Hasbro is presenting a session at BotCon today called Transformers Design Decisions, our reporters were on the floor and just sent in notes from the session that has just completed. There's insider info on Cybertron, the Primal & Megs Figures, some hints at what we might see in the Classics line and some info on what they might do with the Master Piece Starscream. Read the notes from the event below.
Hasbro's Transformers Design Decisions Panel Report
+ Cybertron Optimus Prime concept was originally a hook looking crane.
+ Hasbro talked about wanting to make Optimus fly.
+ The trailer for Energon Prime was originally something cooler than what we got.
+ Originally Vector Prime's face was to be the basis of the Autobot logo, but they decided not to go that route.
+ The gold and white colors for Vector Prime were used because Gonzo did an animated model with those colors. So they decided to do a toy like it.
+ Originally they wanted to have a lot of Planets for Cybertron.
+ At one point all the planets were gonna have their own matrix.
+ There was a Temple of Scourge.
+ There was a Cosmo G1 UFO. Could see him in Classics. The Sketch looks very cool.
+ The idea was having Optimus and Megs hit with something from the beast planet and turn in animal forms. Originally was designed for the Cybertron line when they had some product slots open up. They ended up using those for the BW anniversary series.
+ Moving to Classic Megatron, they chose the colors and form they did from the Nerf maverick blaster form cause it looked cool in their eyes but not like a real gun. The colors also reinforce that fact there are no metallic colors basically to avoid any legal battles.
Click to see more images
Questions and Answer
+ Archer said they would talk more about the future of TF animation when asked about a new cartoon.
+ If Classics did well? How long does it take to design a new line - Like Series 2. Hasbro stated they have a list of 8 or so figures, but haven't started any models yet.
+ Nemesis Prime was a surprise it sold so well. Hasbro thought at such a high price point it wouldn't.
+ Any chance IDW Hearts of Steel and is Arcee on the Classics wish-list? Hasbro said that Arcee is prob on the list.
+ There are some Titanium guys based on comic designs we will see Saturday. Might be based on DW designs.
+ When asked about Movie toys: Hasbro is working with movie design team effect toy making process. Aaron Archer worked about 1 and 1/2 months side by side with those guys. That's all he could say.
+ Did the fan reaction to the leaked images surprise them? Didn't surprise Archer. However, he's not sure if Paramount was prepared for how big the problem was.
+ Hasbro wants us to voice our opinions about the movie. >_<
+ Archer has seen about 20 min of stuff from the movie. His non-corporate answer is he really likes what he has scene from the movie.
+ Ideally Archer would like to do a Predaking like figure for the Classics line but no plans yet.
+ Archer doesn't think that Transformers have a unique look. They want to push the boundaries. The character is the character no matter how u draw it as long as its done with integrity.
+ TF Universe is finished. Anything like that if they did would prob be in a Classic package.
+ MP Starscream was Hasbro's idea they gave to Takara.
+ If Hasbro does the MP Starscream it will have the original decoration. If you bought the Takara Starscream and if Hasbro makes one, you would have two different toys.
+ When asked which character they would like to see made, a MP Hasbro would like to see made is Grimlock.