We can share for your our first images of the new Transformers x Mini World Toyline revealed in China.
During the Toy Edu China convention, Chinese toy company ZhuangChen presented their new toyline based in the Transformers skins featured in popular Chinese sandbox game Mini World. The figure are blocky non-transforming robots which come with a big box which resembled the alt mode of each character. Each box can be also used as a base/battle station for the small robots. We have 6 characters: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Rodimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream and Galvatron.
We still have no concrete information about the release of these toys outside of China, but stay tuned for more updates. See the images after the jump and then sound off on the 2005 Boards!
Slashformingdoofus
Hmmm, the designs are still made in Korea right?
KTRBrickBot
It branched out to Taiwan and China.
NOBLExGAMER
These look like neat desk toys. Can't say I'd pick them up for anything else.
Slashformingdoofus
Isn’t Carbot Korean? How popular is that series internationally?
KTRBrickBot
Oh hey, there's Hello Carbot on the bottom shelf. They're Legends-sized Kabaya-style transformable Mini kits, but they're in plastic packaging instead of blind boxes ZuangChen also did.
Carbot Scout Set Of 12 – Original – SirToys.com
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cloudballoon
Of course. I don't play these games and don't follow gaming, so I have no idea how well/bad this Mini World game does outside of China. I live in Canada, and I do see it available on my Google Play with 100M+ downloads, how many of that millions is outside of China is a mystery to me, that should probably be the determining factor of whether non-China countries get a chance of distributions.
Slashformingdoofus
Oh okay I accept your apology. I can understand why it’s unusual for your to imagine wether or not a product gets promoted or localized officially by the licensor. Sometimes companies only give licenses to companies to manufacture products exclusively in specific regions and aren’t allowed to distribute them internationally. This is because sometimes products are manufactured for a specific market and don’t fit with the licensor’s main market. This product could do well in China but could be estimated to do poorly in places like North America and Europe due to unfamiliarity with these designs.
cloudballoon
I don't mean to single out you specifically. My feeling is I don't care about absolutes. Hasbro MUST promote all licensees OR none. There are exceptions, different reasons to promote/not (like your fine examples, and Robosen) according to Hasbro's business decisions. I don't care enough trying to figure Hasbro out. You do you, and it's all good. Don't let me make you mad. If I did, I apologize.
Slashformingdoofus
The Robosen one was a big deal so they had to promote it, an autotransforming Optimus prime that can move by itself must be noticed. But these are small figurines that look like something you can find in the bargain bin a year from now. You can also find the Threezero figures on Hasbro pulse but they aren’t promoting them are they? So don’t “who cares” me anymore buddy.
cloudballoon
Hasbro X Robosen was a collab acknowledged by Hasbro and on Pulse. Sometimes Hasbro mentioned licensed third party in their investor updates. Who knows? Who cares?
Slashformingdoofus
You think licensed third party figures are officially confirmed by Hasbro themselves? Of course not. Look at everything Flametoys has made so far and the Kotobukiya figures, not a single one officially acknowledged by Hasbro unless it’s some game collab or something like that. Hasbro doesn’t have to give official confirmation of figures coming to the west that aren’t manufactured by them.
cloudballoon
I agree. With that Chinese-focused packaging (vis-a-vis an international packaging with a Chinese label slapped on), it's probably a China-market only line. Otherwise we'd heard about it direct from Hasbro by now.
Slashformingdoofus
Regardless, this probably won’t get a official retail release. But it could be available online in stores like BBTS.
Combaticons
No offense, but I think names of megs and starsceam are misplaced each other on the packaging
Arvegtor
So, in addition to these 6 the game had Grimlock, Snarl, Swoop, Predaking and Superion, am I missing any characters?
cloudballoon
The way I read the lawsuit, Mojang's beef is with the game mechanics & many aspects of the UI, not the character assets, especially these TF characters. The lawsuit got its verdicts and Mini World's company was ordered to remove all infringing IP of Mojang in its game. So it's settled. Mojang can't stop an officially Hasbro licensed toy from reaching the Western market.
BWfan86
interesting
protostar8
Thanks!
nune
ShowZ might carry them, they are supplying the Kindergarten Series figures when they get released. And if that is cancelled or in doubt, I'm guessing Sirtoys could carry them.
protostar8
Anyone have a clue how someone in the US might get these? Like what online store will carry them?