I tend to buy with the specific intention of strongly supporting my A list. Particularly titles that I feel didn't get the sales they deserve, such as EF and Ikoku Meiro no Croisee (just waiting for licenses of Iriya no Sora and Kurenai...). Which actually means much of the stuff that does get very prominent limited editions doesn't fit the bill - I like Madoka and Haruhi, but they aren't series I'm particularly inclined to go out of my way to support.

The NIS $50 per cour price point generally makes sense to me for the kind of purchases I make, at least for one cour. It's a bit high for two cour shows. (Conversely, Sentai's $36 per volume for EF makes more sense to me because EF is two cour.)

Returning to a few of the previous topics (still too busy to answer them all):
-While I consider Azumanga one of the greats of the moe genre, I can't help but chalk it's popularity with many who otherwise dislike moe up to the fact a lot of people encountered it before knowing what moe was.
-Minami-Ke isn't nearly as much a moe title as some others.


As to moe fans, most of the ones I've meet come across as fairly well adjusted (and yes, I know I'm limiting this to ones who are actually social enough for me to have met them). I would assume, however, that most aren't inclined to talk about it much for the same reason I don't talk about it much:

1) Many of us see it as an acquired taste. It's not exactly easy to explain the appeal of EF or Clannad and I think many of us see it as a bit of a lost cause unless we see some signs of interest.
2) I'm well aware that a guy who openly goes with cutesy merchandise is going to be regarded as somewhat strange.
3) The attitude of some people I've met in the local scene frankly puts me off discussing my tastes around them (not just with them). I end up talking about such tastes more in casual fan groups than less causal ones, largely because of this.

Factionalization honestly strikes me as the logical outcome.

(I think I've mentioned it before, but there's certain moe shows were I consider the social aspect central to the appeal. K-On! Is a mild example. Something like Symphogear would be a very strong one: painful to watch alone, but a riot in the right group. And I think most of the people who I watch it with would agree with that assessment.)

I've always wondered a bit about the business model behind KnK and Fate/Zero is, honestly. Are there actually a lot of people who would pay R2 prices if only the releases had English subs? Seems to me like most of the potential buyers are people who would buy R2 anyway, so why bother producing such an edition?

As for Madoka, my thoughts on the Aniplex edition are:
1) price is too high
2) it also shouldn't necessarily be Sentai-release cheap
3) yes to multiple editions

The reasoning behind this is simple: the primary purpose of DVD and Bluray purchases IMO is to supporter the creators of stuff I like. So razor thin margins aren't really desirable. Having multiple editions is, because it gives me more options as to how much support I want to give.

Second, with rare exceptions building a DVD/bluray library actually is my preferred method of giving my anime collection a physical form - I'd chalk it up to something psychological about buying the anime itself rather than something related. It's an added bonus rather than my reason for buying, but I always appreciate good looking editions.

Turning Undertaker's last match into a revenge fight against Lesnar would end up breaking the fourth wall or kayfabe or whatever you call it. It wouldn't be Brock Lesnar VS The Undertaker; it would be Brock Edward Lesnar VS Mark William Calaway. Then there's the suspension of disbelief itself: IE, can the audience actually be made to believe that someone they knew who went to do real fighting come back to lose at a scripted event?

But yeah, we're stuck at this point...

That have quite of few celebrities in there. Drew Carey, Bob Uecker, and Refrigerator Perry in there as well. I don't know what the criteria is.

Anywhoo, here's my favorite part of the Rumble:

Sorry for bringing up Madoka to you. I just meant it as friendly ribbing really.

But don't worry, I won't bother you about it again. Hope you're enjoying Winter 2012.

Hate to butt in here but the Fate/Zero box set is not $180. From Rightstuf's price lists:
Fate/Zero part 1: $380 ($370 within the US)
Madoka Limited edition: $225 for all three
Madoka standard edition: $120 for all three

Neither pricing model is all that new. Fate/Zero follows the KnK model, Madoka is fairly similar to the model Bandai used for Haruhi's R1 a couple years back. I imagine the mimicry is intentional.

Both sets tend towards the high end of the market. Funimation is mid tier at around $53 for a relatively recent 12 episode bluray set like Spice and Wolf II. Sentai brings in the rear - I could order their brand new bluray release of EF: A Tale of Memories for $36.

NIS America is a special case - they sell their new releases are priced like Funimations, but while Funimation's releases are barebones affairs, the NIS editions include a full artbook plus artbox. IMO, they strike by far the best balance between price and packaging/extras in the R1 market.

I'm not too familiar with live action stuff, but I've only heard good things about Liar Game--or entertaining memes, otherwise--, so if I ever watch an LA I know where I'm going.

And regarding Lesnar, I do recall seeing screenshots of him for WWE12, and Smackdown VS Raw 2011 did have Masked Kane as an alternate attire and we all know he eventually came back so there could be something there. Thing is, I dunno if they can generate hype against a guy whose name doesn't have, uh, the pedigree associated with Triple H, HBK or really, even Edge. Especially considering Taker's reaching 20-0 at this point.

But speaking of which, got anything to say on Masked Kane's return?

Not many people here actually HATE Madoka, so you kind of stand out that way.

But still, those are good points you made about what might have factored into Zac's review. I don't doubt Zac really did like Madoka Magica, but he might have gone extra-soft on them to stay in the good graces of Aniplex.

As for Liar Game, I'll keep it in mind!

You might be interested to know that ANN's Zac, of all people, loved Madoka Magica Volume 1.

I actually tend to view Zac as a sort of "gateway to the west". That's not to say that I agree with Zac's tastes all that much, just that I think he's very representative of your North American anime fan who never took to the moe boom (i.e. a large chunk of that late 90s wave of anime fans I've seen you refer to).

Prior to reading Zac's review, I honestly thought that Madoka wasn't going to do that hot in the western marketplace (due to it being an absolute marketing nightmare in most western markets), but now I'm not so sure.


What do you think, LS?

Ah, I got you.

But now that you mention years, do you have anything to say about 2009? AFAIK it was this one that attracted the ire of a lot of people (although I rather loved 09. It was 2010 that was the weak link for me), and given most of the reasons I've heard, I would think you share their thoughts on this one, but I don't want to make any assumptions.

And by the way,