|caption=Oh, sure. R.E.V. gets top billing. Just like always.
|caption=Oh, sure. R.E.V. gets top billing. Just like always.
|title=
|title=
|date=[[July 26]], 2002
|date=[[July 26]], [[2002]]
|city=Fort Wayne, IN
|city=Fort Wayne, IN
|venue=Grand Wayne Convention Center
|venue=Grand Wayne Convention Center
}}
}}
'''[[BotCon]] 2002''' was the Official ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Convention in 2002, run by [[3H Productions|3H]]. It was held in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, from [[July 26]] to [[July 28|28]].
'''[[BotCon]] 2002''' was the Official ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Convention in 2002 (the first year it was completely, 100% endorsed and sponsored by [[Hasbro]]), run by [[3H Productions|3H]]. It was held in [[Fort Wayne]], [[Indiana]], from [[July 26]] to [[July 28|28]].
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==Merchandise==
==Merchandise==
[[Image:ExpandedUniversetoy-Cyclonus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Because they'll never make another Cyclonus toy.]]
[[File:ExpandedUniversetoy-Cyclonus.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Because they'll never make another Cyclonus toy.]]
===Convention-exclusive toys===
===Convention-exclusive toys===
* '''[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]''', a [[redeco]] of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' Ultra-class [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
<ul class="iconlist">
* '''[[CatSCAN]]''', a redeco of ''Beast Machines'' Night Slash [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]]
:Two t-shirts were available, one depicting Optimus Prime and the other depicting Megatron. The Robots in Disguise version of said character was depicted on front, while on back was a row of images depicting all incarnations from G1 to Armada.
'''Collector plate'''
*Each numbered plate (1 - 385) depicted [[Andrew Wildman]] artwork of Robots in Disguise Optimus vs. Robots in Disguise Megatron and contained a ring of 24k gold on the edge.
{{-}}
{{-}}
===Fiction===
* [[Betrayal|''Transformers: The Wreckers'' No. 2]]
==Guests==
==Guests==
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* [[Michael McConnohie]]
* [[Michael McConnohie]]
* [[Peter Spellos]]
* [[Peter Spellos]]
* [[Wankus|Wayne "Wankus" Lewis]]
* [[Wayne C. Lewis]]
* [[Tom Wyner]]
* [[Tom Wyner]]
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==Events==
==Events==
[[Image:Seafoodlouis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Wait, this ''isn't'' the dinner exclusive?]]
[[File:Seafoodlouis.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Wait, this ''isn't'' the dinner exclusive?]]
[[Image:BotCon2002-Imadeadifference.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hey, Arby's, guess what convention's back in town!]]
[[File:BotCon2002-Imadeadifference.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Hey, Arby's, guess what convention's back in town!]]
* A screening of "[[First Encounter]]", the first episode of the upcoming ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon. The audience was highly enthusiastic about the episode, bursting into cheers when Optimus Prime first appeared (and spoke, revealing Garry Chalk's voice). Little did they realize what they were setting themselves up for...
* A screening of "[[First Encounter]]", the first episode of the upcoming ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon. The audience was highly enthusiastic about the episode, bursting into cheers when Optimus Prime first appeared (and spoke, revealing Garry Chalk's voice). Unfortunately, this screening was also the precise moment that the cast of ''Robots in Disguise'', members of which made up nearly the entire voice actor guest list for this year, discovered that they wouldn't be coming back to voice the next series. Ouch.
**Unfortunately, this screening was also the precise moment that the cast of ''Robots in Disguise'', members of which made up nearly the entire voice actor guest list for this year, discovered that they wouldn't be coming back to voice the next series. Ouch.
* Dinner attendees received a bonus gift of one Deluxe size-class ''Armada'' toy and one Mini-Con 3-pack. This was ''supposed'' to be a great treat, as the ''Armada'' toyline was just beginning, and these would have been as-yet unreleased toys. However, the first ''Armada'' toys had unexpectedly hit stores a few weeks early, just before the convention, and thus many of the hardcore fans present at the dinner already owned them.
* Dinner attendees received a bonus gift of one Deluxe size-class ''Armada'' toy and one Mini-Con 3-pack. This was ''supposed'' to be a great treat, as the ''Armada'' toyline was just beginning, and these would have been as-yet unreleased toys. However, the first ''Armada'' toys had unexpectedly hit stores a few weeks early, just before the convention, and thus many of the hardcore fans present at the dinner already owned them.
===Saturday===
===Saturday===
[[Image:BotCon2002-Hasbrobooth.jpg|right|thumb|250px|We couldn't wait to have these sitting in a box in our attic.]]
[[File:BotCon2002-Hasbrobooth.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|We couldn't wait to have these sitting in a box in our attic.]]
*8:00 Botcon 2002 Begins! (in theory. In practice, probably closer to 8:30.)
*8:00 Botcon 2002 Begins! (in theory. In practice, probably closer to 8:30.)
*9:00 Video Room Opens: Robots in Disguise episode 1 begins
*9:00 Video Room Opens: [[Battle Protocol!|Robots in Disguise episode 1]] begins
*12:00 Botcon Merchandise Area closes for inventory check
*12:00 Botcon Merchandise Area closes for inventory check
*12:00 Editor/Writer/Director Panel: Richard Epcar, Bob Forward, Simon Furman, Steve Kramer, and Tom Wyner
*12:00 Editor/Writer/Director Panel: Richard Epcar, Bob Forward, Simon Furman, Steve Kramer, and Tom Wyner
*12:00 Robots in Disguise episode 9 begins
*12:00 [[Mirage's Betrayal|Robots in Disguise episode 9]] begins
*1:00 Botcon Merchandise Area reopens
*1:00 Botcon Merchandise Area reopens
*1:00 Autographs: Epcar, Forward, Kramer, Wyner
*1:00 Autographs: Epcar, Forward, Kramer, Wyner
*2:00 Hasbro Presentation: The brand team offers unique insights into the development of our favorite toyline. Previews of upcoming toys covered later-run ''Armada'' redecos and Generation 1 reissues. A Hasbro rep comment offered the first faint teasing hint that a toy for [[Unicron]] might be under development. The original Generation 1 gun-mode Megatron toy was infamously shown in a hideously bright blue-and-orange color scheme, which ''still'' wasn't enough to get it past child safety laws.
*2:00 Hasbro Presentation: The brand team offers unique insights into the development of our favorite toyline. Previews of upcoming toys covered later-run ''Armada'' redecos and Generation 1 reissues. A Hasbro rep comment offered the first faint teasing hint that a toy for [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]] might be under development. The original Generation 1 gun mode Megatron toy was infamously shown in a hideously bright blue-and-orange color scheme, which ''still'' wasn't enough to get it past child safety laws.
Two t-shirts were available, one depicting Optimus Prime and the other depicting Megatron. The Robots in Disguise version of said character was depicted on front, while on back was a row of images depicting all incarnations from G1 to Armada.
Collector plate
Each numbered plate (1 - 385) depicted Andrew Wildman artwork of Robots in Disguise Optimus vs. Robots in Disguise Megatron and contained a ring of 24k gold on the edge.
A screening of "First Encounter", the first episode of the upcoming Armada cartoon. The audience was highly enthusiastic about the episode, bursting into cheers when Optimus Prime first appeared (and spoke, revealing Garry Chalk's voice). Unfortunately, this screening was also the precise moment that the cast of Robots in Disguise, members of which made up nearly the entire voice actor guest list for this year, discovered that they wouldn't be coming back to voice the next series. Ouch.
Dinner attendees received a bonus gift of one Deluxe size-class Armada toy and one Mini-Con 3-pack. This was supposed to be a great treat, as the Armada toyline was just beginning, and these would have been as-yet unreleased toys. However, the first Armada toys had unexpectedly hit stores a few weeks early, just before the convention, and thus many of the hardcore fans present at the dinner already owned them.
2:00 Hasbro Presentation: The brand team offers unique insights into the development of our favorite toyline. Previews of upcoming toys covered later-run Armada redecos and Generation 1 reissues. A Hasbro rep comment offered the first faint teasing hint that a toy for Unicron might be under development. The original Generation 1 gun mode Megatron toy was infamously shown in a hideously bright blue-and-orange color scheme, which still wasn't enough to get it past child safety laws.
{{#if: Oh, sure. R.E.V. gets top billing. Just like always. |
