15 Years of OzFormers

[GoktimusPrime]

This thread is about reminiscing the old days of OzFormers, maybe comparing with how things have changed with Transformers and the fandom etc.

"OzFormers and Transfandom: Then (1996) and Now (2011)."

Then: OzFormers was called AusTrans
Now: It's called OzFormers Transformers Collectors Alliance!

Then: There was no forum for AusTrans. Most of us communicated via ATT and/or email. We received information and shared works (e.g. toy reviews, fan art etc.) via a printed newsletter which griffin posted to us.
Now: We have the forum where we communicate with posts and threads, as well as private messaging. Fan works are now posted on the board or linked externally from sites like YouTube.

Then: The number of people who attended meets were quite small. I was living in Japan when I joined AusTrans so I didn't attend my first meet until I returned to Australia in 1998 -- total number of attendees: 3.
Now: We have dozens of people attending a lot of meets!

Then: I had 100-something Transformers and Ben Yee's estimated his collection at 200-something. I think those of us with 3-digit collection counts were considered "heavy hitters."
Now: It's not uncommon for people to have collections numbering in the thousands.

Then: Because I was living in Japan at the time, a lot of people were asking me to run around and buy toys for them -- and not necessarily hard to find stuff -- all regular retail figures (although Convobat Vs Megalligator and Shadow Panther were hard to find). And I didn't have a car, so often I'd be carefully riding my bicycle with its front basket overflowing with Transformers that I'd bought for other collectors. After returning to Australia I continued to interact with the Japanese fandom and often elicited their help to acquire Japanese toys.
Now: We have online Japanese stores like HLJ and amiami.

Then: "TRUK NOT MUNKY!"
Now: "Michael Bay killed my childhood!"

Then: We continued to collect Transformers episodes on VHS
Now: DVD and Blu Ray baby.

Then: Transformer comics no longer existed and were sorely missed.
Now: We have Transformers comics being produced by IDW (though we miss the quality of Marvel G1 - remember the days when you'd purchase a single issue and lots of stuff happened?! )

Then: Hasbro gave us really weird names like Cheetor, Tarantulas and Insecticon? Gimme a break...
Now: Hasbro is giving us illiterate names like Brakedown and Grappel. Grappel?!? (O_o)

...that'll do for now. What are your earliest memories of OzFormers (and Transfandom at that time) compared to now?

[Hursticon]

Some very interesting little tidbits there Goki and a great idea for a Thread!
(Wish I could contribute, I've not even been a member for a year yet! )

[1AZRAEL1]

Earliest memory I have was attending the convention in 2006 after finding the website for the forum, and joined. Though I did not contribute much, I still lurked around. Didn't really meet anyone that I can remember, though I remember some faces that I saw. I bought some Transformers from one of the sellers, AM Thundercracker and a few other tid bits. Nearly bought Anime Galvatron, but couldn't afford it. Got the sellers details and was going to get him to send it to me when I had the money. Unfortunately I still could not afford it, so he put all his stuff on ebay. Not sure if we was/is a member on here. This was also when we saw early pictures of M Bay's movie, which was all exciting. I was there with a couple of my Heavy Metal friends who also liked TF's. She even brought her kids who wanted to touch all the toys

Sometime after that the forum closed/had problems and I forgot all about it and replaced it with my own problems.

August 2008, I find the new forum again and decide to join. Again I was still a lurker and barely contributed.

No idea when I actually started to contribute more frequently. Started attending meets after meeting some of you fellas at the Parra Fair when I helped out Jamie.

The rest is pretty much history.

[Sky Shadow]

Earliest memory I have was attending the convention in 2006 after finding the website for the forum, and joined. Though I did not contribute much, I still lurked around. Didn't really meet anyone that I can remember, though I remember some faces that I saw. I bought some Transformers from one of the sellers, AM Thundercracker and a few other tid bits. Nearly bought Anime Galvatron, but couldn't afford it. Got the sellers details and was going to get him to send it to me when I had the money. Unfortunately I still could not afford it, so he put all his stuff on ebay. Not sure if we was/is a member on here.

That was me, dude.

Yeah, you bought one of my AM Thundercrackers (and were interested in Bruticus and Galvatron, so I held them for a few months, but sadly you said you were broke and had to spend your money on other things.) With hindsight, it's pretty funny, because I know I bought some AM Thundercracker weapons from you four years later. They weren't the same ones were they?

[1AZRAEL1]

That was me, dude.

Yeah, you bought one of my AM Thundercrackers (and were interested in Bruticus and Galvatron, so I held them for a few months, but sadly you said you were broke and had to spend your money on other things.) With hindsight, it's pretty funny, because I know I bought some AM Thundercracker weapons from you four years later. They weren't the same ones were they?

Heh small world.

I remembered some people's faces (Dirge coz he was reading out the trivia with his hat on ) but that was the only one I can remember. Pity I couldn't buy the figures off ya, you had so many I wanted but lacking the funds to do it.

To answer your question though, it wasn't the same weapons. I picked up a bunch of weapons from a Parra Fair off Jamie a while before the convention and just held onto them. Among them were a whole bunch of Euro AM parts, some of which have come in quite handy in completing figures I picked up years later those became spare when I bought TC off you.

Also on the trivia note, I remember hearing some of the questions and saying, who the hell knows the answer to that question, then someone screamed it out. I remember thinking, "wow, nerdy" (please don't hit me ) but now I am one so

[Sky Shadow]

Also on the trivia note, I remember hearing some of the questions and saying, who the hell knows the answer to that question, then someone screamed it out. I remember thinking, "wow, nerdy" (please don't hit me ) but now I am one so

Um... yeah, the nerd was probably me too - I won that trivia contest.

I still remember some of the questions - "Which Transformer's function is 'Rebel Warrior'?" and "In what year was Gears first released in Japan?"

[griffin]

For those who were around before this fourth version of the Ozformers forum (before December 2007), the third version is finally shutting down. Yes, it's been sitting there for over 3 years now, chewing up hosting fees... as I very slowly downloaded and archived as much content from there as possible (some of which I will be posting here in the next few months). All content is now gone, and at the end of this month, it should cease to exist, as it shouldn't re-charge my credit card (at my request).

For those interested, a timeline of (known) AUS Transfan administrated messageboards:

Planet Sabertron - Jul-99
TAAU - Feb-02
Ozformers - Apr-02
Autobase - Feb-09

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Of the four versions/homes for Ozformers (each move being required due to hosting or forum software issues), each was created:
1st board (xsorbit) - April 13th, 2002
2nd board (ezboard) - Jan 17th 2003
3rd board (invisionzone) - Jun 10th 2005
4th board (vbulletin on my OTCA server) - May 24th 2007 (opened Dec 27th 2007)

At least this 4th version has outlasted the previous three attempts.

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The 16 Founding members in Oct 1996 (4 didn't even have internet/email at that time)
(3 are still current, active members)

-griffin Qld (still a member)
-Samuel Chen Qld (No email address)
-Jimmy Gaillard Qld (No email Address)
-Gary Kay Qld
-Belinda Kelly Qld
-Leroy Smith Nth-Qld
-Devon Jones/JaZz Vic
-David Kok Vic
-Daniel Chlebowczyk/Fusion Vic
-Darren/dirge NSW (still a member)
-Titania/Seawave NSW (No email address) (active in the last 6 months)
-Marcus Good/Finback WA (No email address) (might still be a fan)
-Nicolas Koopman WA
-Urac Sigma/Ratbat ACT
-Euan/Dread Pirate Bowen ACT
-Leigh/damnyouhussies SA (still a member)