Graham

OK, so the next step is that we need to finalise the artwork and wording for the back and the design of the small embroidered logo for the front. For the back, lets stick to 3-4 colors please to keep cost down. And for the small embroidered logo, I think it should only be 1-2 colors only. I'm just thinking of a small logo only and if you start adding too many colors or details it gets messy. While we still have quite a lot of time before January, I'd like to get the designs finalised ASAP. Let's say by the end of October. Graham

You are totally correct. Design and tooling costs are very, very expensive. We are talking hundreds of thousands of US dollars per toy. So there is no way Yamato would make an all new toy like a Thunder Hummer, VF-4 or VB-6, just to release it in a limited quantity. It just doesn't make sense as they would loose too much money. So be realistic guys, a limited edition toy would just be a repaint of an existing toy, perhaps with some minor resculpting, i.e. like the Low Vis pilot. Graham

Proabably a huge radar dish. Either that or it's a giant speaker for blasting out Minmay's songs Graham

Guys, Here's what I need from each of you who are coming: - 1 Your name. 2) Your chest size in inches. Just telling me 'Large Size' is no good as there is a big difference between a HK large and a US large. 3) The number of T-Shirts you would like. 4) The color you would prefer. Note, I will have final decision on the color. 5) The style you would prefer, either 'T' or 'Polo'. Note, I will have final decision. 6) The sleeve length, either long or short. I will have final decision. Please note, I'm only getting one style & color made up. The above info is just to help me make a final decision. Please put your info in the following format. For Example: - Graham / 42" / 2pcs / Black / Polo / Short. Sebastian / 48" / 3pcs / Navy Blue / T / Long. Blackaces / 56" / 10pcs / Red / Polo / Short. At the moment, I'm sort of leaning towards either a black or dark blue, short sleeve Polo shirt, with printed art on the back and a small embroidered logo on the left breast. Oh, except for Sebastian who gets a special sleeveless version Graham

Min, a question. When you played the game did you notice how much damage the gunpod did? I mean was it possible to destroy enemies with just a short burst, or did you have to hose them with hundreds of shots like in VF-X2 before they blew up? Also, a similar question about the missiles. Can you destroy enemies with just a single missile hit, or does it require mass hits with multiple missile volleys like in VF-X2? Also, how was missile lock-on time compared with VF-X2, faster, slower or similar? Graham

I've owned about 4 of these kits, but just snap fit built them. I didn't paint them or anything. You do not need to remove the nosecone. When transforming from battroid to fighter mode, the only parts you need to remove are the hands and the lower torso/hip section. Also, the anding gear does not need to be removed for transformation as it folds inside the legs and nose. Graham

I've sold several MIB YF-19 ver.2 from my collection on ebay and they usually sell for around US$120+ Graham

I have very fond memories of my Sega Mega Drive. That was a great system with great games. Luckily at that time I had access to both Japanese and US games. Graham

Nope, I don't speak or read Japanese, but as it's 'Macross', I like to own the original. Anyway, I've been watching raw Japanese anime since the mid-1980's, before there was such a thing as fan-subs, digi-subs or bootleg DVDs! Graham Psst, Actually fansubs started in the mid-late 70's LOL! OK, busted! Then I should revise my sentence Living in HK in the mid-80s, I didn't have access to fansubs. Graham

Guys, I talked with my friend who owns a garment factory and luckily for me there is no minimum order quantity for the T-Shirts. Anyway, there are a few things we need to decide upon: - 1) Color of the T-shirts. I suggest either black, red or white (personally, I'd prefer not white as I always manage to make white T-shirts dirty)! 2) Style of the T-shirts. Standard T-shirts, or Polo Shirt (with collar). 3) Long sleeve or short sleeve. 4) Artwork location. If we go for a standard T-shirt, I think the art would look better on the front. We can of course have artwork printed both front and back, but this increases cost. If we decide on a polo shirt, then I think the art would look better on the back, with perhaps a small embroidered logo on the front. 5) Number of T-shirts? How many does everybody want, 1, 2 or more? While I don't have a firm idea of the price yet, as a rough idea last year I had some T-shirts made up. these were red cotton, short sleeve with a 3 color picture printed on the back and a small embroidered logo on the breast. they cost about US$5 each. Graham

It's a good thing I don't like 'Macross 7 Trash' then (not enough Mecha for my taste). If it was 'Mylene Beat' that had been cancelled instead, then I would be really pissed! Graham

Or having the option of selecting 'real' quanties of weapons for any level. Gulp.......imagine going into battle against masses of Regults and Gnerls with only a basic TV loadout of 12 x AMM-1 missiles and 200 rounds of ammo for the GU-11 gunpod! Graham

Some of the game play screen shot show missile counters on the top part of the screen. One of them read something like 50 while the other reads something like 1000. I think the second one is for the gun pod while the other is for missiles... but I could be wrong. The counters at the top are for the AMM-1 triple missile clusters and the UMM-7 micro-missile pods. You can see that most screen shots show the Valk with AAM-1s mounted on the outer wing pylons and UMM-7s mounted on the inner wing pylons. So while missiles are not unlimited, the quantity is unrealistic, but to be honest, did you really think that they stick with realsitic quantities? If they followed the weapon loadout shown being carried, then you would only have 6 x AAM-1 and 30 x micro-missiles in the UMM-7s. I strongly suspect that gunpod ammo and head laser charge is unlimited as there does not seem to be a round counter for these. Graham

Yes, it is being released in Japan only. However, a modified PS2 will allow you to play the game. The release date in Japan is October 23. Graham

Nope, I don't speak or read Japanese, but as it's 'Macross', I like to own the original. Anyway, I've been watching raw Japanese anime since the mid-1980's, before there was such a thing as fan-subs, digi-subs or bootleg DVDs! Graham

or (even though i'm not holding my breath on it) the only way this game will see North American soil.... It will never get through the way it is now. It seems to be a reallt bad mix of DYRL and SDF styles.... with SDF predominating. I just hope they at least keep DYRL as the song for the final battle.... the one they play in SDF Macross was terrible. Personally, I like it that they are mixing elements from DYRL and the TV series, to hopefully give us the definitive version of Space War 1. I love DYRL for it's visuals, but to be honest it is lacking in character development, plus there is only a limited amount of action (and thus game missions) that you can base on a two hour movie. I also love the SDF TV series for it's story, but to be honest a lot of the visuals, battle scenes and some of the design elements are pretty sucky and dated. By following the events in the TV series, this allows for more game missions than if the game had been based purely on DYRL. And by adding some of the design elements and visual cues from DYRL we get a much nicer looking game than if it had stcuck purely to the look of the TV series. I can't wait for this game. Graham

I've also heard from reliable sources that a second series is in the works, but I also don't know if it will be an OVA or TV series. Graham

Check out the new pics from TGS here. Graham

I've got a bad feeling about this! As it is this movie is probably going to suck big time. The generic characters, having it set in Antartica and in the present day just doesn't make any sense at all. I can just imagine a group of corporate suits who have no knowledge of the Alien & Predator mythos sitting round a boardroom table dreaming up this crock of sh*t. This movie should really be set in the future, on a hot colony planet, where a Predator or Predators on a hunt accidently release an Alien or several Aliens from a research facility and then the Colonial Marines get called in to clean up the mess. And yes, I also agree that Alien 3 & 4 should be disowned and a new 5th Alien movie should bring back Hicks, Newt and Ripley and be set on Earth sometime after the events in Aliens, and somehow Aliens have got back to Earth started breading en masse and mankind is in now in an all out war for survival. Actually, wasn't there a really old black and white Dark Horse graphic novel about 15 years or so ago with Hicks and Ripley, where the Aliens are on Earth? Anyway, Hollywood is definitely running out of both original ideas and good ideas. I'm sure it won't be too long before we see a Robocop vs Terminator or Highlander vs Blade movie or something like that....groan. Graham

I loved Getter Robo Armageddon, it's one of my favorite OVAs. Great, action, cool mecha designs and the Invaders were really well designed and creepy with a real sense of menace about them. I also liked the Mazinkaiser OVA, but thought Shin Getter Vs. Neo Getter sucked big time, I also disliked the original Getter TV series from the 70's. Graham

I told you they were going to re-release it, but nobody believed me....sniff Graham

Just a note to everybody, please limit your picture size to a maximum width of 600 pixels for ease of viewing. Any oversize pictures will get deleted. Graham

Macross Zero vol.3 is just available for preorder from CDjapan. See here. Just preordered my copy. Graham

Just received an email from CD Japan that the whole series of Dorvack is going to be released for the first time ever as a DVD box set in Japan. "Dorvack (Tokusou Kihei Dorvack)" DVD Box Catalog Number: PIBA-1458 Price: Yen- 28000, US$(247.46) Release Date: 21-Dec-2003 DVD boxed containing all 36 episodes of the sci-fi action anime that premiered on Japanese television in 1983. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PIBA-1458 MWer DestroidsRage will be really happy about this as I know it's something he really wants to see. As I doubt the Japanese box set will have any English subs, I wonder How long it will be until we see a subbed HK boot? Graham

Hmm. yep TGS has started. Just checked the Japanese zdnet site for updates, but no new articles on the Macross game yet. Hopefully, they will get to it in tomorrow's updates. Graham