That is true, Joe con is in a couple weeks. They could be in Joecon mode, which means we will not really hear too much from FP until about a week after Joecon.

 

Acknowledging that Universal is a good ways from San Diego (roughly 3 hours), I could easily make a case that it's more than a little appropriate for a Transformers group to undertake such a jaunt. After all, they've got the Transformers ride there! (And you can pick up an exclusive Evac while there!)

 

Even if so, the lack of publicity attention from FunPub at this crucial time is problematic. Lack of hype cannot help but hurt sales.

 

I think this might be the case of "Maybe we should reveal the Free Incentive figure, to drum up hype/sales" or, "Show the custom class figure that you can purchase with the Primus package, to drum up hyp/sales".

Might work

 

Unless they're both of the same quality as what's in the box set =P

 

I do agree that further figure reveals constitute a risk. I think guest appearance reveals would suffice for "hype" for the moment.

 

Yeah, Guest reveals, box art, comic cover.... those types of hype should happen before the "Panic reveals" happen.

 

OMG let them show us SOMETHING !!!!

 

I should note that this tweet did show up today on BotCon's feed...

I thought this had already been revealed, but folks are treating it like it's news on other boards.

 

Yeah, I thought for sure it was a known thing, I think we're just so bored that we used it as a talking point for the hell of it (and to give the artist some support).

 

Does anyone know if there is a thread for people offering to get the box set for people? I did this for people in previous years when there was a TFCC forum. I have one available spot if anyone is interested.

 

No, but you could probably try the wanted section. I've seen people post threads for botcon stuff.

 

Hmm i just checked this thread for the first time in a few days. I was surprised to hear that the box sets are not yet sold out. I went to the botcon site to check and it does appear that there are still sets available. The only other time i went went to botcon was in pasadena, when tf animated was the theme, and i remember the set selling out quickly. I guess this year's set may not be as popular? We'll see. I am hoping the set will still prove popular but i wonder where the sales are at right now? Maybe funpub will step in and say something at some point to let us know whre things are at. I am still excited for the show.

 

The animated one was the only one to ever sell out that fast.

Apart from that set I dont think any ever sold out in less than a month.

FP generally love to update us when they are selling fast.

That doesnt mean silence means the things arent selling just that they aren't flying off the metaphorical shelf. But the last tweet was only 35% so I doubt they are anywhere near sold out. I wondering if they have even hit 50% as I think we've gotten that update for every set and club exclusive for the last few years.

 

I think 2007 Classics set sold out really fast as well, under a month. I might be wrong, G B BLackrock has a handy stats web page to correct me if I am.

I too am wondering where we are at on how things are selling. One would hope to be at 50% by now. But silence is not something that should be happening. They need to drum up excitement.

Releasing the name of Josh, who is doing the comic was a good start. The fandom has responded well to that announcement. Will it translate into sales? I am not sure, because you can technically get the comic outside of the con.

If sales do not pick up, I expect them to reveal some of the At Con exclusives, like the freebie of the set, or even the custom class figure. This will pique peoples attention if the figures are exciting enough. The people that are on the fence or decided to 'opt out' might be more inclined to buy a Primus package when they see what they are missing out on.

That should happen only after all the guests have been announced, box art revealed, comic cover revealed.

The alternative is a very slow Botcon, which will cause FP/Pete to rethink some of their upcoming ideas and maybe bring some new blood onto the council (if there is still a council, I really do not know anymore) to generate some new ideas. One of the major criticisms FP has gotten fairly recently is that some of their ideas are tired, boring and need some excitement. Personally I think one of the reasons they have been resistant to those criticisms is because no matter what they have made, it always sells out. This might be the year where that does not hold true.

All that being said, this will be my 16th consecutive Botcon and I plan to continue to support the hobby I have grown up with. I do not like to see FP/Botcon have poor sales because that hurts the convention and the fandom. But new fresh ideas, change, a kink in 'business as usual' can often birth amazing new ideas and spark a new round of great convention pieces or even Club figures..

We shall see

 

they will prob say they are almost sold out, when maybe they are not.

no one is gonna post if sales are sucking and say they are.

 

2007 was the first set to sell out, and it sold out in just a little over a month.
2008 sold out in just under a month.
2009 did not sell out until post-convention.
2010 sold out in just under a month.
2011 sold out in SIX DAYS.
2012 sold out to 85% in like a day, but didn't sell out until the convention.

 

These figures do not bode well for this years con... but like I said in my pervious post, silence is the absolute worst thing FP could be doing right now. Keep the tweets going, keep trying to drum up hype, even if the figures are lackluster in the eyes of the fans, build up the experience. Tease figures, guests, have an online poll/contest where we can guess character reveals and then reveal something at the end.

Just. Not. Silence.

just my opinion, an opinion only given because I want the con to do well.

 

It seems a long time since the convention itself put on a proper show.

Thats my problem with the convention at the moment it feels like they said heres some toys and thats it. The pre assembled figure is good, but its basically a 4th slightly overpriced add on that is being used by the custom class which is not really any different to 2008 using Nightbeat and 2009 using Thunderclash. I'm glad they stepped away from the 2010-2012 model, but its not really new.

Beyond that there are no events announced to get excited about. No guests that make me want to go. No script readings. No previews of a new cartoon. No Hall of Fame (the version before they made us pay $50 for the privilege of being patronised by Bay and given a mask and some water.)

Theres still plenty of time for all those kinds of announcements, but looking back there wasnt much in that way last year either. I had a good time because of the people there, but the convention didnt offer that much. And in the couple of years before that theres only the TFP Script reading, and the Animated Comic script reading that really stand out from 2011. 2010 had a decent HOF I guess but was mostly the location.

Edit: If the excuse we start hearing is the lack of moulds being responsible for this years set (which I would disagree with as theres some decent moulds in use) then yeah they need to get there hands on the Anmated moulds again and give us Protectorbots.

 

but theres really nothing tweet about.