Just had a conversation with my wife last night, one of my regrets is having never been able to attend a Botcon. Sure, someone out there could ask what stopped me, but the simple answer is "life."

Seeing this HasCon thing only increases my regret for having never attended a Botcon, and the hopes of a Botcon-like experience seems something which can only be considered wishful thinking at this point.

HasCon does seem more like their own personal "Toyfair" convention.

Grateful to have been able to at least obtain most Botcon exclusive toys, comics, and some merchandise. I guess now is as good time as any to say thanks Pete for the TFCC.

 

As a publicly traded company that doesn't exactly have to make money on an event like this, I find the pricing outrageous. For one day I need to pay $100 to take my son to this thing? Forget the VIP tickets.

Do they think Providence is Disney World? You don't even get to go to Hasbro. Just a convention center that is going to be filled with more Magic the Gathering players than anything else.

 

I thought I read that he was retiring from doing any more conventions as of last year.

As for ripping off Kirby and Ditko, I'd recommend Amazon.com: Marvel Comics: The Untold Story (8601300046792): Sean Howe: Books to get the full story; it's complicated.

 

Please don't say that, the tru set was difficult enough to find. That would really grind my gears.

 

Chewbacca mom? Internet personality? WT actual F? My new goal in life is to make as many dumb ass videos as I can and put them on Youtube.

 

Thats pretty disgusting.

 

Oh cool, this sounds fu-Rhode Island?

Well fuck the west coast again right?

 

They're not letting you bring things (other than Magic cards) to be autographed. That's going to be a big deal for a lot of folks.


Truly, this looks horrible.

Again?

But, yeah, I think they will.

Frankly (and realizing that this is kind of awful), I kind of HOPE they do. I want them to realize, in no uncertain terms, that killing the official Transformers-specific convention was a mistake.

Hey, as a West Coaster, I hear you. But be careful. A lot of folks truly HATE the fact that we've gotten conventions over here in the past.

Personally, I'll be more sympathetic when an unofficial Transformers convention EVER comes out here....

 

I love how the Chewbacca Mom is one of literally two mentions of Star Wars, arguably the world's biggest pop culture franchise money-maker, in this entire press release.

 

This event has missed the mark on every possible level. I'm glad I was able to attend Botcon when it was available. This is a farce cobbled together by people looking at stats rather than the heritage that made Botcon what it was.
Hiking the price an extra hundred to watch someone else play D&D or Magic?

NO.

 

Think this needed to be said again.

 

TLDR version of below: Suck it, Cosplayers!



Costume and Attire Policy

(NOTE: There will NOT be an area for checking any prohibited items, and Hasbro reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone with a prohibited item, so please review entirely before attending.)

All event attendees – including adults – may attend HASCON dressed as their favorite character, including those from TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, DISNEY, MARVEL, STAR WARS, or any of their other favorite branded characters. Attendees in costume must follow the following guidelines:

• Costumes should be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, or violent. Attendees may wear masks. However, masks must not obstruct vision, and eyes must be visible at all times.
• Attendees who dress as characters may not pretend or imply that they are official performers. They may not collect money or sign autographs as characters.
• Costumes should not drag on the ground.
• Costumes, including props, should not contain sharp objects, pointed objects, or materials that may accidentally strike another guest.
• Costumes should not contain any weapons or anything that could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
• All costumes are subject to search upon entry.
• Costumes with props must meet the Prop Policy. See Prop Policy.

Inappropriate attire includes but is not limited to:

• Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics.
• Clothing which exposes excessive proportions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment.
• Clothing with multiple layers or baggy clothing that could conceal something. All clothing is subject to search upon entry.
• NOTE: The appropriateness of costumes and attire will be determined by Hasbro at its sole discretion.
• NOTE: Attendees who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into, and/or removed from HASCON, unless their costume/clothing can be modified to meet the above standards.

Prop Policy

(NOTE: There will NOT be an area for checking any prohibited items, and Hasbro reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone with a prohibited item, so please review entirely before attending.)

No functional props or weapons are allowed at HASCON. Simulated or costume weapons may be allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security on-site and compliance with the following:

• All costume props and weapons must be inspected at the Costume Props Desk each day, located near the outside door in the Rotunda of the Rhode Island Convention Center, and near the entrance to other HASCON Sites. A different marking will be required each day.
• No actual weapons or dangerous objects are permitted.
• All costume props must conform to state and federal law.
• Projectile costume props must be rendered inoperable.
• Arrows must have their tips removed and be bundled and zip-tied to a quiver.
• Costume swords must be tied to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn.
• Costumes featuring stilts must be approved at the Costume Props Desk.
• At certain times, for example due to crowds or safety issues, people in oversized costumes may be asked to leave a HASCON Site.
• After your costume props have been checked, they will be tagged by security, and you will be given a wristband to wear to designate that your props have been checked.
• Security will escort you to the Costume Props Desk or to a security station for inspection if your costume prop is not tagged.
• If you do not want to have your costume props inspected or tagged, or if you’re not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume prop.
• No explosives or flash pots are allowed.
• Costume props must be easily distinguishable from real weapons. Any replica prop blaster, gun, or any prop built from functional or previously functional gun parts is prohibited.
• Convention security and staff reserve the right to refuse to allow any costume accessory or prop into HASCON at any time.

 

It's like the current state of Youtube, but a convention.

 

Possible. I can certainly see a lot of "Last (specific convention) appearance" ads for the big conventions. He's clearly winding this kind of thing down.

That said, I've found nothing that suggests a final appearance ever, so this must fit into that gap.

 

Geeze, I live in Providence and I'm strongly considering to pass on this one. It doesn't sound like anything worthwhile or worth the money. And they have no goddamn specifics on the guests. I am not plopping down a cent until I get more info on just what to expect from this convention.

 

HOLY F $350 for each 8 foot table? What are we selling DRUGS to pay for this? At BEST id sell 10 grand in toys, then that's just about 25% profit. So it would be 2500 profit. Put in the fact it would take 4 tables to sell that. That's 1400 that leaves you 1100 profit. Counter in hotels, travel, food, and toys u want that's like paying fucking money to go yikes!

 

I don't know what about this says, "Suck it, cosplayers". Seems like a pretty standard cosplay policy. Some parts, like keeping cosplay weapons sheathed may seem a little excessive, but I think it's more Hasbro just trying to cover their asses. For example, in the event some little kid gets their eye poked out because some ****** dressed as Deadpool was swinging swords around, Hasbro wouldn't be at fault, or at least less so, because their policy specifically forbid that and the cosplayer violated that policy and probably would have been thrown out had staff caught him.

Hasbro has emphasized that this is a family event. So if you were hoping to see someone like Jessica Nigri or Meg Turney strut around in a yellow bikini and horns and call it a Bumblebee cosplay, you're probably going to be disappointed.

Likewise, if you were planning on dressing up and want to charge for photos, get an artists booth like any "professional cosplayer" would. Just don't pretend to be an official performer.

The TL;DR for their cosplay policy should read, "Keep it safe. Keep it family friendly. Keep it safe. Don't be stupid. Keep it safe. Did we mention to keep it safe?". Unfortunately, Hasbro has to spell it out in detail because people are idiots. The fact that, "No actual weapons" and "No explosives" are in there shows how stupid people are. Because people have probably done that in the past at other conventions. Hasbro's been to BotCon, SDCC and lots of other conventions. So they know people are idiots. Don't expect to be able to walk around and pose with a G1 or MP Megatron in gun mode. Yeah, you know it's Megatron. You know it's just a toy. But is the Star Wars mom going to know? Is the MLP dad going to know? No, they're just going to know some lunatic's point a gun around at their kids.

 

Ugh totally missed that and totally sucks....thanks!

 

Sounds like a boatload of money for a lot of nothing. No product is included besides a goody bag? Nah. This is what Botcon died for? No thanks.

 

That's the artist table at $350. Dealer boots start at $1000.