The Energon Pub

PlasmaEnergyGod wrote:I'm amazed we have such little news on the figures available beyond the initial boxed exclusives. Still,... now I have to find the original Thunderclash. You set up for the tours First Gen? What are the tours like? This is my secong BotCon, and my first for the tours.

Unfortunately, I will not be arriving until mid afternoon friday, brother. But no worries, that's plenty of time to cause a ruckus.

Tirade wrote:I had one question regarding the Club Store. I noticed on the pre-registration letter that the schedule has the Club Store open on Friday. However, I did not see that mentioned in the article. So is it open on Friday? The only reason I ask is because I will not be able to make it Thursday night.

BTW, this is my first Botcon. Wanted to go for the last 10 years. Just never had the finances to go. Thank goodness it's only a few hours away this time. Actually makes me glad I moved to California last year.

Good question Tirade. We tried to cover all the major details of the event with this article and neglected to mention that. Yes, the Club store will be open Friday, refer to Botcon.com for store hours. So pretty much when it opens Thursday, you'll have access to it for pretty much the whole Con. And I hope to see you Friday nite!

Tirade wrote:

Savage wrote:Are you sure about the Minicons having to get in line? I seem to recall Katie's Minicon badge being in my package last year, but I could be mis-remembering.

That's a good question. I'd definitely like to know the answer too. My dad is coming along via the Mini-Con package. Not sure why he would have to stand in a separate line. Pretty sure his package is linked to my Primus Package.

Well, Delicon wrote this article and he's been going with his wife the last two years who was a minicon add on, so I have to assume he was right on that one. I'm sure Fun Pub would have this in affect so no one tried to get away with someone elses minicon badge. But since lines tend to be very long and a long wait, I'm sure you can just wait in line then call your minicon when you're ready to get your badges.

vectorA3 wrote:Cullen autograph questions: Approximately how much will it cost? How many items can u have signed? I'll need at least 2. Debating whether to just get the picture, or DK complete guide to TF book, or Voltron Collectors Ed. dvd inserts (him signing Korran would be cool). Autograph pros -plmk. Fairly new to the game. Thx!

As far as I know, there is no charge for the autograph lines. Just a VERY long wait. I believe the limit is one item per person as to expedite the movement of the line. You're best bet is to get someone else to wait with you or just beg Mr. Cullen to sign a second item for you.

I was able to get two items signed by Peter Cullen in 07. So I guess as long as you make it fast and simple, you might get two items out of it. Best advice is def get in line early. And when you think it's too early, get in line still cause it's never early enough!! That man has been in TF's since the beginning, so his line will be loooong.

One question, if you're going on Saturday but want to pay General Admission is it likely that there'll be a long line since Peter Cullen's signings start half an hour after General Admission is open for purchase?

Actually now that I think of it, I do think you pick up mini-cons with the Primus. Before this, my wife and I always got 2 Primus.

salamance94 wrote:One question, if you're going on Saturday but want to pay General Admission is it likely that there'll be a long line since Peter Cullen's signings start half an hour after General Admission is open for purchase?

Sorry Salamance94, official guest autographs are only available to Botcon attendees. Gen Ad doesn't get you the ability to get in line for them and if you get there a half hour before you're way too late anyway. So odds are the line will be ridiculously long anyway.

UPDATE: From Botcon.com

GENERAL ADMISSION:

General admission is available on both Saturday and Sunday.

General Admission attendees have access to the Dealer Sales Room and
access to the Panels after the Registered Guests are seated.

For autographs, you can also purchase an autograph band.
Registered attendees packages include autographs.

Costs: $15.00 Adults / Children $8.00 (Children 4 & under are Always Free) per day.
One FREE child admission (5-12 years old) with paid adult admission!

Early Bird admittance is available on Saturday beginning at 9AM for $50.

A 5% Facility Restoration Fee per ticket will be added by the City of Pasadena.

Show Hours:
Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm.
Sunday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.

Tickets will be available the day of the show at the theatre box office window
at the Pasadena Convention Center.

General Admission Parking:

Parking at the Pasadena Convention Center garage is $7. Additional parking is available at
the Paseo Colorado shopping center across the street from the convention center.

Pasadena Convention Center 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101

On Saturday, does the dealer room get terribly picked over if you are not there for the Early Bird? I'm trying to weigh going earlybird and paying $100 to get me and my husband in on Saturday, or just paying $30 to get us in and having $70 more to spend at the tables.

ponycorn wrote:On Saturday, does the dealer room get terribly picked over if you are not there for the Early Bird? I'm trying to weigh going earlybird and paying $100 to get me and my husband in on Saturday, or just paying $30 to get us in and having $70 more to spend at the tables.

Depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for rarer figures, (includes Japanese-only figsor previous Botcon exclusives) then yes the Early Bird is the way to go. If you're looking for US Store exclusives or other run of the mill figs, then the regular time is perfectly fine.

"Picked over" is a relative term. Unless you only have 2-3 ultra rare things you would possibly buy, I'd probably just get the regular genera; admission, there will still be tons of goodies for you.

I say this because even if you buy the Early Bird, people were still picking through for a few hours on Friday, an extra $35 doesn't seem worth it just to get a jump on the general admission people for an hour.

TRUST ME, there will be plenty to buy!

Yikes! i'm going to have to get an autograph band, since i didn't pre-reg. So what is my best bet since I'm general admission? Get in line asap for the first Cullen session (even if i don't make it) or just wait for the 2nd session? Still need to look at the schedule to evaluate things. Also, what time should i get in line for GA?? I wanna do it early of course, but not too early since i will probably be flyin solo for that part of the day.
thx in advance.

I am kind of hoping for some Japan only stuff, maybe some Victory figs if I can find them. I guess my chances might be slightly better if I go earlybird... but chances are slim either way for things like that.

ponycorn wrote:I am kind of hoping for some Japan only stuff, maybe some Victory figs if I can find them. I guess my chances might be slightly better if I go earlybird... but chances are slim either way for things like that.

You'll be surprised. Japanese galore.

First Gen wrote:

ponycorn wrote:I am kind of hoping for some Japan only stuff, maybe some Victory figs if I can find them. I guess my chances might be slightly better if I go earlybird... but chances are slim either way for things like that.

You'll be surprised. Japanese galore.

but not G1 Japanese galore...

If you're not in there on Friday, you won't find anything really genuinely rare.

Well guys, it's finally here. In 24 hours, we'll be standing in line for boxed sets and name badges! I can't tell you how psyched I am to hang out with you guys again and just generally let loose my Transformers geekiness for a few days.

Viva la BotCon!

I don't know why this just occured to me, but are we allowed to haggle?

I've got my shopping list:

*Star Convoy reissue
*Lio Convoy (white version)
*G1 Jetfire
*Sentinel Maximus (If I can get a good deal)
*Victory Leo (If I can get him for under $200)
*BWII Galvatron

I've noticed that a lot of these figures aren't worth as much as they used to be on ebay so I figure now is the best time to track them down.

With the time slots, it seems like it would be hard to get both Weird Al's autograph and Peter Cullen's. I guess the best bet would be to line up for Cullen's at the earliest time possible [how early do they let you line up?] and hope that I can get to Weird Al before his ends?

I have a Primus pass so Im going to have the majority of my shopping done before Sat so I don't mind waiting in lines all morning to get my autographs =D

no one has any strategery for me??

vectorA3 wrote:no one has any strategery for me??

Come on he needs it. He promised that he get a autograph from God er sorry Peter Cullen for me. Now don't forgot to tell that it's for a cute Aussie chick who has loved Optimus and Eeyore for years. Ta

vectorA3 wrote:no one has any strategery for me??

Sorry Vector, have had my hands full the last 24 hours getting ready to leave for Botcon and regular life.

My advice, if its Mr. Cullens autograph you desire most, is to get in line for that first and I mean first. Gen admission usually starts lining up an hour plus before early bird admission at 9AM. Be prepared to wait, but greatness is at the end. Good luck.

robofreak wrote:I don't know why this just occured to me, but are we allowed to haggle?

I've got my shopping list:

*Star Convoy reissue
*Lio Convoy (white version)
*G1 Jetfire
*Sentinel Maximus (If I can get a good deal)
*Victory Leo (If I can get him for under $200)
*BWII Galvatron

I've noticed that a lot of these figures aren't worth as much as they used to be on ebay so I figure now is the best time to track them down.

Yes you can haggle but don't expect any dealers to budge on Friday or Saturday. Sunday is the best day to haggle. And don't bother haggling with BBTS or TF Source, their prices are pretty firm regardless from my experience.

First Gen wrote: Gen admission usually starts lining up an hour plus before early bird admission at 9AM. Be prepared to wait, but greatness is at the end. Good luck.

So if you are going general admission, sans-earlybird, is it a good idea to get to the convention center around 8am? (not for the autographs, but just to get in the door)

ponycorn wrote:

First Gen wrote: Gen admission usually starts lining up an hour plus before early bird admission at 9AM. Be prepared to wait, but greatness is at the end. Good luck.

So if you are going general admission, sans-earlybird, is it a good idea to get to the convention center around 8am? (not for the autographs, but just to get in the door)

Yes. If not earlier actually. Last years Gen Admin line snaked around the Duke Energy Center almost one and a half times. And thats a big damm center!

Random Story,

A few minutes ago, Delicon and I (and our two beautiful ladies) wandered into the convention center and caught sight of the beginnings of the club booth. A Kup laying on the counter in vehicle mode, a copy of the convention comic. The ROTF figures. A display case covered by a sheet. We weren't really snooping, just trying to find where registration was going to be later tonight. From behind us, a loud voice asked "What are you doing in here?" and promptly escorted us out and locked the door.

In other news, do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take a taxi cab from the airport to the convention unless you have a serious death wish. Our cab driver cut so many people off at 70-80 miles an hour, no turn signals, crossing three, four lanes of traffic at a time. We seriously thought we were going to die.

Take a shuttle.

Or walk the thirty or so miles from LAX to Pasadena Convention Center, even that would be better than the cab ride from hell.

Heh.

thats why I rented a car. That way I got to be the one carrening in and out of traffic ad 70-80 miles an hour... with people cuttting me off and leaving mew in the dust


Ill see you all tonight in line I suppose, I am staying at the Holiday in 10 mins down the street since I can stay there for free, saves me 600+ dollars I can then spend on toys Ill probably be headin on down to the ol convention center soon.

Savage wrote:Random Story,


In other news, do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take a taxi cab from the airport to the convention unless you have a serious death wish. Our cab driver cut so many people off at 70-80 miles an hour, no turn signals, crossing three, four lanes of traffic at a time. We seriously thought we were going to die.

Take a shuttle.

Or walk the thirty or so miles from LAX to Pasadena Convention Center, even that would be better than the cab ride from hell.

i'm sorry you had that cab experience. I live in LA and haven't had a wildrild like that yet (pun intended). But this lends credence to a recent story i read on a Star Wars site:

Disabled "Star Wars" Fan: I Got R2D-Screwed
Posted May 24th 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff

One unfortunate handicapped chap thought he was in for a wonderful weekend at a "Star Wars" convention -- but all he allegedly got was a concussion, a hospital visit and a pile of medical bills.

Scott Postelnek says he bought a vacation package to the "Star Wars Celebration IV" in Chicago back in 2007. In a lawsuit filed Friday in L.A. County Superior Court, Scott claims LucasFilms promised Scott safe transportation from his hotel to the convention center.

But it all went wrong, the suit claims, when the driver of the van didn't properly secure Scott's scooter -- which he was sitting in -- for the ride. During the trip, the driver allegedly took a sharp turn, violently sending Scott into the side of the van.

The papers say Scott suffered injuries to his neck, back and head -- including a concussion.

He's suing LucasFilms, The Official Star Wars Fan Club and others for unspecified damages.


I know TMZ isn't the best of sources, but i believe this to be true. And to clarify, the convention was held in LA and he bought the package in Chicago. A shame this happened. The cab company/driver should be held mostly responsible. What's strange is why this guy waited so long. Anyway, just something to think about.

also, thanx to those who answered about the lines. I'm psyched about the con -having such a crappy year I need something like this to look forward to.