We just wrapped up our long-overdue TCA Cybertron Podcast, so stay tuned here for download access once the MP3 is cleaned up and uploaded.

As announced earlier this week, our podcast featured special guest, TCA member, and Shadow Realm staff member Nightshade (aka forum member Predaking). Nightshade/Predaking and her fellow Shadow Realm staff have for some time now had connections within both Hasbro and the Michael Bay camp, allowing her acccess to some exclusive potential news scoops.

TCA EXCLUSIVE TRANSFORMERS 3 NEWS!

You'll have to listen to the podcast to hear all the (very juicy) news, but some highlights to give you a small taste of whta to expect:

• Transformers that received pitifull little screentime (such as Sideswipe and Jolt) will receive better on-screen roles this time around. And yes, this means Nelson's remark that Jolt is not returning was indeed misinformation.
• The red sports car that has been seen on various sets is confirmed as Hot Rod!
• Transformers 3 is intended to have a much stronger focus on the original cannon with the aim of pleasing the fans who have to this point been disappointed with the direction the movieverse has gone compared to previous series.

These are only three of quite a few points revealed during the podcast, so stay tuned! 

A special thank you goes out to TCA member Predaking and our partner site the Shadow Realm for the excellent news contributions and effort put into making this podcast happen! Also thank you to our podcast participants Wheeljack, Nitestar, and Cascadia for making the podcast not only possible, but interesting!

THIS SATURDAY!!

We will be hosting our long overdue TCA podcast!

TCA forum member Predaking (known to many as Nightshade), who hails from her home forums known as The Shadow Realm, will be joining us to discuss some exclusive Transformers 3 news.

Nightshade and the staff of The Shadow Realm have some insider connections with Hasbro and Michael Bay, hence our chance to scoop some exclusive news you haven't heard elsewhere yet!  Predaking kindly gave us some secret predictions last year that proved true upon the release of Revenge of the Fallen.

If you're interested in joining our online discussion, please post here. All that's required of you is a Skype account and a decent mic and headset.

The podcast will take place this Saturday, August 14th, at 1:00pm Central Standard Time (CST).

KOToys.com now has up for preorder the soon-to-be-released Takara Animated Black Optimus Prime.

This Prime is a Takara exclusive following the popular trend of black repaints. The Autobot symbol on the figure suggests this will be a Black Convoy/Prime as opposed to a Nemesis Prime, and uses the Animated Voyager mold.

Rumor originally had it that this was going to be a very limited release in Japan, but supposedly there will actually be considerably more produced than expected (unconfirmed rumor - no specific source to cite).

If you do not prefer to wait to see which rumors are confirmed true, you can preorder the figure now for $129.99. All preorderes are at this time guaranteed to receive a figure, according to KOToys.

Perfect Effect's PE-02 Shadow Demolitions & Shadow Pack Set is now in stock at BigBadToyStore.com. Any of those who preordered the set should see it ready for shipping shortly.

The Shadow Demolitions figure is a slight repaint of the previously released PE-01 Shadow Warrior figure. Both figures are intended to compliment FansProject's Shadow Commander set, which itself is an add-on set to Hasbro's Universe Classics Nemesis Prime.

Like its Shadow Warrior predecessor, Shadow Demolitions is an homage to the G1 cassette tape Decepticons, Rumble and Frenzy. The figure features removable pile drivers as well as a new accessory previously not included with Shadow Warrior, which serves a set of floodlights for Nemesis Prime's / Shadow Commander's truck mode. The new accessories also allow for new methods of mounting weapons upon Shadow Commander's back. Last but not least, Shadow Demolitions can be paired with Shadow Warrior in gun mode to mount on each of Shadow Commander's shoulders.

 Shadow Demolitions is priced at $49.99.

Fellow Transformers fan site Seibertron.com posted a warning today to stay clear of Transformers candy.

Per the Orange County Register :

 "Not that this candy looked that appetizing to begin with, but if you have 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' Crunchy Candies in your house, get rid of it.

The California Department of Public Health discovered that one lot of the candy had excessive levels of lead, which can be harmful to the brain development of children. Pregnant women (not the target demographic of the movie or the candy, surely) who have eaten the candy, or parents of children who have, should consult a physician immediately, CDPH said in a statement Friday."

Thanks to the Seibertron community for saving some transfans some potential ER trips!