I'm definitely going. Got lucky the other day and was able to nab a room at the Sheraton hotel, thank god. I'm disabled and coming from the Hilton would have been a major drain on me physically. Now I'm just waiting for registration to go up. Planning on grabbing a golden ticket this year since it's the 30th anniversary. Won't be showing up till Thursday but unless they do something super special on Wednesday, don't need to be there till then. And if they do something special on Wed, I can just drive there for the day. Only live about an hour and a half away in Riverside.

Last year was my first botcon, had a lot of fun and really can't wait for this years.

 

Hmm. I was hoping to attend Botcon next year possibly (doing TXCC instead) just to say I got the chance, but I'd rather stick to smaller things closer to home in the future if it means not wasting money on a bad experience. Can someone elaborate on this "going downhill" talk?

 

The "downhill" talk, I think is mostly due to opinion. But then some of it is fact. Prices keep going up, while character quality seems to go down. A lot more people than I would have expected were very upset by the lack of Diaclone or G1 theme. The fact that a fle-market ComiCon being held the same weekend was able to secure almost all the major G1 guests, and then some is also a sign of things going sour. The fact that the convention is 80 days away, and registration hasn't started, let alone the final two figures have yet to be revealed is also quite a downer. The convention is more commercialized, and less fan oriented (look at the money-grubbing CEO). The only incentive of being a club member is a free figure, bi-monthly comic (which should be monthly), and a Botcon discount, where it used to be all of that plus exclusive media, reveals, members-only website, and so on. Now it seems everything they put in the magazine, is released days later to the mass public.
The whole Tornado's Journal thing, IMO should be a members only luxury; as I consider it prose fiction. Most of which falls under the "commercialism" route the club and convention are taking.

 

Fast Botcon Question

I'll be going to Botcon this year as I live about an hour and a half away from Pasadena. However I plan to drive to save on hotel costs (I also attend Anime Expo and Comic-Con so conventions get expensive this time of year). So I plan to have a hotel for only one night at Botcon as only a single day has the exhibit hall and events starting at 8:00 am or so - does anyone have a reasonable idea as to which day this is so I can get a hotel room for that one night?

 

Saturday is the day that you want.

 

Saturday night or Friday night?

 

If you're an hour and a half away, and are just doing a general admission for that day, I wouldn't stay any nights. If you want to spend one in a hotel room, then it's really just up to you. BotCon only has night stuff for people who register for the Primus Package.

You could come up Friday night, hit up some parts parties in the hotel room, get up really early Saturday and get in the general admission line. Or you could drive up Saturday morning, get in line, visit the convention, then hit up some parts parties Saturday night instead - but note that a lot of them won't be open until later on Saturday, because the Primus Package holders will be at events.

 

Definitely hit up the parts parties.

 

I get the Primus package, this is just so I don't have to leave myplace at 6:30 am to drive up for the day I need to be there the eaerliest, I do attend all the days of the con however.

 

This will be my third botcon and i am super excited. I also live about a two hour drive away, but i am actually planning on staying at the official hotel for at least one night to check out the room to room trading, parts parties, etc. it sounds like fun.

 

You are in for a surprise. You never know what will happen during the room to room trading.

 

Come on brochure info and registration, where you at?!  

 

Botcon

Have any of you guys been to Botcon? If so is it worth it to go? And if you haven't would you want to? I want to go to Botcon.

 

Yeah I'd like to go someday.

 

I've attended 10 (counting OTFCCs) and been a staff member for 4. Botcon is absolutely worth attending at least once for any Transformers fan. Into toys? There's a dealer room full of them plus all the exclusives. Into the comics? Comic artists and writers are almost always present and there's the IDW panel. The cartoons your thing? Voice actors are going to be around to sign your souvenirs and sit in panels. Just want to meet other people that share your hobby? Hundreds of them will be walking the convention center. I did my first one when I was 13 and I've enjoyed every one since.

 

I agree with him, if your a fan you need to attend at least one to see what it's like in person. My first ever con was 98' and I've been to at least 13 total. Brian and his staff are all friendly and it's nice to meet up with other fans like yourself.

 

I would like to go one of these days, how much does it cost to go anyway?

 

Yeah i wish i could attend one some day.

 

? I never said anything about one being less of a fan for not going, unsure how you got that from my post. I was simply saying if your a fan you should try to attend one, it's a good experience.