Quick Review > Blinky the Red Ghost PVC (Pac-Man, Coleco, 1982)

March 13, 2012 | Poe

There seems to have been an abundance of Pac-Man-related toys when I was a wee tyke, circa 1982, and for whatever reason I owned a few of them. The oldest toy I still own from my childhood – the one that’s still the original, that I’ve never had to buy a replacement of on eBay – is a wind-up Pac-Man by Coleco.

I also had this guy, a PVC ghost from Pac-Man, part of a whole line of PVC figures also by Coleco. I believe they predated the cartoon series; they’re certainly not based on it. Nor is he based on the actual game ghost – he’s just some sort of cartoonish interpretation of it. My fondness for this piece isn’t based on nostalgia for Pac-Man, though; it’s just a nice, solid, fun little PVC I owned as a kid, and a nice desk tchotchke.

Although it doesn’t say it on the front of the package, he’s apparently known as “Blinky the Red Ghost” – maybe it says that on the cross-sell on the back. Believe it or not, there doesn’t appear to be a website out there that has cataloged this toy line in detail. The closest thing I could find was this.

So apparently Pac-Man was huge in the early ’80s. It’s easy to forget that, since Mario more or less wiped Pac-Man off the map a few years later.

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Contest > Win a Play Arts Kai Joker! (Sponsored by FigureoftheDay.com)

March 12, 2012 | Poe

In celebration of their two-day sale of the Arkham Asylum Play Arts Kai Batman and Joker starting tonight (March 13, technically) at 3amET/12amPT, Figure of the Day has graciously offered up a Play Arts Joker as a contest prize here at PGPoA! (Read a review here.)

So here’s how to enter: Post a comment below in which you invent a funny new Batman villain. I don’t want you to try to pitch some serious grim ‘n gritty supervillain – I want something so goofy it makes me laugh (although, feel free to pitch an over-the-top grim ‘n gritty supervillain based on something ridiculous, like a serial killer who’s obsessed with Don’t Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus or something).

Then I’ll pick my favorites. Three runners-up will get a Poe Prize; one grand prize winner will receive the Play Arts Joker! (more…)

Mattycollector/Digital River hacked?

March 12, 2012 | Poe

As for now this remains a rumor, but at least one He-Man.org member posted that he received a message from his credit card company that Digital River had been compromised and they were cancelling their card and issuing a new one.

This comes on the heels of Fun Publications’ recent fraud issues.

NOTE: The following paragraphs are wild speculation. As of right now, there is no official confirmation that this is a real or widespread issue. (That’s not meant to question the original poster’s veracity – I’m sure he’s correctly relating what he was told – but he’s not an official source, obviously.)

If it does turn out to be real and widespread, I think it’s safe to say it spells serious trouble for Mattel and the various subscriptions, especially Club Eternia.

Shadow Weaver, the sub incentive, has already shipped. The temptation to cancel one’s credit card and not enter a new one will be very strong for many fans, and Digital River’s terrible customer service will ensure no pressure is placed on anyone to enter a new card (since they already have a cancel – the – sub – first – and – ask – no – questions – later policy).

Of course, if the cancellations do happen on a large scale and Mattel or Digital River don’t have a sufficient insurance policy to cover the cost of the cancellations, it wouldn’t surprise me to see MOTUC end in 2012. If enough people cancel the sub as a result of an error, I just don’t see the upper management signing off on another year.

If this turns out to be a tempest in the teapot, I hope it will at least help Mattel realize just how dangerous it is to work with Digital River, and perhaps rethink the entire subscription program.

Voting Begins for OMFG Series 2

March 12, 2012 | Poe

Voting for OMFG Series 2 (series 1 review) has started over at October Toys. First check out all the entries on this page, then vote here (you’ll need to register for their forums to vote).

My submission – for a Poe figure (drawn by MechaShiva) – is #354. It’d be pretty cool if everyone voted for it, but follow your heart and all that. Still, you get to pick five, so…