Transformers Rumors News on Seibertron.com

The future of Transformers

Date: Sunday, September 29th 2002 10:23pm CDT
Category: Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 45,688

I received an anonymous e-mail today containing the following:

"Behind the scenes at Hasbro, there is a debate about the direction & future of how to market Transformers.

"Much of the current marketing staff view Transformers as their "younger" boy´s action brand, while GI Joe is aimed at older boys. Thus they want simplified toys with gimmicks over poseability. Each series will be centered on the gimmicks rather than the characters much like the HeadMasters-ActionMasters years of Generation One. The fact that the current cartoon was as childish as it is was merely a fluke. No one at Hasbro had really paid much attention to the Armada cartoon until the criticisms started rolling in. From within the fandom and within Hasbro´s own offices.

"A small segment of Hasbro´s work force (sadly not the decision makers of the company) view Transformers as epic sci-fi and want it to replace the quietly dying Star Wars brand for boys, teens AND adult collectors. But the brass see the fandom as little more than a nuisance and are unwilling to risk a major marketing campaign to attract more of them.

"Right now there is a serious debate about whether the next series will continue the "Final Fantasy" approach and aim squarely at boys 4-9, or whether it will feature the return of the characters from Generation One in some form.

"While Hasbro is not taking the adult collector´s interest seriously, Takara and surprisingly Cartoon Network have BOTH voiced an opinion to Hasbro to redirect the brand back to G1."

This is strictly a RUMOR. However, if I get more information on this, you can bet I´ll post it RIGHT HERE @ SEIBERTRON.com!

The Prof Smooth Rumor Page

Date: Monday, September 23rd 2002 10:22am CDT
Categories: Rumors, Game News
Posted by: Rhinox

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Views: 61,661

Make sure you check out the Professor Smooth Rumor Page for several possible rumors about the Transformers video game and the possibility of an American reissue of JETFIRE (???)! Fact or fiction? You decide! Please remember that these are just rumors gang - hence why it´s called a "rumors" page. Rumors may or may not come true.

Jetfire to be reissued?

Date: Sunday, September 22nd 2002 11:15pm CDT
Category: Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 49,183

As crazy as it sounds, a possible US reissue for the future is JETFIRE. You can bet I´ll have an update on this as soon as it becomes available.

New Transformers video game

Date: Sunday, September 22nd 2002 11:14pm CDT
Categories: Rumors, Game News
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 69,986

The following is from Gamespot:

TGS 2002: Takara to produce Transformers game

The company responsible for the Transformers toys is going to make a new game based on the classic robots.

Takara has announced that it is working on a game set in the early days of the Transformers universe, starring classic Transformers such as Optimus Prime and Megatron. The game will be titled Transformers Generation Zero. The game is said to be developed by WinkySoft, the same team that developed Super Robot Wars F for the Saturn and ZOE: The Fist of Mars for the Game Boy Advance.
No further information, such as a release date or platform for the title, are available at this time.

Looks like it´s not a rumor any more...

Fortress Maximus Update

Date: Friday, September 20th 2002 8:22pm CDT
Category: Rumors

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Views: 52,733

I emailed Joel at BigBadToyStore.com and asked him what Hasbro has told him about Fortress Maximus.
"They have cancelled it for now, but my rep said it ´may´ be produced in 2004
or beyond - he had no specifics and I´m not overly confident that would
happen, but who knows - maybe they have worked it into a future product line
for a more mass market release instead of the more limited/exclusive run
that was planned for 2003 - just a guess on my part and hopefully we´ll see
it eventually"

Joel.......

Maybe there is hope in the future, but don´t expect any thing soon.

A new Target Exclusive

Date: Friday, September 20th 2002 10:16am CDT
Category: Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 53,240

A new exclusive may be making its way to Target stores before the holidays. The 24.99 exclusive pack features the repainted Starscream/BB!

UPDATE! It has been confirmed! This figure is now scheduled to be in Target stores in January 2003!

You heard it here FIRST!

Fortress Maximus cancelled? Maybe not.

Date: Thursday, September 19th 2002 9:01pm CDT
Category: Rumors

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Views: 52,927

Prof. Smooth thinks other wise.
Check out what Prof. Smooth says right here at Seibertrons Prof. Smooth page!!

No Fort Max?? We'll see about that....

Date: Thursday, September 19th 2002 6:26pm CDT
Category: Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 54,882

While it´s true that Hasbro has said that the release of Fortress Maximus is more or less cancelled, longtime fans know that Hasbro has never had the most reliable information...

I have recieved word that Fort Max will, in fact, be reaching US shores. Shipping concerns have delayed the release BUT they have by no means CANCELLED the release. You´ll have you Maximi. Just be patient...

Also, there´s a rumor that Takara may reissue the original Fortress Maximus in Japan.

Gobots commercial on Cartoon Network

Date: Tuesday, September 17th 2002 11:05pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 58,516

It´s not what you think. The 123 Transformer line has a new television advertisement. In the ad, however, they are called ´Gobots´instead of 123 Transformers. Odd, isn´t it?

Japanese Transformers comics getting re-released

Date: Thursday, September 12th 2002 4:49pm CDT
Categories: Toy News, Rumors
Posted by: Professor Smooth

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Views: 57,832

A reprint of the EXTREMELY RARE japanese Transformers comics (including Zone and Battlestars) will be released in Japan on October 18th. The price is said to be about 23 dollars (US). Of course, the book is going to be printed in Japanese, but the art makes this a worthwhile addition to your Transformer comics collection.

Thanks to Remy Rodis