Pack-in material

2011-09-01T01:58:24Z

58.7.209.116: /* CD-ROMs and DVDs */

[[Image:Youhavebeenchosen.jpg|thumb|300px|The besotted [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has chosen [[You|YOU]].]]
Since the very beginning of ''Transformers,'' [[Hasbro]] has been including '''pack-in material''' with toys. The first example was the [[Catalog|toy catalog]], simply advertising all the available Transformers. But soon these were accompanied with mail-order flyers for additional exclusive toys, then mini-comics, contests, and more. In more recent years, CD-ROMs and DVDs have come into vogue, containing cartoon episodes and various interactive features, though more "low-tech" items like stickers and collector cards are still common.
{{note|The term "pack-in material" is used here for lack of a better, official option. If Hasbro has a term for this kind of media, we are unaware of it.}}

==Catalogs==
{{main|Catalog}}
Hasbro has often used pack-in catalogs to advertise their range of available toys. In the days of ''Generation 1,'' they were expansive affairs that would document an entire year's worth of product. In more recent lines, they tend to have a more limited focus, though they do occasionally branch out into advertising for other toylines.

==Mail-order flyers==
In Generation 1, Hasbro sold certain toys exclusively via mail-order flyers included with retail toys. [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and the [[Powerdasher]]s are probably the most well-known of these. Mail-order flyers were also used to sell a few other Transformers that had been discontinued from the main line. Membership in the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] fanclub was also available, and many flyers contained story material related to this that constituted a [[S.T.A.R.S. continuity|distinct micro-continuity]].

;1984
[[Image:Lookinsideforaspecialoffer.jpg|thumb|200px|]]
*"[[Reinforcements from Cybertron!]]"

;1985
*"[[The battle is far from over!]]"
*"[[Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!]]"
*"[[Look Inside for a Special Offer!]]"
*"[[Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?]]"

;1986
[[Image:Decipherthedecepticon3a.jpg|thumb|200px|]]
*"[[Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?]]"
*"[[Decipher the Decepticon]]" Sweepstakes (4 different [[posters]])
*"[[You Have Been Chosen.]]"
*"[[Inside...a Transformer Not Sold in Any Store!]]"

;1987
*"[[Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.]]"
*"[[Transformers Combat Data]]"

;1988
*"[[The Autobots Are Under Attack!]]"

==Mini-comics==
Hasbro and Takara have been known to include mini-comics with toys, sometimes to tie in with a specific promotion, and sometimes to augment the line as a whole.

;''Generation 1''
*"[[Start Your Own Decoy Collection]]", packed alongside [[decoy]]s on certain carded Transformers

;''Generation 2''
*A series of 16 [[G-2 (pack-in comic)|mini-comics]] by [[Hidetsugu Yoshioka]] were packaged with the instruction manuals by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] for the line's Japanese release.

;''Beast Wars''
*"[[Optimus Primal vs Megatron!]]", included only with the two-pack of Basic-sized [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Primal]].

;''Armada''
*[[Armada (mini-comic)|''Armada'' mini-comics]], four issues printed as part of that line's toy catalogs.

;''Energon''
*[[Energon (mini-comic)|''Energon'' mini-comics]], four issues printed as part of that line's toy catalogs.

;''Robot Masters''
*A series of 2 [[Robot Masters (pack-in comic)|mini-comics]] came packaged with early ''Robot Masters'' toys.

;''Henkei! Henkei!''
*Mini-[[manga]] were packaged with every toy in each wave, totaling [[Henkei! Henkei! (pack-in comic)|12 volumes]].

;''Universe (2008)''
*While not technically ''mini''-comics, reprints of [[Escalation (Dreamwave)|''The War Within: The Dark Ages'' #2]] and [[Target: 2006|Marvel UK #82]] were included with thematically-relevant two-packs.

*A reprint of [[Marvel Comics]]' [[The Transformers (issue)|''The Transformers'' #1]] was included with the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1 series|Universe 2008 re-issue of Optimus Prime]].
;''Animated''
*Also decidedly not mini, [[First (and Second) in Flight|the final issue]] of the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' comic series ''[[The Arrival]]'' was included with the [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] toy twin pack.

==Collector's cards==
A common pack-in item, collector's cards are an easy way for Hasbro to give customers a little something extra with their purchases.

;''Generation 2''
{{main|Real Action Pop-Ups 3-D Transformer Trading Card}}
*Some toys in the ''Generation 2'' line came with a multi-fold card which featured the toy's [[bio]] and [[Tech Spec]] inside, and a pop-up version of the [[package art|character art]] on the outside.

;''Beast Wars''
*The Japanese editions of ''Beast Wars'' toys each came with a collector's card (alternately labeled a "DESTRON CARD" or "CYBERTRON CARD") featuring a faction symbol on one side, and character art, a bio and Specs on the other.

;''Beast Wars II''
*Toys from the ''Beast Wars II'' line each came with a collector's card featuring a rendering of the character on a photographic background on one side, and a toy photo, bio and Tech Specs on the other.

;''Beast Wars Neo''
*The ''Beast Wars Neo'' toys each came with a collector's card featuring character art on one side, and toy photos, a bio and Specs on the other.

;''Armada''
*''Armada'' toys came with a glossy, single-sided, playing card-sized sticker featuring character art by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]].
*''Micron Legend'' toys came with a collector's card featuring package art on one side and toy photos, bios and Tech Specs on the other.

;''Heroes of Cybertron''
*Toys in the ''[[Super Collection Figure|Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line each came with collector's card with the character's package art on one side, and a bio and Tech Specs on the other.

;''Energon''
*Toys from the ''Energon'' franchise included a playing-card sized collector's card, with character art on one side, and tri-lingual Tech Spec ratings on the other.

;''Masterpiece''
*''Masterpiece'' toys each come with a collector's card featuring package art on one side with bios and Tech Specs on the reverse.

==VHS Tapes==
{{main|Hasbro}}
In [[1998]], Hasbro included VHS tapes of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' with [[redeco]]es of [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]] in the US and [[Claw Jaw]] and [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] in the UK.

==CD-ROMs and DVDs==
In the modern era, compact-disc storage has become an economical way to include promotional material with toys, from mini-comics to games to full TV episodes.

;''Universe (2003)'' / ''Armada''
{{main|Universe CD-ROM}}
*The ''Transformers: Universe'' CD-ROM was included with select ''Universe'' and ''Armada'' toys.

;''Robot Masters''
{{main|Robot Masters (cartoon)}}
*DVDs were packaged with redecoes of ''Robot Masters'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Robot Masters|G1 Convoy]], [[Optimus Primal/toys#Robot Masters|Beast Convoy]] and [[Lio Convoy#Robot Masters 2|Lio Convoy]].

;''Cybertron''
*A DVD of the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Hidden]]" was included with select ''Cybertron'' toys.
*In Australian retail stores, some Voyager-class figures (namely Cybertron Defense Scattorshot and Nemesis Breaker) came with a DVD which contained the first four episodes of the cartoon in airing order (Haven through Space).

;''Classics''
{{main|Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle}}
*The ''Classics'' "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Classics|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Megatron]]" toy twin pack came with a DVD recounting the events of the [[Unicron Trilogy]].

;''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary''
*The ''[[Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' toys each came with a DVD containing an episode of ''Beast Wars''.
**"[[Equal Measures]]" with [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Cheetor]]
**"[[A Better Mousetrap]]" with [[Rattrap#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Rattrap]].
**"[[The Spark]]" with [[Rhinox (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Rhinox]].
**"[[Spider's Game]]" with [[Tarantulas (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Predacon Tarantulus]].
**"[[Possession]]" with [[Waspinator (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Waspinator]] or [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Optimus Primal]] vs. [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Megatron]].
**"[[Code of Hero]]" with [[Dinobot (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Dinobot]].
*The ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]'' toys each came with a DVD containing a Japanese-dubbed episode of ''Beast Wars'' and a commercial for the toyline, along with advertisements for the 2007 movie. The toys also came with a collector's card with show-based character art on one side, and toy photos, bio and specs on the other.
**"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" with [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|DX Convoy]].
**"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" with [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Convoy]].
**"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" with [[Rhinox (BW)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Rhinox]].
**"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" with [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Megatron]].
**"[[Chain of Command|Convoy Disappeared]]" with [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Cheetus]].
**"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" with [[Waspinator (BW)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Waspitor]].
**"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" with [[Tigatron#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Tigatron]].
**"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" with [[Wolfang (Predacon)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Wolfang]].
**"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" with [[Dinobot (BW)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Dinobot]].
**"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" with [[Blackarachnia (BW)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Black Widow]].
**"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" with [[Cohrada#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Cohrada]].
**"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" with [[Gimlet#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Gimlet]].
**"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" with [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|DX Megatron]].
**"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" with [[Archadis#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Archadis]].
**"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" with [[Motorarm (BWII)#Beast_Wars_Telemocha_Series|Motorarm]].

;''Generation 1''
{{main|The Transformers (cartoon)/home video}}
* A DVD of the three part episode "[[More than Meets the Eye (episode)|More than Meets the Eye]]" was included with the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1 series|Universe 2008 re-issue of Optimus Prime]].

;''Animated''
{{main|Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video#Pack-in disc}}
*A DVD titled "The Battle Begins" was included with the ''Animated'' "[[Optimus Prime (Animated)#Toys|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Megatron (Animated)#Toys|Megatron]]" deluxe toy twin pack.

;''Prime''
*A DVD of the Transformers Prime episode titled "Masters and Students" will be included in an "Entertainment Pack" with a deluxe [[Megatron (Prime)#Toys|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)#Toys|Optimus Prime]], and PVC figurines of [[Jack Darby]], [[Miko Nakadai]], and [[Raf Esquivel]].

{{comingsoontoy}}

==Contests==
Occasionally Hasbro has run contests based on pack-in material:

;Generation 1
{{main|Prizes in Disguise}}
*[[Iron-on patch]]es were included with the [[combiner]] limbs and 1986 [[Mini Vehicle]]s, promoting the Prizes in Disguise contest.

;''Cybertron''
{{main|Get Your Key To Cybertron}}
*Peel-off stickers and game pieces promoted the "Get Your Key To Cybertron" instant win game.

[[Category:Pack-in material| ]]

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Pack-in material