TFWe Volume 2.0 - Details, and a New Commentary Released

I agree on all of that. at the pic

I hope this is the begining of NotCOn because Botcon just seems to be like you said, a share holders meeting.

Agreed on all points, especially in regards to Pete. That guy can take a beating, but kept wading in regardless. There is a lot I dislike about FunPub's business practices, especially of late, but Pete is an okay guy in my book.

Like you, I understand the "all or nothing" approach that Hasbro is taking against 3rd party product and Artist Alley is an unfortunate bystander. My biggest issue is with the timing of it all. They announced the 3rd party product ban (albeit without much clarification at the time) right from the start, yet they waited until less than a month before the convention to inform the artists (that have already long since paid the reservation for their tables) that they wouldn't be able to sell their work as they have in the past.

very well written. I approve this article. and that pic is epic for the lulz

Very well written article. I couldn't agree more on all of the highlighted points. I'm looking forward to TFWe coming back!

<aol> Me Too!</aol>
Seriously, such a good article. I would love to see a follow-up in a few months if/when you are able to talk to FunPub and maybe Hasbro and get their take on all this. I think much of the criticism is simply made without knowledge of what is really happening.

Thank you for that Kickback. Well written and sums up everything nicely. I too hope that the artist alley will come back next year. I love seeing everyone and what they create.

but to make anouther point. It's okay to show off your art/plushies/etc., you just can't sell them at the Con correct? I know thats walking a thin line, I'm just trying to understand it correctly.

Thanks.

EDIT: I too would like to thank Pete. Really, the whole FunPub team, but Pete's been the one with his neck out, and it's been a easy target for some. I don't think anyone should have to take all the nerd rage.

Excellent article, well written and sums up the situation nicely. I do believe the fan art ban might have something to do with the licensed comic artists from IDW being there who shouldn't have to compete with fan art to sell the work.

No, many of the criticisms of Funpub stem from how poorly they've handled the credit card fiasco, the 3rd party and Artist Alley ban, and every other thing they've screwed up this year.

And honestly, they deserve all the flack they get.

"All about the Pentiums" reference? If so, I fully approve

I also concur w/ what you've said Kickback. It seems as though including a "1 day limited license" into the cost of a table in the artist alley would be a real easy way to get around allowing artists to draw TF stuff at the con.

Very well writen, summing up the problems on all the differing sides without the mud-slinging and petty bickering that most (if not all) sides of this fiasco have been guilty of to a greater or lesser degree.

Hope the next few will get on track with happier topics.

I agree about Pete. He was great to deal with and I've said it many times I would not have wanted to be in his shoes... I would have been crying in the corner the first day.

I've worked for several years with a few anime cons and I understand the 3rd party issue. This is their con and they have the right to ban and allow whatever they wish. I'm also a graphic designer and I know that I don't want my work used for someone else to make a profit on. The business side of me agrees. The fan side of me just wants to facepalm though because for the most part the 3rd party toys are filling in on things Hasbro and Takara have not done that collectors want.

It's a really tough situation that leaves no one happy at the moment.

No one is trying to justify what happened regarding Fun Pub and their handling of the credit card theft - but you always have to remember that sometimes you don't know there's a problem, or that security is out of date, until it's been breached. I'm not excusing the problem - in hindsight, yes, they should have been more proactive to these things as opposed to reactive - but they've paid the price and they will deal with the consequences of lost memberships.

Though knowing this fandom, we are very, VERY easy to forget (forgive not so much) ... as soon as they showcase the new items for next year I guarantee you people will risk the $40 and the possible security issues to get their hand on that piece of addicting plastic.

It's been a ROUGH year for Fun Publications - but you don't learn anything or improve anything until mistakes have been made. They see the mistakes. Now let's see what they learn from them. At the end of the day, all the calls for Hasbro to remove the license and so forth, has apparently fallen on deaf ears - Hasbro believes Fun Publications has the ability to continue to run their conventions smoothly.

If we, as fans, have serious issues and concerns then they need to be organized, well thought-out, possible solutions included, and have it submitted in an organized fashion to Fun Publications. Twenty people whining on a message board isn't going to translate and in all honesty shouldn't - it's an incredibly small amount of your member-base and making decisions to appease the 20 most vocal can end up hurting the vast silent majority.

Example - there's a lot of us who are pissed off about the "Golden Ticket" idea. But what happened? They sold out of their "Golden Ticket" packages. So in their mindset, and rightfully so, it was a popular decision and they will probably try to expand on it for the next convention. I personally, as a fan and collector who cannot afford such a thing, do not like it ... but from a business stand-point, it's pure profit and they sold through them all. Victory to Fun Publications on this one, and until people stop supporting decisions that some of us do not like, it will never change.

Excellent article, Kickback. Nice summation of the salient points for the 3 major issues relating to TFCC, & BotCon.

I just feel for the artists that went ahead & bought their airfare given the then official statement that Fan Art was ok - only to find out at <30days that nope, you're screwed.

None of the ladies I know who make plushies, hats, jewelry, etc crank out more than a handful or so of a given item, and usually not that much when not stockpiling for BotCon. What prices they charge are largely for time taken to make a few pieces.

I think Cally's box of Puggleformers is the most of an item I've seen - and no telling when she started making them for this year's show.

Sorry, what "golden ticket" idea are you talking about?

The Golden Ticket is a $300 upcharge onto a Primus package that increases the first day rights to buy the exclusives x3, plus gets a special pin and front row seating to some panels and casino night vouchers.

Now does it make me nervous about getting my exclusives the first day? Yes, but I hope they have thought far enough ahead to make sure they have more than enough with this deal being added this year.

i agree with this article a lot as well... nice little read... reminds me that i need to finish reading the other TFWe issues...

Hasbro has since retracted their stance on the Fan Art. Victory to the fans on this one.

After all of that, if they're seriously going this route, then they better start with iGear.

iGear and CHMS seem like the BIG offenders to me. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not just the first, but the ONLY ones to go down.