Transformers: The Ride Communique #4

Univeral Studios Hollywood has released another video to promote the May opening of Transformers: The Ride in the States. Like the previous three communiques, it is a re-edit of the footage used for the attraction. This one focuses on Megatron's attack of the NEST base to steal the AllSpark fragment. Video below.

Transformers Wins Three VES Awards

Transformers: Dark of the Moon won two out of the five categories it was nominated in for the 10th annual Visual Effects Society Awards. Transformers: The Ride also won its category of Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project. The awards are given out to honor achievement in visual effects across multiple areas besides movies. DOTM won for Outstanding Created Environment (155 Wacker Drive) and Outstanding Models (Driller) in a movie.

The categories Transformers 3 lost in where Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture to Hugo, and Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture to Captain America. In the last 9 years, 7 times the winner of the VES' Outstanding Visual Effects Award went on to win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. This includes the first Transformers in 2008. This year the win indicates that DOTM’s competition is Apes. The full list of winners can be found here.

Transformers: The Ride Super Bowl Commercial

Below is the official Super Bowl commercial for Transformers: The Ride that opens in May at Universal Studios Hollywood. The rest of the recently released videos to promote the attraction can be found here.

Transformers: The Ride Trailer, Optimus Message and Site Up

Universal Studios Hollywood has ramped up their campaign to promote the May opening of Transformers: The Ride in California with a new trailer, message from Optimus Prime, and updating the attraction website. The full trailer (1st video below) is expected to air today sometime during the NBC Pre-Game show before the Super Bowl. In addition, Optimus Prime (as voiced by Peter Cullen) warns the human race of the Megatron (2nd video). Finally, the website PrepareForBattle.com is live so that people can enlist as NEST volunteers. The site has online game that lets you rise up the NEST ranks by completing missions brought to you by videos, downloads and trivia questions. Those that play will have the opportunity to win The Ride specific Transformer collectibles with a grand prize of a trip to experience Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood (3rd video).

Transformers: The Ride Super Bowl Commercial Sneak Peek

Universal Studios Hollywood has posted a very brief video (like the Avengers), to tease their Super Bowl pre-show commercial for Transformers: The Ride. The teaser (below) uses Opthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifimus Prime footage from the attraction. Their description says "watch the commercial during The Big Game this Sunday, February 5th on NBC" but their newsletter says "Tune in Sunday for NBC's Super Bowl Pre-Game Coverage to see the national premiere of our commercial". I don't see Universal (part of Comcast along with NBC) using up one of their $3.5 million Super Bowl commercial slots so I tend to think the pre-game show is when it will most likely debut. If the this and the Communiques are any indicates, it will be an edit of the five minutes of footage used during The Ride itself.

Transformers: The Ride Communique #3

Universal Studios Hollywood has released another re-mix of their attraction footage to create Communique #3. The video below features General Morshower warning of the return of Megatron, needing the Transformers with ability to protect the All Spark and needing more recruits for NEST. Just like with Communiques #1 and #2 it ends with "Game Begins: February 4th, 2012. Enlist now. www.prepareforbattle.com".

Transformers: The Ride Communique #2

Universal Studios Hollywood has posted the second communique for Transformers: The Ride that is set to officially open Memorial Day weekend. The videos are a re-edit of some of the footage used for the attraction. The previous communique welcomed recruits. This one covers a few battle tactics which quick segment of Bumblebee ripping Ravage's head off. It ends with the reminder that "Game Begins: February 4th, 2012. Enlist now. www.prepareforbattle.com". No idea what the game is but wonder if its an update of an Autobot vs Decepticon web game that was used to promote the first movie.

Transformers: The Ride Communique #1

Universal Studios has posted a new promo video (below) for Transformers: The Ride that will officially open Memorial Day weekend (end of May) at Universal Studios Hollywood. The promo has General Morshower welcoming NEST recruits, warning of Decepticon sightings and later saying "Project 101 is a go". It ends with text saying "Game Begins: February 4th, 2012. Enlist now. www.prepareforbattle.com". I am not sure if this is footage created specifically for promo purposes or if they edited in The Ride video in creating the promo.

Transformers: The Ride Universal Hollywood Teaser Trailer, Website

Universal Studios Hollywood has released their version of a teaser trailer for Transformers: The Ride 3D which just recently opened at Universal Singapore. As part of that they narrowed down the launch date to May 2012 but did not specify a specific date. I assume sometime around Memorial Day (5/28/12) to take advantage of that prime vacation/end of school period. In addition the official attraction website PrepareForBattle.com has been gone live.

Transformers: The Ride World Premiere with Michael Bay (Updated)

Friday was the grand opening of Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore. On hand for the celebration was director Michael Bay as he literal rode in the Bumblebee Camaro and activated the ride. He also sat down for a Q&A with the media and talked about his part in creating the attraction. MichaelBay.com posted the pic to the left and an article talking about it. Below are two videos of the world premiere festivities. The first from R3Load.net is a 13 minute video that is a walkthrough of the ride from outside, during and after along with Bay's grand entrance while the second video from MSN has some of the Q&A with Bay and more opening footage. I am curious if the sweet Bumblebee and Prime costumes are going to be an ongoing thing at the studio with some poor soul having to walk around the park wearing them or if specific for this opening.

Update: I.Z. Reloaded informs me that the costumed Bumblebee and Optimus Prime "permanent attraction in park, greeting the theme park guests and welcoming them to the Ride." Bumblebee is 7.5 feet tall (2.3 m) while Optimus is 9.5 feet tall (2.9 m). Wearing those costumes are hard work so be kind to those inside.

Transformers: The Ride Opens Early, Galleries, Full Ride Video

While tomorrow is the official grand opening of Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore, that has stopped the ride from opening early. Below are links to two galleries that show off the attraction both outside and inside. After is a video from an enterprising person that managed to sneak a camera onto the attraction and hang on to it through the bumpy 4 and half minute ride. The video is blurry due to the 3D effect.
Theme Park Guy | Relax.com

Transformers: The Ride Scene by Scene Preview

While various videos over the few weeks (including a fan description) has shown us snippets of Transformers: The Ride, the Los Angeles Times has now waded in with their own scene by scene breakdown of the attraction that will debut on December 3rd at Universal Studios Singapore.

Scene 1: A mechanical Decepticon tiger named Ravage grabs the AllSpark, leaps onto Evac's hood and claws at the passengers. Evac escapes by driving erratically.

Transformers: The Ride - Local News Coverage, Ride Facts

Transformers: the Ride will premiere in just a few days at Universal Studios Singapore. As a result regional news stations are airing reports (below, in English for some reason) from The Ride that shows off more of the footage from the attraction, including various areas and a nice long look at the Evac vehicle that people will be sitting in for the five minute simulation. What is amusing is how you have three different stations (but maybe owned by the same corporation) airing the same reports with the same reporter but edited in slightly different ways to make it seem different. Speaking of Evac, it turns out that the attraction has a life size statue of the character sitting outside, perfect for quick mementos of the visit. I assume the Hollywood version of The Ride will have the same thing. Thanks to Feris for finding the video.

The second video comes from Resorts World Sentosa that provides a few details about the attraction. They verified that Michael Bay did consult on the attraction and footage verified that Optimus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheelie, Megatron, Ravage, Sideways, Grindor, Devastator, Bonecrusher, and Starscream all make appearances along with various voice actors reprising some of their roles.

Transformers: The Ride - Before, During, and After Footage

Transformers: The Ride is now less than a week away from its official opening on December 3rd at Universal Studios Singapore. The ride there will be the same version that is currently being assembled at Universal Studios Hollywood for its Spring 2012 debut. The exact date remains unknown. The first video (below) shows off The Ride before and after for what visitors will see as they go through the line and what the cafe and store looks like after. The second video appears to be a television report/advertisement that includes a little behind the scenes footage mixed with a tease of the experience during the ride.

Transformers: The Ride - Audio Recording

The leaks, both official and not, continue as the start of Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore is just around the corner with its official December 3rd date. In the meantime, it seems the attraction is running now in some capacity since to the left is an audio only recording of the almost five minute long ride. I guess someone might eventually get a video but I assume the studio will be watching for such attempts. With all the jerking around it probably would be difficult to get a decent video recording. (via Seibertron)

Transformers: The Ride Video Preview

The Resorts World Sentosa has posted a brief video preview that shows off a little bit of Transformers: The Ride along with a glimpse at Megatron. The Ride officially premieres at Universal Studios Singapore on December 3rd.

Transformers: The Ride First Impressions

While Transformers: The Ride has not officially opened at Universal Studios Singapore, it seems that some have had a turn on it. Yesterday some images and a commercial have been posted but thanks to 0JazzMeister0 from the TFW2005 forums, we know have first-hand description of his experience. He confirmed that The Ride is a simulator that has you sitting in Evac's car mode. It holds 12 passengers that are closed in with no roof. The vehicle moves in multiple directions to simulate the action on the 12 screens that surround the vehicle. I am not clear if it moves along a track but I suspect the careful layout of the screens help sell the feeling of movement. There are additional "4D" aspects like wind, heat, etc. to enhance the immersive experience.

The action starts with Bumblebee jumping on roof with Evac trying to shake him. Bumblebee stops Ravage, when he is attacked by Barricade. Evac leaves, crashing through walls and dodging traffic until attacked by Megatron. Optimus Prime runs interference but Megatron ends up chasing Evac who does a lot of moves to get a way. The chase continues with Evac dodging Blackout and going through the maw of Devastator before being grappled by Starscream and flung into buildings. Sideswipe rescues Evac and co. and runs interference on another chase through the streets while avoiding Bonecrusher. It ends with a fight between Megatron and Optimus with a timely assist from Evac and one last midair rescue from Bumblebee. Over all it sounds like a fun, but probably 3-5 minute right that will probably be quite popular when it eventually opens at Universal Studios Hollywood sometime in early spring. To read 0JazzMeister0's detailed description, click here.

Transformers: The Ride - Pictures, Commercial and VFX

Transformers: The Ride is just a few weeks away from officially opening at Universal Studios Singapore. Some spies there were able to score a bunch of pics from The Ride including a few details about its setup. Below is the first ad for the attraction that shows some of the CGI footage that has been created. The full gallery and details can be found here.

Speaking of special effects, The Ride blog has posted a brief Q&A with visual effects supervisor Jeff White who spoke about the work ILM put into creating the effects for the ride. It turns out a total of 30 seconds of "ride media" was created using designs from same team that worked on Dark of the Moon. The effects where rendered at 8k, 4x the resolution normally rendered at due to the needs of The Ride.

Linkfest - Combiners and Transformers Prime

More toy news for your entertainment. Below are links to galleries for upcoming 3rd party toys including two combiners, GameInformer covers, WST Astrotrain and Transformers: The Ride tease. For videos there is a look at Sideswipe at recent Hub event, latest Kre-O commercial, and video reviews of Heavy Labor & five Transformers: Prime toys.

Not Dinobots CombinerHit the link to view a small gallery that shows off a closer to production design of the not Dinobot combiner that 3rd party TFC Toys is working on. The sucker has a whole lot of grey going on so hoping further tweaks are coming. Over all though it’s a pretty authentic creation of the 5 Dinobots but with the added combiner mode.

GameInformer Covers
Hit the link for two of special covers created for GameInformer's special Transformers: Fall of Cybertron issue that should be hitting newsstands pretty soon.

Transformers: The Ride - Introducing Evac

Next month brings the debut of Transformers: The Ride to Universal Studios Singapore. As part of that, below is a brief video that introduces a new character to the cast with Evac. The character was created specifically for the new attraction. The character's alt mode is a vehicle that audiences will sit in for the 3D ride. As some of the footage below teases, it is pretty clear that Michael Bay filmed some of the Ride's footage while in Chicago.

EVAC is a new recruit to the AUTOBOT team stationed on Earth and has never been in combat with DECEPTICONS before -- a bond he shares with the latest human recruits of NEST, right here at Universal Studios Singapore.