Boy, last night was absolutely surreal. Brian and I attended the official launch party for that new Transformers Playstation game (also celebrating Transformers' 20th anniversary), marking the second party I've been to for this one particular video game. Held in midtown Manhattan in what looked to be either a really big photo studio or a modestly sized reception hall, it was a room full of Transformers nuts, plasma screens and loads of alcohol.

I had a chance to interview David Kaye, who's been voicing Megatron for nearly a decade now. Garry Chalk (Optimus) was there, but since I already did an interview with him, he was instead used for a very entertaining cigarette break buddy. Let me tell you, that guy is absolutely aces. Super nice and shitloads of fun. Anyone who'll smoke seventeen cigs in the rain, waxing philosophical about "Bride of Chucky" while doing Family Guy impressions is worth saying hello to. As for David, I'm not going to say too many nice things about him. I don't think it's fair that the dude who voices Megatron was the best looking guy at the party. Doesn't he have enough?

All in all, it was just an absolute blast. Of the soirees and galas of this type that I've been fortunate enough to attend, this was probably my favorite of all. On the other hand, I'm having trouble remembering most of it. Vague recollections were sprinkled through the morning hours, but by this afternoon, I was pretty sure that a good time was had. Full coverage on the event, along with the Prime and Megatron interviews plus four different Transformers DVD reviews will be up on UGO sometime next week. I'm going to have to negotiate my time on Easter Sunday between family and that episode of "Beast Wars" where poor Dinobot gets offed. Should be interesting.

Don't ask me how, but I ended up coming home with the drink menu:

Yeah, drinks named after Mini-Cons. My kind of party. Attendees also received gift bags, and since I need to archive a memory that's slowly fading, click "more" to see the freebies...

Goodies! Goodies for me!

Toonami watch. Because of the tins, everyone assumed these were just candles. We were such fools.

True story: I had gotten a different figure, but the package was all bent up so I traded it in for this one. The woman working the giftbag desk (amazing that they had a giftbag desk, but don't get too excited, it doubled as a coatcheck) happily exchanged my bent up toy for this one. Old habits die hard, but alas, I mashed it up to bits on the bus ride home.

Toonami T-shirt. One size fits most.

Dropbox stuff, because the theme of any Transformers party should be LOTS OF YELLING AND SCREAMING.

Toonami shoulderbag, which is pretty neat, actually. Very silky. You could make babies on it.

Demo for the game, in high-tech packaging.

Comics!

Stickers! I think I took more than I was supposed to. I always do when nobody's looking.

Art asset CD full of screenshots from the game and whatnot. I had Prime and Megsy sign it, because I was drunk and someone had a Sharpie.