bumblebee, Rampage
Scouts - Hubcap, Brimstone, Crankstart, Backfire.
Deluxe - Sea Attack Ravage, Jetblade, Ironhide, Battleblade Bumblebee.
Voyager - Night Ops Ratchet, Seaspray, Payload.
Leader - Optimus, Starscream.
Battle Ops Bumblebee. (should be released Sept)

Transformers (red packaging) - starts mid year without HfD promo.
- Activators
Optimus, Bumblebee, Megatron.

- Power Bots
Stealth Bumblebee, Optimus.

Transformers Generations - starts mid year (all Deluxe).
War for Cybertron Optimus
War for Cybertron Bumblebee
Drift
Thrust

Transformers Powercore Combiners - starts mid-year.
- 2-packs
Huffer w/ Caliburst
Searchlight w/ Backwind
Smolder w/ Chopster

- 5-packs
Bombshock with Combaticons
Skyburst with Aerialbots

Marvel Transformers (still pushing it to retailers)
Captain America, Hulk, Wolverine (black), Spiderman (car), Human Torch, Spiderman (dark motorcycle).

Star Wars Transformers - new packaging starts mid year, to match new SWs packaging.
Nothing unreleased shown.

Speed Stars (new name for RPMs, and being used by both TFs and SW)
-Stealth Force (no robot mode - flip open battle mode)
'basic' - Bumblebee, Hound, Soundwave, Sideswipe. (manual conversion both ways)
'deluxe' - Megatron, (unknown Autobot). (larger, auto conversion to battle mode)
'big' - Optimus (even larger, electronic lights and phrases, with auto conversion both ways) RRP AU$50

- Lights & Sounds (non-convertable electronic vehicles - to be for NZ only)
Optimus, Bumblebee.

- Battlechargers
Optimus, Megatron, Stealth Bumblebee.

- Minivehicles (to become Action Fleet)
About 20 individual figures from single and double packs.
Bumblebee Battle Track Set.