Everything you thought you knew will be purple.
BotCon 2008 was the Official Transformers Convention in 2008, run by Fun Publications. It was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, from April 24 to 27.
Run-up
Hype for the convention began on the BotCon website on November 27, 2007, when the entire page was replaced by a giant graphic of a mysterious trio of ominous-looking Autobots, a new logo featuring a purple BotCon logo with a matching purple Autobot symbol, and a spooky video clip featuring a backwards Transformers theme. The video clip also claimed that "this spring ... at BotCon 2008 ... everything you thought you knew ... will be ... shattered." Fans soon deduced that the convention toy set would have a "mirror universe" theme of evil Autobots.
On November 28, the page was updated with the location, date, and venue.
On January 31, 2008, registration forms went up. By February 14, demand was so high that orders for Iacon packages would no longer be taken, though those that had ordered Iacon packages up to that point would receive them. On February 29, the "Shattered Glass" set was announced to be sold out for Primus packages as well. On April 4, the free Ricochet attendee figure was announced to be sold out.
Venue
BotCon 2008 was held at the Duke Energy Center.
Merchandise
Convention-exclusive toys
- Convention box set - "Shattered Glass," a set of five toys was only available to those who registered for either the 'Primus Package' or the non-attendee 'Iacon Package.' The set also included a badge, the convention comic, bio cards, and for the first 100 registrants, an exclusive pin. This set sold out (both boxed and bagged versions) well in advance of the convention, after which the BotCon 2005 Descent into Evil set was provided as an alternative.
- ("Bad guys"):
- Optimus Prime, a redeco of Classics Optimus Prime
- Grimlock, a redeco of Classics Grimlock.
- Goldbug, a retool of Cybertron Hot Shot.
- Autobot Jazz, a retool of Cybertron Crosswise.
- (and "good guys"):
- Starscream, a redeco of Cybertron Voyager class Starscream.
- Mini-con Razorclaw, a redeco of Classics Overbite.
- Attendee-Only Bonus Toy - Ricochet, a redecoed Shattered Glass Autobot Jazz, was provided as a bonus to those who picked up their 'Primus Package' box set in person.
- At-Show Souvenir Toys
Fiction
- "Shattered Glass" comic
- "Shattered Expectations" April Fool's Day comic
- "Bee in the City" live script reading
Guests
Hasbro employees
- Aaron Archer (big kahuna)
- Steve Bono (design)
- Michael Ballog (marketing)
- Jared Jones (marketing)
- Joe Kyde (exclusives)
- Forest Lee (copywriting)
- Greg Lombardo (marketing)
- Marcelo Matere (freelance)
- Bill Rawley (design)
- Vickie Stratford (design)
- Jared Wade (design)
Voice actors
Comics and animation
Events
FunPub scheduled a large number of events to take place over the course of the convention to keep attendees entertained and informed.
Thursday
- 9:00 AM Transformers Figure Customizing Class creating Nightbeat from Timelines Nightbeat
- 9:00 AM Molding and Casting Class
- 7:45 AM-5:15 United States Air Force Museum Tour
- 6:00 PM Registration/Package Pick-Up Begins
- 8:30-9:30 Dealer Unload and Drop
- 9:00 PM Message Board/Room-to-Room Trading Info
- 10 PM Package Pick-Up/Registration Closes
- 10:00 MSTF
Friday
- 7:30AM-2 PM Dealer Set-Up
- 8:00AM-9AM Club Store open for Dealers Only
- 9:00 AM Club Store opens for all Registered Attendees
- 9:00-12:00 Contest Check in/Set-up
- 9:30 AM Late Package Pick-Up
- 9:30 AM Walk-up Late Registration
- 9:00- 9:50 Audition for Transformers Idol
- 10:00-10:50 Panel: IDW Publishing: All Hail!
- 11:00-11:50 Panel: Cartoon Network Guests
- 12:00- 12:50 Panel: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 12:00 PM Contest Judging
- 1:00-1:50 Lunch
- 2:00-5:00 Private Sales Room Experience
- 2:00-3:30 Autographs: Derrick Wyatt, Marty Isenberg
- 3:30-5:00 PM Autographs: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 5:00 PM Private Preview ends
- 7:00 Faction Feud - Battle of the Boards Game Show
- 8:30 Transformers Film Fest
- 9:30 Cartoon Network Animated Preview--featured a sneak preview screening of "Garbage In, Garbage Out".
- 10:00 PM Hasbro Transformers Team Live-action Movie DVD Commentary
Saturday
- 7:30AM Dealer Set-up
- 8:30 Walk-up Late Check In/Registration
- 8:30 SALES ROOM OPENS for Private Preview
- 9:00 Video Room open
- 9:00 "Early Bird" Admission
- Hourly Door Prize Giveaway
- 9:30-11:00 Autographs: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 10:00 General Admission
- 10:30 Hands on Demonstration: How to Draw Transformers
- 11:00-11:50 Panel: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 11:00-12:30 Autographs: Derrick Wyatt, Marty Isenberg
- Noon Hands on Demonstration: How to Draw Transformers
- 12:00-12:50 Panel: TCC Magazine and Comic Q&A
- 1:00-2:50 Panel: Hasbro Toy
- 1:30-3:00 Autographs: Derrick Wyatt,Marty Isenberg
- 3:00-3:50 Transformers Collectors’ Club Roundtable
- 3:30 Hands on Demonstration: How to Draw Transformers
- 3:00-4:30 Autographs: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 4:00-4:50 Panel: IDW Publishing: All Hail!
- 5:00 PM Show Closes
- 7:00 PM Casino Night Awards Dinner
- 9:45 PM "Bee in the City" live script reading
- 10:00 PM Auction
Sunday
- 9AM Dealer Set-up
- 9:30AM SALES ROOM & GENERAL ADMISSION OPENS
- 10AM Video Room opens
- 10:00-11:50 Panel:Animated Hasbro Cartoon Network--included a sneak preview screening of "Black Friday".
- 10:00-11:30 Autographs: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 10:30 Hands on Demonstration: How to Draw Transformers
- 11:30-1:00 Autographs: Derrick Wyatt,Marty Isenberg
- 1:00-2:30 Autographs: David Kaye, Tara Strong, Bumper Robinson
- 1:00-1:50 Panel: Hasbro Designers
- 2:00-2:50 Hands on Demonstration: How to Draw Transformers
- 3:00 Draw for Trips to 2009 Convention
- 3:30 PM ALL EXHIBITS & SALES ROOM CLOSE
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