Various members of the fan community have been reaching out to Hasbro in many different ways to express their displeasure over the credit card security issues within Fun Publications, and Fun Publications’ reaction to those issues. Through their PR firm, Hasbro has released the following statement:
“To the G.I. Joe and Transformers fan communities and Fun Publications customers,
Thank you for bringing your concern to our attention and for giving Hasbro the opportunity to respond to a matter that impacts its G.I. Joe and Transformers brands. Please know we take all consumer concerns very seriously and are in regular contact with Fun Publications (our licensee) about the possibility of a breach in security to their online purchasing system for the G.I. Joe and Transformers Collectors’ Clubs. Fun Publications is also taking this matter very seriously and is diligently working at identifying any problems, the number of customers affected and ways to ensure it does not happen to any more customers. Hasbro wants consumers to have a positive experience at all touch points for its brands, including transactions with its licensees. As such, we are confident that Fun Publications has detailed instructions and pertinent information available for those consumers who believe they may have been targeted by credit theft via their portals.
Based on our extensive conversations with the Fun Publications team Hasbro wants to convey the following to the fan communities:
Fun Publications has assured us that they are taking necessary measures to curb additional issues, and they are working with third party experts to identify the problem. They anticipate knowing and communicating the cause of the breach as soon as possible to those affected.
— They believe that the number of customers affected is low relative to the volume of sales transactions made.
— However, if you believe fraudulent charges have been made to your credit card after making a purchase with any portals for the G.I. Joe or Transformers Collectors’ Clubs, we urge you to contact Fun Publications immediately and provide them with the information requested at <https://www.transformersclub.com/tccccinfo.cfm> or <http://gijoeclub.com/ccinfo.cfm> by using the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of these pages.
— Fun Publications can also be reached at the following number for additional consumer affairs inquiries relating to the G.I. Joe and Transformers Collectors’ Clubs at (817) 448-9863during regular business hours.
— As more information becomes available, they will be contacting all affected customers who have notified them about the issue.
Thank you again to all of the fans of our Transformers and G.I. Joe brands for their continued support and for the opportunity to respond to this matter.”
The ultimate resolution of this situation remains unknown, but here’s hoping things get back to normal for all involved.
I’ve talked quite a bit about the UK Convention Roll Out Roll Call III on the What’s on Joe Mind podcast (in fact, this week’s episode will feature an interview with David Tree, who is the mastermind behind the convention), but I haven’t mentioned it here on the site lately.
With HissTank.com member “Blot” revealing the awesome Roll Out Roll Call III exclusives, this seemed like a good time to do it!
The infamous Cobra Snake Armor will make a huge, triumphant return at Roll Out Roll Call III, with a whole new aesthetic! But, wait… that’s not all! There will also be an exclusive Red Shadow “Dreadnaught” featuring an awesome G.I. Joe/ Transformers crossover… and an o-ring Baron Ironblood!
These are some truly awesome looking exclusives…makes me want to run out and buy a plane ticket.
Check out these amazing exclusives mirrored below.
There is so much lined up for the show, from amazing guests to presentations & panels to competitions to exclusives.
The 2012 exclusives have been revealed.
RORC-04 V.I.P.E.R Armour is proving to be our most anticipated show item ever. Available in 3 colours and limited to just 30 of each colour at £49.99 each.
RORC-05 Dreadnought is an evil reworking that would sit nicely in any Transformer or GI-Joe collection. Limited to 25 at £24.99 each.
The exclusives will available to Weekend Ticket holders from 20.00GMT tonite, so if you still need to order a ticket, please make sure you book before 19.30GMT to ensure your account is active for 20.00GMT exclusives ‘go-live’.
This is just a reminder to let folks know that on March 6th, the complete first season of Transformers: Prime will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc! What does this mean for Joe fans? Well, perhaps if sales are brisk enough for Transformers: Prime that means something good down the pipe for a potential G.I. Joe: Renegades… maybe I’m reaching at straws, but I’ll take that chance.
I’ll be reviewing the Season boxed set closer to release, but until then, check out these great clips that have been posted online! I actually really enjoy Transformers: Prime, and hopefully some attention on this boxed set will motivate Shout! Factory and Hasbro to get something similar done for G.I. Joe: Renegades. We’ll see. Enjoy the clips below!
You can also read the Press Release at the Read the Rest of this Entry link below.
You know, something has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle, at least on my end, regarding the animated goodness that is to come later on this evening. I’ve already gone over how much I’m looking forward to G.I. Joe: Renegades, and of course, I’ve talked about Avengers, and even Young Justice.
But what about this whole Transformers: Prime thing?
Since the days of Beast Wars, I’ve been loving the animated universes of the Transformers (well… besides the whole Armada/Energon/Whatever fiasco) and you would think this next generation of Transformers animated coolness would have me excited. But it’s kind of gotten lost in the shuffle. I think part of me has kind of been looking forward to it, but with all of the Renegades furor, I hadn’t really thought about it a whole lot.
Well, the guys over at Seibertron have thought about it, and even received early screeners for it, and posted a review.
Okay, I’m officially excited.
Certainly the discerning folks at Seibertron.com are more well versed in Transformers lore than I am, and probably are harsher judges of how a new animated universe fits into the whole mythology, but they seem pretty enamored with it already. They claim it takes the best parts of Beast Wars and the best parts of the live action films and blends them all together into a very serious, “aggressive” story…and I really like the sounds of that.
So yes, most of my giddy impatience tomorrow will be waiting for 5:00pm and the debut of G.I. Joe: Renegades, but I will be honest and say a healthy portion of the excitement is also now reserved for Transformers: Prime. Two cool looking reinventions of the 80’s corner stones of after school animated greatness. Could we be on the verge of another golden age of boys action animation? Certainly seems possible. Even as the father of two girls, I’m all for it.
While we STILL have no official confirmed word about G.I. Joe: Renegades, The Hub has announced the debut event for Transformers: Prime via a Press Release. According to official word from The Hub, Transformers: Prime will debut with a 5-part mini-series 11/29/2010 – 12/03/2010.
What does this mean for G.I. Joe: Renegades? Unfortunately, nobody really knows at this point…but considering Transformers: Prime was initially listed alongside Renegades on November 26th, and that launch date is apparently incorrect, we can only assume that perhaps G.I. Joe: Renegades might not be airing that date either.
I really wish we could get some final word from The Hub, as frustration is starting to set in. I know we cannot blame The Hub for any of this, as it is all our assumption based on un-official television listings, but it would be nice to get an announcement for Renegades sometime soon.
It is cool to finally get some intel on Transformers: Prime, and I can only assume G.I. Joe: Renegades is close behind. Check out the full press release after the jump. (more…)
