Botcon 2014: Hasbro Panel Write-Up

BotCon2014webcenterDuring Botcon 2014′s second day, Saturday, June 21st, the Hasbro Transformers brand hosted an outstanding panel showing off new products. This year’s slideshow images are already available in a gallery, here are the details given on each release mentioned during the slideshow for Generations, Age of Extinction, and more Transformers brands.

On the panel were Ben Montano, brand development; Lenny Panzica, senior product designer; Mark Maher, paint; Bill Paukert and John Warden, product design managers; and Mark Weber, global brand development manager.

Hasbro wanted to congratulate the Generations line for finding a strong enough audience to stick around during a movie year and thus “not getting pushed around by Michael Bay.” While there were just 9 collector figures in 2012, 2013 brought 54 and 2014 will bring 73. Continue reading

Botcon 2014: IDW Comics Panel Coverage

IDW-bannerOn Botcon 2014’s final day, Sunday, June 22nd, IDW Comics was the focus of an impressive panel. IDW publishes Transformers comics, including a pair of monthly ongoing books – Robots in Disguise (RID), and More than Meets the Eye (MTMTE) – as well as fan-choice character Windblade’s titular miniseries, and a semi-regular digital-first series which will be continuing soon with Primacy. This summer will also begin IDW’s crossover series, the wild new series Transformers vs. GI Joe. And a new limited-series online motion comic is starting up right now called Transformers: Punishment.

The panel included the most IDW talent every assembled on one stage, according to Transformers editor John Barber, saying that were the stage to collapse, there would be no more IDW Comics. Writer/editor John Barber, writer James Roberts, artist Andrew Griffith, writer Mairghread Scott, artist Sarah Stone, and artist Livio Ramondelli. Continue reading

Botcon 2014: Hasbro Transformers Coverage

BotCon2014webcenterThis year’s Botcon, the annual official Transformers collectors convention,  takes place once again in Pasadena, California, in order to be close to Hollywood to celebrate the upcoming release of the newest Transformers film, Age of Extinction, as well as celebrate the Transformers brand’s 30th anniversary. 

The first day of the convention, Friday, June 20th, was an exclusive preview day for fans who got the Botcon multi-day packages, and Hasbro had a good look at their current and upcoming lines in their display, along with activities and games. The second day was open to the public and found the Hasbro product panel, while photos weren’t allowed of the slideshow, some of the new products were put into the cases. Also, Arcee and Rodimus were announced as the Hall of Fame winners. Continue reading

2014 TF Hall of Fame Final Round Ends Tomorrow, 6/18

hasbro-brand-tfUPDATE: Remember, voting ends tomorrow, 6/18, so make sure you get your final vote in.

The preliminary votes are in, and fans’ five nominees for the Transformers Hall of Fame class of 2014 Fans’ Choice are

  • Arcee
  • Blackarachnia
  • Devastator
  • Optimus Primal
  • Rodimus

4 out of 5 of these made our round 1 results!

Vote for your favorite every day from now until Wednesday, June 18th at the Hasbro Transformers Facebook poll.

Hasbro will announce the winners at the Transformers Fan Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, June 20th.

Hasbro and Rovio Announce Angry Birds Transformers

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You are not going to believe this one! After Hasbro worked with Rovio last year on Lucasfilm’s Angry Birds Star Wars II’s Telepods line, Hasbro and Rovio got cozy and worked together on Angry Birds Go! racing game with Telepods, then set about to taking the Angry Birds franchise and the Telepods franchise to the next level… Angry Birds Transformers! And this is just a guess, but it looks like this one will combine traditional Angry Birds play with the racing play, because that’s what Transformers do when they’re not robots, they drive. Here comes the press release…  Continue reading

Botcon, Universal Studios Hollywood Transformers Fan Experience Details

Hasbro smile TWO LA-BASED FAN EVENTS CELEBRATE THE POWER OF “TRANSFORMERS” AS NEW FILM “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION”
HEADS TO THEATERS IN JUNE

Universal Studios Hollywood hosts the 2014 TRANSFORMERS FAN EXPERIENCE on Friday, June 20th from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This event costs $75, and includes admission to all rides and attractions, in addition to the breakthrough thrill ride, “Transformers: The Ride—3D,” as well as after-hours access from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tickets and more information: https://ushtix.com/Transformers, www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com Continue reading