Transbot9
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Posts: 837
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Post by Transbot9 on Feb 2, 2004 10:45:36 GMT -5
Well, last Sat. I saw the new Transformers, and it was good. What's odd, though, is that you have the same voice actor playing the main human character (Kicker) as RD. Transformers: Energon also uses a similar animation technique. Hasbro's marketing scheme for both series is similar (Spark of Combination for Transformers, Fuzors Combined for ZOIDS). The term Fuzor was origenally used by Hasbro in the Transformer line in the mid-90s. @ my local TRU, Zoids & Transformers are right next to each other. I havn't been to other places lately to see if other retailers are putting up Zoids next to Transformers, but if stores that though they were't going to stock Zoids anymore are bringing in new ones...
Coincidence? I think not. Transformers: Armada (preveous TF toy line) sold very well, before Hasbro had initiated any large scale marketing for Zoids. It looks like Hasbro's pushing for an association between the two series state-side despite Takara & TOMY being competaters back in Japan.
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Post by Phenotype on Feb 2, 2004 11:08:08 GMT -5
No, it's just coincidence. None of the stores here have Zoids and Transformers next to each other, they always have Gundam next to Zoids. I'm not sure what sort of "association" you think they're trying to make but you can bet you'll never see some sort of Zoids/Transformers crossover.
-Phenotype
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Transbot9
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Post by Transbot9 on Feb 2, 2004 12:06:32 GMT -5
As for any official crossover, of course not. The only toylines that Hasbro has crossed with Transformer has been G.I. Joe, and I think those crossovers are strictly state-side and in comic book format. There may even be clauses in the contracts Hasbro has with it's Japanese partners that would prevent a crossover from ever taking place, but that's just pure speculation.
What I'm reffering to is a marketing association - getting the same kids that are going "Mom! Mom! I want Optimus Prime!" to go "Mom! Mom! Look, a new Zoid, can I have it?". Hasbro's target audiance for Transformers is about the same as the target audiance for ZOIDs. Current marketing methods have worked with TF: Armada, and has been followed by similar marketing methods used on both Zoids and Transformers: Energon. Using what works and beating it to death until it stops working is common in marketing, as well as building an association with a product to increase sales.
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Post by Skvora on Feb 2, 2004 17:03:06 GMT -5
my tru got transformers to the left and gundam to the right of zoids
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Cheetah
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Not your ordinary feline.
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Post by Cheetah on Feb 2, 2004 17:45:02 GMT -5
You make it sound like it's a bad thing.
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Post by LordGale on Feb 2, 2004 18:21:31 GMT -5
Same as I remember, Pheno, the Target I got to has MSiA's (That never sell, yet are ALWAYS restocked) next to the Zoids. I think they really need to give Quatre ( RD's voice actor, He did Quatre in GW, Amuro in MSG, Harry in Z:NC/0, Kyosuke in SoulTaker, I think, RD ,and now Kicker? Lovely name  ) a rest, the same guy in 20-odd series isn't a good thing. Personally, I hope Hasbro doesn't try anthing like that here, Zoids is a (Well, Relatively, anyway) serious TV series, and TF is, well, not. |
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Post by Tyrannotaur on Feb 2, 2004 18:48:41 GMT -5
It makes sense to group mecha together..now doesn't it?  |
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Post by LordGale on Feb 2, 2004 19:50:19 GMT -5
Different kinds of Mecha in this case, however
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Transbot9
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Post by Transbot9 on Feb 3, 2004 22:22:29 GMT -5
Heh. First time, accident; second time, coincidence; third time, crazy fanboy conspiricy theory.
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Post by Phenotype on Feb 4, 2004 0:25:29 GMT -5
What I'm reffering to is a marketing association - getting the same kids that are going "Mom! Mom! I want Optimus Prime!" to go "Mom! Mom! Look, a new Zoid, can I have it?". Hasbro's target audiance for Transformers is about the same as the target audiance for ZOIDs. That's the same target audience for every company that produces any type of Mecha/war/fighting toy. Like I said before, it's coincidence and nothing more. You're reading into it too much. -Phenotype |
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Post by gojulasprime23 on Feb 4, 2004 2:05:02 GMT -5
Wait, wait... how is Zoids Fuzors considered 'serious' and Transfomers ( Armada or Energon) not? One's just as far fetched as the other, and both have their wacky flaws. Neither are serious, unless you're comparing them to something silly.
And , yeah, there are similarities between TF and Fuzors, but it's probably just because they attract the same audience, and thus is coincidental.
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Post by steelx on Feb 4, 2004 12:27:44 GMT -5
my toysrus has zoids gundam and tfs right next to eachother. i dont think that this makes them have a cross in anyway. it just means that there........right next to eachother. lol
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Transbot9
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Systems Coodinator
Posts: 837
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Post by Transbot9 on Feb 4, 2004 15:09:16 GMT -5
Whoah, hey, chill a little, just playing around with this. It's just something filed under "amusing notion" than anything.
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Post by Skvora on Feb 4, 2004 21:42:26 GMT -5
i wouldnt call fuzors serious, but CC and GF vs Transformers...
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Post by Wolfy on Feb 4, 2004 22:14:05 GMT -5
Hey, I liked Transformers Armada. Sure in the beginning it had its flaws, but it really got good near the end.
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) a rest, the same guy in 20-odd series isn't a good thing. Personally, I hope Hasbro doesn't try anthing like that here, Zoids is a (Well, Relatively, anyway) serious TV series, and TF is, well, not. 
)
