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May 9, 2014
7:27 PM
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altered beast, japan, japanese soft vinyl, japanese toy, licensing, retro, retro video game, sega, sofubi, video games
5:13 PM
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| Altered Beast First Stage Boss "Aggar" Prototype |
Attention SEGA heads! Geek Life has released pictures of their upcoming Japanese soft vinyl (sofubi) version of the First Stage Boss "Aggar" from the classic video game Altered Beast.
The vinyl process goes from original sculpture (pictured above), to wax and then to a first casting or "test shot". The test shot is the first successful part out of the mold; this reflects what the final product will look like.
Here's the wax version:
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| Altered Beast First Stage Boss "Aggar" Wax - ready for molding |
And the test shot:
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| Altered Beast First Stage Boss "Aggar" Wax - final product! |
セガ・レトロゲーム ソフビ コレクション 第一弾 #獣王記 のステージ1 ボス ハガーのテストショット公開です！ 近日予約開始予定！
The first shot of the New Sega Retro Game Sofbi Collection has been released. Pre-orders coming soon!
#AlteredBeast First Stage Boss Aggar
No word on pricing and availability yet.
h/t Eric Nilla
- Ahren
9:39 AM
TERROR BOYS OOZE NO.13 [NIGHTMARE]
BRANDT PETERS X FERG
EDITION OF 225 - bet you this one sells out by 12:05...
The release is set for Monday, May 12 - 12:00 noon central time. > http://store.projectsquadt.com
OOZE NO.13 [NIGHTMARE]: 6" vinyl, cloth and ABS - Includes 2 sets of sycho lenses, 2.1 and classic arms, sweater, nail-board, cleaver, sack and a removable helmet.
7:00 AM
Imagine a sandbox building sort of video game, where the graphical elements look like something out of Wolfenstein 3D, but the environments are as staggeringly immense and complex as they are intricate and interactive.
Now take that game, and bring Lego into the mix (with the help of CUUSOO back in June of 2012 on the initial review set, that became the 21102 Micro World playet) and you end up with this:
There are currently three Minecraft sets available at this time (with many more on the way, the next being "the End" featuring the Ender Dragon and Endermen), the one I got recently is the "21105 Micro World – The Village" playset.
The Village was released in Sept of 2013, comes with three "micromob" figurines that you need to assemble, and has some pretty cool detail features throughout. But before we get to that, let's start with the instructions.
Lego really gives premium treatment of presentation to the sets that used licensed themes, and sure there's a bit of a marketing/brand awareness sort of edge to all of this, but it harkens back to when you'd get mini comics or extra sort of flavor publications with your action figures or playsets in the 80s.
Both books are very colorful, have information on the world of Minecraft and the other playsets that are available as well. After having seen The Nether playset, I wish I would have picked that one up first as I like the look of it, but I'm sure I'll be reviewing that in the next few months at some point.
I was a bit puzzled as to why there would be two books as this is not by any stretch a large model...
Six. polybags. SIX. Filled with a LOT of very small, very similar build bricks. There aren't many larger pieces to this set. Which, kind of made me wonder about the whole 10 year old rating on this thing.
Here's why. Most kids I've seen that put these sets together, especially the smaller sets, can usually rock right through a build just by looking at the pictures on the box and get pretty close. And that's in the recommended age range of around 10 years of age. And those sets I've seen done, don't have this range of size in miniscule be so prevalent.
But this amount of 1x1 tiles and bricks, intermixed in what visually looks like bagged bedlam waiting to happen, made me think... maaaaaybe I should get a sorting tray to help isolate colors and facilitate the build. But then I threw all caution out the window and just dove in. I was sure this could not take that long.
I regretted not getting the sorting tray about four minutes into the build. I spent a great majority of building the first section on just sorting and resorting some of the parts and actually looking at the edges of some of them, because some of these 1x1 tiles aren't build parts for the main structure, they are parts of the minifig mob that came with it (after building the minifig mobs are about the same scale as the Lego minifigs for the Heroica sets, which I actually prefer). I understand why it was done this way though because the minifig mobs look more accurate to the game characters they are based on. Shown above is the Zombie, and then in the middle inset left, is the Pig (with a spare face), and parts of face of the Villager minifig.
Building any model kits can be a relaxing and therapeutic sort of hobby. I build a wide range of models, but really was drawn to Lego kits because they require no glue, and take patience to make many of the larger ones.
I really thought that this whole thing would at the most take about thirty minutes to complete, but as you can see from above, forty-five minutes in, I'd made only half of the set.
It wasn't from lack of instructions, it was because I was quick to move through the booklets and would miss a part here or there, or I just underestimated how long it would take to put 466 pieces together (I'm not really sure if that is counting spare parts or not...).
The build was really quite fun, and I did marvel at the little details that if you are a fan of Minecraft, you will appreciate that made it into this set.
The final build you see above clocked in at right around an hour and forty minutes. WAY longer than I thought it would. And although a fairly small set, a very solid and well engineered set that is pretty sturdy.
You can easily exchange out the locking cross bar to re-oreint the set however you'd like for playtime or display usage.
The overall aesthetic of the set looks nice and is a pretty cool blend of colors that really evoke the palette of the Minecraft world.
So is the set worth it at the retail price of $34? As an adult collector, yes. It's complex, takes time wading through all of the smaller scale bricks and is a great representation of the Minecraft license.
Parents though, might balk at the price for such a small box and what seems like low contents. Never mind the fact that not a lot of extra parts were included in this set, so if you got impatient kids and/or deep carpets, prepare to have some possibly frustrated kids and a rude moment of pain on the bottom of your foot at 1AM when you raid the fridge by pathway of the living room, because losing any of these parts can throw this set WAY out of whack for finishing it.
Thanks for reading, we'll see you next time!
Now take that game, and bring Lego into the mix (with the help of CUUSOO back in June of 2012 on the initial review set, that became the 21102 Micro World playet) and you end up with this:
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| The package design is a great merging of the trademark looks of both companies, and it's amazing how this could really have been one of Lego's own original concepts, they both fit so well together. |
The Village was released in Sept of 2013, comes with three "micromob" figurines that you need to assemble, and has some pretty cool detail features throughout. But before we get to that, let's start with the instructions.
 |
| The instructions (in two booklets, which surprised me at first because it's a smaller model build) are bold and colorful, showcasing a history of Minecraft and the other playsets available in the line up. |
Both books are very colorful, have information on the world of Minecraft and the other playsets that are available as well. After having seen The Nether playset, I wish I would have picked that one up first as I like the look of it, but I'm sure I'll be reviewing that in the next few months at some point.
I was a bit puzzled as to why there would be two books as this is not by any stretch a large model...
 |
| ...then I understood why there were two booklets. |
Here's why. Most kids I've seen that put these sets together, especially the smaller sets, can usually rock right through a build just by looking at the pictures on the box and get pretty close. And that's in the recommended age range of around 10 years of age. And those sets I've seen done, don't have this range of size in miniscule be so prevalent.
But this amount of 1x1 tiles and bricks, intermixed in what visually looks like bagged bedlam waiting to happen, made me think... maaaaaybe I should get a sorting tray to help isolate colors and facilitate the build. But then I threw all caution out the window and just dove in. I was sure this could not take that long.
 |
| There are a few things that make this a bit of a confusing, or more so a complicated sort of build. The light grey bricks in the instructions are depicted as a darker color, closer to the dark grey that is included in the set. And the vast majority of pieces are blanks that are needed as the final finish parts for the top/outer layer that gives the set it's Minecraft polished look. |
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| A fair amount of time had passed and I was only halfway through. |
I really thought that this whole thing would at the most take about thirty minutes to complete, but as you can see from above, forty-five minutes in, I'd made only half of the set.
It wasn't from lack of instructions, it was because I was quick to move through the booklets and would miss a part here or there, or I just underestimated how long it would take to put 466 pieces together (I'm not really sure if that is counting spare parts or not...).
The build was really quite fun, and I did marvel at the little details that if you are a fan of Minecraft, you will appreciate that made it into this set.
 |
| The final assembly with three minifigs. (inset, top right) The only spare parts left over, somehow I think I missed something somewhere. |
You can easily exchange out the locking cross bar to re-oreint the set however you'd like for playtime or display usage.
The overall aesthetic of the set looks nice and is a pretty cool blend of colors that really evoke the palette of the Minecraft world.
 |
| Hope you saved the box... because thankfully, unlike a lot of other Lego sets, this one fits back nicely in it's original box, with room to spare on the edges where the instructions and one small polybag of spare parts can be placed. |
Parents though, might balk at the price for such a small box and what seems like low contents. Never mind the fact that not a lot of extra parts were included in this set, so if you got impatient kids and/or deep carpets, prepare to have some possibly frustrated kids and a rude moment of pain on the bottom of your foot at 1AM when you raid the fridge by pathway of the living room, because losing any of these parts can throw this set WAY out of whack for finishing it.
Thanks for reading, we'll see you next time!
Mario, the Artisan Rogue
May 7, 2014
8:36 AM
The Facebook event is here.
The Clutter Gallery is proud to announce a meeting of two powerhouses: a dual solo exhibition of new sculptural works by Luke Chueh and Scott Tolleson! Titled "Heads" and "Heavenus," respectively, these showcases will share one space & spirit but each artist will uniquely explore the three-dimensional realm. Make sure to follow both Luke Chueh's Instagram as well as Scott Tolleson's Instagram to see work-in-progress pics as these two masters assemble a truly memorable show!
With both artists planning to attend the opening reception on May 10th from 6-9PM Eastern time, make sure to mark your calendars as this is one show you won't want to miss attending! Luke Chueh's "Heads" & Scott Tolleson's "Heavenus" will be on display from May 10th until June 7th, 2014, at:
The Clutter Gallery
163
Main St.
Beacon, NY 12508
8:32 AM
Facebook event is here.
Toys and art from Austin-based Artist Scott Kinnebrew (Forces of Dorkness)!
Opening reception, Second Saturday, May 10th - 6-9pm. Coffee and cupcakes will be served.
Dream in Plastic
177 Main Street
Beacon, New York 12508
Beacon, New York 12508
8:28 AM
7:41 AM
Together we can unveil my new paintings, sculptures, astrolapin, ji ja bird and other little "surprises"...
Join the Facebook event page HERE!
Visit Rotofugi: at 2780 N Lincoln Avenue right on the border between Chicago's Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods. The closest train stop is the Brown Line Diversey station.
May 5, 2014
9:00 AM
These penitent people just want to go home, open some ale, and relax! But they have a job to do. Onward, dear friends. You can drink your problems away tonight...
Each Dunny has been hand-painted with high-quality acrylics, and contains several hand-made additions: belt, hair wrap, axe and hood.
Each figure comes signed and dated by SoKo Cat and are available for $55 a piece in her store.
Not for the younglings! Although a toy, it is a toy for youths ages 13 and up.
If you'd like to know more about SoKo Cat, you can visit her blog, follow her on Instagram, and check out her store!
Hit the jump for a ton more photos.
May 4, 2014
custom, dewback, dunny, kidrobot, labbit, may the 4th, mr. the sanders, sand trooper, star wars, star wars day, storm trooper, thehighestfever, vinyl
9:00 AM
Mr. The Sanders is dropping some goodies for Star Wars day tomorrow. Lookin' For The Droids We're Lookin' For features a fully customized Labbit dewback and sandtrooper custom Dunny. Detailing on these two figures are over the top. Head over to mrthesanders.storenvy.com and grab yourself a great custom for this May the 4th.
You can use promo code MAYTHE4TH for 30 percent off everything in the store.
-The Highest Fever
@thehighestfever
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