Comments on: Top Secret Information http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/ Toys are serious business. Fri, 24 May 2013 19:34:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Dood http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-38019 Dood Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:04:36 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-38019 I've always figured it was because Megatron isn't as associated with his alt-mode or look as Prime. When G1 Megs was upgraded, he became a futuristic howitzer, and, later on, a tank. G1 Prime, on the other hand, stayed a trailer truck with a red cab, no matter how much you upgraded him. When RiD rolled around, Prime stayed a red truck (albeit a different kind, but still), while Megatron became a ten-changer. Similarly, the Unicron Trilogy saw Megatron as a tank, a starship, and a triple-changer car/jet, none of which looked at all similar. Prime? Still a red truck. They even mostly transformed the same: cab becomes chest, rear section becomes legs, pull out arms and head. Even Movie Prime, one of the most needlessly complex TFs ever, transformed like that. Prime's design is also more consistent than Megatron's. The heads are almost always identical, they almost always have "windowboobs" (even Laser, RiD, or Powermaster Prime, whose windows go elsewhere, have superfluous ones), and their colors are universally red on top and blue on bottom. The most Megatron usually gets is a sort-of-similar head and a big cannon. TFA Megatron, Energon Galvatron, and TFP Megatron are pretty similar to other incarnations, but they're the exception, not the rule, and only TFP Megatron shares his altmode with his inspiration People are just much more attached to the idea of Prime as a truck than Megatron as a pistol. They know it's impossible to get real toy guns these days, anyway. But, to avoid sounding like I'm on these assholes' side, having a truck Prime in Beast Wars would have been nonsense, and, of all the animals out there, a gorilla is probably one of the best. Big, square-ish, turns into a robot easily, and as the only member of the group who can stand upright, more of a leader. I’ve always figured it was because Megatron isn’t as associated with his alt-mode or look as Prime. When G1 Megs was upgraded, he became a futuristic howitzer, and, later on, a tank. G1 Prime, on the other hand, stayed a trailer truck with a red cab, no matter how much you upgraded him. When RiD rolled around, Prime stayed a red truck (albeit a different kind, but still), while Megatron became a ten-changer. Similarly, the Unicron Trilogy saw Megatron as a tank, a starship, and a triple-changer car/jet, none of which looked at all similar. Prime? Still a red truck. They even mostly transformed the same: cab becomes chest, rear section becomes legs, pull out arms and head. Even Movie Prime, one of the most needlessly complex TFs ever, transformed like that.
Prime’s design is also more consistent than Megatron’s. The heads are almost always identical, they almost always have “windowboobs” (even Laser, RiD, or Powermaster Prime, whose windows go elsewhere, have superfluous ones), and their colors are universally red on top and blue on bottom. The most Megatron usually gets is a sort-of-similar head and a big cannon. TFA Megatron, Energon Galvatron, and TFP Megatron are pretty similar to other incarnations, but they’re the exception, not the rule, and only TFP Megatron shares his altmode with his inspiration
People are just much more attached to the idea of Prime as a truck than Megatron as a pistol. They know it’s impossible to get real toy guns these days, anyway.
But, to avoid sounding like I’m on these assholes’ side, having a truck Prime in Beast Wars would have been nonsense, and, of all the animals out there, a gorilla is probably one of the best. Big, square-ish, turns into a robot easily, and as the only member of the group who can stand upright, more of a leader.

]]> By: soundman006 http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-10080 soundman006 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:20:19 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-10080 I find it funny that they won't talk about it on there blog. I find it funny that they won’t talk about it on there blog.

]]> By: PrfktTear http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-9671 PrfktTear Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:56:24 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-9671 Who the hell are these clowns? Lame. Who the hell are these clowns? Lame.

]]> By: soundman006 http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-9337 soundman006 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:22:31 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-9337 Why don't they like botcon? Why don’t they like botcon?

]]> By: soundman006 http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-9335 soundman006 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:14:43 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-9335 TTT wins! TTT wins!

]]> By: Irish Mike http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-8895 Irish Mike Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:39:36 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-8895 We need these guys at AA. "Well, I'm taking my volunteers". 5 minutes later, the spaces are filled by everyone within 10 feet. Mwahaha. Ever notice no one throws a stink about Megatron being a T. rex? Or a tank in G2? Or a jet? Or a hand?! And as always, there is no better argument than "Optimus Prime was a truck. He's not Optimus Prime...or a monkey". Vid is a wikkle itty bit mindless We need these guys at AA. “Well, I’m taking my volunteers”. 5 minutes later, the spaces are filled by everyone within 10 feet. Mwahaha.

Ever notice no one throws a stink about Megatron being a T. rex? Or a tank in G2? Or a jet? Or a hand?! And as always, there is no better argument than “Optimus Prime was a truck. He’s not Optimus Prime…or a monkey”.

Vid is a wikkle itty bit mindless

]]> By: Trae Dorn http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-8892 Trae Dorn Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:19:30 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-8892 The Wisconsin Anime Con scene is much looser in its genre requirements for cosplay contests, so I just guess my perspective is a little different. Reading all this, it makes any drama in the Wisconsin/Minnesota con scene seem practically non-existent, which is pretty impressive if you think about it. The Wisconsin Anime Con scene is much looser in its genre requirements for cosplay contests, so I just guess my perspective is a little different.

Reading all this, it makes any drama in the Wisconsin/Minnesota con scene seem practically non-existent, which is pretty impressive if you think about it.

]]> By: The_AntiCroom http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-8886 The_AntiCroom Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:43:32 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-8886 It's true. The other costumes were pretty good. The general rule in Florida anime cons is that the costume must relate to Japanese animation, video games or Japanese culture (Jpop, Loli, etc). The Fanta girls were none of these. And it's true. A lot is not public knowgledge. I have been behind the scenes and have others (like the person who was banned) are friends. Oh, and the thing he says on his site... the "I'll save a seat up front for you." is a ploy he's pulled before. Last time I saw it was for his Animusical. I also forgot to mention how he complains (threatens) when people do similar ideas to his panels, but it's perfectly fine when he takes other people's ideas. Even when one of his ideas included personal attacks on individuals from other cons. It’s true. The other costumes were pretty good. The general rule in Florida anime cons is that the costume must relate to Japanese animation, video games or Japanese culture (Jpop, Loli, etc). The Fanta girls were none of these.

And it’s true. A lot is not public knowgledge. I have been behind the scenes and have others (like the person who was banned) are friends.

Oh, and the thing he says on his site… the “I’ll save a seat up front for you.” is a ploy he’s pulled before. Last time I saw it was for his Animusical.

I also forgot to mention how he complains (threatens) when people do similar ideas to his panels, but it’s perfectly fine when he takes other people’s ideas. Even when one of his ideas included personal attacks on individuals from other cons.

]]> By: Trae Dorn http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-8859 Trae Dorn Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:50:27 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-8859 If what you're saying is true, that's absolutely terrible. (Although about the Fanta girl thing -- most cons I go to don't restrict genre on their cosplay contests... although how bad were the other costumes where that actually *won* something?) If what you’re saying is true, that’s absolutely terrible.

(Although about the Fanta girl thing — most cons I go to don’t restrict genre on their cosplay contests… although how bad were the other costumes where that actually *won* something?)

]]> By: The_AntiCroom http://www.shortpacked.com/2010/blog/top-secret-information/#comment-8821 The_AntiCroom Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:45:15 +0000 http://www.shortpacked.com/?p=3458#comment-8821 A little History Lesson... Wasabi Anime was created back in 2001. At a TINY convention called Anime Express, they offered a 'free' breakfast to everyone at the con. Since most people slept IN THE VIDEO ROOMS at this con, a free breakfast was wonderful! Except it wasn't free. It was a cult initiation. Basically, if you joined their 'club' or started subsidiary clubs and sent him dues, you would get discounts at anime stores (Not sure if anyone did) and other 'benefits'. Wasabi started 'helping out' at conventions. Since he had a group of friends/followers/toadies he could promise a con X amount of help (volunteers, running video rooms, etc) in exchange for some passes and panel time. Eventually his control grew and grew. His core group of followers became like the SS. You couldn't diss Tom without them going for your throat. And if a convention didn't want Tom's help, well, Wasabi would find some kind of problem with the con and start a boycott. Or they would just smear the people running it. If Wasabi/Tom was part of your con and you spoke against him, well then he'd threaten to take away his volunteers... and since most of the volunteers were his, he could effectively shut down a con. If any of his followers tried to leave Wasabi, they might as well become lepers. Friends who were in Wasabi and tried to leave were told they could not volunteer at a con if they quit. Basically, they were blacklisted. At one convention, the rules stated you had to be in the room by the start time to be in the cosplay convention. For 'some reason' the start time was delayed for a half an hour... at which time Tom returned from the store and the contest began. He wasn't disqualified... in fact he 'won' an award. He destroyed the reputation of a con photographer who used to show proof that Wasabi's 'Animusicals' weren't filled to capacity as Tom claimed. His group attends every con both large and small... EXCEPT those who refuse his help. He calls one of the biggest conventions that is Sci-Fi/Anime a 'flea market' con because of the large dealer's room. Yet another con that is smaller and similar is considered wonderful... since he has panels at it. Some tiny cons are promoted if he's involved, but others that refuse his help are maligned. Don't even get me started on his wife's cosplay group (the girls of Wasabi Anime) who won best of show for dressing up as the girls in the Fanta commercial... AT AN ANIME CONVENTION with the reasoning that Fanta is sold in Japan (even though the commercial was American). A little History Lesson…

Wasabi Anime was created back in 2001. At a TINY convention called Anime Express, they offered a ‘free’ breakfast to everyone at the con. Since most people slept IN THE VIDEO ROOMS at this con, a free breakfast was wonderful! Except it wasn’t free. It was a cult initiation. Basically, if you joined their ‘club’ or started subsidiary clubs and sent him dues, you would get discounts at anime stores (Not sure if anyone did) and other ‘benefits’.

Wasabi started ‘helping out’ at conventions. Since he had a group of friends/followers/toadies he could promise a con X amount of help (volunteers, running video rooms, etc) in exchange for some passes and panel time. Eventually his control grew and grew.

His core group of followers became like the SS. You couldn’t diss Tom without them going for your throat. And if a convention didn’t want Tom’s help, well, Wasabi would find some kind of problem with the con and start a boycott. Or they would just smear the people running it.

If Wasabi/Tom was part of your con and you spoke against him, well then he’d threaten to take away his volunteers… and since most of the volunteers were his, he could effectively shut down a con.

If any of his followers tried to leave Wasabi, they might as well become lepers. Friends who were in Wasabi and tried to leave were told they could not volunteer at a con if they quit. Basically, they were blacklisted.

At one convention, the rules stated you had to be in the room by the start time to be in the cosplay convention. For ‘some reason’ the start time was delayed for a half an hour… at which time Tom returned from the store and the contest began. He wasn’t disqualified… in fact he ‘won’ an award.

He destroyed the reputation of a con photographer who used to show proof that Wasabi’s ‘Animusicals’ weren’t filled to capacity as Tom claimed.

His group attends every con both large and small… EXCEPT those who refuse his help. He calls one of the biggest conventions that is Sci-Fi/Anime a ‘flea market’ con because of the large dealer’s room. Yet another con that is smaller and similar is considered wonderful… since he has panels at it. Some tiny cons are promoted if he’s involved, but others that refuse his help are maligned.

Don’t even get me started on his wife’s cosplay group (the girls of Wasabi Anime) who won best of show for dressing up as the girls in the Fanta commercial… AT AN ANIME CONVENTION with the reasoning that Fanta is sold in Japan (even though the commercial was American).

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