Yeah, Nick definitely makes a good point about the vast # of rehashes in 2004 freeing up the developmental teams to work on E3 dilligently.

A good thing to think of too is that it's the last film as far as anyone knows.  Could theoretically be the line's last big push and it's likely the company's not overlooking this fact, so it may have extra umph to it.  Plus whatever alterations and adjustments needed to be made after the lessons learned from the E2 line and things...  It seems every film's been a "learning experience" for Hasbro as they've come and gone.

Too hilly here for Tornadoes to hit often.  Sometimes, and usually in a large flat area (IE: a trailer park), but not often otherwise.

One touched down on Mt. Washington one year though in the city, which freaked everyone out.  

Mt. Washington is the cliff that overlooks the city of Pittsburgh.  Very scenic, very pretty, very wealthy area (on the front half at least).  The thing just plopped down and took off again.  Freaked the whole area out when it happened because there wasn't any warning, and it's RIGHT on top of a huge hill (the term "mount" is deceiving, it's not a mountain).

Weird...  Couple hit out near me in the past...  They tend to travel up the rivers here, if they hit at all though.  I did see one years ago when I was 14 or so on a camping trip on the Allegheny River.  Watched it go right down the river after it formed.  Scary as hell.

THe MR AT-AT does indeed rock all.  $1200, for something that painfully meticulous, is actually warranted IMO.

I mean, they just made an incredible model there.  It is, without a doubt, the most accurate piece I've ever seen.  I'd love to own one, but I've had CARS that cost less than that.

I cannot possibly justify it.  Though if I find someone who does get it, I'm gonna beg him to snap clear high-res shots of every inch of it up close for me.    And if they live nearby I'm gonna beg them to allow me to take measurements of it too, haha.  Must have that data!

Is it bad when, after taking the test, you're told that you aren't desired within hell due to the fear of your taking over the joint?

If that is bad, ignore what I just said and don't bother me for a while.

Figure production generally starts a year (+/- couple months) in advance.  A line like the E3 line I'd say, is without a doubt, in some preliminary stages of production right now, as Hasbro's probably just developing the core ideas they want to run with...  Possibly character selection's going on, and gathering what may be necessary from LFL as far as references as well.  

The production of the films is moving deep into the process now where they're working almost exclusively on visual effects with ILM.  That means costuming's done, and a lot of the CGI work is on its way to being done, so character design is almost complete at this time.  Hasbro should have the fuel they need for the choices they need to make (who is good in the initial assortment(s), and who's out, and who's good for later assortments, etc.)...

I'd expect figures the same time in 2005 as they shipped in 2002.

I don't usually get into deep thought, but with one class I'm taking I am somewhat forced into self-reflection and evaluation of who I am and how I behave with and to my fellow man.

I go to a private Catholic College Northeast of Pittsburgh, but relatively close to the city (like 15 minutes).  As it's a Catholic school, I'm forced to take a religious studies/philosophy course as part of my curriculum.  That, at first, seemed AOK by me, as I'm always open to broadening my mind to new things.  No biggie, right?

Well, last semester I took "Introduction to World Religions" because I thought it'd be pretty basic, and give me some grassroots knowledge about religions that (at the time) I thought I already had at least a loose understanding of.

I found out that my instructor, a Catholic priest and a nice guy (don't let my following negative opinion sour you on the kinda guy he is), had different things in mind.  The class encompassed everything from North and South American Indian religious beliefs to religions of the ancient world...  And it ran right up through current religions as well.

A very difficult course ultimately, so I wound up withdrawing because my GPA has to be relatively high for some of my grants and financial aid to be approved.  Better a W than an F.

So this semester I replaced the previous Rel/Phil class with "Contemporary Moral Problems in Modern Society".

Quite a mouthful.

I've found it a bit more easy to comprehend, as there's much less terminology that has words that are completely foreign to me.  Literally.  World Religions of course has tons of terms that are simply not easily translated to the English language so it almost felt like learning some other language necessary for theology classes last semester.

Anyway, my Morality class I'm taking this semester is still difficult because I find my instructor (same priest as last semester) is simply a tough instructor in both his pace and the material he covers.

The class though, discusses various ethical theories and ideas...  Thing's like Kantian Deontologism, Ross's "Prima Facie" Deontologism, Egoism (What I've determined I practice), various forms of Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, etc...

Lots of stuff, simpler to understand though because the basic root of these terms aren't foreign to me so I can cope with this class more.

Anyway, the class makes you reflect on yourself somewhat, because we discuss various ethical situations, and how we personally would react to them.

I find that, when it comes to business (which both my majors are central to) I tend to focus on performing efficiently...  As I should.  To acheive the maximum benefit for the most people.  This sometimes includes difficult choices though, like say cutting benefits to employees when a company is failing (a fairly simplistic example, but you get the point).

On the issue of personal ethical choices though, I find I'm much more the egoist.  To those who dislike me, it's probably no surprise.  To myself, I was slightly surprised to the extent it was, but overall I expected it since I like to think I know myself fairly well, and I know that I like to make myself happy foremost.  

In personal decisions, few outside individuals actually ever influenced me.  

So, do you ever do self-reflection and realize you're a jagoff too?

The possible "limited edition" status of this line is utter BS.

I just complained about this in the TF thread too, and this one little issue has me royally pissed off, to tell you the truth.  If these ARE Limited (In that they don't release these figures again on the standard line's cards), then Hasbro's done nothing but to make one big advancement to the modern line take about 2 HUGE steps backward.

Like I said at Galactic Hunter, can anyone say "Playmates Star Trek:TNG" with me?

MisterPL was giving me some hope that these super articulated sculpts will be reused, and I truly hope he's correct, but Hasbro's limiting things is a BAD sign overall.  Let us all hope for the best of course.

I was hoping the SA treatment wouldn't even end with these 12, and that we may see it become more widespread across the line as a whole.  I still hope for this.  For a Star Wars toy line that really "wows" you with every new figure.

I'm very curious to see/hear more news from Hasbro about all of this, nonetheless.  They've definitely got my attention right now.

I just hope I'm able to get plenty of these figures as I want them not only for my collection but customizing too.  They're just so great looking.  The Han is, as far as I can tell, perfect.

As for a 2nd Han, I almost wouldn't mind an apology Endor Han over an Emperor.  I see your point about an Emperor though too Matt, and would love both honestly.

Han though, that's a figure that really could stand the soft goods treatment I think, and super articulation given his role at Endor.

E2 didn't really have a midnight madness here.  Most people went to Wal-Mart stores to get what they wanted, and while WM had the area roped off, most of us went in and got what we wanted when we got there.

My WM had only me and about 6 others, 2 of which were "significant others" buying for loved ones.  Not many collectors, and nobody I even knew from the local collecting group even.