Nahhh...

 

Yeah, even the sort of awkward Titanium version of Scourge managed that reasonably well. It's not a hard design to work with, due to the shell-forming. I can understand why Hasbro wanted to try some other stuff, but it feels weird having an Earth and Space aesthetic split between Cyclonus and Scourge. I suppose Classics Galvatron incorporates both sides of that split within his alt-mode, but I tend to ignore that figure. Too puny.

You said it!

I understand what they're going for... but I'm not sure if that segmentation presents as much of a problem as that. Watching my nephews over the years, they have remarkably little difficulty in assimilating Transformers from several generations. After all, episodes from almost all the preceding series were available on the official Transformers website, and they watched them with no sense of hierarchy... they were as familiar with G1 Bumblebee as Bayformers BB, and Hotshot from Armada and Ironhide from Energon. They would often come over and look at my collection, and I'd be surprised at the figures from other lines that they would recognize.

So yeah... understanding that there's a division between the video games and the cartoon currently on TV, which have VASTLY different aesthetics, is really not all that confusing.

The success of the game kind of proves that they weren't taking a chance. WFC was a hit before Prime existed. Again, it's a Transformers game... kids and gamers didn't need much more of a push than that, really. Especially if the game delivers on the play side of things.

zmog

 

I think G1 Transformers is probably the most available property of the franchise, but also seemingly the least accessible to newer casual consumers.
I'm glad your nephew has been able to enjoy multiple series online without attachment for any particular aspect, or sense of division. You must have a nice G1 collection!
He's probably seen as ideal, but not typical, to the marketers at Hasbro  

Free episode streams, IDW reprints, and wiki pages continually expose G1 to the market, but its been a tough slog to get the younger crowd to feel any ownership over G1.

I'm sure we're all familiar with anti-Geewun sentiment. While proponents of it cite fanboy rabidness, and frivolous stupidity (in the G1 cartoon), it's clear these aren't exclusive to G1. RID is celebrated for its frivolous stupidity after all   .
Personally, I consider it an indication of a sentiment of divide. It probably isn't helped when older fans explain that it needs to be experienced in context, therefore making it seemingly even more exclusive.

Products like IDW comics and WFC soften that divide by being 'adaptive' G1. They lose some of their 'purity', but allow some kind of investment for the modern crowd. (Some kids like Drift!).
Arguing over which continuity WFC belongs to just polarises the intended market. Possibly excluding some that may identify with it.

I don't think there's much risk of people getting confused with aesthetic differences in each of the properties. It is obvious that it is a tool for Hasbro to invigorate the desire for the same old characters over-and-over. At the same time, it is apparent that they are meticulous in ensuring major characters are recognisable across differing properties.

I agree that WFC was a guaranteed success, I just think Hasbro is conservative enough to require that tether to current lines (even in development). If there are stronger connections in FOC, then they're just trying to capitalise on success and cross promote. Otherwise, I'd say that they're just after enough ambiguity to appeal to all bases (as shamanking282 mentioned).