Yeah I'm glad I preordered a bunch of stuff before hand, I would have been gutted if I lost out on Ghidorah, Vegeta and the Complete selection digivice.

Wasn't so bothered about Mach Deadheat but kinda glad I didn't have to in the end, same for Stronger's bike and Knuckle.

Finally paid N-Y now that I had time to unwind after events this weekend. Still hoping to find an alternative in the future, but was definitely going to keep all of the orders I already had opened.

The single mass release and 2-pack are different versions of the suit. Both are accurate.

I got the same answer, I asked them to cancel Knuckle and Vegeta. In all this commotion I realized how less I care about these items in a time were I really have to watch my finances closer, and I wanted to step down from Web-Exclusives anyways and cut down expensive orders to a minimum.

I still want Omnimon so I see that I pay this one as fast as I can, but I still hope Premium Bandai comes around with this, it hurts NY even more than it does us as collectors.

No, I mean the old Nigou web exclusive. The only Nigou released up to this point as a mass release was the New version. The one in the two pack is distinct from both, but a different version of the former.

The silver at least looks a bit inaccurate to the suit (at least, I think. I was watching the suit in action up til yesterday so I am pretty sure I think), but getting the color right on the old suits is kind of an ordeal in any case, I imagine. It looks good either way, so it doesn't matter much, but yeah...

I know that, but again I'm pretty sure they're just different versions of the same suit. Considering how much they alternated them slightly in the early years (for example, everyone talks about Rider-2 having a black helmet in Megamax but in V3 Rider-1 is the one with the darker helmet) it's probably just another variation that turned up at some point. Bandai might make goofs here and there in regards to accuracy, but I doubt they'd just put out an inaccurate version just because they've already made one first appearance version.

I paid for knuckle because gaim ftw. And canceled vegeta since he's getting a US release. The same goes for Omnimon if bluefin mentions its.

I love Gaim, but my cabinet is full already :D

There's only one more spot, and it's reserved for our Banana Overlord and Master.

With the whole Bandai payment change affecting Nippon Yasan, does anyone order from BiginJapan and have you received any notices or cancellations from them?

Alternative Zero is such a damn fine figure. The suit design is amazing, of course--although I love the simplicity and modular nature of the Ryuki Riders' designs, the ultra detailed Alternative is different and alien feeling enough from them in all the right ways. And I love the fact that even though it's a "fake" Rider, it in fact looks the most like a Kamen Rider out of all of them. The figuarts captures the design perfectly. Everything looks as it should, the paint apps are spot on. Just. Such a great looking figure for such a great design.

It moves so well too. Fantastic articulation, poses extremely well. Comes with everything he needs to. Just such an incredibly solid figure. The only thing that makes me a little sad is indeed the lack of diecast feet, but it hardly registers as a complaint.

I was already planning on getting an Alternative, for a few reasons, but with Zero being such a fantastic figure it just makes me want it even more, and as soon as possible. Just wish a Psychorogue existed to go with them, but oh well. I'm going to keep hoping that Bandai wasn't done with Ryuki once Femme was released and the contract monsters will someday see the light of day, but I'm not holding my breath.


Aaaaanyway. A week ago I was a bit late to snatch up a Pine Gaim/Mango Baron set off Mandarake for 6k yen, but I ordered one again yesterday and this time I got it! Pretty damn happy about that, especially since I started watching Gaim yesterday and I actually have reason to want these guys now. Fight of Hammer will be miiiiine. (should probably get a knight of spear sometime too tho)

On the negative side, I also now have reason to want a lot of figures that up til now I had been able to ignore since I hadn't watched it. Oh how Bravo calls to me. This rabbit hole seems to only get deeper...

They charge you up front to begin with, so it wouldn't make any difference for them.

I thought they had a pay later option as long as the order was under 20000 yen? Or is their site FAQ not up to date?

Who Big in Japan?
I've bought numerous things from them in the past and every time I've had to pay up front for them.

Yup, them. It lists a pay later option in the FAQ (with the aforementioned amount restriction), though I haven't created an account with them yet to test it out.

http://biginjap.com/en/content/6-faq

Yeah I think that only applies to mass release stuff they sell. If you go on any exclusive item's individual page they all have an "immediate payment is required on this item" disclaimer.

Alternative zero is awesome figure by itself, that's until you compare it with other rider figuarts. Alternative looks too puny compared to other rider, especially the renewal riders like kuuga.

good sculpt, great paint, but subpar proportions

Maybe Alternative actually is shorter than others. Kamen Rider Chalice is shorter than his other Blade brethren because Hajime himself was shorter in the show. And Renewal Kuuga is a pretty tall figure anyway.

Chalice is still acceptable in proportion compared to others, but alternative... he looks like a teenage rider compared to others, try standing him up with renewal kuuga:(

Kuuga is tall next to most Rider figuarts before him though. Even the actual Ryuki riders.

While this is a figuarts conversation, Alternative pairs really well with the Dragon Knight figma line.

or the drive riders, I've checked with 'em. the other thing I'm a bit iffy with alternative is his stylized shin, he can stand straight because of that stylized shin
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/hacchaka/...f70ad988-s.jpg

He still looks shorter compared to his ryuki brethren
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/hacchaka/...d0a263bf-s.jpg

Now that I've watched Gaim, I have a pressing need to get...pretty much all the figures, really. (the only things I'm skipping on thus far are Bujin Gaim, Jimber Arms, Kiwami Arms, Ryugen Yomi and the bikes). I got Gaim Orange Arms a while ago, and I have an order coming soon with Bravo, Duke, Pine Gaim and Mango Baron (and have Marika ordered though she won't ship out until anther figure comes out). So I guess I already have a decent starting point.

But damn, I want the others--especially looking to get Baron's other arms. Kaito was my favorite character, and Mango, while an awesome form, isn't nearly representative enough. Here's to hoping Bandai doesn't put off releasing Lord Baron for too long.

I will say, though, the situation with the Sonic Arrows is going to be dull. There's what, five Riders who just use those...six if I eventually change my mind and go for the Jimber Arms. It's gonna be kinda boring. I just wish Bandai had at least thrown in effect parts for the New Generation Riders in their own fruity colors. To add a little variety or whatnot. Oh well.

There are some awesome shots of Drive Type Formula at the SHF Blog:

http://i.imgur.com/rPgOhVh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/q91ANHA.jpg

Also, for the pain in the butt they'll be the sticker-sheet is actually very well done and the instructions look very good.

http://i.imgur.com/4pvjlOX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ws4B6rQ.jpg

But still... stickers.

Type Formula looks really good, stickers aside.

I want it, but... I don't have THAT much of an investment in Drive.

It just sucks that out of all of Drive's upgrade forms, THIS is the one they decided to make exclusive instead of that godawful Deadheat form. I might have actually bought this if it wasn't an exclusive.

Agreed entirely. Again, I don't understand the logic behind it. Deadheat is barely used and is more of an upgrade for Mach, and it really doesn't qualify as a "mid-season upgrade", whereas Type Formula is very much a direct upgrade from Type Speed, and used far more frequently.

I'm taking this as another indication that whether something will be a web exclusive is determined far in advance of the product's release. I suspect it can't be changed by the time the show airs. The people making Figuarts are probably taking their best guess when they're given the initial designs.

Still just a hypothesis, of course.

What's a fair price to pay for the Baron Lemon Energy exclusive? What was it exclusive to, again?

A tamashii nations event. It was some sort of lottery deal, I believe.

I have no idea what a good price for it is, though. I see it go for around 5000 on mandarake, which seems decent enough considering it was a raffle figure... There was one for 4.5k up just now (maybe the reason for this question?) which I actually find really tempting. I'd totally go for it if I wasn't so broke :< But yeah, apparently it sold for 5k when it came out, so getting it for that much seems pretty reasonable.

I wouldn't do over 5k before shipping. He's really come down in price lately so there's no need to pay the 6000+ some places (Amiami) are asking now.

Ah, cool. Thanks! I didn't see the 4500 one on mandarake, but I was looking for it there. I have Gaim coming so I'd really like to have Baron, too.

I forget, what type of release is Deadheat Mach?

I just got my payment request from AmiAmi for Luke and Agito. YAY!!! HOLY ****!!! My order was 10,300Y and after conversion it was only $86. WTF? When the hell did the yen get that weak?

Web exclusive.

Recently I think, I just recently learned that the prices were this cheap.

The weak yen makes me mad, because it's weak for the US, but super strong for Canada. :'<

Yeah, the last thing I got from Japan was Vader and the STs and the yen was not even close to being this weak. Wish I had money to buy a few more things from Japan.

When do Kamen Rider Chaser and Kamen Rider Orga go up for preorder?

On the bright side, the yen is still weak compared to when I started collecting about 5 years ago. It was about 70 yen to the CAD dollar.

That's how I justify my purchasing anyway...

It's been that way for a while. Paypal's exchange rate for the dollar's been at least $1=120.something yen for some time. I imagine the rates used by credit card companies have been better than that in that time.