Transformers Sub-Culture Likely to Stage Large Turnout For Movie

Benson Yee, 31, is an IT consultant from Elizabeth, New Jersey who has 3,000 pieces in his Transformers collection and a website called Ben's World of Transformers. According to theage.com, "Yee is one of many men now in their late 20s and early 30s who grew up surrounded by Transformers--the toys, the cartoon, the comic books--and who are experiencing childlike anticipation of this month's release of the "Transformers" live action movie...The toy line was one of the hottest toys in the 1980s for boys (and even some girls).

The story, the toys were based off of, centered on the battle between the two factions of the robot race: Decepticons, which strive to dominate the universe, and Autobots, which believe in peaceful coexistence with humans. The movie has been produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Michael Bay; it will open the weekend of July 4. It will also be screened at this year's BotCon, the annual Transformers convention. Brian Savage, who organizes the convention, says the movie has sparked greater Transformers awareness among the general population: last year's BotCon attracted 2,200 people, but Savage is predicting that this year's will attract anywhere from 4,000-8,000.