A big thanks to Rich for sending us a brief low-down of the Transformers items that will feature within the Autumn / Winter Argos catalogue which is due out later this month. The new stock is already appearing on the warehouse computers, though no prices have been added yet.  The items Rich has found, along with the catalogue numbers are;

387/6530 Animated Activators
387/6547 Universe Legends 3 pack
387/6554 Movie Ultimate Bumblebee (this is a different cat no. to that in the current catalogue, which could mean a regular store release rather than the limited Argos Extra as it is at the moment).

Rich points out that the figures have not arrived yet, so he can not identify exactly which ones they are.

We'd expect that the normal Transformers Animated figures will also be added to the catalogue / computers as well.

We are pleased to bring you the results of the 7th Poll run by TransformersAnimated.com. The poll posed the question "Who is your favourite guest character?" and here are the results

1. Arcee - 7%
2. Ironhide - 13%
3. Longarm - 6%
4. Soundwave 37%
5. Swindle - 6%
6. Wasp - 14%
7. Wreck-Gar - 17%

So there you have it, Soundwave was your favourite guest character by far.

A new poll has begun on TransformersAnimated.com where you are asked to rate the second series of Transformers Animated.

etoysjapan have posted images and information on a Hasbro Hong Kong prize item, a gold chromed Leader Class Optimus Prime toy. The figure, which Hasbro HK have said is limited to 88 pieces worldwide, will have 10 copies of the toy given away at the Hong Kong Animation and Comic Show 2008 to the first ten people to spend HK$3000 or more.

Here's the spiel.

(Revised version) Collected here are pictures of worldwide 88 pieces limited production of the Transformers Movie Voyager Optimus Prime.

Gold plated everything except the tires (of course). Comes with a case and platform with numbers, so nice!

How to get it? Don't you just hear me :

88 pieces Worldwide!!!!

Feel better after shouting. This project is initiated and carried out by Hasbro Hong Kong; According to their information all the Optimus Primes are gifts for certain special occasions (what occasions they refused to tell me). Now the first chance. Hasbro is putting up a booth in the Hong Kong annual Animation and Comic Show 2008. They have 10 pieces available as gift to the first 10 persons who spend HK$3000 or more buying their products.

HK$3000 is about US$390, not a lot but then to make sure you are the first 10, probably you have to queue up in front of the exhibition hall the night before. Of course you can always pay someone to do it, say another US$100 to $200. So this piece worth more than US$500, will you get it? I am not young and foolish enough for overnight lining up any more but certainly do want one..........deadlock.

This is the second Lucky Draw toy to be released outside of Japan, after Hasbro US's chromed coloured Leader Movie Prime toy.

Thanks once again to Break for letting us know about his latest find at Toys R Us (in the UK). 

My ToysR Us had the Transformers Animated Activators in today - and they are quite nice toys for the price of �4.99 (they are basic size so could have easily been marked at 7 quid by Hasbro). They have an automatic transformation like the flip changers and are pretty poseable too - and Bumblebee is in scale to the deluxe/voyager figures! In the assortment as well as BB are Strscream & Bulkhead (who seems to have made it into every scale except deluxe so far)

The San Diego Comic-Con website has been updated with the schedule for the event, which you can read here.

The exclusive Transformers toy for this year is Transformers Universe (Classics) Nemesis Prime.

Cybetron.ca have an online Q&A with Hasbro Canada arranged where you can submit your questions online to them. They will then take the best 10 and submit them to Hasbro for answering.

Bear in mind that this Q&A will be with Hasbro Canada and not Hasbro US, so they probably wouldn't be able to answer questions to do with the toy design / production process.

Thanks to Neurie for letting us know about his latest Transformers Animated sightings in the UK.

Smyths and The Entertainer both have black aracnias and Ratchets.

Toys R us have elader Bulkheads and Megatrons.

No primes seen yet :(

1. COMBATICONS
2. FLARE UP
3. STRIPMINE

It’s a natural habit of Transformers fans all over the globe to leave booking places for conventions until the last minute and it happens with Auto Assembly EVERY year with over 25% of our attendees booking in the last TWO WEEKS! However, we want to remind all of you that - because we send out confirmation packs to all of you who pre-book that you MUST bring with you on the day to ensure that you gain admission to the convention you need to allow enough time for these packs to get to you!

We do anticipate that we will have plenty of spaces available on the day although we have been told that there will be more coverage from the BBC on their local radio in the run up to the convention so we are still recommending pre-booking. Not to mention the fact that we are going to be operating a “fast track” check-in that will allow those of you arriving on Friday to pick up your packs a day early and get in as soon as the doors open on Saturday… but we’ll tell you more about that another time!

UK Attendees

For those of you pre-registering from within the UK, we would ask that you ensure that your bookings reach us by Sunday 27th July 2008 at the ABSOLUTE latest. This will give us enough time to process your bookings and get your packs sent out to you by first class post on 28th or 29th July at the latest.

International Attendees

To give us the best chance of ensuring that your packs reach you in time for the convention, we would ask that you get your pre-bookings into us by Sunday 20th July 2008. Confirmation packs will be sent out to you by airmail by 21st or 22nd July at the latest which should allow enough time for them to reach you.

We will not be held responsible for confirmation packs not delivered for bookings received after these dates although we will endeavour to process all bookings in time for the convention.

New Goodie Bag Item!

Yes, we have another item confirmed for the goodie bag! This year we are pleased to confirm that we will be giving away not one, not two, but THREE exclusive Auto Assembly postcards! They will be featuring artwork from Simon Williams, Mike Collins and Lee Sullivan!

The original artwork from all three will be available in the charity auction and all three will also be appearing on our convention exclusive keyrings which will be on sale on the Registration Desk for just �1.50 each!

Well, that’s it for this mini-update, but we should have a few more announcements soon so keep an eye out on all the major TF websites and forums and we hope to see a lot of you all on 2nd August!

As always, for all the latest information on Auto Assembly 2008, to book online or to download booking forms or for more information on anything in this update, visit the website at www.autoassembly.org.uk

Simon and Sven
Auto Assembly 2008

email: enquiries@autoassembly.org.uk
web: www.autoassembly.org.uk
forum: http://autoassembly.proboards7.com

tel. +44 (0)7860 948296 / +44 (0)7804 951406

Thanks to Loosecannon and Oddsey for submitting news of the latest savings at Argos on the Transformers line.

New Argos Bargains!!

Movie Leader Prime @ �14.99!
Movie Voyagers @ �7.49
Alt Wheeljack @ �5.99!!
Movie Prime/BB two pack @ �9.99!

Clearance Stock:

Voyager toys - �7.50
Voyager Prime with Bumblebee - �9.99
Leader Prime - �14.99

Rakuten has updated it's listings for Transformers Binal Tech 22 Convoy to show that the dfigure has been postponed, with no update on when the toy to be released. BT Arcee appears un-affected.

Click here for the original lisitng