Corgi De... *yawn*
When we last reported on this in February (see my last comment on the article):
Now:
I would hasten to add that it is now May, and the Starbug one still isn't released. I would also hasten to add that TOS have said that "no release date has been fixed" although they "hope to be able to bring you more details in the next couple of months".
We have heard, however, that it was apparently Corgi themselves who chose to use the Re-mastered Dwarf, rather than GNP. Not that it really matters who decided; the point is, it still looks SHIT.
I'd also like to put a rant here about how ridiculous the delays on this project have been. They were supposed to... the G&T relaunch? How is that rel... sigh. Well, I suppose we never pretended to be professional.
Comments
When Italics Attack.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 2, 2004 05:02 PM
Jeebus, how much longer is the wait? We should also know that it's nearly a year. Licensing delays my a$$.
Posted by Mike B at May 3, 2004 01:49 PM
Thank goodness none of this matters then.
Posted by Arctic Brandreth at May 4, 2004 10:13 AM
YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH STARBUG AND A RED CHEWED PENCIL ON A DUSTY CARPET. WHY NOT JUST MAKE THEM YOURSELVES WITH PIECES OF LEAD?
Posted by Frank Sinatra at May 4, 2004 01:12 PM
Look, we all know that everyone's going to only buy Starbug and not the Dwarf (although I don't hate the elongated ship quite as much as some, it seems).
So why not just wait, save yer money, and get the electronic playset that's clearly going to kick absolute arse?
And there's no way those figures are the actual figures... right?
Posted by Seb at May 4, 2004 03:43 PM
Have we heard about the playset recently?
Posted by Joey at May 4, 2004 07:20 PM
Due October 2004 according to Product Enterprise.
http://www.productenterprise.com/reddwarf.html
Posted by Blake at May 4, 2004 08:59 PM
Am I the only one totally baffled by all this attention and heatedness over a few pissy little toys? There's even a bloody advert for one (yes, it's a blatant advert, don't pretend it isn't) on the series 3 DVD, they're inescapable.
This is why the DVD range is so bland - there are hoardes of idiots too busy obsessing over crappy toys rather than even considering campaigning for more interesting releases.
Do the aforementioned people like Red Dwarf? Or do they just like the idea of being a 'big fan' of something and buying all the crap merchandise that goes with it, settling on Red Dwarf after "going off" Star Trek? There's no explanation for it - more passion and anger hurled at the slipping release dates of some ludicrously expensive, crappily-moulded, tacky-as-fuck plastic toys than can ever hope to be levelled at the stupid budgeting and general boring obviousness of the DVD extras.
Cue the backlash.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 4, 2004 10:15 PM
> Am I the only one totally baffled by all this attention and heatedness over a few pissy little toys?
It's because there's very little else on which to report.
> This is why the DVD range is so bland - there are hoardes of idiots too busy obsessing over crappy toys rather than even considering campaigning for more interesting releases.
Do you genuinely think the DVDs are bland? I can fully understand that for a few of the extras, but I can't see how you can complain overall.
> Do the aforementioned people like Red Dwarf? Or do they just like the idea of being a 'big fan' of something and buying all the crap merchandise that goes with it, settling on Red Dwarf after "going off" Star Trek?
I'll ignore your directionless bile, as it doesn't deserve addressing.
> There's no explanation for it - more passion and anger hurled at the slipping release dates of some ludicrously expensive, crappily-moulded, tacky-as-fuck plastic toys than can ever hope to be levelled at the stupid budgeting and general boring obviousness of the DVD extras.
Or maybe idiots like me are happy with the DVD extras? Also, I'm a bit baffled as to how your personal opinion has changed so dramatically in such a short time. In your D. V. Don't article, you say "my initial opinion was that they were above perfection...I and every other fan were in total agreement that these had definitely been worth waiting for, and I still stand by this opinion despite what I'm about to say". How come now, after Series III and IV were released with twice the extras of the first two releases, you hate them so much?
Oh, and you don't know a thing about the budgeting, man.
> Cue the backlash.
If you're going to talk garbage, expect pain.
Posted by Ian Symes at May 4, 2004 10:26 PM
> It's because there's very little else on which to report.
I was referring more to numerous posters getting all worked up about some fucking toys.
> Do you genuinely think the DVDs are bland? I can fully understand that for a few of the extras, but I can't see how you can complain overall.
Everything on there is really obvious, there's no thought or imagination gone into any of it. It's all tacky and 'yeah, whatever's easiest'.
> Or maybe idiots like me are happy with the DVD extras?
I didn't call people who are happy with the DVDs idiots. I was insulting the people getting worked up over toys whilst exhibiting blank acceptance about the DVDs. That certainly suggests the 'being a fan of something for being a fan of something's sake' syndrome mentioned above.
And even if you are happy with the DVDs, why should you stop others you aren't? Why can't I say 'hang on Ellard, you're a big stinking liar, there are plenty of unreleased out-takes available to use, never mind all this arse-covering', 'shouldn't you really be getting the out-takes from the rushes anyway, you lazy bastard?', or even 'was that really the best you could come up with, you jumped-up, talentless little dullard?'
> Also, I'm a bit baffled as to how your personal opinion has changed so dramatically in such a short time. In your D. V. Don't article, you say "my initial opinion was that they were above perfection...I and every other fan were in total agreement that these had definitely been worth waiting for, and I still stand by this opinion despite what I'm about to say". How come now, after Series III and IV were released with twice the extras of the first two releases, you hate them so much?
Since writing that I've discovered a lot more about (a) the politics of BBC Worldwide, (b) the politics of DVD extras in general in relation to fans, (c) just exactly what is out there gathering dust and (d) what a talentless, arse-licking, self-inflated little prick Andrew Ellard is.
Many of the complimentary sentences in that article are misguided bits of backlash-shielding anyway. You might as well take it offline, it bears little correlation to my feelings on the matter any more.
> Oh, and you don't know a thing about the budgeting, man.
Want to bet? I know more than enough about DVD budgeting to be able to say 'this money should have been spent elsewhere'.
> If you're going to talk garbage, expect pain.
You've done that before.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 4, 2004 10:47 PM
"why should you stop others you aren't?"
Should have been "who aren't".
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 4, 2004 10:47 PM
> And even if you are happy with the DVDs, why should you stop others who aren't?
I'm not. I disagree with what you say, but you're entitled to say it.
> Why can't I say 'hang on Ellard, you're a big stinking liar, there are plenty of unreleased out-takes available to use, never mind all this arse-covering',
Ellard's never said that there aren't unreleased out-takes.
> 'shouldn't you really be getting the out-takes from the rushes anyway, you lazy bastard?'
There are rights issues here. The out-takes that were left off the Smeg Ups vids must have been left out for a reason - why else would there be so much filler? Obviously, I don't know the situation at all; just playing devil's advocaat.
> or even 'was that really the best you could come up with, you jumped-up, talentless little dullard?'
Regardless of your opinion, it really doesn't help your case if you're needlessly offensive and personal. Bit of a lame comeback from me, I know, but I've got the site to worry about, especially after the recent legal worries.
> Since writing that I've discovered a lot more about (a) the politics of BBC Worldwide, (b) the politics of DVD extras in general in relation to fans
I know nothing of these, so I'm leaving them.
> (c) just exactly what is out there gathering dust
Do you seriously think they'd leave things off on purpose? There's got to be a reason for every omission.
> and (d) what a talentless, arse-licking, self-inflated little prick Andrew Ellard is.
You've discovered that how, exactly?
> Want to bet? I know more than enough about DVD budgeting to be able to say 'this money should have been spent elsewhere'.
You don't know how much Extra X cost, and how much Hypothetical Extra Y would cost.
> > If you're going to talk garbage, expect pain.
>
> You've done that before.
I thought it was such a good one, it was worth using twice.
Posted by Ian Symes at May 4, 2004 11:01 PM
When I spoke to Andrew Ellard at the last Dimension Jump, he seemed very pleasant, and trying to do his best for the DVDs. I certainly didn't get the impression he was a "talentless, arse-licking, self-inflated little prick".
I spent a while speaking to him, and he never came across to me as anything bad at all!
And before you say anything else, I don't think Ace Rimmer - A life in Lame is very good.
Posted by Mr Flibble at May 5, 2004 08:51 AM
Re : Darrell's initial rant :
I like toys. Not in a big collectable kind of way, but in that I like to have a TARDIS, and a talking Dalek, and an evil vampire Willow, and a Randal Graves and a Brodie Bruce, and a DeLorean, and that sort of thing, sitting on my mantelpiece or windowsill.
It doesn't make me feel like any more or less of a "fan", but I'm such a big-kid-inside sort of a geek that I think an electronic playset of Starbug, made with what seems like loving care and attention, with ickle figures of the Dwarf crew in it, would be a really cool thing to have.
What's wrong with that?
Posted by Seb at May 5, 2004 11:33 AM
Gah. There's nothing necessarily wrong with toys at all, but I'm irritated that all people's energies are going into complaining about their slipping release dates than campaigning for anything else that's actually important to the show, like better DVDs, or a decent book of shooting scripts.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 5, 2004 12:11 PM
All YOUR energies are going into complaining about the DVDs. If YOU want to start a campaign, I'm sure everyone here will be interested enough to look at it.
Posted by Pete Martin at May 5, 2004 12:44 PM
I can see what Darrell is trying to say. I'd rather see stuff like more DVDs with even better features/games etc or a new book or the bloody movie!
As for the toys, yes they would be cool to have but doesn't further your knowledge of the show. I'd love a playset but I wouldn't waste my energies getting frustrated at them being put back. They'll probably be put back again soon and again after that and again etc
Posted by Drzymala at May 5, 2004 05:48 PM
To be fair, it doesn't take much time or effort to type "another delay? Pfft".
Posted by Ian Symes at May 5, 2004 07:29 PM
Indeed, and this site is here to report on ALL Dwarf news, not just the subjects that Darrell is angry about. It's not like balanced critism isn't given when needed. Still, let's stay in a constant state of froth because the DVDs aren't how WE'D like them. That's really constructive.
Posted by Tanya Jones at May 5, 2004 07:46 PM
I haven't a problem with G&T reporting it as a news item. I have stated above why I'm annoyed.
> Still, let's stay in a constant state of froth because the DVDs aren't how WE'D like them. That's really constructive.
I fucking give up, I really do. I have previously contributed endless realistic suggestions to make the DVDs better - I'm not just saying 'this is shit'.
As for the attack on me criticising things because they're not the way I'd like them - DUH, THAT IS CALLED HAVING A NEGATIVE OPINION OF SOMETHING BASED ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL TASTES. THAT'S THE POINT OF NOT LIKING SOMETHING.
If you adopt the 'don't criticise things just because you don't like them' stance we might as well all have lobotomies. Sure, there might be a load of liquid shit smeared all over my neighbour's front door, but just because my neighbour and Scatology Monthly think it's wonderful doesn't mean I'm not allowed to get annoyed about it.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 5, 2004 10:59 PM
Nobody's said you can't express negative opinions. I've said the exact opposite, in fact. People get pissed off when you objectively state that things *should* have been done differently. That's different from criticising what you don't like.
Posted by Ian Symes at May 5, 2004 11:09 PM
If I signed off everything I made with an "IN MY PERSONAL OPINION IMHO :)" signature would it really make any difference?
Of course it's my personal opinion, I wouldn't be saying it if it wasn't. I didn't think it needed to be stated after every full stop...
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 6, 2004 12:25 AM
Fair point.
But stuff like "hoardes of idiots", "lazy bastard", "jumped-up, talentless little dullard" and "talentless, arse-licking, self-inflated little prick" is ludicrous. These pointless attacks take attention away from what your actually saying and your point gets lost. It makes you come across as unlikeable, frankly, which detracts from your argument.
Posted by Ian Symes at May 6, 2004 01:38 PM
Hmm, I want to join in with this but I can't work out what opinion to have. Maybe I'll hold back and keep watching for a bit longer...
Posted by Cappsy at May 6, 2004 04:00 PM
"They are superbly moulded, but I've had just about enough of comedy-related toys after seeing the dozens of people furiously complaining about Red Dwarf toys' slipping release dates yet exhibiting ambivalence about the bland DVDs."
Posted by Darrell Jones on another forum at May 6, 2004 08:01 PM
Which is a condensed version of what I've put in this thread.
Bit of a crap expos� there, Twatto.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 6, 2004 09:45 PM
Where are the 'dozens of people' furiously complaining, then, Darrell? I can only see one at the top of the thread, and even he doesn't seem that upset.
Are you sure you don't mean 'dozens of straw men that I felt like attacking'?
Posted by Ian Twatto at May 6, 2004 09:51 PM
I don't mind Red Dwarf's remastered design, but I agree that the tiny ramscoop on the toy looks shit.
Posted by Nick at May 9, 2004 03:51 AM
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