These are the words of UltraMagnus!

• 19Mar 08

  Involuntary Cross-Media Collectoritis / Bleeding Income Syndrome

  Recently, having been living in Japan, I have been getting into some of the more popular Japanese franchises, specifically Super Robot Taisen(SRT).

  I love robots. They are some of the most enduringly interesting objects from science fiction, as evidenced by their presence in countless media. That having been said I suffer from an affliction that is all to common these days in those that are particulary interested in one or more types of media, ICMC/BIS(see title).

  Someone suffers from ICMC/BIS when after they are exposed to some type of new media, which they enjoy, they are compelled against their will and/or better judgement to immediately seek out as much information as possible on said media, and to seek out and purchase as much merchandise as they can find that is related to said media. This can escalate to a rediculous degree, taking a disproportionately large percentage of said person's time and income. And in the worst cases can alienate friends and family, and have negative effects on work and health.

  In my case, having played Super Robot Taisen OG for the GBA, over the last three months I have purchased 8 other iterations of the series and plan to purchase more before I return to the US in two weeks. I have ALSO purchased numerous model kits and toys of robots related to SRT, and have added DVD sets related to the robots found in SRT to all of my online wish lists, which I plan to purchase over time.

  I seem to suffer from a mild variation of ICMC/BIS. Because I have thus far been able to walk the VERY thin line between casual hobby and full blown ADDICTION. Every time I make a new purchase I am careful to take all of my family's finances into consideration. But seeing the end of our time in Japan approaching so quickly I am compelled to race to the nearest stores and buy up as much of the afore mentioned stuff as possible. This would undoubtably be a very BAD idea which would put my family in financial HOCK for the last weeks of our time here, so I won't do it. But the compulsion is there none the less.

  This would not be so bad if I were simply compelled to purchase games, but since this affliction is "Cross-Media" it compells me to purchase DVDs, toys, models, key chains, etc.... Some of which are collectors items that can cost hundreds of dollars. I can only hope that my will, which has so far kept my ICMC/BIS in check, can continue to hold out.

  But fear not if you too suffer from ICMC/BIS, there is hope. The key to overcoming this affliction is not to try to do it alone. My wife has been my partner in my struggle, my rock standing against the un-relenting sea of "Can I have this? How about this? This? Oh, and this too?". She has with the resolve of a SWAT team commander given me exactly what I have needed to fight ICMC/BIS. And that is one simple word,"NO!". That's right. That simple word can stop the most viscious frenzy of ICMC/BIS, and bring you back to your senses long enough to re-think the most irrational of purchases. And just remember that "NO!" can mean "Not, right now." Most of the time there will be other chances to give in to your affliction. You can usually get these things later, when it is more financially appropriate, and after you have had time to think about how many and how much of this stuff you REALLY want.

  So there it is. I know that some of you share my pain, and that some are sufferring to an even greater degree. Stay strong my brothers and sisters, you can climb out of the depths of this affliction into the light of moderation....... if you don't drown in DVDs, choke to death on collectable trinkets, or get crushed under the foot of your most recently purchased Super Robot.

  • Posted Mar 19, 2008 12:58 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 19Jun 07

  Mo sugu ni shupattsu!

  Going back to America is getting very close now! I find that I do not want to leave, even though I know I must. We have had such a great time here, made some very good friends, and enjoyed a culture that is more hospitable at this point than our own. It will be very difficult to adjust to living in the US again, with all of the negativity and the tendency for most people to be a bit more judgemental than you would like. I will have to get used to people not saying hello to me and being generally friendly all the time. I hope that being in a friendly culture for so long does not get me into trouble when I return to the guarded and suspicious culture we currently have in America.
  • Posted Jun 19, 2007 11:24 pm GMT
  • Category: Other
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• 14May 07

  Packing up and shipping out.

  We are now packing up all of the stuff we have collected over our three years here in Japan for shipment back to the US. We are realizing that we have A LOT of stuff to get back. My love of Japanese toys and my wife's love of clothes have created a PILE of stuff for shipment home. Not to mention the third member of our family who has stuff too. We will be using a moving company and shipping our stuff back via a door to truck to ship to truck to door method. As long as it is cheap, and everything is realitively undamaged when it arrives I will be happy. Leaving Japan didn't seem real until we started packing up our stuff. I will miss it here. In SOME ways Japan seems more like home than the US does.
  • Posted May 14, 2007 11:08 pm GMT
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