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Post by Dan on Jun 25, 2009 2:46:32 GMT
Looks like Sideshow gave the Styracosaurus the coolest backstory of all their figures so far, at least in my opinion. From the official site:
"After losing his last rut, he has been relegated to protect the periphery of the herd. Still a useful position but also dangerous. The more skillful bucks in the center of the herd always get the first pick of the females. For now he will do the best he can and prove his worth. His horns and head are thick with keratin, a sign of virility. During the rut, he can flush blood to his frill and horns to create a magnificent display. Perhaps this year he was too eager to show off his colors and forgot to work on the skills that turn battling male styracosaurs into clattering warriors as they lock horns. Instead of mating with his favorite female, he now patrols far from the herd to issue low warnings that only his species can perceive.
Now the eggs are hatching, and rather than sit back and sulk, he will prove his worth in this most crucial of times. Already he has mortally wounded a young tyrannosaur and intercepted a big varanid lizard. But he fears today is different. The chirping of the hatchlings has brought the clever Troodons to gather in a pack in the sea of cattails before him. Their keen intelligence is daunting to a simple creature such as himself, and its good to have a keen sense of smell in times like these.
He lifts his head high, shaking his massive rack of horns and lurches forward at the oncoming rush of raptors. One group attempts to confuse him while the other slips by! With one massive sweep of his head, he sends two of the raptors high in the air. They land on the group passing by his flank, shattering delicate limbs. A quick stomping on their tangled torsos makes quick work of them. Without missing a beat, he turn towards the others and lurches forward in a mock attack. They disappear into the swamp like a blur, leaving nothing but feathers behind. He surveys the scene, fills his lungs with air and give a low rumble. The females hear. Their children are once again safe."
Awesome. Somehow makes me want it even more.
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on Jun 25, 2009 3:56:07 GMT
I think backstories do that...a bit of a story and it def help sells me on the piece or figure. ;D
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Post by Dan on Jun 25, 2009 4:04:54 GMT
I mean, I doubt most people actually bother to read it, and it' not like it's going to make people think "Wow, okay. NOW I will definitely spend two hundred bucks or more on this thing". I think it's more like a bonus to get people more juiced up when they're already excited about it.
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Post by bucketfoot on Jun 25, 2009 5:00:06 GMT
UGH. If he killed a Tyrannosaur - well I guess he had a time machine. And I am not aware of any "Varanid lizards" being around in the late Cretaceous. My impression is that they grew in size only AFTER the dinosaurs "left the building"... ...so as far as the background story goes - its woefully uninformed and frankly, it sucks. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. ;D
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Post by Dan on Jun 25, 2009 6:21:36 GMT
Don't worry, I brought my lawyer-proof umbrella. I'm sure the writer meant to say "tyrannosaurid". And it doesn't matter if you're aware of any varanid lizards - obviously they existed, otherwise how could they have been in the story? Flawless logic. Finally, if it is woefully uninformed writing you are looking for, I suggest reading over that Prehistoric Times piece you're so proud of. LoL.
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Post by timlee3005 on Jun 25, 2009 6:49:50 GMT
UGH. If he killed a Tyrannosaur - well I guess he had a time machine. And I am not aware of any "Varanid lizards" being around in the late Cretaceous. My impression is that they grew in size only AFTER the dinosaurs "left the building"... ...so as far as the background story goes - its woefully uninformed and frankly, it sucks. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. ;D Ever notice how one of my childhood favorites (Styracosaurus) manages to win over Tyrannosaurus again and again? ;D Seriously though, a Gorgosaurus or Daspletosaurus would be more appropriate if they want the result of a fallen tyrannosaur since they were contemporaries of Styracosaurus. Plus no matter how much I like to see it,when properly sized next to each other,I just can't see Styracosaurus having a chance against a full sized Tyrannosaurus,which fortunately for the Styracosaurus,lived around 10 million years later. The background story doesn't matter anyway,since there is no sign of any varanid lizards or of a young Tyrannosaurus carcass anywhere on the model.
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Post by Meso-Cenozoic on Jun 25, 2009 7:03:32 GMT
Well, I'm gonna have to go back and try and read it again. I failed miserably with my first attempt. I started cracking up with laughter so hard I had to stop! I swear when I started reading it, it said, "After loosing his last nut....." LOLOLOL!!! ;D
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on Jun 25, 2009 8:14:41 GMT
I read it as he was on sentry duty...and was a young ( inexperianced ) tyrannosaur...and to me Gorgos. Albertas, their all Tyrannosaurs..just not Rex himself . Varanid lizards were around then..mosasaurs and snakes evolved from them...the lizard body plan itself didn't get big until after the dinos..that we know of. dml.cmnh.org/1997Dec/msg00202.htmlHe just chased off a big one from attacking the nest..and varanids do love eggs...of all shapes and sizes.
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Post by sbell on Jun 25, 2009 13:37:52 GMT
UGH. If he killed a Tyrannosaur - well I guess he had a time machine. And I am not aware of any "Varanid lizards" being around in the late Cretaceous. My impression is that they grew in size only AFTER the dinosaurs "left the building"... ...so as far as the background story goes - its woefully uninformed and frankly, it sucks. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. ;D I would hope there were varanid lizards--they evolved into mosasaurs.
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Jun 25, 2009 16:00:03 GMT
UGH. If he killed a Tyrannosaur - well I guess he had a time machine. And I am not aware of any "Varanid lizards" being around in the late Cretaceous. My impression is that they grew in size only AFTER the dinosaurs "left the building"... ...so as far as the background story goes - its woefully uninformed and frankly, it sucks. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. ;D They're called daspletosaurs and gorgosaurs. There were-- Mosasaurs evolved from them And you 'member tylosaurus right? There was one big varanid lizard that grew to great proportions during the time of the dinosaurs
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Post by sbell on Jun 25, 2009 16:15:03 GMT
UGH. If he killed a Tyrannosaur - well I guess he had a time machine. And I am not aware of any "Varanid lizards" being around in the late Cretaceous. My impression is that they grew in size only AFTER the dinosaurs "left the building"... ...so as far as the background story goes - its woefully uninformed and frankly, it sucks. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. ;D They're called daspletosaurs and gorgosaurs. There were-- Mosasaurs evolved from them And you 'member tylosaurus right? There was one big varanid lizard that grew to great proportions during the time of the dinosaurs Okay, so we've hammered the tyrannosaur and varanid thing--what about the cattail thing? The only maybe fossils are from Wyoming, the only styracosaurs are from Alberta & Montana (now I'm getting really picky). As far as I can tell, the two may not have coincided in time either. Also--why is nobody picking on what is in essence a kind of dumb story? What is it with these feel-good stories about deposed herd leaders and such things? The reality is that if he's an old male, and he was pushed aside, he's done. Proving his worth in herd animals means getting out of the way for the new generation--that's how it works--he lost to the new crop, the females know it. They aren't impressed by Troodon stomping, they're impressed by how he stands up against other males at the right time of year--if he lost the rut (pre-brooding) it isn't going to get easier a year later when last year's winners are that much tougher--and he is that much older and peripheral. I highly doubt these are like many primates, where generations may have a different intrinsic value. I can't even say it makes a compelling story that makes me more likely to drop far too much money on a statue.
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Post by fleshanthos on Jul 6, 2009 19:07:02 GMT
It looks like a bloody featherless parrot - like Ceratopsians are SUPPOSED to look like!!! You know what I was raised with?!? THIS: Sideshow's? I want it. I want it baaaad.
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Post by Dan on Jul 6, 2009 19:16:09 GMT
That Styrac looks mean, fleshanthos. Is that from a model kit?
I just got off the phone with Sideshow. The Styracosaurus is due for an early 2010 release. Plenty of time to collect change for the piggy bank, or if you're rich, buy a different Sideshow piece to tide you over.
Believe me though, buy one piece and you'll just want to buy more.
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Post by mightyjptrex on Jul 6, 2009 19:38:45 GMT
Dans correct IT'S ADDICTING!
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on Jul 6, 2009 19:41:08 GMT
Yep..one of the old Auroras..I used to have the Ptero and T-Rex...I think they around still..just all over the place...heh.. don't give kids model kits to play with.. I'm starting to feel like that company has me hooked...I might have to start selling off older toys again...
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Post by Dan on Jul 6, 2009 19:54:47 GMT
Addicting, yes. I wonder what exactly this "polystone" is made of, anyway? Or if they laced the paint with something...?
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on Jul 7, 2009 3:03:39 GMT
Heh... : www.riuva.com/?p=301 When I was a member of the Spawn.com forums any highly collectible figures were known as " Plasti-crack " ....heh heh... polystone is a form of plastic..so I think , as dino toy collectors, we are just getting a larger amount of our " fix " here... ;D
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Post by sid on Jul 7, 2009 11:39:41 GMT
They're called daspletosaurs and gorgosaurs. There were-- Mosasaurs evolved from them And you 'member tylosaurus right? There was one big varanid lizard that grew to great proportions during the time of the dinosaurs Okay, so we've hammered the tyrannosaur and varanid thing--what about the cattail thing? The only maybe fossils are from Wyoming, the only styracosaurs are from Alberta & Montana (now I'm getting really picky). As far as I can tell, the two may not have coincided in time either. Also--why is nobody picking on what is in essence a kind of dumb story? What is it with these feel-good stories about deposed herd leaders and such things? The reality is that if he's an old male, and he was pushed aside, he's done. Proving his worth in herd animals means getting out of the way for the new generation--that's how it works--he lost to the new crop, the females know it. They aren't impressed by Troodon stomping, they're impressed by how he stands up against other males at the right time of year--if he lost the rut (pre-brooding) it isn't going to get easier a year later when last year's winners are that much tougher--and he is that much older and peripheral. I highly doubt these are like many primates, where generations may have a different intrinsic value. I can't even say it makes a compelling story that makes me more likely to drop far too much money on a statue. C'mon,Sbell...It's just a nice story made to add a short background for this figure,nothing less and nothing more...At least,with it,they showed to the average joe who maybe will buy this sculpture that dinosaurs were not bloodthirsty monsters always trying to kill each other ;D Then again...Why you should rule out the possibility that some dinosaurs could have been MORE intelligent than we always believed?
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Post by sbell on Jul 7, 2009 13:41:00 GMT
Okay, so we've hammered the tyrannosaur and varanid thing--what about the cattail thing? The only maybe fossils are from Wyoming, the only styracosaurs are from Alberta & Montana (now I'm getting really picky). As far as I can tell, the two may not have coincided in time either. Also--why is nobody picking on what is in essence a kind of dumb story? What is it with these feel-good stories about deposed herd leaders and such things? The reality is that if he's an old male, and he was pushed aside, he's done. Proving his worth in herd animals means getting out of the way for the new generation--that's how it works--he lost to the new crop, the females know it. They aren't impressed by Troodon stomping, they're impressed by how he stands up against other males at the right time of year--if he lost the rut (pre-brooding) it isn't going to get easier a year later when last year's winners are that much tougher--and he is that much older and peripheral. I highly doubt these are like many primates, where generations may have a different intrinsic value. I can't even say it makes a compelling story that makes me more likely to drop far too much money on a statue. C'mon,Sbell...It's just a nice story made to add a short background for this figure,nothing less and nothing more...At least,with it,they showed to the average joe who maybe will buy this sculpture that dinosaurs were not bloodthirsty monsters always trying to kill each other ;D Then again...Why you should rule out the possibility that some dinosaurs could have been MORE intelligent than we always believed? If they are not portraying them as bloodthirsty killing machines, why are the Troodons getting stomped? Seems pretty murderous to me. Also, intelligence is one thing--but this is asking us to accept human levels of social behaviour. Ain't gonna happen.
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Post by sid on Jul 7, 2009 14:24:07 GMT
C'mon,Sbell...It's just a nice story made to add a short background for this figure,nothing less and nothing more...At least,with it,they showed to the average joe who maybe will buy this sculpture that dinosaurs were not bloodthirsty monsters always trying to kill each other ;D Then again...Why you should rule out the possibility that some dinosaurs could have been MORE intelligent than we always believed? If they are not portraying them as bloodthirsty killing machines, why are the Troodons getting stomped? Seems pretty murderous to me. Also, intelligence is one thing--but this is asking us to accept human levels of social behaviour. Ain't gonna happen. If you say they could NOT act as humans,well,i absolutely agree with you But if you say that their intelligence could not be as equal as us...Well,i disagree;not that i believe this is true,but i would not rule out the possibility that dinosaurs,as many other animals,could have and could have been as intelligent as monkeys,dolphins,and the other so called "most intelligent animals" Then again...What defines "intelligence"? If it means the ability to survive in a certain environment and live well with what a certain species has (nothing less,nothing more)well,basically all the other living species except humans are WAY more intelligent than us ;D But if we mean "intelligence" as the ability to use immagination to write stories,music,think about something that could help to live longer (i.e. medic science),therefore we are more intelligent. Then again,i think human intelligence is VERY overrated... ;D
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