I think a insert for a release would be great. I would also make it available on it's own like the prints. I think there's been a lot of nice art for all the headers and unless you get really lucky...You're SOL. Three years of trying and I think my luck is going into the negative.

Unfortunately it's going to be only a insert.

Fourth, how many times have you entered and won a Nag of some kind, Original, Siamese, Four Eyes, Ball, Zombie? Spend the last couple of days in off time enjoying reading old posts because I like these. But confused by the lotto thing. Seems like the guys with the most wins have a leg up on everyone else. Put aside that Coop and Mishka have HUGE collections of Nags because of the business relationship, there still seems to be a gigantic bias towards some people. Way beyond just luck or statistics. Not opinion I don't think, just the facts from hundreds of posts. So why is it a lottery of 10+2 as an example when it seems the lottery should be more like 5 to random people and the rest to partners and favorites??

"Facts" I tell you! Damn lizard people are behind all of it I'm sure.

Sure Realdeaocho, I will answer your question (a strange one at that for being such a newcomer) but I'll fill you in and everyone else on some stories.
Call this "The Skullbrain Dairies".
I won't make this an expose, so I'll save the names, but here it is.

I have only won 3 lotteries, shockingly. Which I guess in the NagNagNag world of lotteries, that is alot, but really it has just been 3.
My very first win was with the first release of the Nagball aka Necronomicons.
My second was the split-faced/fur-coat Nzombii.
Third, the 2012 NAMBA Four-eyes.

And that is few and far in-between given the amount of releases:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawrencech ... 587808809/

The one and only original Genjin scupts I own, the GID Warhol, was from COOPs gallery release.
I guess it seems like I have won or own more, especially with all the excitement and hype I post in regards to each release, but I don't.

Now here's a kicker.
As of a couple of months ago or so, I thought I was banned from the lotteries. D-listed. That's right.
It was after winning the fur-coated Nzombii, I traded my Nagball for Gorilla-ju. Yes, a hyped-up, ball of insanity for a plain old Gorilla-ju. What can I say, sometimes the simple stuff pleases me. And I really didn't involved the hype or eBay value int he trade, it was just as straight-forward as that.
Well, a little after that trade, I've had no luck with lotteries, communication with Shigeru had been silent (I send him the fan-art for fun, and he usually replies with a smiley-face and some translated english or japanese thank you), and well, I thought I streak was over.
BUT, I found out from a source that Shigeru found out about the trade and was pissed. He took offense. So I was "dropped". Even after all the fan-art, praise and hype I generate FOR HIM, he dropped over TRADING (yes, trading, not flipping) a toy that I WON and PAID FOR, and was well over a year old.
Hell, does anyone remember these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp2Z9_yeAao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABuxKmuyEN4
I've probably supported his toy more than anyone else, and yet I was going to be done in like that.
I mean, I can understand if it was a "gift", and I guess in Shigeru's world it was a "privilege" that I won. But I won a lottery, and paid for it like everyone else who did.
So side note, be careful trading your toys.
I also found out that Shigeru sent a pretty diva-queen like e-mail to a certain someone for selling one of his toys on eBay. This toy was well over 3 years old, but I guess if you are "blessed" with a Lottery winning, there are no exceptions. So for those who have won a lottery one time or another and have sold one, well that might be the reason why you haven't had any luck lately. Just a hunch.
He's even gotten upset from seeing some Grody Shogun in someones personal collection. True story.
What I think is what it comes down to is translation barrier. For trading a toy that is over a year, or having someone elses toys in your collection, Shigeru seems to take offense and personal. But to us, its the norm/tradition. And I think there could be some explaining to help understand our ways and reasoning. Shigeru is a touchy (but friendly) person. And he takes it seriously personal. Almost as if the Four-Eyes and other creations were his sons and daughters he was lending out for adoption. And we've all seen the fiasco from early disputes with Mishka in the past. Then again, this seems to only apply to NagNagNag. I don't really ever see this kind of drama with Gorilla-ju, Butanohana, MVH, Paul Kaiju, etc etc.

Anyway, flash forward the the Namba release, which I have given up for awhile from past lotteries, I decided to enter for kicks.
Well, looks like Shigeru had a change of heart, and I won.
But I also got a side-note e-mail from him about not to trade. Weird, but ok, thanks.

Now, like you Realdeocho, I began to think. With all the gifting Shigeru does to his collaborators (artist who get one for the hell of it, or other affiliates) and with the re-occurring lotteries winners (that have been couple of others who have won more than me) it makes you think: So basically he's making a toy for himself and "friends" to enjoy? Sounds weird, but if you think about it, haven't you ever wanted to make a toy for yourself or a circle of friends to have fun with?
And really, its his toy to begin with, so if he is picking favorites, I think he has the right to do so. He can do whatever he wants. But really, no telling what is really going on in that mind of his or his intentions/reasoning.
But for those that are rewarded with his toys, it might seem as a gift, but I kind of see it as a curse also. I mean, you are kind of stuck with it unless you want to piss him off and trade or sell it. I mean, look at Mishka/Coops collection. Nothing really has changed, or else they'll be sure to get an angry letter from the master himself. Though you can ask permission, which I have heard that is what you kind of have to do. But even at that, it gets awkward. And really, its a toy?! If you paid for it, why can't you do whatever you want with it?
Anyway.
I can go in deeper into some other stuff, and I'm sure there are others who can come out and do so too. There is enough conspiracy theories to go around. But I'll scoop that dirt under the rug for now.

Now even after all of that nonsense and the hyper/bullshit/drama that is attached to this toy, I am still a fan. Always will be. Even if I never ever win another one for the rest of my life. The original Genjin sculpt is was got me into this hobby neck deep, and inspired so much creativity for myself in my everyday works and creations.
All in all, I am thankful for someone like Shigeru is making toys. And I hope he continues to do so.

Love this!

Didn't you win a Garamon 4-eyes too?

I hope it's me!

Oh yeah, I did. Forgot. That was 2010, I believe? That was an unfortunate circumstance, as I was laid off my job wo weeks after that, and bought a house that same month. Scary times and you see it happening on the board with other members more than ever. Reality check.

And I'll even be straight up honest with you, I sold my split faced Nzombi months ago to help pay for some vetinary bills on one of my newly adopted dogs. Yes, the Nzombii that Shigeru print my fan-art header on. That one sucked the most (I kept the header as a keepsake), but hey, it gave my dog three extra months of life. And that was worth every bit of it. Hell, I wish I could have done more, but I know I extended that dogs time here and let him enjoy a little more of life from outside the shelter before he was sent off. I get teary eyed thinking about it... But whatever. Enough personal life stuff.
If you don't understand that, well, you might need to rethink whats really important.

But yeah, I appreciate all the PMs.
I think there are others who can share some weird stories, and I hope they do one day too. Calling NagNagNag-Watergate here, hahaha.
I just felt like getting this off my chest. No attacks or vendetta, I just this stuff needs to be said and put out there. People need to know how weird and strange this whole scene is, and believe me, it goes deeper than you know. Strange stuff.

I've probably have shot myself in the foot for all of this, and maybe even loose some "connections" if you will, but oh well. Its just a damn toy, and it should all be fun.
And I wish it was brought down back to that.
Making toys for the sake of making toys and spreading that love and creativity to all.

Thanks for the insight Walter, looks like there's one more off the lottery list NOW so I MIGHT have a better shot in winning a lottery.



but probably not...

Everything that's said here , or what happens in the BST gets back to him. Evertthing.

Only?

^^ Snitches , Got Paranoia ?

^ No, actually he only won four !

Just wish he and others would stop calling them lotteries. It is nothing of the sort. I am proud to be on the black list. I don't sell things on ebay. So there must be another reason.

O there is.

I'm black listed as well.

^ what makes you say you're on some kind of blacklist ? For all we know Walter's source might have been bullshitting him and there is no blacklist at all. Such shenanigans have gone on before around here.

Well...I guess I'll throw this out...

I've been interested in the Boryoku Genjin sculpt since it was first handed out at a fest or something like that. Back when everybody thought it was the long rumored 3rd Bemon sculpt.

A lot of the first versions were sold at different events in Japan and not offered overseas. At the same time people were working with Shig to start offering the figure abroad. Around this same time I was sent a PM by a board member who had a connection with Shig. The PM basically asked for my personal info(Name, Email, etc) so Shig would have an idea of people that were a fan of the toy. I was told this would not mean you were guaranteed a figure it was just a way of attempting to get the figure to fans.

3 years latter and still no luck winning a toy. I know of two other people put on that list that have had the same outcome.

All in all...I did win one of the T-shirts and was lucky enough to score one of the Melvins LP's with Coop's art and hand printed by Mackie Osborne on her letterpress. I've had fun doing a few drawings of the Nag characters and enjoy seeing all art the toy has inspired.

Edit...I also should add I have know idea if I'm "Blacklisted" and don't know if I care.

I also get a kick out having your post deleted if you talk about a current "lottery" going on.

Who is in charge of taking away my freedom of speech today over a toy? The person that did it still has not owned up to it.

Delete the thread if you don't want people talking about it.


* I have never bought anything from COOP or Mishka. Does that put me on the list?

Haha, man, this much of what I said isn't coming form any source. Its first-hand/personal experience.
As for stuff from "source" well I got plenty but I won't go into that. All I can say is that its strange. And others can come up and speak/explain about it too if they want.
I'm sure Shigeru has a computer and trolls here. Maybe not. Word gets around. Hell, if he found how I TRADED a Nagball based on someone else's PICTURE (that trade was compete behind scenes and I never spoke about it to anyone), then I'm sure he's got his eye on things. Which is odd and strange. But again, these are his "children".
But I guarantee he takes all this nonsense into consideration. Then again, there are some random folks who've tried for years and have yet to win.
And thanks phantomfauna for sharing that story.
I think there is a point where he'd might be "ok, that person has enough now, I'll give someone else a chance and make a new fan". As you seen from Diamyo, Tired Children and such.
We over thinking this, but maybe its good its being thought about.
I don't know.
And as for blacklist. We'll maybe not as hard as "blacklisted" but Shigeru definitely has Naughty or Nice List. And he's checking it once, checking it twice.
Just leave some cookies and milk. Might give you higher chances of winning.
I now want to see Shigeru in a santa outfit...

Thanks for the detailed reply Fourth, and to everyone else for their replies as well. Things are much more clear now. For the record I love the stuff you've done Fourth, I think your incredibly inventive. I also dont have an issue with anyone doing whatever they want with their toy be it artist, producer, collaborator, buyer, seller or trader. Personal freedom to me is a beautiful thing. I appreciate what Shig has done and believe he is a true artist. So if he has a list ( or not ) more power to him, thats his right. I was simply confused by the lottery thing when it was obvious that there was more to it than just pulling a number out of a hat. I was not at all being critical of you, your name as a repeat winner was simply predominant in the posts, but as you've said there are a few others I could have asked the same question of.
I'd really like to see more Nag stuff overall, more releases, more fan art, more stories. You'd think a couple of hundred posts and a ton of art and pics would be enough but its not, not nearly. But its all in good fun. Maybe a light will shine on me one day and I'll be lucky enough to own one. The original sculpt is my favorite and the blue Garamon colored makes me want to be alone in the dark with it. Thanks again for the reply and keep on Nag'in on.
R.