To celebrate the 9th anniversary of the founding of Transformers At The Moon you will now find 3 new Transformers toy galleries in our Transformers toy section as well as an update on a Lucky Draw Transformers gallery with a figure which we now own.

The new galleries feature three out of the four new Transformers Binaltech toys (we've not photographed BT-22 Convoy yet), in the form of:-

• Transformers Binaltech - BT-19 - Bluestreak
• Transformers Binaltech - BT-20 - Argent Meister
• Transformers Binaltech - BT-21 - Arcee

In addition to these three new galleries, we are  very proud to bring to you a full image gallery of one of the older, and much rarer, Lucky Draw Transformers figures.  This toy has been owned by three collectors since it was first sold on  eBay a few years back (and we have tracked it ever since).

• Japanese Beast Wars Transformers - Gold Megatron (said to be limited to 3, probably limited to 10 in the world).

You will now find a few preview images, and information, on the latest Transformers Animated comics to be released by IDW Publishing and Titan Magazines.

IDW's Transformers Animated The Arrival Part 3 introduces a new charcater and includes the debut of Oil Slick.

Titan Magazunes Transformers Animated Issue 1 introduces two new characters, Quake-Master and Burnout.  The issue feels more like the Marvel UK Transformers Comics with a Robo-Capers style mini-strip called Bots and Bits.

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the launch of Transformers At The Moon.  On the 25th October 1999 we uploaded our first webpages to the domain www.transformers.themoon.co.uk hosted and owned by Freeola.  The domain (themoon) was chosen by us out of a list of various domains which Freeola used, as we felt it had a space theme, which seemed appropriate for a Transformers site, and when our email address was read out it sounded like a Transformers Tell-A-Tale story ("Transformers at the moon").  Thus the website gained it's name.

Since then we've moved to our own domain, transformertoys.co.uk,  so the domain doesn't fit as well as it used to.  The website has been hosted by several companies including Freeola, Catalyst, Spry, Amen and another company which folded, with the owner going on a run between the Freeola and Catalyst hosting.

The site has had three message boards, 8 major code re-writes, exceeded it's allocate bandwidth (10x over) before being moved hosting companies and had over a terrabyte of data accessed in August 2008.

The site was started, and is still run, but two inviduals, has been entirely coded by hand (other than the message board) and has been  worked on almost everyday since it was launched.

The site was created innitially so we could show case our Transformers collection and interested, to help other fans see toys which they may not have owned (or previously seen).  We're still working our way through our collection of Transformers (now over 2100) and have lots of plans for the site (too many plans for two people and so little time).

We'd like to thank everyone who has visited the site and / or emailed us over the last 9 years and hope that you continue to do so.

Activision have sent out the following press release regarding Transformers Animated: The Game

Transformers Animated: The Game

Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that TRANSFORMERS Animated: The Game, developed under license from Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), is now available in retail stores nationwide. Based on Hasbro and Cartoon Network’s animated television series, TRANSFORMERS Animated: The Game delivers an exciting action-adventure experience, allowing players to take control of their favorite AUTOBOT characters as they work together to reclaim lost fragments of the ALLSPARK, the source of all Transformers life.

“TRANSFORMERS Animated: The Game adds to the mystique and success of the Cartoon Network’s animated television series, by extending the TRANSFORMERS universe onto Nintendo DS™,” said Kim Salzer, vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. “We are thrilled to continue our incredible collaboration with Hasbro, and bring yet another innovative, interactive experience to fans of this highly-successful TRANSFORMERS franchise.”

Providing an experience that extends beyond the animated series, TRANSFORMERS Animated: The Game thrusts fans into the action with gameplay elements that include platforming, blasting through DECEPTICON-controlled hoverbots, solving side-scrolling puzzles and slot-car racing-inspired driving challenges. Players instantly switch between AUTOBOT team members to work out a number of teamwork-based puzzles in up to 20 different levels. They’ll race through a fictitious 22nd century Detroit, dodging on-coming traffic while seamlessly converting between robot and vehicle-form, utilising the special abilities of OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, BULKHEAD and PROWL. Working as a team and combining the abilities of each character is the key to reaching the ultimate goal – intercepting the missing pieces of the ALLSPARK before the DECEPTICONS.

TRANSFORMERS Animated: The Game was developed by Artificial Mind and Movement exclusively for Nintendo DS™ and is rated 7+ by PEGI.

For assets and more information about the game visit the Activision Press Centre at http://www.activision.com/index.html#presscenter|en_US or visit the official game site at www.transformersanimatedgame.com.

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at www.hasbro.com. � 2008 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision Publishing and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Site sponsor Robotkingdom have now have both of the Transformers Animated Deluxe with Legends Pack sets in stock.

Transformers Animated Deluxe Stealth Lockdown with Legends Bumblebee & Optimus Prime Pack - view
Transformers Animated Deluxe Rescue Ratchet with Legends Starscream & Prowl Pack - view

TFW2005 member Kickback has posted the full profile and bio for Transformers Animated Swindle, taken from the toy's packaging.

Motto:"Hey man. Wanna buy a plasma cannon, cheap?"

Mane:Swindle
Function: Decepticon Weapons Specialist

Profile:

SWINDLE is a one-robot black market. He's only a DECEPTICON by default, since they're the ones who most often take advantage of his unbeatable deals on armor, weapons and combat systems. If it shoots, explodes, or focuses light into a beam intense enough to melt high-grade armor, SWINDLE will sell it to anyone. Anyone who can pay his price, that is. Most of his inventory, he scavanges from those who fall in battle, but he doesn't mind helping a crippled AUTOBOT all the way to the scrap heap before stripping him of his weapons.

Galactic Powers & Abilities:
- Expert haggler and negotiator.
- Skilled at weapon modification and invention.
- Gyro missile disrupts enemy sensors and balance.

The UK Exclusive Transformers Animated comic, but Titan Magazines, is out today.  To mark the occasion Simon Furman updated his blog with some information.

Out today (October 23rd) is the first issue of the UK’s very own Transformers Animated comic. Each issue features an all-new 11-page comic strip created exclusively for the UK, the first of which introduces an all-new Autobot character, one who’ll make a big impact on TFA universe as the story unfolds. The first story, ‘Burnout’, is written by me and drawn by John McCrea, with colour by Kat Nicholson.

What else? Well, lots! More comic adventures with the adaptation of the TV episode ‘Blast From the Past’ (introducing the TFA Dinobots!), puzzles, features, part 2 of the ‘Many Faces of Optimus Prime’ poster/feature (part 1’s in Transformers #17, also on sale now) competitions much, much more. Oh, and a FREE wrist-mounted missile blaster. Everyone should have one!

For more news and updates on Transformers Animated and Transformers (UK), check out the Titan website here.

The character which was originally named Sideswipe has also been rebranded as Burnout for the comic, which includes a rename of the script as well.  it is unknown if the name Sideswipe was just an original idea for the character / story, or whether the change was down to Hasbro's injuction.

Members of the Japanese image board at 2chan.net have posted some scans from the latest japanese hobby magazines which include a design sketch for the upcoming Masterpiece Grimlock figure as well as the Transformers Disney Label Mickey Mouse toy.� You can view the mirrored images below.

C21media.et report that Entertainment Rights have picked up the international distribution rights for the third season of Transformers Animated.

Kids media group Entertainment Rights (ER) has secured distribution rights to the latest 13 episodes of Transformers Animated, bringing the total number available to 42.

The announcement follows Cartoon Network US's commission of an additional 13 episodes of the toon for delivery in spring 2009.

The 13x22' episodes generated "a great deal of interest among international buyers" at last week's Mipcom market, according to ER, and deals have been secured in the UK, France, Italy and Mexico, as well as pan-regionally within both Asia and Latin America.

The deals add to those for the original series, which has to date reached more than 80 territories via broadcasters including Mediaset (Italy), Turner Broadcasting (Australia, Latin America and India), Jetix (Israel, Netherlands and Belgium), Network 10 (Australia), TV3 (New Zealand), Mediacorp TV12 (Singapore), TV Globo (Brazil), Nickelodeon (UK), Gulli (France) and Super RTL (Germany).

ER holds worldwide TV distribution rights for the show, excluding Japan and North America, covering both free- and pay-TV.

The news may offer some comfort to concern shareholders amid speculation ER - which is sitting on around �127m (US$207.3m) in debt - is struggling to survive.

The company has said it will reveal future options and strategies in its interim results next week, after its shares fell to an all-time low earlier this week.

We are pleased to announced that Auto Assembly 2009 is coming! Europe's largest Transformers convention is back for 2009 and it is going to be bigger and better than ever! This time it is going to be a two-day convention allowing us to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Transformers in style and will be a weekend packed with activities, dealers, guests and so much much!

The convention will be held on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2009, with a bonus mini programme of activities on the evening of Friday 14th August for those who book for the full weekend. Initially only weekend passes will be available, but single day tickets will be on sale closer to the convention should spaces still be available. There will be an extra special programme of activities running on Saturday evening until the early hours of Sunday, but these will be exclusive to weekend attendees!

The convention will be held at our new venue, The Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, which is on Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, right in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, England. It is an ideal location for anyone travelling to Birmingham from anywhere in the UK and is just 2 minutes walk from Birmingham New Street Station!

We have run a number of surveys to find out exactly what you want from Auto Assembly 2009 and we will be tailoring the activities and events to suit YOU the attendees. There will be so much going on that you won't have time to rest - from guest talks to video screenings, workshops to toy and art displays, dealers and competitions, a charity auction and games area, quizzes and much more besides. And for the first time ever at Auto Assembly, a live script reading from Transformers voice actors! Talking of voice actors, we will be having not one but TWO voice actors joining us at Auto Assembly 2009 to join in the celebrations!

We already have our first three guests confirmed - first up is legendary TF artist Andrew Wildman making his sixth appearance at Auto Assembly, secondly is IDW and Titan colourist Liam Shalloo, and third we have John McCrea whose Transformers work includes Titan Magazines Transformers and Transformers Animated titles. We will be announcing more over the next few days. We are also in the final stages of discussions with our first voice actor and hope to announce them in the next 7 days and the second actor in the next few weeks!

Ticket prices will be �45 for adults and �35 for concessions with reductions to just �40 and �30 for a limited period once bookings open for early registrations! We have also managed to negotiate for reduced accommodation rates in the Holiday Inn hotel for their superb bedrooms and these will be posted on the website.

We are also working our traditional goodie bag of free gifts for attendees and this is going to be our most spectacular yet. As always, there will be more gifts the earlier you register but this will include keyrings, postcards, DVDs (for the first 40+) and much more!! There will also be added bonuses for pre-registrants and if that wasn't enough, we are also looking at ways of improving our pre-registration system to make things smoother and faster than ever for all of you attending.

Bookings will open soon so keep an eye on the Auto Assembly website and all the usual Transformers websites and forums for all the latest news and developments as we have them.

We hope to see many of you there next year for what we think will be the biggest and best Auto Assembly ever!

Simon and Sven
Auto Assembly

web: www.autoassembly.org.uk
forum: http://autoassembly.proboards7.com
email: autoassembly@aol.com
tel: +44 (0)7860 948296

New member MDVerde posted a message on our the board last night to inform us about their new convention Ticobot 2008.

This is the first transformers convention in Costa Rica.

More details can be found: http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=758

In a post over on his message board, Michael Bay has posted a comment related to the Middle East filming of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as well Transformers: The Ride

"The shooting in the the Middle East is ground breaking - an awesome time had by all the crew.

The Transformer Ride at Universal making all the press rounds - not sure yet - they had me in a press release saying I supported it - but Universal has a long way to go in my mind. I don't support it - I'm not involved and not sure the story of the ride works, and I know Optimus is not going to just show up to be directed by some new people that have never worked with him. I hate when people bullshit a quote from me that I never said.

I'll keep you informed. Maybe the guy making the rides at Universal will direct Transformers 3????

Bay"

An auction on ebay has appeared for Transformers Universe Generation Two Inferno in packaging.� The auction includes images of both the front and back of the toys box, which has no previously been seen before.

There are also four other auctions for the unreleased Transformers Universe figure on ebay as well.