Best TF Convention? TFCon vs BotCon vs Auto Assembly

Discussion in 'Transformers Conventions and Get Togethers' started by primushatesyou, Jan 31, 2015.

  1. primushatesyou

    primushatesyou Crusadercon

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    I'd really love to know what you guys think is the best TF Convention! I've only been to one, BotCon 2014, so for people who have gone, what do you think is the best? Experiences? Which usually has more (and 'better') guests?
    I believe both Tfcon and Auto Assembly have 3rd party panels, something botcon lacks, correct? What are other differences between them?
     
  2. Hollywood Hoist

    Hollywood Hoist Well-Known Member

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    Botcon has a Hasbro presence which I believe TFcon lacks and possibly Auto-Assembly. I've only been to Botcon so I can't say which is better, but I can say I've enjoyed myself every time I've gone to Botcon. From what I've heard about TFcon and AA, they are both very enjoyable as well. Each show will have it's pros and cons so it really comes down to which one is your friends at and what activities interest you the most.
     
  3. Jacer

    Jacer Find Kill Cleanse Moderator News Staff

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    Moving to Conventions and get togethers...

    I've Only been to Botcon 2014. I really enjoyed it. I would like to attend the 3 before making a solid choice. TFCon is more fan oriented. People who do Botcon and TFCon say they prefer TFCon because its more directed to collectors and has a large third party presence.
     
  4. The Swordsman

    The Swordsman The REAL hero of Hyrule

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    I've only been to Auto Assembly, because it's UK based and I don't make enough money to afford a trip to America for BotCon or TFCon. Going to BotCon is on my bucket list though.

    Auto Assembly is usually a really good convention, though I don't like their current venue (the Birmingham Hilton Metropole hotel) because it's in quite a remote location far out from the centre of Birmingham and their prices for food, Wi-Fi etc. are quite high. I remember when I first started going in 2011, the venue back then was in the middle of the city, a ten minute walk away from the train station, five minutes away from Subway so you didn't have to pay ridiculous prices for the hotel's food and twenty seconds away from an awesome comic shop. Those were the days.....

    While Auto Assembly has no Hasbro presence, the special guests they get are usually awesome. Simon Furman, Nick Roche and James Roberts attend regularly, and in the years I've been going they've had David Kaye, Greg Berger, Michael Bell, Townsend Coleman, Neil Kaplan, Dan Gilvezan, Steve Blum, Peter Spellos and David Sobolov as guest voice actors, with Sumalee Montano and James Horan coming this year. It's also significantly smaller than BotCon or TFCon, so I imagine there's probably a greater sense of community and fellowship than there would be at a larger convention.
     
  5. allew

    allew Well-Known Member

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    Having only been to the Pasadena Botcon's I can't comment on all three but from what I've read online TFCON has more of a third party presence with panels and upcoming reveals from most of the companies, along with exclusive 3rd party repaints.

    Botcon being officially sanctioned has a great Hasbro showing of course with designers present and their panel is always a crowd pleaser. With so many exclusive convention toys (boxset, freebie, attendees, custom class) there's bound to be something to please any collector. I've also had a great time at their special events (party at Paramount studios in 09, ROTF preview in 2011, unlimited access to Universal Studios in 2014).
     
  6. Sol Fury

    Sol Fury The British Butcher Veteran

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    The three conventions all have their own good and bad points, really.

    Botcon - it's the official one, it has official Hasbro backing so you get to see a lot of what is in the pipeline and you get official redecos / remolds of many characters as exclusives. A huge quantity of exclusives, in fact, though you may or may not consider this to be a good point - the QC is notably a bit bad in a few cases. The size means you'll meet plenty of people, but equally, it means it feels a bit less personal.

    TFcon - the biggest fan-run convention, I've heard a lot of people call it what Botcon used to be like in the earlier days when the Hartmans were running the show. It's a much more fan-oriented experience, with a lot of the good that you see at Botcon, but it does lack the official backing, so no Hasbro panel any more (they used to have one years back) and also while they offer exclusives, they are third party figures rather than official Hasbro ones. That said, the exclusives tend to be very creative and are often new characters with their own unique backstories. Also, there is a pool with waterslides.

    Auto Assembly is the smallest of the three, so it's the most intimate gathering. It's always worked out of one hall - so unlike Botcon and TFcon where there is a separate panel room, the panels take place at one end of the large hall, and the dealer area is at the other end. As the smallest, and being UK based, you get different dealers to Botcon - UK guys like All the Cool Stuff, Kapow, In Demand Toys and The Spacebridge all come out there. Probably the best nightlife of the shows, in my experience. Also they have a hottub. I've not partaken of it, but most of the UK crew who did Botcon 2011 did!


    Of the three, I'd say TFcon is probably the best. But it really depends in what you want from a TF show.


    Don't forget there's a wealth of smaller Transformers fan meets out there too - they're worth checking out too. Great way to meet fellow fans and make some new friends.