January 2007

Registration Not Required!

ExVee - January 10, 2007

The time has once again come for It Figures! to bring you the best and worst MSiA!! has delivered to us in 2006, as the second annual Gundam Of The Year presentation approaches! We've brought about an important change for this year's awards, and that change is you - with many thanks to Tercero at Gundam Board in Action!! for hosting and support we now give all of you, our faithful readers the chance to make your opinions heard. From now until midnight on January 23rd, we're running special polls at GBiA!!, the winner of each will be recorded in a special field in each results category in the special feature, scheduled for publication the last week of January. Tercero has set our special polling forum to be open to all comers, registered or not, so come and let your vote be known! We'll even be taking some of the choicest comments and incorporating them into the article, so go on and speak your mind - if we really enjoy what you have to say, you may just find yourself reprinted.

We'd also like to extend special thanks to Gunota Headlines for helping to promote this special event.

A long overdue update

RAC, January 10th 2007

For the year 2007, ExVee and I have resolved to work towards a greater level of cooperation between It Figures! and Gundam fandom as a whole. As part of that resolution, we correct a long-standing oversight by adding Gundam Evolution to our Links page. Apologies to Dendrobium Stamen and the entire staff of Gundam Evolution for not having done so far sooner.

Gundam Evolution is a valuable source of Gundam information and discussion, and if you're a Gundam fan you owe it to yourself to pay them a visit. Both of us visit the site daily, and ExVee can be found there under the screenname McKay. Check it out!

Okay, maybe I was a bit off...

ExVee - January 12, 2007

I figure odds are good that this is the last transforming Zeta MSiA we're bound to get, at least for the forseeable future. More the shame since we never did get a Gaplant. I just hope it's not the last AEUG MSiA we get, because I still need me a Nemo company! Fortunately, it's beyond any reasonable possibility that either a Gaplant or Nemo would turn out as screwed up as the poor old Methuss did.

Also a quick update to the earlier newspost regarding the Gundam of The Year voting. Regretfully, it appears that Invision's software does not support unregistered voting, so anyone wishing to vote in the polls generously hosted at GBiA!! will need to sign up to do so. We all regret this misunderstanding, as no workaround could been arranged.

We'll return to your regularly scheduled Gundam after a break from one of our other interests.

ExVee - January 14, 2007

Ah, Megatron, greatest leader of the Decepticons. ...y'know, if you don't count Shockwave, Scorponok, Straxus, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Ratbat... Anyway, character links aside, it really is a good toy, and not just for the whole gun mode novelty. Not that it hurts anything, no. Classics in general I'm finding to be very enjoyable, and am saddened that we basically know already everything it will be comprised of up until it terminates in favor of the movie tie-in toys. I suppose, despite the fun I've had with gimmicks over the past three series, it's interesting to take a break from that and go back to simpler toys that just rely on what made Transformers in the first place: Transforming. Not Mini-Con or Cyber Key activated action features, or combination, or super-giant weapon systems. Just plain old transforming toys. I think the palette-cleanser analogy fits Classics well, as it does facilitate a transition between design ideals - certainly the movie toys won't be as gimmick-centered as everything from 2003 onward, and who's to say what we'll have once the movie push concludes?

Hasbro's website now displays pictures of the movie preview toys, "Protoform" versions of Optimus and Starscream. By what Hasbro's site says, these will be the first American Transformers with a street date, as they're promised as being available on May 1st. Boy, almost feels like Star Wars Day, no?

Everything Old is Nu again

RAC- January 16, 2007

I do actually review things when I have time! Today's offering is the EMIA Nu Gundam, which I recommend wholeheartedly.

Most of the comparison to the previous model I do in the reviews is in terms of the accessories. The reason for that is that the revolution that MSiA accessories have undergone since 2001 isn't as readily apparent as, say, articulation. But make no mistake: there is not a single part of this figure that isn't superior to the original figure. That's what Extension is all about, and Nu Gundam has it in spades.

I won't make deadlines I can't keep, but it's not my intention to leave the Nu Gundam without the company of its crimson playmate for long. Check back soon(ish) for the EMIA Sazabi review!

Sometimes I think they meant 'Sotheby'

RAC, January 27, 2007

Y'know, like the auction house. That is to say, the CCA-EMIA pair is complete with the addition of a review for the Sazabi. An absolutely top-tier figure, though the Shot Rifle paint job hearkens back to some of the EMIA Gundam's inexplicable accessory choices.

The general voting at Gundam Board in Action!! has concluded, with only the Best of Show category yet to be decided. You decide: Gundam-inspired with ex-Zeon pilot, or Zeon-inspired with former Gundam pilot? (If you count the Yzak Joule version, anyway.)

There is a certain disparity between the GOUF and the Hyaku Shiki, I'm sorry to say- it's getting harder for the best MSiAs to compete with the best EMIAs, as has been pointed out. Personally, I'm not really sure how to feel about this: when the line first branched off, there was a certain fear among MSiA fans that EMIAs would end up being mere MSiAs with flashier paint jobs and higher price tags. This is a fear that has been pretty much dispelled, I think, but where does that leave the original line? Will all future advances go straight to EMIA, or will MSiA eventually catch up to the advance guard as EMIAs get better and better? Even after a couple years' worth of EMIAs I think it's too early to say.

Anyway, voting ends on January 31st, and the second annual Gundam of the Year article goes live shortly thereafter. Watch for it!

Latest Reviews:

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2012/02/03 - SH Figuarts Kamen Rider Den-O Climax Form
2012/02/02 - Kamen Rider Den-O Five Form Change Set
2012/02/02 - Momotaros Uncontracted Version
2012/02/01 - Kamen Rider Den-O Liner Form
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	January 2007 Registration Not Required! ExVee - January 10, 2007 The time has once again come for It Figures! to bring you the best and worst MSiA!! has delivered to us in 2006, as the second annual Gundam Of The Year presentation approaches! We've brought about an important change for this year's awards, and that change is you - with many thanks to Tercero at Gundam Board in Action!! for hosting and support we now give all of you, our faithful readers the chance to make your opinions heard. From now until midnight on January 23rd, we're running special polls at GBiA!!, the winner of each will be recorded in a special field in each results category in the special feature, scheduled for publication the last week of January. Tercero has set our special polling forum to be open to all comers, registered or not, so come and let your vote be known! We'll even be taking some of the choicest comments and incorporating them into the article, so go on and speak your mind - if we really enjoy what you have to say, you may just find yourself reprinted. We'd also like to extend special thanks to Gunota Headlines for helping to promote this special event. A long overdue update RAC, January 10th 2007 For the year 2007, ExVee and I have resolved to work towards a greater level of cooperation between It Figures! and Gundam fandom as a whole. As part of that resolution, we correct a long-standing oversight by adding Gundam Evolution to our Links page. Apologies to Dendrobium Stamen and the entire staff of Gundam Evolution for not having done so far sooner. Gundam Evolution is a valuable source of Gundam information and discussion, and if you're a Gundam fan you owe it to yourself to pay them a visit. Both of us visit the site daily, and ExVee can be found there under the screenname McKay. Check it out! Okay, maybe I was a bit off... ExVee - January 12, 2007 I figure odds are good that this is the last transforming Zeta MSiA we're bound to get, at least for the forseeable future. More the shame since we never did get a Gaplant. I just hope it's not the last AEUG MSiA we get, because I still need me a Nemo company! Fortunately, it's beyond any reasonable possibility that either a Gaplant or Nemo would turn out as screwed up as the poor old Methuss did. Also a quick update to the earlier newspost regarding the Gundam of The Year voting. Regretfully, it appears that Invision's software does not support unregistered voting, so anyone wishing to vote in the polls generously hosted at GBiA!! will need to sign up to do so. We all regret this misunderstanding, as no workaround could been arranged. We'll return to your regularly scheduled Gundam after a break from one of our other interests. ExVee - January 14, 2007 Ah, Megatron, greatest leader of the Decepticons. ...y'know, if you don't count Shockwave, Scorponok, Straxus, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Ratbat... Anyway, character links aside, it really is a good toy, and not just for the whole gun mode novelty. Not that it hurts anything, no. Classics in general I'm finding to be very enjoyable, and am saddened that we basically know already everything it will be comprised of up until it terminates in favor of the movie tie-in toys. I suppose, despite the fun I've had with gimmicks over the past three series, it's interesting to take a break from that and go back to simpler toys that just rely on what made Transformers in the first place: Transforming. Not Mini-Con or Cyber Key activated action features, or combination, or super-giant weapon systems. Just plain old transforming toys. I think the palette-cleanser analogy fits Classics well, as it does facilitate a transition between design ideals - certainly the movie toys won't be as gimmick-centered as everything from 2003 onward, and who's to say what we'll have once the movie push concludes? Hasbro's website now displays pictures of the movie preview toys, "Protoform" versions of Optimus and Starscream. By what Hasbro's site says, these will be the first American Transformers with a street date, as they're promised as being available on May 1st. Boy, almost feels like Star Wars Day, no? Everything Old is Nu again RAC- January 16, 2007 I do actually review things when I have time! Today's offering is the EMIA Nu Gundam, which I recommend wholeheartedly. Most of the comparison to the previous model I do in the reviews is in terms of the accessories. The reason for that is that the revolution that MSiA accessories have undergone since 2001 isn't as readily apparent as, say, articulation. But make no mistake: there is not a single part of this figure that isn't superior to the original figure. That's what Extension is all about, and Nu Gundam has it in spades. I won't make deadlines I can't keep, but it's not my intention to leave the Nu Gundam without the company of its crimson playmate for long. Check back soon(ish) for the EMIA Sazabi review! Sometimes I think they meant 'Sotheby' RAC, January 27, 2007 Y'know, like the auction house. That is to say, the CCA-EMIA pair is complete with the addition of a review for the Sazabi. An absolutely top-tier figure, though the Shot Rifle paint job hearkens back to some of the EMIA Gundam's inexplicable accessory choices. The general voting at Gundam Board in Action!! has concluded, with only the Best of Show category yet to be decided. You decide: Gundam-inspired with ex-Zeon pilot, or Zeon-inspired with former Gundam pilot? (If you count the Yzak Joule version, anyway.) There is a certain disparity between the GOUF and the Hyaku Shiki, I'm sorry to say- it's getting harder for the best MSiAs to compete with the best EMIAs, as has been pointed out. Personally, I'm not really sure how to feel about this: when the line first branched off, there was a certain fear among MSiA fans that EMIAs would end up being mere MSiAs with flashier paint jobs and higher price tags. This is a fear that has been pretty much dispelled, I think, but where does that leave the original line? Will all future advances go straight to EMIA, or will MSiA eventually catch up to the advance guard as EMIAs get better and better? Even after a couple years' worth of EMIAs I think it's too early to say. Anyway, voting ends on January 31st, and the second annual Gundam of the Year article goes live shortly thereafter. Watch for it!	Latest Reviews: 2012/02/03 - Kamen Rider Den-O Climax Form 2012/02/03 - SH Figuarts Kamen Rider Den-O Climax Form 2012/02/02 - Kamen Rider Den-O Five Form Change Set 2012/02/02 - Momotaros Uncontracted Version 2012/02/01 - Kamen Rider Den-O Liner Form 2012/02/01 - Kamen Rider Den-O Plat Form & Momotaros Search Reviews Older Archived Updates

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