|
|
Post by Toph on Mar 11, 2016 22:39:51 GMT
I think Hasbro's planning a world wide endeavor.
There's been talk in the recent past on making Botcon exclusives available at cons in other countries.
Cybercon was registered as an official TF con for Europe and Asia. (And wasn't AA shut down because there was a more official con coming?)
And Hasbro's been officially affiliated with Botcon longer than Botcon's been official.
True, Hasbro has erroneously neglected Botcon in favor of SDCC in recent years, but I really don't feel that there's not going to be anything to replace it.
I think Hasbro is planning a world wide initiative. And how FP has shat on the international market since their conception, has been the single BIGGEST complaint Hasbro gets about them.
Multiple cons across the world, one set of exclusives between them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Mar 11, 2016 22:45:32 GMT
The multiple cons with same exclusives could be a big factor. FP have said for a decade how much the chinese factories hated producing the Botcon toys, because the runs were so small it was wasnt worth the time involved in setting up the production runs or something like that. Ive always assumed its the reason for the QC issues, the factories really dont like them.
3 or more conventions all sharing an exclusive would mean larger runs and happier factories.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Mar 11, 2016 22:56:01 GMT
Potentially more remoulding in the toys too if more are being made/sold?
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Mar 11, 2016 23:07:45 GMT
I think Hasbro's planning a world wide endeavor. There's been talk in the recent past on making Botcon exclusives available at cons in other countries. Cybercon was registered as an official TF con for Europe and Asia. (And wasn't AA shut down because there was a more official con coming?) And Hasbro's been officially affiliated with Botcon longer than Botcon's been official. True, Hasbro has erroneously neglected Botcon in favor of SDCC in recent years, but I really don't feel that there's not going to be anything to replace it. I think Hasbro is planning a world wide initiative. And how FP has shat on the international market since their conception, has been the single BIGGEST complaint Hasbro gets about them. Multiple cons across the world, one set of exclusives between them. No. AA was not shut down due to a more official con coming. Andy |
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 8, 2016 7:04:51 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Apr 8, 2016 7:36:09 GMT
Well at least that confirms what we'd all assumed anyway, regeneration rather than death. We'll only know why when we find out what Hasbro intend to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Apr 8, 2016 7:51:59 GMT
I cannot wait for the tat TRANSFORMERS ROLL OUT music thing. It will be rubbish and I will have it. So will Andu.
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by Fortmax2020 on Apr 8, 2016 15:55:49 GMT
Is the different wording between 'BotCon' and 'Bot Con' used in that letter a clue?? *over analysis in progress*
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Apr 8, 2016 17:28:10 GMT
It means whatever the inside of my head always concluded!
-Ralpjh
|
|
primenova
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
Posts: 6,057
|
Post by primenova on Apr 8, 2016 18:29:18 GMT
The letter from Hasbro - last Botcon, so they have not got another company (who might not have an employee who is abusive to UK fans like Savage was) lined up for future shows?
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 9, 2016 15:50:48 GMT
Hasbro Panel
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Apr 9, 2016 20:59:56 GMT
What a bunch of corporate bullshit.
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Apr 9, 2016 21:30:28 GMT
I think it's fair enough they don't start trumpeting their own show during the death knell of the one they've killed. If the new one really is a worldwide venture it'll take some organising.
I still can't help but wonder if Pete Sinclair's 'fact finding' mission over here last October was part of this new venture rather than optimistic hopes of continuing what he was already doing. It would not surprise me if FunPub isn't quite as dead as people have assumed.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Apr 9, 2016 21:33:56 GMT
I still can't help but wonder if Pete Sinclair's 'fact finding' mission over here last October was part of this new venture rather than optimistic hopes of continuing what he was already doing. It would not surprise me if FunPub isn't quite as dead as people have assumed. Or Hasbro put it up for open bid and it was part of Botcon's bid for it. Might also explain why they were partnering up with RORC suddenly. |
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Apr 9, 2016 21:38:28 GMT
Yes there was definitely something in that. Sinclair was definitely actively looking for ways to expand. You might be right about that being part of a bid to retain the licence.
|
|
|
|
Post by Toph on Apr 9, 2016 21:48:43 GMT
I think there's a lot of factors.
Not the leadt of which, hasbro has been genuinely good at listening to criticisms from the fans, the last several years.
And one of the BIGGEST ones has been how their official face to the fanbase has been extremely terrible towards the international market, which is where virtually *all* of this brand's growth has been happening as of late.
FP rarely delivers on promises. That's been another big complaint. How long has it been since they shut down the mid nineties era forum, promising a new one, plus a brand new up-to-date website?
None of those things ever happened, and was all a way to make us shut up.
And Brian handles criticism with only slightly more dignity than a gamergater troll.
Pete lies. I've caught him on lies before, and nearly got banned for for it.
Then all the criticisms about Botcon itself.
Say what you will about Glenn Hallit, but he was never at fault for having a lack of enthusiasm. He at least always cared about TFs, and the fans. Brian never cared about either. Glenn's fault was in being a terrible businessman.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Apr 9, 2016 21:54:20 GMT
And one of the BIGGEST ones has been how their official face to the fanbase has been extremely terrible towards the international market, which is where virtually *all* of this brand's growth has been happening as of late. Oh yes, the 'international' fanclub is solely aimed at the American market and centred around Botcon. If you intend on going to Botcon it's a decent buy. If not, screw you! I still remember Ralphs' horrible G2 Ramjet experience where (thanks to Fun Pub's insane international shipping prices) his G2 Ramjet which he bought properly via the club on his own ended up costing an insane amount, whereas if he'd have not done it via the club and gone via a third party external store it would have cost less. And... that's not right! |
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Apr 9, 2016 21:57:45 GMT
Indeed. One of the reasons why I did not sign up for another year!
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Apr 9, 2016 22:16:23 GMT
Not that we were lacking for reasons to tell them to GTF.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Toph on Apr 25, 2016 23:17:05 GMT
I wonder if with Hasbro revoking the license from FP, if the remolds become fair game?
I mean, I genuinely doubt Hasbro will touch them out of respect for exclusivity, but I just wonder if that would now be the only thing stopping them?
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 18, 2016 19:47:08 GMT
Somewhat unexpectedly Fun Pub have retained the GI Joe club licence for another 2 years
|
|
|
|
Post by blueshift on Jun 18, 2016 19:48:53 GMT
Didn't see that coming!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Llama God on Jun 18, 2016 20:27:58 GMT
Well given that Hasbro aren't putting out any Joe product, I guess someone has to...
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 18, 2016 20:32:32 GMT
I honestly saw everything coming back in house, or going to a new licensor, at the end of the year.
I wonder what effect this decision will have on the fate of the TF Club licence, one that's currently much higher profile?
|
|
|
|
Post by Llama God on Jun 18, 2016 20:44:07 GMT
They'll give it to someone who's better at managing a money-making brand.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Jun 18, 2016 20:44:45 GMT
Surely they're losing that, or what would be all the fuss about getting two TFCC sets out in the same year be about?
|
|
|
|
Post by Toph on Jun 18, 2016 21:16:44 GMT
Well, it started with Joe. It all started with Master Collector, an add magazine for oldschool Joe collectors to buy, sell, and trade through.
And Brian Savage is an oldschool Joe fan.
He never cared much for the internet, and he never cared much for new school ARAH Joe.
When he got the Joe lisence, it was because he was a fan. Dunno if he was doing unofficial cons, in the same way Botcon got started, or not.
But for him, it's all about Joe.
When Hasbro took it away from 3H, they wanted TF and Joe to be handled by the same house.
Now this part here is speculation due to appearances and some of the things he's said, but it seems the TF license was sorta forced on him, because he always seemed like it was more trouble than it was worth to him.
While Joe is a labor of love (even ARAH), TF was something they had to do, and milk as much as they could from it.
Brian didn't personally like TF, and he didn't really understand it, or how the fandom was COMPLETELY different.
Every so often, someone on the TF "counsel" will leave, and sometimes talk about the ideas that Brian had squashed. The *only* way brian let the Animated set happen was if it was as oldschool G1 based as possible, hence the Stunticons and two of the figures not even being Animated. There had been a few attempts to do BW sets, including a BW Animated set (built around Animated Cheetor, that was the animated set Rik and Pete wanted), that brian always squashed.
I'm rambling now and getting off point.
The point is, Brian loves Joe. He loves the old stuff he grew up with, and has an acceptance of ARAH that's more popular than his stuff. And while it's been a while since I've known any joe fans who were members, when I did they all seemed much more satisfied than we had been in our club.
I don't think he ever wanted anything to do with TFs. He certainly never wanted anything to do with us fans.
So yeah, FP managing to retail the joe license for a bit longer surprises me, but it honestly doesn't shock me. I imagine he actually fought for it.
|
|
