S250 have posted some images of the Botcon 2010 Slicer and Double Punch figures which includes a first look at their robot modes.  You can see the images below.

­­­­­

Hasbro have updated Transformers.com with the following release

­TRANSFORMERS: EXODUS origin novel out in stores now

Telling one of the most important stories in the TRANSFORMERS canon, this novel explores and expands upon the origins of the super villain MEGATRON, leader of the evil DECEPTICONS, and the rise of OPTIMUS PRIME to leadership of the heroic AUTOBOTS.

TRANSFORMERS: EXODUS written by Alex Irvine takes fans deep into the secret lore of the TRANSFORMERS universe, charting the creation of the DECEPTICONS and the AUTOBOTS—and chronicling the civil war that divided them. At the center of this thrilling history are OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON, the ultimate hero and the ultimate villain, whose destinies are entwined with that of their home planet, CYBERTRON. Developed in close partnership with Hasbro, this is a canonical TRANSFORMERS tale that also relates to, and expands on, the story being told in the newly released video game, TRANSFORMERS: War for Cybertron, from Activision. Fans will not want to miss all of the details that can only be told in novel form, the moment OPTIMUS gains “PRIME” status, MEGATRON becomes his arch enemy and leader of the DECEPTICONS and their great civil war begins.

Read the first 4 chapters of the book here:

Hasbro have updated Transformers.com with some images of the DS version of the game along with the code to unlock Ramjet.

In related news, Play.com have started shipping UK versions of the game.

TFW2005.com member DrillBit has posted some images of more upcoming Japanese exclusive figures.  The first is an image of the Tokyo Toy Show exclusives which are a repaint of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen NEST Mindwipe and Skystalker figures into Generation Two Dreadwind and Smokescreen along with a Transformers Animated exclusive white repaint of Prowl who is called Elite Guard Prowl.  Prowl will cost 2,500 yen and Dreadwing / Smokescreen will be 5,500yen. The figures will be available at the TakaraTomy booth on the 17th and 18th July as well as having a limited number available on e-Hobby.  Like other exclusives of a similar vein, the figures will be limited to a few thousand.

Next is an image of another "Welcome to Transformers 2010" figure that will be sold as a Toy Hobby Market exclusive.  The figure is Primus and is a recolour of the Transformers Cybertron / Galaxy Force Primus figure.  No word yet on whether the figure will be limited to 2010 pieces like Sleep Mode Convoy (wh­o was also limited to 2 pieces per person) or whether he will be produced in higher quantities with an unlimited amount like the Unicron figure (both of these figures will be available in limited quantities from Transformers At The Moon so we may also offer the Primus figure as well).  Primus is out in October and costs 9,450yen.

­

The Auto Assembly Twitter page have been updated with a Tweet stating "Over 400 people now registered for Auto Assembly 2010! New record here we come...", which is, of course, in reference to the European Transformers record which was broken by last years Auto Assembly Event which saw 501 attendees over the weekend.

Auto Assembly 2010 is on between the 13th - 15th August 2010 in Birmingham England.  Visit the Auto Assembly website to book tickets and for more information.

Several other websites have arranged time for "official meets" at the convention though they clash with some of the guest panels, well Transformers At The Moon / Transformers Animated isn't that strict and so we are making considering the whole week-end as our official meet.  This year we will not only be putting on a toy display (which makes it the perfect location for people to meet as its will be obvious where and who we are, but we are also on the committee as well as being the first sponsors of the event and are bringing our very own guest Mr Derrick J Wyatt!

Thanks to two Taobao auctions the world has now found out that two of the remaining BotCon 2010 figures will be Double Punch and Slicer (both based on European Exclusive Action Masters).

Double Punch is a recoloured Transformers Energon / Transformers Superlink Scorponok whilst Slicer is a recoloured Transformers Energon / Transformers Superlink Downshift.

­

YouTube user nando323 has posted a video on You Tube titled Transformers 3 Movie filming on 43th Street and Main in which you can make out the vehicle representations of Bumblebee along side the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Convertible Corvette Stingray.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Sideswipe originally used the Corvette mode, so it is highly likely this will simply be an upgraded form for that character.  Sideswipe had a short role and one line in the second live action Transformers Movie.

The chara­cter represented by the Ferrari is still unknown.

­
­

For ­those wondering, Mattle now has the rights to the original Corvette Stingray car (for toy representations), so the change in model with keep the agreement between GM and Hasbro.

KO Toys has updated it's site with images of Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Insecticon.

The figure has an interesting insect mode and four arms whilst in robot mode.

KO Toys has supplied Seibrtron.com with images of the Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Seaspray and Breacher combined in vehicle mode.

Don't get too excited though, as the smaller figure (Breacher) just fits in the back of Seaspray

Jim Sorenson has update his blog, the Disciples of Boltax with another behind the scenes look at the soon to be released AllSpark Almanac II.

How time sneaks up on us! The AllSpark Almanac II is a mere twelve days away, and betwix now and then there is the juggernaut that is BotCon! So, without further ado, let's start with some previews for the upcoming Almanac.

I figured I'd start in an unusual direction; last year, the first preview images were tiny little snippets and sketches, designed to tease without giving too much away. This year, that'd be less effective; you all know approximately what the book will look like. Instead, how about some images that WON'T be in the book? Ideas and characters that we considered using but rejected for whatever reason: time, space, a better idea, etc.

Click the link to view the blog entry and the image.

Remember that if you if you can get to Birmingham England in August, that Transformers Animated lead designer Derrick Wyatt will be attending Auto Assembly 2010, so you can bring along your copy of The Allspark Almanac II and get it signed.