An interesting bit of trademark news has been provided by Transformers At The Moon: Hasbro has filed trademark applications for “Cybertron Con”, which you’ll recognize as the name of the officially licensed Asian Transformers convention. Hasbro has also filed “Cybertron Con” in the European trademark office and the UK trademark office.
As usual with trademark filing, it’s not clear why Hasbro has submitted this one. It could be to protect the brand as the global awareness continues to rise, both officially and unofficially, or Hasbro has bigger plans and are covering their bases. Either way, we can start speculating and get the discussion going!
Continue on with the discussion link below.
Autovolt 127
Back in 07 there was Games of Deceptions BotCon set which features Classics Thundercracker, Thrust and Dirge and fans were obviously pissed that they couldn't complete the whole seeker gang as Hasbro at the time only saw Classics as a filler line and nothing more but eventually reconsidered due to the fan demand, hence when around Generations we got the three figures at Hasbro retail.
It was one of the earliest shitstorms I was a part of the fandom of, narrowly missing the whole movie design debacles.
Trailbreaker77
Fill me in on this as I don't understand?
How dare me what?
Well if they keep having it in the same place it will become stale because the TF fans that are close by become complacent. They won't feel the need to take advantage of the opportunity to attend because they'll just catch the next year or maybe the year after that. Plus alienating all the fans that can't afford to make the across the county trip every other year.
SilverOptimus
Well, now we know why the trademark was applied globally:
Cityneon Becomes The Global License Holder For Transformers Exhibitions – Transformer World 2005 – TFW2005.COM
Nevermore
Combiner Wars wave 1 (Legends, Deluxe, Voyager and Leader Class) was available in an almost unprecedented number of European countries, and on top of that, the Toys"R"Us exclusivity for "Generations"-branded figures was dropped for the UK and Germany (with the exception of the Leaders). The figures ended up being overproduced and overstocked in such large quantities that you can still find them clogging shelves here, almost a year later.
Wave 2 figures (Legends, Deluxes, Voyagers and Leaders) weren't released anywhere in Europe. At all.
Wave 3 figures (Legends, Deluxes and Voyagers) were again available in a lot of European countries. (Although I know some countries such as the UK skipped the wave 3 Legends in favor of wave 4, missing out Viper.) As far as Germany is concerned, even chains that didn't carry wave 1 figures eventually started stocking wave 3 figures.
Wave 4 Legends were again stocked in a lot of countries. Wave 4 Deluxes and Voyagers are currently starting to trickle out in the UK and Germany at least.
There's a method to this. It's not like the UK was the only market where retailers said "No interest in wave 2, thank you very much". I very much doubt it's a coincidence, because otherwise it'd mean that somewhere in a Hasbro warehouse is this huge stockpile of European-packaged Combiner Wars wave 2 figures collecting dust.
And you know this because…?
Just like they never gave us a Straxus figure, a G1-styled Arcee figure, Scramble City-style combiners, a huge-ass Metroplex… All missed opportunities to make money.
You cannot just register a trademark and then sit on it doing nothing with it. That's not how trademarks work!
You need to actively use a trademark in commerce, or you'll lose that trademark again like a gambling addict loses money.
Trust me, I'm not even really into the whole FunPub/BotCon mess, and even I have personally seen multiple occasions of Pete responding to very much justified (even if not particularly tactfully presented) criticism in a very condescending, butthurt manner, as if criticising his employer's actions was a personal offense or something.
And I'm saying this as someone who doesn't always find the right tone on these boards myself. But I'm not anyone's official PR person.
Also, when I shrug people off for not knowing certain details, at least those details were (theoretically) common knowledge available to the general public. Pete has rejected criticism by referring to inside information nobody else has access to.
Onslaught24
First off, sorry I didn't work the con this year like you did and sorry I don't go to every Botcon (honestly not worth doing more than once IMO). Second, I totally get and respect Frank's requests and why he'd be like that with such large crowds. But I can guarantee you that TFCon would've found a less costly and less exclusive way (even if only marginally) that would still benefit the fans and Mr. Welker.
Again, understandable. With a guy as popular as Frank, there's naturally going to be a shitload of people clamoring to get his autograph.
Good for you? I'll admit, this was my first Botcon, but from the way you and others have described past ones, it seems like John and Sue's signing area would've been more noticeable. Like maybe put signs directing fans towards it? Also, I wasn't in the Welker line so I don't know about that, but they let hardly anyone into the makeshift "line" for John and Sue and didn't set it near the time when the dealer room opens. Instead, they set it each day for something like 2-4pm and it's like you either get up early as shit to get to the front of the dealer room line and bee-line it for John and Sue's signing area and wait there for almost the whole day just to hold a spot, or you enjoy yourself.
Fuck that. Seriously. That's probably the dumbest and some of the least fan-friendly logic ever. Charticon managed to not do that. Also, I'm pretty sure I was told that the 25 bucks a piece wasn't included in my Primus package. I had to fork over 50 bucks if I wanted Blurr and Arcee signed. But I didn't. Instead I enjoyed a night with John and Sue during the awards dinner and made a couple new friends, no thanks to waiting in line.
Wow, okay. That's not making a mountain out of a molehill or talking down to me or anything. Thanks for that wonderful insight. Sorry I was so factually inaccurate and unable to rightfully serve anyone inquiring about the great and mighty Botcon, and congrats for like the second or third time on getting to volunteer at the magnificent gathering that is Botcon.
Raiyuki
Yeah, Frank Welker was such a massive exception. To begin with Welker usually doesn't attend cons AT ALL. There was a rumor I heard that Frank Welker is typically crown shy and hence usually doesn't do cons. Peter Cullen's been at most of the Botcons FunPub's held if I'm not mistaken. 2014 was actually a weird year for the fact that PC WASN'T there nor were several of the other big names, but a year before they were all there.
I'm torn on how to feel about that last bit. On the one hand I want it to be fair to everyone, on the other hand I loooooooooove being able to actually attend con just cuz it's 20 minutes away.
I got two things autographed by David Kaye for free in 2009. It was chill as well. Even exchanged a few words about how nice the traffic was. PC tends to draw the biggest lines but I don't recall him having a fee to get his autograph, just an annoyingly long line that looks like it should be for black friday and it cuts off.
ron8675309
As someone who lives near Pasadena and only managed to get to my one Botcon because I happened to move here, how very dare you.
Xabungle
I have never attended Botcon – it's a long held goal of mine, since hearing about it as a teenager. So I can only offer an outsider's view.
In 2014, I was in the position to be able to attend Botcon. And it was the big 3-0! The 30th anniversary celebration! Surely, the guest list would feature great voice actors, artists, and writers from all eras of Transformers – but most especially Marvel and Sunbow G1. Right???
Well, not as great a guest list as a little convention in San Antonio, occuring that same weekend. Texas Comicon booked a couple important folks – Peter Cullen, Gregg Berger, Michael Bell, Neil Ross, David Sobolov, and Bob Budiansky. The voice actors of Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Beast Wars Depth Charge, and the writer who created the personalities of 95% of Generation One's characters were all NOT at Botcon. So neither was I. I met Peter Cullen with my nephew in San Antonio.
The obvious reason for this, in my eyes, is Fun Pub didn't book anyone with sufficient advance notice. While this small Texas con announced all these guests long in advance, Botcon's full guest list was still being teasted during registration, if I remember correctly. That wasn't because they wanted to surprise the fans; rather, it's because FunPub was likely booking guests at the last possible second.
I want Fun Pub to do well. And more, I want Botcon to be great. And if that's only possible without Fun Pub, then they have to go.
Pehaps it'll turn around. This year, they've announced guests and exclusives for Botcon 2016 in October 2015 – fairly unprecedented, at least under Fun Pub. AND they're observing Beast War's 20th anniversary, which addresses one of my big pet peeves; Botcon always seems to flub the anniversaries. And where was my celebration of the year 2005??? Ten years later, that still smarts.
Autovolt 127
I'm not gonna lie having Cybertron Con at Rhode Island makes perfect sense, the 07 BotCon despite the Seekergate fiasco was one the more better run shows, and the Hasbro tour was pretty cool.
I wish i could have went but i wasn't even a teenager then.
Trailbreaker77
Looks like Hasbro wants full control of their Transformers Convention so don't plan on bringing KO or 3rd party stuff to this show to sell.
Kinda makes sense they've planned up to what the 10th movie now so they are getting all the pieces in place to run this themselves. I'm surprised they went back to NYCC this year, maybe they are planning on changing this Cybercon to meet their needs.
I'd love it if they got more involved, maybe bring the show back to Rhode Island once in a while and stop having it in Pasadena C.A. every other year.
Hot Shot.
However there's a good chance the wings will snap off if you transform it too many times, because IIRC you have to force the peg to flex out farther to move the joint around the squared corner. In time the plastic will cure a little harder and the flexibility to bypass the defect will be gone. Snap.
And that's hardly the worst fuckup FunPub has ever committed. Hasbro should've revoked the convention license back during the constant mishandling of their site being hacked.
Primal Sabbath
One thing I'll agree with you on, is definitely the Protoform package. It's easily the worst decision anyone can make in attending Botcon. Generally I like and keep all of the figures, it's one of the main things I collect. So the $400 (as it's been these last two years) is something I can definitely live with. Last year I got autographs and pictures with everyone except most of the Rescue Bots cast. The $400 I paid was well worth it. This year I got Sue & John's autographs and pics with them. Again. Well worth it.
That whole pick and choose thing may be economic to some, but in the long run, Autographs and pics at TFCon would cost a pretty penny, if I compared it to the volume of things I got signed and pictures taken with guests at Botcon. I would ALMOST be able to buy a Primus package.
And I wouldn't put the "fee" off on the guests, either. You DO hand money to TFCon staff, afterall. So don't get too terribly comfortable.
Bed Bugs
You paint a pretty picture. Considering the cost is still there, you're just hiding it in the registration.
Botcon charges $25/day for General Admission
TFCon charges $25/day for General Admission
Botcon makes an autograph wristband available for $25
TFCon allows Voice Actors to charge what they want at their booths. Typically $10 to $20 for autographs.
For the cheapest options available, Botcon and TFCon are pretty much comparable.
If you Pre-Register at Botcon, paying for a $300+ package, all that cost is in there, even if Botcon calls it "free" or "included". One could even argue that you're over-paying for autographs if you get the Protoform or Primus Packages.
Personally, I prefer the TFCon method because if I don't want an autograph, I don't have to pay for it through excessive pre-reg fees and if I do want an autograph, I take comfort in knowing the money goes directly to the guests rather than getting filtered through a middle man such as Fun Pub. But to each their own.
Primal Sabbath
I'd also like to add that John AND Susan were often found wandering around the hotel and mingling with fans I ran into them both on several separate occasions throughout the 4 days.
The lines had to be cut off at a certain time due to panels and whatever else they had going on for the two of them as well. Or quite frankly whatever was in their contract.
Getting a couple of things autographed and my picture taken with them for no extra cost to what I paid at registration is a hell of a lot better than $20 per autograph & $20 per picture. Forget that.
TFCon isn't run poorly by any means, and I'm sure the Canadian show is a lot better than the American shows, but basing my experience last year at TFCon Chicago & hearing a friend's experience this year; yeah Botcon is definitely my preferred convention. I'll take a whole heap of FunPub destroying my wallet over the alternative.
mrduce1018
This is incorrect. Autographs are included in Botcon Admission (Primus packages), Walkins do have to pay $25 for autographs but when you compare that against the $400 a Primus package holder pays, it is understandable. The only exception to this has been Frank Welker. So in the 10+ years that FP has done Botcon, only ONE guest was an extra added charge. There are several factors that went into this charge:
1 – He very rarely appears at conventions.
2 – There is a higher than normal amount paid to him, due to who he is.
3 – He does not do well in crowds, I believe he has an aversion to crowds. Which means certain things needed to happen for him to appear at the convention:
A – He needed very little exposure to crowds.
B – Which means they needed to rent out another room just for him.
C – Extra people and time were brought in to make sure this was handled properly.
All of these things cost money and FP/Botcon really wanted to bring Frank Welker to Botcon for the fans. Unfortunately it came with an added cost.
Next, the 'One Item' to sign was at his request. Also, due to the amount of people that wanted to see him and take a picture with him, a time limit needed to be added, also probably at his request.
As for the lines… The information was all over Botcon, all the staff and volunteers knew exactly where it was being held. I was one of those volunteers and I had no problem helping several people on where to go for the photos and the autographs.
Again, them closing off the line after some people were in the line was due to the aversion to crowds that Mr. Welker has. This was done to keep him comfortable and willing to stay. Generally speaking the 'autograph limits' you are referring to (other than for Welker) are there to keep the lines moving, there has been nothing to indicate that after your 1-3 items have been signed that you can't then get back in line for additional items to be signed.
With regards to complaining about standing in lines for hours…. Welcome to convention life, you need to decide what is important to you. If that means getting an autograph that you have to spend 4 hours in line, well that's up to you, it is not the fault of the convention organizers, that's on you. John and Sue had a ton of people in line for autographs, pics and for their panel. Many many people went through their lines.
I was a volunteer at this years convention and I worked both the Frank Welker autograph line and photo line and I can tell you that both went off very smoothly and people were very happy for the opportunity and experience with Frank. There really was no complaining at the convention for how it was handled.
I think once you have facts about what actually happened at Botcon this year and hear about it from someone that actually worked it, then I think you can understand why your post is factually inaccurate and does not serve anyone that is wondering how the autograph process works at Botcon.
ron8675309
That name just rankles though. "Cybertron Con." It sounds like if you called a Japanese person "Haru-chan-san." Is that the best name Hasbro could get?
Onslaught24
You gotta pay for autographs no matter which con you go to. Botcon's autograph system is by far the worst though because for Frank Welker, you had to pay a small fortune just to get a few seconds with him for a picture and ONE item of choice to have signed. And with John and Sue, the line in the dealer room was hard to find and by the time I did find it, they'd closed it off cause 20-30 people was "too much". I was lucky enough to have dinner with those two this year, but hardly anyone was able to get in the line and to get into said line, you had to know exactly where the signing booth was at and you had to be first in line for the dealer room itself and wait for hours to make sure you had a spot. Fan run conventions on the other hand (with the experience I had at Charticon), you could go up to them and get stuff signed with no closure of the line til the signing time was up. I haven't been to TFCon so I don't know exactly how they operate, but I can imagine they'd be less pushy.
tl;dr: Botcon sucks at autographs.
Personally I hope this is a sign that Hasbro's finally done with the club. Or is at least going to run two cons at once. I also hope this one is run better.
Raiyuki
The only time I remember seeing Pete active was during the FSS Tarantulus thread where he kept taking in fan input and photoshoping the promo image of Tarantulus. Ultimately the way the figure came out felt like Funpub took a lot of the input (barring don't use Junkheap for the character). I dunno if he's been "condescending" elsewhere around here but from what I saw he's generally quite polite and does a decent job.
More on topic I wonder if it just means we'd have a second official TF convention or something. Cybertron Con was Asia based; wonder if it means any tightening connection between Hasbro USA and Hasbro Asia or whatever. For now I feel like this is meaningless and isn't gonna really affect anything. Botcon will still be the mainstay con I'm sure unless some sort of dramatic feud happens like it did with 3h (and that's unlikely.)
Primal Sabbath
Can you blame him (Pete)? I wouldn't want to come over here and post if all I got was constant bitching and complaining.
I guess I'm not in all of the threads where Pete posts, but I haven't seen anything "condescending," but I guess people will take things how they take it.
Primal Sabbath
Oh god no. Please, never.
You guys may like paying for autographs and "okay" fiction based around multiple variations of Erector… But not all of us do
If Hasbro did bring all of it together, then I'd certainly hope the FunPub group was still in control.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was a way for Hasbro to establish an official convention in the UK and other parts of Europe. As it stands, FunPub IS officially licensed, therefore is the official convention.