David Hingtgen

I've only seen Blade Runner once, so I'm really lost.

Re: the concept art. With good clear views, you can see that Scorponok is made (mostly) from one of Blackout's engines. I'm trying to figure out exactly what else, but he looks pretty clearly to be part of Blackout's helicopter mode, not an external fuel tank etc. (There's "no step" "rescue" and "fuel" markings on him) Doesn't that mean that Blackout can't transform back to copter mode without Scorponok? He should be missing a big chunk of himself whenever Scorponok's not attached.

Something new I just learned to look for (though I'd be very surprised to see it): Apparently, the F-22 uses a single fully-deflected stabilator to create drag to induce yaw, at high alpha. Normally as alpha goes up, planes use the ailerons less and the rudder more---but the F-22 goes to stab control past a certain point. Also, the F-22 is statically nuetral---neither stable nor unstable. It will hold any attitude in a steady state with no input.

Nintendo always (except for Metroid on N64) has the big 3 (Mario, Metroid, Zelda) in the first year or so after launch for a new system. Then---well, often times nada after that. The GC was the same way. The majority of games I bought for it were in the first year, then very little after that. I definitely plan to hold off a year---there'll be a million used copies of any big-3 title in the future. And maybe the Wii will be cheaper. (unlikely, if it's selling this fast at the current price)

I've rapidly gone from "still looking for a Wii all the time" to "I think I'll snag a PS3 first". From Nintendo's press conference, it really looks like they want NEW gamers, and casual gamers, and that's all they're developing for. Get rid of Metroid Prime 3, and what else is there really, that's not just another version of Wii sports or Mario Party? I want my RPG's, 3rd-person action-adventure, flight sims, and thrill/horror games, like I have for the past 15 years or so. Wii has almost none of that. I plan on getting Zelda for the GC now, instead of Wii. It's really the only "gotta have" game, and it was for the GC in the first place. I still consider my GC "borderline" in "was it worth the money?". It's spent more hours playing GBA games via the GB player than actually playing GC games I think. About the only games I ever got for it were Metroid Prime 1 and 2, Resident Evil 4, Soul Calibur 2, Wind Waker, and Rogue Squadron 2. There just wasn't much else. (And I picked up Geist when I saw it like 80% off) "True" Mario (and Zelda) games are once a system now, and it's just not worth buying another system for. IMHO, Nintendo has utterly abandoned the "hardcore gamer" market for consoles. It's their handhelds that are getting all the good stuff. The Wii is to expand the market to non-gamers and families, not to sell to hardcore gamers. Nintendo is basically abandoning the "traditional" game market to Sony and MS, and trying to make their own new market.

Though Hasbro said Hercules (apparently a quote) I wonder about that. Octane is a personal fave of mine, but how to hide 4 propellers in the other modes? Seems like a bad choice because of that. Especially since he was a 747 in G1. (Yes, a twin-engine 747, but clearly a 747) Other people reported "large bomber" for his plane mode. Has Octane actually been seen in some form?

No idea, I don't know that plane well enough to tell, and they were shot at from long range. AC6 is very "fast" compared to all the other games in the series--planes fly by in an instant. I don't think I really "saw" any of the dozens of planes I've shot down, maybe 1 or 2.

I wish I'd found this site long ago--they preview 360 themes. Anyways, here's the "other" AC6 theme: http://dashboardthemes.com/theme/Ace-Combat-6/theme-2 Hmmn, based on how often we see the Tornado GR.4, it's certainly going to be the other main plane in the game I'd guess. It shows up as often as the F-15E. Here's my theme: http://dashboardthemes.com/theme/Ace-Combat-6/theme-3

But with valks (and the Macross) made with "hypercarbon" material perhaps heavy metals aren't so important? The current trend for planes are lithium alloys and composite material. Kevlar and carbon-fiber have been used for decades for major parts.

I only just now found this, but those are awesome. Even more awesome--he's done Lords of Thunder. Lords of Thunder--possibly the greatest game soundtrack ever, but so few people have played/heard it.

My brother just got a PS3 a few days ago and said DVD's look MUCH better on his HDTV through a PS3 HDMI, than through his standard player---it must upscale pretty nicely.

Personally I want to see a "Classics scheme" Thundercracker. SS and SW got (IMHO) pretty neat new takes on their paint schemes, yet still being based on the original. SW in particular looks neat. But the Botcon TC is exactly like G1. Lazy, and kinda boring IMHO. I want to see what Hasbro's Classics design team would do for a "new" G1 TC scheme. (I've been thinking maybe something along the lines of lightning bolts/stripes in the design---subtle ones, not obvious---just a zig-zag in the stripe here and there)

Ok, the A380's held up due to manufacturing. But that's a rare example of stupidity in the aircraft industry. There's no new technology or production process to blame it on, it's simple "we didn't agree on the measurements of the final product". It's flat-out embarrassing. If the 787 has problems, everyone will point to new (for an airliner) composite construction materials. But the A380 has no excuse, it's a giant A340 and nothing more.

I'm kind of surprised. Just 10 days until release, and no early sample pics from Graham? Did he even get one this time? PS---it comes with R-33's? Cool! Just FYI, it is *much* better-known in the West as the AA-9. AFAIK there is no real name for the missile, "Amos" is purely a NATO reporting name, same as the "AA-9" designation. PPS---the AA-9/R-33 is an almost direct copy and counterpart of the F-14's AIM-54 Phoenix missile.

It's not so much raw production speed/capacity of the factories, but complexity/testing of new technology. The more complex they are, the worse it is. Planes are never ever late/delayed because of the factory that's building them. It's always software glitches, unexpected behavior at 600kts, bureacracy, etc. I imagine a TRANSFORMING plane that is capable of going into SPACE would take forever to test and bring into service.

Plane assignment in a wing for a battle group---well, there hasn't been a new air wing made in decades AFAIK, just reductions. But squadrons are constantly swapped around. In the 70's/80's squadrons often were in semi-permanent pairs, but not not any more. FYI, squadrons are assigned to wings, and wings to battle groups. Nothing's permanent. You can swap out just one squadron in a wing, or swap entire wings between carriers. As for why not put VF-19's in a presumably new-build M7 fleet? Because the VF-19 was still too new to be in production/service. From the time the YF-22 was selected to the very first test F-22 built was a good 6 years. And 6 years after that for first delivery to the TEST squadrons. Also, despite what the movies show, you do NOT deploy your new, advanced, untested, expensive prototype planes "in the real world" to go do field testing. M7 was sent out with VF-11's because they were readily available, and tested/proven. (Though based on M0, and even SDF:M, the UN seems to be able to field new valks in a remarkably short time---maybe because all humanity is working together or something, bypassing standard military-industrial complex slowness)

It was obvious when most of the theater noticed that, they all started laughing. I saw it like in the first scene, but the camera didn't really focus on it until like 10 mins later.

Anyone else really want a nice, big, Barricade? Before I saw the movie, he was probably my least-fave Decep. But now he's my fave. He deserves more than a $10 toy with a gimmicky arm. For being BB's "counterpart" he sure isn't getting nearly as good/many toys. Lots of folders, pens, etc merchandise, but the toys are lacking.

The YF-22 vs YF-23 competition took place in 1990-91. The F-22 was picked as the winner in 1991. We now have 1 wing in front-line service, with the 2nd coming soon. So 16 years from selection to in-service. And, while the F-22 was supposed to replace the F-15, due to cost cuts etc, very few will be built, and the F-15 will remain the primary fighter for a long time, with a few upgrades. I think M7 matches that pretty well. No giant fleets of VF-19's, just a few early ones in service with upgraded VF-11's making up the majority.

Plus now that it's Takara/Tomy, not just Takara, makes me wonder if they had some say in it. (Tomy is the original maker of Zoids) If nothing else, it prevented a copyright lawsuit, since some elements are not simply "inspired by" but flat out copied.

I plan to try to hold out and see how long emo-chip ones last. Backwards compatability is a big issue for me. I *need* to replay certain RPG's (and Ace Combat games) every once in a while. But I really don't want to spend 500 bucks just to get a PS3 and like 1 game, just to get an emo chip before they're gone.

Hmmmn. Comcast isn't on the ban list (only 3 specific emails from there), and your IP isn't anywhere near any of the ones on the ban list. "Redfinger" is still in validation limbo awaiting confimation of the comcast email address, but I can no longer manually validate it--that could likely solve your problem, but most mods (including me) have been unable to access the validation controls since the server upgrade.

Any issues/reports/rumors/theories about "wear" from using a PS3 to play movies? Because using a PS2 to watch movies is often cited as one of the main reasons for them wearing out/having read errors.

Checked Target and Wal-Mart today. Nada. Which means it'll be weeks before I get them, and they'll just trickle in, no big "mass release". We're almost totally out of TF's. There's maybe 10 voyager and 30 deluxes in the whole town, and ALL the deluxes are Swindle and Bonecrusher. No BB, SS, Ironhide, Barricade, Prime at all. A few Ratchets. Whoever's in charge of ordering seriously mis-timed or underestimated demand for $10-20 movie toys.

Now would be a good time to mention Mass Effect, as it's the "spiritual successor" to KOTOR.