Even if Hasbro doesn't care/won't do anything about 3rd party stuff - I'd LOVE to hear some of their comments/reactions to all of the great stuff out there that they're not making.
It doesn't surprise me that add-on kits and new designs inspired by TFs (Warbot, Insecticons) are OK to be shown. It does surprise me that they got away with the MP coneheads. As an almost direct copy of the MP seeker design, I thought they were pushing their luck showing those off.
I'd gladly see iGear burn to the ground for their Faith Leaders and the seeker releases. They're knock offs, but funnily enough my issue is more that not enough people accept that and keep them as "3rd party companies" in their minds. I've always seen FP as the head honcho the best of the best with the best intentions. I see iGear as trying to make a quick buck off of someone else's work, entirely so. I'm sure that with other companies doing Devastator and Magnus armour kits, Hasbro will never have to do that themselves. Why bother making certain toys that only the collectors really want when another company will do it for you?
Wasn't one of the Hasbro Big-Wigs once photographed with a FP City Commander on his desk? I really don't think they're that bothered whilst the 3rd Parties are targeting only what Hasbro believes is a tiny share of their market. If we were to suddenly see thousands of iGear Sunstorms on the shelves in TRU, then I think they'll take an interest. A couple of thousand units for the collectors market? Chicken feed. Not worth the cost or bother about.
The dealer table across the way from the botcon souvenir purchasing area had bootleg KO's of G1 toys. I found that appalling. I couldn't believe it. I can understand maybe 3rd party, you just let be, but straight up KO's were all over the place. That was interesting. Saw some of the CHMS stuff right out in the open.
Are dealers at BotCon restricted at all in what they're allowed to bring/sell? Or is it just a case of paying for the table and then it's a free-for-all?
To maybe clear up something. Yes Hasbro doesn't make more money directly when something like an add on kit increases the demand for something like the Generation G2 Prime. The toys were made months in advance and sold to retailers who turn around and sell the products to kids and folks like us. But if Transformers products go flying off the shelves then retailers are happy and when a retailer is happy with a product they want more of it. The more the demand goes up the more things Hasbro can try because they know the retailers will take the new products. Now if a 3rd party could just come up with something to clear all those Skullgrin toys off the shelves.
