BotCon 2006

2011-06-18T03:51:55Z

64.53.128.135: /* Convention-exclusive toys */

{{officialcon|
|seriesissue=[[BotCon]] 2006
|prev=BotCon 2005
|next=BotCon 2007
|seriesissue2=
|next2=
|image=Bc06logo.jpg
|caption=[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] wasn't at the convention! It must be a plot!
|title=
|date=[[September 28]], 2006
|city=Lexington, KY
|venue=Lexington Center
}}

'''[[BotCon]] 2006''' was the Official ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Convention in 2006, run by [[Fun Publications]]. It was held in Lexington, Kentucky from [[September 28]] to [[October 1|October 1st]], though only the last two days were open to the general public.
{{TOCclear}}

==Venue==
[[Image:Botcon2006-conventioncenter.jpg|center|600px|thumb|Visit beautiful Lexington, Kentucky]]

BotCon 2006 was held at [http://www.lexingtoncenter.com/ Lexington Center], a convention and hotel complex in the center of downtown.

==Merchandise==
[[Image:Bigfist.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In honor of [[Michael Bay]]'s "Giant F***ing Robots are Coming" initiative, a Giant F***ing Robot Fist was present at BotCon 2006.]]
BotCon 2006's [[exclusive]] merchandise included:

===Convention-exclusive toys===
*'''Convention Box Set''' - This set of five toys was only available to those who registered for either the 'Primus Package' or the non-attendee 'Iacon Package.' The set also included a badge, the Convention Comic, and five [[Redeco|redecoed]] [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet Keys]] made to look like the [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]].

:*'''[[Rattrap|Axalon Rattrap]]''' - An orange, silver, bronze and black redeco of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Ransack]].

:*'''[[Rhinox (BW)|Axalon Rhinox]]''' - A green, brown, gold, and black redeco of [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'']] [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]].

:*'''[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Axalon Cheetor]]''' - A yellow and teal retool of [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] with cheetah-print seat covers and a new head sculpt.

:*'''[[Dinobot (BW)|Darksyde Dinobot]]''' - A grey, black, brown, and blue redeco of [[Smokescreen (Armada)|''Armada'' Hoist]].

:*'''[[Optimus Primal/toys|Axalon Optimus Primal]]''' - A black, white, red, and blue retool of [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Crumplezone]] with a new head sculpt.

*'''Attendee-Only Bonus Toy''' - [[Tigatron|Unit 2/(Tigatron)]], a white and teal version of the Cheetor exclusive toy with tiger-stripe seat covers, was provided as a bonus to those who picked up their 'Primus Package' box set in person.

*'''Convention Souvenir 2-Packs''' - Two sets of two bagged toys, limited to 500 of each set.

:*'''[[Megatron (BW)/toys|Darksyde Megatron]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Darksyde Waspinator]]''' - A purple and black retool of [[Red Alert (Armada)|Cybertron Defense Red Alert]] with a new head and a green and yellow redeco of ''[[Machine Wars]]'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]/[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].

:*'''[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]''' - Red and orange redecos of [[Divebomb (Energon)|''Energon'' Divebomb]] with clear-purple [[Energon weapon|energon weapons]].

===Comics===
*'''Convention Comic: ''[[Dawn of Future's Past]]''''' - A prequel comic to ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.

*'''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat|IDW Preview Comic: ''Transformers: Spotlight - Nightbeat'']]''' - A preview of the second issue of the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Spotlight (comics)|Spotlight]] series, with no ads, a sketch variant cover, the two normal covers included inside at full size, and a preview of the [[Movie Adaptation|movie adaptation]] comic at the back of the book.

Free copies of the then-current issue of [[Master Collector]] and small teaser posters for the [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' movie]] were also distributed for free near the entrance to the dealer room. Both pre-registrants and walk-in attendees received these.

In addition to handing out Autobot and Decepticon magnets, the Hasbro Team also provided fans with complimentary
rub-on tattoos. Like the magnets, these were available in both factions although Hasbro ran out of Autobot tattoos
come Sunday.

==Guests==
===Hasbro employees===
Along with standbys [[Aaron Archer]] and [[Eric Siebenaler]] of the design team, [[Forest Lee]] (writer of the biographical information for the large majority of the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' line) was in attendance, as were a number of [[Hasbro]] marketing and administrative persons, such as [[Greg Lombardo]].

===Voice actors===
BotCon regular, veteran voice actor, and all-around-crazy-guy [[Scott McNeil]] was once again in attendance at the convention. Fellow ''Beast Wars'' voice actors [[Richard Newman]], [[Blu Mankuma]] and [[Pauline Newstone]] attended for their first BotCon.

Last, but most certainly not least (in fact, maybe greatest), was [[Peter Cullen]], voice of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] both in the [[Generation 1|G1 Cartoon]] and the 2007 film.

===Comics and art===
[[Chris Ryall]] and [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]] attended to represent [[IDW Publishing]]. [[Simon Furman]], writer of a vast portion of the ''Transformers'' mythos, was also present to discuss his past projects as well as his current projects with IDW.

A majority of the artists who were currently working on ''Transformers'' art in an official capacity, including [[Don Figueroa]], [[Alex Milne]], [[Dan Khanna]], [[Jake Isenberg]], [[Drew Eiden]], and [[Marcelo Matere]] were in attendance as well.

==Events==
[[Image:customclass.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Not as easy as it looks.]]
===Wednesday and Thursday===
Wednesday and Thursday were the slowest days of the convention, primarily for the benefit of pre-registrants. However, there were a few panels on those days, including the classic "[[MSTF]]" spoofing of [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|''Transformers'' cartoon episodes]] on Thursday night and a Transformer customization seminar on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. The customization panel cost $30 extra, but the attendees got two hand-painted [[Scrapmetal (race)|''Cybertron'' Scrapmetals]] out of it (plus a second unassembled set to keep sealed if desired) with the option of giving one the [[Cobybot]] head.

===Friday===
Friday was the first day the convention began in earnest, though it was open to preregistrants only. A local high school marching band performed the G1 Transformers theme as fans entered the ballroom containing the dealer's room, registration tables, and Club Store when the doors first opened at 2 pm.
[[Image:marchingband.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Major events included...

*A voice actor panel with Blu Mankuma, Scott McNeil, Richard Newman, and Pauline Newstone.

*A panel with the Hasbro design team, where the design process was explained and the shelved design sketches of [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] [[Cosmos (G1)]] were shown.

*A panel with Simon Furman.

*Autograph sessions with the ''Beast Wars'' voice actors.

*A midnight screening of the then-newly remastered Sony 20th Anniversary edition of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

*The first round of "[[Board Wars|Faction Feud/Board Wars]]" a trivia competition whose rules bore no resemblance to Family Feud whatsoever.

In addition, the dealer room was open from 2PM to 5PM.

===Saturday===
[[Image:Botcon2006-descentintoline.jpg|center|600px|thumb|BotCon 2006: DESCENT INTO LINE]]
[[Image:Botcon2006-dealerroom.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
[[Image:Botcon2006-playpit.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There is exactly one game you can play in this pit: Starscream Kicks the Ever-Living Snot Out of Downshift.]]
Saturday was the first day in which walk-in attendees were allowed. Though the doors opened at 10am, a huge, slow-moving line wrapping around much of the convention center meant that most walk-in attendees waited nearly an hour to enter.

Major events included...

*A panel on cartoon creation with [[David McDermott]] and Aaron Archer.

*A panel on the Collectors' Club newsletter hosted by [[Pete Sinclair]].

*Autograph sessions with Peter Cullen, as well as the ''Beast Wars'' actors.

*The Hasbro New Product Unveiling, the major panel of the year. Attendance was standing-room-only for walk-ins. The majority of the ''Classics'' line was shown, as well as a preview of the special features for the Sony ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' DVD, and a "sizzle reel" for the 2007 ''Transformers'' movie ("I'm Michael Bay." "I'm Michael Bay." "I'm Michael Bay." "I'm Michael Bay!") It was during this panel that the design team professed that they were huge fans of the Cincinnati Bengals.

*Another Voice Actor panel.

*A roundtable on the ''Transformers'' Fan Club run by [[Brian Savage]].

*A Q&A panel featuring Peter Cullen.

*The annual dinner.

A children's playpit in the dealer room featured dozens of [[Starscream (Armada)|King Starscream]] toys.

Hasbro's display cases featured the upcoming ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' toyline, including [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]], [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], and [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], the reissue of the original [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] toy, and the new-mold [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]].

===Sunday===
Sunday was the day when the show wound down. Most of the panels were repeats, and the dealer room opened late and closed early, but most attendees still managed to enjoy themselves.

Major events included...

*More autograph time with the ''Beast Wars'' voice actors.

*The final round of Faction Feud Board Wars.

*A panel with the IDW comic creators.

*A repeat of the Simon Furman panel.

==External links==
*[http://www.botcon.com/botcon06updates.cfm BotCon.com's archive of BotCon 2006]

[[Category:Conventions]]

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BotCon 2006