PixelatedShinobi

I've been listening to the audio dramas on nicovideo and rather enjoying them, even with my limited understanding of spoken Japanese. "Alto Meets Sky" was some really excellent character work for the boy.

I've managed to find /alright/ priced listings on Amazon for both of them, so it'll probably just be an impulse purchase when I have some spare cash. I have actually read "A Day in Alcatraz" from Sheryl Nome Visual Collection Final since it's gotten a very nice translation - excellent story.

Thanks. I need to start working again... On that note, do you know of any places where I can find Ukyo Kodachi's short story collections for Frontier? That's the one thing I don't currently have locked down either digitally or physically in some form.

Kodachi just tends to like being very dramatic with his wording, I wouldn't put too much stock into it. The way it's presented in Plus, it is in fact a very powerful weapon so a bit of exaggeration is whatever imo. Thanks for reminding me of the 9B flight patterns in VF-X2... god those things are a niiiightmaaaaaaaareeeeeeeeeee

I mean the Visual Complete Guide. The Limited Edition I want just because... I want it. It's cool. It'll be cool on my shelf, aha.

Egg on my face. And I played the game last year, too... On the topic of 30, I need to see if I can acquire the game's proper artbook at some point because the scans we have of the renders of the YF-25 (Leon), VF-19E, etc. are just not cutting it for me since they're from the scans of the Chronicle 30th. I love Leon's YF-25 design and it kills me that I don't have a truly great render of it.

Basically all I can think of regarding the 9B is its appearance in Macross 30 and accompanying novelization. It's super elite.

Re: AIF-9B - That's from VF-X2's manual, linked here. https://archive.org/details/image-20240730-0006/Image_20240730_0006.png

Hey, sorry to necro, but do you have a modern link to this? The Mega file is dead. Anyone else who has it sharing would be appreciated also.

So, back on this topic, let's finish off chapter 1 We get a favorite trend of Kodachi - giving the in-depth perspective of a random grunt who is almost certainly about to explode and die. Of note is that "Auda" here is explicitly piloting an RVF-171 - *with EX-Gear integration*. There is a radome and underside-fin-attached variant of the 171 - I presume Kodachi is referring to this, but to identify it explicitly as a RVF-171 (of which we only have technical information on for Luca's counterpart to Alto's 171EX) seems to either pose an interesting timeline wicket or an active retcon about how long it was in development for. Poor guy. At least his death is related in fanciful prose! It really is no wonder that Frontier's demographic made the complete switch to a female audience over the years. It really is. Okay, here's one of my absolute biggest mechanical questions - the introduction of (as far as I'm aware) novel exclusive Ghost variant - the AIF-9S. It says "AIF-9S" in the Japanese text explicitly, so this isn't a MTL slipup or something. Officially, both the Frontier forces and the SMS are established to use the QF-4000/AIF-7S Ghost, while the Galaxy uses the AIF-9V. The AIF-9B from VF-X2 (an identical airframe recreation of the X-9) shows up in 30 and its respective novelization. So what the hell is a "Ghost 9S" doing as a mass production aircraft for the Frontier NUNS? My only guess is that this is essentially just a creative miscommunication - earlier, the 7S was planned to be called the 9S in reference to the X-9 and to match with the 9B. Other than that? I got nothing. I like the confirmation of the Frontier's park as a replica of Central Park, keeping up the "Frontier is made up of various real-world landmarks" theme going. Also, I just like Central Park a lot. Nice place. Some in-universe perspective on "Deculture" as a loanword, plus confirmation that Ozma is a sports fan. I'm not surprised. I suspect the "Frontier Tigers" are a reference to the real-world Hanshin Tigers, although it might have been funnier to have the "Frontier Giants", aha. S Alto's characterization is so on-point in this, further reinforcing Frontier's theme of performance art and identity. Continuing with Alto, an original flashback about how Alto came to love kabuki so much as a young boy. (Alto is watching his father perform as an onnagata, for context) | To cap off the chapter, we get some characterization from the ill-fated Gilliam's perspective! I'm excited to confirm for myself whether Ozma leaving the UN was really due to Manfred Brando or not. Chapter 2 first half post coming... whenever I feel like it, really.

In 2080 they will ask "hey, should we switch to drones?" and an aging, mid-60s Isamu will show up and do the exact same thing for the third time. You cannot put the man down.

Coming out of the gate with Delta and Arc, my two most wanted picks, is a really strong start. I'm excited to see how they'll make Delta work mechanically. I fully expect Mirage to be my top unit by the end of the game.

Do enjoy! This remaster is absolutely stunning, and Zero is one of the best pieces of Macross out there.

I'll get you someday, The Ride. Someday. (whenever a translator is freed up to do LN commissions) On that note, I believe you mentioned the short story "Wired Warrior" as another example of the Galaxy's... nightmarish conditions. Where was this story released? I'd love to take a look at it. Oh, huh! That thing is huge, holy crap. The more you know. *shrug* Hey, it's what the book says.

Alright, so, I've already gone through what was available of the book's summary on Bookwalker, so here's some highlights. The opening passage of the book really puts Kodachi's excellent prose skills on full display - even through the MTL, this is really impressive stuff. "Air flowed into Alto's lungs like a burst engine" is really evocative. Some neat things from the life of a colonist, especially one on the sterile (putting it lightly) Galaxy. This thread can and will turn into me just gushing over how much I love Kodachi's prose writing. I never knew these things were called "bio-cell phones" which is neat. we love you froggyphone. More evidence for my "theory"/"belief" etc. that weird anime hair is an indicator of Zentradi blood. this felt like a flashbang going off in my face. incredibly, incredibly powerful stuff!!!! Incredible way to tie Zero's theming into the general arc of Macross as a whole and Alto's character arc in particular. We have our top analysts working on this and they have confirmed that yes, Alto Saotome is a very pretty princess. That's all I've got so far. We continue onwards!