![[Alen Yen's ToyboxDX]](/images/smlogo.gif)
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 2.8.01-- 2.17.01 |
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RUMBLE INDEX |
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2.17.01:
J-Phoenix Bonanza
No, no, no. Not THAT Phoenix. We're talking about Takara's J-Phoenix Playstation 2 video game. Players have between now and the end of March to blow a major fraction of their lives trying to rack up their highest score possible. If you feel lucky, you can send in a picture of your high score screen to Takara's Ace Pilot Competition for a prize.
The masses win mundane offerings such as gift certificates and digital cameras, but 10 skillful high scorers will receive an original Kunio Ohkawara picture signed by the designer. The top scorer will be lavished with a Kunio Ohkawara-designed J-Phoenix action figure. The one-of-a-kind figure is 15 centimeters tall with 35 points of articulation ... and a darn big gun.
Maybe we can see some mass-produced toys, so everyone can share? Please? Pretty please with rocket punch on top?
-- Yappy & Darren
2.17.01:
Kubrick Krazed
Run'A, a Japanese upstart that produces character wristwatches, will soon begin producing its own Kubrick clones. No character licenses have been announced yet, but the 53mm tall "Tinibiz" line should see life soon.
-- Yappy
2.17.01:
Eating Crow
Well, I'm an imbecile. And a lazy one at that. Seems that Toynami was in fact at Toy Fair 2001. Just happened that they didn't appear in any of the official exhibitor guides. The info desk folks also had no record of their presence. Were they listed under a parent company? Beats me. I should have tried harder... shoulda... woulda...coulda... Guess I'm not qualified to cover this event again... knock on wood.
Anyway, here's the mysterious Mr. Facets to clear up the whole confusion:
"Toynami had a showroom at toyfair. George Sohn was present.
Toynami was displaying the following items: Tenchi Muyo 12" dolls (three types) Tekken Tag Tournament 12" dolls (one mock up)
Robotech items:
- Keychains
- PVCs
- Morphers
- Action Figure (pvc non transforming in battroid mode) This was a prototype and it had not had the articulation pathed yet. Very early stages- no photos allowed.
-- Yappy & Mr. Facets
2.17.01:
Victora Data File Up
The Victora Data File is born! It's tough to get terribly excited about a company like Victora. Nearly every single piece they ever produced was utterly cheap, expressly designed for train-station kiosks, convenience stores, souvenir stands, and anywhere else people made impulse purchases. But there's a surprise... read all about it.
-- TBDX Rumble Crew
2.17.01:
Bullmark.com
And in other dealer-related news, Bullmark.com seems to have closed their doors, according to a recent post from Jason Park on the Bullmark.com BBS:
"i have decided to pursue other ventures. i will no longer be able to be a major source of japanese toys, but i will still be around to help out where ever i can. i have enjoyed the friendships i made thru this hobby, i wish all of you the best in collecting and enjoying japanese toys!"
-- Roger
2.17.01:
Do You Getta?
Everyone seems to be anticipating Soul of Chogokin news. Clearly Getta One and Getta Two are on slate for the next offerings past Daiku Maryu. But what about Getta Three? Fear not, gokin completists -- plans are to include half of Getta Three's parts in Getta One's box, and the rest in Getta Two's. Buy two toys, get three robots. Maybe the best SoC deal yet.
Other gimmicks include enough Magnemo-style jointwork to allow you to build hybrid robots of your own.
Remember folks, we are not even at the prototyping stage of this project. Once upon a time, Grendizer was gonna ship with all four Spazers, remember? Let's see how this pans out.
-- Yappy & Darren
2.17.01:
Neo Century
Speaking of Getta Robo, the next entry in the Aoshima / Miracle House Shin Seiki Gokin line will be Neo Getta One, and will include his Chain Knuckle gimmick. It's like a rocket punch attached by a chain. If it upholds the standards of the first Shin Seiki Gokin figures, Neo Getta will be a must have.
Want even more Getta? Romando is making a "reasonably priced" full action figure Neo Getta One to be released for Y3,000. It's fully poseable, 180mm tall, and ... affordable. Will wonders ever cease?
-- Yappy & Darren
2.17.01:
Flight of the Phoenix
Ladies and gentlemen, the prototype sculpt of the Unifive Cho Shin Gokin God Phoenix looks sweet. One could not ask for better lines. Priced at Y8,800 and set to go on sale in July, the blue bird is well-equipped with the full set of G-mecha.
If things go as planned, we'll have retracting Bird Missiles, G-2 on telescoping arms in the nose, and G-3 & G-4 hidden in the wing pods. G-1's wings sweep back for insertion in the Phoenix' upper fuselage. If the landing gear has rubber tires, heaven can wait.
-- Yappy & Darren
2.16.01:
Serious Takara Mech
Takara's Dream Force 01 is a joint development with Japan's cell phone manufacturers. The 'bot is controlled with a Java-enabled cell phone, which also allows the operator to "see what the robot sees" via the cell phone's display. Like I said, R/C is getting better ...
-- Darren
2.16.01:
ePresto
Many of us know and love Banpresto's gashapon toys. Banpresto has claimed a 40% share of Japan's massive amusement enterprise, but has seen flat growth over the past couple of years. They believe their future lies in the Internet, and have thus launched their "Big Entertainment" plan, a four-pronged 'Net initiative:
Prize Park is Banpresto's upcoming web site that will allow users to play e-versions of their favorite amusement machines, and receive prizes via delivery service.
Super Robot Battle Mailer is a Super Robot game played with special software that transmits your moves and receives your spoils of battle directly to and from other players via e-mail.
Kong Tong Town, the old Unifive Jumbo-central, sees new life as a premium prize and merchandizing center.
Finally, the Media Center will offer timely news and information, currently found only in hobby mags and trade rags, directly on their web site.
All this begins in April. Banpresto is busy working on deals with players in Japan's complex delivery and distribution network to make all this "home delivery" happen. The future of gashapon toys may be very strange, indeed. Some information curtesy of Gantsu.
-- Darren
2.16.01:
Zenda Rion
Unifive's Cho Shin Gokin Zenda Lion is a unique addition to the fledgling toy line. Standing only a couple of inches high, the little lion shares a large box with a pretty cool plastic base station. This is one of the few toy dioramas I actually like, and will probably use for display.
The Zenda Station includes a roundhouse-style turntable with tracks exiting to that great trans-dimensional railway in the stars. The lion itself is about half diecast, and his only gimmicks include his "bent into the wind" transformation and articulating jaw.
The box is a radical departure from the usual Unifive Shin Gokin styling. It's covered with groovy 70's styling and plenty of black silhouettes of Zendaman characters. With the exception of the legalese on back, the markings are in 100% English, including a little note that the "Lion Mecha likes Karaoke" and "If it is hit with a loving hand, it perks up". The best poetry requires personal interpretation.
-- Darren
2.16.01:
Curious Josh Goes To the Fair
I was so excited to go to the Toy Fair this year. I had imagined it to be heaven. Being able to be the first to see all the new toys for the year was going to be so cool! Boy, was I wrong. The Toy Fair is a giant mess of corporate greed, smelly salesmen, and desperate entrepreneurs... MORE!
-- Josh Bernard
2.16.01:
R/C Revisited
Ah, sentai -- Bandai's annual belch of transforming toy froth. Last year, we were introduced to Timeranger, and its excellent but relatively short toy line. There was, however, a crowning jewel toward the end of the season, the Voice Command V-Rex. This digital-age dino is an example of one of Japan's latest trends: high-end remote controlled toys. Read about R/C toys from Timeranger and Medarot, too... MORE!
-- Darren
2.15.01:
Action Over?
Quoting from Action Ace's website ...
"To All Our Customers:
"As a result of relocating our operations to Asia, business at ActionAce.com will be disrupted. We will no longer take orders after midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on February 15th, 2001.
"Any outstanding orders placed prior to the February 15th midnight deadline will be processed and delivered as per usual.
"We apologize for any inconvenience incurred and will have more news about ActionAce.com in the near future."
Out for good? Or out to compete with HobbyLink Japan? We'll see what we can find out!
-- Darren
2.15.01:
Day 6b. It Ends With a Whimper
Immediately after my morning tour at Bandai America on Tuesday, I had politely requested a meeting with a product manager for an in-depth Q & A session. The Public Relations Account Executive I was dealing with seemed friendly enough... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.15.01:
More-Figh-Gar
Studio Half Eye's prototype of the Perfect Change CV Shin Getta One has been delivered to the molding center. Although "delicate correction work" still remains, the prototyping stage is officially over. The project team is burned out, there is pressure to move to the next prototyping project. Having just received permission from Sunrise, the next work will be a transforming Gaofighgar. They are currently working on Drill Gao. More news as it comes.
-- Darren
2.15.01:
Day 6a. The Clouds Part For a Moment
I should have written this days ago, but the hard news got in the way. Set the Way-back Machine to this past Tuesday. I had just emerged from the Bandai showrooms after a draining hour and a half "tour" (expect an in-depth expose in the near future). I'm beat and am just a sliver away from throwing in the towel-- especially after days of butting heads with PR lackeys. I had made an appointment with Yamato/Toycom for Wednesday afternoon, but I fear I can not muster the stamina for another day at this godless event. I revisit their showroom, hoping to reschedule or even to cancel. That's when something wholly unexpected happens... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.14.01:
Day 5. Kibbles
Just a few tidbits to tide you over. It's Valentine's Day after all, and my heart's turned to more important matters... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.14.01:
Kiddie Senshi
So, we are introducing a whole new generation of children to Gundam 0079. Make no mistake, this is marketed to kids ... we have honest to God toys like playsets and simplified MSiA's with big, clear logos to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys.
This means that as some of us are approaching our 40's and beyond, a group of people in their 20's we still consider "kids" will have "fond childhood memories of Gundam 0079".
Scary? Maybe. But at least we'll have something to talk about with the younger generation. And investment collectors will have a whole new batch of maturing, young adults, nostalgic for things past, to market "ancient" Gundam merchandize to.
After all, there's a legacy of Gundam mythos that stands in scale with the legendary Star Wars franchise.
Will it be successful? Will Gundam have the launch-hit in the US it never had in Japan? At any rate, the next year will be interesting, indeed. The isolated hobby of the otaku becomes ever more diluted in the international marketplace.
-- Darren
2.13.01:
Day 4b. Fear & Loathing at Bandai
No original ToyboxDX photos, huh? No room in Bandai America's schedule for a photo session? Well, KenA-- my not-at-all-fat, not-even-Samoan attorney-- manages to snatch an official Bandai America 2001 Spring/Fall Catalog while riding on a heady mixture of caffeine and breath mints. Distracting the crazed legalese spouting madman with a tin of Altoids, I wrest the catalog from his sweaty hands... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.13.01:
Day 4a. Shattering Myth
Before I condense my scrawled notes about my Bandai mis-adventure into readable form, I have to clear up some misconceptions... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.13.01:
Superdimensional Voting!
Stand and be counted, Macross toy fans! Macross World is hosting a seven-question survey as to what you, die-hard fan that you are, would most like to see in a transforming Valkyrie toy. Although it's not "official" or anything, Macross-maniac Shawn plans to compile the results into a petition showing just what voters demand in the way of fully-variable aircraft.
It's similar to another survey that made the rounds of Japanese-language BBSes and toy-sites late last year, and now it's time for English-speakers to get their chance at bat. G'wan, give it a shot!
-- Matt
2.12.01:
Day 3. Banzai!!!
Commentary and sociological dissection later... News first... Big, big news... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.12.01:
Wheels Keep Rollin'
Three more Bandai Chara-Wheels to grace the tiny little nooks and recesses of your shelf. Pictured today are Double Machine from Kikaider-01, Super Jetter's Ryuusei-go, and Joker.
[Update! - 2.13.01: Special thanks to Steve Harrison for pointing out that the Joker is from Robot Detective K!]
-- Darren
2.11.01:
Day 2. Yappy Overwhelmed
After a full day of emersion in soul-crushing, corporate bureaucracy and seeing his joyful hobby reduced to a regimented, pedantic trade show, Yappy slumps home to collapse in bed. But there are a few nuggets to report... MORE!
-- Darren
2.11.01:
Katoki Rising
And Dendoh, too! A little obligatory reporting on the hyped Gundam FIX #0001, and some GSiA action for good measure. We wouldn't want you to go too long without a Rumble Plus ... still suitable for wrapping fish... MORE!
-- Darren
2.10.01:
Day 1. An Unexpected Beginning
My mind is still reeling from visions of armies of bleary-eyed businessmen trudging through endless featureless corridors, makeshift offices filled with gaudy bootleg toys, stairwells reeking of illicit cigarette smoke... so bear with me as I try to organize my thoughts about an exhausting first foray into the strange world of the toy industry... Toy Fair 2001... MORE!
-- Yappy
2.10.01:
The Big B Announces
Bandai has just released their updated schedule for the next month ...
| SIC Side Machine & Kikaider | Y6,800 | |
| SOC Daiku Maryu Gaiking | Y9,800 | |
| SOP Yamato | Y19,800 | |
| Macross 7 Fire Valk Reissue | Y6,800 | |
| Macross 7 Stealth Valk Reissue | Y6,800 | |
| MSiA Hyaku-Shiki | Y1,200 | |
| MSiA G3 Gundam | Y1,000 | |
| MSiA Guntank | Y1,500 | |
| WMiA Walker Galliar | Y1,500 | |
| FIX Perfect Gundam | Y2,980 |
-- Darren
2.9.01:
Hot-Chara-Wheels
Bandai has teamed with Mattel to bring Japanese fans HOT WHEELS versions of vehicles from famous Japanese television series! Check out the "Raijin Go" from Inazuman, the "MAT Vehicle" from Ultraman Returns, "Machine Zelette" from Ultraman Dyna, the "Side Machine" from Kikaider, and the Mach Go from "Speed Racer"!
Dubbed "Chara-Wheels," these l'il diecast cars will hit stores at the end of March for 600 yen a pop.
-- Matt
2.9.01:
Flowne Away
Yamato Toys, the same guys responsible for bringing you the Macross Plus transforming Valkyries, are at it again: they've got a prototype of a fully-transforming figure from the late, lamented series "Escaflowne." Details are scarce and production still unconfirmed, but we'll bring ya the juicy news as we get it.
-- Matt
2.9.01:
Crouching Tiger
Here's a little update regarding Bandai's replacement for the favorite feline in your life, the BN-1 Robo-Kitty.
First off, his (?) name ain't Robo-Kitty. It's......"Capricious Caprio." (No, we're not kidding.)
2,500 units of the 50,000-yen, "artificially intelligent" C. Caprio will become available for reservation on the 'net starting Februrary 21st, while an additional 100 units will be made available via phone starting the next day. (An additional 200 units of a now-obligatory black version will be given away in a campaign by famed Japanese delivery company Kuro-Neko Yamato.) Bandai aims to deliver reserved BN-1s starting at the end of March, assuming they don't revolt, kill their creators, and rampage across the city first.
Bandai also plans an online service that will allow owners to download pre-programmed games and routines into their silicon kitties.
Bandai estimates that once full-scale retail sales begin, they'll be able to move 10,000 of these suckers by the end of the year. Optimistic? Only time will tell. Until then, hide the robo-catnip.
-- Matt
2.8.01:
SHE's CV Nears
Studio Half Eye has some new info on their Perfect Change CV Shin Getta One. See our 31 December Rumble for the intro story. SHE is now taking 1,000 reservations direct from customers for an initial production run to begin in May. The first run figures will ship in special launch packaging.
General sale through retail channels will begin just after summer. The figure is quite poseable, and is equipped with his Tomahawk Lancer.
Again, the CV Shin Getta can split into component vehicles, but can only assemble into Shin Getta One. Pictures are of Hajime Takashima's prototype, not the production figure.
[Update! - 2.11.01: The retail price is Y27,000.]
-- Darren
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