Many thanks to my friend, Dai Atlas, for attending this event and nabbing the exclusives for us. The SilverDefense team appreciates all you do! I just wish I could be there to commiserate.
HasCon started today. I don’t know if we could call it successful. Here’s what I’ve heard so far:
-There have been three thousand preregistrants. Now, that sounds like a lot, but remember: we’re dealing with multiple franchises so that number should have been a bit higher.
-The Transformers panel was moved from 5:30 pm to 11:30 am. The change was not reflected in the program guide. Instead, fliers were handed out to the attendees.
-Some of the exclusives actually have sold out, namely the GI Joe set and the Primitive skateboarding Optimus Prime. There are Arcees, as well as the Magic: the Gathering card sets.
-There seem to be plenty of kids there and they are having fun. But there doesn’t seem to be a lot for the adults. That may bite Hasbro in the back end but we’ll see.
-That VIP lounge? It’s a joke. A few couches, some food and drink and that’s about it.
-Most people who are there are claiming that Hasbro took their SDCC displays and simply spread them around the convention center. They may be right.
-Yes, Hasbro has the entire convention center, which means a lot of walking. As in, from one end of the building to another.
-There are movie vehicles. They are from the first Transformers live action film. Bumblebee–in his 1976 Camaro form–and Barricade. There’s also an Optimus Prime statue, along with movie props. Sure, you can get pictures taken with them but that’s it. Some were thinking that Hasbro was going to have a bit more interactivity with these displays. That would have been nice, I do admit.
As of right now, it really does seem that I’m not missing much. Sure, I’d love to have my picture taken with Bumblebee but I was hoping that it would be the Camaro from the latest film. I was rather hoping that one of the Optimus Prime trucks would have made an appearance but that seems like a wash. Again, this wasn’t strictly for Transformers; I know that. But what’s going on right now doesn’t sound fun.
Here’s hoping 2018 will offer us something better.
Iacon East 
You’re both welcome, Silverwynde and Prime. As Mark Ryan told me at SDCCI ’08, I am your emissary. 🙂
This Friday of HasCon appeared anywhere from lightly-to-moderately attended. Friday is obviously for the superfans while most families with children would be there on the weekend.
I did not like how the Transformers panel was moved…the program guide had it for later in the day and I was confused. There’s a lot of walking involved between the DD Center and the many levels of the RICC.
I was bummed out when I learned I wouldn’t be able to get Shawn’s items. 😦
The atmosphere is definitely child-oriented as the many Hasbro brands encourage touching, testing and playing. Many adults are either the parents or just fans or both.
The VIP lounge was a joke indeed. I expected too much in believing there would be a TV there playing TF series or something. And given the hundreds of dollars I paid to attend this, you better believe I took advantage of snacks and drinks they had available there throughout the day! Thank Primus they also had diet Lipton Citrus tea. 🙂
It was nice to see the TF vehicles again. I wish they would have also had Ironhide and Ratchet like at the ’09 Paramount Party…there certainly was space at the RICC.
My take on today? I know it’s Hasbro’s first convention, but it irked me that their employees wearing the blue shirts were not all knowledgeable. Some didn’t know what event was were or what time did x-panel start. I can’t apply a broad stroke as some were helpful and took the time to show me what was were and such. I still have to say for the clueless ones that that reflects bad on Hasbro. I got the impression not everybody had the same training, if they had any at all.
Due to the long-ass line at the HTS, I missed out on the Stan Lee panel. HTS employees must move faster. I am attending a convention where the Transformers focus is very diluted as other brands I don’t associate with like MLP or MTG are in the spotlight. Still, there are TF-related guests like Welker, Cullen and Yoke-san, to name a few, that were invited, so I still have some anticipation. There’s still Saturday and Sunday for this event. 🙂
~daiAtlas
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