A guide for toy collectibles: Action Figure pt.3 - Max Factory's Figma

My favorite action figure production... 

I have been saying that word quite frequently - favorite - but well, if you don't like it, why collected it? Or in my case, collect like about 10 to 20 of it. Yes, Max Factory's Figma is actually one action figure manufacture that caught my attention as I begin recently collecting action figures. I say recently, because although the company Max Factory is actually established since 1987, Figma figure actually started to distributed mass produced on 2008. And I begin collecting one ever since I saw what they make with Spider-Man figure - which license for the feature length film is already purchased by Sony Pictures.

Distributed by Good Smile Company worldwide, Figma toy line mainly focused on characters from anime, manga, game, and popular character in Japan. Recently though, they have been entering Marvel Avengers character to produce. It seems like Avengers character is pretty popular for action figure, because as we see in the next manufacture, these characters will keep frequently mentioned.

Max Factory produces other line of product that similar, like FigFix (statue) and Nendoroid by Good Smile company (a big head with small body kind of chibi figures). Their main strong point, and I have to know myself from my own experience by collecting it, is that they produce such a great character resembling the anime or manga persona. The comical sculpting they made on this PVC based model is spot on. If other manufacturers may try to produce the same, but I think Figma brings the most accurate presentation of the anime and manga characters. Other than that, this 6"-7" figures are supported with various figure articulation which make it highly posable. Equipped also with equipments and peripherals from their character references, you can easily pose this figure as near as how they set it on anime, manga, or other references they based on.

They have now expanded a little bit to western characters. To name a few are Michael Jackson, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, and even Daft Punk. Most of it are great, but some has been critical about the figure for its character portrayal inaccuracies and joint articulation problem. One that has been criticized by fan is Iron Man mk.VII, which is looking great in all possible way, except the joint. Now Figma uses one point articulation system that connected two part of the limb. So to make it highly movable, a quite sizable joint had to be made, and it produce some obvious way to notice that only can be concealed through some right angle. This problem has been noticed particularly on the Iron Man Mk. VII figure and Spider-Man. Even that, these figures still largely hunted by fans, because the character portrayal as well as the costumes are quite detailed.

How about the price though? Well, I usually found them at quite reasonable price, at around the same price range with S.H. Figuarts. Though they have different type of Figma figures released, there's a standard figure, SP which is the Special kind, and EX which is the limited figures. Each has different kind of price range, so you should probably run check on your local preferred shop for quote.

A guide for toy collectibles: Action Figure pt.2 - Hot Toys

Now in for the big guys, this company founded in 2000 in Hong Kong used to mainly produce a 1/6th scale military unit action figure along with their customizable equipments. I still remember the first collection I had, that sadly currently is no longer with me (due to theft). Over the time though this toys manufacture now more focused on creating a replica of characters from the movie blockbusters. They are now have gotten so big, several big name distributor are selling their product worldwide, and the fans have been dying to get the hand of their new product release. This is Hot Toys.

I think the legend starts as they enter the movie blockbuster line up. What used to be we saw the replica of military soldier with all their gadgets and weapons, now they sculpting for the resemblance of movies and popular characters. The feeling may be like having a scaled model of Madame Tussaud replica in your own home with movable limbs. But no one thinks about that, because Madame Tussaud is wax based while Hot Toys is pvc hardenend and sometimes die-cast based. The success started as they releases more and more character resembling the movie original. But in my experience, the boost started as they release Iron Man and Marvel's Avengers. Honestly I started collecting the Hot Toys figure again only after I see how Iron Man mk. VII is sculpted, and I immediately looking for one to own it.

Not all of their figures are perfect though. On the earlier model developed, people have been critical about the character resemblance. But over the time, the sculptors and the production team has been learning and developing from their earlier model. Many recurring characters, especially from the Marvel Avengers series that earlier are nothing near resemble the character in the movies, have later been developed near resembling the character. Just like Black Widow from Iron Man and Avengers series, on earlier model the sculpting is nothing near Scarlet Johanson, the actress playing Black Widow, but then on the Avengers series we can see how the development has changed and looking just like the actress herself.

Now with all the history and personal experience have been described, let me share with you reader my own experience of owning the figure by Hot Toys. One thing you should know and probably expected from this figure is the price. Hot Toys now have different line up of toy collectibles like bust figure, 1/4th scale, cosbaby, etc. But for the 1/6th scale only, most of the figures costs more than at least USD250 Special limited series figures sometimes could cost more than USD700. If that is overpriced or not, I leave all the judgement to you readers or collectors. I myself only could get a hand on several figures that I really REALLY liked. Due to its price, I tend to keep them on the box, or place it on a special showcase (one that is dust proof and humid balanced). That is why I usually look one on bargain price from old model, which usually dropped the price depending on the bargain or the condition of the figure itself.

So about the figure itself? Well - looking for character resemblance from the movies or references are the point of this figure. The articulation of the figure is well made - some wide range of pose can be made, but there's some limitation although not too significant. Some parts are replaceable, and the details are pretty amazing. If you happen to have character that have a light up perks on the screen, the figures might also able to project the same light up like one on the movies. Particularly on Iron Man and Darth Vader model, where they provide batteries for the model so it can light up the arc reactor and hand blaster, or even make Darth Vader speaks some famous words.

Since I like to travel around and took photograph, sometimes I like to take some figures to go and pose them on the background of real landscapes or natural background. I can bring the 6" and 7" figures without a problem, but taking 1/6th scale is just too demanding. This figure is not for adventurous type who wanted a real backdrop for their figures. It will mostly end up indoors or in a studio and showcases.

That being said, I recommend the Iron Man line if you ever wanted to start a collection from Hot Toys. They have different kind of line up for Iron Man only, bust collection, mini bust, 1/6th scale, and cosbaby. The figure itself requires a bit of maintenance, especially for woman characters, because the hair sometimes requires special gel so it may retain it current shape.

Like I said, it is up to you to decide whether it is a good selection for your toy collection, or if you think it is a way overpriced. In my opinion though, sometimes they are all right. It can be overpriced if you don't really know what you're looking for, and end up placing a not fully satisfied piece of object on your surroundings. However, finding the one you liked and placing it can sometimes be a center piece and something to bring up the conversation.

A guide for toy collectibles: Action Figure pt.1 - Bandai S.H. Figuarts

Toys? We no longer call it that - collections, hobbies, collectibles, or some word that empowering. Dolls? Nuh-uh, we call them action figures, figures, statues, arts, anything but dolls!

Over the time these action figures collection has been growing significantly with all new manufacturer lines. Hobbyist and toy collectors should've know some, if not all the name of the manufacturers. But those who just started might not really know the difference between one and another. So to help spreading the information, I would like to describe my own experience collecting some of these items and the difference between one and another. You may know already some of it from looking at one or maybe browsing on the internet, and searching for reviews on youtube. And in this golden age of Internet, I encourage you to look for pros and cons and additional information on Internet.

BANDAI S.H. FIGUARTS Line

One of my favorite toy line, Bandai publishes this Tamashii Nations'  product through Bandai corp or Bluefin distribution. One of the longest player in toys, Bandai mainly releases Japan character to be introduced worldwide. Probably Japanese enthusiast will be more likely familiar with this line as it releases mainly Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Mazinger Z, etc. Recently though their product line is becoming more interesting as they have expanding their license to Disney product franchise such as Marvel Avenger's and Star Wars, and some of the DC Comics franchise like their Injustice: Gods among us product line.

Enough with the history, let me tell you a bit of my experience with this product line. Now S.H. Figuarts mainly releases action figures on a 6-7 inch scales depending on the characters. But they also releases statue, under the product name Figuarts Zero. For starting collectors, people might want to familiarize themselves with this, since instead of statue, there's another thing of limited articulated figure, or replaceable statue, or limb movable figure.

It is actually common when people are not aware of this, since many people thought that any toy with the character's face is an action figure. But the difference is actually quite severe, and when you have high expectation of it, sometimes you will be left feeling disappointed. 

Why I like this product line is because of the detail, and the wide range of poses it could be made. Though this product line doesn't provide 100% satisfactory, but I am really quite happy with what they done with this line. The limb articulation, as well as torso, waist, and head are averagely good. One thing they made great is the axle for the joint is colored according to the connected part, so it is well disguised whenever you making a pose for photograph.

Most replaceable parts are usually hands and hand/face. Some replaceable hands are used for different kind of hand gesture, while the face usually for some expression from the referenced characters. Having said that, you should be aware that most limbs are not replaceable, so if it happen to come off - well, it shouldn't have done that. But it is quite rigid, so you should not be afraid of that.

Now if you happen to wanted to collect one, may I recommend you with the Star Wars product line. This line is pretty easy to collect nowadays, especially with the Star Wars the Force Awakens release. Another line to recommend is Marvel's Avengers Age of Ultron - but not all of it is a good collectible item, especially if you wanted something referenced from the movie accuracy. I am really impressed with what they make of Captain America, but the Hulk is not well received by general collectors. 

I recommend you having the S.H. Figuarts line because it's by my opinion the average satisfaction by quality and price. The price ranges from USD50-80, some say it quite cheap compare to others (you'll see), and some may say it quite high for 7" figure, but from that price you can have a great range of posable characters with highly detail characters. The packaging also artistically graph. In my experience, the collectors community for this figure is quite large. Sharing and getting to know the people who own it will be great to expanding your knowledge around toy collectibles.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer - original stormtrooper costumes? milking for merchandise?

So I just realized that Star Wars are releasing another movie for this December. And it is not the sequel to Star Wars series - it is a Star Wars Story apparently. You can see the trailer here if you're curious.

I just watched the trailer and it is good to see the familiar costumes and vehicles like they use in original Star Wars (episode IV-VI), only now it is in CGI - so expect more acrobatic and over the top movement sequence as we see the AT-AT walker performs backflip or cartwheel etc. Though very unlikely, I'm just saying that they could do that with their current resources. I mean imagine the pilot now using VR to control the AT-AT.

Anyway - I kind of lose interest since I think it was pretty rude that the production team is instead of releasing the episode VIII, they go with a spin-off starring Jynn Erso? I don't know how to spell the name, so maybe that's right. 

Now - I'm a casual fan of Star Wars, by which I watch all the Star Wars movie from episode IV V VI, and I II III, and now episode VII. Saying that, I don't really care the story outside the movie, like Star Wars Clone War cartoon series, Star Wars Rebels, nor the comics and novel. I only saw some clip like from the Star Wars game made by BioWare, but I never count it as the main references of my knowledge in Star Wars series.

So - I don't really understand what's happening with Rogue One. I think it is wrong to say I'm a little hyped to see all the original Stormtroopers costumes and war vehicle, but it goes only so to the point that I realize I don't know who the characters are.

I guess it's good to reminiscence, but I don't condone the milking that the production team make from Star Wars, and this is probably just the beginning. Using similar formula for Marvel movies, Disney probably tries to expand the characters of Star Wars to promote the B-list characters. Maybe I'm wrong, this probably either sink or launch.

Anyway, I'm already a sucker for the Star Wars merchandise, it's already a hobby of mine. With this additional another dark looking trooper and tan looking one, I don't know if I want to add it up for my collection. Looking forward to December, but maybe not for the movie - only as gimmick to see when there's nothing else to see.

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice - a late review

I have waited 2016 with such big anticipation. After last year we have been treated with some superheroes movie - and have been with the absence of DC release, this year it finally opens up with Batman vs Superman. It is much anticipated, especially since the trailer has been nothing more than going round and round of Batman vs Superman, and Suicide Squad. Dawn of Justice - we all know what that means, finally DC stepping up to the superheroes mash-up on the big screen. Or at least, moving on to that point... since well, it's Dawn of Justice - sorta like the teaser for the superheroes team.

Released in March 24th worldwide, I couldn't be more excited as it is just nearing my birthday. It seems like the studio, production, distribution, marketing, and whole other team has been sync up with the universe to present me with such a blessing to see the release of Dawn of Justice on my birthday period. It was all just a coincidence though, because I don't know any of the production team even on the distant relation, as well as they don't know me. So I guess I'm at least one out of the 7 billion people out there who wishes this kind of things.

However, since I wanted it to be perfect, I wishes to watch it on the most well deserved viewing option I could have, and that is on IMAX. For that though, I have to wait for the weekend to arrive - and it's a terrible idea.

Why? Not because of the weekend - but then I have to hear on the radio, see on the social media and reviews - and it crushes me to see how POORLY it received by the audience. I am one of the people who believes in rating - and it leads to the cancellation of my weekend IMAX experience of Batman vs Superman.

It is nearing a month after the movie has been released before I decided to watch it. On regular, weekday, no IMAX experience - I decided to watch Batman vs Superman on the theaters that still decided to put it up on their list. So I spend some 2 hours - maybe less, to watch of what I think the summarize of few Batman and Superman comic books into this feature length film.

It was NOT A BAD movie, but then I also realize why most reviews would score this movie poorly. Not getting ahead of myself, let's just break it down from the beginning. (I write this review almost a month of the movie release, so I won't say spoiler alert since well, I guess if you haven't watched it until now, then maybe you're not interested on watching it and wouldn't be bothered by the spoiler).

Batman vs Superman starts from Bruce Wayne - that famous story that has been repeatedly told about how Bruce become Batman. Nothing new here - because Bruce's parents died, told in a quite beautiful but quick story rendering, et cetera et cetera - but then we get to see some different angle of clip from Man of Steel, but focusing on Bruce Wayne. Ever since the thing that happened in Metropolis and Indian Ocean, Bruce gets angry, and Lex Luthor is in motion for his plot.

Along the movie we get to see how Bruce is becoming more and more edgy about the whole Superman, and Clark become more critical about Batman vigilance. We might see how this all has been plotted by Lex Luthor - who in this movie I sadly say is more like a successful Start Up owner rather than as intimidating business magnate tycoon.

With more plot here and there, it all sum up to Batman and Superman in the near end forming an alliance to fight another threatening plot developed by Lex Luthor - Doomsday. At this point, when Luthor says Doomsday, fans should know that it will lead up to (Not Spoiler Alert, Read Above Statement Again) Superman's death. We all know it - Superman is dead, stabbed by the bones formed by Doomsday.

Eventually, this made the world a better and happier place. Superman is dead, Bruce is without Luthor competition as he goes to jail, and Wonder Woman is there also - being independent and strong, just like how we see today's generation be. And just before the end, some dirt lift up from Superman's casket.

I summarizes the story as such because that's what I thought could be digested by the audience. And I think, this is not such a bad movie. Unlike the rating that gave this poor review, I gave it actually a moderate review. I'm interested with the new storyline generated, although at few point I rather annoyed by it.

But I understand why this got a poor review, and I think it relieving to know why. Ever since the success of The Dark Knight trilogy, people nowadays expecting a much better rebooted story from the original. I was actually among the skeptics who taught Batman Begins is an abolishment to Batman story, and more prefer to Tim Burton's Batman. It was not until I try to open my mind and saw The Dark Knight quite long after it released, and realized how it has been a great movie started by new cast and everything.

But then Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan, gets a bumpy road after it release. Many has been criticizing it - and though I loved the movie, many aren't. Some reviewers even say that it is quite wrong to bring kids to watch that movie, only to see in the end that their idolized Superman snap the neck of General Zod and killing him.

The same reviews maybe also think the same in Batman vs Superman. The thing is - I think people just not ready to see Superman's character is rebooted. To err is human, and Zack Snyder tries to put the element of human in the new Superman character - but then Superman is not a human. Like many who idolizes him, he is a figure of savior. If Batman is the dark knight, Superman is a god-like in a shining armor.

Now we see him killing Zod, being manipulated by Luthor, fights Batman abruptly, and the worst of all - DEAD. Audience by general population must've been like - ease up Zack, give Superman a chance. And I think this is probably what scares the movie-goers, seeing Superman just have been viewed twice ever since the rebooted franchise.

For me, Batman vs Superman is a good movie. A great superhero movie in fact, the thing that I want to watch it again. But then there's Jessee Eisenberg's Lex Luthor that I just couldn't take seriously. Watching Lex Luthor in that movie is just exactly like looking at Jessee Eisenberg. I don't get the feel that it is Lex Luthor he was playing, and felt that it is Jessee Eisenberg tries so hard to play Lex Luthor. And I guess that's all my beef about this movie.

We are now living in such a fast development - and we can see how the new generation has been quickly absorbing the new lifestyle that we are getting harder and harder to catch up. We've seen may things nowadays has been rebooted or reintroduced into new form. Some we accept, some don't - and rebooted character Superman may be among the things may people don't want to see. I think it is great that people still want to see the Superman they once knew. We can imagine Superman in our mind as tall strong handsome man, who always looking up to the sky and smiling - watching all of us with kind eyes, swiftly catch us whenever we fall.

But we forgot one thing. Superman is a born Kryptonian who is raised by the care of Kent family to put humanity first. Superman is still raised as human - and is still just one person. Superman is god-like and most powerful, and putting humanity side in his character is just natural.

-EasyThoughts- Planning an entertainment on a 24 hour airplane trip

So my whole family and I are planning on long holiday in western civilization. And all I could think off is - how to keep sanity during the 13 + 8 hours airplane trip

I used to own three laptops - one is a children friendly use (for my daughters), one is my wife's work laptop and one is my work laptop. Since we lost all three, so I decided to buy two new laptops for us to use. If you read my previous blog, you know I already own one ROG ASUS laptop - and although it is a gamer oriented laptop, I use it also for work which is quite nice for virtual machine and installing several linux server as cloud server ... but most of the time I use it to fight Raiders and Gunners on Fallout 4.

But that thing weigh too much on my shoulder to carry. It is not that heavy, but with all the stuff I had to carry for my wife and my daughters, it is going to be a sore aching trip to carry that thing around. So I decided to use my other laptop - which is more ... I wanna say sophisticated - it's a New MacBook 12 Retina Display 1.2GHz Intel Core M with 512 Flash storage.

I am not going to promote anything here, just speaking out the fact. So please, before any PC fanboy or Mac fanboy begins to either rant or cheers - let's just read it out.

I am an occasional PC gamer - and I have to tell that using Macbook for gaming is a disastrous experience. At the beginning of my transitioning to use Mac, I find it so confusing and hard - the mice is weird as I can't found secondary button to click, the spec is low for high end gaming, etc. But other than for gaming - like office use for example, this thing is quite comforting. Browsing web, typing stuff, looking at movies and pictures - especially in the new macbook with retina display, it is amazing.

All of that though is not without any disturbance here and there - especially with 12 inch display, though with sharp images and everything, I still find it small to look at even to type at. The USB-C connector, which is one and only connector you have for data transfer and/or power is becoming a nuisance as the reliance on flash disk or external storage is still needed (at least currently).

This and all can be seen at almost every other review - but one concerning me is how well will this macbook work by performing a virtual machine in it. Sharing the processor and memory process might not be great for this mac - so I tried doing the other best thing... is to play games on it :D

I have tried several of my games that I had on my STEAM library, most of them works also in mac, but many others not. Luckily I don't need all games, just some games that will took my thoughts from the flight and into the time consuming entertainment. One of my favorites is Civilization, so I installed Civ V and Civ Beyond Earth. Both runs well and good on this new Mac, but Beyond Earth may be needed more resources to keep the diplomatic animation goes - as it is just stood still as it is during any diplomatic interface.

I looked for other games and decided to install Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. As default, it sets on the lowest setting, but as I pushed it to the highest setting - it runs but not smoothly. But still, 20-30fps is not that bad, as it is just a simulation game - I haven't played it yet, only test running it - the draw distance is not as good, it is borderlining to suckiness. But it still run, the animation and all of it.

I want to say Minecraft next, but instead I install another from my library, which is Cities Skylines - and I gotta say meh... even without any tinkering the setting and all it already run like 10-20fps at most. New landscapes with all car running in the background already consumed the processor and in board GPU - so it may as well not the game of choice for this mac.

And lastly - Borderlands 2, and it runs smooth on lowest setting - and I mean lowest. Still playable, smooth running, 40-50fps, but it is not on a retina display material anymore.

So I guess that is it - macbook for me runs well for you to socialize, browse the web, play movie, write a story. Playing games? still doubtful - but okay enough if you are into low to mid end gaming that requires small amount of your processor memory and gpu process. I am still into Heroes 3 - but not to play repeatedly in a 24 hour flight.

But I am stuck, I had no choice only to make this mac be as much as entertaining to relieve me from boredom. And no, I don't want to write a novel during the flight.

Deadpool : a review

Probably one of the movie to be anticipated in 2016, Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds in this superhero wacky silly comedy satire dark gory action movie. Pretty much living up to its name in comics and everywhere else, Deadpool movie delivers one quirky yet stunning and full story of the character. With long history of how this character's story had been trying to stay survive from the danger of extinction on the live action movie - as well as the disappointing portrayal in the X-Men Origins Wolverine,  Deadpool survives and delivers to the fans as well as general audience as the Merc with a Mouth. And when I say general audience, I mean 17+ - this movie is totally not for young viewers.

So - SPOILER ALERT - but I'm not trying too much of the story here, because pretty much you see in the trailer sums up the whole action scene of the entire movie. There will be big difference with the trailer of course as the duration of the movie tells a pretty short story. And I think that it is, because this movie delivers as spin-off of the X-Men movie instead of being an independent stand alone anti-hero movie (Thanks whoever owns the license of the X-Men and related franchise).

Originally released on February 15th world-wide, in my place (Indonesia) this movie released on the 8th - I don't know why, but during the first viewing, I find myself in the not so crowded audience. Of course it will changed during this weekend - probably, but watching this movie with audience in a country where cynical and breaking the 4th wall comedy is not common, is not that fun. Many of the jokes that I thought funny and hilarious produce low reaction from the audience. I try keeping myself not to laugh like an idiot, but it is hard to do so especially when most of the jokes actually teases the background of the development of the movie itself.

Probably the point of watching this movie is to see what Deadpool would be like in a live action movie. Have you ever played the Deadpool game? I haven't - but maybe the same reaction can be seen from watching this movie with reading the comic book. At least that is my impression of Deadpool even from the beginning of the title and opening credits - the production staff slipped so many mini jokes that is just easy to spot on.

One downside of watching this movie in theater in my country is there just TOO MANY censors that is done in a weird way (zooming in to specific area too close, that would erase around 80% of the viewing) , which later you can view on the red band trailer on youtube anyway. It doesn't affect much of the plot of the movie - but watching that shocking moment that makes you goes pale, could be the roller coaster effect of watching this movie. Again - it didn't affect the plot at all - because the plot is easy and predictable - a story of a guy gets the girl, guy met bad guy, girl get kidnapped by bad guy, guy kills bad guy, guy saves girl.

I felt not a disappointment of this movie, and I think it is the whole point of my judgement from watching Deadpool movie. You finally see the Deadpool you probably know in the comic book, as fan or just as regular movie go-er. You finally can see what the Merc with a Mouth is all about. Most of all - it can get rid of the stain  of the horrendous portrayal of what "Deadpool" has been in X-Men Origins Wolverine.

There will be a lot of superhero movie up ahead this year - but for now, watching Deadpool will be a great exercise or warm up of the superhero related movie, before we are faced with such a huge and heavy plot and combination of superheroes later this year. For now - I enjoy Deadpool - and I think it will be another great year for comic book superheroes movie.

PS: When you watch, make sure you stay until the end of the credits - because there will be something of a Ferris Bueller kind of thing in the end... but with news update from X-Men productions...

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) - a review

I hit low last year after I sold my notebook and some of my item to pay the bills and all, but now I bounce back. Everything is looking pretty well right now, and I have almost completely paid off all my debt. But I do still require a sort of personal computer to continue with my things - so I am looking for one and decided to buy one. Paid in instalment, and not quite sure how it will turn out, but I am pretty satisfied with my choice.

I might have been missing a lot of PC game-playing just by not having a suitable device from Q4 last year to early this year. That is why I thought I need to purchase one that could fulfil the requirements of the era of Next-Gen Gaming. The launch of MGSV, Fallout 4, Witcher 3, and GTA V on PC - at least these are some games considered of current PC gaming... I think.

ASUS ROG probably one of the lineup I could chose easiest. At least for its class and service in my area (Indonesia - Jakarta), this one can survive quite long. Purchasing the one in the low-mid area of the high-end notebook, ASUS ROG G551JW suffice with the current game testing I need. I'm not going to describe long here or a bit too technical about it, but I have been using it for gaming and it is quite sufficient with my needs.

I am not a hardcore gaming, because let's just say I still am INTO Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge. Because let's face it, it is probably the best Red Alert 2 game before EA took over and minced over Westwood studios. But for some current game like Fallout 4 can be set to high setting with no problem - at least on 30-50fps can be achieved during gameplay.

There is however a problem for another game, such as Witcher 2 - yes, the prequel of Witcher 3 - on a high setting it achieve only around 20-35fps (probably) especially during camera turn. Now I said I am not going to be technical around here and I stick to it, because there is still a possibility to tweak the performance of the CPU and GPU - but since I just recently bought it, and with 5 more instalments to go, I am sticking to the vanilla version of my current laptop.

That all being said - I do enjoy this laptop. Due to dual graphics performance that is also supplied in the Intel motherboard, this one still sometimes mixing the performance with Intel GPU. Sometimes the valuation of the gaming performance would recommend you to play on low setting, and that is the only thing that bugs me (other than it is pre-installed with Windows 10 and requires some setting to do for privacy and everything else).

Overall - I am quite happy with this laptop. At least it supplied with my needs for work and gaming. Supplied with oddly 12GB of RAM, I installed VMWare for virtualising network configuration for my work and class and the shared performance still sufficient to both work at the virtual and desktop mode. I just wished at least this would stay suffice to the next 3-4 years :)

Hot Toys' Scarlet Witch from Avengers Age Of Ultron - a preview

It is almost been a full year since the release of Avengers Age Of Ultron in the cinemas, and finally one of the iconic character from the series is released as merchandise part of the franchise. Scarlet Witch may not be always known as part of Avenger's team, since the dispute of her and her twin brother's with Tony Stark's warfare as told in the movies.

With her ability to alter reality, she is later known to even change Vision - the android created by Ultron Prime to revive its vision of a new evolved living kind - into a person she would later marry. But enough with the comic book and movie history, let's talk about the figure which later will be released on mid of Q1 of 2016.

I collect figures, and one of it is from Hot Toys. I don't actually exclusively collect Hot Toys' figure (since it is actually quite a bit higher from my price range), but I do collect some worth collecting for. Hot Toys with now promoting its Movies Masterpiece line, releasing many of their products with the likeliness of what can be compared on motion pictures. With many things released now, the production team of Hot Toys are now releasing more and more products that collectors can place the figure on their shelves and adored them to reminiscence of the movies.

After what I saw on their home page at hottoys.com.hk, one figure that caught my eyes is this Scarlet Witch. Portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen in the movies, this figure generate a superb resemblance of the actress and the character on the movies.

What seen in this facebook fan page account, we can really see the resemblance of the character and the actress, at least about 95-99% at the right angle.

Of course it may not have been a perfect, but this figure is the one that need to be placed in the right angle to see the perfect similarities of the character.

Right now some reviewer might already get a hand of the figure and reviewed it. One of them I follow the review is ShartimusPrime in YouTube. Although there has been some cons of the figure, but overall the likeliness of the character and the range of pose it can made is generating a positive reviews.

This might be another that I will collect when it already released. Adding up to some of my small collections of Hot Toys figure :)

Terms and Conditions Apply - how online store is better than physical store

Sales and Marketing are what driven the product to make profit for the continuation of the company. We can't deny that it is actually affecting our lives, and that we live by the influence of good marketing and salesmanship. With the timeline, so these has adapt to more influencing our minds and way of transaction.

Promoting a product, especially in store showcase can sometimes drive us to make a deal of an item or not. With intriguing words and pictures, we sometimes felt like we're being hypnotized into taking an action. Words like "SALE 50% off" or "FREE for any purchase", can make an impulse decision that sometimes later we weigh on the regret and the value.

But of course those words are sometimes not as what they seem to be. Yes - I am talking about the meaning of the "*" behind every promotion word that mislead us. There are many word to describe it, but it usually means "terms and conditions apply".

Terms and Conditions apply may be sound great when facing with legal documents that require times for you to study before making any necessary action that leads to both party bonded by the transaction. This is sounds fair, but when promotion starts taking over to boost up sales, this too can be bent into the likings of the decision-makers.

One thing that happen recently is to cut the middle way through, store nowadays somehow just put a big promotion up front with terms and condition later explained if goes noticed. This is probably one of the cause why people hate doing transaction anymore.

It happen to me just today as I went into this Lego Store at Cilandak Town Square, Jakarta. Sine it is close to Chinese New Year, it is just appropriate for them to put up promotion of "Free Of Any Lego Purchase" with the picture of Lego Creator Chinese New Year Zodiac's Monkey. Being a customer there, of course I am curious about that promo. So I asked the store supervisor there and said that it is free with a purchase of a minimum amount. There it is - the first term and conditions.

I did a quick math on my head and apparently my purchase will earn me that free Lego Creator's Monkey. Because I already did ASK - and the term and condition is just for the minimum amount of purchase. SO there I was completing the transaction, when then the cashier told the SECOND terms and conditions. Apparently the minimum amount is for SELECTED ITEMS only.

One thing for sure is that I will NEVER go to that LEGO STORE AT CILANDAK TOWN SQUARE JAKARTA again in purpose. I even felt it was more of bargain for me if I buy in e-store such as TOKOPEDIA (www.tokopedia.com). One thing I didn't like is how the store supervisor is badly managed the whole situation, instead of apologizing for giving such a misleading info, he instead defending the condition of the promo in which he failed to inform completely.

This is why I prefer online store. They at least put the terms and conditions on writing. There is a page that they wrote long and in difficult words, but at least we have the option to read it first in order to agree with the terms and conditions. Even if they put a wrong remark that they couldn't deliver later, we have the option and opportunity to capture the misleading text information and bring the case to the administrator of the e-store.

People should be aware of this -  I mean online store, it is like a building. You need to plan before you take an action, because your action can later be brought as evidence of what failure of act could lead in the future. Of course there is a tolerance of the failure -  but once you put it in writing, it bond with the condition you have with your store.

I think this should be publicly known.

A journey to publishing a paper... for my master degree

As I am writing this, I am faced with 3 notebooks that all runs on different OS, 2 CISCO routers, 1 CISCO switch, several LAN cables, 1 Network Area Storage, 2 Raspberry Pi's (type A and type B), 1 Intel Galileo, a Gopro camera, one DSLR camera, 2 Mikrotik Routers type RJH750 (I think), and several bunch of tools and gadgets that I not yet adapted to use.

Why all of this? It's quite easy - I need to publish a paper, especially on electrical engineering specified on computer network configuration related as a thesis for a paper on my last term of master degree. The reason I am writing this is not as for boasting or bragging - in fact it is the EXACT OPPOSITE of that.

The start of my final term will begin in a few weeks. To do that, I should be ready to present any idea of what I wanted to apply with the research methodological from the course of what I am studying, and summarize to a conclusion. This, by the way, ideally should've been thought from the beginning of my study for this degree, which is roughly one and a half year ago.

Along the course I learned quite a lot, and each pretty much on the surface of things. For the depth, I should've study myself. Instead, I have been seduced by the finance rewarded work that makes me forgot the purpose of taking this study.

This been going on, and now I am actually been facing with the consequences of my own action in the past. In near future, I should've presented something that at least direct me to the kind of research of what I might being interested in.

This is depressing, but along the course I've heard lots of promising words such as "Big Data", "Network Security", "Internet of Everything", "Long Term Evolution Multi Cast", etc, etc - but until now, I haven't got any slightest idea of how connecting all those threads. One general idea of at least converging into one particular study that I could took the summary of all of it.

At least I have some things working on - a free and widely use software such as Wireshark, NS-2, NS-3, R statistics... but even so, it's nothing yet to be able to pull any strings on it.

The first thing I should've done is study any paper that has been released up until now and stick to one research that I am interested in. I have making a hard copy prints of several journals from various trusted sources and summed up into this 12 rims of paper front and back for me to check and study.

And it has been printed since 2 weeks ago...

S.H. Figuarts Shadow Trooper - or more like ebony Storm Trooper

I am a casual Star Wars fan. What it means is that I watched the movies, theater release, re-runs on HBO etc, I played few of the games occasionally, but no I did not follow the series, cartoon series, the novel, the fan fiction,  or anything. I just based my knowledge of Star Wars universe based on the 6 episodes George Lucas' made plus one (for now) made after Disney bought the Star Wars franchise. I am so sure there are countless other Star Wars casual and die-hard fan that actually learned until the depths of knowledge surrounding the Star Wars universe, but for me - as said above - I limit my knowledge from the world-wide release motion pictures. That being said, let's talk about one of the merchandise based on the Star Wars franchise released by Bandai Tamashii Nations.

So when I first knew about this figure, I somehow try to relate it with Dark Trooper as seen on PC game Star Wars Battlefront 2. I kept fixating on it - while I know that it is completely different. I don't need to describe what it is the Dark Trooper looks like - one thing for sure is it looks totally different than this one.

I don't really actually knew where this figure comes from, probably from one of the franchise that happens outside the motion pictures. With the help of Google of course, I can look a bit about this character.

Now, Shadow Trooper actually exist, and it has been quite spreading to other manufacturers that wishes to create the sculpting of this character. I don't know what the background story of Shadow Trooper, but one thing for sure is it definitely had quite some difference than the original Storm Trooper.

One example I look is one by Hot Toys on SideShow Collectibles. It may not look much different than Storm Trooper, but one thing is that it has small differences like the pad on the right shoulder, and few even got a different emblem mark on the left side chest, while others also includes different weapon used by the Shadow Trooper like a long blaster.

Not the same thing I see from what Tamashii Nations made for their S.H. Figuarts Shadow Trooper. If I didn't know any better, this one is just Storm Trooper painted black. Nothing more and less, and doesn't differ any much than its color with the Storm Trooper.

It is quite disappointing to see a new kind of action figure to play or pose, because it doesn't actually stands out than Storm Trooper. Perhaps the other thing that differs this version than the storm trooper is the box this figure cased into.

With packaging such this, there should be a special treatment for the figure itself to stands out more rather than just replacing the color. My suggestion when you have this figure is to try to look for another accessories that fit with this figure and start to remodel it yourself. See how you fit, and try to make it standout. Or perhaps, just buy one from another manufacturer like Hasbro's Dark Series. 

I should've write more

Hi blog-readers

I don't know the exact term of people who are following to read the blogs and everything. So I guess netizens? perhaps. That's not actually the point here.

I run an online shop that is on the shoppers gatherer website that provides its own escrow account. It was good and all, have been running it actively again in the last year - and I've got a good advice from one of the haters who had this transaction envy. See, I think in every store - an actual store, there bound to be a showcase, of item that is just to put there as to show the stuff that the store sells. Some perhaps put a decorative figure that is not purchasable on that store. So I tried to adapt one on my online store and this person start commenting on running my own blog instead.

See the thing is if I run a blog, then it wouldn't be able to read on the online store. There is no actual direct link that could help people to try to make an decisive observation to the blog.

But then I thought, this person might be one of the niche selected few who runs the trouble on browsing through many sources before coming back to purchase or not. So I think I wanted to give it another try on running a blog and an online store.

So, in the next few days or weeks, I think I'm going to try it. I'll write a blog of stuff I sell, and try to see the effectiveness of my own personal feeling towards the item, with the actual experience after my online costumers buys them.