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Getting there…

I will concede that these past few weeks haven't been me at my most prolific; there are reasons for that beyond just sucking. I decided to leave Nick as a full-timer and go at it on a per-project basis, which has been really nice so far -- enough work to stay in game mode consistently, but not so much that I've gotta let go of/stop building upon the other things I'd like to. I wanted to write for ToyFare more, wanted to focus on that newspaper column of mine and wanted to have the opportunity to call the occasional Wednesday a spade and spend it watching shitty DVDs. This should in no way, shape or form infer that I'm returning to the online realm on a 24/7 basis, because I've seen the other side and it is better. But I will have more time to do the site, and as soon as the smoke settles and my mojo lands, this place won't be such a ghost town.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to whine about Gmail. I set up an account for work-related endeavors (not going to use my old AOL account which labels me a dinosaur, and not going to use my X-E account which makes the unknowing think I run a porn site), and despite the awesomeness that is 2 gigs worth of web-based never-fail e-mail, the way they group mail into "conversations" is just plain stupid. I won't go into a blow-by-blow for those who've never used Gmail, but suffice to say, if you're using it for anything nearing an official purpose where uber organization is key, you're going to end up murdering someone completely innocent out of frustration. I don't know why I'm writing about this.

My next ToyFare assignment is Transformers-related, and required me to read up/watch up on a little thing called Scramble City. I'd only seen the episode once many years ago, and it had no English dubs or subtitles, so I didn't know what in the fuck. Now that I've seen a fan dub in full, wow, that's a nice slice of Transhistory. Story goes like this: In Japan, Transformers: The Movie wasn't released. To help bridge the gap between pre-movie and post-movie cartoon episodes for our friends back East, this Japan-exclusive episode was forged.

In the first episode of the would-be two-parter, we're introduced to Metroplex and Trypticon, which doesn't seem like all that much of a bridge-gapper considering that neither character appeared in the movie. The second part of the story was never produced, but the tale was ultimately wrapped up in a series of really odd commercials using the actual toys as stop-motion characters. Just to keep the confusion rolling, these commercials featured Megatron and Galvatron standing side by side, which is something that shouldn't have been able to occur without the aid of Doc and a DeLorean.

Both the animated episode and the weird commercials are on the 20th anniversary Transformers: The Movie DVD, but you can at least watch the animated half over at this site. If you're more interested in the fan-dubbed version, scour YouTube.

K- started a really great survey in the last thread -- let's make it official. In the comments, talk about some of the expensive-but-stupid purchases you've made through the years. I don't even know where to start.

Posted by Matt on 04/04/2007. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 116 comments
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Oh man, first evaaaarr!! I’ve been coming here for years and was never first.

Matt, Scramble City was a great flick and the fan dub is done really well.

What do you think of the new designs for the live action flick now that more pics have been released?

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:13 AM

I have absolutely zero reservations about the new flick. I think it’ll be fun whether it’s smart or stupid. I think I’ll enjoy it whether it cares about longstanding Transtraditions or not. I know some folks who’ve seen good long chunks, and they’ve unanimously loved it.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 12:16 AM

Sorry for the double post, but the whole Megs/Galvy thing went something like this:

Since Japan didn’t get the movie, they had no idea that Galvs was supposed to be Megs.

As a matter of fact, I believe they were both seperate characters for a while and Megatron was later resurected as Super Megatron and buried Galvatron under ice in the Arctic somewhere. The whole story is told in Manga form in some Japanese related toy magazine in the 80′s.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:18 AM

Sorry for the triple post. =P

Glad you have a good outlook on the movie. There’s alot of bitching and gushing about the flick.

As for the most expensive stupid purchase…hmmmm….damn, I’ve had alot of those….

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:27 AM

I never got into Transformers that much; had a few as a kid, but never watched the show. I think the movie will be a lot of fun. It’ll be a great popcorn flick.

I never understand why people put down movies like MiB: II or Jurassic Park III or whatever…To me, those kinds of movies are ones where I don’t care about the writing or the story, I just want a good ride. I’ll bet the Transformer movie will be a good ride.

As for the survey, I’ll have to think about it…But I know I’ve spent money on lots of crap like that. :)

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 04/04/2007 12:38 AM

Wow…that Scramble City episode was more of a commercial for toys than all the other episodes….combined (watch it; you’ll get it then)

Chestnuts roasted by Shuanfu @ 04/04/2007 12:41 AM

Heh … I paid $280 for a toy/model of “Space Battleship Yamato” AKA: the ARGO from Star Blazers … It looks choice, but all the super-cool electronic lights and sounds it made stopped working within 1 week. I didn’t take it back because the store i bought it from imported it from Japan … and what the hell were they gonna do? I still love it, but it DOES seem like a ripoff …

Also, i spent $20 on two Star Wars xbox titles: Episode 3, and Republic Commando … and i haven’t played them for more than 22 seconds each. And I firmly believe that I never will. Those were a waste of money for sure. I should’ve just set $40 on fire to say I did that instead. Now it just looks like i have shitty taste in Xbox games.

I loved the original Transformers G1 stuff – both the cartoon, and the comic book … so i’m pretty sad that Michael Bay is going to be doing the movie because he is a really lame director. It’s like getting married and wanting Mick Jagger to sing at your wedding, but finding out that it’s really Michael Bolton. Fuck it – Let Michael Bolton direct the movie … I guarantee that most of the audience probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway.

Either way, the Trans-flick will probably be fun to watch, but I bet $1,000,000 that it’s definitely NOT going to end up being a classic like the 1986 animated original.

Chestnuts roasted by James @ 04/04/2007 12:43 AM

I think one of the biggest expensive-but-stupid purchases I made was a gigantic Puppet Master DVD box-set — I’m pretty sure the sets went out of print in ’97.

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 04/04/2007 12:45 AM

I like the conversations thing. I mostly just use gmail for LJ comments and writing to my penpal, so it’s actually a great way for it to group things.

I bought a bass and a guitar, neither of which I ever played. It’s probably about $800 wasted and they remind me of what a failure I am (I quit playing piano for $800 of wasted potential?) every time I look at them. I’ve never gotten the initiative to sell them, though.

Chestnuts roasted by Katherine @ 04/04/2007 1:15 AM

I bought Pokémon Snap for $70 back when it was new. It’s easily the worst game I own out of over 300.

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 04/04/2007 1:22 AM

I can see being pissed at paying $70 for Pokesnap, but I liked that game. Shoot me.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 1:23 AM

Uhhh RewolfJ, you are wrong. Pokemon Snap is one of the greatest games of all time.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt Z @ 04/04/2007 1:24 AM

First, I myself think the new Transformers looks hella bad-ass. Of course it is going to be nothing like G1, but is that such a bad thing? I could do without “Dare to be Stupid” and “Ba Na Weep Gra Na Weep Ninny-bom” in my Transformers movie. Actually, I’d love a cameo of the universal greeting. Anyhoo, even the designs I balked at like Starscream look pretty fucking cool seeing them in motion in the TV spots.

As for the biggest waste of money, that would have to be my Wii (Don’t get me wrong, the system rocks and could probably have sold in store for this price). I payed just over $450 on ebay just to find a ton at the mall about one week after I got it in the mail. D’oh!

Chestnuts roasted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:29 AM

I bought a bass… [it] remind[s] me of what a failure I am.

Me too, Katherine, me too. I tried to sell it. It’s a lefty though, so no biters. I’m up to $1135.00 I’ve always said I have too easy access to money :cry:

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:32 AM

I’ll admit I wasn’t a true Transformer fan, but I vividly remember my brothers’ obsession with them. And the day I snapped the leg off of Matt’s Hot Rod (my brother bares a familiar name), that’s vivid in my head too. But from what I’ve seen online, despite the stupid human interlope the TF film might have, the graphics will be worth it regardless.

Chestnuts roasted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:33 AM

James, Episode 3 really wasn’t that bad. Give i a shot. While it’s lost some appeal since the movie was released, it’s worth it at least for the fighting game mode and for the ending when Anakin wins the duel. Haven’t played Republic Commando though.

Chestnuts roasted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:33 AM

Give IT a shot, not me please.

Chestnuts roasted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:34 AM

I snapped the leg off of…Hot Rod

You are never coming to my house again. Ever.

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:37 AM

Yeah yeah. Hot Rod’s still kicking though. I saw him up to the trunk in the attack. At least we managed to keep his wheel shield.

Breaking Hot Rod might’ve been a Hell worthy trespass, but months before that, I broke the arm off of his blue Centurian. (Ace, right?) Somehow, he was more mad over that.

Chestnuts roasted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:42 AM

Attic, not “attack”

Pardon my slur

Chestnuts roasted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:43 AM

The Centurions were cool. But not as cool as the godhead that was Hot Rod/Rodimus.

I didn’t spend the money, but I still feel bad about making my parents by Fort Max. I think they paid $100 for it.

Chestnuts roasted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:48 AM

The past few weeks have not been that bad, the Saturday blog entries are ALMOST articles, but if more frequent updates come, AWESOME!

Stupid purchases? On my right arm I am working on a sleeve of Godzilla characters. While I don’t think it is stupid NOW, I’m going to guess I wont be so excited about it in 20 years.

Chestnuts roasted by Blayne @ 04/04/2007 1:54 AM

For the survey:

Magic Cards
Magic Cards
Online Magic Cards that aren’t even real, but cost the same!

Chestnuts roasted by Ben L @ 04/04/2007 2:05 AM

Hmm, probably the $60 I paid for a fedora when I was in high school, or…

oh duh… Sega Dreamcast the week it came out, my 8th grade year. I scrounged money forever and ended up pawning it after a few months.

Chestnuts roasted by Tommy @ 04/04/2007 2:10 AM

Some of my own…

I’ve spent more money on Kool-Aid than I’ll ever admit. Hundreds. Some was warranted (I rarely see Sunshine Punch anywhere), but most of the time, I end up finding it again later for a fraction of the ridiculous prices I paid.

I wrote about this long ago, but I bought a Sony Dreamcast for its ridiculous retail price and broke the thing due to my now-dead rabbit chewing on a plugged-in wire. I never had it fixed. Keep in mind, I bought five games to go along with it, and it broke after like two days of owning it.

The site has caused many of my financial downfalls. The Sectaurs Hyve was a few hundred, and I only bought that so I could write about it. An old box of Christmas Crunch cereal ran me $60 or so. Fireball Island was around $70.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 2:12 AM

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