| Time to get this thing started |
[Nov. 5th, 2010|10:14 pm] |
If for some reason you've stumbled upon this humble LJ, this my spammage page for all of my model collection. I got a bit inspired by japanese model collecting sites, which I always found interesting to see all the photos and read (slightly mangled by a translator) what people thought of the figures. I'll try and edit this first entry with the stuff I plan to get in the future, as well as a desktop shot X3 (Insofar as they all can fit on my desk).
   
   
   
   
   
UPCOMING FIGURES (That I have on order...)
September
1/8th 'One Piece' Luffy by Megahouse, Etrian Odyssey Medic Girl by Wave
October
1/8th 'Persona3' Aegis by Alter
November
1/6th 'Devil May Cry 3' Dante by Kotobukiya
December
1/8th 'Kino no Tabi' Kino by Max Factory
LE DESKTOP (16/10/06)
QUESTIONS
How long have you been collecting?: About four years now, ever since I saw those Tales of Phantasia trading figures which were released back in September 2003. It's grown a lot bigger of late since I got a job... hence the title of this LJ DX
Where do you get your figures from?: My online source is Hobbylink Japan. They sell at very good prices (The Japanese retail, so you're not paying any premiums on the figures themselves), with great customer service and a user-friendly interface. HLJ can be slow in getting images up, so I check Amiami on a regular basis. Bricks-and-mortar shops I visit are Astro Hobby, Kinokuniya and Kings Comics. But because they sell at a premium I usually just buy individual trading figures or scale models of passing interest.
How do you take your photos?: With my trusty tripod, digital camera, some cardboard and a handy corner near my window. More recent photos have been taken with my new Nikon D40 DSLR
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| 1/8th el. original figure by Kaiyodo. Sculpted by Yoshinori Yatake |
[Sep. 26th, 2007|05:59 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | accel, bug, el., exterminator, figure, figurine, kaiyodo, photo, reideen, review, steampunk, yatake, yoshinori | ] |
She actually arrived a while ago but I'll backdate later
    
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| 1/8th Ignis by Alter |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|08:19 pm] |
Character: Ignis
Series: Jingai Makyo
Maker: Alter
Scale: 1/8th
Acquired from: Some store I don't remember the name of! Manifest 2007! Only AUS$60 whoooo.
Yay: Alter's Ignis really caught my eye when she was first announced, but I never really took it further than that. Cue Manifest 2007 Trader's Hall; I usually take conventions as an excuse to check out figures that I haven't pre-ordered, or which took my interest in passing online but I like to see them in person. In other words, I'm more prone to impulse buys. I saw one vendor selling her for $85 and decided that was too much for a second purchase (I'd already bought Ribbon girl). But when I saw her at a second vendor and asked the guy how much, a tempting $65 bargained down to $60 was too good to pass up. And I'm glad I did, because Alter's Ignis is one damn fine figure.
A lot has been said about MaxFac's Ignis, with her more glamorous, seductive sculpt and vibrant hair. Alter's is more subdued (these pictures are actually a bit more saturated than in real life), dark, fierce and fighting. There are a lot of eroge figures which are just pretty eyecandy and schoolgirl fanservice, but this one is a bit different. Ignis is all woman; She's sexy and beautiful but she's also determined and defiant. There's something really cool and mature about her pose and the way Alter has treated her as a character which I really like. I don't normally buy figures of eroge characters (I'm not a person for pantsu or fanservice except maybe Dante's flamboyant DMC3 dress sense), but Alter's Ignis fits my impulse-buy bill of "interesting/dynamic sculpt or unique character design" very well.
Nay: Nothing! She is awesome. She even toppled Enterbrain's Rin Tohsaka from my prime figure perch.
Other comments: I hadn't really factored in buying two figures while at Manifest, and with Ignis having a relatively large bog I had to do some logistical shuffling to get everything to fit in the suitcase. Protip! Figurine boxes have lots of air in them, so fold clothes inside them to save space. |
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| 1/8th PSE #6 Ribbon Style by Beagle/Goodsmile |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|07:43 pm] |
Character: Ribbon girl (Based off an illustration by Murata Range)
Series: N/A (PSE Products #6 - Ribbon Style)
Maker: Beagle/Goodsmile
Scale: 1/8th
Acquired from: Tamarket at Manifest 2007
Yay: I was tossing up between ribbon girl and the other PSE girl with purple hair and tech gadgetry, but I'm glad I settled on ribbon girl. Once you take her out of the box and put her on the base all the little details and nuance and character quality really come out. From the folds on her dress to her dainty pose and slightly curious expression, she's an understated winner on all counts. Murata Range's character designs are always a joy to see in model form, and Beagle/Goodsmile have done a really great job. All the details are well replicated and painted, from her hair and dress to the soles of her shoes.
Nay: Nothiiiiiiing except maybe the price... AUS$75 (Original retail is 5000yen, so add shipping and it's a premium of around $15). Conventions make me more prone to impulse buys.
Other comments: Now this is what I call a well done base. So simple but the texture and colour scheme really set off the figure very well. Sadly her box got kinda crushed in transit (I bought two figures in one day and had to transport them on a train/tram)
    
     
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| Boredom creates game reviews |
[Nov. 29th, 2006|06:00 am] |
Game: Jak 2
Platform: Playstation 2
Maker: Naughty Dog
Obviously, instead of uploading my backlogged figure photos I decide to review a 2 year old game. Whatever.
 Presentation
A few trifles kept this from a 5. Mostly popups of doom and a soundtrack that sounds good and has a fun context-sensitive dynamism, but is mostly unmemorable. Jak 2 consistently reminds me of the fact that PS2 games can still look very good though. The world has a richness of detail and geometry, from the potholes in the road and the clutter of industrial pipes to uneven rock faces and grassy hills. It rarely looks plain, and often looks stunning, especially the outdoor temple and sewers. The lighting is well worth a mention too. Someone said the textures look plain, but I think they have a psuedo-realistic crispness to them. Anyone who has played these games will also attest to the fantastic cutscenes, which are pulled off with great animation and a cinematic flair. This is how videogame voice acting should be, and it's probably the best I've heard in any game, ever. Jak is voiced with the right touch of gruff cynicism and wit, and the dialogue never sounds particularly stilted. Also, I love the 'click' of the hovercraft when you get in. There's something strangely satisfying about jacking someone's craft, hearing that click and then speeding off. The game also made a very good transition from the whimsical style of the first game. Don't knock the goatee! :V
Gameplay and Longevity
I've logged 40 hours in to this game already (One replay, and a likely 3rd when I unlock hero mode. That mega scrap book is mine!). Jak 2 is hard but not punishingly so. You fail because you suck, not because the game is cheating on you. Most missions you won't hit on your first run. That said, there can be some frustrating niggles, and some of the bonus missions will drive you batshit insane; the ring courses where it's part luck you don't crash into oncoming traffic, or the Smack-the-metalhead 6000 POINTS MOTHERFUCKER HOW MANY MORE DO I NEED?! Also, I love and dislike the jetboard. Doing tricks is kinda button mashy for me because I am too lame to remember what everything does, but it's fun gliding around; granted you don't hit some pedestrian or guard. I hate when my free-spirited city tour is disrupted with that wince-inducing smack.
I guarantee you will cringe at least once when you die, only to be sent back farther in the level than you hoped (Centipede run and palace, I'm looking at you). But the satisfaction when you beat them makes up for it. I deliberately played the Jak games in order when I first bought them with my PS2. The latter two are the infinitely more replayable of the three. Though some might disparage its 'gritiness', the mission based gameplay does work very well. This does not make the first game 'bad' by comparison, so much as the games evolved into something different from their platforming roots. It's a much more rich experience because of it. I also really like how you revisit areas, but they're constantly changing. It dispels a sense of backtracking that might otherwise have been apparent.
Side note on one particular mission: Battle Angel Alita much?
 Personal tilt
Jak has sexy ears :V
...What? Shut up. Haha, but seriously. I do find him to be an appealing character. I really didn't like the second Prince of Persia game because it took the whimsy and careful character handling of the first game and fucked it up with a tedious 'mature' shtick. Jak takes a similar route but it doesn't fuck it up. In fact, it makes it better. It's more mature, but in a way that enriches the story and characters; in being more than an adept but cute platformer, it has more material to work with. Jak is something of a cliche antihero, but he does it with style. The game could have been bogged down by angsty tripe, but the 'Angry revenge!' is never allowed to overstay its welcome. He's brash, angry, and cynical, but the game never loses its humerous flair and it makes him more likeable because of it. He's a flawed kind of cool. The story is unoriginal but engaging, largely because of the great cast and witty dialogue. Krew is a standout, and his scenes are always great fun.
Should you buy it?
Two thumps up. If you own a PS2, you have no reason not to buy this. It's an imensely fun and well polished game, and this far into the lifecycle you can pick up the whole series for dirt cheap.
I hope the Jak 4 rumours are true. Part of me would hate to see such a good IP go. |
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| 1/7th scale Rin Tohsaka |
[Oct. 20th, 2006|10:25 pm] |
More pictures later
Character: Rin Tohsaka
Series: Fate/Stay night
Maker: Enter Brain
Scale: 1/7th
Acquired from: HLJ.com
Yay: Her pose. Oh god, it is full of awesome. She has so many viewing angles, and I say that in a non pervy way. For me, the make of favourite model is if it captures something about the characters personality, or if it still looks good from more than the 'standard' angle. You can turn Rin 360 degreees and still find something apealing about her pose. It's so dynamic and striking, and the main reason I ordered her in the first place.
Nay: Compared to, say, Alter's Dark Saber, her hair is rather chunky and has an unfortunate, obvious seam line (Given the price, this is a little disappointing; she's my most expensive single figure). Enter Brain seems to have a thing for having a slight texture on their hair as well. Painting on the bows could be better too. Also, her face looked different from the initial production shots, but I think it's grown on me. It has a quality that reminds me of a dolfie (Large eyes, painted lips). She looks great from a distance though.
Other comments: The window box is stunning. |
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| RAHDX Hamaan Karn |
[Oct. 16th, 2006|10:32 pm] |
Character: Harmaan Karn
Series: Zeta Gundam
Maker: Megahouse
Scale: 1/8th
Acquired from: HLJ.com
Yay: That is one attitude filled pose. I love it. It seems rare that I come across a female figure that exudes such real personality. There's such a feeling from this figure. It's commanding and dynamic, but there's also this sense of loneliness about her character. I've never seen Zeta Gundam but I just thought it was too awesome to pass up.
Nay: Slighly naffed painting on her helmet (The hair colour bleeds into it on the back), I think part of her armour on the back of her cape is chipped, and there's a bit of bleed on her yellow pattern. Also, I'm a bit worried she's going to start warping; she's on a slight forward slant in the original pose anyway, and the cape isn't enough of a counter balance. Also, her viewing angle is such that I need to place her high to get the full effect of the pose.
Other comments: Comes with an optional helmet-less hair part which snaps on to the front.
More pictures later |
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| 1/8th Dark Saber by Alter |
[Oct. 1st, 2006|11:10 pm] |
Character: Dark Saber
Series: Fate/Stay night
Maker: Alter
Scale: 1/8th
Acquired from: Tamarket at Animania 2006
Yay: Pose, paintjob, everything is super and the type of quality Alter is known for. I especially like the sense of grace she has, sword held just out in front and hand on her heart. Evil but sweet. The clothing folds, hair and eyes are all especially well done. Her boots have a glossy finish that I quite like as well.
Nay: Yellow base is kinda blah. She stands fine so I display her without it.
Other comments: Black panties! D:
More pictures later |
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| 1/8th Alvis Hamilton by Alter |
[Oct. 1st, 2006|10:35 pm] |
Character: Alvis Hamilton
Series: Last Exile
Maker: Alter
Scale: 1/8th
Acquired from: Tamarket at Animania 2006
Yay: She is so cute. Seriously. I really liked Murata Range's character designs for Last Exile, and this sculpt of Alvis is just super and dainty. Clean, simple and well painted as expected of Alter. The custom base is a nice touch too.
Nay: Cast on the fringe is a teensy bit clunky.
Other comments: None.
More pictures later |
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