Any of you notice how crowded these sights are with 3rd party G1 figures?

To me this more proof that Hasbro is dropping the ball while other companies capitalize.

Let me be Frank even I occasionally would get a bayformer or two around this time of year or at least a half decent figure that was just placed under the bayformer name. Yet this year the hype around them has been at an all time low.

Other then maybe Spacecase there hadn't even been repaints to talk about. If you were to go to the home page now the main focus would be on "not insecticon" this and TFF Devestator " that... topped off with the latest crazy debt upgrade.

So what does Hasbro and all those hardcore bayformer fans have to say about this?

 

Crazy Debt! Best.name.ever.

 

Hasbro's far from dropping the ball. Simply focusing on what it takes to turn a profit. And also, the factory leaks have been tightened right up, coupled with a smaller product line there's not a lot coming through until it starts hitting. Time was, we'd have seen Deluxe Soundwave and Wheeljack stolen prototypes by now. Hasbro's done well keeping the pair of them out of view.

 

With as many characters Hasbro has at their disposal it would take them years to churn out toys for them all. 3rd parties a filling a small amount of wants for us collectors. Hasbro is working on keeping the franchise alive by not only trying to satisfy collectors but, average children as well. Always remember, without new fans there will be no new toys.

 

Hasbro and the 3rds are doing fine. No offense, but sounds like you just need a plastic crack fix. Once the new DOTM batch gets released, that feeling will go away.

 

lol @ the term "hardcore bayformer fans"

Much of the forum consist of consistent classics (geewun updated style) fans, and it is only logical that news involving things like COMBINERS which hasbro has been neglecting, gets hyped.

Think about it. The last two times Hasbro attempted combiners:

1. PCC. None transforming limbs, didn't work too well.

2. ROTF Devastator. Its large alright. Its also looks like a PoS in my aesthetic perspective.

 

3rd party stuff just doesn't interest me in the slightest. To me, it's not even Transformers stuff - it may as well be a KO from your local poundstretcher.

 

I was just thinking about this the other day. It seems almost whenever you click on the toy forum link the front page is about 50-75% posts about 3rd party stuff.

People always seem to have the feeling that they are obligated to justify it by saying that 3rd partys are only catering to a minority of us who are just collectors etc. Maybe that is true but if Has/Tak execs are reading TF forums and they see all the 3rd party threads, I can't see how they aren't upset.

I'm guilty of buying my fair share of 3rd party stuff though. As long as something is neat and I can afford it, I'll probably bite. I won't try to justify it it though. It is what it is.

Sometimes I feel like a conspiracy theorist because I feel like there is a possibility that Has/Tak is either involved behind the scenes or is secretly taking part in some of the 3rd party stuff. Maybe just in an effort to keep the base fans happy so they can continue to cater to the masses with their regular product. I don't know.

 

Oddly enough, I have yet to buy a full 3rd party figure. I've bought many upgrades that require a Hasbro figure first, but not a complete figure. I've been tempted... between Warbot, Blast Off and Swindle, the Insecticons, Hercules...

The first one may be that Impactor from Warpath's design. I don't think Hasbro will ever give us Impactor (much like the original colored CHMS Seeker KO's I did buy). I'm VERY tempted by that Ratchet that's coming out... but we'll see.

3rd party news doesn't bother me. Scans of a Japanese magazine making news while US scans are taboo... that bugs me a bit.

 

That's cuz there is a Phenomenon where things in another language other than your own native one automatically have a cool-ness factor buff.  

 

There's a ton of 3rd party news because these companies actually update us frequently with progress shots and information. Hasbro releases dozens of new toys every year, while your typical 3rd party group will do maybe a half-dozen tops. We'll only ever see convention, promo and final releases images from Hasbro -- unless of course, something gets stolen.

 

Twp things are happening here. Hasbro is in a movie lull. The third movie didn't capture many, myself included, because it is the third time we are seeing a lot of these characters. It got very boring. Hasbro is also gearing up for Transformers: Prime.

3rd party companies are booming right now. We can only assume we hit a peek with all these 3rd party groups coming out of the wood works.

Put these two factors together and both Hasbro and 3rd parties are dong fine. Keep in mind that Hasbro is most likely making in one year (profits) what all 3rd party groups, together, will make in a life time.

Personally, I can not wait for TF Prime and a lot of the 3rd party stuff equally. (Wait to you get a Prime figure in hand, pics do them no justice)

 

I really think the reason we aren't seeing anything new from Hasbro is cause there is nothing new,they know sales are down due to the economy so naturally they have cut back.I just think its time to face it that Hasbro may be doing that,instead of releasing new waves of figures every couple of months they do it every 3 or 4 months,hence fewer TF's.

Finally even tho I hate to say it but maybe 3rd party figures may end up beating Hasbro at there own game,especially if they come down in price more.Later all.

 

Once 3rd parties start beating Hasbro at their own game, aka making as much money as they are on their IP, then we will see the lawyers set loose.

I doubt that day will come. Until 3rd parties get into major retailers, alla Walmart, they will never get to enough people to make Hasbro money.

 

Just look at how much Hasbro is cutting back:

How many repaints of Bee do we have now in the deluxe class?
We have more repaint waves than new molds, thus far.
And look at Voyager optimus? Another repaint coming out you gotta be frickin kidding me.

 

I wouldn't worry about Hasbro and repaints during a Movie run. The number of repaints are no different than in movie one and two.

IF TF : Prime turns into a line of nothing but repaints...then you can worry.

 

They also seem to be mainly located in China... I'm no lawyer, but it seems like copyright laws there are pretty lax. They might lack the ability to do anything at all about it, even if they wanted to (which they don't seem to).

 

They can do something like attck retailers. But if they lose enough money I am sure they will find a way to sue in China.

When you are sitting on Billions, everything is possible.

 

Lax?   there is almost no control~