Welcome Mr. Roberto Orci, you may ask him questions

Well, it's no secret that I thought the first movie's Transformer designs were pretty aweful. I honestly wouldn't have known who most of the characters were had the names not been said. So, I have a few questions about the topic of designs (like there haven't been enough and maybe that should send off a signal that something isn't as good as it could be if you get so many questions about it...)

So, if you can sway me or maybe explain why things ended up the way they did, maybe you'll be able to make other people who don't like your choices a little more understanding to your decisions.

1.) At what point did the designs become so "scrap" like that characters don't really resemble their namesakes or even traditional designs? Were these fairly close to the original concept artworks or did you choose these designs from multiple different designs?

2.) Did you choose the designs based on trying to be "different" than what was already out there or were there some external influences that made the designs somewhat out of the creator's control (like Hasbro saying they had to look that way to not interfere with a line currently out at stores)?

3.) Personally, I think something like a more advanced version of the "Classics" line or the alternators line would have worked very well, any comments on why you felt the designs you went with work better than more traditional designs?

4.) Is there any reason for the fragile appearance?

5.) Are the Transformers redesigned somewhat for the second movie (more traditional) or did you just use the CGI models from the last film for pre-existing characters?

And I know some of it may sound kind of whiney, but I think the designs could have been so much better. Small things like changing the heads to look like the original characters or adding more "solid" pieces that are clearly visible in robot mode to just flat out using traditional paint schemes and colors could make a HUGE difference. I know quite a few people that LOVED the movie when it was in theatres, but then when they tried to rewatch it on DVD, ended up telling me that they wished the robots looked better and not so fragile.

Mr Orci:

Q: It was rumored that a group of F22s in the first movie were attacking Megatron in the final battle between Prime. One of the jets might have been considered as Starscream being up to his treatchurous ways like in the animated series. (not that this may be completely true) Will he still be loyal to Megatron in the sequel?

Q: Since Arcee is going to be in the movie, a friend of mine and I guessed that Bumblebee was going to have the relationship of 'boy friend and girlfriend' in the second movie. Is this true or just a rumor?

Q: It was shown that Megatron's body was dumped into a labyrinth in the final scenes of the end of the movie, where he'd never be found again. In the second one, he's going to make a return from the dead. I take it that this part will be an important roll of bringing the decepticon leader back in the second movie?

Q: Will Frenzy be making a return in the sequel (after nearly deing a first time and then dieing in the second fight)?

Q: Optimus mentions in the last movie that Megatron was his 'brother'. Was this just a simple quote or does it really mean anything?

Q: In the Transformers video game I noticed some add ons in the clips. I take it that the video game couldn't be completely copy the movie or it was just going to be different with the same basic story?

Any chance we'll get to see anything even remotely resembling the "Ark" or even a reference to it at all? Also, what about Telatraan-1? I know you prolly can't answer a whole lot, but it's worth a shot.

hello bob

will we see a character from revenge watching one of the old g1 cartoon?

in tf1,is there a you reason you have create MISSION CITY?why not only use LOS ANGELES name in the film?

I can answer that in one fell swoop (Think it was in a DVD commentary). The moviemakers wanted designs that emphasised an alien nature. Using designs closer to G1 doesn't exactly scream "We're from another planet"

Yeah, I'd still rather here Orci's view on this b/c to choose such controversial designs, I think there has to be more to it. The protoforms were alien, so when copying human cars, why would they still be so alien looking? They accomplished the alien look by showing protoforms.

Hey Bob, I know it's a little early but do you and Alex plan on doing commentary for Revenge of the Fallen when it hits DVD/Blu-Ray?

That would actually be very interesting. In Bay's commentary on the first film, he rarely talked about what was actually happening on screen at the time, and instead basically just recapped everything we'd ever heard him say in interviews leading up to the film. It'd be great to hear the minds behind the story give deeper insight as it plays out on screen.

that is a yes

If there's a third movie is there a way to bring the Dinobots into it, even if they lose thier Dino modes in the first few minutes of seeing them? You know like if they arrived back in the Dino era and been in hiding all this time. Also if Scorponok, Barricade, and Starscream return will you explain where they've been, or will we have to rely on the comics for that, and any chance they'll be in new modes to keep their survival a secret?