Wow, this is a big surprise. Can't wait to see pics!

 

I know you are usually right about such things, but I think I am going to disagree on this one.

1. August release date may mean that is when the distribution centers first get them. It may be another 6-8 weeks before they start showing up on shelves.
2. Any movie line would be out 6-8 weeks at least before the movie as part of the marketing campaign. so this gives us roughly sept 06 to april/may 07 for the redux line. The timing is right for filler ESPECIALLY since cybertron will be wrapping up. Sure, there will be overlap, but there usually is to keep the market saturated with diverse products as one line ends and another is starting.
3. I'm sure they have been working on this long before botcon. The official " go" may have referred to the FINAL decision after prototypes had already been done. This gives roughly 1 year from botcon untl they start showing up on shelves. If you couple this with the work they did before botcon, it may fill your two year expectation.
4. The price points correlate with what we already know about the line

 

Quick question: These figures are NOT coming out in Japan, right?

 

Unknown. According to an article at TFormers.com, a toy designer at Takara alluded to a "Surprise Project", details on which he can't reveal yet.

http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=5468&mode=flat

I'd be surprised if this really was the "G1 Neo" line coming so soon. I was at BotCon, and heard that, if the Neo line was given the green light, it would be filling in the gap between the end of Cybertron and the beginning of the new movie hype. Then again, the date was tabbed as an ETA, so it could easily come later. From what we know, though, the so-called "G1 Neo" line seems to be the closest idea that fits with the Classics Tag. But if it isn't, what is it...?

Outtsyder

 

Well if Classics isn't the Neo-G1 line, then what is it? Universe with a new name?

 

August is too far away. I want them now!

 

I got a feeling its repacked selected armada, energon and cybertron deluxes and megas. Some with new paint. After all this is a trilogy and to kids may seem "classic" as they have witnessed the characters evolve into different incarnations. I had really hoped these would be neo g1 but who the heck knows for sure right? I think of it as maybe "universe done right" aka sans neon green/purple. Maybe universe was to be a lot bigger but the sales did not do so well. Maybe this is a 2nd go? Who knows.

 

Shin, since the ETA would be running along with Cybertron, as well as considering the quality/size of some Armada deluxes in comparison to the 13 dollar price tag, I'm not sure that you're really on to something there. I can't see them further rehashing Cybertron molds in a whole new line when there are already going to be crap loads of repaints within the line itself. Also, it seems the "classics" tag would point more towards older collectors, as I doubt too many kids are really *that* nostalgiac over Armada or RiD yet to really buy into some cashcow milking of it. Also, given that "hunch", as I hinted at before, would a 13 dollar Armada Smokescreen repaint make sense? I don't think so.

This has to be something else.

 

Hmm, maybe they continuing the G1 reissues, but via Target with a new name, and sensible prices?

 

I recognize that Kickback usually is correct, but I think this time is the exception. While I realize that there is a lot of preparation that goes into a new line, Hasbro did say that this line (should it come to pass, but they wouldn't be showing what they showed if that wasn't their intention) was a post Cybertron - pre movie line; putting it's release at the tail end of December 2006 at the very latest. So while this August date is earlier than most of us would expect for this line, it's not THAT much earlier (3 - 4 months). I think they are much farther along than they're letting on.

And it just seems very, very unlikely that a line named 'Transformers: Classic', which thus far contains nothing but megas and deluxes, would be slated just a few months prior to the G1 Neo line.

My opinion, it is the G1 Neo line, but that August 4th date will be pushed back at least a month as we get closer.

 

Well, I don't mind the slightly higher pricetag since these are supposed to be designs faithful to the likenesses of the original G1 characters.

*Hopes for a G1 Lamborghini Sideswipe & Sunstreaker, along with all three original seekers*

 

Whoa, I'm suprised Aron gave that comment. I don't collect them but I find their workmanship to be decent.

Anyway, thanks for the replies guys. I will be looking for pixs of Megs!  

 

this is pretty much what 'm feelin' too. Target may have just jumped the gun putting it in their system, Energon (the last fall-launcing series) showed up right around Thanksgiving, so that' swhat i was assuming for this (proposed)line, but they are pushing out the Cybertron product at a mind boggling pace...

also, i can't believe that WHATEVER the next line would be, that it wouldn't be approved yet, with an absolute maximum of 10 months (probably more like 8-9) left for Cybertron to be shipping.