BotCon 2009 updates (guests and events).

[griffin]

The first major guest announced is Gregg Berger, who did the original Grimlock (and Outback) in Gen1.
http://www.botcon.com/BotCon09/guests09.cfm

And the full attendee sets have almost all sold out.

The Thursday Tour is now Sold Out!

As of today (March 30), we have sold 87% of the BotCon 2009 Wings of Honor sets. We have also cleared all of the people on the waiting list for the non- attending Iacon packages. Everyone who was on the wait list is now getting a set.

We will be allocating to the Iacon wait list each week (provided that there is any quantity left) as we get closer but, we must maintain sets for people who decide to come to BotCon at the last minute.

If you want to be on the Iacon wait list, please use the registration form and write wait list on the top.

If you are coming and have not registered yet, you need to do so very soon as when we run out, we will have to use a substitute package from the 2005 convention, and even those are now in short supply. </SPAN></SPAN>

[griffin]

The next guest, who has been to a few BotCon's already - Stan Bush.
http://www.botcon.com/BotCon09/guests09.cfm

The one big failure with the current BotCon organisers, is the ability to get new guests. I don't think the earlier organisers ever had a BotCon that was made up of all or mostly returning guests. It shows their focus on selling dozens of toys is spoiling it for the many returning long-distance attendees (who pay more to get there - yes, including me), who want to see something new, not the same guests every year. Gregg Berger will be fun, but if they had any imagination or effort, they'd commit to getting in someone new like Frank Welker or Corey Burton.

[griffin]

They've finally announced a first-timer guest... Weird Al Yankovic.

There appears to be a huge guest list this year, but most have been to several BotCOns, and the rest have been to at least one other before, so very little imagination (or resources) by Fun Pub, year after year.

From the BotCon website - http://www.botcon.com/BotCon09/

Current guest list and their most significant TFs roles:

Michael McConnohie (Gen1 Tracks)
"WEIRD AL" Yankovic (Anim Wreckgar, singer from 1986 Movie)
David Kaye (BW Megatron, Anim Optimus)Vince DiCola (musician from 1986 movie)
Stan Bush (singer from 1986 movie)
Gregg Berger (Gen1 Grimlock)
IDW comics (17 of their creative staff)

[Bartrim]

Griff, Wierd Al wasn't Wreck-Gar in the 1986 movie. Eric Idle of Monty Python fame. Wierd Al sang "Dare to be Stupid"... But you already know that

[griffin]

Oops... fixed now.
Thanks.

[griffin]

Couple more updates in the last week at the BotCon website.

A second CG clip has been put up, featuring some classic characters wanting to go to BotCon. Pity it is a bit of a tease, with it initially giving the impression that their actual Voice Actors would be going, but it isn't the case.
http://www.botcon.com/BotCon09/

An image of the Box for the boxset has been put up as well, but it's just a black box with a big Elite Guard logo on it. The artwork of the characters is inside.

Shout!, the new source for Gen1 DVDs in America this year, will be there to show off their new release of the original series cartoon.

Gen1 cartoon writers Bryce Malek, David Wise, Flint Dille and Paul Davids will be there for a guest panel. I think they were all there in 2004 as well.

Hasbro have reconfirmed the sale of Movie toys at the FunPub store (as mentioned in the original BotCon brochure a few months back). There is no word on if it will just be wave one toys which are scheduled for release that weekend anyway (and already being found in stores), or if there will be later wave toys getting an advance release as well to make it worth buying there instead of at a nearby retail store.

The Dealer room should be fully stocked, as all tables and booths have been sold out.

It still looks like Weird Al will be the only first timer guest this year. I miss those 3H BotCons, which had 2 or 3 guests, but most or all were new, making it more interesting for those going, and for those following on via the web.