Here is the latest update on the credit card security investigation. from Fun Publications

The firm we have hired to analyze our former ecommerce server and software has preliminarily determined that we did incur a SQL injection code attack sometime before Christmas. Our ISP did have a commercial product installed that was supposed to defeat these types of attacks, but apparently it failed.

This allowed the hackers access to our order information. While it is still unknown exactly what data they were able to harvest (investigation continues) we need to assume that they were able to extract all of our order information. The security firm thinks that this attack has allowed the hackers to come back periodically and harvest more information. However, once the old server was taken out of service (around February 21st) there was nothing left for them to access.

Once this information was stolen, (no matter if it was back before Christmas) there is no time frame as to when the thieves may sell or try to use the information to purport credit card theft.

What does this mean to me?

We are asking again that anyone who has used a credit card in our old online systems in the past year (NOT THE NEW STORE) to get your card replaced immediately. If you have done this already, there is no action required on your part.

We apologize for the inconvenience, we know this whole thing is a pain, but it is better to replace the cards than have to deal with any issues that may result from this theft of data. Even though the amount of fraud has greatly declined, we are still receiving a customer report every few days of someone else (who hasn’t replaced their cards) getting hit. We strongly encourage you to take this step immediately if you have not done so already. Again, this DOES NOT pertain to any cards that have been used in the new store.

What is the plan?

We are still working on all of the issues and are several weeks away from a final resolution. Our new store is currently offline while we complete the entries and audit the data from the renewals we received last week. Just to reiterate, this new store is a totally different piece of software, at a totally different hosting site. There are hundreds of other retailers using this same software as it is hosted by the software creators.

We hope to have the store online and registration system back online sometime next week. When the store comes back online, we will be adding products slowly so it will take some time to have everything back in the store.

Thank you for your patience and support during this trying issue.

Brian

Maketoys have annouced they will be producing a Computroin based combiner toy.  This annoucement comes shortly after the concept images from TF Club's Technobot and Terrorcon concepts.

Planet Iacon once again broke the 3rd party news on Facebook

Full Metal Hero have posted up colour images of Maketoy Giant, the latest 3rd party Devastator, this one based on the yellow Generation Two and European Exclusive figures.

Today's Beast Wars II episode continues with the Jointron focus, this time asking the question of who the leader of their group in the episode 17 - Who is is the Leader?

The Destron's plan to bring instability to the Cybertron Jointron's by creating in-fighting between the group over who the leader is.

Back after a few weeks break, due to Roll Out Roll Call and moving, is the Beast Wars II Season at Transformers At The Moon.  Todays episode sees us catach up with everybodies favour Mexican combiners the Jointrons in episode 16 titled A Fearsome Combination.

In this episode the muchus-muchus entertaining Jointrons are the focus of a cunning plan by the Destrons as they try to stop the three Mexican combiners from forming Tripledicus.  The epiosde also sees Starscream and BB combine ... in vehicle mode that is.

The epiosde also debut's Moon's robot mode.

Nick Roche To Attend Auto Assembly 2012

Auto Assembly is proud to announce that we are once again going to be joined by fan favourite, artist and writer Nick Roche. Nick will be joining us at the convention for the fourth successive year and will be taking part in panels, signing autographs and sketching for fans all weekend and will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about his work.

Nick will be joining his Wreckers co-conspirator James Roberts for a special IDW Panel that we will be holding on the Sunday but we are sure that there will be a few other events that he will be involved with during the weekend...

For more details on Auto Assembly 2012 which is taking place over the weekend of 3rd - 5th August 2012 in Birmingham, England or to book your tickets or find out information about booking dealers tables, visit the website at http://www.autoassembly.org.uk and for all the latest news on Auto Assembly Europe, visit http://www.autoassemblyeurope.eu

The Auto Assembly Team

Web: http://www.autoassembly.org.uk / http://www.transformersvideogames.co.uk / http://www.ct-alpha.com
Auto Assembly Europe: http://www.autoassemblyeurope.eu
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/autoassembly
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/auto_assembly
Forum: http://www.autoassembly.org.uk/forum
Email: contact@autoassembly.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7860 948296

Auto Assembly is sponsored by

Toyz And Gamez - http://www.toyzandgamez.co.uk
Transformers @ The Moon - http://www.transformertoys.co.uk
TransformersAnimated.com - http://www.transformersanimated.com
TheTransformers.net - http://www.thetransformers.net
Titan Books - http://www.titanbooks.com
3 Darths Comics - http://www.3darthscomics.co.uk
Science Fiction Collectables - http://www.sf-collectables.co.uk
Big Bad Toy Store - http://www.bbts.com
Xyber Toys - http://www.xybertoys.com

Auto Assembly have tweeted regarding a Convention Exclusive for 2012

First details of Auto Assembly 2012's exclusive coming this week...

Snakas was pointing to Million Publishing a few days ago, and Seibertron have worked out why.

A new Transformers Generations 2012 book is due for release, online page  can be viewed at Amazon Japan and Ami Ami.

The index reads

• Japan finally landed! Full CG animation feature large "Transformers Prime" latest
• Masterpiece, and Revoltech, · · ·! Thoroughly research the latest items in 2012
  overseas edition toys from all public!
• "Transformers / Dark Side Moon"
  development literature that appeared Transformers toys, mail order magazine interview designers valuable
  • ! ? [Appendix] 1. Special double-sided poster and highly material 2. "Gaiden Super God Masterforce Pretender - Transformers" comics to draw down the full

Hong Kong based toy store Ehobbybase hasposted in package images of the upcoming Transformers Prime Cyberverse Commander Ironhide and Dreadwing figures on their facebook page.  Dreadwing is due to make his debut this weekend in the show, as he faces off against Wheeljack.

another exclusive BAPE Convoy (Bathing Ape) is on the way, at least according to a magazien scan published by Planet Iacon facebook page.

Bathing Ape is a Japanese clothing company that specializes in men's, women's, and kid's lifestyle and street wear, and in 2011 they released an excluive Green Camo G1 Convoy figure which was an limited store giveaway item. Some online retailers were left unable to fill their pre-orders last time around, so a second has been annouced.  The 2012 version is in Urban Camoflague (Grey).

We own a BAPE Convoy figure, though i've only just realised that we've not featured it on the site yet.

Auto Assembly 2012 Third Party Product Official Statement

Transformers fandom has been buzzing the last few days with discussion about third party products and the fact that they will no longer be available for sale from some events. As with many of our friends at other conventions such as Savcon, Slagacon and Dairycon, we believe that Transformers fans should be able to make an informed choice for themselves over whether or not to purchase unofficial third party products.

We have spent the last seven months looking at our policy in relation to these and while we will still prohibit the sale of some items, we will be adopting a more open approach which we believe will be much fairer on dealers and attendees alike and provide a much more enjoyable convention and a better trading experience for everyone.

For more details, you can read our official statement here in full:-
http://www.autoassembly.org.uk/AA2012/AutoAssembly2012ThirdPartyProductsOfficialStatement.pdf

For more details on Auto Assembly 2012 which is taking place over the weekend of 3rd - 5th August 2012 in Birmingham, England or to book your tickets or find out information about booking dealers tables, visit the website at www.autoassembly.org.uk and for all the latest news on Auto Assembly Europe, visit www.autoassemblyeurope.eu

The Auto Assembly Team

Web: www.autoassembly.org.uk/ www.transformersvideogames.co.uk / www.ct-alpha.com
Auto Assembly Europe: www.autoassemblyeurope.eu
Youtube: www.youtube.com/autoassembly
Twitter: www.twitter.com/auto_assembly
Forum: http://www.autoassembly.org.uk/forum
Email: contact@autoassembly.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7860 948296

Auto Assembly is sponsored by

Toyz And Gamez - www.toyzandgamez.co.uk Transformers @ The Moon - www.transformertoys.co.uk TransformersAnimated.com - www.transformersanimated.com TheTransformers.net - www.thetransformers.net Titan Books - www.titanbooks.com 3 Darths Comics - www.3darthscomics.co.uk Science Fiction Collectables - www.sf-collectables.co.uk Big Bad Toy Store - www.bbts.com Xyber Toys - www.xybertoys.com

Amazon has published a listing for an IDW Trade Paperback, launching on 11th September 2012, called featuring the G.I Joe and Transformers crossover comics. Volume 1 is set to cover the original Transformers/GI Joe Cross Over.

The worlds of G.I. JOE and The Transformers combine in this first volume of crossovers. Contains the 4-issue G.I. JOE and The Transformers limited series, plus issues #139-142 of Marvel's G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero. Megatron and Cobra versus the JOEs and the Autobots - who will come out on top?

tv-aichi.co.jp has been updated with the voice actors cast for Super Robot Life Forms Transformers Prime (the Japanese version of Transformers Prime).   The series will debut on April the 7th.

• Optimus Prime - Toshiyuki Morikawa
• Megatron - Keiji Fujiwara
• Rachet - Tatsuo Tobita
• Bulkhead - Takashi Nagasako
• Arcee - Shizuka Itou
• Starscream - Satoshi Tsuruoka
• Cliffjumper - Noriaki Sugiyama
• Jack Darby - Jun Fukuyama
• Raf Esquivel - Motoko Kumai
• Miko Nakadai- Nozomi Furuki
• William Fowler - Kenji Nomura
• June Darby - Hitomi Nabatame

Also annouced are the opening and closing credit tunes for the show

• Opening Theme - "Feeling" by BigBang
• Ending Theme - "I Believe in All" by Clutcho

PlayworksOnline has posted an interview with Takara's legendary lead Transformers designer Hideaki Yoke from Cybertron Con 2012.  You can read the full interview here

PW: Did you ever imagine Transformers to become the success that it is today?

HY: Never ever! The franchise we see today is more than something that I could have imagined. All I can say is that all of this is  more than a dream come true to me.

PW: Which is harder? Trying to put character and personality into a machine, or trying to design the way the robots Transform? Because it is one thing to see the robots transform on screen, but to have toys that do the same thing? That’s looks like a lot of planning to us.

HY: I understand why this question came up as we keep aiming to amaze customers by designing rich personalities in both vehicle and robot mode with great transforming skills. The fact is however, that they are not that hard to design in either way. There will be some challenges in matching the products with the screen characters, but our designers enjoy accomplishing their job and at the same time, raise the bar a couple of notches

PW: We’re sure you go through a hundred and one different designs and prototypes before a Transformer is born. What factors do you consider when deciding on a new Transformer? Are the factors the same as they were back then in Gen 1 & 2?

HY: Our customers today are of a broader demographic and their expectations to the brand are also not the same for each each group. I need to proof the design concept brief more carefully before the gray models are made. Looking back to Gen 1 & 2, I think we were more optimistic and our aim was to design just nice Transformers.

PW: This 28-year franchise has seen comics, cartoons, video games and movies. We can safely say that, like Mario, The Transformers is yet another trancendent force that Dad’s of today can share with their children. Do you think the parents of today will be able to sit down with their grandchildren and tell them stories of the first generation of The Transformers? Will Transformers still be coherent?

HY: Yes, I can proudly say that the Transformers not just a content, but also a toyline that fathers and their children can sit down to spend time playing/ watching together.

As for the factors of its long lasting popularity, I think it is the “Transforming” concept itself which has intrigued people. Transforming is in fact a great pattern of play itself. Of course, we have been putting a lot of effort to innovate the product line every year to make it fresh exciting. Our designers’ expertise and passion make this heavy task possible.

I’m convinced that the Transformers can be an ever-green playground for future customers if the tradition is passed down – next generation of designers following the key factors to success. The Transformers can be a universal language for every generation all over the world.

PW: You have overseen dozens of designs and development of Transformers, what is your all-time favourite Transformer and why?

HY: Perceptor is my favorite. The 2nd is Reflector even though it is not a popular character and it has less of a transforming magic. I was totally absorbed in designing or engineering those smaller robots of pre-Transformers. These designs make me recall those days.

PW: Finally, what can fans of the franchise expect to see at the first-ever Cybertron Convention in Singapore?

HY: I am hoping that the Cybertron Convention in Singapore offers the greatest opportunity for all the fans to celebrate and enjoy the Transformers of today together. You will see the great collection of toys from every era of the Transformers history in Singapore, so don't miss it!

TFC Toys have posted designs for Technobot Scattershot and Terrorcon Hun-Gurrr.

Check out the pics at ACToys for the designs