Botcon 2015 - Chicago June 18-21

[fatbot]

from the botcon twitter feed - https://mobile.twitter.com/BotCon/st...5523253251?p=p

looks like a repainted Chop Shop minicon from the Megatron legends 2 pack is coming

[reillyd]

Is this an April Fool? One of those giant eggs contains a minicon?
Must. Contain. Rage.

[griffin]

Some people on other sites are saying Vice-Grip (the 1998 BotCon toy)... but the colours are reversed (it had a blue body and grey limbs).

Others are suggesting Shattered Glass Chopshop.

While some are commenting that it has been a while since FunPub have produced their own unique character toy... as they keep homaging Hasbro characters, or producing mirrorverse versions of them, or as we saw lately, homaging a lot of their own BotCon characters. Are they unable to come up with anything original anymore, or did their last original effort (Landshark waaay back in 2009) get such negative response that they've decided it is safer to just produce toys of existing characters.
Or maybe those BotCon feedback forms keep getting more support for toys of existing characters than original ones.


Just having a look back at my archives of previous years, for my own amusement....

2015 (what we know so far)
13 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Krok, Gatoraider, G2 Starscream, Tarantulas, drone beetle, Serpentor, Kreo Blackrock, Afterburner, Marissa Fairborne, Lio Convoy, Nova Prime, Megatron*, Battletrap*)
3 - existing unreleased toy concepts (Nacelle, Carzap, Oilmaster*)
2 - existing BotCon/Club toys (Packrat, SG Riccochet*)
0 - original characters (none)
*speculated boxset toys


2014
20 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Ginrai, Scorponok, Devcon, Cannonball, Ferak, Brimstone, Pounce, Wingspan, Alpha Trizer/Alpha Trion/Cheetor, Primal Prime, Rampage, Transmutate, Barricade, Frenzy, Fisitron/Ironfist, Thrustinator, Treadshot, Chromedome, Rewind, Eject)
10 - existing BotCon/Club toys (Flamewar, Shokaract, Apelinq, Flare-Up, Kreon G2 Breakdown, Kreon Fractyl, Kreon Rattrap, Kreon Landshark, Kreon SG Rodimus, Kreon Gigatron)
0 - original characters (none)


2013
26 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Obsidian, Strika, Megaplex, Hoist, Skywarp, Starscream, Electron/Electro, Sandstorm, Mirage, Thundercracker, Hotlink, Sunstorm, Bitstream, Blastcharge, Kreon Hoist, Kreon Megaplex, Kreon Obsidian, Kreon Skywarp, Kreon Strika, Depthcharge, Scourge, Slipstream, Circuit, Breakdown, Jackpot, Ultra Mammoth/Ultra Magnus)
0 - original characters (none)


2012
18 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Gigatron/Overload, Tracks, Ultra Magnus, Metalhawk, SG Soundwave, SG Treadshot, SG Straxus, Octopunch, Spinister, Kick-Off, SG G2 Optimus Prime, SG Wreck Gar, SG Junkheap/Junkion, SG Scrap Iron/Junkion, Longarm/Shockwave, Runamuck, Over-Run/Runabout, SG Drift)
0 - original characters (none)


2011
15 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Motormaster, Wildrider, Brakedown, Drag Strip, Dead End, Fisitron/Ironfist, Sideswipe, SG Galvatron, Thundercracker, Autotrooper, Autotrooper, Autotrooper, Minerva, Sideburn, G2 Ramjet)
2 - existing unreleased toy concepts (Toxitron, Cheetor)
0 - original characters (none)


2010
16 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Spark, Clench, Skybyte, Slice(r), Doublepunch, Scorch, SG Ravage, Rapido, Cindersaur, Airshark/Sharkticon, Seashark/Sharkticon, Landshark/Sharkticon, G2 Sideswipe, Dion, SG Cyclonus, Punch)
1 - existing unreleased toy concepts (G2 Streetstar/Streetwise)
1 - existing BotCon/Club toys (G2 Breakdown)
0 - original characters (none)


2009
13 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Thunderclash, Kup, Scourge, Flak, Leozak, Banzai-Tron, Skyquake, Razorclaw, Elita-1, Sweep 2, Sweep 6, Sweep 7, SG Thunderclash.)
2 - original characters with original names (Landshark, Heatwave)


2008
21 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (SG Starscream, SG Optimus Prime, SG Grimlock, SG Goldbug, SG Jazz, SG Razorclaw, SG Ricochet/Stepper, SG Megatron, SG Rodimus, SG Divebomb, SG Whisper, SG Blurr, SG Rampage, SG Nightbeat, Snaptrap, Tentakil, Seawing, Skalor, Nautilator, Overbite, Nightbeat)
1 - existing unreleased toy concepts (SG Sideswipe/Drench)
1 - original characters with existing names (Topspin)


2007
11 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Dreadwind, Bugbite, Thundercracker, Dirge, Thrust, Mirage, Alpha Trion, Weirdwolf, Springer, Huffer, Overkill)
2 - original characters with original names (Beta Maxx, Breakaway)


2006
12 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Dinobot, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Unit 2/Tigatron, Waspinator, Megatron, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, Inferno)
1 - original characters with existing names (Landquake)


2005
4 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (Deathsaurus, Ironhide, Chromia, Fallback/Outback)
4 - original characters with existing names (Dirge, Buzzclaw, Ricochet, Skyfall)
4 - original characters with original names (Flamewar, Flareup, Virulent Clone, Virulent Clone)

(total for FunPub - 203)

Pre-FunPub era, to compare...
7 - existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters (2001 Tigatron, 2001 Arcee, 2002 Cyclonus, 2003 Sunstreaker, 2003 Sideswipe, 2004 Sentinel Maximus/Primal Prime, 2004 Energon Ravage)
1 - existing unreleased toy concepts (1994 G2 Breakdown)
1 - existing BotCon/Club toys (2004 G2 Breakdown - unofficial, 2004 Hyperlinq/Apelinq)
4 - original characters with existing names (1999 Sandstorm, 1999 Windrazor, 2002 Rook, 2004 Megazarak)
14 - original characters with original names (1995 Nightracer, 1996 Onyx Primal, 1997 Packrat, 1997 Fractyl, 1998 Vice-Grip, 1998 Antagony, 2000 Apelinq, 2000 Shokaract, 2002 Tap Out, 2002 Glyph, 2002 CatSCAN, 2003 Roulette, 2003 Shadow Striker, 2004 Caliburn)

(total pre-FunPub - 27)

Over half (52%) of the pre-Funpub era were original characters with original names, and only 30% were using pre-existing Hasbro/TT toys or characters and concepts... compared to the FunPub era of just a mere 4% of original characters & names (8 of 203), and a massive 87% using pre-existing characters & concepts (176 of 203).

[Megatran]

Megatron (speculated boxset).

Interesting... Which mould?

[griffin]

A composite picture was posted here, with the serial number referring to the ROTF Movie and 1984.

[fatbot]

Is this an April Fool? One of those giant eggs contains a minicon?
Must. Contain. Rage.

other sites are saying that it goes with the attendee figure. TFCC aren't saying.

[griffin]

Yep. Seibertron claims that it was noted on the podcast as NOT being in the boxset so we are unlikely to know who it is before the convention.

[griffin]

Pete has posted this on TFW2005, to let us know, to not be too complacent if we want any of the BotCon toys this year...

We tweaked quantities on the souvies as well so don't expect to see extra's in the store.

Which must mean that the toy numbers must have been reduced again, as they wouldn't tweak UP numbers after failing to sell out last year (a Pasadena year too, which is their best location). They also wouldn't warn us, unless they believe they have reduced the quantity significantly enough to guarantee selling out this year.
Probably 1500 or less of each, compared to 1600-2000 of each last year.

If this reduction is true, and the demand is the same or better than last year, keep an eye out for pre-registrations (attendee & non-attendee) AND the opening of the Club Store during the Convention. (that is, IF either of the Australian attendees this year offer to buy extras... otherwise, jump on ebay or BBTS as soon as you can)

[fatbot]

Pete has posted this on TFW2005, to let us know, to not be too complacent if we want any of the BotCon toys this year...

Which must mean that the toy numbers must have been reduced again, as they wouldn't tweak UP numbers after failing to sell out last year (a Pasadena year too, which is their best location). They also wouldn't warn us, unless they believe they have reduced the quantity significantly enough to guarantee selling out this year.
Probably 1500 or less of each, compared to 1600-2000 of each last year.

If this reduction is true, and the demand is the same or better than last year, keep an eye out for pre-registrations (attendee & non-attendee) AND the opening of the Club Store during the Convention. (that is, IF either of the Australian attendees this year offer to buy extras... otherwise, jump on ebay or BBTS as soon as you can)

I'll buy extras for whoever wants it, just US dollars up front

[prjkt]

I may let you know when they're all announced if there's anything I'm after