>>11408837>>11408842>>11408844WTF are you two even on about
of course part of a designers job is to come up with character options *that fit within the prescribed budget, fall on-theme with the current product line, and will sell enough to make the production worth it*
This is why repaints with a new head are infinitely easier to get obscure characters as than actual remolds.
This is also why domestic recognizability is important. North America buys like 60% of all transformers. They really need to make sure there are actually fans here of the characters.
If they can't guarantee it, haslab becomes the go-to because that DOES Guarantee it. The haslab goal IS the guarantee.
So expect more high-engineering, low-exposure characters for that.
Why is liege maximo (g2 style) in the AoP instead of haslab? Cause they can make his alt mode whatever the fuck they want, and they can release him at any size class they want, which means it's much, much less risky.
Why did Sideways finally get made? Cause he can be repainted and sold as a troop builder to offset the costs.
All of these things go into the designers minds when pitching to their bosses to approve, because the entirety of the product line has to fit within expectations.
It's not like some exec is up there going "eeeeh, do kids really even LIKE cars anymore? Let's not do autobots, only dinobots and maximals"
