Since neither of us could make it out to this years Botcon we thought that we would post a summary of lins to both Seibertron.com and TFW2005.com's coverage since both US news sites often get "special access" to the show.

Seibertron.com

#BotCon2016 'Dawn of the Predacus' Box Set Images: Tripredacus, Ravage, Tarantulas, plus Terrorsaur

#BotCon2016 Exclusive Souvenirs Images: Megatron, Airazor, Tigatron, Unit-3, Reflector, Custom Class

#BotCon2016 Exclusive Souvenir Bios and Artwork

#Botcon2016 Galleries: Hasbro Floor Display - Warrior Bisk, Warrior Scatterspike, Titans Return, Robots in Disguise and More

#BotCon2016 Hasbro Floor Display: Robots in Disguise Products

#BotCon2016 Titans Return: Powermaster Optimus, Voyager Astrotrain, Wheelie, More

#BotCon2016 Generations Combiner Wars Box Sets: Victorion and G2 Bruticus

#BotCon2016 Generations Alt-Modes, Merchandise and Miscellaneous

#BotCon2016 Confirmation and First Look at Transformers Titans Return Wolfwire and Highbrow

#BotCon2016 Videos: Promotional Clips, Robots in Disguise Windblade, Ratchet, Titans Return Fort Max

TFW2005.com

Botcon 2016 Hasbro Display Platinum and Combiner Wars Images

Botcon 2016 Hasbro Titans Return Display Images – First Glimpses at Wolfwire, Highbrow, Alpha Trion, Getaway Titanmaster & More!

Botcon 2016 Robots in Disguise Display Images – First Looks at Warrior Bisk, Ratchet, Scatterspike & More!

Botcon 2016 – Apparel and Misc Merchandise Display Pics

Botcon 2016 Boxset In-hand Images

Botcon 2016 Souvenir Exclusives In-hand Images

Seibertron.com have posted a interview they have held with Botcon Organiser Pete Sinclair regarding the choice for next years convention to have a Machine Wars Theme.

What was the inspiration for a Machine Wars theme?
Pete Sinclair wrote:The inspiration here is a basically a "Machine Wars: Series 2." The 2013 BotCon offerings will work both as a stand alone AND as a continuation of the Machine Wars line. Once people read the fiction fans will see each toy from both series 1 and series 2 work as their own individual character.

Also, even if you did not grow up collecting Machine Wars, this set is going to be very appealing for many reasons and we anticipate that a wide range of collectors' will want to add these toys to their collections. They look really sharp!

You can read the interview in full here.

­Below you will find various links to articles relating to both the New York Comic-Con and the Victoria Toy Fair.

Seibertron.com

Hasbro Panel (video available below) http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/nycc-hasbro-transformers-panel-video/22993/

Victoria Toy Show - G1Uppers pre-show - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-g1uppers-preshow/22994/

Victoria Toy Show - Headrobots pre-show - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-headrobots-preshow/22995/

Victoria Toy Show - eNcliNe desigNs - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-encline-designs-preshow/22996/

Victoria Toy Show - Miscellaneous - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-miscellaneous-photos-and-teasers/22997/

The Allspark

NYCC panel, photos and summary - http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9558/20/

TFW2005.com

NYCC Panel - http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/key-images-from-the-transformers-panel-at-nycc-173563/

Videos

Hasbro Panel

Exclusive Toys

A new 3rd-party Transformers add-on company has recently popped up called SideFX who have announced, via Twitter, that they will be releasing an upgrade kit for the Transformers Generayion Blurr figure.  The add-on kit will come with a new head, gun, sword, and shield. The have posted an preview image which you can view below and plan to release additional upgrade kits for other toys in the future.

Credit to Seibertron.com for the news.

Seibertron have received a reply from Hasbro US regarding the Power Core Combiner Spastic.  As you may remember we broke news that the Scottish newspaper The Daily Record had picked up on the name of this character and were talking about how the name is often used as an offensive term.  During my report I speculated that the toy would not see a UK release anyway and these thoughts have now been confirmed by Hasbro in the following statement.

"Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and for the opportunity to respond. The TRANSFORMERS brand intended no offense by use of the name "SPASTIC" for one of its products which has not and will not be available via traditional retail channels in Europe, including the the UK. Thank you once again for notifying us about your concern. As a marketer of children’s products, input from parents, families and fans regarding their experiences with our brands is extremely important to us. Our goal is to have all families who enjoy our brands feel good about their purchases and experiences."

Both TFW2005 and Seibertron.com have exclusive images relating to the Transformers United toy line which is the Japanese name for Transformers Generastions.

TFW2005 have images of the various figures courtesy of KapowToys.  Meanwhile Seibertron.com have the first image of the box art that will be used for the line.

Seibertron.com have been sent a poor quality image of what appears to be a clear coloured Transformers Movie Voyager Optimus Prime.  There is no word on the exact source of the figure which could easily be a fake / knock-off.  The image originally contained a watermark that would have identified the source, if you recognise the only part of this mark that is left, let us know.  It would be odd to see the 07 figure re-released, but with the recent Sons of Cybertron sets, it is possible.

More on this as it develops

Seibertron.com have a very interesting article about a new UK exclusive Transformers figure that has been produced as part of the promotional for Transformers Way For Cybertron.  The figure is a repainted Transformers Cybertron (Galaxy Force) Legends Starscream figure. Its unknown at present how you would get the toy, it appears to have been a pre-order exclusive only not from one of the main UK stores.  So the UK finally gets another exclusive item, only its not advertised so hardly anyone would have picked it up.  Expect this little fella to start fetching high prices on the 2nd hand market.

TFClub.com have posted images of the upcoming Transformers War for Cybertron Optimus Prime figure which they have recently acquired.  The toy will be released under the Transformers Generations banner to coincide with the release of the video game.

Credit to Seibertron.com for the report.

Seibertron.com are reporting some new Transformers Animated toy listings within the Wal*Mart computer systems within the United states . You can view the listings below:

TRA ANIMATED DX RODIMU 65356941980
TRA ARCEE SLEEK CAR 65356937933
TRA ELECTROSTATIC S 65356937934

Voyager:
TRA ANMTD BUMBLEBEE 65356939375
TRA VOYAGER BLACKOU 65356940324
TRA VOYAGER JETPACK 65356940325

Seibertron.com are reporting some new Transformers Animated toy listings within the Wal*Mart computer systems within the United states . You can view the listings below:

TRA ANIMATED DX RODIMU 65356941980
TRA ARCEE SLEEK CAR 65356937933
TRA ELECTROSTATIC S 65356937934

Voyager:
TRA ANMTD BUMBLEBEE 65356939375
TRA VOYAGER BLACKOU 65356940324
TRA VOYAGER JETPACK 65356940325

An ebay auction by movieposterbargins has revealed the first look at the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen teaser poster.  The poster contains the release date of the 26th June 2009 as well as an image of what appears to be a face resembling the Decepticon symbol.  You can view the image here.

Credit to Seibertron.com for the report.