Hasbro has finally confirmed their combined universe cross-over set for SDCC is real! We first heard rumours of this set back around February but it only today that Hasbro have confirmed that it is happening with the release of a series of images of the SDCC 2017 Shared Exclusive set called Revolution Toy Package. The set features:

1. Jetfire from Transformers
2. Roadblock from G.I.Joe Renegades
3. Matt Tracker from M.A.S.K
4. Action Man from Action Man
5. Rom The Space Knight
6. Dire Wraith from ROM
7. Micronauts from Micronauts
8. Leoric from Visionaries

Hasbro has issued a new press release announcing their events, and pricing for those events, as well as their updated panel schedule which includes items for both fans of Transformers and G.I.Joe.  

The events cost $200 + tax ontop of your entry price with the Transformers and G.I Joe panels clashing so fans of both franchises, such as this website, would have to choose.

The panels are including in the ticket price and are:

Friday

12:30pm - 1:15pm - IDW - Transformers Comics: How Artist and Writers Bring Story To Life - 

1:30pm - 2:15pm - Creating the World of G.I. Joe Characters - A look at the characters and creation process, moderated by Dan Klingensmith

2:30pm - 3:15pm - From Unicron to Megatron - Explore the Villains of Transformers. Hosted by the brand team this panel will dive into the evil robots within the TF Universe

3:30pm - 4:15pm - Creating the World of G.I. Joe Vehicles & Playsets - A look at the vehicles and playsets of G.I Joe including never-seen-before concepts, moderated by Dan Klingersmith

5:30pm - 6:15pm - More Than Meets The Eye - A behind the scenes look at the Transformers toy line, sneak peak at upcoming product hosted by the Transformers brand team.

Saturday

12pm - 12:45pm - Peter and Frank Sound Off: The voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron - A panel with Frank and Peter talking about their work and their memories

1pm - 1:45pm - IDW - Transformers Comics: How Artist and Writers Bring Story To Life - 

You can read the full event list below.

Hasbro Rolls Out All-Star Lineup for First-Ever HASCON FANmily™ Event Sept 8 – 10

Just Announced: Panels, Meet & Greets and Autograph Sessions with Entertainment Icons James Gunn, Stan Bush and Special Performance from Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Daya to join already announced line up of Stan Lee, Dude Perfect, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker.

New Ticket VIP Packages available offering exclusive access and opportunities

PAWTUCKET, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), a global play and entertainment company, unveiled additional programming details and VIP ticket packages for the first-ever HASCON FANmily event. Happening September 8 – 10, 2017 at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, HASCON will bring Hasbro’s most iconic brands to life.

Joining the previously announced all-star line-up is James Gunn (writer and director, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 1 and 2) and musician Stan Bush (singer, “The Touch” from TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE). HASCON will also feature a headlining performance and meet and greet from Multi-Platinum GRAMMY® Award-Winning singer-songwriter Daya and an interactive sing-along with Sesame Street’s beloved Muppets Elmo and Abby Cadabby.

Previously announced talent includes appearances by Dude Perfect, Stan Lee (Marvel Comics Legend), Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Producer of all the TRANSFORMERS films, as well as G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. JOE: Retaliation); Peter Cullen and Frank Welker (original TRANSFORMERS voice talent); Andrea Libman and Cathy Weseluck (voice talent of MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC and MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE); and “Chewbacca Mom,” Candace Payne.

This unique event will bring Hasbro’s most iconic brands to life like never before, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY and G.I. JOE and exceptional partner brands such as BEYBLADE, DREAMWORKS TROLLS and SESAME STREET. Fans will get a peek behind the Hasbro curtain during the three days filled with exciting first-look previews and panels from Hasbro’s biggest television and movie series, including Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS: RESCUE BOTS, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC as seen on Hasbro’s joint-venture television network Discovery Family.

In addition, there will be activities inspired by several iconic Disney properties, including Disney Princess, Frozen, Elena of Avalor, Moana and Descendants 2, as well as Star Wars and Marvel’s Avengers, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. From movie props and costumes on display, to hands-on fun through art tutorials and more, these areas will be can’t-miss destinations during the show.

IDW Publishing’s Artist Alley will feature appearances from some of the industry’s most recognized comic illustrators, artists, and designers plus unique HASCON merchandise available for purchase. Ultra PRO, the leading brand of accessories for tabletop gaming, sports memorabilia and pop culture collectibles is the supporting provider of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons activities, providing HASCON guests exclusive access to custom Magic: The Gathering event prizes and HASCON exclusive playmats, plush dice, deck boxes and learn-to-play participation gifts.

General Admission ticket holders will be treated to an exciting array of activities including: interactive brand experiences, panel discussions, meet and greets, musical guest performances, cosplay activities, a Hasbro passport tour and scavenger hunt, larger-than-life Hasbro games, a HASCON commemorative program and an opportunity to audition for Hasbro television commercials.

Just unveiled HASCON VIP packages will offer fans access to all General Admission activities, as well as special VIP 1 hour early access to the show floor to shop for a chance to buy HASCON exclusive product from My Little Pony, Transformers, Dungeons and Dragons as well as multi-convention exclusives from Star Wars, Marvel and Magic The Gathering.* VIP’s will also receive a Hasbro goodie bag, access to the VIP lounge and an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Hasbro headquarters, in addition to one of the following exclusive events:

• Transformers Hall of Fame Dinner – Friday 6:30 pm
  Be part of the first ever HASCON Transformers Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony with a surprise guest. Enjoy a sit-down dinner and experience an exclusive live performance from Stan Bush, a welcome with Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, and a sneak preview of select 2018 Transformers toys shared by the Transformers design and brand teams.

• My Little Pony Mane Event: Hall of Our FANmily Dinner – Friday 6:30 pm
  Enter the world of Equestria at the first-ever My Little Pony HOOF (Hall of Our FANmily) Dinner and Induction Ceremony. The HOOF inductees will include special guests and surprise honorees who have left their hoofprint on the brand.

• G.I. Joe Legends Dinner – Friday 6:30 pm
  Join co-emcees and G.I. Joe authors Derryl DePriest and Dan Klingensmith for an intimate and entertaining evening event featuring one of the greatest gatherings of G.I. Joe Legends ever assembled! As we celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the launch of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line, enjoy a sit-down dinner, meet and mingle with Legends and listen to them discuss their experiences on G.I. Joe.

• Stories with Stan – Saturday 11:30 am
  This is your chance to sit down with Stan Lee, a true comic book legend! As one of this generation’s greatest storytellers, Stan will share his tales to astonish about the creation of pop culture icons including Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men and many more – EXCELSIOR! Stories with Stan attendees are guaranteed to receive a pre-signed autograph poster from Stan Lee commemorating his HASCON visit and a surprise gift. Lunch will be served.

• Transformers: The Last Knight Movie Event
  Join celebrities and producers, including Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner, from Transformers: The Last Knight to celebrate the home entertainment release and view special Bonus Footage. Enjoy light refreshments and a special video message from a surprise celebrity.

• My Little Pony: The Movie Sneak Peek – Saturday 6:15 pm
  Be one of the first to catch a sneak peek of the upcoming My Little Pony: The Movie. Listen to film discussions with Head Storyteller Megan McCarthy and participate in a Q&A session with surprise celebrity talent, enjoy light refreshments, and enter a raffle for a chance to win My Little Pony merchandise.

General Admission ticketholders can also purchase special access to select HASCON VIP events as “ticket add-ons” through the HASCON website. These “add ons” include the above events as well as a special meet and greet with the Dudes, which includes an exclusive sneak peek of the Dude Perfect signature Bow video before it’s revealed, an autographed NERF Dude Perfect football, selfies and more!

To purchase General Admission and VIP tickets, view complete package details and stay up to date on all the latest information on HASCON 2017, please visit http://hascon.hasbro.com

The inaugural HASCON FANmily™ event is presented in part by IDW Publishing, Ultra PRO and Discovery Family.

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of
Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
© Hiro Morita, BBBProject, TV TOKYO. © 2017 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. The Company’s Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, are building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Through its commitment to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to make the world a better place for children and their families. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

© 2017 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

*Limited quantities available on HasbroToyShop.com after HASCON.

In a Facebook update, Hasbro have released a video covering some of the Transformers experiences for HasCon 2017. They mention meet and greets with the teams, Stan Bush performing, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, a Hascon exclusive (which they don't reveal), as well as confirming that there will be panels revealing the 2018 line-up.

Registrations for CybFest 2017, the unofficial Transformers fan convention held within the Pacific North West of the United States, is now live. You can register for CybFest NW — The Cybertronian Festival as an attendee or a dealer. General admission is $10 for those aged 9 or over, with concessions for 5-8 year olds being $5 and under 5s are free. For dealers and artists there are five teirs available ranging from $30 to $75. 

CybFest 2017 will be held on August 19th, 2017, at the Kent Commons Community Center in Kent, Washington. 

Hasbro have confirmed, via Facebook, that HASCON shall feature exclusive product that will also be available in limited quantities after the show at HasbroToyShop.com

Hasbro have opened up ticket sales for their first Hasbro Convention along with announcing the iniital guest line-up and schedule of events. You can view the full press release below with the main details being summarised as:

• General Entry Ticket Prices; all prices exclude taxes
• Adult Tickets (16+) are $60 for 1-day or $165 for 3-days
• Youth (3-15) are $30 a day or $75 for 3-days
• Youth (0-2) are free for both single and 3-days
• VIP Packages all prices exclude tax
• Super Fan (3-day) - $600
• Super Star Youth - $200
• Super Fan Magic: The Gathering - $600. Includes three exclusive cards.
• Super Fan Dungeons & Dragons - $600
• VIP Packages include:
• VIP Seating (Limited to 50 seats, must arrive 40 minutes before the panel)
• Evening Activity (Movie Screenings, Hall of Fame Dinnerrs, Toy and Game Behind the scenes)
• Reserved Theater seating
• Goodie Bag
• Green Screen
• Exhibitors
  • Artist Table - $350 includes 8ft table, 2 chairs, two passes, listing on website
  • Basic Booth - $1,000 - 10x10 booth, 6ft table, 2 chairs, 4 badges
  • Deluxe Booth - $2,500 - 20x10 booth, 6ft table, 2x chairs, 6x badges
  • Preimum Booth - $5,000 - 40x10 booth, 2x 6ft tables, 4 chairs, 10x badges

The schedule of events is currently:

• Sept 8th
• 10am Magic: The Gathering Play Events
• 10am Dungeons & Dragons Play Events
• 11am Main show & brand worlds open
• 11am: Multiple Panel Sessions start
• Also celebrity appearances, costumed characters, meet Hasbro designers, engineers & writers
• Sept 9th
• 10am Magic: The Gathering Play Events
• 10am Dungeons & Dragons Play Events
• 9am Main show & brand worlds open
• 9am: Multiple Panel Sessions start
• Also celebrity appearances, costumed characters, meet Hasbro designers, engineers & writers
• Sept 10th
  • 10am Magic: The Gathering Play Events
  • 10am Dungeons & Dragons Play Events
  • 9am Main show & brand worlds open
  • 9am: Multiple Panel Sessions start
  • Also celebrity appearances, costumed characters, meet Hasbro designers, engineers & writers

The guest line-up is currently:

• Stan Lee
• Peter Cullen
• Frank Welker
• Andrea Libman
• Dude Perfect
• Mark Rosewater
• Meghan McCarthy
• Mark Boudreaux
• Cathy Weseluck
• Candace Payne
• John Warden
• Derryl DePriest

Press Release:

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- May 22, 2017 – Today Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), a global play and entertainment company, officially opened ticket sales for the first-ever HASCON FANmily™ event, which will take place in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin’ Donuts Center from September 8-10, 2017. Hasbro fans and families from around the globe can purchase single day tickets or three-day tickets for the convention, with VIP packages available for super-fans and the most enthusiastic collectors. 

Today Hasbro also revealed the first round of talent appearances, panels and brand experiences set to take place during HASCON 2017. Appearances and meet & greets will be available with some of the biggest names from Hasbro, including DUDE PERFECT, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura (Producer of all the TRANSFORMERS films, as well as G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. JOE: Retaliation); Stan Lee (Marvel Comics Legend); Peter Cullen and Frank Welker (original TRANSFORMERS voice talent); Andrea Libman and Cathy Weseluck (voice talent of MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC and MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE), “Chewbacca Mom”, Candace Payne and more. 

This unique event will bring Hasbro’s most iconic brands to life like never before, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY and G.I. JOE, and exceptional partner brands such as BEYBLADE, DREAMWORKS TROLLS and SESAME STREET. Fans will get a peek behind the Hasbro curtain during the three days filled with exciting first-look previews and panels from Hasbro’s biggest television and movie series.

Attendees will be immersed in hands-on, interactive experiences with oversized games such as PIE FACE and TOILET TROUBLE from HASBRO GAMING, photo opportunities with SESAME STREET and TROLLS costumed characters, epic BEYBLADE battles, a PLAY-DOH creation zone and the MY LITTLE PONY magical world of Equestria. FANmilies will be able to take photos with props from Hasbro’s movies and step into a custom-built NERF battle arena, maybe even with the guys from DUDE PERFECT. HASCON will also host MAGIC: THE GATHERING gameplay featuring an exclusive preview of the upcoming Iconic Masters card set. Youth fans, ages 3-15, have the opportunity to audition for Hasbro commercials and voice talent on our animated series. Fans also can purchase exclusive* Hasbro toys and merchandise including new TRANSFORMERS products. 

In addition, there will be activities inspired by several iconic Disney properties, including Disney Princess, Frozen, Elena of Avalor, Moana and Descendants 2, as well as Star Wars and Marvel’s Avengers, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. From movie props and costumes on display, to hands-on fun through art tutorials and more, these areas will be can’t-miss destinations during the show.

“Hasbro constantly strives for new ways to bring our storytelling to life and offer fans greater access to our brands, and HASCON is designed to bring attendees closer to Hasbro’s biggest properties than ever before,” said John Frascotti, President of Hasbro. “We are assembling the ultimate fan celebration, with three days of marquee talent, interactive activities, immersive experiences, game events, panel discussions, VIP events and much more. We’re set to deliver an unforgettable experience for fans and families alike.” 

HASCON tickets are on-sale now. Single day tickets are available for $30 for youth (ages 3-15) and $60 for adults (ages 16+). Three-Day tickets range from $75 for youth (ages 3-15) to $165 for adults (ages 16+). VIP packages are also available for super-fans and the most enthusiastic collectors starting at $200 for youth (ages 3 – 15) and $600 for adults (ages 16+), plus taxes. To purchase tickets and stay up to date on all the latest information on HASCON 2017, please visit http://hascon.hasbro.com 

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
© Hiro Morita, BBBProject, TV TOKYO. © 2017 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

About Hasbro 
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. The Company's Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, are building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Through its commitment to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to make the world a better place for children and their families. Hasbro ranked No. 1 on the 2017 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past six years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
© 2017 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Crystal Flynn
Hasbro, Inc.
Crystal.Flynn@hasbro.com
401-727-5129

*Limited quantities available on HasbroToyShop.com after HASCON.

Pete Sinclair, best known for working with both 3H and Fun Publications on their Botcon shows, has announced that he is running his own convention this summer called Pete's Robot Convention. Whilst the website, petesrobotcon.com is currently offline, you can find out more below.

The Summer Robot Convention lives on with Pete’s Robot Convention this June 23-24, 2017 at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter!

Cincinnati, OH –Dating back to 1994, the Summer Robot Convention has been a time-honored tradition for fans of all ages and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to keep that tradition going. Pete's Robot Convention makes its inaugural launch this year, taking the Robot Convention concept back to its roots with a renewed focus on the vendors and the thousands of amazing robot toys they will have for sale, while also providing a great venue for fans to come together and make it the social event that we've all come to enjoy. And like we said, there will be thousands of robot toys for sale! 
We are offering Pre-Registration for anyone who wants to take part in both the Friday evening activities as well as the Saturday show. Click the Pre-Registration link today to sign up for only $59.75! Check out everything you get for this low attending price! We will also be offering at-the-door admission. Teens and Adults are $10. Kids 12 and under are FREE!
The Transformers, Gobots, Voltron, Robotech, Exo-Squad, Power Rangers, Z-Bots, Commandrons, TriBots, and classic characters from across the last 50 years… Fans of all these great properties and so many more are all welcome at Pete's Robot Convention!
Please visit PetesRoboCon.com for all the details and additional info. We look forward to seeing you this summer at Pete’s Robot Convention!

About Pete’s Robot Convention
The organizers behind Pete’s Robot Convention have been a part of the Transformers and general sci-fi genre for over 30 years. Co-organizer Pete Sinclair was part of the former Official Transformers Collectors’ Convention BotCon in various capacities since its inception in 1994, with his last role being that of a Senior Marketing Manager for licensee Fun Publications, tasked with the marketing of both BotCon and the Official G.I Joe Collectors’ Convention GIJoeCon, the former Official Transformers Collectors’ Club and the Official G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club, developing exclusive product and fiction for each. © 2017 Pete’s Robot Convention. All right reserved. 

TFNation have announced that dedicated art and craft trading area known as "The Forge" will return for TFNation 2017. TFNation 2017 take place from August 11th through August 13th 2017 at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham in England. You can virew a copy of their announcement below.

Applications are now open as are ticket sales.

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TFNation_2017

Operation: The Forge Returns for TFNation 2017

TFNation is not only pleased to announce that The Forge is returning for TFNation 2017, but also that applications are now open!

The Forge, located in a specially designated room just outside of the main convention hall, is our home for fan art and crafts and shall be joined this year by various other features, details to be announced in future transmissions. The Forge is an area for our creative attendees to promote, display and sell their work.

Here is how it works...

STAGE 1 - MAKE AN APPLICATION

Aspiring Forge artists and crafters are required to pre-register their interest by completing the application form linked below.

You must be aged 16 or above to make an application. You do not need to have booked a ticket at this stage - you are free to apply before making that decision.

Successful applicants will receive an email inviting them to make a formal booking. Applicants who are not successful this time will be notified and will be welcome to apply again in future years.

TFNation staff will allow a grace period of 14 days, until March 13th, before reviewing applications. This is to allow as many people as possible the chance to apply. All applications will be reviewed by TFNation staff. If necessary, applications will remain open after March 13th until all spaces are sold.

Space will once again be limited, so we recommend getting your applications in as soon as you can.

STAGE 2 - PAY FOR YOUR TABLE

If your application is successful, you will then be able to book your table.

Both Forge Craft and Forge Artist Alley stalls cost £25.00, including built in insurance. You must also hold a valid TFNation 2017 full weekend ticket.

If you do not hold a weekend ticket then one shall automatically be added to your Forge booking. If you have already purchased a day ticket and your Forge application is approved, then your ticket will be automatically upgraded to a Weekend ticket for an additional price.

Full terms and conditions will be available at the time of booking - but here are the important things you need to know about each table type.

FORGE CRAFT STALLS

- For attendees to promote, display and sell any hand-made craft items. Up to three individuals may share a single Forge Craft Stall.

- Stalls cost £25.00.

- Stalls are only available to attendees who have purchased a weekend ticket.

- Some crafters produce art prints of their creations. We are happy to allow these, however toys, sketches and art commissions may not be sold here. This is to protect our artists and traders who have invested a lot of time and money into their stalls.

FORGE ARTIST ALLEY STALLS

- For attendees to promote and display any art prints, sketches and art commissions.

- Artist Alley stalls are for one person only.

- Stalls cost £25.00.

- Stalls are only available to attendees who have purchased a weekend ticket.

- Toys and craft goods may not be sold here. Again, this is to protect our traders and crafters.

All stalls must be staffed by the person(s) who paid for them. This is to ensure the safety of your stock and our attendees. The TFNation crew are unable to staff stalls.

Please CLICK HERE for further details on applying to The Forge.

We look forward to seeing your amazing creations!

Further transmissions to follow.

TFNation

Where All Are One

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TFNation have announced that Japanese artist Kei Zama shall be one of their guests at TFNation 2017 which takes place August 11th through August 13th 2017 at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham in England. You can virew a copy of their announcement below

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Operation: Kei Zama to attend TFNation 2017

With IDW’s universe of Transformers comics going from strength to strength, the depth of talent involved in creating them grows ever greater and now we at TFNation are pleased to bring more of that greatness to you, in the form of Kei Zama, returning for our second year.

Starting with her series of covers for IDW’s Transformer line in September 2015, Kei-sensei has rapidly gained a large fan following, due to her mean and gritty artistic style, as well as her stunning commission work. Following on from her cover work, she is now bringing the continuing adventures of Optimus Prime to life (along with writer John Barber and colourist Josh Burcham) in his current titular series.

Outside of Transformers, Kei-sensei made her Marvel comics art debut with last year’s Scarlet Witch #10, has provided art for Sparklight comics, as well as covers for IDW’s Atomic Robo, and recently achieved a personal dream in working on an ABC Warriors-related piece for Fleetway/2000ad. Her Blackblood-themed story (written by the mighty Patt Mills) is set to show off her undeniable talent for monochrome imagery and prove a perfect fit for the tone of this title.

We advise all our attendees to keep an eye on Kei-sensei’s blog http://steelandstarlight.com/ for details of her commission list, as the event draws closer.

Kei Zama will be signing autographs, discussing classic British rock bands and selling artwork (including her highly-prized sketchbooks) at TFNation 2017 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel. We look forward to seeing you there!

Further transmissions to follow.

TFNation

Where All Are One
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TFNation have announced another guest for their upcoming convention which takes place from 11th August 2017 until 13th August 2017 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel in Birmingham England.

Transmission Initiated
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TFNation_2017
Operation: Kei Zama to attend TFNation 2017

With IDW’s universe of Transformers comics going from strength to strength, the depth of talent involved in creating them grows ever greater and now we at TFNation are pleased to bring more of that greatness to you, in the form of Kei Zama, returning for our second year.

Starting with her series of covers for IDW’s Transformer line in September 2015, Kei-sensei has rapidly gained a large fan following, due to her mean and gritty artistic style, as well as her stunning commission work. Following on from her cover work, she is now bringing the continuing adventures of Optimus Prime to life (along with writer John Barber and colourist Josh Burcham) in his current titular series.

Outside of Transformers, Kei-sensei made her Marvel comics art debut with last year’s Scarlet Witch #10, has provided art for Sparklight comics, as well as covers for IDW’s Atomic Robo, and recently achieved a personal dream in working on an ABC Warriors-related piece for Fleetway/2000ad. Her Blackblood-themed story (written by the mighty Patt Mills) is set to show off her undeniable talent for monochrome imagery and prove a perfect fit for the tone of this title.

We advise all our attendees to keep an eye on Kei-sensei’s blog http://steelandstarlight.com/ for details of her commission list, as the event draws closer.

Kei Zama will be signing autographs, discussing classic British rock bands and selling artwork (including her highly-prized sketchbooks) at TFNation 2017 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel. We look forward to seeing you there!

Further transmissions to follow.

TFNation

Where All Are One
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TFNation have posted an update regarding hotel rooms at the Hilton for their 2017 convention.

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Operation: Hotel Update

First off, we are just so grateful to all of our supporters for what has been an incredible 18 months! It has been heartening for us to see the ever-growing support of the entire TFNation family (attendees, traders, guests, volunteers and crew from all walks of TF fandom) coming together to share their passion.

One of the results of this union has been a markedly increased demand for this years’ convention-rate rooms at the Hilton Metropole. Due to this demand, the remaining allocation has become limited and, naturally, we have received a lot of questions regarding the remaining rooms. We therefore want to take this opportunity to answer some of these points, provide some information and keep everyone up to date. So let's begin with...

1. ARE ALL OF THE DISCOUNTED ROOMS SOLD OUT?

No. Although some room dates/types have sold out, there are some still free to book. At the time of posting, the following options are still available.

• Wednesday 9th – Single Deluxe, Twin Deluxe, Queen Family
• Thursday 10th - No rooms available at our discounted rate
• Friday 11th –Single Deluxe, Queen Deluxe (extremely limited), Queen Executive Rooms
• Saturday 12th – Single Deluxe
• Sunday 13th - No rooms available at our discounted rate
• Monday 14th – Twin Deluxe, Queen Family
• Tuesday 15th – Twin Deluxe, Queen Family

2. WILL TFNATION RECEIVE ANY OTHER DISCOUNTED ROOMS?

We have already liaised with the hotel and it is very unlikely that we will be afforded any more rooms at the convention-rate, as they have to cater for multiple events within the Hilton complex, as well as demand from “Quiltcon” which expects over 25,000 visitors that weekend. With this in mind, we encourage you to make look into alternatives now, if you are unable to secure your first choice room.

3. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ROOM CHOICES ARE UNAVAILABLE

There are multiple ways you can book alternative accommodation, so stay calm, and start planning your hotel options now. Remember, this is where you will sleep AFTER enjoying all the convention's events. While staying outside of the main hotel may add extra time when returning to your room, it will not impact the jokes in the bar, the workshops we will announce shortly, the panels, the guests or your friends who you will no doubt meet that weekend.

Below, we will list the options you can take now, to assist your search. We advise you to take prompt action as holding out for your preferred room to become available again may only further reduce your options.

4. BOOK WHAT YOU CAN

As noted above; there are some Hilton options left. If you can book one or two nights at the discount rate, you may have more flexibility, financially, to book other nights either at the Hilton or elsewhere.

5. FIND A ROOMMATE

We will shortly open a thread on our Facebook page for people looking for roommates. If there is a spare bed in your room, please consider assisting a fellow fan. We will be monitoring the group to ensure the process runs fair.

6. THE HILTON WEBSITE

Although the convention rate rooms are selling quickly, the Hilton, like most hotels, reserves a portion of rooms for public sale. 

Please check out their site at http://bit.ly/1RMUtdF for standard room rates. If you already have some nights booked at the Hilton, booking a further night, directly, will allow you to remain at the venue for longer. After purchase, we advise you to phone the hotel and enquire if they can “stitch” the two bookings together. NOTE: this does not mean the Hilton can amend prices.

7. THIRD PARTY HILTON ROOM WEBSITES

Third party websites also sell some of the publicly available rooms at the Hilton. While some bookings will be cheaper than the Hilton's own website, payment dates and breakfast options may vary - always read the terms. We suggest you try the following:

• Hotels.com
• Trivago.com
• laterooms.com

8. OTHER HOTELS

Shortly, will update our website to provide you with a FULL list of alternative accommodation in the area as there are several options within walking distance, or a short commute. To assist folks looking now, we suggest four of the most popular alternative hotels are worth checking out;

• Hotel Ibis Styles Birmingham Airport NEC
• Hotel Novotel Birmingham Airport
• Hotel Ibis Budget Birmingham Airport
• Hotel Ibis Birmingham Airport

All four options can be researched by going to their official group page at http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/united-kingdom/index.shtml

9. WHAT NOT TO DO

In previous years, a small number of people have called the Hilton directly and have been less than polite to reception staff. This serves little purpose but to damage TFNation's relationship with the Hilton and may, in fact, impact future years' allocations. We strongly urge our attendees not to do this - reception staff do not have the authority to give you additional discounted rooms, or change booked rates, and do not deserve to be treated badly during their day job.

In addition, we know our core team is quite visible and friendly, but messaging them directly to resolve your issues will only cause you extra delays. The TFNation crew will be looking at queries received through the main TFN Facebook page, Twitter, email, and prioritising them as they come in, to ensure attendees are treated fairly – thank you for your understanding here.

Finally, please do not attempt to book rooms at full rate, only to request a switch to the convention rate nearer the date. It does not work... especially when people write on our page about their intent to try it.

10. THE ALLOCATION PROCESS EXPLAINED

We have received a lot of questions along the lines of “why doesn’t the hotel give us all of the rooms – surely it is better for them to sell them all?”. We want to address this point, rather than try do dodge it.

Throughout the year, regular rooms at the Hilton can sell for anywhere between £100.00 and £300.00 per night, depending on how busy the NEC is that weekend. (Try a few searches on the website – you’ll see what we mean!) Now consider how cheap the TFNation rate is in comparison to this.

When putting the two figures side by side, it is quite easy to see that the Hilton sells our attendees rooms at a massive discount. And Transformers conventions at the Hilton have usually shared the weekend with at least two other events, which also receive discounted rates. All of a sudden, those numbers become super important. To keep their business viable that weekend, the Hilton therefore has to maintain a percentage of rooms to sell at the public rates – effectively, to pay for the loss they make in catering for a hoard of happy robot fans. 

This is why, as much as we would love to, we can’t guarantee you all 790 rooms. Some go to a couple of other events; some go to special NEC affiliate events; and some go to the general public to help to pay for us lot. This is common practice at all hotel convention venues.

Some attendees may not be aware, but previous TF events at the Hilton (and the Holiday Inn, for you veterans) have sold out of their discounted rooms, with many attendees sourcing alternate accommodation. If you have not been in this position before, it is natural to be a little nervous. It is, however, important to remember that nothing has gone wrong - the truth is that a large amount of our TF community have booked straight away and taken up many of the options available. With the options listed above (and more to come) we hope we can make your convention booking process as easy as possible.

We hope this update has been helpful and we thank you for your understanding. We know booking hotel rooms can be a stressful time. Whether or not you get your first choice room, we hope as many of you as possible will join us at the convention.

Further transmissions to follow.

TFNation

Where All Are One
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TFNation have issued the following release regarding ticket prices for their 2017 convention

Dear attendees,

On 21st December 2016 we provided an outline for future important updates. This is the first important piece of information you will need before tickets go on sale on 1st February 2017.

TFNation have kicked off the New Year by announcing their first Voice Actor / Actor guest as Venus Terzo! Venus is best known to Transformers fans for voicing Blackarachnia in Beast Wars and Beast Machines though she is also well known as the voice fo Rainbow Dash in My Little Pony, Girl-Type Ranma in Ramna 1/2, Jean Grey, the Sorceress, Jinx, Princess Lana and on-screen roles including Arrow, Minority Report, Supernatural, Stargate SG-1, Blackstone and the Da Vinici's Inquest. You can read the rull press release below. 

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Operation: Venus Terzo to attend TFNation 2017

As well as announcing the dates of HasCon 2017 Hasbro have also announced that a new fan club shall be launching in 2017 to replace the existing Transformers Collectors Club

In addition, we are excited to confirm that the Transformers experience is expanding in 2017 with the new Transformers fan club. The new club will replace the existing Transformers Collectors club which ends December 31, 2016. More details will follow in the coming months so be sure to sign up for the new Transformers newsletter to get the latest and to stay up to date on other brand news, promotions, products, fan events and more.

Press Release:
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Hasbro to Create the Ultimate Entertainment and Play Experience by Bringing Its Iconic Brands to Life with First-Ever ‘HASCON’

First-of-Its-Kind Convention Will Bring Fans and Families Together for Three Days of Immersive Entertainment Experiences, Talent and Character Appearances, Panels and More in September 2017

PAWTUCKET, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), a global play and entertainment company, announced it is creating the first-ever HASCON fan and family convention in September 2017. The massive event, which will be held in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin Donuts Center from September 8-10, 2017, will treat attendees to three unforgettable days featuring a celebration of Hasbro’s powerful characters and stories, including live interactive experiences, exclusive products, talent appearances, panels and much more.

From bringing the first action figure to life with G.I. JOE, to creating a world where robots are truly ‘more than meets the eye’ with TRANSFORMERS, Hasbro’s brands have always overflowed with rich stories and dynamic, multi-faceted characters, providing an incredible platform to capture the imaginations of fans of all ages. The premiere HASCON event will bring the magic of decades of storytelling under one roof for the ultimate, immersive Hasbro fan and family experience. Hasbro’s top properties, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, MAGIC THE GATHERING, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE and many others will be reimagined through dynamic stage performances and unique opportunities for fans to engage with their favorite characters. In addition to interactive experiences designed to offer attendees a glimpse into Hasbro’s imaginative storytelling in action, visitors will have the chance to see first-look previews of Hasbro’s biggest television and movie series, attend panels and meet-and-greets with celebrities and creative talent associated with Hasbro brands, take part in Hasbro Gaming competitions and purchase special limited-edition Hasbro products.

“Hasbro is home to many of the world’s most recognizable brands, each of them with their own group of passionate and engaged fans,” said John Frascotti, President of Hasbro Brands. “HASCON will deliver an extraordinary peek behind the curtain of our brands, storytelling, and iconic characters while giving us the opportunity to invite fans and families to our hometown for the most memorable, unified Hasbro experience ever.”

For all of the latest information on HASCON 2017, please visit http://hascon.hasbro.com