BotCon 2015 Pre-Registration Saga: The Opening, Part N

Sabrblade wrote:

Sustain wrote:I don't think it's up to Funpub. They're using Eventman, and you'd have to be in with Eventman.

Eventman.com is owned by Brian Savage, and is the same domain through which all of the online registrations of prior years have been done.

So... yeah.

Bingo! And as stated, many programmers have offered to help for years... insanity by definition is doing the same thing expecting a different outcome. Only FunPub can be blamed. You go with cheap, you get dodgy results... I mean that's business 101

SilentScream wrote:Clicking Non-Attending for registration appears to not be working altogether. It just sends me back to the start over and over again. I've been at it on and off since I got the most recent e-mail from Brian @ FunPub saying registration is up.

I can go through the whole process as an attending package but no dice with non-attending.

I sent them an e-mail about it.

Has anyone else tried? Attending Botcon since 2002 (minus 2010 and this year), I know it has its problems over the last decade for sure, no rose tinted glasses for me...but unfortunately Botcon is starting to lose a bit of its charm.

Non-attending is not open yet.

Registration is down again as they're having issues with the credit cards... so anybody who waited for tonight after work will need to wait until tomorrow... again. You also can't get the first day pin anymore, either

My friend eventually did get in tonight after a lot of trying so you should try again

Delicon wrote:My friend eventually did get in tonight after a lot of trying so you should try again

It was down for a couple hours but is back up now. They originally said the morning.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=981859518521174&id=247519665288500

Looks like I'm going AND I'm getting the customization class fully-assembled toy, too. I get why people are upset at Funpub, but like CounterPunch says, this happens every year. In some ways, it's part of the experience.

This just in from BotCon headquarters: registration for non-attendees is now open! Head over to the official website to register for your bits and bots to be sent to you at home, if you cannot make it to the event in person. More information provided below and on the site - read on.

Hello Everyone!

Non-Attending registration is now open. There is a limited number of non-attending sets available. When we run out, at a later date we will load the leftover attending sets (if available) into non-attending as we must keep those in stock for fans that want to travel to the event.

So, if you don't get a non-attending set now, we will let you know in the future when (if any) additional sets become available.

These sets will ship 3-4 weeks after the staff returns from BotCon. Also, note that the Priority Mail number of days listed in the shipping section is the service the Post Office offers and not a guarantee that the items will come in that number of days. All Priority Mail is a 2-5 day service and can actually take longer than that.

Please go to BotCon.com and click the registration button.

Thanks for your support!

Brian

Just tried to register as non-attending. The site is currently "down for maintenance." Seriously, what's going on this year?

Registered. Attending Primus package and assembled class figure.

Sabrblade wrote:Registered. Attending Primus package and assembled class figure.

Sabre, when did you register? I just checked again and I got the same maintenance error message.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Registered. Attending Primus package and assembled class figure.

Sabre, when did you register? I just checked again and I got the same maintenance error message.

Earlier this afternoon. Maybe two hours ago or so. Only recently had a chance to post about my registering.

Sabrblade wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Registered. Attending Primus package and assembled class figure.

Sabre, when did you register? I just checked again and I got the same maintenance error message.

Earlier this afternoon. Maybe two hours ago or so. Only recently had a chance to post about my registering.

That makes sense. Registration is still down as I write this reply.

IT'S BACK UP!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!

Yay! I was finally able to register for an Iacon package. It's a shame I won't be able to accommodate actually coming to BotCon this time. I was very tempted, what with Chicago being within reasonable driving distance of Minnesota, but having to change jobs unexpectedly put a real pinch on my time off.

Just don't get why every year, things get done later.

Would think revealing the Box set toys and registration as early as possibly. Would help increase more sales.

Think things get done later. To give buyers less time deciding if they like the toys or not. Probably to have less complaints online, As their is less time to complain.

Still don't understand what the big fuss is all about. with spending those insanely high TFCC prices on repaints with maybe a new head.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Just don't get why every year, things get done later.

Would think revealing the Box set toys and registration as early as possibly. Would help increase more sales.

Think things get done later. To give buyers less time deciding if they like the toys or not. Probably to have less complaints online, As their is less time to complain.

Still don't understand what the big fuss is all about. with spending those insanely high TFCC prices on repaints with maybe a new head.

Because they're limited to under 2,000 units and sometimes they're figures that should have seen a retail release.

Seibertronian podcaster xRotorstormx has pointed towards the official BotCon 2015 Twitter account, which reports on the schedule for the event as finally being live! You can find the whole document, detailing the programme from Wednesday 17th June to Sunday 21st (including pick-ups), over here, or mirrored as images below for your convenience. Will you be attending? Any highlights for you? Let us know in the Energon Pub!

I'll definitely be going to every panel except the cosplay one and maybe the art one.

I'm a little saddened to see no MSTF this year, though.

I have a hunch that "The Return of Blurr" might be an Animated-based script reading showing Blurr getting brought back after Shockwave tried to crush him to death (the 2011 comic revealed that Cliffjumper had somehow gotten his cube back from the incinerator).

Sabrblade wrote:I'll definitely be going to every panel except the cosplay one and maybe the art one.

I'm a little saddened to see no MSTF this year, though.

I have a hunch that "The Return of Blurr" might be an Animated-based script reading showing Blurr getting brought back after Shockwave tried to crush him to death (the 2011 comic revealed that Cliffjumper had somehow gotten his cube back from the incinerator).

There was confirmation of a Marty Isenberg Animated script, which ties into Animated stuff. So yes, probably!

Is Botcon in the same place every year? And how hard is it to get tickets to Botcon? Is it like with San Diego Comic Con where you need to buy like 3 years in advance? I live in Canada so it would probably be a decent sized road trip to a plane trip for me but I've always wanted to attend a Botcon.

Wheeljack808 wrote:Is Botcon in the same place every year? And how hard is it to get tickets to Botcon? Is it like with San Diego Comic Con where you need to buy like 3 years in advance? I live in Canada so it would probably be a decent sized road trip to a plane trip for me but I've always wanted to attend a Botcon.

No, it moves around the country every year. I haven't attended in 8 years because I couldn't afford to travel, but now it's within driving distance for me. You can only register to go each year when registration opens up, so, no, you can't buy in advance. If you can't register online for a package, you should still be able to do a walk-in right at the con for a day.

First of all, are there going to be celebrations for 15 years of Seibertron.com? That's older than some of our board members here.

Second, looks like trivia is gone. That's too bad - an event like that has potential.

If there is a 15th celebration, I will be sad not to attend.

Surely you can find another kind Seibertronian to smuggle you on board a plane in a suitcase, though I hear it gets a bit nippy down in luggage.

Nothing a parka can't fix!

Anyone flying from the UK..?

I have a few friends who are

Wheeljack808 wrote:Is Botcon in the same place every year? And how hard is it to get tickets to Botcon? Is it like with San Diego Comic Con where you need to buy like 3 years in advance? I live in Canada so it would probably be a decent sized road trip to a plane trip for me but I've always wanted to attend a Botcon.

You inadvertantly made me spew coffee through my nose.

No you don't have to buy tickets three years in advance. In fact, given the problems the club has with registration, it's more like three minutes in advance. Of course the lines would be long so you'd be looking at the Tuesday after the Con. But you'd be there!

(Seriously, how can one not make these jokes. Less than a month before the Con is really kind of ridiculous...)

Kidding aside, it depends where you are in Canada (hello, neighbour!) I'm flying down from Ottawa myself but it would be about 10 hours to Chicago. Obviously Los Angeles (Botcon 2014) was a greater distance but the airfare was only CDN$600. So it depends on your proximity to a major airport.

And you should just go. Don't think about it. If you do the thinking with your head and the math it will never make sense. If you go with your heart, it all comes together. Provided registration opens in time...

Best

Here is a new update for BotCon registrations and some Frank Welker news for those looking at Protoform or Mini-con packages. There are now more non-attending packages available thanks to some shuffling as well as additional loose sets.

Frank Welker VIP passes for Friday are being open to Protoform and Mini-Con packages too. Registration closes this Friday at 5 pm central time.

BotCon wrote:Hello Everyone!

We have shuffled around the inventory for attending and non-attending packages. There is now more stock for non-attending (Iacon) packages and additional loose sets.

We also have a few Frank Welker VIP passes available for Friday and we are opening these passes to Mini-Con and Protoform packages as well. If you want to add this to your registration, you will need to call the office at 817-448-9863 between now and noon Friday. These are on a first come, first served basis.

If you have not registered, these are still available through the online system for Golden Ticket and Primus packages. Primus and Golden Ticket packages can also have the Frank Welker VIP pass added to your existing registration by calling.

If you still need to do your initial registration, please use the link at BotCon.com and do it from a computer not running IE. We have seen issues with mobile registrations and IE browsers. If you need to add something to your registration, you will need to contact the office.

Registration closes on Friday at 5 pm Central Time.

See you in St. Charles!

Brian

Looks like they are underperforming this year... prepare for CA next year, then

Or Orlando. It did well also.

I think three factors are at play.

First, the registration fiasco must be playing havok with their numbers. Going live less than a month to go before the event doesn't give you anytime to mull over attending, and represents an immediate financial hit so very close to the event itself. And there are still a lot of people who book the event before making other arrangement, given that there is at least one GIJoe convention in the past which had to change dates very last minute. Who wants to be stuck holding the bill for a flight that is no longer the right date?

Second, the price is probably giving some people sticker shock. $409 (plus $7 "processing" charge) is a lot to swallow. I'm sure it is impacting Canadians whose dollar is no longer at par - for us, the Primus package is more than CDN$500. And the non-figure alterative is close to $200 on its own.

Third, the location is giving people grief. Shuttle service to the resort seems to be particularly awkward and it's not like there are any hotel rooms left to be had anyway. Because of the resort's isolation, folks are looking at a longish commute from alternate accomodations, driving up costs and making logistics harder.

Let me put it like this. You're a fan. You've been waiting for months for this Con. You were initially excited about Chicago but the excitement waned a bit when you realized how far from Chicago it was. Your enthusiasm perked again when you saw two words - FRANK WELKER - and increased as you saw at least one or two reveals that really wowed you. But then you saw the price for Welker and looked underwhelming at some of the other offerings, and went back to being on the fence. Hotel rooms are booked solid but maybe you have an option to bunk with 2 or 3 or 4 other fans, so you are just waiting on registration. And waiting. And, oh my god it is up and you are excited... and then it crashes... and does so again... and again...

And maybe you just shrug your shoulders after that rollercoaster and figure you'll go to TFCon who's registration for a Fall event is already up and ready to go.

Tranzilla wrote:Or Orlando. It did well also.

Oh, YES please? Bring it back to Orlando! The have a TF Ride now at Universal Studios, so there's that to attract to the BotCon goers.

The east coast is too often ignored by BotCon in recent years.

fairplaythings wrote:And maybe you just shrug your shoulders after that rollercoaster and figure you'll go to TFCon who's registration for a Fall event is already up and ready to go.

Several of my friends have followed this scenario right here to the tee, seriously.

Sabrblade wrote:

Tranzilla wrote:Or Orlando. It did well also.

Oh, YES please? Bring it back to Orlando! The have a TF Ride now at Universal Studios, so there's that to attract to the BotCon goers.

The east coast is to often ignored by BotCon in recent years.

And the entire Mid-West

The Cybertron's Most Wanted set if for preorder at TFsourse.
http://tfsource.com/botcon2015/boxed-set/

With one day left to register for BotCon 2015, we want to make sure that all interested parties are fully aware of what awaits at the St Charles event this July! We have rounded up some further pieces from official BotCon information that may have slipped the net below, plus a small showcase of the Artist Alley present at the convention. Once you've feasted you eyes, head here to register!

Also, for those attending as General Admission, we are happy to announce that the first 100 kids (12 and under) will receive a FREE deluxe Transformers toy with their paid admission.

For those planning on attending as a registered attendee, please note that registration ends this Friday. So if you have not signed up for an attending package make sure to do that today!

Va'al wrote:With one day left to register for BotCon 2015, we want to make sure that all interested parties are fully aware of what awaits at the St Charles event this July! We have rounded up some further pieces from official BotCon information that may have slipped the net below, plus a small showcase of the Artist Alley present at the convention. Once you've feasted you eyes, head here to register!

July?! Was there a delay?

I love that this guy's first post is to ask about a typo. Welcome to Seibertron! Botcon is still in June.

Fellow Seibertronian and podcaster xRotorstormx has been keeping her optics on BotCon 2015 updates - and has notified us the Facebook update from BotCon HQ, concerning the Saturday evening festivities, which are now to include the Hall of Fame announcements along with the Awards Dinner and Auction. Read on below for more, and head here to register until 5pm Central today!

Also included below is an email from the organisers, concerning the Welker and Non-Attending packages, attempting to smooth out some further wrinkles in the online system.

We are excited to announce that at the BotCon 2015 Saturday Night Awards Dinner and Auction, the Transformers 2015 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will also be included in the nights festivities. Fans at BotCon will be first to see which character, combiner and musical act will be added to the Transformers Hall of Fame. And as a VERY special treat, Hasbro will also be inducting a human to the Hall of Fame for 2015. This legendary actor has been part of the Transformers brand since the very start. You will NOT want to miss this event! To register for BotCon 2015, please be sure to do that here: http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2015/bc15register.cfm

Today is the last day for BotCon registration for ATTENDING packages.

Registration closes at 5 pm Central Time.

If you need an ATTENDING package and you are still getting non-member pricing (limited number of accounts), go ahead and process your package and send us an email so we know to process a credit. The credits won't be processed until next week.

Some of our NON-ATTENDING members are also having an issue getting the member pricing. For you, after we close ATTENDING registration today, we will move the NON-ATTENDING packages to the club store. If you are getting non-member pricing and need a NON-ATTENDING package, check the Club store tomorrow and you can order the NON-ATTENDING sets there.

PLEASE note that the store has no way to limit the loose sets to a 1:1 (must purchase box set to get loose set), but every order will be reviewed by admin for compliance.

All remaining T-shirts, assembled unpainted class figures and hats will go to the show. If there are any left, we will put them in the store after BotCon.

Thank you for all of your support and patience as we have worked through these issues.

See you in St. Charles!

GEE, I wonder WHO the human inductee could be?!!

You know, I bet it's Michael Bell. A surprise, unannounced appearance from Michael Bell. That's why they got him to voice High Tide in Rescue Bots, so that he could make a comeback to the brand just in time to receive this honor. It all makes sense now.

Mmhmm, it's totally Michael Bell. I can't think of anyone else who'd possibly receive such an honor at the event. I wonder if Frank Welker would get to shake Bell's hand as he heads up to the stage.

In fact, Welker should host the event. They should totally have Frank Welker host the Hall of Fame event, just so he can personally hand Michael Bell the Hall of Fame trophy once Bell makes his surprise, unannounced appearance and comes up onto stage to give his victory speech. Wouldn't that be a sight to behold.

I mean, why else would they go to such trouble to get Frank Welker to come to this year's BotCon? Surely it's so that Frank Welker could host the Hall of Fame event and present the secretly-invited Michael Bell with a Hall of Fame trophy. It will truly be a moment of beauty and emotion.

*smacks chest* Gets me right here just thinking of it. *wipes tear from his eye*

If you are still in need of a room for BotCon this year, you might still have some luck. BotCon tweeted that the convention hotel which is the Pheasant Run Resort has added a limited number of room nights. Hurry up to book your room and remember that registration ends today at 5 pm Central time.

Transformers: BotCon ‏@BotCon 1h1 hour ago

Still need a room? Pheasant Run has just opened up a limited number of room nights. Book now! #botCon2015 http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2015/bc15hotel.cfm …

AKA: People are canceling their reservations

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:AKA: People are canceling their reservations

I don't blame them. The yelp reviews are pretty bad. XD

reluttr wrote:

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:AKA: People are canceling their reservations

I don't blame them. The yelp reviews are pretty bad. XD

Not surprising after the sh*thole they put us in in 2013

Actually. No. We were able to release a few rooms we had for staff and licensing partners as we don't always need as many as we put aside.

Pete@BotCon wrote:Actually. No. We were able to release a few rooms we had for staff and licensing partners as we don't always need as many as we put aside.

People are also canceling their reservations, so actually yes.

Pete@BotCon wrote:Actually. No. We were able to release a few rooms we had for staff and licensing partners as we don't always need as many as we put aside.

Pete, do you know when we could see the rest of the exclusives?