Let's role-play:

The 3rd TF live action movie is a massive box office failure.
Kids don't want transformers toys anymore.
A sony PSP now costs the same as a leader class toy.
The latest game consoles cost the same as 2 leader class toys.
The shareholders and board of executives are panicking.

You are now Chief Transformers Toy Designer in Hasbro. Go!

 

I would transform and roll out.

 

crying and masturbate furiously in a closet at 4am while hoping to find a solution with a huge board meeting in the morning

 

I'd quit.

 

Hire the writers from beast wars and have them turn the universe series into the transformers mainline

 

More biplane Transformers!

 

I'd wouldn't take the pansy-ass way out either, "formally resigning" and what not.

Even rats know when a ship is sinking.

 

Whip out the Matrix of Leadership to light our darkest hour!

 

I cant stop laughing at that!!

 

I'm with Eva. Minus the crying. And the board meeting.

 

As long as we're living in that world, I'd just hire a crew of magic leprechauns to make things right.

 

Personally, I would take a long look at what appealed to the kids in the first place about Transformers back in the year dot. Originality, range, TV tie-ins, memorable characters and general coolness.
First, I'd commission a new series with a mysterious marketing campaign on TV and across newspapers. Something viral, but vague and perhaps a logo at the most. Perhaps hinting animation or full CG until the last fortnight before release, when a huge banner ad in the paper reveals the new live action series.
The show would be aimed at providing excitement and thrills for the younger viewers and substance for the older ones.
The toy range would be ready for shipping the week of the show's release.
There will be an attempt to keep the Transformers' original look from the 80s, but try and infuse some elements of the movie versions too.
Staple bots, like Starscream, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Prime and so forth will be resurrected and new bots will circulate through the series as some are killed or leave Earth.

This would be a big investment. A HUGE one, but what have I got to lose anyway (not that I'd tell that to the bosses)?

 

Party!!!!

 

and if that doesnt work say something like, "I cant deal with that now!"

and if thaaaaaaat doesnt work..mmm....tourch the factory for the insurance money.

 

Whip up Transformable Megan Fox and Olivia Wilde with 'sapphic embrace' action to spark a controversy?

Bribe/find some dirt on Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson to force them to make a Transformer movie no one would bitch over (well, at least mostly no one), create the following toy line, and go back to making money?

Beg and plead with the government (here, Michael Bay's government contacts may be useful) to obtain technology that's not available for public consumption, use it to churn out self-transforming Transformers to make the kiddies drool, and go back to making money?

Learn Japanese, move to Japan and get a job with Takara?

 

First order of business: Produce a fully transforming/combining movie Devastator.

Then I'd wing it.

 

answers like this = win

 

First things first, let's hire the guys and gals from iGear, TFClub, and Fansproject because they've been whipping heiny on designing stuff.

Then, crank up production on Classics 3.0 and get some more fan favorite characters in there....Wheeljack, Jazz, Shockwave, and an Arcee that turns into a car for a start. They could be Deluxe Class figures. Windcharger, Huffer, Gears, Ratbat, and Laserbeak for Legends Class. Scout class could be the Insecticons and the Throttlebots....lord knows that if there was ever a subgroup that needed an overhaul it's the Throttlebots.

Start dipping from various mythos for characters to turn into figures....a Voyager class Straxus, Ultra Class Jhiaxus, and a Supreme Class Last Autobot to start. Throw a couple of Transtechs in there,too.

Weapons packs....it seems that almost every Transformer I buy anymore is going to have to go into battle with his bare fists. A $10 pack of swords, guns, clubs, and a Targetmaster or two would be sweet.

Every repaint figure we release will have a new headsculpt.

Work closely with the Transformers Collectors Club to release all new figures geared toward the adult collector, instead of just a repaint with a new head. Giving adult fans an updated Fort Max that wouldn't have to pass the drop test would bring more members into the club.

Last, get the fans involved in the process. Maybe the Energon Maximus combiners would have had hands if enough fans would have seen the prototypes and said something.

 

Heh, ROTF a box office failure? Impossible. Won't happen.

But anyway...

I'd take Transformers back, Classics style.

1. Remake Classics Voyager Optimus Prime, but scale him up a bit. Add a trailer with Roller.

2. Re-release the classics figures along with the Universe figures.

3. Make Classics/Universe versions of the rest of the G1 characters.

4. Everything above would be better quality right down to the paint apps.

5. Commission a new cartoon series to be made that would NOT rely of the crap station, Cartoon Network that would be based on the Classics/Universe toys. Make it a 5-day/week series. Really crank it out like G1 (only better animation).

6. Bring MP toys to the US and sell them as Walmart/Target/TRU exclusives

7. Turn to TF fans for ideas of what they want to see made and consider them seriously. The most viable/profitable ones will be carried out.

8. Bring encore line to the us under the Hasbro "adult collector" line.

9. Transform and roll out

 

Leader Cyclonus