TFCC Botcon 2016 theme - Dawn of the Predacus

[UltimateGalvatron]

The BotCon 2016 Convention box set will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ground breaking cartoon and toy line BEAST WARS. Prepare for the "DAWN OF THE PREDACUS". Our first reveal from the 2016 Exclusive Convention box set is the former DECEPTICON who was reprogrammed and rebuilt... as a PREDACON! - Tripredacus Agent RAVAGE!

The BotCon 2016 set will feature FIVE all-new head sculpts utilizing the amazing TRANSFORMERS COMBINER WARS action figures.

Stay Tuned to BotCon.com for details on ordering this amazing box set.
-TFCC Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/151255348266785/photos/a.847418468650466.1073741830.151255348266785/973423052716673/?type=3&theater

The first reveal looks to be a BW Ravage from the Breakdown mould.

[Zommael]

I am surprisingly okay with this. Ravage, at least. It also sort of homages Alternators Ravage.

[prjkt]

Interesting... Seems they're going to merge their Beast Wars Uprising storyline with the CW moulds... They really are going all out with CW lately

[Jaxius._]

No BH Soundwave Botanica?

I don't know about this though. Might just buy Alternators Ravage

[prjkt]

No BH Soundwave Botanica?

I don't know about this though. Might just buy Alternators Ravage

Probably in one of the "souvenir" packs

[CHILENO20]

Hmmm, I'm already in for TFSS 4.0. Definately interesting but I'll guess I'll wait to see what other characters come out before making my decision.

[griffin]

Good - the first reveal was six months ahead of the convention, which is a record for them, as they are usually 2-4 months before the convention starts. I wouldn't be surprised if they are rushing these out to get Registration started early for them to get more cash in after this year's failed to sell out on anything.

Good - Beast Wars anniversary, but was pretty much expected.

Good - Combiners, also expected, and as long as they don't mess it up, it should be the first unified boxset since Machine Wars.

Bad - Gen1/BW Ravage as a sports car... I'm not seeing it. It feels like it will be shoe-horned into a storyline that will be difficult to reconcile by purist BW fans (and this BW fan) that it will be aimed at.

Bad - Over-milking the Combiner toys while Hasbro is over-milking them will probably put off people.

Bad - giving more Beast Wars characters Vehicle modes is a bit of a weak way of using the characters in the anniversary year. The 2006 set was able to work by leading into the cartoon, but if they have another pre-BW set or a post-BW set, it won't have the same feel of Beast Wars to it.

Undecided - If they manage to have the majority of the Convention toys be Beast Wars characters done tastefully (not just a replica head on an unrelated toy), it could be a proper anniversary to the Beast Wars series, but after failing to homage 1984 or Gen1 in their "30th Anniversary" year (2014), I will wait and see how many non-BW characters they end up including.


I can guess that "Magnaboss" will be at least three of the toys, with Combiners Silverbot, Ironhide and Prowl included... maybe coloured to look like their BW namesakes.

[griffin]

A fan convention in the UK this weekend has had a panel for the Collector Club hosted by Pete Sinclair, and he announced the first guest for next year's BotCon (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/club-panel-botcon-celebrates-beast-wars-20th-another-light-comic-incentive-ramjet-and-more/34003/) - David Kaye (Megatron).

That should mean a Megatron toy thrown in as well, to make use of Voice Actor (for autographing the toy and/or Script Reading).

[Trent]

As a Beast Wars fan, I'm not feeling it. I see what they're trying to do (it will be interesting to see which car they pick for the others.

But yeah, Combiner Wars overload.

[Deonasis]

I imagine this Ravage will have a squished snout but i am liking this particular reveal as i do want a Binaltech Ravage.

Someone suggested Magmatron's combined beast mode could look like the CW SkyLynx mold but i am very skeptical that could be any good.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, as much as I love Beast Wars, I'm not feeling this for the same reason that others have cited. But I suppose that they're wanting to find some way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beast Wars and perhaps they can only use the moulds which Hasbro allow them to use and make do with those. :o

It's arguably not much worse than a G1 character made from a repainted Beast Wars mould, like Arcee (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/3/33/Botconarceetoy.jpg), Grimlock (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0c/BWtoy-Grimlock.jpg), Ironhide (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0a/Ironhide-bw-magnaboss-toy.jpg), Prowl (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/c/ca/Prowl-bw-magnaboss-toy.jpg), Silverbolt (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/5/55/Silverbolt-bw-magnaboss-toy2.jpg), and arguably Windrazor (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Windrazor_(BW)).

[MayzaPrime]

Will we get a Tigatron repaint from Ravage? I hope so cause I haven't been able to source the dawn of futures past version

[Firestorm]

I could not possibly be more underwhelmed by this.....
The ravage head on breakdowns body just looks so off to me.
And even though I am glad they're honouring beast wars' anniversary this just feels more like a slap in the face. Here have a beast wars-ish head slapped on a vehicle body
More than anything though, I am sick of the combiner wars moulds! I do not want these same moulds we've been getting all year and will continue to get next year now also in both the subscription service AND Botcon!

[UltraMarginal]

So cynical Griffin ;-)

I am impressed that they are starting to release actual convention information this early.

not being particularly into Beast Wars I hope for others sake that it's a suitable anniversary set. I personally am completely underwhelmed at the prospect of more toys with the same transformation as every other toy on the shelf this year and next year.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Ravage is prob the only figure I'd be interested in. I loved how one of the smallest and weakest Cons from G1 turned up in the BW cartoon and pretty much handed everyone their arses on a platter :D However given the cost of acquiring him on his own it will prob be a pass for me

[GoktimusPrime]

The 'Predacus' name intrigues me. In Beast Wars (Anglophone continuity), the Predacon gestalt is Tripredacus; an amalgam of three Predacons. So I wonder, will this be a set of Combiner Wars toys redecoed as Predacons to form a Predacon gestalt? If so, what will the gestalt be called? Tripredacus doesn't seem appropriate if there's going to be more than three component members. And if they're going to keep with the Latin nomenclature, then will it be Quintepredacus? Although if there's going to be a 6th member (e.g. Legends Class chest plate) would it be Sex (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_(number)#The_prefix_sex-)predacus? :eek: Although they could easily go with Greek nomenclature (as "Tri" is both Greek and Latin), and a 5-member gestalt could be Pentapredacus and a 6-member could be Hexapredacus.

Yes, it would mean combining Greek prefixes with Latin-looking suffixes, however...
1/ While 'Predacus' may appear to be Latin at first glance, it's actually not. Obvious the 'preda' part of "Predacon" comes from "predator," which comes from the Latin word praedari meaning to loot, plunder or ravage. AFAIK praedari never declines as 'predacus.' The perfect active tense would be praedātus, as in "praedātus sum" ("I ravage").
2/ Transformers has a long history of mixing Greek and Latin words to form names anyway. Omega Supreme, Superion, and more recently, Victorion. All Greek-Latin hybrid names.

[griffin]

If so, what will the gestalt be called? Tripredacus doesn't seem appropriate if there's going to be more than three component members...... Latin nomenclature, ......... Quintepredacus? ............ be Sex (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_(number)#The_prefix_sex-)predacus? ........go with Greek nomenclature ........... Pentapredacus .......... Hexapredacus.


Based on FunPub's announcement and title of the 2016 theme, the character is (The) "Predacus".

[reillyd]

Yes Sexpredacus has that nice, child friendly ring to it doesn't it

[kup]

I love Beast Wars and went out of my way to collect the entire 2006 Botcon set. I thought that the way they handled a BW prequel was awesome and the associated comic was good too.

This set on the other hand? I don't feel it. Seems tacked on with little thought to it. Basically shoehorning random contemporary molds as BW characters with just a head change - Lame.

Oh well, I was kind of dismissing this anyways given how terrible and lazy FunPub have gotten over the years.

Didn't know that they failed to sell out Botcon last year - Not surprised as the fan ran conventions are said to be much better and grander than what FunPub is putting together.

[griffin]

Didn't know that they failed to sell out Botcon last year - Not surprised as the fan ran conventions are said to be much better and grander than what FunPub is putting together.

The fans have certainly been flocking to the fan-run conventions in the last few years, since FunPub started screwing over their customers from about 2010.

Each year the BotCon attendance/interest seems to drop off, as more and more of the convention toys and events fail to sell out. This year's BotCon was the worst on record (I'd say even worse than 2005), as it failed to sell out of...
- pre-registration
- boxsets
- loose sets
- both Custom Classes (they sold out the Thursday class)
- both Frank Welker VIP groups (they sold out one group I believe)
- the diaclone 2-pack
- the Gen2 2-pack
- the Wasp 4-pack
- the kreo pack
- and probably the custom class toy, poster, trading cards, tshirt and hat, as I didn't see any "sold out" signs up by the end of the weekend (which they post up when they sell out to stop people trying to order them).

[griffin]

Speaking of which... I just saw this after posting that above.

Proof of how bad they are getting with left-over unsold toys - four of the 2014 BotCon toys are being sold off in a special new boxset, called the Legacy Collection (https://www.toyarama.com/store/2015-botcon-legacy-box-set-1-pc-p1303.php) for US$185.
(Shokaract, Apelinq, Flamewar, Flare-up)

It's probably not going to win them any friends, as all those people who went to the convention believing that attending was the only way Flamewar would be accessible, it is now for sale (like MW Starscream the year before).
Plus, these four toys come in a nice fancy box, but who's going to buy it if they already have these toys (and most who would want them, would have them by now).
The price isn't very good for four Deluxes either, as they usually sell 2 Deluxes at the Convention for about $90, so these should have been discounted to be less than $180 (even with a box) just to offload them. :rolleyes:

Expect the 2015 toys and attendee figure being sold off in special packaging next year.

[Verno]

Sigh :(

[kup]

Sigh :(

I share your sorrow, Beast Wars 20th anniversary deserves better than this..

At least we had a pretty awesome 10th.

[Keidatron]

While it would never happen for a BotCon, I'd much rather them do the original BW starting cast in all new molds with pre Earth Cybertronian forms. They absolutely should not ever have Earth alternate modes.

That out of the way, Ravage? Bleh.

If they do Waspinator he'll just be another Alpha fricken Bravo.

Hell, i'm surprising Ravage isn't an Alpha Bravo. Infact, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire set were all just Alpha Bravos.

Sorry. Cynical switch is stuck on high tonight.

[Paulbot]

Second figure revealed

Transmetal Tarantulas from the Rook mold (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/images16/tarantulasREVEAL.jpg)

[prjkt]

Second figure revealed

Transmetal Tarantulas from the Rook mold (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/images16/tarantulasREVEAL.jpg)

Colours looks cool (for now) but I think I'll stick with my TFSS Tarantulas from the Wreck-Gar mould

[griffin]

Yes, the motorbike Tarantulas seems more fitting, as it is more agile and sneaky than a big armoured personnel carrier.
(I also used to believe that Transformers have in their DNA/CNA certain types of vehicle modes by default, so that when they change bodies or rescan, they would still remain a related type of alt-mode... and Tarantulas had the motorcycle mode as a Transmetal... not because he scanned one, but because he either used to be one and it was still in his CNA, or he was built/born with that default form inside his biology.)


Rant time... :p

This is the second Tarantulas in 7 months (after the subscription figure)... I guess it could be put down to bad timing, but when they knew they were doing Tarantulas for next BotCon they should have released Subscription Tarantulas first so that it wasn't fresh in peoples minds with this reveal (it was the most recent subscription figure released).

Hopefully they didn't have this Tarantulas toy (and head) planned before the third subscription set was revealed, because they were soooo stubborn about giving a new head to a no-name unreleased Axellorator that didn't need it, over giving an accurate head-sculpt to the universally recognised Tarantulas (who would stand out more with the wrong head).

So far it's the dead Predacon brigade... and having earth vehicle alt-modes, it makes it hard to believe this would be set after Beast Wars.

[UltimateGalvatron]

Yeah I'm not buying it.

I'm surprised they didn't use AoE Dinobot moulds to make some Transmetal Predacons.

[1AZRAEL1]

Colours look cool. But they are failing horribly with this years set. Certainly not worth the money they'll be charging.

[griffin]

Yeah I'm not buying it.

I'm surprised they didn't use AoE Dinobot moulds to make some Transmetal Predacons.

That probably would have looked good for Terrorsaur and Dinobot, and maybe Megatron... but on-screen Movie moulds (and licensed alt-modes) are apparently off-limits. At least, that was the line a few years ago, when they were saying that they aren't allowed to release current-retail toys as Club exclusives (and then come out with Onslaught as Bludgeon).
Word filtered through from a panel or podcast from Pete Sinclair is that a recent change in the Transformers team at Hasbro has changed the policy on not using current-retail toys... but I think with royalties going to Michael Bay for every Movie toy that gets released, plus licensing royalties, it would probably push up the cost too much (or it was in Bay's contract that none of "his" designs get re-released without his permission).

[griffin]

It was also announced on the BotCon website (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/) along with their Tarantulas toy reveal, the Voice Actor for Tarantulas (Alec Willows (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Alec_Willows)) is their second guest next year. (along with David Kaye)
This will be Alec's second BotCon, with his first appearance being 16 years ago in 2000 (ironically, it was the same year that had John Moschitta's only appearance before returning this year after 15 years). He looked like he was about 70 years old 15 years ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was his last BotCon appearance.

That's two Predacons accounted for, and almost all Transformers cartoons since Beast Wars (with David Kaye (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/David_Kaye) voicing Transformers roles in every series after Beast Wars except RID-2001). While on the other end of the spectrum, Alec Willows has only ever voiced one Transformers cartoon character - Tarantulas.

Speaking of David Kay, next year will be his ninth BotCon (ten if you count 2003), which will make him the most frequent BotCon guest, just jumping ahead of Peter Cullen who is still on eight (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#3).


I imagine that Richard Newman (Rhinox) would also be a guest next year, as he went through some financial troubles a year or two ago, and has been invited to a number of conventions since.

It would also be good to cross off the remaining Beast Wars voice actors who haven't been a BotCon guest yet...
Don Brown - Scorponok
Colin Murdock - Quickstrike
Lee Tockar - Ravage
Carol Slavenkoff - Predacon Computer


Unfortunately, Cambell Lane (Rampage) died before being a guest.

[griffin]

A teaser image of the Tripredacus Council from the Beast Wars cartoon has been tweeted by the BotCon people (https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/654350695567609856)... so maybe the last three toys for the boxset will be the three original Tripredacus members, who had their two agents in the cartoon (Ravage & Tarantulas) already revealed as the first toys.

[Trent]

A teaser image of the Tripredacus Council from the Beast Wars cartoon has been tweeted by the BotCon people (https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/654350695567609856)... so maybe the last three toys for the boxset will be the three original Tripredacus members, who had their two agents in the cartoon (Ravage & Tarantulas) already revealed as the first toys.

That's what I'm assuming it wil be.

[Krayt]

Next one is revealed, Ramhorn from Brawl.... with a drill...

[MayzaPrime]

So IMHO the figures so far have been... miss, miss, hit. Atleast it isnt 3 strikes and out. :p

Ramhorn looks great

[kup]

That's what I'm assuming it wil be.

It's clear that's what they are going for which in concept, is not a bad idea but doesn't work at all with the moulds they are using. They should allow the avaliable moulds to dictate the characters and themes each year not try to force it on moulds that are completely inappropriate like this year's set.

[llamatron]

It's clear that's what they are going for which in concept, is not a bad idea but doesn't work at all with the moulds they are using. They should allow the avaliable moulds to dictate the characters and themes each year not try to force it on moulds that are completely inappropriate like this year's set.

Agreed!

I'm guessing the voyager will be the green bug one (cicadon?) From... Cyclonus?

[Deonasis]

A link to Ramhorn from CW Brawl.. www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/images16/ramhornREVEAL.jpg

I am worried about the cartoon cgi red colour and head for Ramhorn. I would have liked to see some purple on it. Hopefully the rest of the council will be more toy accurate in colour or they will all look too similar.

[fatbot]

I have a feeling that TakTom may repaint Ramhorn into Nosecone & Groove into Afterburner for Computron

[UltraMarginal]

I have a feeling that TakTom may repaint Ramhorn into Nosecone & Groove into Afterburner for Computron

ya think:D

I'm starting to feel that computron is going to be a cobbled together mess of half assed remoulds.

[griffin]

If the drill part is a FunPub created part, it won't be used by Hasbro or TakaraTomy... but it might give them an idea for a Nosecone toy from Brawl.

But if that drill part is actually a Has/Tak part, then it means that a Nosecone toy is in the works, and FunPub are allowed to use it (like being allowed to use Onslaught and Brawl moulds).

[UltraMarginal]

If the drill part is a FunPub created part, it won't be used by Hasbro or TakaraTomy... but it might give them an idea for a Nosecone toy from Brawl.

But if that drill part is actually a Has/Tak part, then it means that a Nosecone toy is in the works, and FunPub are allowed to use it (like being allowed to use Onslaught and Brawl moulds).

Given that they have 5 new heads, I'd suggest your second proposition is the most likely.

[Paulbot]

I have a feeling that TakTom may repaint Ramhorn into Nosecone & Groove into Afterburner for Computron


If the drill part is a FunPub created part, it won't be used by Hasbro or TakaraTomy... but it might give them an idea for a Nosecone toy from Brawl.

But if that drill part is actually a Has/Tak part, then it means that a Nosecone toy is in the works, and FunPub are allowed to use it (like being allowed to use Onslaught and Brawl moulds).

When I saw the pic I assumed the drill part is from a future Hasbro Nosecone not a FunPub addition.

Afterall Brawl is a CW limb figure with no announced repaint/remold use - and as if any CW toy would only get a single run.

I agree with Fatbot that Groove as Afterburner makes sense (I did the Digibash - it works) but not convinced Hasbro will do the same. Hasbro Afterburner might be Groove (doubtful as he'd look too much like Wreck-Gar) or a random poor choice or replaced in the team altogether (like Wildrider, Slingshot, Groove (as a limb) ).

Weird though that FubPub could reveal it ahead of a Hasbro Computron limb reveal.

[Keidatron]

Someone out there on the interwebs was theorycrafting that maybe there might be a LioKaiser somewhere in the works

[Deonasis]

Someone out there on the interwebs was theorycrafting that maybe there might be a LioKaiser somewhere in the works
:drools

[liegeprime]

Someone out there on the interwebs was theorycrafting that maybe there might be a LioKaiser somewhere in the works

erm that someone is ME hahahaha. Ive posted it as my reply on a facebook post. unless there's somewhere you read it otherwise then it it's not just me thinking it (of course other's will heheheh)

After all if you think about it...
TakaraTomy can likely issue out a combiner that is known to their local market - Liokaiser - from Victory.

For mainbody
They can use (again) the Cyclonus mold with some retool - Leozack
The third figure from the Predacus group is a drill tank - easy recolour to Drillhorn
and with a slight retool of the brwan tank mould again - Killbison
They can retool one of the cars to be Jaruga, just use the MIssle type handplate to simulate the rocket launcher on his buggyback...
As for the remaining members Guyhawk and Hellbat - of course staright up repaint and new head from Skydive mould

and as bonus seventh member - We have the helicopter - Deathcobra (it's aliiiiive!!!)


SO, there you go, a straight up Liokaizer

[MayzaPrime]

erm that someone is ME hahahaha. Ive posted it as my reply on a facebook post. unless there's somewhere you read it otherwise then it it's not just me thinking it (of course other's will heheheh)

After all if you think about it...
TakaraTomy can likely issue out a combiner that is known to their local market - Liokaiser - from Victory.

For mainbody
They can use (again) the Cyclonus mold with some retool - Leozack
The third figure from the Predacus group is a drill tank - easy recolour to Drillhorn
and with a slight retool of the brwan tank mould again - Killbison
They can retool one of the cars to be Jaruga, just use the MIssle type handplate to simulate the rocket launcher on his buggyback...
As for the remaining members Guyhawk and Hellbat - of course staright up repaint and new head from Skydive mould

and as bonus seventh member - We have the helicopter - Deathcobra (it's aliiiiive!!!)


SO, there you go, a straight up Liokaizer

I thought that TFCC might have done it for there subscription service next year... it would be cool if Hasbro do it :D

[liegeprime]

I thought that TFCC might have done it for there subscription service next year... it would be cool if Hasbro do it :D

If only they did, that, would , be , AWESOME!!:D:D

[Deonasis]

Completely underwhelmed.. bummed out.. but expected I guess.

Cicada torn artwork has revealed he will be a brown Air Raid with no head remold.

I was hoping for Cicada torn to use the Cyclonus mild and have toy colouring.


Because..
- I believe the 3 were just saturated by red light in the show.
- Now we'll have 3 rusty brown combiner parts when we could have got a more vibrant deco.
- Sea lamp will most likely be the Hotspot mold.. again.
- Cicada torn was the original torso.
- No new head like Ram horn has me wondering why they bothered with his and we'll see in the end if it was a waste.

Now I am off to destroy autocorrect on the damn tablet.

[MayzaPrime]

Totally agree... What a letdown...

[griffin]

The artwork is here on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/photos/a.310373445669788.77675.247519665288500/1068889553151503/?type=3), while the toy will be revealed tomorrow.

[Krayt]

Pics are up, but can't get to post on work comp to share....

Anyway, Red and silver Skydive mould....

I'm disappointed.... Cicadacon was head and chest.... wanted it to be the torso...

Money on Hotspot mould for the final

Cicadacon on BotCon website (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/bc16exclusives.cfm).

[UltraMarginal]

so they made a comment in the last month or so about having 5 new heads, I guess that means the combiner head is also new. given this reveal.

[kup]

I think we can expect this to be another set that doesn't get sold out.

I commend them on the theme idea but they should have backed away from it when the avaliable molds did not fit the characters at all. A new 'G2' theme would have been better or even Euro G1. At the very least, they could have continued the 'Dawn of Future's Past' 2006 theme and given us Terrorsaur and other more suitable BW characters that never made it to the show in 'Cybertronian' modes.

[Trent]

Why am I not surprised this set is turning out to be a letdown? :rolleyes:

[griffin]

I think we can expect this to be another set that doesn't get sold out.

I commend them on the theme idea but they should have backed away from it when the avaliable molds did not fit the characters at all. A new 'G2' theme would have been better or even Euro G1. At the very least, they could have continued the 'Dawn of Future's Past' 2006 theme and given us Terrorsaur and other more suitable BW characters that never made it to the show in 'Cybertronian' modes.

A continuation of the 2006 theme would have been a lot better, with Cybertronian modes, but the problem with FunPub is that they have to produce about 15 toys for each convention, which means whole new themes because that's way too many to "finish off" a previous theme like the 2006 DOFP set.
It was a problem that 3H never had, which gave us 2-4 year arcs of stories and characters, making it more enticing to keep coming back or following the events, just to finish the story or collect the set of related characters (like the BW toys from 97-00 and the Wreckers toys for 01-02).


A set of Predators Vs Turbomasters, as combiners would have been doable (and awesome)... with the Optimus toy as Thunderclash and the Silverbolt/Cyclonus toy as Skyquake, and the eight limbs as each of the smaller Euro toys.
It almost seems obvious, but maybe FunPub decided against it after the poor showing of 2013 Machine Wars and the 2010 Euro/G2 sets... which were both fringe, semi-obscure elements of the fandom.
Given the right marketing, it could have worked as a BotCon set.

[MayzaPrime]

I think we can expect this to be another set that doesn't get sold out.

I commend them on the theme idea but they should have backed away from it when the avaliable molds did not fit the characters at all. A new 'G2' theme would have been better or even Euro G1. At the very least, they could have continued the 'Dawn of Future's Past' 2006 theme and given us Terrorsaur and other more suitable BW characters that never made it to the show in 'Cybertronian' modes.

I was hoping this was going to be the case when we got Tarantulas... I would have loved a Scorponok & Terrorsaur

[Verno]

I'm torn.

If FunPub hadn't done some kind of 'Beast Wars' inspired theme for BotCon next year, I'd have been supremely disappointed. However, given the toys that were available for FunPub to use as convention exclusives, perhaps a more G1-centric theme would have better suited the exclusives.

Ultimately, I've never felt any urge to get BotCon exclusives in the past, and this set won't change that.

[Deonasis]

Annnd Sea Clamp is from Silverbolt! I officially do not understand a single choice the TFCC club makes.

Reveal image: https://mobile.twitter.com/BotCon/status/659365314610790401

[Verno]

Holy flying crustaceans, Batman!

[Lord_Zed]

And I thought the Hasbro CW Autobot car repaints were forced, they don't look so bad now. :eek:

[kup]

Yeah, the molds couldn't be further from the characters. At least in 2006 they decided to be clever about it and it worked. This time, they seem to be expecting us to just accept a Jet that then becomes a lobster.

[Verno]

http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0d/Generationstoy-MiniconAssaultTeam.jpg
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/b/b6/Generationstoy-Centuritron.jpg

A far more fitting set (with a little bit of tweaking) for a Tripredacus toy.

[MayzaPrime]

Well the Predacons are smaller than the normal Transformer :p

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Seaclamp's been revealed"

http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/images16/seaclampREVEAL.jpg

[prjkt]

And I thought the Hasbro CW Autobot car repaints were forced, they don't look so bad now. :eek:

At least with the Autobots there was some precedence - Classics Mirage being repainted as Dragstrip, Sun/Swipe mould as Club Breakdown (twice) and even Prime Wheeljack as Wildrider.

These guys... Not so sure.

[Verno]

There must have been a sale on red paint.

[UltimateGalvatron]

There must have been a sale on red paint.

Saving up the red because in RID they used all the blue on Blizzzard rdecoes

[Keidatron]

That looks aweful. The whole set looks aweful. I don't envision the combined form to be decent to look at.

[Sinnertwin]

I don't mind Computron.

[llamatron]

http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0d/Generationstoy-MiniconAssaultTeam.jpg
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/b/b6/Generationstoy-Centuritron.jpg

A far more fitting set (with a little bit of tweaking) for a Tripredacus toy.

This would have been a much better approach for a "red light district" Tripredacus toy.

[Verno]

This would have been a much better approach for a "red light district" Tripredacus toy.
Red light district? I don't understand the reference :(

[llamatron]

Red light district? I don't understand the reference :(

Doing them up in red and black/grey to emulate their show appearance - which was due to lighting (dark room, only red lights), not necessarily their actual colors. I would assume their "real" colours are their toy colours.

As the minicon team would be a single mold (probably), they would have to be done in a unified colour scheme.

I think it would have been cooler to do the these boxset ones in the toy colours.

[Verno]

Doing them up in red and black/grey to emulate their show appearance - which was due to lighting (dark room, only red lights), not necessarily their actual colors. I would assume their "real" colours are their toy colours.

As the minicon team would be a single mold (probably), they would have to be done in a unified colour scheme.

I think it would have been cooler to do the these boxset ones in the toy colours.
Ah, yes. Sadly this light problem is here to stay as FunPub have come down on the wrong side of the argument.

Surprise surprise, red lights turn things red:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/50uMV_6Fg_I/hqdefault.jpg

I too think they should have used the original toy colours instead of all red. Use a purple colour to link them all together (including Ravage and Tarantulas), just like the original Tripredacus toys, and it would have looked quite good. Alas.

[griffin]

What red light? (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/8/83/TripredacusCouncil1.jpg)
Has anyone actually watched the cartoon? The only illuminating light is bright white.
The table has red buttons that glow red, but they are only strong enough to project a small patch of red on the lower abdomen of the council members... as can be seen by the close-ups that have most of their white/silver parts with no red on them and the red parts being boldly red instead of some other colour looking red.
Cicadacon (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/8/81/GeneralCicadacon.jpg) - Ramhorn (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/a/a4/Generalramhorn.jpg) - Seaclamp (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/e/e3/GeneralSeaclamp.jpg)
The white/silver parts are bright and mostly no red glow on them... and the red is pure red, not from a red light source.

Fans keep crying out for cartoon accurate toys & decos, and here we have FunPub doing that, because we already have a set of toys in toy-colours (the original Tripredacus).


Grrrr... stop making me defend FunPub. :p

[Verno]

Beast Wars: The Agenda (Part 1) - Seeing the light

Let's start at the beginning -- the script.

As luck would have it, a downloadable copy of the original script for Agenda Part 1 exists online (http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/tmdinobot/bwscripts.html). Turning your attention to page 6 of the document (Page 5 of the script) we come to the scene in question. For your reading convenience, the extract:


EXT. PREDACON OUTPOST COMMAND STATION -- SPACE
Shaped like a cool predatory space station -- not a sphere. The wavefront PASSES OVER IT, triggering SPARK FLARES and ALARM KLAXONS.

PREDACON COMPUTER VOICE
Warning! Circuits disrupted! All systems offline!

Lights are going out all over the station.

INSIDE PREDACON STATION
Dark inside, with FLASHES of light as sparks FLARE from disrupted equipment. Dark, vaguely-seen ROBOT SHAPES (ref. ep. 34) run in the corridors.

PREDACON COMPUTER VOICE
Predacon Command Outpost One inoperative. Emergency power activated.

Dim red emergency lights FLICKER ON in the floor. PUSH IN on them and:

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. TRIPREDICUS COUNCIL ROOM
START TIGHT on an emergency light in the tabletop as it FLICKERS ON. PULL BACK as we SEE that its dim redness vaguely illuminates the robot face of GENERAL RAMHORN. The two other members of the Tripredacus Council, GENERAL SEACLAMP and GENERAL CICADACON, are also dimly visible around the table.

GENERAL RAMHORN
Tripredacus Council now in session. General Cicadacon, report.

I took the liberty of emboldening two very important pieces of information. Let those sink in as we move forward to the second part of this analysis -- the show.

Again, we are in luck, as the scene in question is available to view online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TGcsHNocE). For those without the time to watch it, I'll do the hard work for you.

As the Council enter the scene, the room is illuminated by a single, white light source:

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/Rh1n0x/TriPred_zps5e3b2e95.png

As you can see, they are grey. Only after they activate the red lights on the table...

http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/8/83/TripredacusCouncil1.jpg

... do they appear red. Red light, unsurprisingly, makes things looks red. Take this scene from Ghostbusters 2 for example:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/50uMV_6Fg_I/hqdefault.jpg

Allow all of that to sink in as we move on to the third part -- the creative process.

From the TF-Wiki:


The Tripredacus Council shown at the beginning of the episode were meant to be the Tripredacus gestalt toy, and were even referred to by their individual names in the original script. However, time constraints prevented the renders for the figures from exactly matching the toys they were based on, so Hasbro asked that their individual names not be referred to, though the gestalt name was still used for the group.

Before I go on, I will preface by saying that everything I've said up to this point is factual. Only now will I begin to speculate, but given the acknowledgement of time constraints on the production, I don't think I'll be stepping too far from the bounds of reality.

The intention of the scene is clear -- to show mysterious figures in a shadowy command room. The use of red lights is outlined in the script, but given the limitations of time (and potentially the programs used to animate the show itself), shortcuts may have been used. The shortcut in this instance would be to render the three Tripredacus figures red after the lights have been turned on so as to help create the mood.

The white light on them at the beginning of the scene clearly shows them to be grey. The red lights on the table are there to act like a torch under the chin of someone telling a ghost story. It's supposed to look eerie. But perhaps the lights alone weren't achieving this, so they rendered the characters red to aid in this -- but I maintain this was never the intended colour scheme of the characters themselves. If it were, they would have appeared red when they entered the scene and were illuminated only by a single white light source.


Grrrr... stop making me defend FunPub. :p
I would never make you do that mate. In reality, FunPub had the chance to take these three characters and really make them their own, but have failed at the first step.

[Deonasis]

I feel for you Verno. This is the "tribute" Beast Wars gets :(

[King Atlas]

The original set is one of my favorite combiners and Beast Wars toys........this can't be real. April fool's?

[CHILENO20]

Can't justify this set in my head. Maybe down the track cheap, but not now. I'll stick with TFSS 4.0, this combiner set is better.

[kup]

This would have been a much better approach for a "red light district" Tripredacus toy.

At this point, a lot of things could have been a better approach. They really scraped the bottom of the barrel here.

It's like if I am allowed a whole bunch of Beast Machines molds and say they are the new Robots in Disguise tribute just because the anniversary happens to be that same year.

[Verno]

Insights about the design of the Tripredacus Council from the Director of Agenda (Part 1). (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1054640-tripredacus-council.html)

Very interesting indeed. And a top bloke for giving me the time of day.

[Sinnertwin]

Red, White, Pink or Green, a pig with lipstick is still a pig.

[Trent]

Red, White, Pink or Green, a pig with lipstick is still a pig.

You look good in lipstick ;)

:p

[kup]

Insights about the design of the Tripredacus Council from the Director of Agenda (Part 1). (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1054640-tripredacus-council.html)

Very interesting indeed. And a top bloke for giving me the time of day.

Nice and interesting read. The scene may have been a bit budget but they did absolutely make the most of it as it was so memorable and effective. It became an iconic scene for any BW fan.

Our only hope for toys that do it justice is probably 3Ps but there may not be enough Asian market appeal to justify it :(

[MayzaPrime]

Insights about the design of the Tripredacus Council from the Director of Agenda (Part 1). (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1054640-tripredacus-council.html)

Very interesting indeed. And a top bloke for giving me the time of day.

Thats awesome!

[UltraMarginal]

Insights about the design of the Tripredacus Council from the Director of Agenda (Part 1). (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1054640-tripredacus-council.html)

Very interesting indeed. And a top bloke for giving me the time of day.

That was quite an interesting read and you are extremely right, he would make a great convention guest. though given the public outcry over the colouring of this particular convention set, I doubt funpub would have the guts to have him there as a potential catalyst for unhappy discussion at a panel.

[Verno]

That was quite an interesting read and you are extremely right, he would make a great convention guest. though given the public outcry over the colouring of this particular convention set, I doubt funpub would have the guts to have him there as a potential catalyst for unhappy discussion at a panel.
FP will screen all the questions first to weed out any dissent :p

[SuspectimusPrime]

Insights about the design of the Tripredacus Council from the Director of Agenda (Part 1). (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1054640-tripredacus-council.html)

Very interesting indeed. And a top bloke for giving me the time of day.

Similarly interesting news from TFormers member ExVee (http://tformers.com/what-color-were-the-tripredacus-council-supposed-to-be-in-the-agenda-beast-wars-episode-director-shares-insights/27948/news.html) - 03/11/2015.

[Verno]

Well what do you know, I made the news :p

[UltraMarginal]

Well what do you know, I made the news :p

and hardly even a cred for it on TFW. :rolleyes:

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Awesome work Verno! :cool:

Man! That scene is so cool! Still stands up even though it's nearly two decades old!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mipExpTLt5M

[griffin]

and hardly even a cred for it on TFW. :rolleyes:

You must be thinking of another fansite that has sometimes forgotten to credit sources in the past. ;) :p
Verno was credited twice on TFW (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/11/04/the-tripredacus-agenda-behind-the-scenes-of-beast-wars-the-agenda-part-1-304952).
Tformers didn't even include a link to the source for readers to see the full posting and follow up comments... they just copied and pasted.

[UltraMarginal]

You must be thinking of another fansite that has sometimes forgotten to credit sources in the past. ;) :p
Verno was credited twice on TFW (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/11/04/the-tripredacus-agenda-behind-the-scenes-of-beast-wars-the-agenda-part-1-304952).
Tformers didn't even include a link to the source for readers to see the full posting and follow up comments... they just copied and pasted.

When I read it as a front page article, the news credit had someone elses name next to it. :confused:

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Botcon has released a pic of the combined mode (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/photos/a.310373445669788.77675.247519665288500/1118030524904072/?type=3&theater):

http://i.imgur.com/OkadjtT.jpg

Looks pretty sweet!

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

From Marcelo Matere Art, Predacus box art (https://www.facebook.com/MarceloMatereart/photos/a.213110408754270.53172.152907161441262/1015366541861982/?type=3&theater):

http://i.imgur.com/pncsAjZ.jpg

[Verno]

Anyone else think that looks like Terrorsaur flying in?

[Paul Agnew]

Anyone else think that looks like Terrorsaur flying in?

That or Red Wing. ;)

Either way, I look forward to adding them (along with the fellow attendee figures and boxset) to my collection when I make the trip to Louisville in a few months.

[Deonasis]

Credit where credit is due. I like the combined form (that chest piece colouring and head really helps) and I dig the boxart.

[SuspectimusPrime]

This might have been asked before (if so, apologies) - what's the chance of a CW Magnaboss coming from the convention exclusives?

I suppose if chances are slim to none, you can always grab a regular Silverbolt, Prowl, and Ironhide together with two other random G1 Season 1 Autobots... (maybe two grey cars for legs...?)

[MayzaPrime]

That box art looks better than the figure :p

I really hope that red jet is Terrorsaur, I really want to complete my pre-Beast wars figures.

[Verno]

Did the colour of the chest of the toy change late in the game? Or did the artist of the box art just ignore the fact the chest piece is black and purple, not grey?

[kup]

Art reminds me of dreamwave

[griffin]

This might have been asked before (if so, apologies) - what's the chance of a CW Magnaboss coming from the convention exclusives?

I suppose if chances are slim to none, you can always grab a regular Silverbolt, Prowl, and Ironhide together with two other random G1 Season 1 Autobots... (maybe two grey cars for legs...?)

According to a recent podcast, apparently there are only 9 CW toys for BotCon... which could allow for them to be doing the thee Magnaboss characters, but it wouldn't come with enough limbs to make a second full combiner.

[UltraMarginal]

Anyone else think that looks like Terrorsaur flying in?

It also looks like a mould they have said will never be used again.

[Raider]

More I look at this, the more I love it! How do you go about grabbing one of these without attending?

[MayzaPrime]

More I look at this, the more I love it! How do you go about grabbing one of these without attending?

You have to be a TFCC member and you can order the non-attendee Iacon set. It is what I have been doing for the last few years.

[Deonasis]

I HAVE HAIRY UPPER LEGS ROAHHRR!!!

[Raider]

You have to be a TFCC member and you can order the non-attendee Iacon set. It is what I have been doing for the last few years.

Thanks Mayza. Now to find someone who is willing to purchase it for me... :rolleyes::o:cool:

[Paul Agnew]

What's the chance of a CW Magnaboss coming from the convention exclusives?

Possible, though there's an equal chance The (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Brawn_(SG)) Knights (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Prowl_(SG)) Of (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Inferno_(SG)) Unicron (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ratchet_(SG)) would get figures. Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking.

[prjkt]

It also looks like a mould they have said will never be used again.

Not quite. The announcement said that they "had no plans" to use it in the future, but of course the fandom took that as "NEVAARRRRR" and bitched wanting a red repaint that appeared in a frame or two in a comic.

Not to mention that when the rainmakers/G2 Starscream/Nacelle were announced that same group bitched that they were "milking" the mould....

[SuspectimusPrime]

It also looks like a mould they have said will never be used again.

Looks like evidence that Brian Savage is gearing up for a lengthy career in politics.

[Paulbot]

Based on this (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2016-registration-updates/34578/)...

Hello Members!

Some exciting updates regarding BotCon 2016 Registration!

First, a reminder about some package details. If you register as a Primus package holder, you will receive not just the 5 figure boxed set, but also a FREE additional Deluxe figure. We are excited to announce that this figure utilizes the Combiner Wars tooling and also features a NEW head sculpt that does not appear on any other souvenirs.

Also, the CLASS KIT (and Assembled Class Kit) features an alternative head sculpt that is not available at retail. You can add an Assembled Class Kit when you register.

Finally, per the BotCon brochure, this year's Golden Ticket features a surprise bonus! That item is in fact an alternate version of one of the Legends Class souvenir items.

Take one last look at the Convention Brochure so you know exactly what you are planning to purchase and we will see you very soon in Louisville, Ky for BotCon 2016,10th April 7-April 10!

Thanks for your support and see you in Louisville!

Brian

I would guess the Red jet on the box might be the freebie deluxe

Also gotta love them making a variant that only Golden ticket holders get.:rolleyes:

[Paulbot]

More I look at this, the more I love it! How do you go about grabbing one of these without attending?


You have to be a TFCC member and you can order the non-attendee Iacon set. It is what I have been doing for the last few years.

In the past you could order the non-attendee set without being a TFCC member. But it cost more and usually made getting a membership (with the extra figures and mag) worth it.

[UltraMarginal]

Not quite. The announcement said that they "had no plans" to use it in the future, but of course the fandom took that as "NEVAARRRRR" and bitched wanting a red repaint that appeared in a frame or two in a comic.

Not to mention that when the rainmakers/G2 Starscream/Nacelle were announced that same group bitched that they were "milking" the mould....


I was there at the panel and they specifically said they were putting the mould to bed after the last subscription service.


Looks like evidence that Brian Savage is gearing up for a lengthy career in politics.

haha, maybe, would he be any worse than any of our politicians?
It was Pete Sinclair that said it.


Based on this (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2016-registration-updates/34578/)...


I would guess the Red jet on the box might be the freebie deluxe

Also gotta love them making a variant that only Golden ticket holders get.:rolleyes:

the GT figure is just a legends scale figure though.

[Paulbot]

the GT figure is just a legends scale figure though.

Yep but even Legends (not Legion) figures are still $19 AU RRP toys. It could be a repaint of the Starscream as one of the seekers they've not released in that mold yet (like Sunstorm? Slipstream?) or something like that which might be in demand.

Like lets say BotCon has Legends Runabout (like the TAV toy) but if you want Legends Runamuck (like the Generations book exclusive) you've got to have a Golden Ticket?

Or maybe I shouldn't come up with any other examples in case they come true!

[UltraMarginal]

Or maybe I shouldn't come up with any other examples in case they come true!

haha, yea that one.

perhaps its redwing.

[reillyd]

I will be ordering the Iacon set (non-attendee), and if anyone planning on going wants to sell their Golden Ticket exclusive legends figure, I would be interested in buying it.

[griffin]

I'm thinking that they are going to be opening up registration in the next 2-3 days, as their wording from the emails implies it is within days now.

The email from today that Paulbot quoted said "take one last look" at the brochure, while the one they sent out yesterday was letting us know that registration wasn't starting today (Tuesday - Monday night in America).

From Yesterday...


Just so you can quit checking today. Registration is not today. However, you do need to go to TransformersClub.com/shop (http://TransformersClub.com/shop) and make sure your log in works (click on My Account and log in). If it works in the store, it will work in the registration system. If it does not work you may need to renew your membership. If you have any issues, please let us know.

In addition, if you have an issue with your credit card company, please do not call us. Only your card company can fix any approval issues.
What was really interesting though, was the wording on Saturday's email (Friday in America), thanking us for the last 12 years of supporting them... which sounds very final.
It also noted that registration would start next week (which is this week).


It is almost time to register for BotCon 2016! We will begin registration for BotCon (http://botcon.com), North America’s largest Transformers fan convention, next week. We will send out an email when it goes live and will also send updates via our Twitter (https://twitter.com/BotCon) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/) pages. Follow us to stay in the loop on the latest BotCon announcements!

Speaking of Facebook, for your first look at PREDACUS (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/photos/a.310373445669788.77675.247519665288500/1118030524904072/?type=3&theater), the combined mode of the 5 figures from this years boxed set, visit our Facebook page here (http://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/photos/a.310373445669788.77675.247519665288500/1118030524904072/?type=3&theater).

Thank you for your support over the last 12 years as we look forward to seeing you Louisville, KY, April 7th-10, for the biggest and best BotCon yet!

[griffin]

More I look at this, the more I love it! How do you go about grabbing one of these without attending?

A pairing up topic has been posted here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=22258)... if anyone else is willing to buy one for you.

[UltimateGalvatron]

The announcement said that they "had no plans" to use it in the future, but of course the fandom took that as "NEVAARRRRR" and bitched wanting a red repaint that appeared in a frame or two in a comic.

Not to mention that when the rainmakers/G2 Starscream/Nacelle were announced that same group bitched that they were "milking" the mould....

Hahaha.

[griffin]

The box art looks like it would fit right in with the other Hasbro and JP Combiner Wars/Unite Warriors boxsets.

The one thing that someone on TFW noted, is that it doesn't say "BotCon" or "BotCon 2016" on the box. If it wasn't for the "included Pin" image saying BotCon on it, you'd never know that it was a BotCon exclusive boxset.
I think it would have looked better having the BotCon label on the box and not have cheapen the image by having "included pin" slapped on it... which is a standard feature that few people even care about anyway.

[UltraMarginal]

The box art looks like it would fit right in with the other Hasbro and JP Combiner Wars/Unite Warriors boxsets.

The one thing that someone on TFW noted, is that it doesn't say "BotCon" or "BotCon 2016" on the box. If it wasn't for the "included Pin" image saying BotCon on it, you'd never know that it was a BotCon exclusive boxset.
I think it would have looked better having the BotCon label on the box and not have cheapen the image by having "included pin" slapped on it... which is a standard feature that few people even care about anyway.

I noticed that, I've liked the previous box art for the very reason that it is clearly a Botcon box set. This feels like they weren't even sure it was going to be released as a convention exclusive, or perhaps they are sharing it with eHobby so they had to make the box art less specific.

[reillyd]

I'm kind of disappointed at that it isn't REDWING, and would consider getting it to repaint the nosecone.

[Ploughmans Lunch]

So it turns out I actually want one of these guys, and it's Ravage?

[CHILENO20]

So it turns out I actually want one of these guys, and it's Ravage?

Yep, take a look :)

http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/10/03/first-botcon-2016-figure-revealed-302305

[llamatron]

Upon reflection that tarantulas is great.

[Ploughmans Lunch]

Yep, take a look :)

http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/10/03/first-botcon-2016-figure-revealed-302305

Oh no what I mean is, of the five that make up this combiner, I really want Ravage because it's the only black version of that mold, and I'd want to turn it in to Runabout

[UltraMarginal]

Oh no what I mean is, of the five that make up this combiner, I really want Ravage because it's the only black version of that mold, and I'd want to turn it in to Runabout

That's an expensive custom!!

[Raider]

That's an expensive custom!!

Yeah US$500 is a joke. I really hope it comes on the market at a later time for far less. I want it but not that badly. Maybe BBTS will buy too many and no one will purchase it for their asking price.

[Ploughmans Lunch]

That's an expensive custom!!

Dyeing plastic is too scary ;_; but alas I won't be getting Ravage because, well, that's a lot of money for a thing.

[Scaleface]

No BH Soundwave Botanica?

I don't know about this though. Might just buy Alternators Ravage

The club basically said a while back that Hasbro was forcing them to use CURRENT molds for the club exclusives. This is why their exclusives for 2016 are the toys on the shelves in late 2015. We may not get much of a chance to see older molds any more.

[griffin]

They are working closer with Hasbro who does want them to use more recent moulds, but I don't recall them saying that they wouldn't be able to use older moulds. The process would still have them submitting requests to see if moulds they prefer to use are available.

[Scaleface]

They are working closer with Hasbro who does want them to use more recent moulds, but I don't recall them saying that they wouldn't be able to use older moulds. The process would still have them submitting requests to see if moulds they prefer to use are available.

I didn't say it could never happen, but seeing old molds will happen less. So far EVERY ONE of 5 BotCon molds and 6 TFSS molds we know about are guys on the store shelves today.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Pre-orders for the boxed and bagged sets are available on TFSource (http://tfsource.com/botcon/2016) and BBTS (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS24965&mode=retail).

[Sinnertwin]

Yeah US$500 is a joke. I really hope it comes on the market at a later time for far less. I want it but not that badly. Maybe BBTS will buy too many and no one will purchase it for their asking price.

I was also considering the bug wars set, but that asking price is just too much :(

[fatbot]

http://www.allspark.com/2016/02/new-botcon-2016-video-teases-possible-souvenir/

Maybe you can obtain this for me as well Boss?

[griffin]

http://www.allspark.com/2016/02/new-botcon-2016-video-teases-possible-souvenir/

Maybe you can obtain this for me as well Boss?

I will have to see what the limits are, and who will wants this (this is not the topic for other people to put in requests - I will have a pre-order topic in the Saleyard closer to BotCon).


For those wondering what this teased item might be, this link has an image of the planned (and cancelled) 2005 Megatron toy (http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/02/botcon-2016-1st-souvenir-confirmed-tm2-megatron-308908) (but watch the video as well, as it features David Kaye... yessss)... which appears to be all but confirmed to be one of the at-show exclusives this year (the image in the video matches the proposed toy, and a tweet from BotCon has apparently noted that Megatron will be limited to one per attendee and is expected to sell out on the Friday - not that that can be trusted, as they said the same thing last year).

[griffin]

Another activity has been announced (http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/19/botcon-2016-hosting-stan-bush-vince-dicola-concert-310248) - a live concert on the Friday night (April 8th) by Stan Bush and Vince DiCola, at a nearby live entertainment venue.
I think this will be the last time we will see the pair performing together as the numbers of us old timer fans who love their 1986 work, are very few now, and I'd feel really bad for them if they ever did a performance and only had about 20-30 people showing up.
The venue is near the Convention Centre, and is a free entry public venue, so this won't be an additional cost to attendees... but it will require BotCon attendees to walk there and back (instead of the popular room trading at the Hotel).
Hopefully this is the Friday Night event for the convention, and FunPub don't have something at the Convention Centre at the same time (like the Golden Ticket dinner or MSTF).

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2016/022111.jpg

It's no wonder their convention and club are failing... at almost a month since the last major news item, when they should be releasing teases and info every week or every few days, especially while they are struggling to sell attendee boxsets.

[UltraMarginal]

What blows my mind is this is a Free event for the public...

Why aren't Botcon hosting a show starring these two chaps?:confused::confused:

[griffin]

Probably because they'd only get about 30-40 people if it was exclusive to attendees, so opening it up to the public might get double the audience.

[Deonasis]

I wonder what that Megatron 2005 hommage would be made from (if they do)?
There is an unused head from FoC Grimlock with a great likeness but surely they would use a dragon body if they could.

Of course the 2005 body would be first choice (with a new head) but a newer mold might be cheaper and easier for FunPub to use.

Maybe one of the voyager Prid Predakings (with a new head)?

[griffin]

Another activity has been announced (http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/19/botcon-2016-hosting-stan-bush-vince-dicola-concert-310248) - a live concert on the Friday night (April 8th) by Stan Bush and Vince DiCola, at a nearby live entertainment venue.
I think this will be the last time we will see the pair performing together as the numbers of us old timer fans who love their 1986 work, are very few now, and I'd feel really bad for them if they ever did a performance and only had about 20-30 people showing up.
The venue is near the Convention Centre, and is a free entry public venue, so this won't be an additional cost to attendees... but it will require BotCon attendees to walk there and back (instead of the popular room trading at the Hotel).
Hopefully this is the Friday Night event for the convention, and FunPub don't have something at the Convention Centre at the same time (like the Golden Ticket dinner or MSTF).

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2016/022111.jpg


Looking at the maps, the Galt House and Convention Centre is on the northern end of 4th Street, and this entertainment venue is four blocks south... so it's a little walk of about 10-15 minutes, and hopefully not clashing with anything at the Convention Centre.

[Paul Agnew]

Apparently some turbo-revvin' young punk called John Bender will be attending BotCon next month. (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/bc16nelson.cfm) :p

[UltraMarginal]

I'm trying to figure out if this is a last minute thing to get more attendance/cash or if it's something they've been trying to plan for ages that's only just been locked in.

This is the first time I can recall them adding extra purchasable options so long after registration opened up.

[griffin]

A shame that this was so last minute, and unlikely to convince too many people to now go this year, just five weeks away... as this is one of those "celebrity" guests that BotCon rarely can afford. (a person who is more famous outside of Transformers, so commands hefty appearance fees)
I think if they had this locked in back in December, and announced like Frank Welker was last year before the Brochure was released, this could have helped sell extra attendee sets this year.


I'm trying to figure out if this is a last minute thing to get more attendance/cash or if it's something they've been trying to plan for ages that's only just been locked in.

This is the first time I can recall them adding extra purchasable options so long after registration opened up.

I'd say that this was a last minute addition, as it follows the same concept of Frank Welker last year, and that was included in registration as an add-on option... so if they knew about this (or had it confirmed some time ago), it would have also been a registration add-on.

Hopefully he'll be at the Golden Ticket event/dinner, as I'd be keen to see & hear him in person (outside of his Panel), but there's nothing on the US$129 VIP package that I want.
Autograph - don't really care for them, and only bother about the big names like Cullen and Welker.
Photo - I prefer to take photos of them, not of me with them. I know I've seen them, I don't need the proof of me in the same photo.
Print - I have hundreds of artwork and posters, and this isn't one of my favourite characters.
Pin - really don't care about the Pins, or FunPub's obsession with them.
Front Row seating at his panel - I get that already with the Golden Ticket.

If I was uber rich and didn't care about the money, I'd buy it, but there just isn't anything there I want, as long as I get to see and here him in some way (in person preferably, but the panel will do).

From the link posted above...



We are thrilled to offer the BotCon 2016 Judd Nelson VIP PASS. This package upgrade allows you access to our very special BotCon 2016 guest, Judd Nelson! This is the FIRST EVER appearance for Judd Nelson at a Transformers convention! The VIP PASS is $129 and is in addition to the cost of your Primus, Golden Ticket Primus, Minicon or Protoform package.

The Judd Nelson VIP PASS includes:

- One (1) autograph signed in person by Judd Nelson (Friday afternoon*)

- One (1) professional 5x7 photograph with Judd Nelson (Saturday afternoon)

- Exclusive Hot Rod art print

- Exclusive Hot Rod Cloisonne' Pin

- First seating at the Judd Nelson Panel

*Please note that there will be no photography permitted during the autograph session.

Your autograph slot will be on Friday afternoon 3:30-6:00 pm and your photo slot will be Saturday afternoon (time TBD). This autograph package for registered attendees is limited to 200 slots.

To sign up:

If you have already purchased your Golden Ticket Primus, Primus, Minicon or Protoform package, log in to the registration system and start a new Attending Registration. If you need more than one, you should put the number needed in the "how many are your registering?" box. On the next page insert each person's name, age and relationship to you. On the Package selection page select "2016 Attendee Bypass" (do this for each person you are registering). This will get you past this page as you already have an attending package. When you get to the Daily Events page you can choose the Judd Nelson VIP PASS for each person.

If you have not registered for your attendee package, you can now do all of this at one time. Just start a new registration and follow the screens.


Friday night is going to be busy for those with a Golden Ticket, VIP pass and wanting to see the Stan & Vince concert.

[griffin]

Well there we go, I definitely don't need the VIP pass... Judd Nelson will be at the Golden Ticket event (https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/705531041335926784), which makes the GT more valuable than the VIP pass, because you can actually rub shoulders and talk to him at the GT event (the VIP pass only gives you a few seconds to speak while the photo is being taken, and while he is signing your item).
Now I just gotta cross my fingers that the GT event on Friday isn't at the same time as the Stan & Vince concert two blocks away.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

The Stan and Vince concert would have been a good attraction for Botcon. No need for VIP/GT ticket shenanigens, just use a room at the hotel and let everyone there at Botcon enjoy the show.

THAT probably would have been a nice drawcard.

[reillyd]

Allspark (http://www.allspark.com/2016/03/idw-publishing-handling-this-years-botcon-comic/) is reporting IDW is doing the convention comic, and that it will fit into the IDW universe.


So Ravage becomes a combiner!

[Paulbot]

It fits in to IDW's Beast Wars universe (Gathering/Ascending) which has zero connection to its G1 universe.

[reillyd]

It fits in to IDW's Beast Wars universe (Gathering/Ascending) which has zero connection to its G1 universe.

Booo. I really wanted to see Ravage in a combiner form in the comics. I guess I'll have to live with just having him in the Botcon one.

[Verno]

Booo. I really wanted to see Ravage in a combiner form in the comics. I guess I'll have to live with just having him in the Botcon one.
If you're keen for some Ravage combiner and don't want to wait, you could always read the script I put forward to BotCon/FunPub for this year's convention comic: Transformers Unity (http://rh1n0x.deviantart.com/art/Transformers-Unity-576410279).

[reillyd]

If you're keen for some Ravage combiner and don't want to wait, you could always read the script I put forward to BotCon/FunPub for this year's convention comic: Transformers Unity (http://rh1n0x.deviantart.com/art/Transformers-Unity-576410279).

Oh wow. Cheers!

[Verno]

Oh wow. Cheers!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Paul Agnew]

RiD Megatron retool all but confirmed now. And yeah, some art I guess. (https://twitter.com/Rin237/status/706561916114771971)

[reillyd]

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

The story is good, and Ravage doesn't die which is a plus. I don't think Ravage would take capture lying down and would already be plotting revenge

[Verno]

The story is good, and Ravage doesn't die which is a plus. I don't think Ravage would take capture lying down and would already be plotting revenge
Absolutely. He's partnered up with some big schemers.

Thanks for giving it a read :)

[griffin]

The collection of Artists in the Dealer Room has been posted up on the BotCon website (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/bc16artists.cfm).

Most of the regulars are there, and the ones I don't recognise are probably IDW artists or fan artists (any artist can buy a table, not just licensed artists).

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon/bc16/z01.jpg

[griffin]

The BotCon website also has a link to an airport shuttle bus on the left hand menu bar, with no announcement that I was aware of, so maybe no special rate.
The airport is only a few minutes away, so a taxi wouldn't have been too expensive anyway (for those of us here going).

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

First two pages of BotCon comic (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/posts/1152485964791861) Transformers: Dawn of the Predacus:

http://s10.postimg.org/3k5mpjgid/12829352_1152485254791932_1919560963473889938_o.jp g (http://postimg.org/image/3k5mpjgid/)
http://s10.postimg.org/3lfkiyic5/981145_1152485434791914_8589940207959024486_o.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3lfkiyic5/)

Click on thumbnail to open image in new window/tab, click again for fullsize.

[Paulbot]

Three of the robots in that preview have 2015 toys that can combine - the combiner just misses two limbs. I'd put money on two of the at show exclusives being Maximal/Autobot limbs to complete a preBW Mangaboss as will be revealed in the comic.

If I was making decisions they'd be an Air Raid as Skywarp and Rook as Santon. Maybe Legend Groove as Lio Junior?

[Paul Agnew]

(for those of us here going).

You know who WON'T be going to BotCon this year? (https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/707931810018230272)

But wait. A replacement guest has been announced, and ooh it's a good one. (https://twitter.com/RID_NightViper/status/708038603490746368)

[Verno]

Three of the robots in that preview have 2015 toys that can combine - the combiner just misses two limbs. I'd put money on two of the at show exclusives being Maximal/Autobot limbs to complete a preBW Mangaboss as will be revealed in the comic.

If I was making decisions they'd be an Air Raid as Skywarp and Rook as Santon. Maybe Legend Groove as Lio Junior?
Perhaps. But the bodies Ironhide and Prowl have aren't based on their Combiner Wars toys.

[Paulbot]

Perhaps. But the bodies Ironhide and Prowl have aren't based on their Combiner Wars toys.

Not yet.... but that's page one of the comic. ;)

[griffin]

Hound has a good Beast Wars name to him, and now has a Combiner Wars toy as well... leaving them with just one more Gen1 character that has a Beast-ish name or a link to Beast Wars to make a Deluxe Combiner Wars toy for.
My vote would be Grimlock, from the Rook toy... as its big and bulky, and he was also in Beast Wars. Then you'd have an Autobot pre-Beast Wars combiner that would fit with the Beast Wars theme (and just sell Grimlock with the gimmick/bio of combining with the other four released toys).

[griffin]

You know who WON'T be going to BotCon this year? (https://twitter.com/BotCon/status/707931810018230272)

But wait. A replacement guest has been announced, and ooh it's a good one. (https://twitter.com/RID_NightViper/status/708038603490746368)

That's so sad, for the fans who were going and wanting to see him.

In case the BotCon twitter disappears again, the first link is to an announcement that Scott McNeil will not be able to make it to BotCon this year.

The second link refers to Gregg Berger taking his place, from the recent FunPub email...


Hello Members!

We have some exciting news! On Friday afternoon, BotCon registered attendees will be treated to a script reading panel starring Judd Nelson, David Kaye, Venus Terzo, and Gregg Berger! To see this you must be a registered attendee, so make sure you have signed up for your Primus, Golden Ticket Primus, MiniCon or Protoform package. Also, for those who have already registered, if you have not yet added your Judd Nelson VIP Pass to your existing package you can do that today! Visit BotCon (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/bc16nelson.cfm) for the details and then if you need to register, add the VIP pass or do both, you can do that here (https://www.eventman.events/login.cfm?eid=35).

As you can tell from the above paragraph, there has been a guest change. Unfortunately due to personal reasons, Scott McNeil had to cancel. However, Gregg Berger will now be coming! We will all miss Scott, but we are very excited about seeing our old friend Gregg in a few short weeks.

Registration will close on March 21st so there is not much time left to register. Currently there are only 30% of the Primus packages, 8% of the GT packages and 19% of the Iacon (non-attending) packages, left.

Please note that March 16 is the last day you can join the Transformers Collectors Club. If you are interested in receiving the discounts for BotCon, the 2016 FREE Membership Incentive figure and/or purchasing the TFSS 5.0 (to be revealed in full at BotCon 2016) you will need to be an active member as of March 16. All memberships will end December 31, 2016. Hasbro looks forward to sharing new plans for the Collector’s Club with you in the future.

We appreciate your support over the last 12 years and wish the brand well in their new endeavors.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing each and every one of our Club members at BotCon 2016!

Brian
I'm actually quite surprised at how many sets are still unsold. 30% of the Primus allocation and 19% of the non-attending allocation... plus about a dozen Golden Tickets left.
Even if they didn't reduce the number of boxsets this year (from not selling out for the last four years), having about a quarter (about 400) unsold, of an estimated 1500 boxsets (last year's number), is a lot of expensive boxsets that FunPub have to clear out before the end of the year.


As for the loss of their two main guests this year, it looks like FunPub is getting all sorts of karmic bad luck right now, just before they end their Transformers operations... and it isn't even caused by their mishandling of things this time.
If these things had happened six years ago before things started going bad for them with the Transformers fandom, they would have earned a fair bit of sympathy over the massive bad luck of both of their headline guests cancelling. As much as you want them to fail like this, it is the fans (attending the event) who will suffer most from this.

[griffin]

The latest Podcast that Pete guest stars on has shown off some closeups of BotCon toys, including what looks to be a sneak peak at Terrorsaur.

Some images and the podcast link can be seen here (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/possible-botcon-terrorsaur-revealed/34908/).


teased the Terrorsaur figure, which was first revealed on the Predacus boxart, and seems to be - at this point - a straight recolor of Combiner Wars Airraid.

-Ramjet can be seen at around the 22 minute mark

-Skywarp can be seen just after at the 23 minute mark

-The torso mode for Predacus at around the 24 minute mark

-Seaclamp can be seen at about the 26 minute mark

-TFCC 5.0 Prime's head can be seen at the 39 minute mark

-Terrorsaur can be seen at the 1 hour 14 minute mark.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

A review of the three Tripredacus council members:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S0pLTcqNzc

Also Botcon souvenir figure Terrorsaur (courtesy of Botcon's offical FB page (https://www.facebook.com/BotConOfficial/posts/1158627290844395)):

http://i.imgur.com/TSXj31b.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/veeWoff.jpg

[Paulbot]

So the best figure (so far) is the one you can't buy? Of course it would be.

[griffin]

I don't like the cheesy grin... it's disturbing. I do like how they've tried to break up the red with some other colours that match the cartoon, but for some reason, it doesn't feel right, as the original toy had blue and green (http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/terrorsaur.php), not grey and yellow (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/927594-beast-wars-terrorsaur.html).
And he looks a little too buff for Terrorsaur, who was always a skinny, scrawny character and toy. (even his Transmetal toy, which did look like it had hit the gym, but was still a work in progress :p )


All these years I've been saying to reveal the at-show toys but keep a couple secret (the attendee and Custom Class toys - as you get the same effect from 2 or 20 secret toys)... and they go and reveal the attendee toy, leaving the bulk of toys still secret.
It's no wonder they struggle to sell the at-show toys, because a lot of people don't have enough time to organise to get one, or would have registered to attend just to make sure they don't miss out (if in America).
I think that this year, since it doesn't really matter how it turns out, they should just reveal most of the at-show toys, and see what difference I think it will make.

[prjkt]

Hah, very creepy face. First thing I saw. Colours will match Predacus pretty well though, and I like the pattern on the wings.

[Verno]

*yawn*

If they've made a new head for Terrorsaur, they may as well make an all-new Generations toy to go with it.

[Paulbot]

I don't like the cheesy grin... it's disturbing. I do like how they've tried to break up the red with some other colours that match the cartoon, but for some reason, it doesn't feel right, as the original toy had blue and green (http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/terrorsaur.php), not grey and yellow (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/927594-beast-wars-terrorsaur.html).
And he looks a little too buff for Terrorsaur, who was always a skinny, scrawny character and toy. (even his Transmetal toy, which did look like it had hit the gym, but was still a work in progress :p )

Well if you don't want yours..... ;)

[SuspectimusPrime]

Hah, very creepy face. First thing I saw. Colours will match Predacus pretty well though, and I like the pattern on the wings.

He seems to be too low-ranked a character to be amongst generals, a celebrated warrior and a double agent?

[CHILENO20]

That's actually pretty good, wouldn't mind that if someone was able to get it :D

[llamatron]

*yawn*

If they've made a new head for Terrorsaur, they may as well make an all-new Generations toy to go with it.

That's... not how this works.

Looks cool, but would have liked green spotting on the wings.

[griffin]

Today in America is the last day to register for BotCon, and they only now announce another guest (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/botcon-2016-update-aaron-archer-tickets-vip-judd-nelson-pass-print/34962/) - former designer Aaron Archer.

[kup]

This custom is a billion times better than the toys despite being little more than action figures

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/radicons-customs/27415003d1390644011-tripredacus-council-dsc01035.jpg

[Verno]

This custom is a billion times better than the toys despite being little more than action figures

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/radicons-customs/27415003d1390644011-tripredacus-council-dsc01035.jpg
Even though they aren't actually red. (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/11/04/the-tripredacus-agenda-behind-the-scenes-of-beast-wars-the-agenda-part-1-304952)

[kup]

Even though they aren't actually red. (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/11/04/the-tripredacus-agenda-behind-the-scenes-of-beast-wars-the-agenda-part-1-304952)

The customs still work for effect :)

[Verno]

Indeed. The work that went into that table alone is great.

[griffin]

People at TFW are saying that Aaron Archer is back at Hasbro. That's weird.... especially after he was working on developing toys that resembled Pretenders, which wouldn't have looked good to Hasbro.
(maybe they desperately needed him back after the big purge of employees and designers, which might have left them short-staffed)

I'd like to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with other various designers who deserve to have that sort of recognition.

[Verno]

People at TFW are saying that Aaron Archer is back at Hasbro. That's weird.... especially after he was working on developing toys that resembled Pretenders, which wouldn't have looked good to Hasbro.
(maybe they desperately needed him back after the big purge of employees and designers, which might have left them short-staffed)

I'd like to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with other various designers who deserve to have that sort of recognition.
Pretenders, hey? Would be a logical progression of the Prime Wars Trilogy gimmicks.

1. Combiners
2. Headmasters/Targetmasters
3. Pretenders

There's an inter-playability theme to all of them.

[griffin]

FunPub have sent out an email to let people know that they have set up a Saturday VIP Judd Nelson Pack for General Admission people... but it costs $60 more than the the cost for pre-registered people.

They must have really struggled to sell VIP tickets to create a Saturday VIP pack to get enough money to pay for him.


2016 BotCon SATURDAY Judd Nelson VIP General Admission Ticket is now available.

For $189***, the Judd Nelson VIP GA PASS includes:

• One (1) Saturday General Admission**
• One (1) item autographed in person by Judd Nelson
• One (1) professional 5x7 photograph with Judd Nelson (Saturday afternoon)
• Exclusive Hot Rod art print
• Exclusive Hot Rod Cloisonné Pin
• First seating at the Judd Nelson Panel*

Please note that there will be no photography permitted during the autograph session.

Your autograph slot will be on Saturday morning 9:00am-11:30am and your photo slot will be Saturday afternoon 12:30pm-3:00pm. This autograph package for General Admission attendees is limited to 200 slots and can be pre-ordered now through March 30th. After that date, you will need to come to late registration and availability is not guaranteed.

*After Registered Guest Package Judd Nelson VIP Pass holders and Golden Ticket Attendees.
**General Admission Ticket ONLY valid on Saturday
***$189 is the GA Pass price. The registered attendee package price is $129.

Visit BotCon (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/register.cfm) and order your Judd Nelson VIP Pass today. Please post this online so that non-club members will know of this GA pass.

See you in Lousiville in a few short weeks!


Brian

I feel bad for those who get the VIP pack, missing out on most of Saturday's panels, with up to 5 hours of waiting in queues for the two sessions.

That last bit asking people to post it online for them sounds desperate... and shows that they have given up promoting things themselves on fansites.

[UltraMarginal]

I had similar thoughts when I saw this earlier on the Seibertron site.

it really sounds like they didn't sell enough with pre-registered people.

And you'd have to really want a Judd Nelson Signature and photo to be willing to give up nearly a whole day of the convention otherwise.

the main draw for me is all the panels, and toys of course.

[griffin]

For those going who registered for a boxset or non-boxset full admission pack, FunPub have just emailed out the pickup details, and it shows that there will be a casino night again this year (it might have been in the Brochure, but I musta missed it).

Some details for anyone else interested...

For non-GT people, they will be sent in their pdf attachment, a designated timeslot for their Wednesday or Thursday package pickup. Below are the details that should be on everyone's email, plus the Golden Ticket details.

SOUVENIR STORE will be in the GRAND HALL.
EXHIBITS will be in GRAND BALLROOM. Both are on the 2nd floor of the Suite Tower.
PANELS will be located in the Cochran Ballroom, which is on the 3rd floor, Rivue Tower.

Tours depart from the Galt House Hotel Main Lobby
Wednesday, April 6 @8:00 am – Horses & Kentucky Bourbon Tour
Return 4:30pm; Breakfast Included; Lunch is NOT included. After tour you are welcome to walk back to hotel or stay and shop for gifts and souvenirs.

Thursday, April 7 @8:00 am – Caving & Museum Tour
Return at 5pm; Lunch is Included. Walking distance of 2 miles over the day.

Custom Classes Meet in Nunn or Breathitt Room, 2nd floor, Suite Tower, Galt House Hotel
Check your invoice to see if you are in the Wednesday or Thursday Class.
Time: 8 am – 4pm each day, Late arrival will NOT be seated after 8:15am or be given a refund.

"Early Bird" Package Pick up time for Tour Guest or Class Participants Wednesday 9:30 pm Combs/Chandler, 2nd floor, Suite Tower, Galt House Hotel.
Bring your Invoice & Photo I.D.
By picking up your badge on Wednesday night, you can go directly to the Club Souvenir Store on Thursday night.
Your name badge gains you entry for the store.

Thursday store hours 6 pm–10 pm. (for at-show toys and merchandise)


Package Pick-up for Golden Ticket Guest Only:
Wednesday 8:30 pm Combs/Chandler , 2nd Floor, Suite Tower, Galt House Hotel
or
Thursday 4:00 pm- 5 pm Combs/Chandler , 2nd Floor, Suite Tower, Galt House Hotel
Each person will receive one name badge regardless of how many packages were purchased. Spouses may pick up spouse’s packages. Parents may pick up minor children’s packages. All other adults must pick up their own package IN PERSON at
the convention. Exclusive in your package: Golden Ticket Cloisonne Pin, GT Surprise Bonus, $2,000 Casino Money, Souvenir Voucher for “3 Times the Limit” on 2016 BotCon souvenirs, Meet & Greet Reception on Friday evening, Pre-signed autograph print, First entry to Exhibit Hall each day, and reserved seating in the front rows of all panels.

Early Shopping Privileges Thursday from 5:00 pm-5:45 pm
We will have a separate CASH line and a separate CREDIT CARD line for purchases tonight.
Souvenir purchases are by a voucher system. Approved badges for souvenir vouchers are: any Primus, Protoform, or Exhibitor (no Mini-Con or Exhibitor Helper Badge). You will receive a souvenir voucher at package pick-up for this purchase option. This souvenir voucher entitles Golden Ticket Primus Badge holders to a “3 times the Limit” of each of the exclusive 2016 convention souvenirs sold in our Club Store.


The "GT Surprise" is the bonus toy... which would be unfortunate if it was related to one of the two guests who are now no longer coming, as the first Golden Ticket year had a bonus Botshots Optimus for each person, signed by Peter Cullen.

This was also worth noting, for anyone needing to contact FunPub during the first two weeks of April - they will be too busy, or in Louisville to be able to respond to emails or phonecalls.


We are not able to accept phone calls or retrieve emails between April 1 – April 12, 2016.

One thing I only just noticed after all these years of the Golden Ticket concept, is that you don't appear to need to be in a Tour or Custom Class to be able to pickup your boxset/package on Wednesday night (Thursday night is the regular night for those without a Class or Tour added). Not that I wouldn't still try to get into a Class or Tour (or both) to make the trip more fulfilling, but it is good to know for next time....

Waitasec, there's not going to be a next time?

:p

[griffin]

FunPub have sent out an email to let people know that they have set up a Saturday VIP Judd Nelson Pack for General Admission people... but it costs $60 more than the the cost for pre-registered people.

They must have really struggled to sell VIP tickets to create a Saturday VIP pack to get enough money to pay for him.



I feel bad for those who get the VIP pack, missing out on most of Saturday's panels, with up to 5 hours of waiting in queues for the two sessions.

Actually, I feel more bad for those who registered to attend BotCon just to see Judd Nelson (like people who live in Louisville, or people who would have just flown/drive in for the Saturday), and now could have spent a lot less as a walk-in for Saturday.
If FunPub had this planned out before pre-registration closed, that would be pretty low, as there was at least one person (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1062367-botcon-2016-special-guest-judd-nelson-post13458510.html) who lives near Louisville who paid the minimum US$210 protoform package plus the $129 for the Friday VIP ticket (total US$339), when they would have just paid US$189 for the Saturday VIP ticket (which itself was already forcing people to pay an extra $60 over the Friday VIP ticket). It just seems like a desperate cash-grab (or recouping of costs from another drop in attendance, as there was no announcement of boxsets or GTs being sold out this year), by not announcing this until after people had pre-registered... so protoform attendees can't even upgrade to a boxset to at least make back the extra money they had to pay out over Saturday people by selling the boxset and attendee toy.

[griffin]

One of the Seibertron news staff has claimed (http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?t=106574&p=1774488#p1775282) that the Custom Class toy is CW Bluestreak... but I'm not sure if that might be true, as an earlier announcement from Pete was something about the Custom Class toy having an official head that hasn't been used on a Hasbro release toy yet. (either unreleased, or a TakaraTomy head)

They are also claiming that Hasbro took back the licenses because they want to do the Transformers conventions themselves and make them more family-focused like the Star Wars conventions.


So people know, the custom class this year is for CW Bluestreak.

Also, if anyone is wondering what is coming next for Botcon type events, word on the street is Hasbro wants to reapropriate this event and do it themselves. It will be more family friendly (LOTS more money that way) with them using the Star Wars Celebration as a blueprint. I am sure it will still be fun for fans (Star Wars fans love Star Wars Celebration) but there will be more activities geared towards kids. They definitely aim to turn the event in a type of attraction that way.

If true, I guess if FunPub lost the Convention license, there was no point keeping the other licenses, as the Transformers Convention license was probably their biggest money-maker (when they sell out their toys).

[griffin]

The schedule has been released (not yet emailed though), for those going to now be able to plan out your BotCon days.

The pdf file can be seen here (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/BotCon2016SCHEDULE.pdf), or from the BotCon main page (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/) (click on the Schedule tab on the left column).

And the pdf file (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/BotCon2016panels.pdf) for the descriptions of the Panels this year, also from the main page.

[griffin]

Hmmm... no IDW panel again this year, which is odd.

Their excuse last year was that they had just moved buildings, so I wonder what their reason is this year.

Venus Terzo has two panels while the other VAs only have one... I wonder if that's to get more bums on seats on Saturday as walk-ins.

And I'm a bit worried about the Golden Ticket event being listed at the same time as the Hall of Fame presentations, which I hope is just to Vince Dicola (for the award he won a couple years ago) and not the entire HOF awards for 2016, as they should be done during the "Awards" dinner on Saturday.
Hopefully, the Golden Ticket dinner is at the Fourth Street Live precinct, as the Schedule only notes that we meet up at the Hotel Lobby... it doesn't say where it is going to be held. If it isn't, I'll be leaving after an hour to go see Stan & Vince.

[griffin]

Looking through the Schedule, they've got Sunday with hardly anything on again (like last year, and Sunday was like a ghost town compared to Saturday).

No News or Guest panels on Sunday at all, just fan panels or fans who are now working in official roles but are not presenting a panel on behalf of who they work for (like IDW).

Sunday only has four panels, and none are going to be newsworthy for people to flock to them...
- PANEL - 10am - The Art of Transformers with various Artists
- PANEL - 11am - Transformers Japan with Hayato Sakamoto & Andrew Hall
- PANEL - Noon - Cybercast Podcast
- PANEL - 1pm - BotCon Over the Years

Compared to Saturday, which has seven panels, almost double... and includes the feature guests, Hasbro and the Collector Club (who will be revealing the rest of their exclusive toys for this year).
- PANEL - 10am - Venus Terzo Q&A
- PANEL - 11am - Hasbro Product preview
- PANEL - Noon - Gregg Berger Q&A
- PANEL - 1pm - Transformers Cosplay with Rosemary Ward
- PANEL - 2pm - Aaron Archer Q&A
- PANEL - 3pm - Transformers Collectors’ Club Roundtable
- PANEL - 4pm - Judd Nelson Q&A

For me I'm likely to sit in the panel room all of Saturday (I might duck out to the Dealer Room during the Cosplay panel... or process photos on my computer)... but Sunday, I think I will be hanging out with other people more than I am in the panel room (or the Dealer Room, as I wouldn't be buying anything by Sunday, and I should have all the photos taken that I need in the morning before the first panel).

If they didn't do this last year I would say that FunPub were just giving up, as this BotCon isn't going out with a bang... it's going to wind down and fizzle out like it did last year (which they should have learned not to do it again). The only difference will be, people won't be sitting around the walls of the Dealer Room for the last couple of hours waiting for the prize drawing at 3pm. They are going to just leave after the first few hours of dealer room shopping (if they aren't a comic fan to want to sit in on the first two panels of fan-artists)... if they show up at all on the Sunday.
(and if you are a local who can only go in for one day, who's going to choose Sunday over Saturday... or even waste another $25 to come back to Sunday if they aren't a hardcore fanboy - where's the incentive by FunPub, when both days are $25, but one gets you the Hasbro presentation and all but David Kaye of the feature guests... while the other gets you fan-artists, a recording of a podcast and a "reflections" of an event that the majority of walkins wouldn't have been to before to care much about its history)

[Paulbot]

With every new post on this thread the more I find my decision not to fly over justified. It doesn't sound like it will be as good as '09 or '11. It sounds like atmosphere will be lacking on Sunday. I reckon I will wait for the second year of whatever comes next.

[griffin]

Onto something positive, after that rant... :o

IDW artist Matt Frank will be selling Beast Wars prints at BotCon at his table, and revealed one of them (http://kaijusamurai.deviantart.com/art/Beast-Wars-20th-Anniversary-Botcon-599945537), featuring the original Optimus Primal (bat) and Megatron (alligator) fighting it out.

[griffin]

With every new post on this thread the more I find my decision not to fly over justified. It doesn't sound like it will be as good as '09 or '11. It sounds like atmosphere will be lacking on Sunday. I reckon I will wait for the second year of whatever comes next.

This was one reason why I wasn't planning to go this year (last year was so disappointing with the way it was planned out - the only thing that saved it was having Welker there), and I only changed my mind for this year when it looked like it might be the last one... so figured it would be worthwhile seeing off the event, and some people that I might not see again (especially if it will become a Hasbro-run family event, I just can't see a lot of the old-timer regulars going if it isn't still mostly fan-focussed).

So this year (like in 2004) I'm actually more interested in spending as much time as I can with some long time friends for what might be the last time (which I thought was the case in 2004, so you never know I guess)... and I think I may be a little sad on Sunday afternoon as I try to process whatever I am likely to be feeling after the last panel (of the history of BotCon), and the subsequent winding down of the remaining 90 minutes (which I think will have a very empty Dealer Room).

[griffin]

According to a person whom I think did this year's BotCon comic, the story this year is set in 2035, and a promo image has been released (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-idw-botcon-2016-comic-dawn-of-the-predacus-teaser/35059/) suggesting that there could be an Optimus Primal toy and Rhinox toy at BotCon this year (as at-show toys).

[MayzaPrime]

According to a person whom I think did this year's BotCon comic, the story this year is set in 2035, and a promo image has been released (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/new-idw-botcon-2016-comic-dawn-of-the-predacus-teaser/35059/) suggesting that there could be an Optimus Primal toy and Rhinox toy at BotCon this year (as at-show toys).

Damn... that could change my mind...


Must have!!!!!!!! :p