JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Topic started by: Spirit of MAC on September 18, 2012, 05:55 AM
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JD Uber Troll (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?action=profile;u=268) is having yet another challenging dilemma (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22168.msg548467#msg548467), so I’ve decided to help him out here and start a thread on his behalf, to hopefully help alleviate some of his continuously "unusual" anxiety regarding others people’s collecting habits. Force Guy brings up an interesting conundrum though, as he is currently confounded as to why people (like me) who dislike the Prequels would still collect prequel figures and toys. Similary, we should probably nip it in the bud and also address why folks would buy any of the EU figures if they didn't like the book or game from which the characters came, or haven’t even read or played it for that matter.
Any takers? As for me, as I've previously posted, I do it for the sake of maintaining a complete 4” collection, on top of the fact that I just like most of the figures regardless of movie or source of origin. In all of the other Star Wars lines I collect (GG, etc), I’ve always gone OT-only though. But since I've dug the 4” line since 1978, and it's relatively cheap (current distribution issues aside), I’ve decided to grab the prequel stuff along the way too, even if their inspiration comes from 2.5 movies that I don’t particularly care for. As for EU, other than the Thrawn trilogy and SOTE, I’ve never read any Star Wars EU, and I’ve only played a handful of the SW video games, but I really dig the vast majority of EU figures. I guess I look at the Hasbro line as part of the overall SW "toy saga" which I enjoy in it's entirety, but a somewhat separate entity from the movie saga (which I only enjoy 58.3% of the time), so I collect the prequel (and EU) stuff almost as happily as the OT swag.
[Tangent]Regarding collecting in general, on a broader level, I’ll occasionally purchase stuff I don’t necessarily love for my movie and music collections, just to make them more well-rounded. I’ve taken to trying to “collect” each Blu-ray from BOM’s Top 200 adjusted list (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm), though there’s actually a small handful that I’m struggling with that I may wind up passing on. I'll grab random Jazz and Classical CDs from time to time too, even though I don't love those genres, and have to be in exactly the right mood to listen to them. I also collect U.S. and Int'l coins, including some from countries that I didn't particularly enjoy, and many that have some ridiculously lame designs on them. I guess my point is that to me, well-rounded and interesting collections should contain a wide array of items within them: Bizarre, cool, ugly, unusual, popular, random, despised, etc.[tangent/]
So, who else is in the boat of disliking the Prequels (or EU), but collecting their respective figures/toys, and how come? Also, folks who have ditched the PT figures somewhere along the way should feel free to chime in too since you were obviously at one point in this club as well, before “seeing the light” (or just running out of space, as the more frequent case may be).
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Because you can still like a figure, still think it's fun and cool even if you don't like the source or even the character. As a long time GI JOE ARAH fan, I got sick of Snake-Eyes over a decade ago, but some of his figures are great action figures.
I'm not familiar with a lot of Star Wars EU stories. What I know of Shadows of the Empire, I think it kinda blows. Nor have I read the Thrawn trilogy. But there's some decent figures there. Any alien I can rationalize as cantina background or Jabba's entourage...even though I have no displays of either.
I still pass up most prequel/EU Jedi though. As characters I find them unrelatable and visually, I find them boring...the robes look, and most of them cannot be used as anything but Jedi. If I ever had plans to do a Geonosis arena set-up, I might get more.
Also, I tend to skip pod racers, because I dislike most of their character designs.
I try to buy what I like, (if I can find it). When I acquire too much stuff I'm iffy about, that's when my collecting suffers.
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Wow, another pinched nerve and another lengthy post to justify his collecting habits. Amazing.
Personally, I think Diego sucks, but I collect Dora the Explorer stuff and anything with a Dora name stamped on it, so I’ve decided to grab the Diego stuff along the way too, even if it's inspiration comes from a show that I don’t particularly care for at all. Makes perfect sense.
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Mace, I don't know where you were before April 30, 2012 but I really want to let you know that you don't seem to be getting the vibe here at JediDefender. We are all collectors. We all have our own styles of collecting. We have, over the years, become friends. Many times, if we disagree with each other, we keep our mouths shut because that is what a polite and considerate person does.
For some reason, you have taken on Force Guy, who has been coming here since 2003, and has over 1100 posts.
This thread, and your attitude, is just a drag. Who knows, maybe you're 15. I don't know. Just lighten up, and be friendly. Life is too short to spend it picking fights.
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I think the conversation is a worthy one, but your opening—and motivation—are a bit ridiculous. Why don't you just edit that first post a bit...we don't need threads revolving around bickering collectors.
(Sorry mods, just sayin')
As for collecting prequel figures, I pick up what I want. I don't feel the need to buy a whole new clone color scheme each time they're resculpted (I still have a bunch of the 2004 Shock Troops and 501st clones), and I don't feel the need to tear my hair out buying every one of Padme's gowned figures. I don't buy every resculpt of the jedi, unless the figure is a vast improvement.
It's different for the PT for me, than it is with the OT. I'll whip myself up into a frenzy for a cantina or Jabba's palace figure, but I don't feel the same draw for Prequel figures. However, some of the designs are great, and so I support them by buying them. Some are boring (looking at you, Ric Olie) and so I keep the original release.
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if we disagree with each other, we keep our mouths shut because that is what a polite and considerate person does.
I think both sides would be wise to take your advice... if the sniping continues, it'll force clean-up in aisle 3 and potentially some vacation time for those who wish to continue the petty trolling.
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Ric Olie? Ric Olie? Now you're picking on the Ric? Dude, that is beyond trolling, that's cave trolling! Without Ric Olie, we would have never known that Courascant was covered in city, or that the pitch controls make the ship go this way and that! He's classic!
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OT Movies are better
but straight up
PT toys are cooler.
The main public critique of the PT movies is that they are basicly big marketing and toy rackets...well, I like toys
So I like prequel toys. AT TEs, And MTTs and Turbo tanks and clones and geonosians and wookie warriors and giant walking tri droids, droikedakas freaking trillions of battle droids and clones of different deco, Alien jedi ALEIN JEDI by the dozens with soft goods and all joints and and and ect ect.
The prequel toys would rule even if there was no movies to support them. Just a bunch of cool stuff for luke and Duke and batman and Indiana jones to get into as far as Im concerned
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Mace, I don't know where you were before April 30, 2012 but I really want to let you know that you don't seem to be getting the vibe here at JediDefender. We are all collectors. We all have our own styles of collecting. We have, over the years, become friends. Many times, if we disagree with each other, we keep our mouths shut because that is what a polite and considerate person does.
For some reason, you have taken on Force Guy, who has been coming here since 2003, and has over 1100 posts.
This thread, and your attitude, is just a drag. Who knows, maybe you're 15. I don't know. Just lighten up, and be friendly. Life is too short to spend it picking fights.
That is good advice. I agree with being polite and considerate - and that life is too short to be spent picking fights. But I don't believe that the fact that someone has been here longer or their post count is higher excuses rudeness either.
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I'll just first back up what Jeff said, to both parties.
On the issue of buying what you're not into, I've done it too... EU figures I don't know or care for that much. The last one I can think of was that one comic pack with a jedi-ish girl with some kind of weird saber staff thing. She's blue with white hair or something? And some weird mofo who I can't even recall what he really looked like as he's in storage while my shelves are in disarray.
Anyway, yeah, I got the set... I appreciated aspects of the figures... their sculpts, articulation. The accessories were neat. They're from EU I have zero interest in.
The less things cost the more likely I was to buy them... The more they cost, the less interest I have and don't go for the impulse buys.
Nom Anor, for instance. I hate the Vong... One of the worst EU mistakes IMO, and he probably won't reside in my collection (though I have one carded, just mulling over what to do). At today's costs, I just am a little more picky.
Thus the MTT, while it'd be kinda cool to have for half price or less, is something I've walked past a lot. I got a Republic Shuttle for like $15 shipped, because I wasn't impressed with it.
At the same time I was into the AT-AT and I got it for under half off too, because I'm a cheap prick. Same with the BMFalcon. I dig it, and still wouldn't pay for it.
I'm usually open to any movie figure, but I have to say some irk me, and really at today's prices... Pod racers would get that feeling from me, and anymore for $10 I think any Padme should be more than a salt shaker... But I have them all, even though I'm not a big fan of either.
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That is good advice. I agree with being polite and considerate - and that life is too short to be spent picking fights. But I don't believe that the fact that someone has been here longer or their post count is higher excuses rudeness either.
You're right Tracy. That point didn't really make sense, and I flubbed it. I was only pointing out how new Mace was to the forums. My bad.
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No worries :)
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The toys are definately separate from the movies- I don't care for the prequels, but understand them for what they are. We all wanted George to make more movies, and while I don't love them like the originals, I'm glad they exist rather then never have gotten more movies.
And those movies helped launch our collections, because they provided the support to do such an incredible toy run since 1999. Before that POTF2 was explosive, then dwindled to clearance fodder. POTJ was pretty good, but pretty short lived. If the prequels hadn't come along, we wouldn't have these boards to be hanging out on talking about these toys.
I am in the group that at one point dumped everything prequel. The storage areas were overflowing, and something had to be done. But I wish I had an AT-TE and plenty of other items. The Clone Wars drew me back in, and I know I am in a small camp wishing those had been theatrical releases. I think they would have gotten a lot more mileage out of the toys that way. But even that I trimmed down to a single box plus the giant slave-1 sitting on top of it.
Some of the EU I really enjoy, others not so much. So I bought some of the former, and not the latter. I think a Clone Wars type version of the Thrawn trilogy would rock.
I've pretty much retired now, but I don't intend to not pay attention to the line. I'm sure I'll continue thinning the collection, and still picking up an item here or there. My parameters will be more scene specific for a potential display, rather than which movie or source it comes from.
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But I don't believe that the fact that someone has been here longer or their post count is higher excuses rudeness either.
Uh, exactly how was I being rude? Mace stated that he hates the prequels, yet, he purchases prequel-related figures and such. I merely asked a question in the hopes that he could shed some light as to what his logic was. How is that "rude?"
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But I don't believe that the fact that someone has been here longer or their post count is higher excuses rudeness either.
Boo. Disagree most vehemently.
Where's my frickin' geritol?
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But I don't believe that the fact that someone has been here longer or their post count is higher excuses rudeness either.
Boo. Disagree most vehemently.
Where's my frickin' geritol?
We excuse your rudeness not because you've been at JD a long time, but because you are a right old fart.
;)
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Well in that case, okay. ;)
I have been here quite some time though.....
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I'm very new to this forum but am intrigued by this thread. While I tend to agree with Force Guy(?) because I don't particularly care for the prequel trilogy, I have no interest in collecting everything Star Wars, and i find abject consumerism a little repulsive even though im plenty guilty of it myself, I figure it's not my place to question the collecting habits of others.
Perhaps it would force Hasbro to step up their game if people didn't just buy whatever dreck they put out. But is there really any meaning to any form of collecting? Isn't it all just the accumulation of stuff no matter how selective you may be?
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But is there really any meaning to any form of collecting? Isn't it all just the accumulation of stuff no matter how selective you may be?
Great point. People should just enjoy what they want to collect, and not blast other people for how they enjoy their hobbies.
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But is there really any meaning to any form of collecting? Isn't it all just the accumulation of stuff no matter how selective you may be?
Well, in theory, collecting should have some personal meaning, regardless of what you collect, otherwise it's mindless consumerism, but I see what you're saying. The problem is that more often than not, I see many collectors go into automaton mode, buying anything & everything that comes out, and it shouldn't be that way. Maybe that's why I like watching "Collection Intervention" on Sci-Fi so much.
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People should just enjoy what they want to collect, and not blast other people for how they enjoy their hobbies.
Is there really any "joy," financially or otherwise, in collecting, hunting, amassing, and hoarding each and every item with a particular logo stamped on it?
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Not for me, but I don't collect that way. If someone else does, I think that's for them to decide.
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I don't find joy in packaged collectibles... others do... it's subjective what brings you joy, ultimately. I don't like whips and chains, but I have a feeling if I typed it into Google there'd be plenty of financially successful websites that would say others enjoy a little pain with their pleasure...
not to compare buying crappy toys to being beat with a Cat 'o Nine Tails. :-X
For me, personally, I look at a toy and if I like it I buy it... some come from source material so meh to me, that I don't buy them though. Others... eh, if the figure looks cool enough or good enough, I buy.
The MTT, by many opinions, is great, but for me it's not nearly $130 great, nor $100 great, nor $80 great.
For some guys ICMG was a tool and they still think it was all just some "gag" to get him made... To those that know better though... Joy seems like a tough thing to nail down the why's and how's someone gets it from something. I hate TPM for the most part, especially these days, but I was kinda happy to add GOOD TPM figures to my collection this year. *shrugs*
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I hate TPM for the most part, especially these days, but I was kinda happy to add GOOD TPM figures to my collection this year. *shrugs*
I pretty much hate TPM too, but I know that when TPM came out in 1999, I waited outside TRU for midnight madness trying to gobble up anything and everything with red & black, and this was before I even saw the movie! I later realized how ridiculous that was. And of course, as time goes by, our collecting habits mature and evolve and we gain a better sense of focus. It's at that point where we realize we can pass on certain items and it's okay. Some people never reach that point (or want to).
But hey, this year's vintage TPM assortment wasn't too shabby. All of the figures were done well, IMO. I know I picked up Darth Maul and Sidious. The problem was with the way Hasbro shipped the same assortment over and over as if every collector was nuts about TPM, and they clearly weren't.
On another note, I know I like to pick up the occasional Exploited Universe figure if it looks cool/unique, especially the Sith Lord figures. However, I use my own discretion. I think that's the key to collecting: being selective and exercising discretion, otherwise, our habits grow out of control and lack any sense or direction. I know that if I had to stomach buying another Clone Trooper again and again for the sake of having a "complete" collection or a figure of Jar Jar, well, where's that cat 'o nine tails?
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For some people though, a collection that isn't complete is not worth having any collection at all...
Like I said, I don't get carded guys, but I don't blame them either.
I also don't get guys digging horribly underscaled ships that look like, well, toys... I'm in the minority there, but yeah... I just don't get it. I like the hyper realistic figures, and I like hyper realistic (or best foot forward ala the new snowspeeder, AT-ST, Speederbike, etc.) over the stubby X-Wing, or a bigger-but-still-tiny Slave-I.
I waited in line too... MM was kind of fun, so I have fond memories of it, but god I wish I had a refund on that Commtech Reader I bought. Ignorance was bliss.
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Ah, the commtech reader...what a piece of ****.
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Exploited Universe
Tee-hee. I'm going have to remember that one.
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Ah, the commtech reader...what a piece of ****.
I should probably type that up for you as a "forum guest review" on our front page... you really can't expand on it much further than that, and it's a fair and accurate assessment.
Let me add that I actually got some enjoyment out of the Commtech Reader... I just hate that I paid what I paid for something people would've given to me for free if I just waited.
I made up for MM 1999 at MM 2002, when I bought nothing but the WM Exclusive TIE Bombers. Cleared the store out, and they're still outstanding ships to this day. I bought not one other thing that night. Saga 2002-2003/04-ish is still the most dismal time to collect IMO, regardless on what things cost.
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But is there really any meaning to any form of collecting? Isn't it all just the accumulation of stuff no matter how selective you may be?
Well, in theory, collecting should have some personal meaning, regardless of what you collect, otherwise it's mindless consumerism, but I see what you're saying. The problem is that more often than not, I see many collectors go into automaton mode, buying anything & everything that comes out, and it shouldn't be that way. Maybe that's why I like watching "Collection Intervention" on Sci-Fi so much.
I have caught myself buying things and asking later "why did I buy that?" I wish I would have saved my money for this other thing (Kubricks in my case) that I like more and that I have more of a connection to.
I think I may have seen something like Collection Intervention - this older couple had a specially built barn to house their Cabbage Patch collection. They built a merry go round for their dolls and had "playdates" with other collectors (as if their dolls were real children). It made me feel better about myself! ;) I thought, "Well at least I'm not that crazy."
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they should have just put the commtech readers in teh quessn starship chassis and in teh playsets and in the ATT.
I think there was a wrastling toy playset at teh time that did that with some success.
hmmm maybe I could customize that up someday, I have an extra reader..
oh well
I also sort of wished the chips themselves were actually IN the figures, or for small characters liek pod racers Anakin and possibly Padme, put them in an accesory.
But I bought so many battle droids from the original TPM line ( and glad I did every one since IMHO has been to soft and floppy and arent as tall or imposing) that to this day my grassy plains battle is all commtech stands. I think I bought 60 of them all told, lke ten of each variety, and I use the commtechs chips from the non battle droid character a sstands for the Gungan warrior side of the battle.
Prince would say thats how you party like its 1999
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I think CT's bigger flaw was it's a technology that needed more time to improve... The sounds and voices were neat, but garbled and not really clear. From a kid's perspective, I imagine things like the light/sound R2 is far more entertaining and interesting than the CT's voices you could barely make out in some cases.
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Ah, the commtech reader...what a piece of ****.
I should probably type that up for you as a "forum guest review" on our front page... you really can't expand on it much further than that, and it's a fair and accurate assessment.
You're very welcome to! 8)
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Well, if there's a silver lining to the whole Commtech thing, the chips could be used as figure stands. Plus, the Commtech Reader came with a ball chain to wear all your Commtech chips. Not sure what the bonus is to that last part.
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I think it makes me look cool when I wear them... errr... I mean it WOULD make me look cool, if I wore them, and stuff. :-[
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Isn't there an app that makes your iphone look like a commtech reader?
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Just a thought...what if figures came with a stand that had a QR code on it. Then you could scan it and see...maybe a scene from a movie? Stats about the character? I dunno...but I think it's a great idea!
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I dunno...but I think it's a great idea!
I agree, it's an excellent idea.
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I wish each figure came with some sort of usable diorama accessory... a chair, computer console, etc.
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I like that stuff too, and that's a big reason I miss 30AC and consider that the golden age of collecting. 2007 gave us some of the cooler stuff beside a figure that we ever got.
I think those days are largely done though, outside of a larger pack format or "deluxe" stuff.
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Im with you on ethe lights and sounds R2, those things are super neat, one of the only cool things to come out of Saga 2002.
I set up my battle of grassy plain last night, all of my battle droids for that scene are 1999 models, with commtechs, so I used teh other characters commstands to stand up my POTJ gungan warriors.
its pretty boss looking
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I wish light/sound R2's dome could move...not 360 degrees, but just enough.
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Really it could be done with just metal connectors ala a flash light's twist on/off switch. Have that start it, and it's completely doable. Twist it another direction and it turns off. Simple.