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Earlier this morning, BotCon's Pete Sinclair took a few moments to answer some questions for all of us about the BotCon 2013 Machine Wars theme. Without further ado, here's our six question Q&A ...

1. Why Machine Wars?

Pete Sinclair wrote:Machine Wars is a very interesting line to those who were collecting back in the mid 90's. Hasbro had decided to completely revamp the Transformers brand with Beast Wars but then all of the sudden out of left field we get Machine Wars? We were going to get the best of BOTH worlds? How awesome was that. But then, as quick as they hit, they were gone. And while the Beast era is one of both mine and many fans favorite era's, there was always that what could have been for a "Machine Wars" story.

2. What was the inspiration for a Machine Wars theme?

Pete Sinclair wrote:The inspiration here is basically a "Machine Wars: Series 2." The 2013 BotCon offerings will work both as a stand alone AND as a continuation of the Machine Wars line. Once people read the fiction fans will see each toy from both series 1 and series 2 work as their own individual character.

Also, even if you did not grow up collecting Machine Wars, this set is going to be very appealing for many reasons and we anticipate that a wide range of collectors' will want to add these toys to their collections. They look really sharp!

3. Will you be using any of the existing 12 Machine Wars characters as one of the BotCon 2013 set or show exclusives or will you be expanding the Machine Wars character roster beyond the original 12?

Pete Sinclair wrote:This "Series 2" is not just a redux. Yes, there will be homage's to the original toys. But we take it a step further. Some characters will have NEW features/characteristics. Some that were basics will now be in a more appropriate voyager form. And yes, we have also added NEW characters to the Machine Wars line up. Ones that totally fit the MACHINE WARS concept i.e. these are WAR MACHINES!

Long story short, we approached this years offering as a true second series of Machine Wars toys.

4. BotCon's Machine Wars Optimus Prime's fictional appearances: faceplate or no faceplate?

Pete Sinclair wrote:Time will tell ...

5. The colors for Machine Wars Megaplex and Megatron were switched as toys (or the colors for their box artwork was reversed). Assuming these characters show up in BotCon's Machine Wars fiction, will Megatron by grey or blue and how about Megaplex?

Pete Sinclair wrote:There seems to be maybe two issues there. We have actually looked at that closely. We think that the colors were initially right but the dark blue of Megaplex became grey and the grey on Megatron became more of a teal. So the toys themselves are "right" in that regard. The Megaplex card art doesn't really look like either one so who knows what happened there.

Either way, we decided to base our deco's on "all" of the toy's we produced under the name they were sold as i.e. If we did do a Megaplex, he would look like the Megaplex sold at retail.

6. Have the location and dates for BotCon 2013 been determined? If so, can you tell us when we can expect to hear an announcement?

Pete Sinclair wrote:You can expect the announcement very VERY soon ...

I'm torn. I was never interested in Machine Wars, but I want to go to BotCon. So, just like last year, my attendance will hinge on location and what the set looks like, along with the HoF inductees. I definitely give them props for surprising us. I was expecting an homage to Armada, due to the 10th anniversary, or maybe even Robots in Disguise.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I'm torn. I was never interested in Machine Wars, but I want to go to BotCon. So, just like last year, my attendance will hinge on location and what the set looks like, along with the HoF inductees. I definitely give them props for surprising us. I was expecting an homage to Armada, due to the 10th anniversary, or maybe even Robots in Disguise.

You should plan on going. There are so many of us from Seibertron.com that attend. BotCon isn't about the toys or the location to me ... it's about seeing our ever-growing group of friends year after year. Hands down that is the best part.

I knew there would be more characters than the original 12 in this. So we'll finally being a Machine Wars Wave 2 out of this!

I just checked the date of when Machines Wars debuted at KB toys: 1997. So they would be celebrating a 15 year anniversary, how irrelevant it would have been, a year late.

You know, I just thought of something. Anybody remember the image with Machine Wars Starscream on his throne, with Galvatron's torn-off particle cannon?

the image in question

He's basically a possessed and reanimated Skyquake body if we are to believe the original artist. I wonder if that will find its way into the BotCon fiction, since Skyquake himself has appeared in Wings of Honor.

Welp, I'm set. Old AND new? I feel like a lot more people will want this due to having new MW characters, and possibly new versions of old characters.

As much as I do agree with you, I was let down last year because there weren't as many new toys I was interested in buy. The set was too expensive for a few deluxe repaints. I felt the entire and trip was ruin. Personally, I think the show is mostly about the toys. Meeting and seeing happy people sporadically does add to the experience, but at the end of the day, what I take home makes my year. And the past few years haven't been kind to me. I'm glad this year brings back machine wars. I still have my Optimus. Got rid of the rest. No articulation.

Seibertron wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I'm torn. I was never interested in Machine Wars, but I want to go to BotCon. So, just like last year, my attendance will hinge on location and what the set looks like, along with the HoF inductees. I definitely give them props for surprising us. I was expecting an homage to Armada, due to the 10th anniversary, or maybe even Robots in Disguise.

You should plan on going. There are so many of us from Seibertron.com that attend. BotCon isn't about the toys or the location to me ... it's about seeing our ever-growing group of friends year after year. Hands down that is the best part.

Meanwhile... I will probably never get a chance to go to botcon...

Living in Asia here, with botcon happening within the school term... Ah well, maybe in 5 years time...

President-prime wrote:As much as I do agree with you, I was let down last year because there weren't as many new toys I was interested in buy. The set was too expensive for a few deluxe repaints. I felt the entire and trip was ruin. Personally, I think the show is mostly about the toys. Meeting and seeing happy people sporadically does add to the experience, but at the end of the day, what I take home makes my year. And the past few years haven't been kind to me. I'm glad this year brings back machine wars. I still have my Optimus. Got rid of the rest. No articulation.

Last year, I feel like there were some difficulties. As with Animated and the movies, the Prime toyline is very distinct, yet they had the only Voyagers by BotCon 2012. With Soundwave and hopefully some others on the way, we may get some more Voyagers for BotCon. As for previous molds, I think most people are getting a little sick of Unicron Trilogy toys being used for BotCon.

I'm looking forward to attending this years, may it be anywhere. Doing a mini vacation. Hehe. Really glad itts machine wars. Bring back the cartoon. Yeah. 4th season prime: machine wars. And that means no kids

I'm not thrilled about the theme for this year. However, the theme is not going to decide whether I go or not. It really depends on the location. Come on North Eastern US!

They may surprise you. The color s he is different, and starscream being the big guy sounds awesome. His color scheme is different enough, black and grey. Hopefully getting the silver treatment. That would be awesome. On top of that, if the use sky quakes jet mode on a voyager to bigger class, cool. They can use the dotm supreme prime with trailer. Awesome. The possibilities

SJ21 wrote:I'm not thrilled about the theme for this year. However, the theme is not going to decide whether I go or not. It really depends on the location. Come on North Eastern US!

I actually find you really awesome for this. I feel like the theme of BotCon usually ruins it for people, even though if you don't get the exclusives, you can still have a fun time and pick up stuff in the dealer room. For your sake, I hope it is in the Northeast!

I'm cautiously optimistic.

While I'm cautiously excited for the theme this year, I don't think I'll be able to make the trip this year unless it's somewhere really close. Time will tell.

*sigh*...aw crap...I'm all in. This sounds awesome. I can't wait to see what they did with it.

I hope I can go this year, Chicago would be a great choice *ahem*.

While there are obvious molds for some of the Machine Wars incarnations, I would like to see molds used that haven't been repainted 2 and 3 times already so no more Cybertron Red Alert or Classics Mirage molds.


The molds for Generations Warpath, Scourge, Perceptor, Megatron, Soundwave, and Optimus Prime are all due for a second go round

100% agree.

Though..I'm sure we'll see some FOC Molds used. I'm fine with that, I like them, but some of the other will get out the torches and pikes I'm sure.

ViperEye82 wrote:100% agree.

Though..I'm sure we'll see some FOC Molds used. I'm fine with that, I like them, but some of the other will get out the torches and pikes I'm sure.

I think it might be too early for FOC cybertron molds. Doesn't have to be a gap in years before FanPub is allowed certain molds?

I'm surprised they never used Classics Dinobot for Beast Wars Grimlock.

RiddlerJ wrote:

ViperEye82 wrote:100% agree.

Though..I'm sure we'll see some FOC Molds used. I'm fine with that, I like them, but some of the other will get out the torches and pikes I'm sure.

I think it might be too early for FOC cybertron molds. Doesn't have to be a gap in years before FanPub is allowed certain molds?

I'm surprised they never used Classics Dinobot for Beast Wars Grimlock.

At least one year, when Hasbro is done using the mold sets for their own lines for now.

Ah. Okay, wasn't sure what the limit was on that.

Let's see... anything up to the first half of 2012 is fair game. Not Prime First Edition though, they're still in use.

Everytime I look at the Machine Wars figures, I see what should have been-

Ultra Magnus, Springer, Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, Wreck-Gar
Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, 3 Sweeps

buddhaquest wrote:Everytime I look at the Machine Wars figures, I see what should have been-

Ultra Magnus, Springer, Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, Wreck-Gar
Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, 3 Sweeps

Which mold do you see Hot Rod in?

Sabrblade wrote:

buddhaquest wrote:Everytime I look at the Machine Wars figures, I see what should have been-

Ultra Magnus, Springer, Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, Wreck-Gar
Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, 3 Sweeps

Which mold do you see Hot Rod in?

*each with G1 color schemes

Optimus Prime - Ultra Magnus
Sandstorm - Springer
Mirage/Prowl - Hot Rod/Blurr
Hubcap/Hoist - Kup/Wreck-Gar

Soundwave - Galvatron
Starscream - Cyclonus
Megatron/Megaplex - Scourge
Skywarp/Thundercracker - (3)Sweeps

Anyway, I've always been curious if these would have sold a little better if they had been these characters.