BotCon 2012 "small" news and info

[griffin]

Big, exciting news is likely to be posted up as individual news items, and deserve to.

This is just for the smaller news items, and other BotCon events that aren't too news-worthy.

Wed 25th April - pre-registration pickup begins for those in the Custom Classes and Pre-con tours. Golden Ticket holders at 8.30 & 9.30 for the regular pre-registrants.

The attendee figure is revealed to be "Praxus" a Heroic Decepticon from the Mirror-Universe, using the Darkmount/Straxus mould... done in a golden-brown with brown and green.
I have photos of my own, but it is just quicker to give a link to one of the fansites that already have pics up (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2012-attendee-figure-is-shattered-glass-darkmount-174923/).
(I'll upload my pics as soon as I can, as I have a pic of the robot mode as well)

And the Customising Class (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2012-shattered-glass-longarm-customising-class-figure-in-hand-pictures-174916/) figure is "Longarm (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-longarm-customizing-class/24678/)" (think back to Animated).
Looks like it is a Mirror Universe Shockwave, using the Classics Jazz mould, with a new head, gun-arm and weapon.
Similar idea to the Binaltech/Alternator series, with Shockwave being a purple Jazz.
Update - figure comes with two heads for the class members to choose which version they want...
(quote from TFW link above) "We can use either the Jazz head or ... a custom Shockwave head! Bio: he's a SG Autobot secret police. He's an Autotrooper. Leads them actually."


And after recent years revealing the at-show figures names in the BotCon program guide, a day before the toys are shown, it was the first page I turned to...
The figures for this year:
Small set - (Shattered Glass Gen2) Optimus Prime & Kickout (2000 sets)
Big set - Octopunch & Spinister (1500 sets)
3-pack - Junkions (2000 sets)

Plus 350 copies of two different Lithos this year, one can be seen here (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012s-lithograph-available-for-preview/24680/) (shows off a couple of the at-show characters).

[KalEl]

thanks for the update :) excited to see more of your experiences mate

[fatbot]

that's some great news on the junkions, I wonder what the colour scheme is?

Any chance you can get the attendee figures for me as well Griffin?

[griffin]

I'm noticing some criticisms towards there being such a heavy focus on Mirror-verse characters/toys this year (and recently).
Of the 15 toys this year, 11 of them are Mirror-verse characters... which is essentially "all new" characters. Something that could be difficult for fans of "classic" Transformers to embrace or be too excited about.

It's kinda like ActionMasters to Gen1 fans - after several years of Gen1, we are faced with a series that is essentially a homage/gimmick line of super-detailed (for that era) figures... but Hasbro ends up releasing more new characters than pre-existing characters. At least if they were all pre-existing characters with great detailing, that line may have been better received, as they usually had more joints than the original figures, and looked more like their cartoon/comic versions.
Same here. FunPub have released so many "new" characters this year and recent years, that they aren't homaging Transformers (as us fans would know it, or expect from them)... they are homaging their own unique story universe, of which most collectors aren't collecting or interested in.
I personally want to see homages of classic characters (like the Overlord, Metalhawk, Spinister, Kickoff & Octopunch)... so if they can only give us 4 or 5 new homages, than don't go padding it out to 15 just to make up the numbers. They'll find that they have even less sympathy for all that wasted time & effort, that they could have been spending on fixing up the club itself and its other features.

[griffin]

that's some great news on the junkions, I wonder what the colour scheme is?

Any chance you can get the attendee figures for me as well Griffin?

Junkions are coloured purple, yellow, black & white... so think "Insecticons".
(they do colour swaps like that a fair bit in Mirror-verse, and can work quite well if paired up nicely - like the Technobots/Terrorcons colour swaps).

You are one of the first on my list - If I can afford the extras, I will get extras.
(you paid with paypal, so that money won't get to me in time for BotCon)

[Paulbot]

SG Shockwave looks really cool actually. I like the Alternator homage. It wouldn't be out of place as a classic earthmode version of the character. So of course it's the toy you can't actually get.

[fatbot]

You are one of the first on my list - If I can afford the extras, I will get extras.
(you paid with paypal, so that money won't get to me in time for BotCon)


that's all right I have the cash to do a bank transfer tonight if you want, LMK

[CHILENO20]

How much are the sets & how many extra can you purchase?

[i_amtrunks]

SG Shockwave looks really cool actually. I like the Alternator homage. It wouldn't be out of place as a classic earthmode version of the character. So of course it's the toy you can't actually get.

Agreed, that shade of purple they are using looks very nice on the Jazz mold.

The fact he is the autorooper leader also make him more desirable, espicially if he is a double agent ala animated Longarm.

[fatbot]

there are some up on ebay now, at the prices the junkions are at now, I may not be able to snaffle them up any time soon

[Sky Shadow]

Of the 15 toys this year, 11 of them are Mirror-verse characters... which is essentially "all new" characters. Something that could be difficult for fans of "classic" Transformers to embrace or be too excited about.

I think that's a huge stretch.

This year, BotCon is releasing over a dozen toys that are all homages to something or other - mostly G1. And people are whinging that it's the worst BotCon ever for exclusives. Compare it to:

1995 - only one exclusive. Not a homage.
1996 - only one exclusive. Not a homage.
1997 - only two exclusives. Not homages.
1998 - only two exclusives. Not homages.
1999 - only two exclusives. Not homages.
2001 - only four exclusives. One homage.

Would they really prefer one to four non-homage toys than what they have this year?

This year I think we have:

Shattered Glass Tracks - Geewun/Diaclone homage.
Shattered Glass Soundwave - Geewun/Music Label homage.
Shattered Glass Longarm - Geewun/Animated/Binaltech homage.
Shattered Glass Junkions - Geewun homage.
Gigatron - G1 Homage.
Metalhawk - G1 Homage.
Octopunch - G1 Homage.
Spinister - G1 Homage.
Kick Off - G1 Homage.
Shattered Glass Darkmount - G1 Homage.
Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus - G2/Diaclone homage.
Shattered Glass Treadshot - Universe homage.
Shattered Glass G2 Optimus Prime G2/Shattered Glass homage.

People just like whining.

[griffin]

Yes, we do like whining... ;)
Although, to be fair, those of us who spend a lot of time and money getting here, are entitled to be a *little* more critical, because we expect more from the Convention toys than would those who don't attend (instead, end up getting the toys "cheaper" and easier... than the cost of going to BotCon that is).

But you compared this year's (FunPub) set with pre-FunPub years, before they were easily allowed to use official names (to make a homage from).
FunPub are able to use almost any character, and most official names (if they clear legal), so it feels like the regular "Hasbro half-homages" we get in the mainlines, when something uses colours or alt-mode similar to a classic figure, but ends up getting a name or allegiance that doesn't match.
FunPub are supposed to be able to avoid that, by being "fan focused", to give us full-homages, not half-homages.

At least with the pre-FunPub years you listed, those original characters weren't trying to copy or homage an existing character/colour-scheme. The Mirror-verse are claimed to be "new", but some borrow heavily on pre-existing elements.
And there was mixed support back then for those new characters too... the ones who were supportive were mostly excited about there being an exclusive, limited-edition toy to go with the convention. Many, if not all, of the characters themselves, haven't attracted any long-lasting/permanent fan-following.
The years/toys that did? The ones homaging existing characters.
Something Mirror-verse toys this year distorts too much to be an acceptable (to the whiners :p) full homage, because we already have those homage toys in their PROPER colours from Generations/RTS/etc.
Junkions (for example) coloured as Insecticons are a homage? The ones already released by Hasbro and Takara are the homage... these are a distortion of reality, that aren't homaging anything. Same with Straxus/Darkmount. More so with Ultra Magnus with the skull face. That ruined the Diaclone homage of that one.
Red Tracks is at least a workable homage of the Mirror-verse figures, because there is an existing Gen1 toy in that colour.
Soundwave, Treadshot , Optimus, and Longarm are homages I guess, but not to their Gen1 versions... which seems to be the theme to this Mirror-verse storyline.
And Straxus/Darkmount


Don't get me wrong - I do like the creativity, and the concept of mixing up elements of one character/group with another character/group (ie Insecticons & Junkions), but they should leave that for the comic, and give us toys of the Gen1 (or other pre-existing) characters that Hasbro haven't done, or the ones that they feature in their BotCon comics.
It's such a tease seeing all those Gen1 or pre-existing characters, and instead end up getting toys of their own creation.
In a way, it's like their "Gen2" year (2010), not having a whole lot of toys homaging characters that were new to Gen2. It would be like having a "Rebirth" themed BotCon and just releasing homage toys Seasons 1-3 characters just because they were in Rebirth.
I think FunPub are padding out this Mirror-verse concept because they used up so many Classic homages already with their 15 toys-per-year format. They have run out of options from the moulds currently available to fill up a full BotCon roster of toys, so keep going back to this Mirror-verse of theirs (which is barely above the concept of a "what if" fanfic to a lot of more dedicated long-time fans). They've fleshed out the Mirro-verse now, and I think fans want to either move onto something new, or go back and flesh out something pre-existing (like 2006 did with the BW story, and 2011 with Animated).

So if it is so difficult to get approval from Hasbro to produce 15 toys that reflect their original intention of a year's theme - is it better to still have 15 toys that ends up disappointing fans (as this year's seems to have, with the boxset not selling out, like it did in 2005 & 2009), or, is it better to have half as many toys that capture the theme perfectly and have a more positive response from the fans?
I'd prefer the latter, as it would be quality over quantity (to me at least).

[Sky Shadow]

The years/toys that did? The ones homaging existing characters.
Something Mirror-verse toys this year distorts too much to be an acceptable (to the whiners :p) full homage, because we already have those homage toys in their PROPER colours from Generations/RTS/etc.
Junkions (for example) coloured as Insecticons are a homage? The ones already released by Hasbro and Takara are the homage... these are a distortion of reality, that aren't homaging anything.

Surely Junkions in Insecticon colours are the sort of thing people want. If Geewunners don't want Shattered Glass toys, just stick Decepticon stickers on them and it's an instant 'Classicsverse' Insecticon collection. If they can accept that the Bludgeon mould is Banzai-tron or Overlord, that the Straxus mould is Skullgrin, that the Jetfire mould is Dreadwind, that the Drift mould is Blurr (etcetera, etcetera) why can't the Shattered Glass Junkions be the 'Classics' Insecticons that fanboys have been whining for and Hasbro hasn't released.

But anyway, enjoy the convention, Griffin! :D

[griffin]

Some clear pics from the Early Bird pickup.

Boxset contents (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-invasion-boxset-preview-gallery/24685/).

Attendee free figure "Straxus" (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-gallery-botcon-2012-shattered-glass-straxus/24682/) (has no name on the biocard, and had a typo on the bag as "Praxus")

Some of my own pics...

Mirror-verse Straxus.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m07.jpg

The main colour plastic is glittery, and almost makes you worried that it is GPS type of plastic. It is also such an odd mustard colour that looks brown
or yellow, depending on the amount of light in people's photos.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m06.jpg

Boxset & attendee figure in robot mode.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m04.jpg

And in vehicle modes...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m03.jpg

(I think this is the first time since FunPub started in 2005 that I actually took the time to transform the boxset toys... Maybe I should be "sick" at
BotCon more often) :p

The full package that I picked up Yesterday...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m01.jpg

I just got back with the at-show toys, so will need some time to get them out, photograph them, and upload them... until that happens, there will be
pics on the global fansites soon anyway.

[Hursticon]

why can't the Shattered Glass Junkions be the 'Classics' Insecticons that fanboys have been whining for and Hasbro hasn't released.

Because the only Transformer to successfully pull-off being an Arthropod and a Motorcycle with an ounce of originality was this guy ;):D:

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Webpics/tarantulasissooooocoooll.jpg


Personally, I think the whole concept of a 'Mirror' universe is nothing but laziness disguised as creativity; The original Shattered Glass Botcon set was cool, it should've ended with there. :cool:

There are a stack of other ideas they could've gone with (Micromasters :eek:) but instead they pedal this sort of thing, this year's set pales in comparison to last years Animated set and feels like such a backward step IMO. ;):)
(The saddest thing is, FunPub hold exclusive worldwide Official Convention rights :()

[Hursticon]

Some clear pics from the Early Bird pickup.

*snip*

Whoa! :eek:

That Straxus... It's confusing the hell out of me! :p:D

[griffin]

At the Thursday Club Store opening.

I got down there about 10 minutes before they opened for Golden Ticket holders at 5pm, and I was one of the last Golden Ticket holders in that exclusive line.

But 5 minutes before they were to start, they had to have all those people in the Credit Card line (people not paying Cash), to follow one of the Staffers upstairs because they couldn't get a signal with the Credit Card machine on the bottom floor.
So after buying the at-show figures upstairs with my credit card (which took just over an hour), I then had to go downstairs to buy other non-FunPub items (for others). But at least the Golden Ticket got me in, barely minutes before the regular attendees started going in. (that would have been another 2-3 hour wait without it -and the non-Golden Ticket people had to wait after their 6pm start, until all those GT people had been served)

The small set (Kick Over/Off & Gen2 Optimus) is US$95
The big set (Octopunch & Spinister is US$89
(that is NOT a misprint - the bigger pair IS cheaper than the smaller pair, and would be the more popular pair as well, being the more Gen1-accurate coloured pair)
The Junkions 3-pack is US$99
(anticipated, but still surprising, is that the Junkions each have the 3 different heads released by Hasbro & TakaraTomy - which will drive up the price this year, as people are less likely to sell off 2 of the "duplicates" of previous years)

The two lithos were not yet signed by the Artists, so I didn't buy them yet (they had the unsigned copies though).
Also available this year:
Soundwave Headband - US$5 (comes with a collector card - limit 1 per person, even GT holders)
Small poster prints of the program-guide cover image - $25 (only 100)
Autograph/collector cards (similar to last year) were available in two sets (with random chase cards), or as an uncut sheet (with or without chase cards) in VERY limited quantities.
I think they were selling this year's boxset as well, but it wasn't on the order sheet, so can't recall the price.


The Golden Ticket may have cost a hefty amount, but the time saved so far is certainly a good thing (especially in my current condition - I was struggling to stand for the single hour I was there)... and if they keep the concept, it will be very useful in years that they actually have something in stock of limited numbers (from mainstream lines). This year though, they didn't have a single thing I wanted that wasn't a FunPub item, which was a little disappointing.

Photos to come.

[griffin]

Only just got yesterday's photos uploaded (yet to do todays, thanks to a new computer and passwords not working).

These are the biocards for the first 6 toys.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m08.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m09.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m10.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m11.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m12.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m13.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m14.jpg
.
And a collage I did up of their character art.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m15.jpg

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Soundwave Headband - US$5 (comes with a collector card - limit 1 per person, even GT holders)

Aargh! For the love of... So what about people who ordered the extra bag as well as the box set? They only get one headband for Soundwave?

Man I never thought a headband would annoy me so much!!

[Zippo]

Man I need these toys - well, aside from Octopunch and Spinister .. they don't do anything for me even though I do like the mold. However all the 'Classic' (CHUGRtS) toys need to find a way to my collection, and multiples of said toys so I can build my fantasy mega Classics display !

Ok it will never happen as I missed out on the 2007 and 2008 sets and not having enough income stopped me from getting the 2010 set ..

But yes, I love these!

[Quickstrike]

I love Soundwave's motto. It is suitably radical. :cool:

So here's pictures of the at show exclusives. (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2012-attendee-souvenir-exclusives-images-174925/) They all look really good!

God DAMN I really want Kick-Off.

[griffin]

Some pics from Thursday, now that I've been able to edit and upload them.

Club Store items I bought.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m16.jpg

Collector Cards for this year, and Soundwave's headband.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m17.jpg

The at-show toys.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m19.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m20.jpg
.
Closer look at the different Junkion heads.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m21.jpg

Soundwave's headband.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/m29.jpg


Friday was pretty ordinary this year, with nothing too exciting scheduled, or revealed in the Dealer Room.

Two of the three panels were fan-related, with the third just being the Club Magazine/Comic presentation. (I'll post a separate topic for each of the panels)

In the Dealer Room, the enforcement of no 3rd-party/KOs paid off quite well, as this year had the most filled & varied range of Transformers toys I've ever seen at a BotCon. It was good to see tables full of Transformers toys without having to "scroll" through all the non-TFs stuff... kinda like scrolling through News pages of the Global Fansites when looking for actual TFs news.
I couldn't believe the amount of stuff, and old stuff at that.
Most surprising is the lack of current Hasbro stuff. Very few dealers had TFPrime toys. I think I saw more FE & JP TFPrime toys, than the regular ones we have in stores in AUS. I only found two dealers with Wave 2 Deluxes (one had them for $30, the other for $20), and didn't find anyone with Wave 2 of any other size class.
I think it is just a bad month to have a BotCon, as traditionally it is a quiet month/quarter for releases.

Exhibits/displays in the Dealer Room:

Hasbro - disappointingly empty of anything new. Actually, the only new items were Rescue Bots. Everything else has been seen on fansites from Toyfairs already.
More will be added tomorrow though, after the Hasbro panel... so maybe some new stuff will be on display then (in about 20 hours time).
They did have the Generations Combaticons on display, and damn, if those are the final colours, you're gonna need shades on while playing with them.

Activision - every couple hours they would show off game-play of four characters - Vortex, Bruticus, Grimlock, Optimus. The game-play environment is HUGE. Looks like it will be a lot of fun. They said that they aren't allowed to say if FOC has an Escalation component (like WFC), but I was told that "the people at Highmoon love the Escalation format"... so read between the lines on that one.

Jagex/MMOG - I didn't get a chance to see what they were doing. There wasn't a lot of activity at their exhibit, so maybe they aren't set up yet.

Official Pinball Machines - two were there, and they were signing up people to use them. Not sure if there was a fee, as I think it was to make sure that a crowd doesn't gather, fighting over who's next.

Art Competition - keeps getting smaller every year. I can't imagine it going for much longer. I'm hoping to photograph it tomorrow... so at least it won't take long.

The various VA were there (except Culllen), so I got to see the voice of Blaster for the first time.
Furman was there as well, selling signed copies of those scripts he promised.


The small number of Runamucks FunPub brought to the Convention were sold out yesterday, but apparently have some more, that they will be putting on the Club Store site when all have been sent out.

The exclusive function for Golden Ticket Holders starts in a few minutes, so have to go off to that. I can't imagine it being too long, or anything fancy.

[KalEl]

Apparently there has been a few third party pieces popping up in the dealer room? Can you confirm

[kup]

Spinister, Kick Off and Metal Hawk are the only figures that hold some interest for me.

If anyone can help me out getting them, that would be appreciated. I can transfer the amount promptly.

[griffin]

The exclusive function for Golden Ticket Holders is set for 3 hours, but isn't likely to last that long, as the guests are likely to leave before that (Peter Cullen left after an hour).
There were about 50 people there, out of the 75 GTs they sold.
The Guests were the 5 Voice Actors (Dan Gilverzn, Buster Jones, Peter Cullen, Garry Chalk, David Kaye), Simon Furman, Derrick Wyatt.

It started 15 minutes late, and had a small dinner buffet (was unexpected, and an odd mix of roast, BBQ, Mexican and Japanese, but was nice).

After people had eaten, the rest of the time I was there (I left after 90minutes), was just people trying to have their photos taken with each of the Guests.

When I left, I got the freebie items that were promised - an autograph card with 6 of the 7 Guests signatures (Cullen's is missing), and a BotShots Optimus signed by Peter Cullen. A bit disappointing to have his photo on the autograph card, but no signature to go with all the others.


I just remembered something from the Activision presentation - in June/July, at some Computer Game convention, they plan to be showing off the Metroplex portion of the FOC game. Something to look forward to.

[fatbot]

I really want all of those, hopefully I'll get fixed up.

[snaketales]

Those Combaticon colours are just killing me.... they definitely need re-painting if/when I get my hands on them

[griffin]

Well, since Hasbro aren't putting anything new into the Display cases until tomorrow, here's 5 galleries of what is there today (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-hasbro-product-displays/24701/).

Plus, a gallery of this year's BotCon toys (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-botcon-exclusives-gallery-updated/24700/).

And photos from the Golden Ticket event tonight (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-golden-ticket-reception-gallery/24703/) (saves me having to rush preparing my own photos).

[lcz128]

Really enjoying the updates griffin, eventhough this year's toys interestme the least I have been the most interested in reading bout the con-

Have u tried gettin g into the custom class? Or no interest? (:

[griffin]

I always miss out.

[griffin]

Saturday at BotCon 2012...

10am - Gen1 Voice Actors (Buster Jones & Dan Gilverzan)
Mostly about their careers over the years, and some stories from when they were recording Transformers with some of the other voice actors.
Buster was very unfamiliar with TFs or his role from 25 years ago, due to all the work he's done over the years (FunPub need to help refresh the memories of these guests, if they want a more rewarding experience for the fans - instead of someone who couldn't even remember who he played (he thought he was Ratchet) or even know how to speak like his Transformers character).
Dan auditioned for Ratchet & Prowl, but got offered Bumblebee instead.
Buster was amazed and impressed at how much attention he was getting from TFs fans. Until late last year, he had no idea about the fandom or the legacy his character (Blaster) has left us.
Dan auditioned for Bumblebee's single line in the 2007 movie, but obviously didn't get it.
The both admired Scatman Crothers (the voice of Jazz) as a great VA and Musician. Apparently Wally Burr (the Voice Director) did Jazz's lines after Scatman died.
They both spoke highly of Wally.
Dan was plugging his new book - Bumblebee & Me - which is stories and memories of his time as an 80s VA.
Buster was one of the lucky few to actually see Orson Wells record his lines, due to his ego demanding that none should be in attendance.

11am - IDW
All their news is in the slide show, and even then, there wasn't too much to talk about... so when I get the photos processed and uploaded, I'll post them up.
The current focus is on three series - MTMTE, RID & Regeneration One.
July is Decepticon Month (each of the three comics has a "Decepticon" theme to it)
August is Dinobot Month (same deal, as all three comics feature the Dinobots... timed with the FOC game I guess, which also has a Dinobot element to it)
Transformers Legacy - a new archive book by Jim Sorenson, covering the official artwork of the toys and packaging throughout Gen1 & Gen2, around the world. It is said to include unreleased items that had artwork done for them. Release date is yet to be announce.
Crossovers - no plans
Hearts of Steel - no plans
More Wreckers - no plans (but see MTMTE #6)
Profiles in the comics like during Gen1 - no plans
Beast Wars/BM - no plans
Animated - no plans
Spotlights - no plans
Movie comics after TF3 - no plans
Deaths Head in RG1 - Can't, but "something else has been borrowed instead" ????
In RG1, dead means DEAD... especially as the story gets closer to the end (#100).
Ratchet/Megatron fusion in G1 - a BIG/pivotal element in the first arc of RG1.
Same with Hot Rod - big character in RG1.
Should be more Arcee and Fembots in the two ongoings, and possibly a less psychotic Arcee.
Digital is the future, but with an increase in their sales this year, printed comics aren't going anywhere for a while yet.

Noon - Animated w/ Derrick Wyatt
This was mostly about probing him with questions as to what Season 4 would have been about.
- Sari would study under Arcee to learn to be a Cybertronian, as well as learn about her origin.
- Prowl would become a mentoring ghost like OB1.
- A flash-forward story about a future with Galvatron Vs Bumblemus Prime.
- More *Masters from Masterson, to create his own team.
- The Seeker clones would become more individual characters with their time away from Starscream.
- Blurr was not planned for a return at all.
- A look at Blitzwing's origin as a Triplechanger, which involved Blackarachnia.
- Metroplex would have been used eventually, just nothing planned yet.
- Devastator would have been completed by the end of Season 4, with Bulkhead forced/trapped as the center.
- Blackarachnia & Wasp set up their own faction, of Predacons or Insecticons.
- A Shattered Glass episode would have Sari & Bulkhead sent over via a faulty spacebridge. Idea was mostly to have the Mirror-verse Fanzone say "This is why I love Machines".
- Soundwave would have had more pets, forming an entire band.

Primus doesn't exist in Animated.
Smokescreen & Bluestreak would have been motorcycles (as a suggestion to FunPub to do future redecos of the Prowl mould).
Swindle was the only Combaticon that was ever drawn up or developed.
Hasbro wouldn't allow them to have Cliffjumper as the traitor in Autoboot camp, so it was turned into Wasp instead.
The "Maximals" in Predacon Rising was just a gag. It wasn't meant to lead into anything BW related.

1pm - Garry Chalk & David Kaye
Mostly just entertaining banter between the two.
DK auditioned for Megatron and Lugnut in Animated, but got Optimus instead. It took a while to get used to being Optimus instead of Megatron.
GC auditioned for BW Megatron, but got Optimus instead.
(SPOILER) DK hinted at being invited to do a cameo role on TFPrime... BW Megatron perhaps?

2pm - Collector Club
3pm - Hasbro

4pm - Peter Cullen
Reflected on his time with BotCon since 95, and his time with Transformers... how much it means to him to be such an inspiration to others and be such a well loved character for so long.

7pm - Hall of Fame Awards
Winning inductee from the fan-vote - Wheeljack.
Also saw a teaser from TFPrime, of Starscream with Zombie Cliffjumper AND Shockwave... with a very Gen1 look, right down to the glowing (red) eye.

[Hursticon]

Here is a link to Seibertron.com's coverage (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-coverage-idw-panel-updated-with-images/24707/) of the IDW Panel (Includes photos). :)

[Quickstrike]

Transformers Legacy - a new archive book by Jim Sorenson, covering the official artwork of the toys and packaging throughout Gen1 & Gen2, around the world. It is said to include unreleased items that had artwork done for them. Release date is yet to be announce.

YESSSSSSS.

[optimus1]

Thanks for all the info Griff :)
Good to see all the exclusive info and figures from a reliable source!

[griffin]

Sunday (minor) events

With Saturday being the big, main day, Sunday is a bit of a winding down day, only being about two-thirds as long, and two-thirds as many panels.

10am - Script reading
11am - Activision (posted in the news section)
noon - Simon Furman (below)
1pm - Jagex TFU MMOG (posted in the news section)
2pm - Costuming (I didn't stick around for it, as it seems to be a regular feature now)
3.30pm - Close

Simon Furman Panel
I missed the first 5 minutes, as I had to send some PMs to people before the end of the convention, and the panel room was out of range of the Wifi that covers the rooms.
When I did get there, he was showing slides of the unpublished Dreamwave comics - Beast Wars, Energon, War Within. I will post up the pics I got as soon as I upload them.
BW #1 - Story to follow the Summer Special. First issue was mostly a recap of the cartoon, then back to the dream sequence of the Summer Special, and then the end of the 3rd Season... showing Megatron breaking free, forcing the shuttle to crash back to Earth (remember - Beast Machines doesn't follow on directly from BW, so they could do just about anything between the two series in an ongoing comic)
Energon #31 - was apparently printed, but never made it out of where-ever it was printed/stored. The issue featured a flash-forward by Over-Run, talking about it to the Autobot Traitor, who is revealed to be a member of the High Council. Alpha Quintesson is also shown to be running his own agenda, while on Unicron's leash.
#32 & #33 Covers shown. Ghost Starscream eventually gains his solid state over several issues.
War Within V3 #4 - was fully coloured and lettered, ready for printing. He showed us some pages, including Quintessa (where most of this issue was centered). Also showed us a couple new Seekers - Atomic Pile & Critical Mass.

Regeneration One
He's excited that the "team" is back together.
First up, he talked about how he was originally pulled into the UK Transformers comic. Then he talked about his time with the comic, highlighting some pivotal events/issues - Target 2006 (their own universe, as they couldn't mess with the present day too much), #150 Origin Story (something that wouldn't be easy to get approval for today, but at the time, no one at Hasbro said no), #56 (taking over from Budiansky, who was tired of writing Transformers and only thought the series would last a few more issues anyway), #68 (Furman wanted Wildman to start with this issue but the editor wanted someone else to draw the Neo-Knights issue), #75 (Wildman was meant to draw it, but couldn't fit it in his schedule), #80 (had to wrap up as much as possible in a couple issues, as the quest for the Last Autobot was to be lengthy, and Optimus wasn't planned for resurrection for quite a while).
The new RG1 comic will use some Gen2 elements, but not others (no Liege Maximo or Swarm), so it's a bit like a new Gen2.
Plot elements that Furman wants to wrap up this time:
- Action Masters/Nuecleon
- The underworld creatures from #76
- Ultra Magnus
- Wreckers (different line-up to Gen1 Wreckers, but will be featured from #81)
- Ark crashing on Earth and its passengers (Shockwave, Starscream, Megatron, Ratchet, etc).
- Megatron/Ratchet symbiotic situation (to be a big element of the first story ark of RG1).

No Marvel characters (like Circuit Breaker) will be used. A new human called Circuit Smasher will be introduced, who is similar to CB, but is not related to Circuit Breaker.

Furman was initially planning a 4-6 issue mini-series for RG1, but was then offered 20 issues, to bring it up to #100. It is written to absolutely END at #100, with no intention or allowance for it to become an ongoing series after that.
(on a side-note, the day before* I asked the IDW senior editor Jon Barber if the series could become an ongoing if it ended up being really successful - and he said it wouldn't be something they'd say no to, but would have to be a real hit for that to happen)

The First story arc - Loose Ends Parts 1-5
Second story arc - Natural Selection

Someone asked about the "First 13" concept that Hasbro have made the founding concept of their current Aligned (Prime/WFC/etc) Universe, noting that it was mentioned in Furman's Ultimate Guide a few years beforehand. Furman mentioned that he'd forgotten that he threw that in there, but did confirm that that is where Aaron Archer got the idea from, and expanded on it to be current Canon in the History of Cybertron.

(*I also asked Jon Barber about why we haven't seen anything more from the Movie Universe from IDW, like we did after the first two movies - he said that they are currently focusing on the MTMTE, RID & RG1 comics, so won't be looking into doing any more Movie comics until closer to the 4th one. We also had an "off-the-record" talk about the challenges of making sense of Bay's TF3 in comic form and having to explain a lot of plot & character elements with his (Barber's) prequel comics, to such an extent, that he made watching the movie a lot easier)


The Fan-choice winners at future Hall of Fame awards, will now been named "the Hartman Award (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-fans-choice-hall-of-fame-award-renamed-the-hartman-award/24728/)", in honour of the founding brothers of BotCon back in 1994.

A couple of the Film Fest entries (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-fan-filmfest/24738/) have been uploaded to youtube, by the guy who won 2nd & 3rd places. These two are really funny, especially the "green energy" video. First place went to one that had a 2yo kid being indoctrinated into Transformers.

This was in the dealer room (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI0UTDipb8s) - a collection of just about every Minicon/Micron released. I saw them setting it up Saturday Morning, but forgot to go back after they were finished, as it was off to one corner of the room.

Another gallery from the Custom Class (http://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=217&size=0&start=25), with more pics of the completed figure.

And for those who knew about the Peter Cullen/Optimus charity t-shirt from a couple months ago, the artist who organised it, managed to meet up with Peter Cullen at BotCon (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/a-hero-meets-his-hero/24746/).

[Verno]

Wheeljack? WHEELJACK?!

I've been robbed!

:mad:

[i_amtrunks]

We also had an "off-the-record" talk about the challenges of making sense of Bay's TF3 in comic form and having to explain a lot of plot & character elements with his (Barber's) prequel comics, to such an extent, that he made watching the movie a lot easier

That sounds like it was a very interesting chat. Barber's work trying to plug the gaps in the movieverse was excellent. The stories and end product were not the best due to the extremely limiting source material, but the way he weaved little offcuts and made them more important or actually relevant was well done. The way he fleshed out the history of the movieverse was excellent, especially the Earth based history.

[griffin]

Not from BotCon, but about a BotCon item, that won't have enough interest to warrant a separate news posting - due to demand from the people who missed out (due to the scalpers buying them up and now selling them for $30-50 each - from the original $5 price) the Shattered Glass Soundwave will have another batch of headbands done (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-shattered-glass-soundwave-headband-to-receive-a-second-run/24756/).
Considering that the only people who'd want the headband would be those buying a Soundwave (boxset or loose set), FunPub could have avoided this negative publicity by just having one automatically given out with each Soundwave... instead of leaving it up to those who wanted one to come get one - but ended up missing out to toy dealers who only bought headbands just to resell at 10 times the price (to those who "need" it to complete the toy).
At least if it was one with every toy, it'd be a neat accessory that recipients could choose to use or not. This would be like releasing an Optimus in a boxset, that uses a Matrix (or some other mcguffin) in the story, but then sell it as an added accessory.

[griffin]

Found some videos of the Hasbro product display here (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/10-videos-of-hasbros-transformers-product-displays-from-botcon-2012-have-been-posted/24749/), which give a better 3 dimensional look at the new toys, which you don't get from photos.

[griffin]

All 600 photos have been processed and uploaded, and I've now been working on the individual pages.
There are 33 individual pages in this report, so let's see how many I can get done in one day while I'm stuck at home.*

So far done yesterday and today:
- MSTF & Filmfest (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12mf.html)
- Collector Club Magazine (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12ccm.html)
- Dealer Room (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12dr.html)
- Hasbro Display 1 (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd1.html) (Generations)
- Main intro page (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12intro.html) has been done up for the index of links, but will be finished last.
(note that links may be inserted that aren't yet uploaded, so expect error messages if it isn't something posted here)

(5/33)

*Thanks to work not letting me back onsite until I get a clearance from a doctor (after the appendix operation), I have another week of being stuck at home... :(

[griffin]

Hasbro Display 2 - BotShots (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd2.html)

6/33

(if you find any images not loading, please let me know, in case any failed to upload)

[griffin]

Hasbro Display 3 (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd3.html) - Large sized TFPrime toys

(7/33)

[griffin]

Hasbro Display 4 (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd4.html) - Small sized TFPrime toys
Hasbro Display 5 (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd5.html) - TFPrime Vehicles, SDCC Cliffjumper, Remote Controlled.
Hasbro Display 6 (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd6.html) - Kreo & Rescue Bots

(10/33)

[griffin]

Art contest display (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12art.html) (11/33)

Also updated the main intro page (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12intro.html)... I kept updating it with notes to say which pages that were done, but was forgetting to actually add in the links to those pages. :o

[griffin]

Golden Ticket Reception (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12gt.html) (12/33)

[griffin]

Dan Gilvezan & Buster Jones (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12db.html) (13/33)

[griffin]

IDW Comics (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12idw.html) (14/33)

[griffin]

Animated commentary w/ Derrick Wyatt (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12an.html)
David Kaye & Garry Chalk (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12dg.html)

(16/33)

[Sky Shadow]

IDW Comics (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12idw.html) (14/33)

I love that Action Master Grimlock is still around.

[griffin]

Saturday 2pm - Collector Club (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12cc.html)
Saturday 3pm - Hasbro Future Transformers Products (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hp.html)
Saturday 4pm - Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime) (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12pc.html)

(19/33) More tomorrow.

[Sky Shadow]

Saturday 2pm - Collector Club (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12cc.html)

Clever that they designed Shattered Glass Soundwave's neck to look 'up' slightly so he wouldn't have Ironhide's shoegazing tendency.

[reillyd]

As in past years, Griffin, you've outdone yourself with the depth of coverage and photos. The dealer room pictures looked amazing, to see so many sealed g1 toys. It must have been really tempting not to just max out the credit card and bring it all back with you :)

[griffin]

Thanks. :)
Not done yet though... still got a fair bit to do (it's so much work, but the result is so worth it for me).

Done the Hall of Fame (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hof.html), which meant shuffling a few things... because it was so big, I put the HoF display in with the second Hasbro Display page (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12hd2.html) (and made changes to applicable pages to reflect it).
(20/33)

[griffin]

Sunday 10am - Script Reading & Activision (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12act.html) (both on the same page) (21/33)

[griffin]

Costumes and Costuming (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12cp.html).

(22/33) Just a third of the pages left, with just 3 Transformers pages left.

[griffin]

Sunday Noon - Simon Furman (unpublished Dreamwave issues & Regeneration One) (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12sf.html)
Sunday 1pm - Jagex (Transformers Universe MMOG) (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12jg.html)
(24/33)

That covers all the Transformers/BotCon events. Remaining pages are of my personal experience at the event, which includes some minor BotCon things like the Wed & Thurs night pickups and purchases.

[griffin]

Forgot about this other BotCon page (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12egg.html)... which isn't on the index, for reasons noted on the page.
(25/33)

[griffin]

Tuesday 24th April (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12apr24.html) (Journey from Brisbane to Dallas, & visit to the Book Depository) done. It's very similar to my blog postings (if you read those) but with extra pics added.
(26/33)

[griffin]

Wednesday page added (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12apr25.html), with the package pickup details in the evening.
(27/33)

[griffin]

Back on Post #35 I posted up a link to the Filmfest videos that got 2nd & 3rd places... now we have the winning video on youtube - Starting them Young (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-fan-filmfest-winner-starting-them-young/24814/). Which I'm sure some people here will relate to.

(look out for the bit where he is reading from the "Robot Heroes" book... when he gets to Drift)

[Sky Shadow]

Back on Post #35 I posted up a link to the Filmfest videos that got 2nd & 3rd places... now we have the winning video on youtube - Starting them Young (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2012-fan-filmfest-winner-starting-them-young/24814/). Which I'm sure some people here will relate to.

(look out for the bit where he is reading from the "Robot Heroes" book... when he gets to Drift)

That whole video is brilliant - a worthy winner. The Green Energy one is great too. Once again thanks for the insane amount of work you put in to your BotCon commentaries, Griffin.

[griffin]

The event is so significant to me that I don't want to forget a moment of it. The years that I never got around to doing up a proper report/account of the adventure are the ones I regret, and forget the most.

That said, this one is just about done.
All the Transformers stuff is now complete, with the second pickup day done.
Thursday 26th April (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12apr26.html) (BotCon Club store open)
Or you can jump straight to the part of those pages - Pre-registration Package pickup (Wednesday (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12apr25.html#pickup)) and Club Store purchases (Thursday (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc12/bc12apr26.html#pickup)).
I also added a few things to the Dealer Room page and the Wednesday page, as I found photos that didn't really fit anywhere else.
(28/33)

The rest of the report is mostly just links to each of the events on the three Convention days, and the journey home. I'll wait until I finish the rest before I post it up in the meet topic, as none of the rest is really news related to go here.
(I also found that the main index link on every page was to the otca.com.au server, because the template I was using originated from the 2009 report (which is at that domain)... so have had to go back and redo every page to change that link - and will probably have to check and fix all of my 2011 & 2010 reports as well :( )