BotCon discussion, on the ground and after the fact

[JediTricks]

New items were added to the case, including US MP Skywarp and reissued Insecticons and Perceptor, as well as a sweet prototype of the Voyager + human style Sideswipe, that thing is going to be a must-have. They'll be going into the server in about half an hour or so.

I am reworking my notes from the first Hasbro panel, going to make it an article. It was a good panel, the preview for next year looks great, realistic movie style Lockdown immediately sticks in my brain. Animated Arcee is coming out despite the fears. Hasbro came down super hard on Fansproject and stuff like that though, and they mentioned the Q&A about that which I think is in regards to our question - looks like Hasbro is super mad about it. I wanted to ask "well, if you aren't catering to the fans's desires, doesn't it seem unfair to tell others they can't?" but that would be playing with fire and get too much energy against them in the room, I figured we will just ask it in Q&A next round.

These are WAY better than the unfocused, flash-reflection crap the other sites are putting out. Awesome.

I am super honored to hear that. I've not shot much else until this in terms of conventions, but I paid attention to my editor over at ActionFigs and SSG over the last few years to get the best photos I could. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to shoot those cases, there's a million people everywhere, there's tons of lights pointed all over the place, the glass is a major hurdle to shoot around, and it's sweaty work with all those people around you constantly.

I did reshoot a few items today, even though it was the madhouse I feared, but if there is ANYTHING you want to see more of that I didn't get, please let me know ASAP as tomorrow's my last chance.

Who're the three Universe Ultra repaints? One looks very Mega Octane-ish but he has an Autobot logo, and a big crossed-out 'Con logo.

They added namecards so thankfully I can tell you. First one is Powerglide, that one is fairly obvious. Second one is Hardhead (the Onslaught repaint). Third one is Skyfall, which I don't recognize the reference at all, doesn't seem to fit either the G1 character or the Botcon one.

[Onslaught Six]

I am reworking my notes from the first Hasbro panel, going to make it an article. It was a good panel, the preview for next year looks great, realistic movie style Lockdown immediately sticks in my brain. Animated Arcee is coming out despite the fears. Hasbro came down super hard on Fansproject and stuff like that though, and they mentioned the Q&A about that which I think is in regards to our question - looks like Hasbro is super mad about it. I wanted to ask "well, if you aren't catering to the fans's desires, doesn't it seem unfair to tell others they can't?" but that would be playing with fire and get too much energy against them in the room, I figured we will just ask it in Q&A next round.

The impression I got was that Hasbro is only pissy that they're making full figures like Springer and Wreck-Gar and crap.

I am super honored to hear that. I've not shot much else until this in terms of conventions, but I paid attention to my editor over at ActionFigs and SSG over the last few years to get the best photos I could. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to shoot those cases, there's a million people everywhere, there's tons of lights pointed all over the place, the glass is a major hurdle to shoot around, and it's sweaty work with all those people around you constantly.

The other thing is that your gallery is, my God, thankfully broken up into actual categories and it's easy to look through. TFW just jizzlobs them all up in one big bunch and that's it. I don't care about stuff like the RPMs, don't put that in the gallery, you idiots!

I did reshoot a few items today, even though it was the madhouse I feared, but if there is ANYTHING you want to see more of that I didn't get, please let me know ASAP as tomorrow's my last chance.

Did you get any good shots of that Unicron display? I'm innerested in the prototype.

They added namecards so thankfully I can tell you. First one is Powerglide, that one is fairly obvious. Second one is Hardhead (the Onslaught repaint). Third one is Skyfall, which I don't recognize the reference at all, doesn't seem to fit either the G1 character or the Botcon one.

I'm considering Powerglide now. Hardhead is a pass--love that mould, but only because it's Onslaught. Mega-Octane would've been cooler. Skyfall could be a new character.

[JediTricks]

Ok, so the next round of pics are up, my fav is the Voyager Sideswipe prototype. About 80 new pics peppered about:
http://photos.actionfigs.com/showgallery.php?cat=4299

The impression I got was that Hasbro is only pissy that they're making full figures like Springer and Wreck-Gar and crap.

Not at all, that is someone being too much of a filter, they were upset that people were making money off of Hasbro's IP - intellectual property - and never even came to Hasbro for a license. It's anything and everything being sold, they were pretty pissed, "they are going too far" was said half a dozen times in upset tones.

The other thing is that your gallery is, my God, thankfully broken up into actual categories and it's easy to look through. TFW just jizzlobs them all up in one big bunch and that's it. I don't care about stuff like the RPMs, don't put that in the gallery, you idiots!

That's something we work really hard to do, the RPMs need to be shot but damn if nobody wants to look at them. It took me about 45 minutes of just sitting in the convention center to organize the first 500 pics. At Comic-Con, we have help for that sort of thing, gets pics to eyeballs that much faster.

Did you get any good shots of that Unicron display? I'm innerested in the prototype.

I got 2 shots of it yesterday, but they got lost until today, they're up in "booth" now I think.

[Onslaught Six]

Not at all, that is someone being too much of a filter, they were upset that people were making money off of Hasbro's IP - intellectual property - and never even came to Hasbro for a license. It's anything and everything being sold, they were pretty pissed, "they are going too far" was said half a dozen times in upset tones.

Well, that's the thing--how far 'is' too far, exactly? Why wasn't this kind of thing haulted when City Commander first came up, unless they were alright with that--at least in some unofficial capacity? After all, Reprolabels is still running.

I got 2 shots of it yesterday, but they got lost until today, they're up in "booth" now I think.

Just saw. Cool stuff. And man, am I ever glad that toy didn't get out.

[JediTricks]

Well, that's the thing--how far 'is' too far, exactly? Why wasn't this kind of thing haulted when City Commander first came up, unless they were alright with that--at least in some unofficial capacity? After all, Reprolabels is still running.

Making a cottage industry out of it where there is any level of profit and organization. It's possible Reprolabels and City Commander were not on Hasbro's radar before. I didn't get to finish my write-up, but they were clear about it being beyond just individual fan fun.

Just saw. Cool stuff. And man, am I ever glad that toy didn't get out.

Agreed!!!

[138 Scourge]

Just saw. Cool stuff. And man, am I ever glad that toy didn't get out.

Disagreed, myself. I'd buy one now, just because it's so ridiculous.

JT, great pics and great organization. Thanks for all of that, m'man!

Man, on one hand, I sorta want proper-colored Powerglide, on the other, I really like Storm Cloud's coloring. What's a fella to do?

[Mirage]

Haven't had time to post, with the Paramount Party and all, and now I've got to run this morning. I added a bunch of new pics from the party:

http://s591.photobucket.com/albums/ss35 ... on%202009/

I'll have to do a full write-up when I get home.

[andersonh1]

Hasbro came down super hard on Fansproject and stuff like that though, and they mentioned the Q&A about that which I think is in regards to our question - looks like Hasbro is super mad about it.

I'm not surprised... I'm actually surprised that they've been allowed to get away with it for this long.

Thanks for the shots of Perceptor and the Insecticons. Those are what I'm interested in, and $35.00 each isn't too bad. Soundwave with four cassettes looks like a must-have as well.

[138 Scourge]

So, that Soundwave/pile of tapes set is something that's coming out? Man, oh, man, that is awesome. Feel better about having missed the last release, if I can find this one I'll get Ratbat and Buzzsaw out of it, too?

Yeah!

[Onslaught Six]

No. This has been underplayed, but this thing is Hasbro's TF exclusive for SDCC this year.

Yes.