Youtuber Optibotimus has posted a video review of Transformers The Ride exclusive Evac figure. The toy, which is deluxe class, will be given away and is sure to bring in some money on the 2nd hand market. You can watch the review below.

Youtube Transformers reviewer, Mitch Santona, has posted his video review of the Transformers Prime Dreadwing Cyberverse Commander class figure onto the social video sharing site. You can watch the video below.

Full Metal Hero user foxdie has scanned a magazine article showing off an image of Transformers Fall of Cybertron Metroplex

Tudou.com has uploaded a video of the highly anticipated, and very much delayed, Igear Weapon Specialist prototype. This video demonstrates the figures weapons and how all of them will interact with the figure. His sawblade attachment, movie-esque cannons, sniper rifle, bazooka and knife are all shown here. You can watch the video HERE

July 15th is the most recent release date given from Igear

Planet Iacon have posted and image, thanks to Toys2Mail Station, of the upcoming Walmart exclusive "Ultimate Giftset" which features two deluxe class  and two Legions class figures.  Release in Q3 of this year, the toys are Generation 2 Jazz (a recolour of from Reveal the Shield Jazz), Combat Hero Optimus Prime (from RTS Optimus Prime), Motormaster (also from RTS Legend Optimus Prime) and Thundercracker (from RTS Legend Starscream).  You can view the image below.

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) appears all set to boost its Entertainment segment via Hasbro Studios for television and alliance with movie studios like Paramount, Universal Pictures, Sony and Relativity. Hasbro started the year on a positive note and will likely perform better in the coming quarters on a strong sales momentum from the 3D version of Star Wars, Battleship worldwide launch in April (with the U.S. launch in May), Avengers Assembled (May release) and Spiderman 4 (set to debut in July 2012). Other films in the queue are Ouija, CandyLand, Stretch Armstrong, Clue and Monopoly.

Added to this, Hasbro, in association with Paramount Pictures, was nearly ready for the big screen appearance of G.I. Joe Retaliation on June 29 this year. But the premiere has now been pushed to the next year.  To cash in on the global popularity of 3D versions, .I. Joe Retaliation will now appear in 3D suit on March 29, 2013. The strong pipeline ensures that Hasbro’s entertainment initiatives will contribute to its revenue as well as toy-sales.

However, the last moment delay of G.I. Joe Retaliation could be the result of the recent box-office underperformance of The Battleship movie in the U.S. We believe, management does not want to lose any single chance to make the recent G.I. Joe edition a huge success and seeks to go bigger with the brand. As a point of reference, the first G.I. Joe garnered sizable revenue in 2009. So far in the year, Star Wars and Avengers were flourishing in box-offices with Avengers being one of the well-accepted boys’ toys brands at the current level. Battleship delivered strong starts internationally, in particular markets like Asia and Europe.

Revenue from the Entertainment and Licensing segment increased 19% year over year to $29.3 million in first-quarter 2012 backed by the sales of television programming globally, as well as movie and  licensing revenue from Transformers. According to management, there are various strong motion picture and television entertainment backed properties doing well at retail.

For full year 2012, Hasbro reiterated its target to grow revenues and earnings per share excluding foreign exchange fluctuation. However, we are a bit doubtful about the magnitude of the growth as G.I. Joe is now out of the 2012 show. The apprehension is also reflected in the analysts’ estimate. Following the news, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full-year 2012 was slashed by 3 out of 11 analysts in the last 7 days while none went for any increment. Coming to magnitude of revision, the estimate was cut by 2 cents to $2.88 per share for the fiscal year.

Hasbro, which competes with the likes of Mattel Inc. (MAT), currently retains a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating. We are maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.

Several months ago we were informed (unofficially) that Part One Ltd, the company behind e-Hobby were going to start working with Fun Publication (The Transformers Collectors Club / Botcon) on some collaborative products for the US.  Well now the official announcement has been made over on the e-Hobby news website we can le you know what we heard.  At the time the talk was regarding possible exclusives for Botcon 2013.  Whether this was helping them with toy design, packaging, prints could not be said, but I suspect it may be officially licensing the e-Hobby exclusives to the group and collaborating with Japanese sales.

We'd expect more news on this announcement over the coming months so stay tuned to the e-Hobby blog for more information

In an move that we all saw coming, it has been announced that MP-12 Lambor (Sideswipe) will indeed be recoloured as MP-12A Red Alert.  The figure should sport the sirens which he will need making him a partial remould.  The question, however, is what colour head will they give him?

ACToys.net have posted another scan from a Japanese Hobby Magazine (I believe it's Figure King) which shows MP-12 Lambor (Sideswipe) in both vehicle and robot modes.  You can view the image below.

The page also contains the same preview of MP-13 Soundwave

Expect more images form other Japanese Hobby magazines

Planet Iacon have posted a magazine scan showing MP-12 Lambor (Sideswipe), along with a size comparison with Convoy as well as the confirmation that MP-13 will be Soundwave.  You can view the image below.

Planet Iacon have provided a scan of a Japanese Magazine showing that Transformers Masterpiece 13 (MP-13) will be Soundwave.

Expect a black Soundblaster version, probably e-Hobby, later in the works.

The Facebook groups, Planet Iacon have updated page with an image of Wave 1 od the Arms Micron capsule figures which are being released in Japan.  The figures include Micron  / Mini-con versions of Optimus and Bumblebee which turn into weapons as well as two Beast molds (a Cobra which turns into a staff and a lizard which turns into an axe). The figures are due for releaser this month.

Takara Tomy have updated their website with images of this years Tokyo Toy Show exclusives.  The event, which is being held June 16-17 in Tokyo Japan features two exclusive Transformers a crystal (clear coloured) version of Transformers Prime Optimus Prime and a Black Henkei Convoy called Nemesis Prime. Both figures are limited to two per attendee with the toys priced at ¥5,000 each.

On Tuesday Fans Project updated their website with a statement regarding the group and announcing that they will be offering a subscription service.

"The Future of FPC

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 9:52 AM

The Allspark are reporting that the Transformers Prime First Edition Vehicon and Bulkhead figures appears to be being distributed again within the US.  There have been reportings of sightings of the toys on both ad the TFW2005.com, for the Vehicon and on The Allspark for Bulkhead.