'''[[BotCon]] 2002''' was the Official ''[[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]]'' Convention in 2002, run by [[3H Productions|3H]]. It was held in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, from [[July 26]] to [[July 28|28]].
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==Venue==
==Venue==
BotCon 2002 was held at the [[Grand Wayne Center]] in downtown Fort Wayne.
BotCon 2002 was held at the [[Grand Wayne Center]] in downtown Fort Wayne.
==Merchandise==
==Merchandise==
[[Image:ExpandedUniversetoy-Cyclonus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Because they'll never make another Cyclonus toy.]]
[[Image:ExpandedUniversetoy-Cyclonus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Because they'll never make another Cyclonus toy.]]
===Convention-exclusive toys===
===Convention-exclusive toys===
* '''[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]''', a [[redeco]] of ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
* '''[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]''', a [[redeco]] of ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
Line 68:
Line 63:
* [[Chris Sarracini]]
* [[Chris Sarracini]]
* [[Tom Wyner]]
* [[Tom Wyner]]
==Events==
==Events==
[[Image:Seafoodlouis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Wait, this ''isn't'' the dinner exclusive?]]
[[Image:Seafoodlouis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Wait, this ''isn't'' the dinner exclusive?]]
[[Image:BotCon2002-Imadeadifference.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hey, Arby's, guess what convention's back in town!]]
[[Image:BotCon2002-Imadeadifference.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hey, Arby's, guess what convention's back in town!]]
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). Little did they realize what they were setting themselves up for...
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
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.)
9:00 Video Room Opens: Robots in Diguise episode 1 begins
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 Robots in Disguise episode 9 begins
1:00 Botcon Merchandise Area reopens
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.
{{#if: Oh, sure. R.E.V. gets top billing. Just like always. |
