Originally Posted By disneywatcher >> They said it was the most advanced AA yet, but I ought that was a bit of a stretch << It's good to know the figure will be as sophisticated as possible, because when I first saw photos of the "Potato Head" character stationed there in Paradise Pier, I became apprehensive and had visions of something far too reminiscent of a setup at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. Or a concept and basic technology that people have grown increasingly jaded about through the years.
Originally Posted By PhotoMatt Most of the pictures before December 2007 were taken with a Nikon D200. In late January 2008 I purchased a D300, however I did not get to use that much before loaning it to a family member a month ago. For the past 4 weeks or so I have used a Nikon D40 and I am extremely impressed with the quality considering the price.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I've watched the videos -- some of them several times -- and I have to say that I'm a bit underwhelmed. Not sure why. I know Don Rickles did the voice, and they worked hard on perfecting the eyes and mouth. And the hand pulls the ear off an all... Maybe I'm just getting too old and jaded for this stuff. Anyone else feel this way?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Most of the pictures before December 2007 were taken with a Nikon D200. In late January 2008 I purchased a D300, ...For the past 4 weeks or so I have used a Nikon D40 and I am extremely impressed with the quality considering the price.> Canon Powershot SD750 here. Ooooh! Right in your face!
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Question, just how much voice work did Rickles do? It seems it is going to get real repetitive, real fast....
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I have to say that I'm a little underwhelmed too. Sure, he kind of talks to you, but it isn't even as specific as the stuff Roz says (at least what I've seen of it so far), and there are really awkward pauses while they're waiting to get everything planned out. I guess it's neat that he can pull out his ear, but really, who cares? I think there are much more impressive AA's around. Specifically, the Will Rogers one in the American Adventure at Epcot tips his hat (not connected to anything, as far as I could tell) without crushing it (plastic ear won't have that problem), and was able to spin a perfect lasso. I can't even do that, and I have the ability to react to what's happening. Watching a potato pull out its ear really isn't anywhere near as cool as that, IMO.
Originally Posted By mstaft I think I'm gonna wait until I experience the whole thing (queue and ride) before I comment. I've had to eat too many words of mine in the past!
Originally Posted By dshyates I would have to say my lack of enthusiasm comes from the concept all together and not the technical advancements of the AA itself. It really reminds me of the Buzz barker in the Buzz ride through shooting gallery. Its another aa barker in the queue of a pixar ride through shooting gallery. Yeah I know that it will interact with the crowd via 1000s of pre-recorded Rickles one liners, but big whoop. A stilted pre-recorded version of the talking trash can. And even the 3-D comes off as "oh yeah spidey, we can do ride through 3-D too." 9.5 years after Spidey this is how they kick it up a notch? There is absolutely nothing original about this ride. Which makes it conceptually perfect for this Mountain Berry Studios Pier.
Originally Posted By bean the videos that have been circulating the web do not show everything that the spud is capable of doing. The AA has other movements as well as many many more sayings and at one point can be very specific at who he is talking to in the crowds. The awkward pauses are also due to the fact that the AA is still being tested.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 <SARCASM> But why wait until we see the finished product? We all know that if it exists inside DCA it must therefore suck... </SARCASM>
Originally Posted By barboy "underwhelmed", really? That AA operates so fluidly-- no other AA in any themepark is even remotely close. And Mr. Potato has a vast repertoire of movements too. Name one other AA, just one out there-- be it Disney, Universal or Bush, that is equal to or better than Potato in quality or quantity of animation and soud. And for those of you who think I have some bias check this out.... On the whole I dislike DCA very much; I hated the movie Toy Story and I never owned nor played with a Mr. Potato because I found him to be a stupid and woefully boring toy. Furthermore, I am not eager at all about this TSMM because I deeply deplore interation in rides. But I will give credit where it is earned and that AA does indeed rock.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 I am curious to see why it underwhelmed some people and what could Disney have done to impress you?
Originally Posted By plpeters70 Personally, while I think that it's pretty amazing from a technical aspect, I don't really like the whole "Living character" initiative. I just don't find it that impressive that they are turing animatronics into more sophisticated puppets. What always amazed me was that AA's didn't need ANY human interaction - they did the show all by themselves and you didn't need actors. Now, for the AA to work to it's full potential, an actor must control what Mr. Potato Head says. I've said it before, but if Disney could come up with an AA that had a convincing AI, I would be incredibly impressed.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "I am curious to see why it underwhelmed some people and what could Disney have done to impress you?" It's not that it's bad, but it certainly isn't fully living up to all they hype they gave it. I really don't see anything all that impressive about him being able to remove his ear, which apparently he has problems doing consistantly anyway. There are many very impressive AA's out there (Hopper, Wicked Witch, SIR, Will Rogers), but this one just doesn't seem to be that out of the ordinary, other than a CM chosing which lines to have him say. Neat, sure, but not nearly as impressive as they tried to make him be, IMO.
