BotCon.com has been updated with images of the latest BotCon 2009 exclusive toy, Elite Guard Flak.� The figure, as expected, is a recolour of Transformers Cybertron Scattorshot (a toy which has seen several recolours in other Transformers lines).

The toy uses an urban camoflague look, as the all green look (used on the original Micromaster Flak), had alrady been used on the Transformers Universe repaint of this mold.

Stan Bush has been in contact with Seibertron.com to let them know that he has released a "Tribute to the Troops" video on YouTube, that his band will be playing at JACON (Japanese Anime Convention) in Orlando on the Memorial Day weekend of May 22nd and May 23rd as well as Botcon 2009 (though he is waiting for final confirmation).  Stan also announced that Activision will be releasing a free download of "The Touch" for Guitar Hero and that apparently Hasbro will be releasing two Transformers Revenge of the Fallen toys in May along with "The Touch".  Finally Stan sends word that he is going to be submitted a new version of The Touch to Paramount for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  Whether it will get used time will tell.

Chinese site The Arker has been updated with lots of images of the upcoming BotCon exclusive Transformers Sky Quake and Leo Zak - the repaints of Transformers Super Link Starscream (Transformers Energon Starscream).

Photobucket user Xamot has posted two images of the Botcon2009 exclusive Skyquake figure in his image gallery.  You can view the image gallery here, as well as seeing the two images mirrored below.

TF08.net has posted images of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Wheelie toy, in both roboto and alternate forms.

Meanwhile the site has also posted more images of the BotCon Leozak, still awating official confimation.  As Leo Zak is a repaint of the Skyquake BotCon convention figure, it could well be that this toy will be the "special" more limited figure, following in the recoloured veign of Clear Mirage and Meister from the previous years.

In another update to Botcon.com it has been announced that both the non-attendees packages and the loose sets of toys have now sold out.

Update 3/2/09 - As of 5:00 PM Central Standard Time today (3/2/09), the following items are SOLD OUT: non-attending packages and loose sets. The Wednesday and Thursday Customizing Classes are FULL.

S250 has posted the first image of what he reports is the Botcon 2009 exclusives Skyquake and Leozak.  Skyquake was recently mentioned as being a BotCon exclusive by Andrew Wildman and is based on the Generation One figure of the same name where as Leozak is based on the Transformers Victory character of the same name.

UK artist Andrew Wildman has posted an entry on his blog containing his artwork for what will no doubt prove to be the Botcon 2009 exclusive figure of Skyquake.  The toy is a recolour of the Transformers Energon Starscream toy but for the G1 Skyquake character

EDIT: The story / images have now been removed, probably at the request of Fun Publications

BotCon.com has been updated with the brochure for this years event.

Special Guests-featuring voice actors, artists and of course the Hasbro Transformers Team. The Hasbro Team will be on hand the entire weekend to show you the upcoming products and to answer your burning Transformers questions.

Panels and Seminars-led by Hasbro, special guests and experts in the Transformers community. These presentations will totally immerse you in all things Transformers. Learn inside information, meet celebrities, watch demonstrations and more!

Sales Room-features over 200 tables of Transformers merchandise for sale. There are thousands of items each year that trade hands in this BotCon focal point.

Transformers Film Fest-displays the talents of Transformers fans from all over the world. Come watch as stories you have never dreamed of are shown on the big screen!

Contests-showcase the incredible skills of Transformers artists everywhere. Start designing your entries today as you could be a big winner in one of the five different BotCon contests.

How to draw Transformers-provides you with the basic drawing skills to start drawing your own versions of your favorite Transformers heroes. These demonstrations are led by artists from the Hasbro team.

Transformers Customizing Class‑a day long optional event, that teaches fans to take off-the-shelf toys and create new characters by repainting the existing toy’s factory colors.

Local Tours-always a great way to start your week, touring the Los Angeles area with your fellow Transformers fans! This is a great way to meet other fans and share memories that will last a lifetime!

MSTF-a hilarious fun-filled evening where Transformers fans parody all things Transformers from cartoons to the live action movie, all on the big screen. MSTF is the Transformers version of  Mystery Science Theatre 3000. You will laugh so hard your sides will hurt!

Room to Room Trading‑provides collectors a chance to swap, buy and sell items from their personal collections in the evenings when the Dealer Room is closed. Have just a few extras you would like to swap? Well, this is your chance to trade with other collectors.

Party at Paramount-the culmination of our festivities celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Transformers! Tour the back lot, have dinner, and enjoy the camaraderie of fans from all over the world! Watch for more announcements about this event. This will be a night you’ll never forget!

Fan Achievement Awards‑allows attendees to vote for their favorite web sites achievements in several different categories. Be sure to vote and support your favorite sites!

Exclusives - Battle of Beta 9

Wings of Honor Convention Set: A five-figure boxed set which includes
Kup, Thunderclash, Landshark, Flak, and Scourge, plus Primus Package Exclusive Figure

While at the show, make sure you stop by the club booth to get the latest release of the Revenge of the Fallen movie products! BotCon will be the first time the mainline products will be offered for sale and each piece will come with a gold foil BotCon 2009 First Release sticker! These are sure to become instant collectibles as we will have a limited number on hand.

We've updated out previously small (2 images) gallery of the currently unreleased BotCon Wreckers Alpha Trion toy with 44 more images.

The gallery now comprises of the only full image gallery of this toy on the web, as it features the hand painted sample made for 3H, and never put into full production.

The timing of the gallery is perfect, with the BotCon 2009 toys believed to be comprised of the remaining BotCon Wrecker team, of which Alpha Trion was their leader.

Alpha Trion is featured along side Beast Machines Snarl and an all white testshot of Beast Machines Snarl (of which Hasbro put the legs on backwards).

Pete Sinclair, from the Fun Publications team behind BotCon, has dropped another hint that the BotCon set for 2009 will be the Wreckers.

Far be it from me to wreck your all's ideas. I just know that this year's set is going to rule!

Obviously this is more likey to be the OTFCC/BotCon Wreckers group, rather than the original UK Transformers Comic Wreckers team, with Impactor, Wreck and Rule etc.

Our new hotel block is online at BotCon.com.  You can now make reservations at the Pasadena Hilton for both double and King rooms.  Our special rate is $141 a night and the hotel is 2.5 blocks from the Pasadena Convention Center (about a 5-8 minute walk).

Go to BotCon.com for the reservation link but don't wait!  This hotel could sell out just like the Sheraton did!

More information coming in the next several weeks concerning packages, tours, admission, dealer booths and more!

Brian

Fun Publications have sent out an email as well as updating the Botcon website with details of the first hotel for BotCon 2009, confirming that it is the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel. Many people, including ourselves, had already worked out where the hotel would be (due to previous conventions in the area), with several fans already having made their reservations.  Several types of rooms have already sold out so make sure you check that they have the room type of your choice before confirming any orders.

"We are excited to officially announce that you can now make your reservations for BotCon '09 online.
To make your hotel reservations, go to BotCon.com and follow the link to the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel.
BotCon '09 will be at the new Pasadena Convention Center.  The Sheraton is attached to the center.  Hotel rooms will go very quickly and they have a limited number of rooms with double beds so next week we will have a second hotel block available at a near by property that has additional double bed rooms.
We will send out another update after we receive the electronic reservation link.
It will be several weeks before we have the registration forms available so keep checking BotCon.com for future updates!
Thanks and see you there!"