I don't understand this post.

Hasbro Asia doesn't have anything to do with this. They're Hasbro's Asian distributor, not an actual company branch that controls, or as you imply, actually produces the products. That makes as much sense as Hasbro UK or Hasbro USA producing their own figures. (And as mentioned, Takara actually determines the factories when it comes to TFs) Also, you say you grew up where there were no "reveals" and future releases were kept secret, but you can't accept secrecy?

I also don't understand this post.

Why bother teasing this stuff now at SDCC, when there's clearly not enough ready judging by the number of placeholders, when Hascon is right around the corner? Especially since this would make one heck of a good first convention for them assuming most or everything shown will be at Hascon.

Also, people would be pissed if all we got at SDCC were silhouettes. "Why not just show the full figures?" People would say.

How about Hasbro just reveals stuff when they want, when it's ready, and we stop arbitrarily deciding when and where it should be "revealed?" Especially since it's not like it'll make it come out any faster.

 

@SPLIT LIP: as a gamer, that reveal/tease crap stopped being cute long ago. I actually hate E3, because I think having an absurdly expensive trade show for maybe five games I actually want is pathetic. Why is it the case with toys now?

 

Transformers have always been made in Asia, though.

And sometimes there were "reveals" in G1, although rare. I remember getting an '88 catalog insert and seeing half of the Pretenders in silhouette with "Coming Soon" written over top of them.

It's that way with toys because it went from being a million dollar business to being a billion dollar one, plus the boom of the internet and like four times the conventions gains a lot of interest, with fans always excited and wanting to know what's next.

 

I suppose that's a good reason...didn't physical toys hit a bit of a slump in the late 2000s and now they're hot again? I think a lot of that is to do with "virtual" toys like amiibo, Skylanders and the various imitators. And of course the TF movies helped boost the franchise's popularity.

 

Dude you got it all wrong. Hasbro is the big dog. Asia and UK are just their branches. And while Takara may be the originator, it was Hasbro who pitched the Transformers concept to Takara to recycle their Diaclone line. Hasbro put up the money. Hasbro doesnt own Takara but they pretty much dictate everything except the MP line which is all Takara designers. Most of the CHUG stuff is american designers. Takara just occasionally steps in and improves existing Hasbro figures such as a proper groove, blast off, nosecone, cartoon accurate ginrai, and godbomber add on armor. But my point is that since most of this is all Hasbro owned and they have always had the option to open up shop in America. But the profit margin made by using cheap labor is irresistible. And with that price comes the issue of dealing with other cultures with different motives and agendas. What can Hasbro really do about the leaks from across the Pacific? Absolutely nothing. They wanted to create factions so theyre gonna have to deal with the problems that come with them.

 

So does Barbie have other versions from later decades. I am not saying they wouldn't be a few bayformers repros/homages (like in Barbie case), I just don't think it will end up becoming an entire toyline like the G1 inspired generations.

 

I mean it is not like they don't know what the G2 symbol looked like, they used it on Menasor.   People expected G2 symbols on G2 boxsets

 

I think he's saying, in the case of Transformers, the molds and production was always overseas in Asia, as opposed to some of the bigger 80s Hasbro properties (GI Joe vehicles) that were made here. So it's not like they moved production of TFs overseas, they've been there since the beginning.

 

Well that last big leak came right out of the offices of Hasbro Asia, so there's definitely something they can do about that.

 

I guess people who work in such places like a toy factory mostly leak such things because they want to get some fame, some attention from other people on the net. Just google kotaku and leaker. They have an article about a guy who was a leaker and worked at toysrus who started to leak new games and footage of those just so he can get some fame on the internet.

 

We forget sometimes that the people working in those factories are sometimes fans just like us, too, and it's easy for a fan to get excited and want to share everything. Internet fame is also easy to become obsessed with, even if it's anonymous source fame.

 

Hasbro has been doing a GREAT job of putting out toys that we collectors enjoy. The Generations line of toys has been outstanding for years now, going back to Combiner Wars and earlier, and now with Titan Returns, Titan Masters, Power of the Primes, we collectors are being spoiled with some great product. My personal favorite among the new toys is Rodimus Prime. I'm really looking forward to getting a Rodimus that can accomplish the transformation without have to detach and re-attach the trailer.

 

Shit, if you want to know how much Hasbro factory workers value their corporate overlords, they STILL make lunchtime specials for shits and giggles and smuggle out test shots and production samples.

 

I disagree. What are they really gonna do ? Make a phone call? Send an envoy? Slap sanctions lol...

Hasbro Asia is pretty much its own entity. Thats why its called "Hasbro Asia" and not just Hasbro. They got the factories, the cheap labor, and the connections. Hasbro needs Hasbro Asia. I highly doubt there is anyone in a position of power at Hasbro Asia who is not Asian. They dont care about the US Hasbro agenda. They got their own.

 

Again, Takara contracts the factories, not Hasbro Asia.

Also, why do think it's called "Hasbro Asia"?
It's the Asia branch of Hasbro.
They may have some autonomy, but in the end, they answer to Hasbro HQ here in the US.

 

Yeah, if it escalates probably all of those things. But I imagine just firing the guy with the camera responsible over some serious breaching of NDAs would be the likely outcome.

The last name of the brand manager over there is "Rodriguez". Just because it's in Asia doesn't mean it's only run by Asians. That's not how the corporate world works anymore.

 

I clearly stated that Hasbro is probably pissed off, and the "maybe" is still a definite possibility it's not like they are showing the toys off and what I meant is someone in the Industry. Maybe someone was angry with one of the Hasbro teams that worked above them. And its not like we fucking know so you don't need to be nasty.

 

I dont think youre getting my point. Any accountability Hasbro USA tries to implement will be lost in translation and cultural differences. And then theres the conflicts in international law. Its probably more trouble than its worth to try hold someone in Asia accountable. The relationship between a parent company and its business ventures in foreign countries is pretty much a trust relationship. They can send american reps to conduct an investigation, but thats like me walking into your house and trying to investigate you....how well will that go lol? The best Hasbro USA can really do is hold a teleconference and try to explain their stance to avoid future leaks. Maybe the Asian corporate pannel will take it seriously. Maybe they'll all laugh as soon as the camera cuts off. At the end of the day, Hasbro USA has too much invested in Asia to just make demands over a conference call or threaten to cut ties. Its gonna take a lot of discussion s and negotiations to make Asian business executives respect American corporate ideals. Very lame ideals at that, lol.

 

I didnt know that. But what I do know is that "Mr. Rodriguez" is a long way from home. Sure he can go on a Trump frenzy and start firing people. But at the end of the day Mr. Rodriguez has to answer to Asian investors who are a lot higher in the food chain than himself. Hasbro just didnt buy a plot of land in vietnam or china and open up shop. They made a partnership with rich investors who are pretty much the board of directors for their Asia branch. For all we know, the leaks might have come from one of these guys, or one of their family members. Thats where things could get really sensitive. I think there will always be Transformers leaks and they will always come from Asia. Hell, even Botcon leaks came out of Asia. You cant control what happens on the other side of the world from a desk in Rhode Island.