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04/04/2007: 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. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 115 comments

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?

Ghosted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:13 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 12:16 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:18 AM EDT

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….

Ghosted by Darth Galvatron @ 04/04/2007 12:27 AM EDT

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. :)

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 04/04/2007 12:38 AM EDT

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)

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 04/04/2007 12:41 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by James @ 04/04/2007 12:43 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Review the World @ 04/04/2007 12:45 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Katherine @ 04/04/2007 1:15 AM EDT

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

Ghosted by RewolfJ @ 04/04/2007 1:22 AM EDT

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

Ghosted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 1:23 AM EDT

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

Ghosted by Matt Z @ 04/04/2007 1:24 AM EDT

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!

Ghosted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:29 AM EDT

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:

Ghosted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:32 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:33 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:33 AM EDT

Give IT a shot, not me please.

Ghosted by Timbo @ 04/04/2007 1:34 AM EDT

I snapped the leg off of…Hot Rod

You are never coming to my house again. Ever.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:37 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:42 AM EDT

Attic, not “attack”

Pardon my slur

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 1:43 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/04/2007 1:48 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Blayne @ 04/04/2007 1:54 AM EDT

For the survey:

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

Ghosted by Ben L @ 04/04/2007 2:05 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Tommy @ 04/04/2007 2:10 AM EDT

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.

Ghosted by Matt @ 04/04/2007 2:12 AM EDT

I think I got the 89 Batman cereal for like $20 bucks on ebay, which my friends always make fun of me for, and I just don’t tell anyone about the $50 I spent on a box full of Bucky O’Hare toys.

Also, a bunch of domain names that I never got around to using. (thefootclan.org anyone?)

Ghosted by Tommy @ 04/04/2007 2:16 AM EDT

Ahh the joys of a $300 Chicago Bulls leather jacket. Ahh the joys of being a Bulls fan in the early 90’s. And yes it still sits in the closet not throwing that out

Ghosted by VoodooRock @ 04/04/2007 2:44 AM EDT

I’ve been trying to conjure up some of the thousands of stupid buys I’ve made, but they all seem distant, and there’s nothing laying out readily for me to spout out, though I know they’re there. Really, all I can think of are the books I’ve bought online. Since I discovered half.com a few years ago, I’ve ordered at least two dozen books. Half have been photo books, which were rare to begin with and I didn’t mind throwing down 30+, but I’ve paid up to the same, 30 bucks, for old catalogs for either the photography featured therein or catalogs for the inane; shit no one bought but had a good time browsing. I regret the bite I had to swallow after paying for such a thing, but if those damned books weren’t on the shelf as they are today, I’d hate myself just the same.

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 3:35 AM EDT

When I was like 11 or 12, my mom gave me access to my “life savings” (all the birthday card money and stuff since I was born or something) by handing me a debit card. Her intent, I guess, was to give me a shot at maturity. Bad move. This was a rather tumultuous time in my little life as my parents had just split.

During the following 3-6 mos, I blew all that money on crazy expensive crap:

-$150.00 for both the lion Voltron and the vehicle Voltron (you know, the big ones)
-$175.00 for a “real” ninja costume that I wouldn’t try on or return when it didn’t fit. Never wore it (and honestly, when would I?)
-One of those HUGE Breakdancing boom boxes with like 14 speakers and a double tape deck for like $300 (I eventually used it to piss off my neighbors with Circle Jerks and Black Flag tapes when moms was out)

By the time the money was about gone, my interests had turned to beer and pot (during this time we moved from “the country” to “the city” which is really just a wooded suburb, but seemed like the Bronx when I was 12). So the last couple hundred went to the head.

God this brings back a lot of shitty memories. Oh well, just sharing.

FM

Ghosted by Fungusmungus @ 04/04/2007 4:28 AM EDT

Back in high school I’d drop hundreds on orders of anime like it was nothing. But I believe the worst was when I spent like $120 on a Buruccha from Kodomo no Omocha.

Ah, to be young again and free of debt…

Ghosted by Mystie @ 04/04/2007 4:47 AM EDT

Matt, before I go to bed, which should’ve been hours ago, work’s sneering at me just a few hours ahead, but is your box of random goodness still up for sale? You know, for a friendly donation to the site, you’re shipped a hefty big ol’ box of anything and everything? I know you posted that years ago, but I was just wondering.

It stuck in my head because in the example pic, that damned Granny Gruesome always stared me downed saying, “You know, you could own me again, maybe. AHHHYYAAGGGHHHUUU YAK!”

Just wondering.

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 04/04/2007 5:14 AM EDT

First- congratulations on continuing life choices, Matt (as long as this isn’t a thinly veiled attempt to play on Pogo all day).

I personally like Gmail, but not having to spend 5 minutes emptying the 600 junk-mail messages from my wife’s account.

As for wasting money, most of mine goes to computers and cell phones and the like. (Good example: I have 2GB of RAM coming tomorrow that cost $140 A.R.) I use them well and keep them for as long as possible, but I should probably give my car a little of that love too, considering it’s 12 years older than me.

Oh, does about 20 credits of college that will never help me graduate count? That’s worth at least $5000.

Ghosted by Mad Cow @ 04/04/2007 7:35 AM EDT

I always buy stuff when I think I’m getting a deal, and like a week later I see it for even cheaper than before. No fail, EVERY TIME. I bought a $128 Teen Titans Raven statue from eBay, I love the thing, but thats probably the most I’ve ever spent on something that doesn’t do anything. I spent $175 dollars on a movie boxset, Gungrave, but atleast they’re movies and I can watch them, so I don’t consider it a dumb purchase. Though a few months later they re-released it as a ‘thin pack’ and at half the cost, does plastic cost that much that if you make DVD boxes half the size it warrents a 50% price cut?!

Ghosted by flabslapper @ 04/04/2007 7:55 AM EDT

I bought a Boglin for way to much money :( Sad but true.

Ghosted by Mj @ 04/04/2007 8:21 AM EDT

Well, I did sink tens of thousands of dollars into an English degree with no teaching certificate, leaving me nigh-unemployable, but that was all scholarship money so I don’t think I can really count it. Actually, since I also had three meals a day at the world-famous Bean also covered by scholarships, I guess I turned a bit of a profit on that one.

So I guess my own stupid financial decision lies in the near future. I need a new trench coat. The problem is that I bought my first trench coat in a charity shop in Oxford for five quid, so anything I pay for a new one is going to strike me as a monstrous injustice. Not looking forward to that one.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 04/04/2007 8:59 AM EDT

A couple years ago my sister got married and I was the maid of honor and I had to purchase the 200 dollar dress. The airline lost the luggage that the bag was in, but found it after I had already called every bridal shop in the country to find the same dress and have it shipped and overnighted for like 400, grrrr.
Also, about 5 or 6 years ago I had a thing for coughjohnmayercough. I spent way too much for rediculously good seats…..so ashamed.
Curious, Matt, what is this column you write? Forgive me if you have already mentioned it

Ghosted by kb @ 04/04/2007 9:02 AM EDT

Congratulations Matt! I dream of being at a place in my life where I can make a decision like that.

I have spent more money than I should have on a couple of things… unfortunately they weren’t for me, but for sheisty exes. I have to admit I tend to be stingy and hold out until prices drop considerably. It saved me from paying nearly $80 on a LOTR boxed set for my husband… I got it for him this past Christmas for $17.88! And, believe me, everyone knew!

I still tend to spend to much on stuff for my daughter, but I feel that’s justified… the toys are really for all of us, right?

Ghosted by Heather @ 04/04/2007 9:13 AM EDT

I was into the Transformers, Followed the cartoon and had my fair share of the toys. Still have my original Soundwave!

As for expensive embarasing purchases, I bought the movie Dance Til Dawn on VHS for my wife a few xmases ago…it cost nearly $100 bucks after shipping. It was released on DVD shortly after…Man was I Pissed! BTW Matt, you should really review Dance Til Dawn sometime, it would make great Article Fodder!

Ghosted by Greg @ 04/04/2007 9:37 AM EDT

oh i just remembered i bought a $30 PSX game twice for my ex. The first time she lost it, than i bought it again for her after she broke up with me cuz i’m dumb, the game was Bust-a-Groove, which is even more insulting, i kicked her ass in it though, so i got my revenge >:D

Ghosted by flabslapper @ 04/04/2007 10:14 AM EDT

I used to spend a lot of money going out to eat when I was younger, but all the kids did that. I would say my purchasing decisions by and large have been pretty good because I’m such a cheapskate. Comes with being Scottish.

Ghosted by Jeff Mack @ 04/04/2007 10:16 AM EDT

http://www.mail.com I use that for one of my e-mail addresses, and it seems to work pretty well!

As for the expensive purchase…I will have to think on that one.

Ghosted by Steven S. @ 04/04/2007 10:20 AM EDT

I’ve wasted money on tons (literally, tons) of stuff, but none of the individual items were all that expensive. One regretful purchase that comes to mind is a light jacket I bought, which is more like a gray wool shirt overlay than a “jacket” anyway, for like 80 bucks because I just had to have it for a New Year’s party outfit. Ugh. SO not worth 80 bucks, but it seemed like it was at the time. I’ve worn it like 5 times since I bought it in 99. Every time I see it hanging in the closet, it mocks me.

After reading the comments about the broken Hot Rod figure, I could come up with a better answer to a survey of great toys I’ve broken that I regret breaking. :(

Ghosted by Peter @ 04/04/2007 10:28 AM EDT

Arrg….I don’t know what my most expensive “stupid” purchase was. I tend to think everything is cool when I buy it…but I guess it is the $100 dollars spent on Mulan and SPace Jam themed merchandise when I was in Middle School. Wow. That’s not so bad now that I look at it.

Ghosted by Lost_Lenore @ 04/04/2007 10:32 AM EDT

Ok, I think I have it. Over the past 1-2 years, I have probably spent over $300 on action figures (X-men, Star Wars, LOTR, etc..). They are in boxes in my basement, but I just couldn’t resist them. I like to think of most of them as a way to preserve my childhood. Decent excuse..right???

Ghosted by Steven S @ 04/04/2007 11:29 AM EDT

I traded in a bunch of Michael Jordan cards to a shifty card store owner for $100, then used that money to buy Mario Kart 64. I really liked that game, but it was nearly $90 when it first came out. Since then, my brother traded that game and our N64 for a PS2. I guess in hindsight those cards that took me a long time to collect are valueless these days, still there were some gems in that collection.

I also started collecting Simpson figures when they first came out and had all of the first several series (except some of the really rare pieces, i.e Radioactive Homer and the first Treehouse of Horror set) in their boxes. Again, I fell for the tricks of a shifty trade show man and parted with the set for below market value.

Ghosted by kilgore2345 @ 04/04/2007 11:58 AM EDT

My sister uses GMail as her end all account for work, personal stuff, etc. so far she’s been alright and hasn’t had any major problems but after reading your blog today I’ll warn her :)

Ghosted by Melissa Y. @ 04/04/2007 12:27 PM EDT

congrats matt. in the way of spending way way wayyyy too much on stupid purchases i think i have two. the first would be 80 bucks on a willy wonka coat when the second movie came out. it’s an exact replica of that ridiculous red velvet creature, i still wear it occasionally just so i don’t feel as stupid for buying it and never wearing it. the other thing would be the 200+ bucks i just spent on fall out boy tickets because i ordered all that i was able to without having people in mind. god sometimes the concert addiction gets draining.

Ghosted by danny @ 04/04/2007 12:36 PM EDT

that damned Granny Gruesome always stared me downed

A quick search tells me that you are referring to Granny Gross. I have one of those duder. You ask me nicely and I’ll find her for ya.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/04/2007 12:39 PM EDT

200+ bucks i just spent on fall out boy tickets

I spent $80 on ONE ticket for MCR last year. They were at my favorite club; there was no way I was missing it.

Ghosted by K- @ 04/04/2007 12:41 PM EDT

I tend to end up regretting more the amounts of time I’ve spent looking for things/amount of gas wasted than the actual cost. A good example would be the Toddler Turtles–I saw the X-E article, knew I just had to have them THAT DAY and proceeded to go to like every store within a 50 mile radius that might have them, and finally gave up several hours later. I ordered them online for a buck or two over the retail value and felt like the world’s biggest idiot. Out of habit, I would check store pegs for them every time I could, and it was actually a few months before I actually found them for sale at a Toys ‘R Us.

I’m dangerous in arcades and can think of times I might have dropped $50-100 in an hour or so. Probably one of my biggest impule purchases was the day I decided to buy a PSP on my lunch break. I just decided out of nowhere I was buying one that day. I spent a bunch getting it all set-up with accessories and games and stuff and then it went relatively unused for awhile. I actually use it much more frequently now and think it is probably worth about $170 (the current price), but not the amount I paid for it.

Ghosted by Kate @ 04/04/2007 12:50 PM EDT

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