Transformers line is officially called 'Autobot Alliance'

[griffin]

The new mid-year 2010 assortments have been Generations, PowerCore Combiners, Yellow packed toys that have the 'Hunt for the Decepticons' promo until January, and Red packed gimmick lines (like Activators).

Until now, the toys that aren't part of Generations or PCCs, were just known as 'Transformers', and often referred to as HFTD by fans. But since that is just the name of the promo that ends in 6 months, it seems that the toyline actually does have a name, according to Hasbro.

It was even mentioned in the Exclusives update we got from Hasbro Australia a couple weeks ago, but I just thought it was just an error.

Now looking at the Product display at BotCon, all of the toys not part of Generations and PCCs were listed as 'Transformers Autobot Alliance'. Even most of the store exclusives, including non-movie themed ones.

So from now on, I'll be referring to the yellow packed figures, activators, Powerbots and probably anything else not in the Generations/PCC lines, as 'Transformers Autobot Alliance', Autobot Alliance, or TFAA.

It's just more convenient referring to them, and Hasbro should have had it on the packaging already. It's just confusing to customers and retailers having one Transformers subline, just called 'Transformers' with no other wording/sub-title.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Wait -does this mean we effectively have CHUG-AA?

[griffin]

Since I was only educated to the CHUG acronym yesterday... for those who don't yet know, CHUG is what some fans are calling the moulds used in Classics, Henkei, Universe, Generations. It's all been considered the one line under different names, and makes it easier to refer to redecos of toys in that 4-series era.

[Jaisun]

Thanks for the info =o)

It isn't unlike hasbro to be confusing though. For example, when I first started collecting about 4-5 years ago, the deluxe Prowl figure I purchased was labelled "Transformers Universe", but is part of the "Robots In Disguise" series =oP. It does kinda break up my lists and displays though, because I thought HftD/AA was an off-shoot of RotF (hence all the redecos), but if they are seperate, then I have some reorganising to do. Even with the whole CHUG thing, many are Movie line redecos or even new molds of movie characters (Leader Starscream), so it makes it more confusing, rawr...

[tinyJazz]

oh no, CHUGWAY You all remember Chugway right? I wonder if this means something.

Anyway, I agree with you griffin, they should have had this "Autobot Alliance" on the packaging already.

Also, isn't that a little unfair for the Decepticons? :/ Being part of a line called "Autobot Alliance"? No wonder they're so violent and full of civil unrest, they're being oppressed!

[GoktimusPrime]

so... Autobot Alliance is a movie subline then I take it.

It isn't unlike hasbro to be confusing though.

Cos have two different Transformer lines called "Classic" and two different Transformer lines called "Universe" totally isn't confusing! </sarcasm> Don't even start me on character names...

[Jaisun]

Cos have two different Transformer lines called "Classic" and two different Transformer lines called "Universe" totally isn't confusing! </sarcasm> Don't even start me on character names...

Indeed... I think it all comes down to this: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/To_sell_toys. If nameless, package-less, series-less toys sold, they would do it. But our need for such things requires them to accommodate in some degree so they have our interest. I would assume that continuity, simplicity and sense would rarely enter their plans unless it would lead to increased sales. And to go off-topic for a moment, can someone please tell me the html code for hyper-linking a single word with an embedded url? If thats doesn't make sense, look at tinyJazz's post, where he has the url embedded in 'right'. I tried googling it, but I had no luck because I don't know what the command is called. Any help appreciated, thanks =o)

[kurdt_the_goat]

Just highlight the word in the editor, then press the insert link button on the toolbar. That'll wrap the URL tags [bracketted bits] around the word.

[GoktimusPrime]

You can also use:
<url=http://www.transformers.com/>Click here</url> <---but replace the <> with [] and it will look like this:

Click here

Indeed... I think it all comes down to this: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/To_sell_toys. If nameless, package-less, series-less toys sold, they would do it. But our need for such things requires them to accommodate in some degree so they have our interest. I would assume that continuity, simplicity and sense would rarely enter their plans unless it would lead to increased sales.

Transformers lore exists fundamentally as a marketing gimmick to sell these toys - so making basic attempt to maintain the continuity helps. The entire reason why these toys have names, personas and have stories is all to sell the toys. Keeping fans happy (even kids - we cared about TF lore when we were kids, it's logical to assume that kids today (who are _real_ fans) would care too)

[blackoptimus]

The new mid-year 2010 assortments have been Generations, PowerCore Combiners, Yellow packed toys that have the 'Hunt for the Decepticons' promo until January, and Red packed gimmick lines (like Activators).

Until now, the toys that aren't part of Generations or PCCs, were just known as 'Transformers', and often referred to as HFTD by fans. But since that is just the name of the promo that ends in 6 months, it seems that the toyline actually does have a name, according to Hasbro.

It was even mentioned in the Exclusives update we got from Hasbro Australia a couple weeks ago, but I just thought it was just an error.

Now looking at the Product display at BotCon, all of the toys not part of Generations and PCCs were listed as 'Transformers Autobot Alliance'. Even most of the store exclusives, including non-movie themed ones.

So from now on, I'll be referring to the yellow packed figures, activators, Powerbots and probably anything else not in the Generations/PCC lines, as 'Transformers Autobot Alliance', Autobot Alliance, or TFAA.

It's just more convenient referring to them, and Hasbro should have had it on the packaging already. It's just confusing to customers and retailers having one Transformers subline, just called 'Transformers' with no other wording/sub-title.

Didn't Transformers movie 1 have there toys packed as just TF without a name?