The Energon Pub

We've never really given a lot of coverage to Roll Out Roll Call, the Transformers and G.I. Joe fan convention in Southampton, UK. This year, however, they're bringing out all the cool stuff (heh) by offering the TFCC exclusive figures at Auto Assembly last month, and now by announcing the presence of Pete Sinclair of FunPub as their special guest! Check out more here and below.

Appearing for the first time at Roll Out Roll Call, The UK Transformers, G.I. Joe & Action Force Show it gives me a great pleasure to announce our next guest, Pete Sinclair.

Pete is the Senior Marketing Manager for Fun Publications. One of his main duties is the marketing of both the Transformers Collectors' Club (Official) and G.I. Joe Collectors' Club along with the Official conventions BotCon (Official) and GIJoeCon (Official). When it comes to Transformers fiction and other print offerings, he also works as the editor for the Transformers Collectors’ Club Magazine and the managing editor for both Fun Pub Comics titles “Transformers: Timelines” and “G.I. Joe VS Cobra”. He may have worked on a story here or there as well. Lastly, he has had a hand in the product development of over 150 Transformers exclusives, including this years hit TFSS 4.0 offering.
Pete will give fans the opportunity to learn more about each Club, and their respective projects and products, don't miss out on this first UK appearance, book your ticket now

It's getting ever closer to Roll Out Roll Call, the UK's G.I. Joe and Transformers convention in Southampton, but still guests are being announced with the latest addition of fan favourite artist (and style chameleon) Guido Guidi - check out here and below to find out more!

With two weeks left to Roll Out Roll Call, The UK Transformers, G.I. Joe & Action Force Show we still have many announcements to come and look forward to, including the first appearance at the show of Guido Guidi, flying over from Italy, Guido has helped contribute to many Transformers projects, including the awesome Transformers: Devastation game from Activision.

Living in Europe, maybe in the UK vicinities? Looking for a BotCon 2016 Terrorsaur exclusive? Why not head to Roll Out Roll Call, in Heathrow, UK, on 8th-10th July 2016! The organisers have just announced that, much like last year, the TFCC is collaborating to bring an exclusive figure across the pond. Check out more info below, and head here for tickets.

Roll Out Roll Call, The UK Transformers, G.I. Joe & Action Force Show is proud to reveal what 2016 Limited Edition Energon Ticket holders get as their exclusive Transformers item; Terrorsaur.

Terrorsaur will ONLY be available to each Energon and Crossover Ticket holders and is included within the Ticket price.
Terrorsaur will not be available separately.

A Limited Edition Energon Ticket Pass includes:
1 X General Weekend Entry.
1 X Terrorsaur.
+ option to purchase 1 of each other Transformers Items*.

(*Option to purchase Items Friday 8th/ Saturday 9th only. Any unsold Items by Sunday 10th will be available for purchase to general public.)

Limited numbers available, £75 per Energon ticket, book your ticket now

Good deal for the homies across the pond.
If any of these pop up for sale through an attendee, I might be in.

That's very cool that they're giving UK fans a shot at getting this figure.

It's always nice to see exclusives made available to our international brethren!

Thanks to their Facebook page we can now tell you that anyone who is currently holding a crossover or Energon ticket for Roll Out Roll Call is now eligible to purchase Botcon 2016 Megatron and Airazor along with the exclusive Terrorsaur! Megatron can be purchased for £110, Airazor for £55 or both for £150. Please note that Energon ticket holders can only purchase one of each and the ticket numbers are limited. Tickets can be found HERE.

Whoa. Okay... how do I get a Megatron without attending? Is there even a way?

shajaki wrote:Whoa. Okay... how do I get a Megatron without attending? Is there even a way?

Maybe you could purchase their big exclusive package for $330 and they could send it out. But you could probably email them to check.

shajaki wrote:Whoa. Okay... how do I get a Megatron without attending? Is there even a way?

Probably would need to know a guy who is going but doesn't want it but can still get it to give to you. I don't really think there is any other way

That's nice of BotCon to save a bunch of Megatrons for some UK convention instead of selling them to people who were actually at their own convention.

i know they are botcon exl etc, but man every single one ive seen come out over the years there is zero desire to get any of em, honestly they all look pretty f'ugly. I guess i just dont get the appeal at all. Good on the ppl that like em, not for me.

shajaki wrote:Whoa. Okay... how do I get a Megatron without attending? Is there even a way?

I would count on a plunge in eBay prices before it shoots up again... Work that window!!

UltraPrimal wrote:That's nice of BotCon to save a bunch of Megatrons for some UK convention instead of selling them to people who were actually at their own convention.

I doubt it's that simple. They probably worked this out with RORC way in advance, like they have in past years.

I'm not sure how you think they could have withheld something they didn't even know was going to blow up the way that it did.

megatronus wrote:

UltraPrimal wrote:That's nice of BotCon to save a bunch of Megatrons for some UK convention instead of selling them to people who were actually at their own convention.

I doubt it's that simple. They probably worked this out with RORC way in advance, like they have in past years.

I'm not sure how you think they could have withheld something they didn't even know was going to blow up the way that it did.

I have no doubt they probably did have some kind of deal set up beforehand. Though it is a little questionable that it's the three most desirable/rarest of this years exclusives and not all of them.

To claim that they only made 850 Megatrons is ridiculous. They're either bold-faced liars or completely incompetent. Anyone could have told you that he would have sold extremely well. Hindsight and BW bias be damned. A figure, regardless of the character or era, that fans have been asking for over a decade combined with the fact that this is the final BotCon, an anniversary year for that characters era, and produced in such limited numbers created a perfect storm for selling out. Why produce the most anticipated figure in BotCon history in less than half the numbers they would any other year? Even at the usually 2000 they would have sold out by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the first day of open sales. Even at twice that they would have still sold out with dealer sales.

UltraPrimal wrote:

megatronus wrote:

UltraPrimal wrote:That's nice of BotCon to save a bunch of Megatrons for some UK convention instead of selling them to people who were actually at their own convention.

I doubt it's that simple. They probably worked this out with RORC way in advance, like they have in past years.

I'm not sure how you think they could have withheld something they didn't even know was going to blow up the way that it did.

I have no doubt they probably did have some kind of deal set up beforehand. Though it is a little questionable that it's the three most desirable/rarest of this years exclusives and not all of them.

To claim that they only made 850 Megatrons is ridiculous. They're either bold-faced liars or completely incompetent. Anyone could have told you that he would have sold extremely well. Hindsight and BW bias be damned. A figure, regardless of the character or era, that fans have been asking for over a decade combined with the fact that this is the final BotCon, an anniversary year for that characters era, and produced in such limited numbers created a perfect storm for selling out. Why produce the most anticipated figure in BotCon history in less than half the numbers they would any other year? Even at the usually 2000 they would have sold out by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the first day of open sales. Even at twice that they would have still sold out with dealer sales.

And wouldn't it make sense that another con could figure that out and make a contract with FunPub well in advance to deliver only those figures?

UltraPrimal wrote:To claim that they only made 850 Megatrons is ridiculous. They're either bold-faced liars or completely incompetent. Anyone could have told you that he would have sold extremely well. Hindsight and BW bias be damned. A figure, regardless of the character or era, that fans have been asking for over a decade combined with the fact that this is the final BotCon, an anniversary year for that characters era, and produced in such limited numbers created a perfect storm for selling out. Why produce the most anticipated figure in BotCon history in less than half the numbers they would any other year? Even at the usually 2000 they would have sold out by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the first day of open sales. Even at twice that they would have still sold out with dealer sales.

I feel you 100% on this. If it helps you sleep better at night, FunPub is done. No more Botcons. And it'll be really hard on Hasbro to screw up as badly going forward.

UltraPrimal wrote:To claim that they only made 850 Megatrons is ridiculous. They're either bold-faced liars or completely incompetent. Anyone could have told you that he would have sold extremely well. Hindsight and BW bias be damned. A figure, regardless of the character or era, that fans have been asking for over a decade combined with the fact that this is the final BotCon, an anniversary year for that characters era, and produced in such limited numbers created a perfect storm for selling out. Why produce the most anticipated figure in BotCon history in less than half the numbers they would any other year? Even at the usually 2000 they would have sold out by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the first day of open sales. Even at twice that they would have still sold out with dealer sales.

There's no way 4000 would have sold out, and it's unlikely 2000 would have sold out either, even with dealer sales. You're assuming demand would be the same as it is right now even with a larger production run, which really isn't how it works - so much of this particular situation is fueled by exclusivity and blind desire. Maybe a production run of 1250-1500 would have given them a good sell through rate at Botcon, but with a little bit extra to post on the site after the show for general consumption.

Putting that aside for a second... I want to play devil's advocate here. Why do you feel entitled to this Botcon (and RORC) exclusive figure?

megatronus wrote:

UltraPrimal wrote:To claim that they only made 850 Megatrons is ridiculous. They're either bold-faced liars or completely incompetent. Anyone could have told you that he would have sold extremely well. Hindsight and BW bias be damned. A figure, regardless of the character or era, that fans have been asking for over a decade combined with the fact that this is the final BotCon, an anniversary year for that characters era, and produced in such limited numbers created a perfect storm for selling out. Why produce the most anticipated figure in BotCon history in less than half the numbers they would any other year? Even at the usually 2000 they would have sold out by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the first day of open sales. Even at twice that they would have still sold out with dealer sales.

There's no way 4000 would have sold out, and it's unlikely 2000 would have sold out either, even with dealer sales. You're assuming demand would be the same as it is right now even with a larger production run, which really isn't how it works - so much of this particular situation is fueled by exclusivity and blind desire. Maybe a production tun of 1250-1500 would have given them a good sell through rate at Botcon, but with a little bit extra to post on the site after the show for general consumption.

Putting that aside for a second... I want to play devil's advocate here. Why do you feel entitled to this Botcon (and RORC) exclusive figure?

Let me ask a related question, how is this the most desired box on figure this year? How is this the figures that people have been asking for for a decade? And I realized megatronus, that you're probably not the person to be directing this question asked since you're not the one who stayed in it comma I'm just jumping in on the end. a pretty deco but how does this mold fit the BW Megatron? Or vice versa. I don't see the attraction.

megatronus wrote:There's no way 4000 would have sold out, and it's unlikely 2000 would have sold out either, even with dealer sales. You're assuming demand would be the same as it is right now even with a larger production run, which really isn't how it works - so much of this particular situation is fueled by exclusivity and blind desire. Maybe a production tun of 1250-1500 would have given them a good sell through rate at Botcon, but with a little bit extra to post on the site after the show for general consumption.

Putting that aside for a second... I want to play devil's advocate here. Why do you feel entitled to this Botcon (and RORC) exclusive figure?

As I've said, every other "centerpiece" they've had they produced in twice the numbers they did with this one. And they sold out at the show nearly every year. I see no reason why they'd undercut this figure other than to create an artificial scarcity.

And I'm not saying I'm entitled to it. I went to BotCon. I got my Megatron. I'm advocating on behalf of all the fans who didn't get a chance to get one and are forced to to pay upwards of $1000(CAD) on ebay.

Flashwave wrote:Let me ask a related question, how is this the most desired box on figure this year? How is this the figures that people have been asking for for a decade? And I realized megatronus, that you're probably not the person to be directing this question asked since you're not the one who stayed in it comma I'm just jumping in on the end. a pretty deco but how does this mold fit the BW Megatron? Or vice versa. I don't see the attraction.

I didn't say this box set was the most desired or have been asking for for over a decade. Just this Megatron. If you know anything about the history about this figure, you know it was a cancelled 3H BotCon idea. An idea people wanted so much that a number of people have done their own customs of prior to 2016. The other big cancelled 3H design, Hot Spot/Defensor out of Car Robots Fire Convoy, would probably have done well this year too since it also a RiD anniversary. But not nearly as well since CW has filled the void for any kind of Hot Spot/Defensor love and Titanium Hot Zone has already kind of done this homage.

As to why/where this fits. It's a better looking, if not screen accurate, TM2 Megatron than the actual TM2 Megatron. And it probably fits as a part of the post-BM/Universe 1.0 continuity. A revived Megatron who closer fits what was originally envisioned as BM Megatron's final body before they had to settle for reusing Optimal Optimus's.

Sadly, got this:

Hi there,

many thanks for your mail. These items are only available through attendance to the Roll Out Roll Call show, giving fans in Europe an opportunity to procure these great items. At present there is no non-attendee package available, but if that changes in due course, we'll let you know.

All the best,
Dave.

All The Cool Stuff

UltraPrimal wrote:

megatronus wrote:There's no way 4000 would have sold out, and it's unlikely 2000 would have sold out either, even with dealer sales. You're assuming demand would be the same as it is right now even with a larger production run, which really isn't how it works - so much of this particular situation is fueled by exclusivity and blind desire. Maybe a production tun of 1250-1500 would have given them a good sell through rate at Botcon, but with a little bit extra to post on the site after the show for general consumption.

Putting that aside for a second... I want to play devil's advocate here. Why do you feel entitled to this Botcon (and RORC) exclusive figure?

As I've said, every other "centerpiece" they've had they produced in twice the numbers they did with this one. And they sold out at the show nearly every year. I see no reason why they'd undercut this figure other than to create an artificial scarcity.

And I'm not saying I'm entitled to it. I went to BotCon. I got my Megatron. I'm advocating on behalf of all the fans who didn't get a chance to get one and are forced to to pay upwards of $1000(CAD) on ebay.

Great - you went to Botcon. I'm glad. I was there too. But if you're truly advocating for fans that wanted one... well, they're not entitled to one. If they really wanted to guarantee themselves a TM3 Megatron, they should have been there on Friday. It's one thing to advocate, but you seem to be imputing the Club for the sake of imputing the Club. That's a popular thing to do these days, but advocacy without an endgame or solution isn't really advocacy. It's just complaining.

Besides, you seem to be assuming a lot of ill intent on the Club's part. You can say it was a mistake, but it literally does them zero good to undersell a popular product... it hurts their coffers too.

The last 3 years have been really bad for the box sets and souvenirs. Machine Wars? Pirates vs. Knights? Cybertron's Most Wanted? Two were total flops and the other did just OK by coasting on the back of Scorponok. The majority of the souvenirs from those years are still available - heck, I paid $10/piece for the Machine Wars souvenirs, and am waiting for the inevitable fire sale at the end of the year. The Club down-revised production numbers to avoid having to clearance even more product - I can't blame them for that. It sucks that people who want TM3 Megatron can't get him, and you can knock the Club in hindsight for the tactical error of under-producing, but to say they did so to intentionally create scarcity is silly.

UltraPrimal wrote:

Flashwave wrote:Let me ask a related question, how is this the most desired box on figure this year? How is this the figures that people have been asking for for a decade? And I realized megatronus, that you're probably not the person to be directing this question asked since you're not the one who stayed in it comma I'm just jumping in on the end. a pretty deco but how does this mold fit the BW Megatron? Or vice versa. I don't see the attraction.

I didn't say this box set was the most desired or have been asking for for over a decade. Just this Megatron. If you know anything about the history about this figure, you know it was a cancelled 3H BotCon idea. An idea people wanted so much that a number of people have done their own customs of prior to 2016. The other big cancelled 3H design, Hot Spot/Defensor out of Car Robots Fire Convoy, would probably have done well this year too since it also a RiD anniversary. But not nearly as well since CW has filled the void for any kind of Hot Spot/Defensor love and Titanium Hot Zone has already kind of done this homage.

As to why/where this fits. It's a better looking, if not screen accurate, TM2 Megatron than the actual TM2 Megatron. And it probably fits as a part of the post-BM/Universe 1.0 continuity. A revived Megatron who closer fits what was originally envisioned as BM Megatron's final body before they had to settle for reusing Optimal Optimus's.

That shoulda said "Botcon, not Box on." what I get for writing before bed.

Anyway, that makes more sense. I was not aware of the 3H connection. That does add some serious weight to the figure. And ges, I probably woulda gotten Defensor had they done it, even despite Combiner Wars.

UltraPrimal wrote:And I'm not saying I'm entitled to it. I went to BotCon. I got my Megatron. I'm advocating on behalf of all the fans who didn't get a chance to get one and are forced to to pay upwards of $1000(CAD) on ebay.

As a person who was unable to acquire this, I appreciate your advocacy. I too feel it was a boneheaded decision on their part. But it was just yet another bad decision in a long list of their bad decisions.

Seeing these sold elsewhere raises my ire considerably, but I'm just letting go of it. Botcon is dead. And all the better for it at this point. I look forward to the whatever new 'Hascon' we get. Looking over the past few years, Hasbro has been much more in touch with giving fans what they want compared to what the TFCC thought we would love.

UltraPrimal wrote:

megatronus wrote:There's no way 4000 would have sold out, and it's unlikely 2000 would have sold out either, even with dealer sales. You're assuming demand would be the same as it is right now even with a larger production run, which really isn't how it works - so much of this particular situation is fueled by exclusivity and blind desire. Maybe a production tun of 1250-1500 would have given them a good sell through rate at Botcon, but with a little bit extra to post on the site after the show for general consumption.

Putting that aside for a second... I want to play devil's advocate here. Why do you feel entitled to this Botcon (and RORC) exclusive figure?

As I've said, every other "centerpiece" they've had they produced in twice the numbers they did with this one. And they sold out at the show nearly every year. I see no reason why they'd undercut this figure other than to create an artificial scarcity.

Actually, they've had quite a bit of trouble selling out of BotCon exclusives for the past several years. This fundamental fact undercuts a great deal of the rest of your argument.