Tsuki-board: E2046 Gathering Banned

Tsuki-board looks a lot different now when I first joined it. Now it's double the efficiency...no, make that even triple. Some of the best updates to note are the image limit now being four times before and the database itself nearing the 9000 mark. Thanks for all that job that you put into Tsuki-board, Kuma-san. I also thank the Tsuki-board people for being good to the despaired student that is Zetsubo-san (Mr. Despair) or your's truly.

Recently, the jaw-dropping and expensive casts made by this company called E2046 Gathering was banned from the database. Apparently, it was labelled as bootlegs since its recasting figures of long out-of-production figures without the permission of the copyright holders themselves. Not only are long-since-gone figures are recasted but also recent PVC figures with E2046 Gathering claiming that its spoiling the hobby of those that prefer garage kits and their own touch.

Kuma-san, forgive my despaired mind from arguing with you regarding the whole matter as my definition of bootlegs are once limited to cheap and fugly descration of the beautiful authentics and not something whose beauty rivals or exceeds even the official product itself.

However, there is but one part of E2046 Gathering which is to be taken into consideration, the so-called ORI figures. I'm talking about E2046 Gathering's proclaimed original series with a kit of a what-it-seems-to-be Chinese Girl rendition of Final Fantasy X's bombshell, Lulu.

But anyways, if the end of April would also mark the end of Gathering's chapter in Tsuki-board's annals; it would be better for me (and everyone else) to just help out with adding more entries and manufacturers.

Sora, Warrior of Light, Alicia, Sebastian, Shujinko (Hero), Ecchi no Edge, Edward ELRIC and some Front Mission Robot.

Also, I should not forget to recruit more members for my "shelved" Square-Enix Club which due to it's former name as "S.E.T.A." had it pushed to the second page and is barely noticed by people. Now that it's renamed "Alliance for Square-Enix" and is listed as the second group in the Alphabetically-arranged club page, I hope to see more members joining and cooperating for the glory of Square-Enix.

Hail Square-Enix!

Final Fantasy IX Play Arts Update

Final Fantasy IX Play Arts due for release in the Last Quarter of 2009.

Based on the 3D CG rendition of the designs by Toshiyuki Itahana, character designer of Final Fantasy IX.

Click on the images to enlarge. The Battle Sprite cannot be enlarge and at the largest given size already.

no. 1: Zidane Tribal

[Picture] Figure, Battle Sprite (basis of pose), 3D CG Rendition (basis of likeness)

- Extreme likeness to the video game CG counterpart!
- It is unknown at this point if Zidane's Mage Mashers are indeed fusable as seen in Dissidia Final Fantasy.


no. 2: Garnet Til Alexandros XVIII

[Picture] Figure, Battle Sprite (basis of pose), 3D CG Rendition (basis of likeness)

- She seems to be the only character of the trio not to bear close likeness to her 3D CG counterpart.


no. 3: Vivi Orunitia

[Picture] Figure, Battle Sprite (basis of pose), 3D CG Rendition (basis of likeness)

- Extreme likeness to the video game CG counterpart! (Oh, of course!)


Photos: Touya-Deity, Final Fantasy Wikia

===

A little off-topic, I've just reached 2k hits in Tsuki-board.
Thank you so much for all your support to Zetsubo-san! :D

Juke Box Rockers

Five songs which are too awesome that you'll beg it won't stop

1. The Time Has Come

From where?
Devil May Cry 4.

What is it?
Nero's Battle Theme.

What language?
English

Who sung it?
Jason "Shyboy" Arnold

A sample line please?
"As you're ending I'm about to begin, my strength is pain and I would never give in!"

Sample YouTube Link, please?
Here. (Safe for work. It's just Nero with a gun)

===

2. Worthless as the Sun Above Clouds

From where?
Guilty Gear 2 Overture.

What is it?
Raven's Theme.

What language?
English

Who sung it?
Junya Motomura

A sample line please?
"Even bare mountains make trees cry, Pitiful scum!"

Sample YouTube Link, please?
Here. (Safe for work. It's just a fully-clothed and barely-recognizable Raven)

===

3. Black Onslaught

From where?
BlazBlue: The Calamity Trigger.

What is it?
Blood Sin Mode Ragna's Boss Theme.

What language?
Engrish (as it appears so)

Who sung it?
Junya Motomura

A sample line please?
"Fine crime, no ways to pay. Life, death; nothing to remain!"

Sample YouTube Link, please?
Here. (Safe for work. It's just the logo)

===

4. Under the Darkness

From where?
Spray's Kichiku Megane (Brutal Spectacles)

What is it?
Opening Movie Theme

What language?
Japanese

Who sung it?
C.G. Mix

A sample line please?
"Nanika ga kawaru ugokihajimeteru taikutsu na hibi owatte yuku. Shihai sareteru ashikase wo hazushi ugomeku yokubou modorenai!" (Something changed and began to move, bringing an end to those boring days.
Unlock the shackles that tied us to the rules; I cannot return to that crawling desire!)

Sample YouTube Link, please?
Here. (Haruhi AMV version. NSFW)

===

5. Paralyzer

From where?
YouTube

What is it?
Rock Love Song, I supposed.

What language?
English

Who sung it?
Finger Eleven

A sample line please?
"Well I’m not paralyzed but I seem to be struck by you I want to make you move because you’re standing still."

Sample YouTube Link, please?
Here. (Safe for Work. There's absolutely nudity in there anyway.)

Sir Yexel and good things from Japan

All pictures are taken by sir Yexel from Pinoy Toy Kolektors.

I'm very glad that sir Yexel, one of the Philippines' premiere Toy Collectors, had finally joined in the Square-Enix Play Arts craze! As one might remember, sir Yexel held a figure exhibit last year in Paranaque (did I got that right? ^^;). Hope that he will hold the exhibit again this year with additional Square-Enix merchandise! :D

Below are pics of his impressive Play Arts haul for the past week:


He said his Normal Form Sora, Auron and Tidus Play Arts were not pictured. Nevertheless, that's still impressive, having obtained 28 Play Arts in a week! :D

He also took pictures of a certain shop in Japan that sells various Square-Enix merchandise.

Static Arts Sora, Riku and Sephiroth:


Various Kingdom Hearts Merchandise:


Various Final Fantasy Play Arts:


Static Arts Sword of the Stranger Raro and Nanashi with more FFVII Play Arts:


Thanks for the useful information and wonderful pics, sir Yexel! More power to you and your collection! :)

Chogokin Phone Braver 7

Those that are part of or are lurking in the Otakai Figure Society and Tsuki-Board Figure Database Site do know one essential thing about me: I have no interest with robots.

However; there is one robot which even I, a non-Gundam modeller and someone with aversions to cellphones would go "Awwww!" with.


^ Introducing the Chogokin GE-46 Phone Braver 7 from K-Tai Investigator 7!!!

*Ohhhhhh~ astounding!!!*

I first heard about this bizzarre robot in the Tamashii Nations website but since its in Japanese and that it provided a meager amount of information, I was left awestruck for days until I discovered a short article in Tomopop detailing about its series of origin and more information about why in the world would a cellphone be a robot.

I'll pay even a million yen if the Phone would be able to react like this. LOL.

The thing costs 12,000 Yen, about the same price as a Jun Planning Sebastian Michaelis doll. According to Tomopop's article and the photos, it has articulated arms and legs as well as battery function that allows the screen to change its facial expression. I don't think I'll have the nerve to shell out some cash for this because the over-all design isn't really that special and it's not even any cellphone model that I've heard of. I'm already contented with looking at it through hi-res online photos.

...but it won't end there.

Maybe someday I'll customize a Panasonic Foma p900iv into a "robot" called "Cloud Braver VII."
Interestingly, one of Cloud Strife's moves in Dissidia is called Braver. ^^;

Reimi Saionji at AmiAmi Shop

The Japan-based AmiAmi Web Shop has updated their site with more photos showing the detail of the Moe archer Reimi Saionji from Star Ocean IV: The Last Hope. Reimi along with Judge Gabranth are one of the very few Play Arts figures with well-hidden joints. She, herself, looks like a PVC Statue from afar.

Very soon, they will be updating "Ecchi no Edge's" page but for now, check out Reimi's page.

Other recent Play Arts Action Figures with more press photos: Kingdom Hearts Cloud, Sephiroth and Sora.

Oh and speaking of Star Ocean; I've also edited the layout of the blog site featuring Faize.

Xiphos Repainted

A day after acquiring the Knight of the Busou Shinki, Xiphos; I decided to repaint her stale yellow parts into gold as well as some details like blue and light blue spots. The result is not a top-notched, expert or first-class paint job but nonetheless pleasing. :D

For the former look of Xiphos, please refer to the previous entry.

Photos of the repainted Xiphos

Xiphos

Accessories

I haven't repainted the rest of the items yet other than the ones shown and the Lance (not pictured). I also have a lot of room for improvement but this would do for now. I need to get more paint materials as well.

Thanks for looking!

Busou Shinki Xiphos GET!

She's the nearest you'd have to a Lenneth Valkyrie Action Figure.

Busou Shinki MMS Type Knight: XIPHOS

I've been curious about those Busou Shinki figures since I saw Xiphos (Pronounced as Saifos) in Wasabi Toys about a year ago. I wanted her and her alone because I like blue-colored armor but she comes with Samurai Benio whom I have no interest with. Eventually, after a year, Xiphos was purchased from Wasabi and I went ZETSUBO-SHITTA!

Then came the temporarily-relocated Greattoys to the rescue. They have a stock of Xiphos which is reasonable priced like a Play Arts Action Figure. No more hesitation! My knight in shining armor should be mine!

"Bare Mode"

Seeing the joint system and the type of stand being utilized by these butt-kicking beauties; one could say that Busou Shinki are spiritual predecessors of the now wildly-famous Max Factory Figma. After reading the few English writings in the book-box packaging; I can see that it was none other than the Figma creator himself, Masaki Apsy, that was behind the whole Busou Shinki MMS concept. What a smart guy!

"Light Armor Mode"

You should've warned me. Busou Shinki is not for the impatient like "OMG, I got a new action figure! I must play with it NAOOO!" but more geared towards those Gundam Enthusiasts that have a good deal of temperance and passion for assembling things. It took me a whole hour just to assemble her in Light Armor Mode. Good thing, no part was lost in the process.





I got a bit lazy to interchange her into Heavy Armor Mode so I decided to just place her Heavy Armor in the provided armor stand. Very convinient but that doesn't mean that the extra parts would not be a spaz as all other parts ended up in the same tool box where I keep my Play Arts extra parts. ^^;

Just like Frioniel (Dissidia FF), she comes with a lot of weapons:

"Atare!"

"Itatsuka!"

"Yari dou!"

"Ken yo!"

I'll be displaying Xiphos with her lance because I don't have a figure that is equipping a Lance yet. Xiphos' face may look bland but she did made me very pleased with her generous set of accessories that had surely put my patience to the test. Her Medieval arsenal is a plus (because I like weapons!) and that she provided a good balance in my collection along with being an excellent Busou Shinki sampler of sorts.