By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor
Anyway you look at it, Transformers is big business.
The original Transformers film made more than $319 million across the United States when it was released ($709 million worldwide) and the sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen made more than $402 million domestically and $836 million worldwide (Box Office Mojo.)

The action-toy-turned-movie sensation has its own convention at Walt Disney World this weekend at Autobots and Deceptions, the 16th annual Transformers Collectors’ Convention.
Thousands of Transformers fans from around the world are expected to attend the convention at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort on today and Sunday to celebrate more than 25 years of action and excitement at what is more commonly know as “BOTCON.”
At this year’s BOTCON, Hasbro, which makes the Transformer toys, is launching the Transformers Hall of Fame to honor those influential in creating and building the iconic entertainment brand.
“The Transformers Hall of Fame celebrates Hasbro’s global entertainment property that has sparked the imagination of millions of kids over the past 26 years and remains one of the world’s most iconic brands,” said Greg Lombardo, senior global marketing director for Transformers. “We are excited to induct the first Transformers Hall of Fame class during the convention’s visit to Orlando.”
In addition to Transformers influentials Bob Budiansky, Peter Cullen, Hideaki Yoke and Kohjin Ohno being inducted, favorite robot characters Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron and Starscream and are members of the inaugural class. Hasbro will also announce and induct the “fan’s choice” robot character, voted on by the Transformers fan community, at a special Transformers Hall of Fame induction ceremony event at BOTCON Saturday night.
This year’s convention will feature, for the first time ever, an interactive experience celebrating the launch of the global “Hunt for the Decpticons” online gaming promotion. In this experience, convention attendees can help the heroic Autobots locate and thwart the evil Decpticons. BOTCON 2010 is the only place fans can partake in this physical interpretation of the online gaming experience.
BotCon will also feature appearances by iconic voice actors from the recent Transformer movies and animated television series, as well as the Hasbro Tranformers brand team members and other industry guests. Guests will also have the opportunity to buy and sell merchandise, check out the new Transformers: War for Cybertron video game, attend panel discussions led by Transformer experts, view the fan-created diorama and customized figure contest, and win hourly door prizes.
General admission tickets are available at the door, $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12. Admission is free for children 5 years old and under. Tickets provide access to the showroom on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additional details information can be found at botcon.com, or by calling 817-448-9863.