Podcast The Full Force recently carried out an interview with Mark Weber, former Manager of Global Brand Development for Transformers and G.I. Joe for Hasbro. The interview has some interested revelations about the genesis of the Prime Wars trilogy, and the shift of the Generations line from an 18 month pattern to an annual one themed around a central concept like combining. Mark reveals that Hasbro was initially lukewarm to the idea of a combiner themed line off the back of Power Core Combiners, but that after he explained some of the key ideas in his thinking, Hasbro was won over (he also pointed out how previous attempts like Power Core had missed what made combiners cool in the first place).
Further revelations on the Generations line include how Combiner Wars was actually pitched as the second concept for the new, annual, Generations line, but that Hasbro led with it because it was a strong concept; it also did well with retailers to the point it was extended for an additional six months. The interview also notes Hasbro pitched the package as a trilogy of Combiner Wars, Titan Wars (which this interview confirms was the original name before being changed to Titans Return for legal reasons) and then Power of the Primes. Mark himself just wanted to make Combiner Wars happen.
The interview then goes on to discuss a pitch for a new Transformers series that Mark worked on that never came to pass. Called Transformers Generation 3, it was intended as an all-new series with new characters and styles, including a Decepticon hearse named Tombstone. Another concept was for a snowplow Transformer, whose plow would form a shield. The story concept was to introduce a new crew of Autobots who were on Earth hunting Decepticons, complete with a new Autobot leader who would not see eye-to-eye with Optimus and butt heads with him; Weber calls it a hero vs hero concept like Marvel’s Civil War where you could side with either Optimus or this new anti-Optimus character.
The main watchwords of this pitch seem to be introducing all-new characters into the mythos, rather than just bringing back old ones who has not been used for a while, together with a new take on the story. We’ve seen a few ideas of the Autobots as hunters in the recent Robots in Disguise series, but as pitches for Cyberverse show, we are likely to be sticking with the same core cast of heroes and villains for a while. We can sympathize with the idea of having some “new blood” added to the cast, although we feel a balance would be the best way forward – give us some old favorites in the mix as well, some guys we’ve not seen in a while would be great too.
Check out the full interview and lots more besides in The Full Force podcast, season 4, episode 9.
We’d totally buy that hearse Decepticon.
combinerlover
I am a Geeoner as well , And an open minded one at that….It took some time but I fell in love with BW ,BW 2 and BW NEO ….Then sort of with the Unicron Trilogy …Certain characters any way …Like Sideways ect… And I adore G2 for sentimental reasons… BUT , I love that most of it is inter connected ,,I like that the story keeps roots that we fell in love with then progressed , and keeps progressing…. It seems every new lore brings forth a new bot or 2 and gets shuffled in to the whole G1 group… Bulkhead, Bay verse Barricade ect… I want a G1 Prowl repaint/retool of BARRICADE…Any way , unlike some others I personally want G3 to be connected to G1 ect …But be fresh as hell in regards to bots, faces story … EVERY THING … Maybe even explain where REFLECTOR and SHOCKWAVE got to…Lol. Either way it`s time to keep the formula but give us a new cast , never seen before… and leave a couple scattered here and there in the way HEAD MASTERS , MASTERFORCE, VICTORY , Zone did . Love that approach …Just IMO .
ca12nag3
It's insanely hard to be done. G3 basically has to be smacked right after the end of the G1 cartoon series. G2 is actually nothing more than recoloring of old toys and the cartoon got a new finish which at the time annoyed the hell out of me. But if they could incorporate characters like windblade and flesh out the female transformers, it could be something else.
Just hoping it is not some sly thing to call it "G3" while in fact it is nothing more than a clone of G1. Meaning they use the setting of G1 and bring back characters and make stories that are not in line with G1 continuity. Ironhide Ratchet and the like should remain dead. Even though I really love Ironhide. But for continuity sake.
There is a lot you can explore with characters that have not seen that much action. Build their stories and possibly bring in characters like "ghost-Starscream". Well, he is actually alive at a certain point in season 3 just never to be seen again drifting in space.
combinerlover
There has to be a way to keep G1 alive while introducing new characters , hell G1 Season 3 and 4 did that …G2 did it, so did BW ….Even the description said OP and the new leader butted heads, he didn`t say that they would if in the same time line. i THINK IT`S TIME TO HAVE A NEW pRIME ( nOT OUR fAN VOTE ) As well as a brand spankin new Decepticon ruler… Some thing truly unique , not just another tank , or a jet… Some thing that makes you go WOW, ok .
Crim
I think we should consider if Hasbro keeps rehashing G1 "because it sells" (as in the characters and story) or if it's because it's safe and already has a built in fanbase? I think too often we take it as "if they stick to G1 '84 it'll sell" because that's what WE are familiar and comfortable with versus what kids know and care about (protip, they don't care about OUR G1. To them that's just the current story). I would say, against a G3 happening, look what happened with Alpha Bravo, Rook and some of the other new characters introduced during Combiner Wars. G1 fans FLIPPED THE FUCK OUT. These characters are hated by them, I'd say kids didn't care and embraced them, and some of us old enough to have had G1 '84 had no problem with them but with G1ers flipping out I can see why Hasbro would step back from any potential G3 idea.
Personally, I think we're already seeing G3 unfolding through IDW's comics. Shit, half the reason I continue to read More Then Meets the Eye (Lost Light) is because of the newer characters they have introduced. IDW in general, for me, has already pumped new blood into the Transformers franchise, more so then the movies ever did for me. I hope we get official, and more 3P, figures for them, I want a solid Nautica and even a 3P Windblade (looking for a better done figure).
Florgeysteve
This just seems like Hasbro favours the same stale characters over and over again. Also reminds me of the proposed Prime seasons 3 and 4 where Maximals and Star Seekers would have made an appearance. Hasbro just keep to the status quo I want a change, I want something to get my interest and bring a significant change like beast wars or animated.
combinerlover
I just hope Hasbro sees this forum and hears us saying – YES , WE WANT A G3 . ….Lol … By the old Gods and the new I command you to hear us .
Ethan personaff
I want to see the hearse and snowplow cons along with decent figures made.
Fort Max
I could totally get behind a generation 3 line. Most of the new characters we've had in recent years have been great and I'd rather see all new characters then old ones reimagined.
leadsled
I REALLY want a hearse Decepticon now .
kylash327
I want a Decepticon Hearse now.
Obvious Prime
I feel like in a sense they ARE doing new characters, just in a way that also pleases old fans. They've been digging up nobodies like Doublecross and Triggerhappy and giving them dedicated new molds which would've been insane to think about 10 years ago. Most people won't know these characters existed previously, and it's not like they've ever done anything in fiction, so to them they might as well be brand new. It's not ideal but I feel like that's as much of a middle ground you can get between "I want new thing" and "nostalgia only where's my masterpiece stranglehold"
VortexPrime
To be fair seeing how people here react to every new version of old characters, or new characters and styles, I'm not surprised they feel that way…
And I'm not saying it can't be done btw.
combinerlover
I`ve been dreaming of a Gen 3 for a long while… It should totally happen .
Kickback
Did someone say TFGen3!?!
Rated X
Thanks. I would streamline it and take it back to the basics.
Windsweeper II
Exactly.