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Swert

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Blog Entries posted by Swert

  1. Swert
    I can't believe it's been this long. MakutaFest started in 2010 as a side project established by The TTV Channel (then The Three Virtues podcast) and the BS01 Podcast (then the... BS01 Podcast. We kinda suck at naming stuff xD).
     
    Does anybody remember the first livestream? I don't. Literally cannot remember it happened, or that it was even a thing until 2011 rolled around. But I honestly cannot imagine what life would have been like during 2010-2016 without MakutaFest. I'm not going to say we influenced the return of BIONICLE (we didn't) or that we kept the fanbase alive (it'd live on without MF) but, personally for myself, BIONICLE would not be the same without MakutaFest. It's what keeps me excited for everything.
     
    With that said, this will be our finale. Our last blast, as it were. Why? Times change, we keep moving forward, and in order to do that we need to say goodbye in a proper venue. For me, that is MakutaFest. For others, they may have already come to terms, and wish to reminisce with the good ol' times of G1, or reflect on what was and could have been in G2. For even more others, they may still be looking for closure, and I do believe MF is the closure we all might be seeking.
     
    So please, feel free to join us on Aug. 19th. It won't cost a dime to attend, it just requires you to go check out TTV's YouTube channel and watch the livestream. Couldn't be simpler.
     
    ... Also we're giving away one of BS01's artbooks. Should I have started with that? More info here.
  2. Swert
    ... So I might be going. Depends on funding and/or events leading up to the show.
     
    ... So what should I build in celebration of my return from a 2 year exile? XD
  3. Swert
    It has been about 10 years since I last had semi-permeant access to a decent video editing software. I cannot believe how much I missed doing videos until I opened the BS01 YT channel.
     
    So now that I have this power, I promise not to abuse it.
     
    Much.
     
    ... I should make that BS01 trailer I've always wanted TTV Podcast to make for me : O
  4. Swert
    Sooo... ain't gonna lie, if you planned to enter the photo contest right now, your odds of winning General Grievous are looking pretty good right now. Like, very good.
     
    This is a reminder that The Caption and Meme contests will be ending tomorrow night, December 2nd, at 11:59 PM PST. To enter, you simply have to email us an original meme based on Star Wars, or caption the photo below, to biosector01@outlook.com with the name of the contest you're entering in the subject line.
     

     
    We'll also have news on the Luke Giveaway on our Facebook page very soon!
  5. Swert
    Hey all.
     
    ... I haven't posted in awhile. Huh. ANYWAY.
     
    Coming up this Saturday, we've got MakutaFest 2015. Cue the one lonely dude cheering in the back corner. Not that guy, the one next to him that's quieter. I'll be one of the hosts for this upcoming event, and we have plans to giveaway a few sets on the stream via trivia questions and via raffle. For more details, view the video

    Likewise, we're also planning to review the Summer 2015 sets as soon as they arrive to us on BS01, and we'll most likely do a giveaway when our Facebook hits 500 likes (we have a Facebook page, by the way) of something. So yeah, it's pretty crazy.
     
    Oh, and I'm still working a lot, too. That's basically a wrapup of my goings-on for now. See you guys on Saturday!
     
    *updated to add FB link... silly Dorek*
  6. Swert
    A topic came up a long time ago (in a blogpost far, far away) in I think Black Six's blog. The subject was what movie order would be suffice showing someone who has never seen Star Wars the saga. Now, there appears to be several camps, with the mass majority being the 4-5-6-1-2-3 and 4-5-6 camps (skipping 1-2-3 as much as possible) but I came up with one that I'd like to share, this being May the Fourth (it still is in PDT, anyway).
     
    The order I formulated was 1-4-2-5-3-6 (then 7 when it comes out, assuming it doesn't tank). This is by far the best way to show someone the movies without spoiling the big reveals. I'll briefly touch base on why this order makes sense *POTENTIAL SPOILERS*
     
    Episode 1, if you may not recall (for any number of reasons) introduced us to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Senator Palpatine and Padmé Amidala. (Skipping the droids because they're both in all six movies, so yeah) While it's more than obvious that Padmé is going to probably end up with Anakin in the near future, for the outside observer you don't get much more than a "meh" from this movie. I think there's a space battle? I'll be kinda honest, it's the weakest link out of the six (seven), but it's best to get it out of the way now to let the other 5 (6) build up more.
     
    Episode 4 is the true introduction to Star Wars for most of us, and it introduces Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and reintroduces Obi-Wan as a wizened Jedi Master, who sees Luke and remembers the boy that Luke's father was (wooOOOooooo plot connection!). Luke and cast leave Tatooine, with Luke swearing he'll never return. We are also introduced to Darth Vader, an evil Jedi who we are told killed Anakin. This is probably never mentioned again whatsoever in any other movie and probably isn't special trivia at all.
     
    Episode 2 now introduces the beginning of the Clone Wars, mentioned in passing during Episode 4 when Obi-Wan met Luke, and it also introduces us to Jango Fett and by proxy Boba Fett. We also get to see how awesome Jango is fighting a Jedi. We also see a fight scene with Master Yoda and Count Dooku, which leads us into Episode 5. Jar Jar Binks basically puts Palpatine in charge single-handedly after being manipulated, way to go Jar Jar. Reason #4,312 nobody likes you. Oh, and we also get to meet the first generation Stormtroopers. Way to make 'em worse later, Empire. Also, hints of Anakin's rebellious nature, including his attraction Padmé that was basically shouted at us since the first movie.
     
    Episode 5 is the big reveal movie, basically. Luke meets Yoda, Vader's not dead, we meet Lando Calrissian, Han is betrayed by Lando, Luke is trained, Luke enters a cave, Luke senses trouble after the trippy cave scene, he goes to Cloud City, Han is taken to Tatooine by Boba Fett (remember him from up there ^?), the big reveal is made, hands are lost, Luke is rescued, and the movie basically ends on an even worse cliffhanger than Smaug attacking Lake-town. (I am... death.)
     
    Episode 3 is where the big reveal leads us to the inevitable demise of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. Basically, it's the birth of the Empire and so on and so forth. But we do get an epic fight scene between Palpatine and Yoda. Still didn't save the movie for me, IMO. Next movie!
     
    Episode 6 is the movie that takes it all home for us. (Until Episode 7.) Pretty much Empire builds a new Death Star, the Emperor arrives on the new Death Star, The cast returns to Tatooine against Luke's will, they get captured, and Luke single-handedly rescues half the cast from a giant slug. Later, many Bothans die to get information about the Death Star II to the Rebels, we are all sad but can't remember what a Bothan is, then the entire cast except Lando go to the forest moon of Endor (why a moon? Why not the planet Endor? Whatever.) to disable the shields on the clearly disabled Death Star. Turns out, it's a trap! and they're ambushed. Luke fights Vader, Ewoks happen, the Emperor is defeated, Vader dies, Anakin is avenged, and finally Force ghost cameos for all.
     
    ... I'll admit, didn't quite expect to write all that, but I said whatever, nobody reads my blog anyway
     
    To summarize (TL:DR), 1-4-2-5-3-6(-7) is probably the best way to introduce someone to Star Wars, assuming they haven't seen it before or were spoiled in any way, shape or form. I'm sure people will disagree, but I hope my rather long arguments for this reason will sway you to see it my way.
     
    Besides, you could always keep ignoring 1-2-3 if that's what you'd prefer. I won't judge you, I'm only socially obligated to even have those DVDs (Actually, I didn't mind 1-2-3 as much, but I could go on even longer rants on how I'd fix those personally. This is why I don't rant much.)
  7. Swert
    So awhile back, I posted I had collected all original 100 2001 Bionicle masks (aka, the ones from any 2001 set that was commercially available, minus the red Ruru). Of course, that's without the misprints and other sharp rarities such as a 14 karat gold Hau, but those are sadly going to be out of my reach for a good long while.
     
    Once I finished amassing this collection, I asked the million dollar question: How do I display it? Well, make a plaque like everyone else, of course! Wait, I ran out of wall space with my three large bookcases. Huh, okay let's just.. uhh... make a stand? Sure, let's do that. Okay, how? Well, I knew Technic would be a little pricey, so I tried out system plates and stuff.
     

     
    ... That didn't work out so well. What about brick?
     

     
    ... Nope. Okay, back to Technic! What about this?
     

     
    ... We're getting somewhere. But at that pace, I'd need to make about 18 of them just to display my masks. What can we do with that?
     

     
    ... I think we have a winner.
     

     
    Oh yeah, found a winner. So basically, I prototyped out a single unit, used bulk masks we have in stock at the studio (we have a TON of these, so many that Xccj and I used some of them in the Mata Nui model we built a few years back) and tested the math a little. With some adjustment, and some PAB mayhem, I was able to solidify a design I'd be proud of.
     

     
    The parts for this unit are already on their way from PAB, and I will able to build it and put the first set of Kanohi (Akamai's group I think, or Gold/Silver/Matoran, haven't decided yet) on it. I also plan to display the pair of Avohkii I own (Gold and Transparent Gold), my Kraahkan (MEK and standard), the Copper Masks, Rahi masks, and one Silver Avohkii to represent my old character Scohu.
     
    So yeah, I hope this (extra long!) blog entry will help to inspire some members in displaying items. Each unit will only measure 7.5 inches wide, be less than 4 inches deep and only go up to about 5 inches in height. This will easily fit on my bookshelf units on top, though I will most likely have to retire a few units to a box from there (or just clean it up x_x). Oh, and if you feel you could use those system prototypes for anything, go for it. I washed my hands of them months ago
  8. Swert
    Huh, I haven't posted in like a month? Welp, time to lump all my updates into one entry, as I am wont to do.
     
    So, where do I start? My new year's eve was immediately turned into a downer when my mom went to the hospital. She stayed there for a good 2 weeks (she's back home, and healthier than she's felt "since 1998"). From that day til pretty much last week I've been working my mask off in project after project. While this basically means it ate up all of my time I wanted to wisely spend on BS01, it does mean I am happily building up a budget that will help go towards (POSSIBLY) a better server, which means I can possibly bring HS01 back full-time. No promises there yet.
     
    Christmas stuffs, not much happened. I took it upon myself to buy all my own decent gifts; This included all six Toa Masters (I'm keeping it going for ya, Jason), two Protectors (Earth and Water), LoSS, the Double Decker Couch and Bad Cop's new car set. Two of the Toa, LoSS, and the two Lego Movie sets are still in shipping as I type this, but I have four of the Toa already built (Lewa, Pohatu, Gali, Kopaka). I also treated myself to the EMP Museum up in Seattle on a slow day, which means I got to see the Vince Lombardi trophy the Seahawks won last year in person, plus a few other things that made my day. I absolutely love the EMP, it is a wonderful venue, and I look forward to the day when we return to it with even more Lego displays.
     
    Currently debating whether or not to retire this laptop for a touchscreen to get ahead of Windows 10's release, or jus build a new desktop instead and let the laptop ride until summer. If I do the desktop method, I'd want a new monitor and peripherals too, so it'd probably cost the same as a touchscreen laptop. Halp?
     
    Otherwise, not much else big is happening. It occurred to me while writing this that in 2 days I'll have been on BZPower for 12 years. That's an interesting thought; I'm only 27 years old, which means in three years I've have been on BZPower for half my lifetime exactly.
     
    And with all that, I have only one more thing to say: Go Seahawks.
  9. Swert
    It is done.
     
     



    1) Yes, I know I'm missing misprints and other rarities. Most notably missing is the European Copper Huna and more premium items (24k Gold Hau for example).
     
    2) Also of note, I have some 02-03 masks in this list, including the gold Avohkii, Nuparu's orange Pakari, the gold Vahi, the MEK and Kraahkan, but they're in my collection so I count them.
     
    3) I don't currently have plans to go get Kanohi Nuva, Krana or Kraata; I might consider the Kanoka, but those are super hard to get just right.
     
    So yeah, that's 2 months' work. Just in time, too.
  10. Swert
    Though not one you guys might consider "real."
     

     
    Basically, I'm getting questions about it on BS01; "Will there be vector logos of the new masks? What about the logo?"
     
    So I figure to try my hand and see what I thought. I'm quite happy with it, I think. The watermark's to preserve it until I decide what else to do with it.
     
    Thoughts are welcome, and I do plan to finish the other 5, the Protectors masks, and the two legendary masks.
  11. Swert
    So, if you didn't already notice from the other day when we set it to the default skin, BS01 has a new skin in the works: http://biosector01.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&useskin=metrolook
     
    I'm still tinkering with it, I have suggestions and I know of at least a mile long list of corrections to be made as we go. At least I fixed the search button (it originally went to a search page, similar to Wikia; it now goes to the page you typed in, with a search being the redundant fallback if no page exists).
     
    Basically, it's a WIP which I will attempt to solve before Bionicle is announ-
     
    "Bionicle 2015!"
     
    ... before 2015
     
    Also GO HAWKS!
  12. Swert
    About 2 weeks ago, my boss' son came to the studio with about 3 bins in hand. Each one filled to the top with Bionicle.
     
    "What's that," I asked.
     
    "I'm selling my Bionicle to my dad," he replies. "I'll give you first dibs, though." He knows me too well.
     
    So I sift through the first bin, and I notice a pattern. There's -plenty- of Kanohi in here. We're talking A LOT.
     
    It was in this moment I elected to go ahead and buy all the Kanohi from him. Literally every one I could find. So I did.
     
    And then I talked with Toa Lhikan Hordika, who sent me his spare Kanohi as well.
     
    And then I got permission to check the other overstock Bionicle in the shop we had left over, to find more masks I needed. I was left needing only 25 more.
     
    I then checked Bricklink. I found every single mask I needed.
     
    EXCEPT. FOR. ONE.
     
    A stupid Red Miru. Nobody on Bricklink is selling it. Figures.
     
    So I'll probably track it down via friends first, then if that falls through I'll come here to BST. Once I secure that one, I'll probably move to buying whatever I need left off of Bricklink, though I bet I could buy more from my list of needs here more than I could there.
     
    Anyway, rant over basically. Worth mentioning, I have no current desire to track down Krana, Kraata, Kanohi Nuva, or Kanoka. Likewise no misprints or prototypes. Strictly 01 Mata Great and Noble. That may eventually change, but I'm a simple man who is more than satisfied with the simplest collection known to Bionicle fandom.
  13. Swert
    So, I can safely say that despite my best efforts, Google AdSense still found a way to find SOMETHING relevant to me, either through Facebook or basic Amazon searches. Regardless, it found something to advertise that I may have been interested in: Buying tickets to go to the EMP Museum in Seattle to see the Block by Block exhibit they have there. Sounds interesting!
     
    Now I will first start by saying by all means, if you're in the great Pacific Northwest, go see it. Like seriously, go. Why do I advise this? Well, that leads to the next part of the humor of this entry: I had my hand in all 10 buildings featured there. Basically, what I'm saying is I'm indirectly paying for myself by viewing these ads. Also of note, of every ad I've seen of it so far, every one features a building I was lead on. So not only did they pick the wrong audience to advertise to, but they use my own suggested buildings.
     
    ... Well, I thought it was funny, anyway :| And by the way, yes BZP also had one of these ads when I signed on today. I've uploaded all three kinds of banner ads I saw to BS01 to share what I see practically daily now. Square ad Tall ad Wide ad
  14. Swert
    I just made my purchase of The Lego Movie off of Xbox Video, and it's downloading 7.3 GB to my 360 now.
     
    Soooo I guess I'll be watching it tomorrow night?
     
    Anybody else buying it digitally, or are you guys getting a physical copy?
  15. Swert
    So yeah, I've been busy. ... Very busy ._.
     
    On the plus side, I've had a lot of stuff happen. I kicked Sprint to the curb and signed with AT&T. In hindsight, I needed much more money than I had at the time to do this, but I'm confident it won't break me. Because of this, I ended up having to purchase a new phone. It was high time to replace it anyway. I decided to get a Nokia Lumia 1020, a wonderful choice I don't think I'll regret until probably halfway through the contract when the 1030 launches or whenever. The only drawback is this particular phone had a mechanical issue with the camera, so I already called away for a replacement (it'll be here tomorrow).
     
    The next major thing is I made some sporadic Lego purchases in the last two months, including the Eiffel Tower set (the new one, not the original; I'm not made of money XD), Wyldstyle's motorcycle, Martian Manhunter, a Green Lantern and White Lantern figure (sadly not the original GL NYCC figure, again NOT made of money), a custom Gambit designed by Brickstorms (they were a vendor in our shop during BrickCon Spring Exhibition), Nick Fury and Aquaman (I have a full set of Avengers and Justice League now, strictly because of those purchases), and Lego The Hobbit (which got me both Good Morning Bilbo Baggins -and- Western Emmet, the guy at GameStop recognized me as "that Lego guy" and had some Emmets left over from The Lego Movie VG. I did not complain once).
     
    I need to make room for both the new Minecraft The End set and Benny's Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP set, but those are minor. I think I know where they'll end up, then I'll photograph the new bookshelf once I do.
     
    Finally, I made two new poster purchases over the weekend, including the Hunters of Achievements poster and Achievement City. I'll need two new frames, and I'm thinking I'll take down my Pink Floyd tapestry for room. The tapestry served my wall well, but blank canvas is needed, especially for Achievement Hunter.
     
    Otherwise, that's the collection thus far. I still need to make a mask out of the Lhikan's Hau from the playset, I just realized. Any suggestions there would be welcome, I think I know how it should be done but I'm still mulling ideas.
  16. Swert
    So this week, I the opportunity to participate in interviewing a friend of mine. That'll get posted online within the week, so I'll be sure to share it. It's pretty relevant to BZP, actually.
     
    In the other news, I've been working a bit more slowly since the Minewell project was finished, and so I've gained some time back to myself. I took the opportunity to rent and watch The Hobbit #2, then starting Lego The Hobbit. Didn't go too far into that yet, but it's already leaps and bounds ahead of The Lego Movie The Videogame in terms of navigation and stuff. Yes game, I'd love to have a map. Yes game, I'd love to have you mark where stuff is for me. Thank you.
     
    So yeah, basically more boring stuff for me, except that interview. Woo.
  17. Swert
    Maybe next year, when I say "I'm tired from working six weeks on a project under a strict deadline" someone will listen when they remember back to when I used both Toa V and Derpy Hooves to basically do absolutely nothing all day with.
     
    That is all. Thank you and have a nice April 2nd.
  18. Swert
    So, I didn't go to ECCC yesterday, but I did get the chance to go today. Didn't buy much, but what I did buy is truly amazing. I also got to do something amazing. (Warning, large images.)
     
     



    Basically, I got to chat with Stuart Sayger again, along with buying a Green Lantern print that he signed, then took a photo with him, and wore the Tower of Plimps on my brick badge for a brief time before packing it away.
     
    Today was a good day.
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