Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements

Saturday, January 13th, 2018 8:09am CST

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Since the announcement of the dates for the second round of Pete's Robot Convention - June 9th and 10th this year - there has been a steady flow of news from the convention's Facebook and Twitter pages. Fellow Seibertronian Sabrblade has gone to the trouble of collating each news post from the original 'Round 2' announcement in September 2017, to the most recent reveal of a Pretender shell for Generations Gears - available as a customization-class figure for attendees to create. Other tidbits from the last few months include the creation of a new company for the convention (Night Shining, Inc.), a new name (RoboCon), and an earlier announcement of another exciting customization-class figure (Shattered Glass Swoop, using Power of the Primes Deluxe Swoop as the base and sporting a new face-sculpt exclusively for the event)!

For the full details check out Sabrblade's comprehensive summary below, and if the convention sparks your interest, you can visit their website for more info on the con and pre-registration. And as always, keep an eye on Seibertron.com for any Transformer news - past, present and future!

Sabrblade wrote:September 27, 2017 - More details about the con:
Pete’s Robot Convention is back next summer for Round 2!

Did you know that from 2005-2016 there were over 200 BotCon and Transformers Collectors' Club exclusives made? During that time samples would be produced to confirm if this was the version of the exclusive that should be put in to production. Often times there were small changes, other times pretty extensive ones. Well, if you have ever wondered what the early version of a Transformers exclusive looked like you will now not only be able to see these very rare items, but you will also have the chance to own one!

We will have an amazing display set up during the weekend showcasing pre-production and final samples for most all of the exclusives as well as offering these for sale starting Saturday at the Exhibitor Preview Night!

You don't have to wait until next June to get your first look at this incredible selection however. This weekend at the Cincinnati Toy and Collectible show we will be previewing several of the early version exclusives as well as raffling off one of the great toys to one lucky winner! Be sure to stop by and see us. You can check out all the details for the show here https://www.facebook.com/events/1726452517394704

As always, stay tuned for more updates and make sure to visit our website PetesRoboCon.com. If you haven’t already, make sure to like us here on Facebook and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/Petes_Robo_Con. Can’t wait to see everyone June 9-10 at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter!
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November 9, 2017 - An email announcement that registration for RoboCon 2018 is now open, and an announcement of the customization class:
Hello all!

Wanted to let you all know that registration for Pete’s Robot Convention 2018 is now open. Some changes for this year. The show will have a Preview Night on Saturday starting at 6:30pm and then the full show on Sunday. Also, our meet and greet will actually be at Molly Malones this year, a great Irish Pub just 3 blocks from the hotel. We will have our own private room with a cash bar. Families are welcome as this event takes place from 4pm-6pm on Saturday.

Also, we have added a custom class this year with BotCon custom class instructor Shawn Tessman tentatively scheduled to run things. We are planning something very cool for the class! You can add that and/or the Recycled Robots class to your Pre-Reg. Speaking of that, we have a new check out system which allows you add each item to your shopping cart and you can also select your shirt size at checkout. Here are the included features for the 2018 pre-reg package:

* Saturday afternoon meet & greet @ Molly Malone's. Private room w/ appetizers & cash bar. (All ages.)
* Saturday Evening Preview Event
* Exclusive Convention T-shirt
* Exclusive Convention Trading Pin
* Early access to the Exhibitor room on Sunday
* 2 Raffle Tickets - Hourly and Grand Prize
* Badge & Lanyard

(For the Kids Pre-Reg package, Free face painting and a personalized caricature is included)

You can process your registration now at PetesRoboCon.com. Also, while you are there check out our newly added show for 2018, Super Pop Trading Expo. Both shows are under the Night Shining, Inc. banner.

Looking forward to seeing you all again next June!

Best!

Pete

November 9, 2017 - The announcement of the con's new company, Night Shining, Inc.
Welcome to Night Shining, Inc.

Today we have relaunched Pete's Robot Convention website as our new Night Shining, Inc. company website. There you can find information and registration for Pete's Robot Convention and our all-new show Super Pop Trading Expo. We have also added a new checkout procedure, making it very simple to place an order as an attendee and/or as a vendor for both conventions. Registration is now open so be sure to visit NightShiningInc.com to register for Pete's Robot Convention and to check out Super Pop Trading Expo!

December 12, 2017 - Announcement details for the first custom class figure, SG Swoop:
We have added a second custom class for next years show and we have also added another figure! You will now be able to choose from either a POTP toy, a Pretender shell or you can customize BOTH! You also have the option to customize TWO of the Pretender shells.

Your options include Shattered Glass Swoop on either Saturday from 12pm-4pm or Sunday from 8am-12pm, a Pretender shell on either Saturday from 12pm-4pm or Sunday from 8am-12pm, and/or the two Pretender Shell option (two variations of the same shell) on either Saturday from 12pm-4pm or Sunday from 8am-12pm. You can sign up for both classes if you want to customize both the PotP Shattered Glass Swoop and the Pretender shell(s).

You won't want to miss out on our first year of Pete's Robot Convention custom classes and the toy(s) you will get to paint and modify!

With that, check out our custom Shattered Glass Swoop featuring a new face sculpt, available only for custom at the show on June 9-10. Visit https://nightshininginc.com/robocon to register for the weekend and add your custom class today!

December 13, 2017 - Twitter first look at SG Swoop in hand:
There might be a snow storm blowing in, but him Swoop still see everything!
Enjoy another look at the first 2018 RoboCon custom class figure, which will modify a retail PotP Swoop into his evil colors. Figure, paint, tools, and everything required for the custom will be provided.

January 11, 2018 - Announcement and details for the second custom class figure, Double Pretender Gears Gorilla Shell:
Custom Class Figure #2 - Double Pretender Gears Gorilla Shell!

Now you can have a Pretender shell to go along with your Transformers Legends Class Gears w/ Eclipse figure! At one of our two 2018 customization classes, you will be able to paint up a Transformers exclusive Double Pretender Gorilla shell to go along with everybody’s favorite grumpy Autobot!

You can customize the previously announced Shattered Glass Swoop w/ new face sculpt or the Double Pretender Gears Gorilla shell on either Saturday from 12pm-4pm or Sunday from 8am-12pm. If you want to customize both you should select the Saturday and Sunday option. We also offer a two Pretender Shell option (two variations of the same shell) on either Saturday from 12pm-4pm or Sunday from 8am-12pm.

You won't want to miss out on our first year of Pete's Robot Convention custom classes and the toy(s) you will get to paint and modify!

Visit https://nightshininginc.com/robocon to register for the weekend and add your custom class(es)* today!

* Pre-registartion or a general admission ticket is required to participate in the customizing classes.

Transformers News: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements

Credit(s): Pete's Robot Convention

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Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931294)
Posted by Lore Keeper on January 13th, 2018 @ 9:32am CST

That's a very neat surprise, two custom class figures this year! It's unfortunate that this will be the first year that the custom figures won't be considered official however. That means no tfwiki coverage.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931296)
Posted by Randomhero on January 13th, 2018 @ 9:45am CST

Sweet more crap so Peter Sinclair can stroke his still damaged ego and tell people “we were totally gonna make these figures even though Hasbro always stopped us from using current molds but we were totally gonna use them even though we didn’t know about them becuase it’s now been 2 years since botcon ended and our company went under BUT WE WOULD HAVE MADE ALL THESE! SEE HASBRO! SEE WHAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM US AND THE FANS!!”

It’s just sad.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931297)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 13th, 2018 @ 9:50am CST

Randomhero wrote:Sweet more crap so Peter Sinclair can stroke his still damaged ego and tell people “we were totally gonna make these figures even though Hasbro always stopped us from using current molds but we were totally gonna use them even though we didn’t know about them becuase it’s now been 2 years since botcon ended and our company went under BUT WE WOULD HAVE MADE ALL THESE! SEE HASBRO! SEE WHAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM US AND THE FANS!!”

It’s just sad.

Um... You do realize that they aren't getting these molds directly from Hasbro this time, right? They got these by having to buy up a bunch of them from the stores like everyone else. And there's no licensing issues to contend with this time so they're now able to use whatever current molds they can get there hands on. For BotCon, the molds had to go through all the official channels, but now there none of that anymore since it's all unofficial.

And by the time the con rolls around, Swoop will be several months old, so he's not exactly a mold that Hasbro would be worried about seeing a convention release before its retail release.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931301)
Posted by steals_your_goats on January 13th, 2018 @ 10:26am CST

Seeing that SG Swoop makes me sad that the club is gone. Sure it wasn't perfect and the prices were a bit ridiculous but it was a way to get figures out to fans that Hasbro would never do.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931308)
Posted by Evil Eye on January 13th, 2018 @ 10:48am CST

I'm still mildly aggravated about the loss of the Club, if only because the exclusives they were proposing would have been things I would have actually bought. Flip Sides, Rosanna, Energon Megatron (I still think he should have been done from Galvatron but now that I have Sky Shadow I think it works), Hot Shot...

Instead we got an early release of a retail figure and a kinda crummy looking Optimus that turns into a Chinese power bank. Goddamnit Hasbro.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931334)
Posted by Rated X on January 13th, 2018 @ 12:35pm CST

Now we know where all those 70% off funpub sets ended up. I wonder what they will do with the Megatron pretender shells? Dont be suprised if you find a bunch of legends laser primes and combat hero megatrons on ebay without their shells.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931368)
Posted by Randomhero on January 13th, 2018 @ 4:12pm CST

Sabrblade wrote:
Randomhero wrote:Sweet more crap so Peter Sinclair can stroke his still damaged ego and tell people “we were totally gonna make these figures even though Hasbro always stopped us from using current molds but we were totally gonna use them even though we didn’t know about them becuase it’s now been 2 years since botcon ended and our company went under BUT WE WOULD HAVE MADE ALL THESE! SEE HASBRO! SEE WHAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM US AND THE FANS!!”

It’s just sad.
Um... You do realize that they aren't getting these molds directly from Hasbro this time, right? They got these by having to buy up a bunch of them from the stores like everyone else. And there's no licensing issues to contend with this time so they're now able to use whatever current molds they can get there hands on. For BotCon, the molds had to go through all the official channels, but now there none of that anymore since it's all unofficial.

And by the time the con rolls around, Swoop will be several months old, so he's not exactly a mold that Hasbro would be worried about seeing a convention release before its retail release.

Of course they’re just going to buy them in stores now but before they had to go though the channels to make their exclusives and Hasbro wouldn’t allow them to use current molds for exclusives except for the final year becuase it was the final year. Multiple times they tried to use the seeker mold some years but Hasbro said no were using that mold you can’t use molds currently in production. One example is they wanted to use it the year thundercracker in generations was being released but weren’t allowed to.

What I’m talking about if the fact they’ll say “These were the figures we were going to release had Hasbro not cut our legs from under us”

No it’s the garbage so they can say “look at what we could have gotten. Look at what we could have had if we were still around” crap. It’s all BS

Oh yeah they were totally going to use the entire titans return line molds for botcon 2017. Suuuuure we were totally going to get Energon Megatron from the sky shadow mold except that sky shadow wasn’t seeing releases till June for online retailers and even later for retail chains but funpub was totally going to release a figure in that mold in April or may if botcon 2017 was to happen.

It’s all Pete Sinclair and funpub losing something and not letting go and it works! Once this stuff comes out people start cursing and throwing a fit that funpub and botcon are gone.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931373)
Posted by Hydrargyrus on January 13th, 2018 @ 4:42pm CST

I think at the very least the same type of stuff would’ve been released. And I’m sure they would have gotten to these molds eventually, in a few years time.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1931415)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 13th, 2018 @ 10:23pm CST

Randomhero wrote:What I’m talking about if the fact they’ll say “These were the figures we were going to release had Hasbro not cut our legs from under us”

Except, that's not true at all. These two custom class figures are ideas that were only recently thought of, not preexisting ideas for would-be official Fun Pub figures.

Randomhero wrote:Oh yeah they were totally going to use the entire titans return line molds for botcon 2017. Suuuuure we were totally going to get Energon Megatron from the sky shadow mold except that sky shadow wasn’t seeing releases till June for online retailers and even later for retail chains but funpub was totally going to release a figure in that mold in April or may if botcon 2017 was to happen.

I think you're grossly misunderstanding what the point behind the "BotCon 2017" painted samples on display at last year's con was. Pete never claimed to have had any insider information on the entire Titans Return line before it even existed. What was meant by "This is what we would have for BotCon 2017 had it been able to happen" was that they would have picked those Titans Return molds to use for BotCon 2017 had they known about them back at the time (and which they probably would have known since Hasbro would have had to have let them know what molds would have been available for them to use at the time), and by which point all of those molds would have been far enough along in their developments/releases that they could have been used by the time BotCon 2017 rolled around since the latest of those molds, Leader Sixshot, saw release at retail as early as November 2016, seven whole months before when BotCon 2017 would have been.

Randomhero wrote:It’s all Pete Sinclair and funpub losing something and not letting go and it works! Once this stuff comes out people start cursing and throwing a fit that funpub and botcon are gone.

You do know that Pete doesn't work for Fun Pub anymore, right? Fun Pub didn't even have anything to do with last year's con.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932242)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 18th, 2018 @ 12:50pm CST

Another news update. The following is all preliminary ideas for what was originally planned for BotCon 2016 before it was requested by Hasbro to turn it into a Combiner Wars-themed set.

The original theme would have been for the critically-acclaimed Beast Wars: Uprising series, and despite these plans being scrapped for the Combiner Wars set we ended up getting, a few of these concepts (such as Megatron, Dinobot, Blackarachnia, Jetstorm, and Rattrap) did make it into the series in the long run, even if no toys for them (minus Megatron, of course) ended up getting made.

https://twitter.com/NightShiningInc/status/953764151637237766

A preliminary BotCon 2016 souvenir concept for Undermine aka Unit-3 from the BW2 Lio Convoy mold. He was actually dropped from the final proposal, but then the proposal got changed to Combiner Wars and he was added back in using the Streetwise mold.

https://www.facebook.com/PetesRoboCon/posts/559345394409351

Check out what would have been the convention exclusives and story for BotCon 2016 before it was recommended that it be changed to Combiner Wars. Which do you prefer? Let is know in the comments. Definitely a few here that the team what worked on the sets would have still liked to have seen!

Story: War has gripped Cybertron for millions of years, the deadly stalemate threatening to wipe Cybertronian civilization from existence. Both Autobot and Decepticon, their ranks depleted, have turned to creating a new generation of fighters to carry on the conflict. These Maximals and Predacons are thus forced into a lethal battle not of their making, forced to arm themselves and continue a war that they know nothing about. As the struggle rages, groups on both sides of the battlefield realize that their true enemies stand not before them, but behind them as the oligarchy at home. A new war looms, a BEAST WARS… The uprising has begun!

Boxed Set BEAST WARS: UPRISING
• Predacon Megatron
• Predacon Dinobot
• Predacon Blackarachnia
• Predacon Terrorsaur
• Vehicon Jetstorm

Attendee Free Figure
• Predacon Scorponok

Souvenir Set One: MAXIMAL COMMAND
• Maximal Big Convoy
• Maximal Rattrap

Souvenir Set Two: MAXIMAL RESISTENCE
• Maximal Silverbolt
• Predacon Scylla

Souvenir Set Three: MAXIMAL COMMAND SECURITY FORCE
• Maximal Command Security Force

https://twitter.com/NightShiningInc/status/954022779912933380

Take a look at the ideas first planned for the BotCon 2016 exclusive action figure set:

https://m.facebook.com/PetesRoboCon/posts/559345394409351…

But first, here's a closer look at how the Maximal Security troopers' head decoes could have worked:
(Thanks to @seibertroncom for the original images)

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932244)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on January 18th, 2018 @ 1:03pm CST

The Beast Wars: Uprising set has major points in the creativity department. Some were rather straightforward (I called Dreadwing as Silverbolt, and maybe Starscream as Terrorsaur), but others like Scorponok and Big Convoy... I never would have guessed those, yet they work.

I would have tried the Robot Masters Lioconvy mold for "Undermine" instead (smaller and probably better for working out a deal), but glad to see he was still able to sneak his way in.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932257)
Posted by Counterpunch on January 18th, 2018 @ 2:13pm CST

That would have been a much stronger set.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932264)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 18th, 2018 @ 2:51pm CST

Counterpunch wrote:That would have been a much stronger set.

Alas, if only Hasbro and IDW hadn't taken over the plans for that con.

Then again, the Uprising prose stories we got after the con may have been quite different than how they turned out to be, and I'm very satisfied with how those turned out, so... I guess it's a blessing in disguise.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932268)
Posted by Lore Keeper on January 18th, 2018 @ 3:13pm CST

As much as I enjoyed the Botcon figures we got in 2016, these are amazing! The mold choices for these characters are spot on. I wish we had received that Kup mold for Scorponok instead of Scamper. He's just so much smaller than his teammates.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932269)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 18th, 2018 @ 3:16pm CST

Lore Keeper wrote:As much as I enjoyed the Botcon figures we got in 2016, these are amazing! The mold choices for these characters are spot on. I wish we had received that Kup mold for Scorponok instead of Scamper. He's just so much smaller than his teammates.

To be a little fair, he was one of the smaller Season 1 Predacons in the show, along with Waspinator, whose BotCon 2006 toy was a Basic.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932274)
Posted by Counterpunch on January 18th, 2018 @ 3:39pm CST

Sabrblade wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:That would have been a much stronger set.
Alas, if only Hasbro and IDW hadn't taken over the plans for that con.

Then again, the Uprising prose stories we got after the con may have been quite different than how they turned out to be, and I'm very satisfied with how those turned out, so... I guess it's a blessing in disguise.

I have to be honest man, I really do not like BW Uprising as a story.

It feels very raw and unpolished. The whole "Builders" thing is kind of an ugly concept.

Frankly, I always liked the Dreamwave idea that Micromaster technology was what led to the Maximal downsizing.

I realize that a lot of people put time into BWU, but to me it's one of those story paths that in a way, is too far down the rabbit hole. Like when a book series has become indecipherable to anyone who hasn't been invested for years.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932276)
Posted by Sabrblade on January 18th, 2018 @ 3:46pm CST

Counterpunch wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:That would have been a much stronger set.
Alas, if only Hasbro and IDW hadn't taken over the plans for that con.

Then again, the Uprising prose stories we got after the con may have been quite different than how they turned out to be, and I'm very satisfied with how those turned out, so... I guess it's a blessing in disguise.

I have to be honest man, I really do not like BW Uprising as a story.

It feels very raw and unpolished. The whole "Builders" thing is kind of an ugly concept.

Frankly, I always liked the Dreamwave idea that Micromaster technology was what led to the Maximal downsizing.

I realize that a lot of people put time into BWU, but to me it's one of those story paths that in a way, is too far down the rabbit hole. Like when a book series has become indecipherable to anyone who hasn't been invested for years.

Did you read the whole series or just some of it? Cuz "raw and unpolished" sound very much like the antithesis of what that series turned out to be.

And the Micromasters are very much in there as well, playing a very pivotal role in the series's world.

If I had to recommend just one story to read, it would be the origin story for Megatron called "Identity Politics". It's well written, stars familiar characters (or at least, this world's version of those characters), and is chronologically set before all other BWU stories (so it technically takes place well before the titular Grand Uprising even begins, but, that's what happens with stories set in the past).

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932300)
Posted by Lore Keeper on January 18th, 2018 @ 5:16pm CST

The more I look at these pictures, the more I feel out about them! I would sacrifice kittens to have these produced.

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932445)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 19th, 2018 @ 10:27am CST

That Big Convoy, Dinobot, Maximal security team, and Silverbolt are awesome. The dreadwind mold was a personal favorite of mine seeing as how Dreadwing was a favorite character of mine, and it works as one of my favorite Maximals too.

Big Convoy looks so cool

Re: Pete's Robot Convention 2018 - News Roundup, Customization-Class Figure Announcements (1932451)
Posted by william-james88 on January 19th, 2018 @ 10:48am CST

I dont care for most of these. That Big Covoy might look good but that mold is horrid. Same for the irohnide mold they use for scoronok (he woudl also be waaaay too small). The only thing I like is that Undermine simply because its a reuse of a great mold.

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