Very true, but I think that was a decision by Dan and Forrest since Hasbro sent out the Sentinal Maximus figures to those owed it.
I never read that Hasbro said that. I know it was a substitute for the cancelled Transtech, but never heard it to have been considered a filler. If it was a filler, then them releasing the tv made no sense. I don't think there is always a main line. There might be different toy lines with different offerings, but if none of them are a focal point of Hasbro marketing, then none of them are all that "main." Even though it isn't out yet, I'd say the movie line is their primary focus, and thus that will be the main line until "Heroes" (God, I wish I knew what it's gonna really be called so I can stop using the frelling quotation marks).
RiD was an intentionally stopgap line, then the selection of toys was expanded (spychanger versions of main characters introduced, etc) IIRC. It started off as filler but proved to be very lucrative, so it was kept going.
To clarify everything: In 2000, it was decided to can Transtech partly due to the lack success of Beast Machines, and internal changes within Hasbro. Because they chose to scrap everything, Hasbro imported Car Robots to keep Transformers on the market and, in a sense, reintroduce vehicular Transformers (keep in mind that before Beast Machines, there hadn't been a mass retail vehicle Transformer since 1995). RID WAS the mainline, as Classics is now, but due to different market demands, Hasbro extended RID beyond what Takara had done (adding 11 extra releases, not counting exclusives) Armada is technically Transtech's replacement (it even salvaged the popular minicons from the line), and went on to massive success. Robots in Disguise, after the release of Armada, stayed around as an exclusive line (pre-Universe) to satisfy the newly revived retailer demand for Transformers To get to the core isse at hand, Classics is the mainline. BUT, it is only a 6 month mainline, and expecting Hasbro to put the same efforts into a 6 month line as an 18 month line is frankly idiotic
hasbro better continue classics after the lame movie toys or theres gonna be hell to pay *sharpens machete*
No, no, no. My wallet shall need YEARS to recover just from the Classics we're aware of. Three of each. One to cuddle, one to shower with, and one to keep sealed. WHAT?
Indeed. Most fans that have seen or bought Classics want there to be more. (I said most...I know not everyone wants that.) and the Transformer team wants to make more. That's 2 out of 3. If the Hasbro execs get onboard then we should get more, but in limited amounts. I'd say Alternator like numbers (maybe a few more since I doubt they cost as much to produce.) but not mainline like numbers. Hell we arn't geting Mainline like numbers now and it is the mainline.
I can't believe people are arguing about the semantics of calling Classics a main line or a filler line. Damn guys, seriously. Does it matter what you CALL it? No matter what, it's (for now) a small line with a short shelf life. What does it matter whether we, or Hasbro, or ANYBODY for that matter call it filler or main line? Do we really need to nitpick each other to death over a meaningless detail?
Seconded! Seriously, guys, if Megatron can get a supah mode repaint and name change to Galvatron every other line... why not a Bumblebee into Goldbug upgrade with the figure in a sparkle-like Gold plastic?
(And none to transform?) It's been like that for a while. One of the reasons I don't use it often. That'd be cool ... but Goldbug needs his blue helmet and gold mouthplate, so if it is based on classics' Bee, then it needs a remold. -airfox
And if we get Classics Bumblebee repainted into Goldbug, then we need Classics Kup repainted into Shitpiece!
