 |
 |
|
|
DREAMWAVE OVERLOAD
How do your socks look? Well, if they haven’t been knocked clean off then chances are you haven’t kept up to date with the slew of Dreamwave news that's been thrown in our direction recently. Dreamwave took a stranglehold of Newsarama in the last week of February, releasing information on each of their new titles for four days straight.
Read more >> |
|
|
HASBRO UNVEILS UP-COMING ENERGON AND UNIVERSE FIGURES
Hasbro have again updated their official Transformers website to bring us more sneak peeks of up-coming Energon and Universe figures, so check out our summary of the year so far for a full-breakdown of recent announcements:
Read more >> |
|
|
HASBRO ANNOUNCE FIRST DECEPTICON ALTERNATOR, DEAD END
One of the most exciting announcements to come from Hasbro in recent weeks hit their official site on March 11, taking the community by storm. Almost out of the blue came news of two gorgeous new Alternators, and even more astounding was the fact that one of them is to be a Decepticon!
If you haven't seen pictures of Autobot Tracks and Decepticon Dead End by now, then you're in for a real treat!
Read more >> |
|
|
SUNSTREAKER PROTOTYPE PICTURES EMERGE?
As speculation continues to mount over various names and additions to the Alternators line, people are no doubt wondering which figures will actually be released.
The very impressive Smokescreen and Sideswipe have already hit the shelves and we are expecting Silverstreak and Hound to appear in the coming months, but speculation continues to mount over the proposed Dodge Viper…
Read more >> |
|
|
SUPANOVA 2004 TO PREMIERE ATARI PS2 TRANSFORMERS GAME
Supanova, Australia's largest annual pop culture expo is being held this year on May 1 - 2 at Wharf 8, Sydney.
The huge weekend event will be jam-packed with all things cool, from toys to anime to comics to collectible card games, and the organisers have told me that there's something special lined-up for Transformers fans as well, as Atari will be premiering their up-coming Transformers PS2 game at the event! Woo hoo!
Read more >> |
|
|
ATARI TO TRANSFORM ARMADA
As many of you know, Australian development company Melbourne House have been working on a new PS2 game based on the Transformers: Armada series. The game, entitled 'Transformers' (formerly known as ‘Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon’), has been in the works for the last year or so now, but is finally due to be released in early May.
Read more >> |
|
|
LEAVING FRIENDS BEHIND
As many of you may know, I have just recently returned from a six month holiday in Europe. One of the hardest things about going away for such an extended period of time was leaving all my friends behind, shut up in cardboard packing boxes, their limbs bound by bubble wrap and masking tape, locked in a faceless storage facility...
Read more >> |
|
|
TAAU MEMBER INTERVIEW 004: CRANK
In this edition we are lucky enough to sit down and share a virtual drink with TAAU's resident Smartarse runner-up and all-round nice guy, Crank. So let's hear what he has to say about Calvin Klein, Red Setters and Jaffle making!
Steven: Hi!
Crank: Howdy.
Steven: Okay, so let's start with an easy one: who are you and what do you do?
Crank: Grant Byrne and I'm an Industrial Arts Teacher.
Steven: How did you come across this wonderful world of TAAU?
Crank: Someone I know from OzFormers mentioned TAAU so I checked it out; I lurked for a bit and then decided to register and gradually began to post.
Steven: So do you collect Transformers toys at all?
Crank: Yep.
Steven: Why did you decide to start collecting them?
Crank: When I was a kid I had nearly all the Masters of the Universe figures, but only a few Transformers. I had Grimlock, Kickback and Trailbreaker, but always remembered my mate's Jetfire, I thought it was the coolest toy out, so one Sunday while at Paddy's markets I saw a set of knock off Constructicons and decided to buy them. They were cool so I then bought G1 Jetfire from Ebay and started to really get into it. This was around the start of Armada and I went to every Target, K Mart, Big W and TRU in the area and bought all the Transformers I could find... and I've just been buying them since. More fun than MotU!
Steven: That they are. So would you happen to have one item in your collection which you value above all others? In other words, what's your favourite peice?
Crank: Nah, not really. I like them all. I reckon I might like the non-transforming stuff more than most people though: the busts and PVCs and stuff.
Steven: Well there has to be at least one thing you feel really proud to own?
Crank: Everything is cool so I don't think I have a favourite, it all depends on the mood I'm in as to which one I'll play with.
Steven: Okay, fair enough.
Steven: Rumors are floating around that you have a a real-life Prime living in your house, is this true?
Crank: Yeah, but not for much longer if he keeps acting up.
Steven: So what is it?
Crank: A dog. He is a red Cattle/Fox Terrier cross.
Steven: So you named your dog after the legendary Optimus Prime?
Crank: Yeah, although I originally wanted to call him Wuss, but Michelle [Grant's girlfriend ] didn't like that idea, so in my quest to name him Wuss I decided to try an alternate name which I thought she'd like even less, so suggested Optimus Prime. Michelle said, 'What about just Prime?', I said okay and the name stuck.
Steven: But it's a dog, how could you do that to the greatest Autobot leader ever known?
Crank: He pretty much gets to do whatever he wants, and is mostly red in colour and getting redder all the time, so it sort of fits, and sounds cool too!
Steven: Well it's your dog...
Crank: Michelle's dog.
Steven: Oh, nice palm off!
Crank: I don't do any feeding or cleaning up after it.
Steven: Even better!
Crank: I only do the playing with part
Steve: Well that just Prime.
Crank: Ha ha
Steve: Sorry, had to work it in there somewhere.
Steven: TAAU recently held its annual message board awards and you managed to walk away with a handful of them on the night, including runner-up to perhaps the most prestigious award of all: 'TAAU Smartarse'. Would you like to share your thoughts and ambitions on this matter?
Crank: Well ultimately it's a message board where like-minded people post, so I don't really have any ambitions as such. I use it to find out info and destress by being smart at other people's expense, plus chat about stuff with the other guys. It's all part of the fun of TAAU.
Steven: So what other activities do you partake in when you're not transformering or joking around on the boards?
Crank: Besides working I have to do all the cooking, otherwise it's noodles or jaffles.
Steven: What's wrong with jaffles?
Crank: Jaffles are okay every second Wednesday of the month; I've found that since I moved out of home into my own place I'm becoming very domesticated and have started to really enjoy gardening.
Steven: I think there's a charity that helps people with this condition.
Crank: Maybe if they donated more transformers to me...
Steve: Lol, I thought they called them 'pubs'...
Crank: I dont drink so pubs are no good to me.
Steve: OMG! There's no saving you now! (Please note: TAAU does endorse or encourage drinking)
Steven: Okie pokie then, how about a handfull of quick ones to finsh up?
Crank: No worries.
Steven: Autobot or Decepticon?
Crank: Autobot, even though I am a Decepticon in Heavy Metal War
Steven: Coke or Pepsi?
Crank: Pepsi.
Steven: Star Wars or Star Trek?
Crank: Star Wars.
Steven: Boxers or breifs?
Crank: Briefs. Must be CK or Trent Nathan though. Super comfy!
Steven: And finally any advice for any would-be collectors out there?
Crank: If you see something on the shelf, buy it or lay-by it. Don't think it will be there next time 'cause it probably wont be.
Steven: Good advice and thanks for your time!
Crank: No Worries.
Steven's final thought: If it is to be, it is up to me... unless you can palm it off and get someone else to do it while you sit around in your CK's, drinking Pepsi, watching Star Wars and playing with Prime.
- Story by: Steven Watts
|
|
|
TAAU MEMBER FEATURES IN DREAMWAVE COMIC
In January of this year, TAAU member Ravage posted a superb piece of Transformers fan art on the board. The amazing illustration depicted a lone Beast Wars Megatron standing beneath a colossal G1 Megatron, which very cleverly referenced and paid homage to the classic Planet of the Apes scene showing the Statue of Liberty buried in the sand.
Read more >> |
|
|
Disclaimer:
This e-newsletter is published to provide relevant information regarding our activities. We take no responsibility for inaccuracies or errors and will not be held responsible for any actions that may arise from the use of the information provided.
Spam policy:
We are against the sending of unsolicited email (SPAM) and have made every effort within our power to discourage and prohibit the sending of spam. If you believe that you have been spammed click here to report your complaint.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE: |
|
| Featured
in this week's TAAU newsletter we have: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
