|caption=What? [[Changing_Gears|Again?]] Hasn't the [[Gears (G1)|poor guy]] been through enough?
|caption=What? [[Changing Gears|Again?]] Hasn't the [[Gears (G1)|poor guy]] been through enough?
|title=
|title=
|date=[[September 21]], 2005
|date=[[September 21]], 2005
Line 13:
Line 13:
}}
}}
'''[[BotCon]] 2005: Changing Gears''' was the Official ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Convention in 2005, run by [[Fun Publications]]. It was held in the [[Dallas]], Texas suburb of Frisco, from [[September 21|September 21st]] to [[September 25|September 25th]], though only the last two days were open to the general public.
'''[[BotCon]] 2005: Changing Gears''' was the Official ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Convention in 2005, run by [[Fun Publications]]. It was held in the [[Dallas]], [[Texas]] suburb of Frisco, from [[September 21]]st to [[September 25]]th, though only the last two days were open to the general public.
The convention was the first to be run by Fun Publications, and thus inaugurated a number of changes. The return of the "BotCon" name, an end-of-the-summer date, larger exclusive sets and higher preregistration costs all marked a break with previous conventions. The scope of the convention expanded as well, with pre-convention tours, special access dealer room "previews" for higher-paying attendees, and an onslaught of activities and panels throughout the weekend. Another new element was having several panels run two times, rather than being one-time-only events.
The convention was the first to be run by Fun Publications, and thus inaugurated a number of changes. The return of the "BotCon" name, an end-of-the-summer date, larger exclusive sets and higher preregistration costs all marked a break with previous conventions. The scope of the convention expanded as well, with pre-convention tours, special access dealer room "previews" for higher-paying attendees, and an onslaught of activities and panels throughout the weekend. Another new element was having several panels run two times, rather than being one-time-only events.
{{TOCclear}}
==Venue==
==Venue==
[[Image:Botcon2005-thevastemptyplainsoftexas.jpg|right|200px|thumb|In Dallas, if you're going to cross the street, you're expected to get in a car to do it.]]
[[File:Botcon2005-thevastemptyplainsoftexas.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|In Dallas, if you're going to cross the street, you're expected to get in a car to do it.]]
Botcon 2005 was held in Frisco's brand-spanking-new (it had opened only a month prior) Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Conference Center. Though posh and accommodating, this center is not located within easy walking distance of ''anything''. Many fans resorted to a quarter mile hike across empty fields and vast parking lots to reach a nearby shopping mall for food.
Botcon 2005 was held in Frisco's brand-spanking-new (it had opened only a month prior) Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Conference Center. Though posh and accommodating, this center is not located within easy walking distance of ''anything''. Many fans resorted to a quarter mile hike across empty fields and vast parking lots to reach a nearby shopping mall for food.
On the plus side, however, the Embassy Suites featured a ''free'' breakfast buffet (including made-to-order omelettes) where fans could mingle in the hotel's open atrium and save some cash on food.
On the plus side, however, the Embassy Suites featured a ''free'' breakfast buffet (including made-to-order omelettes) where fans could mingle in the hotel's open atrium and save some cash on food.
The center is conveniently close to Dick's Sporting Goods, which may be reached via the Gaylord Parkway, just off Parkwood Avenue. Yeah, somebody didn't think this through very well
The center is conveniently close to Dick's Sporting Goods, which may be reached via the Gaylord Parkway, just off Parkwood Avenue. Yeah, somebody didn't think this through very well.
{{-}}
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
==Merchandise==
Compared to previous conventions, BotCon 2005 featured vast quantities of [[exclusive]] merchandise. Fun Publications also ran their own sales booth, offering a wide range of standard retail Transformer toys.
Compared to previous conventions, BotCon 2005 featured vast quantities of [[exclusive]] merchandise. Fun Publications also ran their own sales booth, offering a wide range of standard retail Transformer toys.
===Convention-exclusive toys===
===Convention-exclusive toys===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Convention Box Set ($265, bagged $140)'''</u>
*'''Convention Box Set''' - This set of seven 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 and the Convention Comic.
===Fiction===
[[Image:Descentintoevil-cover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Here's the plan. We get the convention, and we hold the fandom ransom for... one ''million'' dollars.]]
*'''Convention Comic: "[[Descent into Evil]]"''' - Taking place in [[Primax 905.22 Epsilon|a unique Generation 1 universe]] at an unspecified time between the G1 era and the Beast Era.
:*'''[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]''' - A blue and black remold of [[Megatron (RID)|''Robots in Disguise'' Megatron]] with a new head sculpt.
{{-}}
:*'''[[Buzzclaw (Timelines)|Buzzclaw]]''' and '''[[Dirge (Descent into Evil)|Dirge]]''' - Purple, black and yellow redecos (in different schemes for each figure) of ''Beast Wars'' [[Buzzclaw (BW)|Buzzclaw]].
:*'''[[Outback|Fallback]]''' - Brown, tan, and silver redeco of ''Energon'' [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]], intended as a renamed version of the ''Generation 1'' character Outback.
:*'''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]''' - Red and grey redeco of ''Energon'' [[Tow-Line (Energon)|Tow-Line]] with a new head sculpt.
:*'''[[Ricochet (Descent into Evil)|Ricochet]]''' - A black and red redeco of the ''Generation 2'' Cyberjet [[Hooligan]] mold, Ricochet is a new character.
:*'''[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]''' - White and green redeco of ''Energon'' [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] with a new head sculpt. Chromia was one of the [[female Autobots]] from the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]]. However, many fans have pointed out that Chromia's color scheme, headsculpt, and personality profile all resemble [[Moonracer]]'s, a different character entirely. According to convention representatives, they could not secure the Moonracer name, so they simply dubbed the character Chromia instead.
*'''Attendee-Only Bonus Toy''' - '''[[Flamewar]]''' - Black redeco of ''Energon'' Arcee, given free to pre-registered attendees. Flamewar does not have the new headsculpt found on Chromia and Flareup.
*'''Convention Souvenir 2-Packs''' - Two sets of two bagged toys.
:*'''[[Flareup (Timelines)|Flareup]]''' an orange redeco of Chromia, and '''[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]''' a white redeco of the ''Energon'' Tow-Line mold with the new Ironhide headsculpt and a new Energon weapon, sold together in a pack limited to 500 packs.
:*'''[[Virulent Clone]]'''s - A pack of two blue redecos of ''Beast Wars'' Buzzclaw, limited to 400 packs.
*'''''Legends of Cybertron'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]''' - White and blue repaint of Legends of Cybertron Starscream given away at the Hasbro booth.
===Comics===
*'''Convention Comic: ''[[Descent into Evil]]''''' - Taking place at an unspecified time between G1 and Beast Wars.
==Guests==
==Guests==
Line 69:
Line 76:
===Voice actors===
===Voice actors===
* [[Wally Burr]], voice director of the ''Generation 1'' cartoon series and occasional voice actor
* [[Wally Burr]], voice director of the ''Generation 1'' cartoon series and occasional voice actor
* [[Michael Chain]], voice of ''Generation 1'' [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
* [[Michael Chain]], voice of ''Generation 1'' [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
A large Optimus Prime statue greeted guests as they entered the dealer room. A jungle diorama displayed the convention toys in a re-enactment of the "[[Descent into Evil]]" comic.
===Wednesday===
===Wednesday===
8:30pm: Check-in for Thursday tour
8:30pm: Check-in for Thursday tour
===Thursday===
===Thursday===
* 7:30am: Tour: Fort Worth - Where the West Begins. This tour began a FunPub tradition of locally-themed pre-convention tours of the various cities where BotCon occurs each year.
* 7:30am: Tour: Fort Worth - Where the West Begins. This tour began a FunPub tradition of locally-themed pre-convention tours of the various cities where BotCon occurs each year.
* 6-10pm: Check In/Registration Pick-Up, divided into two shifts.
* 6-10pm: Check In/Registration Pick-Up, divided into two shifts.
* 10:00pm: [[MSTF]] presentation
* 10:00pm: [[MSTF]] presentation
Line 97:
Line 106:
* 9:00am: So You Wonder how We Do the Voices? - Dobson Brothers panel
* 9:00am: So You Wonder how We Do the Voices? - Dobson Brothers panel
:This panel heavily focused on chromed and / or clear variants of the G1 Commemorative Series figures, with the host adamantly insisting that they were all legitimately marketed (if not actually released) TF product and that the popular [[fandom|fan]] term "lunchtime special" was inaccurate. These assertions aside, and the legitimacy of these variants also aside, at that time they were all quite well-known to the fandom and not newsworthy at all. Puzzlingly, the panel gave relatively short-shrift to the world premiere revelations of a handful of TF concepts and prototypes that had never been seen or even reported on previously, such as: [[Toxitron]], [[Motormaster|Universe Motormaster]] (a [[redeco]] of [[Machine Wars]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]), a redeco of [[Jetstorm (BM)|Ultra Jetstorm]], and an entirely different [[mold]] and transformation scheme for [[Megatron (BW)|Megabolt Megatron]].
:This panel heavily focused on chromed and / or clear variants of the G1 Commemorative Series figures, with the host adamantly insisting that they were all legitimately marketed (if not actually released) TF product and that the popular [[fandom|fan]] term "lunchtime special" was inaccurate. These assertions aside, and the legitimacy of these variants also aside, at that time they were all quite well-known to the fandom and not newsworthy at all. Puzzlingly, the panel gave relatively short-shrift to the world premiere revelations of a handful of TF concepts and prototypes that had never been seen or even reported on previously, such as: [[Toxitron (Universe)|''Universe'' Toxitron]], [[Motormaster (G1)|''Universe'' Motormaster]] (a [[redeco]] of ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]), a redeco of [[Jetstorm (BM)|Ultra Jetstorm]], and an entirely different [[mold]] and [[transformation scheme]] for [[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaheadMegatron|Megabolt Megatron]].
*11:00am: Hasbro/Takara Working Together panel
*11:00am: Hasbro/Takara Working Together panel
*Noon: The Transformers Return to Comic Books - IDW panel. Contest area closes for judging.
*Noon: The Transformers Return to Comic Books - IDW panel. Contest area closes for judging.
*1:00pm: You can be the next: Transformers Idol! prelims, with Wally Burr and Pete Sinclair. Courtesy Room opens (see Notes).
*1:00pm: You can be the next: Transformers Idol! prelims, with Wally Burr and Pete Sinclair. Courtesy Room opens (see Notes).
*2:00pm: Sales Room opens for "Private Preview". This is if you spent a whole lotta money. Voice Actor autograph sessions begin.
*2:00pm: Sales Room opens for "Private Preview". This is if you spent a whole lotta money. Voice Actor autograph sessions begin.
*Hourly door prizes begin.
*Hourly door prizes begin.
*4:00pm: Contest entries open for viewing. Second round of Voice Actor autographs.
*4:00pm: Contest entries open for viewing. Second round of Voice Actor autographs.
*5:00pm: Everything closes. EVERYTHING.
*5:00pm: Everything closes. EVERYTHING.
*7:00pm: Casino Night Charity Event
*7:00pm: Casino Night Charity Event
*10:00pm: Casino Night Charity Auction
*10:00pm: Casino Night Charity Auction
Line 110:
Line 119:
===Saturday===
===Saturday===
* 7:30am: Walk-up Late Check-In/Registration; Dealer Room setup
* 7:30am: Walk-up Late Check-In/Registration; Dealer Room setup
* 8:30am: Dealer Room opens for Private Preview. Again, this takes money.
* 8:30am: Dealer Room opens for Private Preview. Again, this takes money.
* 9:00am: "Early Bird" admission. More money! Hourly door prize giveaways resume. Finals for the You Can Be the Next: Transformers Idol! begin.
* 9:00am: "Early Bird" admission. More money! Hourly door prize giveaways resume. Finals for the You Can Be the Next: Transformers Idol! begin.
* 10:00am: Dealer room opens to the general public, who can come in to view its sad, picked-over corpse now that the fans have had their way with it. Hasbro New Product Unveiling panel begins. Voice actor autograph sessions begin.
* 10:00am: Dealer room opens to the general public, who can come in to view its sad, picked-over corpse now that the fans have had their way with it. Hasbro New Product Unveiling panel begins. Voice actor autograph sessions begin.
* 11:00am: Costume contest
* 11:00am: Costume contest
* Noon: The Transformers Return to Comics - IDW panel (repeat).
* Noon: The Transformers Return to Comics - IDW panel (repeat).
Line 119:
Line 128:
* 3:00pm: The Making of the TF Animated Movie - [[Paul Hitchens]]
* 3:00pm: The Making of the TF Animated Movie - [[Paul Hitchens]]
* 4:00pm: Transformers Rarities - [[Rik Alvarez]]
* 4:00pm: Transformers Rarities - [[Rik Alvarez]]
* 5:00pm: EVERYTHING CLOSES. GET OUT.
* 5:00pm: EVERYTHING CLOSES. GET OUT.
* 7:00pm: Awards Dinner and "evening program"
* 7:00pm: Awards Dinner and "evening program"
Line 132:
Line 141:
* 3:30pm: All exhibits and dealer room close. Hearts are crushed. Now what is there to live for?
* 3:30pm: All exhibits and dealer room close. Hearts are crushed. Now what is there to live for?
Hasbro displays of upcoming toys focused on mid- to late-run ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toys, most notably [[Primus]] and [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]].
Hasbro displays of upcoming toys focused on mid- to late-run ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toys, most notably [[Primus]] and [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]].
A nearly life-sized Optimus Prime statue greeted guests as they entered the dealer room. A jungle diorama displayed the convention toys in a re-enactment of the "[[Descent into Evil]]" comic.
==Notes==
==Notes==
* BotCon '05 occurred in the weeks following the disastrous arrival of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Given that, many fans were somewhat anxious to find that Hurricane Rita was bearing down on the Texas coast shortly before the convention began. The hurricane's remnants turned east upon landing, however, and the Metroplex got nothing more than a few clouds and a stiff breeze.
* BotCon '05 occurred in the weeks following the disastrous arrival of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Given that, many fans were somewhat anxious to find that Hurricane Rita was bearing down on the Texas coast shortly before the convention began. The hurricane's remnants turned east upon landing, however, and the Metroplex got nothing more than a few clouds and a stiff breeze.
* The Courtesy Room was a consuite (a first for BotCon) where fans could sit and watch various Transformers shows as well as munch on some free snacks. Nachos, chips, salsa, apple cobbler, and soda were available.
* The Courtesy Room was a consuite (a first for BotCon) where fans could sit and watch various Transformers shows as well as munch on some free snacks. Nachos, chips, salsa, apple cobbler, and [[soft drink|soda]] were available.
{{stub}}
{{stub}}
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.botcon.com/botcon05index.cfm BotCon.com's archive of BotCon 2005]
*[http://www.botconarchives.com/botcon05index.cfm BotCon.com's archive of BotCon 2005]
[[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:Conventions]]
Latest revision as of 14:55, 28 July 2025
{{#if: Bc05logo.jpg |
{{#if: September 21, 2005 |
{{#if: |
{{#if: Frisco, TX |
{{#if: Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Conference Center |
The convention was the first to be run by Fun Publications, and thus inaugurated a number of changes. The return of the "BotCon" name, an end-of-the-summer date, larger exclusive sets and higher preregistration costs all marked a break with previous conventions. The scope of the convention expanded as well, with pre-convention tours, special access dealer room "previews" for higher-paying attendees, and an onslaught of activities and panels throughout the weekend. Another new element was having several panels run two times, rather than being one-time-only events.
In Dallas, if you're going to cross the street, you're expected to get in a car to do it.
Botcon 2005 was held in Frisco's brand-spanking-new (it had opened only a month prior) Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Conference Center. Though posh and accommodating, this center is not located within easy walking distance of anything. Many fans resorted to a quarter mile hike across empty fields and vast parking lots to reach a nearby shopping mall for food.
On the plus side, however, the Embassy Suites featured a free breakfast buffet (including made-to-order omelettes) where fans could mingle in the hotel's open atrium and save some cash on food.
The center is conveniently close to Dick's Sporting Goods, which may be reached via the Gaylord Parkway, just off Parkwood Avenue. Yeah, somebody didn't think this through very well.
Compared to previous conventions, BotCon 2005 featured vast quantities of exclusive merchandise. Fun Publications also ran their own sales booth, offering a wide range of standard retail Transformer toys.
A large Optimus Prime statue greeted guests as they entered the dealer room. A jungle diorama displayed the convention toys in a re-enactment of the "Descent into Evil" comic.
7:30am: Tour: Fort Worth - Where the West Begins. This tour began a FunPub tradition of locally-themed pre-convention tours of the various cities where BotCon occurs each year.
6-10pm: Check In/Registration Pick-Up, divided into two shifts.
This panel heavily focused on chromed and / or clear variants of the G1 Commemorative Series figures, with the host adamantly insisting that they were all legitimately marketed (if not actually released) TF product and that the popular fan term "lunchtime special" was inaccurate. These assertions aside, and the legitimacy of these variants also aside, at that time they were all quite well-known to the fandom and not newsworthy at all. Puzzlingly, the panel gave relatively short-shrift to the world premiere revelations of a handful of TF concepts and prototypes that had never been seen or even reported on previously, such as: Universe Toxitron, Universe Motormaster (a redeco of Machine WarsOptimus Prime), a redeco of Ultra Jetstorm, and an entirely different mold and transformation scheme for Megabolt Megatron.
11:00am: Hasbro/Takara Working Together panel
Noon: The Transformers Return to Comic Books - IDW panel. Contest area closes for judging.
1:00pm: You can be the next: Transformers Idol! prelims, with Wally Burr and Pete Sinclair. Courtesy Room opens (see Notes).
2:00pm: Sales Room opens for "Private Preview". This is if you spent a whole lotta money. Voice Actor autograph sessions begin.
Hourly door prizes begin.
4:00pm: Contest entries open for viewing. Second round of Voice Actor autographs.
7:30am: Walk-up Late Check-In/Registration; Dealer Room setup
8:30am: Dealer Room opens for Private Preview. Again, this takes money.
9:00am: "Early Bird" admission. More money! Hourly door prize giveaways resume. Finals for the You Can Be the Next: Transformers Idol! begin.
10:00am: Dealer room opens to the general public, who can come in to view its sad, picked-over corpse now that the fans have had their way with it. Hasbro New Product Unveiling panel begins. Voice actor autograph sessions begin.
11:00am: Costume contest
Noon: The Transformers Return to Comics - IDW panel (repeat).
1:00pm: Transformers G1 Voices - Michael and Wally
2:00pm: Transformers Club Roundtable - Brian Savage
3:00pm: The Making of the TF Animated Movie - Paul Hitchens
BotCon '05 occurred in the weeks following the disastrous arrival of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Given that, many fans were somewhat anxious to find that Hurricane Rita was bearing down on the Texas coast shortly before the convention began. The hurricane's remnants turned east upon landing, however, and the Metroplex got nothing more than a few clouds and a stiff breeze.
The Courtesy Room was a consuite (a first for BotCon) where fans could sit and watch various Transformers shows as well as munch on some free snacks. Nachos, chips, salsa, apple cobbler, and soda were available.
{{#if: Kup piece.gif |
| }}
{{ #if: You left a piece out! |You left a piece out!|}}
This article is a stub and is missing information. You can help MediaWiki by expanding it.
{{ #if: |{{ #if: | | }} talk page.|}}
{{#if: What? Again? Hasn't the poor guy been through enough? |
