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RollingStone has an interview out with one of the creative minds of Wizards of the Coast, the company president Chris C o c k s. Wizards of the Coast, as you know, is a subsidiary of Hasbro and producer of collectible card games such as Magic: The Gathering as well as role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. While we are waiting on an official announcement of sorts, it was mentioned in this interview with Chris C o c k s that the Transformers card game is gestating now and is on its way. Here is what we learned from the interview itself, strictly the Transformers bits of relevance for us:
“With the Transformers trading card game, we can be nimble,” he says.
The game hasn’t been formally announced yet, but C o c k s says it’s a title aimed both at young teens and the collector and toy audience. It will come out in September or October. “We think Transformers are cool and the game has interesting, unique mechanics,” he says. “All cards are two-sided, over-sized and feel bigger, weightier in your hand.” C o c k s says the game has a relatively light learning curve, but a lot of depth. “It should take one or two times to understand how to play,” he says.
The game, which has a unique rule set, is built around two decks. One of the decks is a hero deck and the other is a powers and abilities deck used to “amp up heroes.” The strategy around play, he says, is to choose the right hero with the right abilities and powers. They’re also considering making a digital version of the game, once it launches, depending on how it is received. “Transformers will be brand new to Wizards.”
You can read more from the interview here about the other properties they work with and keep your optics focus here as we uncover additional information as it becomes available to us.
There has been a lot of talk about how odd it is that more and more Takara toys are the exact same as the Hasbro released. We saw it with Trypticon but even more with the Transformers: The Last Knight toylines where even the box was the same. And now with the Power of the Primes toys looking identical for both companies (an example is given below) and both company logos appearing on the upcoming Studio Series toys, this similarity for multiple lines is getting fans both concerned and confused. Is there any hope that those images from Takara were still just placeholders? And what exactly is going on?
Well, the upcoming Figure King magazine (number 239) sheds some light on that and clarifies that indeed what we are seeing is true and intended to be the very same toys. There will be three pages dedicated to Takara's Transformers and the Snakas blog reports that we will not only see the same Power of the Primes toys we have already seen (and which many of us already own) but it will also discuss the new path Takara is taking with figures being identical to Hasbro. The Snakas blog quotes the magazine to say that the companies are "unifying the world brands on an unprecedented scale".
This does confirm the fears many fans had, where Takara is choosing not to do their own take on Generations toys, unlike what has been the case with the Legends line so far. While the movie toys have already been very similar between brands in the past, having other lines be identical at the same time is indeed unprecedented.
This definitely confirms that both companies are looking at their own markets first and foremost and that issuing the same toys for both markets must be more beneficial than the added money of imports. Or at least, this is what would seem to be the case with such an unprecedented decision.
While it does mean that the same deco from Hasbro's Power of the Primes will also be seen in the Takara releases under the same toyline name (which so far excludes complete combiner teams), it does bring about the idea that maybe Takara is satisfied with the deco for their own market. Jazz for instance is a deluxe combiner which uses clear plastic and thus demands a lot more paint and the only combining deluxe to also need that was Groove which was a Takara design. So instead of seeing this as Takara lowering their standards for deco, it could be that this unified deco instead takes the Hasbro deco to higher standards than before. What do you think? Let us know!
We have news from Bloomberg of Toysrus potentially closing 100 stores in the United States. This comes from "people with knowledge of the situation" and it is simply them considering it at this point. No decision has been made about whether stores will close or not or even the potential number, which may even go up to 200 according to other insiders. For those curious, Toysrus currently has 879 stores in the US which means that they would be potentially closing between %10-%20 of their stores. The strategy of closing stores with less traffic seems to be the main strategy of most department stores at the moment.
Bloomberg states that the holiday shopping season has not yielded the numbers Toysrus was hoping for, though with the season not being over and the numbers for this quarter not released yet, we do not have a clear view at what numbers they are actually referring to.
Toys “R” Us Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in September, is considering closing at least 100 U.S. stores in the face of weak holiday sales, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
U.S. sales have declined about 15 percent this Christmas-shopping season from a year earlier, according to people recently briefed on the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The number of closed stores could reach approximately 200, one of the people said, but no decision has been made.
Toysrus themselves have commented by simply stating that any real number for stores closing is pure speculation at the moment and probably inaccurate:
“Final decisions about our real estate portfolio will be done only after careful consideration about the best interests of our business,” said spokeswoman Amy von Walter. “Any speculation on that figure is premature and likely to be inaccurate.”
We have some more unfortunate news for those following the saga of Toys'R'Us, both in the US and the UK, ever since the first invocation of chapter 11 and the 'bankruptcy' story first broke (as covered here).
As you might remember, the UK branch of the retail chain has been facing some rough times entirely independently of the US branch's bankruptcy filing, and around a quarter of their stores in the country could be facing closure. The latest addition to that story, as reported by major UK nationalmedia, informs us that pension funds may also be in trouble. Apparently, whatever the outcome stores will not be closing until the spring, meaning that holiday shopping (and jobs) will be unaffected, but you can read more on this below.
Toys R Us UK is facing potential collapse this week with the loss of 3,200 jobs as it struggles to win the support of the state-backed Pension Protection Fund (PPF) for a planned restructure.
The PPF, the industry-funded, state-backed safety net, demanded that the troubled retailer pump about £9m into the ailing Toys R Us UK pension fund.
This is in order to gain the PPF’s support for the retailer’s planned company voluntary arrangement (CVA) procedure, which involves the closure of at least 26 loss-making stores. That deal would lead to the loss of up to 800 jobs.
[...]
Malcolm Weir, director of restructuring and insolvency at the PPF, said the body had yet to decide how to vote: ‘‘We are seeking to fully understand the current position of the company, including its future potential, position of the US parent and the reported historic financial transactions.
“The pension scheme is already underfunded and, if we were to vote in favour of the CVA, we would need actions taken that ensure the position of the pension scheme was not going to further weaken.
“Whatever the outcome of the CVA, the pension scheme members can be reassured that they remain protected.”
This weekend, we bring you another initiative that Hasbro is taking part in alongside Toys for Tots (as covered here), this time in partnership with ToyBox Tools - a resource created with and by The Autism Project to increase accessibility to toys and playing in general to children with developmental disabilities. Hasbro has joined with the project by contributing in both Transformers: The Last Knight and Transformers: Rescue Bots categories, and the simplified toys that the two lines contain.
Check out more on the initiative below!
Hasbro’s ToyBox Tools Features New Resources Based on Beloved Brands, including MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS and BABY ALIVE
ToyBox Tools Initiative Helps Bring the Joy of Play to Children with Developmental Disabilities
PAWTUCKET, R.I.- Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), announced today a refresh of its ToyBox Tools website, which was created in collaboration with The Autism Project to help make play more accessible to children with developmental disabilities. ToyBox Tools is a collection of resources for parents, teachers and caregivers to help them engage children in the joy of play.
Through the ToyBox Tools website, www.ToyBoxTools.com, visitors can browse the tools online, and then download and print them for use at home or in the classroom. Resources include:
Playbooks with step-by-step instructions on how to play with select Hasbro toys and games
Wait cards to teach children the skill of waiting while others are taking a turn
Countdown timers to help support the passage of time and number of turns
Playmats that serve as a fun and useful backdrop for play
The resources feature a variety of beloved Hasbro brands, including MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, BABY ALIVE and HASBRO GAMING. The tools were developed in collaboration with The Autism Project, who has a long-standing philanthropic relationship with the Hasbro Children’s Fund. They were designed to help children with a range of developmental challenges enjoy playtime in a way that’s fun and comfortable, at their own pace. They can be used with any child who needs support.
“We’re thrilled that Hasbro realized that for many children, play doesn’t come naturally, and initiated this solution that’s helping so many families,” said Joanne Quinn, Executive Director of The Autism Project. “This program is spreading the joy of play to all children, and in doing so, helping to foster connections with peers, siblings and other generations that may otherwise have been lost.”
“To fulfill our mission of creating the world’s best play experiences, we need to make play accessible to all children of all abilities,” said Samantha Lomow, Senior Vice President, Hasbro Brands. “I’m proud that ToyBox Tools started as a grassroots project from some of our employees who saw an opportunity to offer a solution to a problem that many families face. Their passion and creativity speak to the values we hold as an organization, and I’m delighted that we’ve expanded the program in collaboration with The Autism Project to offer new resources for families, and use our brands for good.”
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through Hasbro Studios and its film labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com,and follow us on Twitter(@Hasbro & @HasbroNews)and Instagram(@Hasbro).
About The Autism Project
The Autism Project is a unique collaboration of parents, professionals, and community members who provide quality support, training, and programming - accessible to all - for children and youth with an autism spectrum disorder, their families, and those who serve them. The Autism Project's vision is a world where individuals with an ASD are valued, actively participating members of their communities.
Hasbro are no strangers to philanthropic gesture and campaigns, and it looks like they'll be supporting their more generous side once again this year - though with a first-time campaign called Be Fearless Be Kind. The company is joining up with the Toys for Tots scheme, a US Marine Corps foundation that supports families less fortunate and in need through the winter period in particular.
Specifically, Hasbro will be matching all donations made through the foundation: for each toy or game, they will add a second toy or game, up to a total of 1 million toys. There have been reports of some hiccups in the campaign itself, though not related to either Toys for Tots or Hasbro themselves - you can read more on that here - but all seems to have settled pretty quickly. Read more on this new scheme below!
TRIANGLE, Va., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and global play and entertainment company, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), announced today a new holiday matching campaign that will bring joy to even more children in need this holiday season. For every new, unwrapped toy or game donated by individuals to any Toys for Tots local campaign through the 2017 holiday season, Hasbro will also donate a new toy or game as part of its BE FEARLESS BE KIND philanthropic initiative, up to one million gifts.
"The holidays can be a trying time for families in need and oftentimes we're low on toys by early December. This gift from Hasbro will help our U.S. Marine Corps reservists and volunteers bring smiles to the faces of so many more children who need our help," said Lieutenant General H.P. Osman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
A corporate partner for more than 20 years, Hasbro has helped to deliver more than 3.5 million toys and games nationwide through its annual support of Toys for Tots. This year, the company seeks to inspire even more donations through this holiday matching campaign. To find a local Toys for Tots unit and learn more about how to make a donation, please visit: http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.aspx.
"The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Program truly embody what it means to be both fearless and kind, and with such great need in communities throughout the country, their work is more important than ever," said John Frascotti, President of Hasbro. "Through our BE FEARLESS BE KIND initiative, Hasbro hopes to inspire kids to make a difference in the world. We want even more families to feel inspired to donate, knowing their one donation will actually mean two gifts for children in need."
Through the generosity of individuals, organizations and businesses, combined with a dedicated corps of over 35,000 volunteers across the country, Toys for Tots plays an active role in creating a more inclusive world and inspiring others to make a difference in their communities. With the holiday season rapidly approaching, families who struggle to make ends meet seek additional support to provide their children with a little joy during this special time of year.
This holiday, local toy drives will be held in more than 800 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
BE FEARLESS BE KIND is Hasbro's signature philanthropic initiative, designed to empower kids to have the compassion and courage to stand up for others, to be inclusive and to make a difference in the world. In 2016, the company impacted more than 3.8 million children worldwide through its many philanthropic programs like BE FEARLESS BE KIND and partnerships with organizations like Toys for Tots.
Families or volunteers who have been impacted by Toys for Tots over the years are encouraged to share their stories at: stories.toysfortots.org.
About Toys for Tots Foundation
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity, is the fundraising, funding and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation was created at the behest of the U.S. Marine Corps and provides support in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, who directs the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation has supported Toys for Tots since 1991 and supplemented local campaigns with tens of millions of toys valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
On Business Wire, Hasbro has launched a news release today detailing their quarterly cash dividends. Here is what was reported:
December 07, 2017 12:32 PM Eastern Standard Time
PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share. The dividend will be payable on February 15, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2018.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through Hasbro Studios and its film labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years. Learn more at http://www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
In another addition to the long saga of the Toys'R'Us bankrupcty news, previously reported on back in September, we have some news coming at us from the UK branch of the multinational retailer, courtesy of fellow Seibertronian blackeyedprime.
It appears that, according to the BBC, out of the 106 stores currently open in the UK, at least 25 of them will be closed in the coming months due to issues of rental costs and the model of the stores themselves. You can read more about the issue here, but it seems as though holiday retail at least will not be affected, though several thousand jobs will be cut if no solution is found on time.
Worth noting: this is an entirely different issue than the Chapter 11 filing, and is limited to the UK locations of the retailer.
The closures would form part of a deal to renegotiate debts owed by the company to its landlords - which must be agreed by 75% of its creditors.
The toy giant, which has around 3,000 workers, is looking to move away from its "big-box" out-of-town store model.
Christmas trading and gift cards are not expected to be affected.
The company is seeking approval from its board and US parent company to enter talks with the landlords.
Imaginarium Art has added more characters to be statues to their growing pool of Transformers statue involving Coronation Starscream with throne, Ultra Magnus pose statue, Soundwave pose statue with his minions: Rumble (or Frenzy for those on the other side of the coin), Laserbeak, and Ravage, and lastly the most recent Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod statue holding the Matrix of Leadership up as he ascends to being the next Prime after Optimus. While the other statues have been sold out, but the Rodimus Prime statue is still up for preorder at the moment. Be expected to shell out though! The pluses with these statues, aside from being super highly detailed are that they can and do feature LEDs and other fancy lighting features. Hot Rod seems to be packed with those features along with impressive detail too.
This time Imaginarium Art are increasing that number of Transformers statues with Autobot Jazz and Decepticon Skywarp. With these two added to our growing roster, we can hope for an even more characters to be made for their Transformers line. Here are the images below shared on Imaginarium Art’s Facebook page with Jazz and Skywarp respectively.
Be sure to give them a like or follow on Facebook too!
Coming from Tokyo Comic Con, we have a brand new brand partnership to report on! Casio posted a 30 second spot on the YouTube channel for their G-Shock Watches, and it features a G-Steel watch that transforms into Optimus Prime to save the earth from some oncoming meteors! According to a blog post, this promotion is to celebrate the G-Shock watch's 35th anniversary. It’s unknown at this time if this will actually lead to Casio Producing a special edition watch (Or Takara producing a special edition toy) based on the commercial, but we can only hope! Check out the ad below, and then discuss it in our Energon Pub forums!
Keep your Optics and audio sensors tuned to Seibertron.com for all the latest Transformers news and reviews!
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