Botcon 2012 : The Nail in the Coffin to the Classics / G1 Collector (And Bay Movies)

General Magnus · 04-29-2012, 01:40 PM

Over alarmist thread is over alarmist.

3.8TransAM · 04-29-2012, 01:45 PM

Damn, BotCon isn't even over yet and SDCC is still some time away.

Do we have to listen to this garbage again?

Ash from Carolina · 04-29-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roufuss

And also because Hasbro wants *NEW* fans with these video game figures. These FOC figures are designed to get the video game fans, over which a million bought the first game, to become Transformers fans and start buying the merchandise.

Those video game fans don't give a crap about Classics or G1, they want figures based on the game they just played; every successful video game line has figures for it, generally from NECA. The difference is Hasbro is in a position to make the figures themselves and this time, they are doing it. Hasbro is treating FOC the same way they treat a movie or television show, rather than the lackluster treatment it got before.

There was no push for the figures for the first game because no one knew how it would do. Now that it's a big success, Hasbro is going to turn video game fans into Transformers fans who, in the future, will then buy Classics and whatever else they put out.

Also, FOC toys get free advertising on video game websites. Classics figures do not.

But if every video game player who enjoys the game becomes a Transformers fan, it means a healthier brand and the opportunity for more Classics figures, as Hasbro tries to then get them hooked on the brand as a whole.

It's really is not a bad plan to open a demographic they haven't tapped that hard yet.

Young kids are going to play with Transformers because playing with toys is kind of what kids do. The collectors are going to buy figures because they remind the collector of their childhood. But then you have that big middle ground where someone feels too old to play with toys but they don't have that solid connection to a series like G1.

The video game character figure market must be pretty good or else companies wouldn't invest in things like a Moral Kombat figure line when there hasn't been a Mortal Kombat movie or TV series in a very long time. Or better yet Halo which only has the games and a DVD of animated shorts.

The Transformers game figures just seem like an all around win for Hasbro at this point. The previous figures showed there was a market for them. Kids are likely to buy because it's fun toys, some collectors are going to buy because we think they are cool, and Hasbro gets to expand the brand to people who want figures of the video game characters. Doesn't seem like any good reason for Hasbro not to take advantage of all that.

brr-icy · 04-29-2012, 02:14 PM

probably cancelled the designer panel after all the bitching about the first editions, people are their own worst enemies

Roufuss · 04-29-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ash from Carolina

The video game character figure market must be pretty good or else companies wouldn't invest in things like a Moral Kombat figure line when there hasn't been a Mortal Kombat movie or TV series in a very long time. Or better yet Halo which only has the games and a DVD of animated shorts.

It seems every big name retail game release gets its own figure line. Gears of War, Halo, God of War, Assassins Creed, Final Fantasy, Crysis, Red Faction, the list just goes on and on.

Its definitely a smart idea for Hasbro to tap into that, and, unlike NECA and some other companies, Hasbro isn't relegated to just TRU and comic / game shops; they can put their product in Wal-Mart and Target, two places most video game figures don't show up in. Then you factor in free advertising on gaming sites, you factor in the fact they'll throw advertisements in the manual, they are sure to make a lot of these gamers fans of the figures.

Most people who aren't into Transformers just think of them as giant G1 bricks still, so pretty much any modern figure they are going to find amazing. Wouldn't be surprised if Grimlock was a first wave Voyager and they are holding him back to show at SDCC to really get hype going to a non-Transformers crowd.

Anguirus · 04-29-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteMocha

Boy, if I had a new Classics-based subline for every time someone proclaimed Classics "dead".....

Oh, wait. I do.

Read between the lines, Generations is taking off in a big way. Stores want to stock Generations. They didn't reset the packaging and just FORGET to name the line "Fall of Cybertron."

IDW figures = G1 figures. They also talked about using the "spare" heads of existing molds.

The only real disappointment was that Aaron Archer apparently thinks a G1-style Arcee would dilute brand recognition of the Prime one. It's a little infuriating that she's off the table and Springer's on, especially since you can just look at the Arcee Hall of Fame display and see how bad she's been shafted.

Roufuss · 04-29-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anguirus

The only real disappointment was that Aaron Archer apparently thinks a G1-style Arcee would dilute brand recognition of the Prime one. It's a little infuriating that she's off the table and Springer's on, especially since you can just look at the Arcee Hall of Fame display and see how bad she's been shafted.

Its infuriating how Hasbro treats all of the Season 3 characters, to be honest. While some of them came out good (Cyclonus and Scourge), fans are divided on others (Blurr), some of them are exclusives so it's out of some fans price range (Runamuck and Runabout) and then some of them are just plain awful (Galvatron.)

Then you've got guys who constantly get the shaft -- I don't think they will ever make a proper G1 Ultra Magnus whose not an Optimus repaint or a Springer who has both alt modes. Then there is just the straight up "G1 Arcee is off the table." Every time Hasbro makes Goldbug now, it's gold Bumblebee with a blue Bumblebee head.

Personally, I wasn't a fan of the Rodimus they did for Classics, and then MP Rodimus had his own QC errors. Season 3 guys just can't win.

I'm sure I'm missing one or two other good ones off the top of my head... then there is just the figures Hasbro will never in a million years do, like Computron or Abominus. Its always Season 1/2 combiners or nothing with them.

Mixmaster · 04-29-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPLIT LIP

Transformers fans jumping to conclusions?

I find that unlikely.

Transformers fans being sarcastic?

I find that unlikely... oh wait...

Anguirus · 04-29-2012, 02:59 PM

^ Well I like Blurr fine, Runamuck and Runabout are barely in Season 3 (though I like them), and Classics Rod is kind of lame. And then the critical piece of Season 3 dropped into place...Kup! So I'm fairly happy. There are certainly equivalent or worse "holes" in other "seasons."

Arcee not having a toy is just a gaping hole in G1 though.

Autovolt 127 · 04-29-2012, 04:06 PM

When I herd IDW I hope it's meaning we're getting IDW Rodimus.

04-29-2012, 02:14 PM	#34
brr-icy G1 Collector Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 11,649 Location: ontario, canada Collection Count: 1000+ News Credits: 6	probably cancelled the designer panel after all the bitching about the first editions, people are their own worst enemies Feedback: TFW2005/Cybertron.ca My Collection G1 Want List Commissions

04-29-2012, 02:59 PM	#39
Anguirus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,294 Collection Count: Pleading the fifth. News Credits: 5	^ Well I like Blurr fine, Runamuck and Runabout are barely in Season 3 (though I like them), and Classics Rod is kind of lame. And then the critical piece of Season 3 dropped into place...Kup! So I'm fairly happy. There are certainly equivalent or worse "holes" in other "seasons." Arcee not having a toy is just a gaping hole in G1 though. Dammit, just shot a Voyager Predaking missile whoknowswhere. Can anyone spare one? NEW Sale and Trade Thread,Feedback Thread,Wanted Thread

04-29-2012, 01:40 PM	#31
General Magnus President Epic! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,463 Location: Portugal Collection Count: 390	Over alarmist thread is over alarmist.

04-29-2012, 01:45 PM	#32
3.8TransAM Herald of Unicron Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,097 Location: Nw In Collection Count: Scared to count	Damn, BotCon isn't even over yet and SDCC is still some time away. Do we have to listen to this garbage again?