http://disqus.com/by/Siendra/enFri, 11 Jul 2008 04:11:22 -0000http://timetravelisawesome.com/?p=87#comment-862590<p>For the last three years, yeah. I wasn't in costume or anything this year, but the year before I was one of the guys in the SEELE monoliths. </p>SiendraFri, 11 Jul 2008 04:11:22 -0000http://timetravelisawesome.com/?p=87#comment-823105<p> You know, I'd be completely willing to pay a subscription fee, or a minimal price to DL subbed content directly from the Japanese license holders or their American counterparts. If, lets say, Bandia Visual wants to charge me $12 a month to view any of their content, and they can get sub schedules running that can compete with Eclipse, Shinen, Doremi, etc... then I would be fine with that. For a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is simply that supporting an industry I adore just makes sense.</p><p> One thing I have noticed over the last couple of years that I assume licenser's somehow missed, is that a large number of fans (myself included) are spending much, much larger sums on merchandise now. Hell, I've probably dropped $400 just on figures, clothing, posters, and even pencil sharpeners this year. Erstwhile I've probably only spent $150 on DVD's. This merchandise market is extremely valuable, and yet in large part completely ignored in the North American market. Even when I'm looking at a product released in Japan for a series that is getting a domestic release here, I know in the back of my mind it's probably only got a five percent chance of seeing our shores. I just don't get it. I really don't. The last anime convention I was at (Otafest '08, Calgary) really proved my point. Talking to some retailers on the dealers floor, they all agreed merchandise had sold better then DVD's, some going as far as to say five times better. So why the hell is it still hard for me to find the stuff here?</p><p>Blugh.</p><p>One thing I will disagree with you on is a lack of DRM. That's just not feasible for several reasons. Rather then removing it entirely, the entertainment community as a whole needs to strive toward better software that doesn't inhibit the end consumer while at the same time making life miserable for those idiots who still steal content even when it is cheaply and easily available.</p><p>Regardless, this is just like the Music Industry. Stop scapegoating and objectively examine the issue. All it takes is one licenser standing up and at least giving it a shot. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, while at least you tried, and you probably pulled in some new business regardless. </p>SiendraSun, 06 Jul 2008 15:37:30 -0000