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ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo

Transformers News: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo

Friday, February 9th, 2007 11:41AM CST

Categories: Toy News, People News, Digital Media News, Interviews
Posted by: Down_Shift   Views: 25,418

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ToyFare caught up with Hasbro Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo to discuss the upcoming movie, and the toys that it brings the fans. It also brings us our first clear shot of Leader Class Optimus Prime.

It's a good read, and I encourage everyone to sit back and enjoy what has to be said, here
Credit(s): ToyFare, Alex Kingdom

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Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15901)
Posted by Down_Shift on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:46am CST
I liked the read, thought it was interesting. I like the bot mode, but I think its the head that turns me off.

Also re-front paged and credited AK :wink:
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15908)
Posted by Bed Bugs on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:01pm CST
ME.....WANT........NOW!!!! :grin:
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15912)
Posted by FellintoOblivion on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:02pm CST
He looks much more 'organic' which is the look I think they were going for in this movie.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15929)
Posted by Loki120 on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:26pm CST
I actually like the toy better than the movie itself...go figure.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15940)
Posted by Alex Kingdom on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:36pm CST
I'll say this for him, excluding Alt Prime, he does have the most realistic alt-mode of any Prime ever. Its a pity his robot mode looks so......bizarre.

Yours AK
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15942)
Posted by Cyber Bishop on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:39pm CST
Alex Kingdom wrote:There's something that looks really really wrong about this toy but I'm just not sure what it is.


It's too bulky?

Kibbilish..
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15945)
Posted by Prime Evil on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:45pm CST
I like the design actually, but I can't get over the head. He just looks...I dunno...off. That's really my only gripe about these movie figs.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15949)
Posted by AbsumZer0 on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:51pm CST
His upper and lower body halves don't match-up. Maybe if they'd given him some kind of loincloth-shaped decoration to conceal it it would look better, but as it is, meh.

The Voyager class Prime we saw a shot of earlier looks better in terms of proportions but they'll probably find a way to botch his alt mode. That, and the single image we've seen doesn't make it clear whether he has a left hand or whether his smokestack gun is his hand.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15951)
Posted by Rijie on February 9th, 2007 @ 12:56pm CST
I agree that he looks...odd. But I like him.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15954)
Posted by Overcracker on February 9th, 2007 @ 1:00pm CST
The Voyager Prime we saw, is better proportioned. Than this, he is too bulky and his chest looks nothing like the movie design chest. something is off. I have a feeling his transformation is not complete, Some panels need to be moved. and his fit definitely look unfinished. He has toes if I'm not mistaken, not just a big stump for a foot.

Not sure I'll pick him up. but alas, I'm already picking up so much of this line. I'm sure this guy will give my wallet a well deserved rest.

*EDIT* He's got opposable thumbs, and poseable finger sections apparently.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15962)
Posted by Milanion on February 9th, 2007 @ 1:11pm CST
I think his "knee cap area" might be transformed wrong - the should stick up higher, I think. That would make the lower leg seem more proportionate. Also, his "toes" are missing, but I think they are there - just not flipped out.

edit - his toes are flipped out in another picture.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (15970)
Posted by Big Convoy on February 9th, 2007 @ 1:37pm CST
Worst Optimus Prime toy, EVER!
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16027)
Posted by Tusko on February 9th, 2007 @ 2:39pm CST
It gives me a real Powermaster Prime feel. That overly built up feel is there. The alt mode is great. I will wait until I see more pics though as I'd like him to be cleaner.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16076)
Posted by Nico on February 9th, 2007 @ 3:24pm CST
Not enough blue on the leg!
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16085)
Posted by Hans on February 9th, 2007 @ 3:29pm CST
Hmmm... I still absolutely despise every single movie design I've seen so far, but I must admit... that Prime figure ain't bad at all...

Of course I'll like it less when those ridiculous toes are flapped out.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16184)
Posted by magus on February 9th, 2007 @ 5:06pm CST
Oh so much irony present in this toy. To think the toy representation of the "non-boxy" movie design Prime is one of the most boxy and refrigerator shaped Prime toys I've ever seen.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16268)
Posted by Liege Evilmus on February 9th, 2007 @ 6:09pm CST
God Magnus wrote:Is it just me or does Prime look incredibly sad? Not "pathetic" sad but "he's gonna start crying and tell you stories about his dead robo-puppy for three hours" sad.


I can see that, but to me it looks like someone tookm an iron as flatened him out.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16348)
Posted by Emperor Primacron the 1st on February 9th, 2007 @ 6:45pm CST
Wow, no idiot/child-proof smokestacks. :D
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16425)
Posted by jgilkinson on February 9th, 2007 @ 7:24pm CST
I like the one with the electronics in him better, for having such a cool looking gun the teaser shot why did they gave him a little crappy pistol here?
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16595)
Posted by Stormrider on February 9th, 2007 @ 10:25pm CST
Alex Kingdom wrote:
Milanion wrote:
Alex Kingdom wrote:
Milanion wrote:Hmmm... I still like Ultimate Prime better. This guy's legs are just a little too short for me.


Ultimate Prime? Who the?

Yours AK


The more detailed one with the "smokestack" guns. I just call him that for lack of better name.


Yeah that one does look better, but they both look more like guys in masses of body armour rather than sentient robots don't you think? I quite like this toy, it look a lot like RID Prime who is one of my favourite Prime toys, however the crotch/waist area look a bit shit, and I'm not big fan of the head design.

Yours AK


The robot designs are too busy. No smooth lines or forms. Instead, everything is a mish-mash; a helter skelter of parts. Prime's face plate seems to be based off of an insect's mandible.

From the interview:
What would it really look like if actual cars really turned into giant robots? They wouldn’t be blocky like Generation 1 Transformers…they would be more alien.


Greg Lombardo's comment is baseless. Claiming what a robot alien would look like is only relative to the current sci-fi trend. It will be interesting to see how children and adult buyers react to the robot designs.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16671)
Posted by skywarp-2 on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:31pm CST
magus wrote:Oh so much irony present in this toy. To think the toy representation of the "non-boxy" movie design Prime is one of the most boxy and refrigerator shaped Prime toys I've ever seen.



You are 100 Percent correct!! that is exactly what I've been thinking this whole time, and to those of you, and you know who you are, that were complaining about the movie bots not being blocky enough, tak e agood look at this prime...


Ugly isn't it....


I hope the larger version or a larger version is made that really captures the movie Prime in proportions..if your gonna make the new Transformers less blocky, then fine.. but if your gonna do a toy line based on that new design aspect, then follow it up with a faithful representation!!!


I just hope Takara/Tomy gets the rights and does a Freakin Master Piece Prime!! and that Megatron final Head design (only in Battle Mode) better be on top a Masterpiece Megatron as well!! Whooo what an awsome head!! it soem how reminds me of the G-1 counterpart..

Final verdict: leadr Prime.. they really F%^#$ed that one up!!! WHY>>>>WHY>>>>WHY>>>> :sad:
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16689)
Posted by whodat on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:46pm CST
I suppose everyone has their own tastes, but speaking strictly from me I would have to say that this is one of the most impressive Primes I have ever seen. First of all, he is actually based off of a REAL semi...not a facsimile or a "futuristic" one (i.e. Energon Prime), not a fire-engine, and not a pickup. Secondly the articulation really appears to be great if the pics are accurate. There are only a couple of things that I wish were present....1) a trailer - I just have always liked his trailer and 2) I would like to have seen Prime lugging around his iconic rifle rather than a pistol. But aside from these 2 MINOR things, I am surprised to find that I like this Prime. Now if only Starscream and Megatron were better I would be one happy camper.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16692)
Posted by Stormrider on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:48pm CST
skywarp-2 wrote:if your gonna do a toy line based on that new design aspect, then follow it up with a faithful representation!!!


I agree, but how do you take a movie design that has a "thousand moving parts" (as Bay described it) and make a functioning toy out of it? I think the movie designers and Hasbro should have collaborated on the designs more if they wanted true representations.
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16702)
Posted by Ninja Sixshot on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:55pm CST
looks nice. i still hope all of the movie figs go on clearence :PRAY: .perhaps for christmas
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16801)
Posted by Alex Kingdom on February 10th, 2007 @ 3:20am CST
skywarp-2 wrote:
magus wrote:Oh so much irony present in this toy. To think the toy representation of the "non-boxy" movie design Prime is one of the most boxy and refrigerator shaped Prime toys I've ever seen.



You are 100 Percent correct!! that is exactly what I've been thinking this whole time, and to those of you, and you know who you are, that were complaining about the movie bots not being blocky enough, tak e agood look at this prime...


Ugly isn't it....


Actually it looks better than the movie design, and the other Prime figure looks even better than this. It's ironic that the movie designers were striving for a more realistic look to avoid looking like over-sized toys and yet the toys end up looking more realistic. This actually look like it Transforms, probably because it does, and it looks like a Transformer, albeit an ugly one.

Greg Lombardo wrote:What would it really look like if actual cars really turned into giant robots? They wouldn’t be blocky like Generation 1 Transformers…they would be more alien.


Why? What rational does he have for saying that? If actual cars turned into robots they might look less blocky than G1 but why would they have to look more alien? There is no evidence to back this up, it's just PR garbage for the toy line and the Movie.

Yours AK
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (16805)
Posted by X3ROhour on February 10th, 2007 @ 3:44am CST
yay! :grin:

will make an excellent Thunderclash Prime in the G1 Z3ROhour Universe! :-P
Re: ToyFare Interviews Director of Marketing Greg Lombardo (17011)
Posted by Down_Shift on February 10th, 2007 @ 9:39am CST
skywarp-2 wrote:Final verdict: leadr Prime.. they really F%^#$ed that one up!!! WHY>>>>WHY>>>>WHY>>>> :sad:


How can you give a final verdict with out seeing it for yourself up close :???:

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