TFormers are first once again with the latest news form BotCon via their live blog. Though the quality of the reports suffer, they are posting them up fast. Here's a summary:

• As mentioned during the Animated panel, both Skywarp and Thundercraker have been confirmed for that line.
• Transformers Animated Perceptor was confirmed as "coming along" though they would not confirm what he transforms into. He will have a bazooka shoulder cannon.
  
• Both Hasbro and TakaraTomy make their own colour guides for the toys. For Transformers Animated, these charts are based on the "Day" and "Night" colour charts that Cartoon Network produce as part of the series bible.
• Hasbro confirmed that Transformers Animated was originally going to be called Transformers Heroes, as per the working title, because they wanted to do a more super hero based show.
• Regarding the deluxe Stryker figure, Takara couldn't make out the head from the image provided by the studio, so Aaron Archer drew it 5 mins before catching a plane out Tokyo and that's how his head for the toy was created.
• Regarding Alternators. Hasbro spoke on how they wanted to have Megatron as a Convertible Cadillac XLR and that they spoke to GM regarding producing an Alternator Hummer. Hasbro said that there were "many reasons for it not going ahead". As we all should know, one of the problems was that HappyWell have the official license for the car, hence the RoadBot figure.

On the Transformers Universe front:

• Hasbro confirmed that there are no plans for either a Transformers Animated or Universe Sixshot. This is due to the complexity in designing the figure.
• Universe Deluxe Acid Storm was originally to be named Rainmaker then Acid Rain and then Acid Storm.
• There are no combiners planned for the Universe line.
• Since he's in Animated, there will be no Ultra Magnus in Universe. Sticking to Hasbro's statement from Botcon 2007.
• Universe Fracture, the recoloured Classics Mirage figure, is supposed to be Crasher from the Go-Bots. Her bio will state that she creates tremors with her feet. Hasbro wanted to call her Crasher and then Catalyst but those names didn't clear.
• The Universe Powergilde recolour Storm Cloud has the marking MM-89 on him. Hasbro confirmed that this stands for MicroMaster 89, which is the year the original StormCloud was made.
• When asked about a Universe Ratchet figure, the answer was that Universe Iron Hide will probably be repainted into him at some stage
• Hasbro are working hard on producing the Universe Cosmos figure
• Galvatron is a smaller toy simply because they are making so many larger scale tanks

Also announced was another 25th Anniversary figure .... Hot Shot. He will be a deluxe size sized toy and will come with a mini-con

Ozformers member Griffin has posted the first images of the full contents Botcon 2008 box set including all the techspec cards over on the Ozformers message board.

Click the link to jump directly to the post with the images

ACToys.net member hebtkdko11 has posted some robot mode images of several of this years Botcon toys. You can view the images in the original thread or below where they have been mirrored.

An image has been posted over at ACToys.net of Botcon 2008 Megatron. The previously unseen figure is the Energon Megatron but with a new head. This comes the day that Brian Savage has threaterned Asian based Transformers fans / sellers with legal action over various eBay auctions.

Out of respect for Fun Publications, we will not be hosting the image on this server nor linking to the page from this news article, though we do feel that the story is worthy of reporting, hence why you are reading the story at this moment.

TFWorld2005 have found more auction for upcoming Transformers Universe and BotCon toys on ebay. The universe toys include carded versions of Tankor (Octane) and Prowl, whilst the BotCon toys are Jazz, Grimlock and Goldbug.

Check out their stories here and here, which also include ebay rover links to the auctions.

David Kaye will be making a return to BotCon this year, as he has been officially annouced as the first guest for the event.

David is the current voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers Animated, as well as Lugnut and various background characters, and has previously played Megatron since 1996 (less the Transformers Robots in Disguise series), making him the longest running Transformers voice actor.

Chinese fansite TF08.net have acquired some samples of various Transformers Universe Classics as well as Botcon 2008 exclusive figures. They have taken some high-resolution images which we have cropped (to save you some bandwidth) and mirrored below.

The Transformers Collectors Club has sent the following information out to it's members regarding the BotCon 2008 sets (sold out), alternative toy arrangements and information on showing the exclusive "attendee toy".

This is going out to all members.If you have received a confirmation email concerning your registration, this notice does not apply to you.

The demand for this year's BotCon figure sets (both boxed and loose) has been unprecedented… and they are now officially SOLD OUT.Since manufacturing of the sets has already been completed, we are not able to obtain additional quantities.

In order to accommodate those who are still planning to attend, we are providing you with two new options:

1) You can still come as a Primus Package holder and we will substitute a 2005 BotCon Boxed Set Descent into Evil - at the reduced cost of $250 for Club members, $300 for non-members - and in addition, you will receive this year's free attending figure. Loose sets are also available for $130 for Club members and $165 for non-members.

So that you can see what you will be getting this year, we have decided to do something we have never done before...we are going to unveil the free attending figure this Friday! This is the first time we have shown the free attending figure before the start of BotCon!

2) We are creating a new attending package designed for this year only!

The Energon Package includes admission to all events (just like the Primus Package, including the Casino Night Awards Dinner) a convention badge, pin and comic/program (no toys). The Energon Package is $180 for Club members, $230 for non-members.

If you have sent in a registration since February 14, we will be emailing or calling you to find out which package you want to switch to.

Attached you will find the current registration form with the new options.

Thank you, once again, for your support! We look forward to seeing you in Cincinnati!

Brian

PS. For those of you who have already registered, confirmation letters will be going in the mail this week.

If you still need a hotel, theMillennium Hotel - 800-876-2100 or 513-352-2100

The official Botcon 2008 site has updated with images of Starscream and Razorclaw, from this year's Shattered Glass boxed set.

As previously revealed, Starscream is repainted from his Voyager Class Transformers Cybertron / Galaxy Force toy. Razorclaw is a repaint of Overbite from the Classics Minicon Predator Attack Team.

Following on from the leaked testshot of BotCon 08 Starscream is the official unveiling of Shattered Glass Jazz (recoloured Galaxy force Autovolt) and Grinlock (Classics Grimlock in Trypticon colours).

You can see images of the toys at BotCon.com

An auction has appeared on eBay for what appears to be the "Heroic Decepticon Starscream" from the BotCon 2008 "Shattered Glass" box set.

Starscream's colors are an homage to G1 Jetfire, complete with the exrta parts of his arms and legs painted red to emulate the toy's armor.