The Erector mockumentary and the footage made it worth it to me, plus I was able to grab some extra End-of-show bags.

If anyone wants one, PM me. $50 each.

 

So you're saying the Erector supporters are to blame for the big price tag? Thanks a lot, jerks! (I kid, I kid.  )

It'll be interesting to see what they charge next year. If the price goes down in 2012, then we'll know that something about this year's HOF (probably Bay, but it could be plenty of stuff as Locustreign said) was uber-expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if they charged that price because they lost money on the event last year...the fancy food didn't taste that great, but it looked expensive.

I was expecting the HOF crowd to be smaller this year because of the $45 fee, but from what I could tell, the crowd was about the same size. There were empty seats in the theater, but there were empty tables at the dinner last year when it was included at no extra cost. So apparently the same number of fans want to go to the event despite the cost, unless there were just a lot of people this time banking on seeing the whole film.

 

I would like to see more votes in this poll. Also I hope Hasbro is reading this.

 

It was a good laugh, but I was glad that Hyena and I got entry as wedding presents and didn't pay for it. The Erector stuff totally made it worth going though.  

I'm pretty much decided to stop bothering to dress smart for Botcon "events". Hardly anyone else ever bothers, and despite the supposed dress code no-one ever gets told they can't get in because of their clothes. It's laughable.

Also - taking the time to look smart for things like this just lets jackasses "reserve" an entire table at the dinner for their friends who haven't even showed up yet. We ended up sitting and eating our dinner on a fucking window sill because of bullshit like that.
So if any of you did that at the Friday night dinner, don't try it again next year. If your friends aren't there yet, tough shit. They can have the window sill next year, and we're having their goddamn seats.

 

That was a $20 exp with a $45 price tag. so for myself and my Daughter we wasted $50. That's a Good Reissue!

In all it was fun, it was OK, but WAY too overpriced for what we got. Makes me think Michael Bay got an "Appearance Fee".

 

The Erector video alone was worth the entry fee IMO.  

 

I agree, next year I will dress how I please. I don't see the point of dressing up just to eat dinner on the fucking floor.

 

I did hear someone there say that the reason there weren't enough seats for everyone was that the convention centre wasn't allowed to have that many. As much as I love Pasadena, and would go back there in a heartbeat, if that is true it's just fucking stupid. The whole dinner event this year really was shoddy as hell.

 

Personally I hope they enforce it next year. Heaven and I enjoyed dressing up for the HOF. It's not all the time I get to wear my Johnny Cash Best.

 

It annoyed me a bit because I went to the trouble of packing a shirt, trousers and a pair of smart shoes on the understanding that I'd actually need them, only for people to turn up in jeans & t-shirt. If I have the opportunity to go to Botcon again, I won't repeat that mistake.

 

They should of allowed us to use the seats from the casino tables so we didnt have to sit on the floor.

 

I didn't find it worth the money AT ALL. The little videos were cute but that was about it...

cold popcorn, water, M&Ms, a bottle pop (really?), a mask that is allready marked down at my local TRU...and a bunch of advertisements...being in attendance with Peter Cullen was cool, Michael Bay was OK (I didn't mind the joking) and a bunch of "VIP"s who were of nebulous importance. This felt to me like we were paying to fund their congratulations for working on the project wrap piece and a farewell send off for Eric and Greg...sad to see them go, but I've never had to pay to be at someone's farewell party before...or to watch a bunch of people pat themselves on the back. Then the movie clips that were OK...and then got repeated in a montage...I saw very little that was worth $45 in my eyes, much less the $90 for my wife and I to attend...

It was hyped that there would be surprises and that this was something we'd kick ourselves for if we missed...there were no surprises and I did indeed kick myself in the morning.

For anyone who wants to voice more Pete is also asking for feedback on the club boards.

 

No it was NOT -- it's Hasbro's fault mostly not FunPub's

The HOF was not worth the $45 ticket. As other posters have said, I would not go to next year's HOF event unless I know exactly what I was getting.

Otherwise, I can wait for the results or basic feedback on the boards or until Sunday by talking to folks on the convention floor.

The HOF was a disappointment:
1) the snacks were minimal. For the same amount per person, Hasbro could have ordered In-and-Out burger meals for all guests ($5 each for fries, burger, and a drink)
2) no autograph or interaction session with the VIPs -- disappointing not to hear Mr. Cullen speak
3) lots of Hasbro patting on the back with little acknowledgment to the fans.
4) would have preferred the 'good-bye video' for employees to stay at their office (e.g., we don't run videos like that in public for people quitting at my place of employment)
5) I would have paid more to see Stan Bush, Vince DiCola, and Stan's band to play rather than celebrate the missing Mr. Spielberg and the despised Mr. Bay
6) seating was a mess even showing up early to the event
7) for the activities involved, there was no point in dressing up just to sit in the dark for movie clips and wearing a cinemask
8) we don't forget this: if we are going to replay clips only instead of the actual live action movie, would have liked to have seen the top three films from the TF Film Fest replayed for everyone
9) nothing was a surprise except Waspinator winning and the Erector video
10) Mr. Bay seemed to be out to lunch during his acceptance speech
11) Frank Welker, Simon Furman, and Stan Bush has done more for Transformers and its fans over the many many years than Mr. Bay and Mr. Spielberg combined, and they have yet to be inducted into the hall of fame
12) Mr. Archer said they were going to replay all the induction videos again, and instead, we saw a new montage instead

Aaron Archer warned us about taking the HOF seriously. This is what the fans are responding to him: Hasbro needs to take the HOF ceremonies seriously and make sure they provide value worthy of the ticket price requested. 2011 HOF ceremonies was mostly a failure.

I realize Hasbro is mostly responsible, and as it was promoted with BotCon, FunPub has to take some responsibility for the promotion. Overall, I squarely place the blame on Hasbro and Paramount for the HOF agenda, its execution, and its failure.

Lastly, I really loved the rest of BotCon especially the number of VIPs, the panels, the autograph sessions, the surprises, the TWO script readings (!!), the exclusive toys, and its organization. FunPub did an awesome job. Brian and all get a well deserved pat on the back.

 

Despised? Yeah, no hyperbole there at all. Given that the majority of people applauded Bay (complete with standing ovation) suggests that only a handful of people 'despise' him as you suggest.

What? Stan Bush recorded two songs 25 years ago, and has been riding on the back that ever since, how does that even come remotely close to what Speilberg & Bay have contributed?

 

Please tell me you weren't one of the utter embarrassments to the fandom who booed him.

 

No.

Not everyone is a Bay fan. I quietly applauded or did not in protest.

Neither was I one of the embarassments from that bus ride a few years ago that now makes us attend theme parks instead of touring the city or local national treasures or museums.

 

The other bus was lucky they got to go back early, having a guide point out 99 cent stores and chruchs was pretty crappy.