F-ZeroOne

Assemble Insert is recommended to Patlabor fans; much of the same creative staff worked on it and you'll probabl notice a few seeds being sown...! And if you haven't seen Project A-Ko yet - what the hell is wrong with you?!

I wouldn't go quite so far to say I played - I dabbled in RPGs when I was younger but probably spent more time reading the rule books than actually playing! "AV" may also have been a tribute to the Harrier, as in US service the Harrier is "AV-8" (Attack VTOL...?). As to the replies, if theres anything likely to start a detailed conversation on Macross World, its anything involving aircraft and thrust-to-weight ratios certainly fits the bill! Just touching on Gundams again - in the original series, I'm reasonably certain that in atmosphere, the Gundam "leaped" rather than flew (except in space colonies, I think, because of reduced gravity at the end-caps), but this rule appears to have been relaxed as time has gone on. I think in the much later SEED series, although in early episodes Mobile SUITs are seen leaping, as the series goes on this also seems to be more and more ignored (although some MS appear to be full-flight capable anyway... )

I sometimes feel that part of the reason why Macross 7 causes so much comment is that Western fandom basically became aware of it at roughly the same time as Macross Plus, and were expecting more of the same as Plus from Macross 7. Macross 7 certainly has its faults - the series is at least 10 episodes too long, the initial storyline takes too long to get going, some of the concepts are best described as "goofy", and its a real pity that they skimped on the animation in the space battle scenes (usually a Macross highlight); however, it is perhaps truer in spirit to the original Macross series than Plus, and the idea of a pacifist central character is certainly an interesting one for a mecha show - even if he is a jerk. Edit: oh, and lets not forget the "Max" factor in Macross 7.

Further to Davids comments on the Harrier, the old role-playing game Cyberpunk 2020 actually used Pegasus engines - the same as in a Harrier - to create flying vehicles; IIRC the rulebook specifically mentioned that they were able to do this this because of the engine thrust alone and not having to haul round a full size jet body. I can't remember what they called these flying vehicles, though - aerodynes?

The following links might help! http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2292_where.html http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ue3t-cb/index_...e/spalist_e.htm http://www.outdoorjapan.com/section-onsen.html

I'm told that theres a popular public bathhouse at the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium, but the baths I've visited were all much further South than Tokyo and Kyoto, sorry. Some Japanese guesthouses have "Japanese"-style baths which might give you a taste. And if you do visit a hot water spring, do make sure you know which entrance is mens and which is womens, so you can avoid those "Love Hina!" moments. Or maybe thats what you're after anyway...

Truly, this is Coachs Gunbuster!

Sevket Erhat: before any of us answer that question, you might want to go downstairs, and open up that bomb shelter your father built back in the 70s. Check the power still goes in, that the cupboards still stocked with tinned beans, and that - most importantly of all - that the walls are still fairly solid. Then walk back to the computer, but make sure that you have a clear route to the shelter. Now we can start discussing which Gundam to watch. Gundam SEED/Destiny and Gundam Wing are set in seperate "universes" to the original Gundam series (which is set in what is often referred to as "the Universal Century" universe). They share a central idea - big robots called Gundams - but are unconnected to each other. In theory. Gundam SEED/Destiny and Gundam Wing are fine, watchable shows. They are certainly currently very popular in Japan. Theres nothing wrong with them as standalone series. But... theres that "Gundam" part. And if you grew up with a certain idea of Gundam, as I, and probably many others, did, SEED/Wing has a tendency to... raise eyebrows. The best way I can put it is that what might be referred to as the "original" Gundam shows - Gundam, Zeta, ZZ, V-Gundam, and the various movies mostly directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino (the creator of Gundam) represent how Tomino sees Gundam, whereas the "other" Gundams - Wing, SEED - represent how Bandai see Gundam, which is basically as Gundam Yen. So, if I were to recommend Gundam series to watch: the original, Zeta, ZZ if you can get past the first twenty-odd episodes, the Chars Counterattack movie, and the Gundam 0080 OAV. If you're a sucker for punishment, V-Gundam. Then try Gundam SEED and Destiny, and see if you can spot a few, er, "homages" [1] to previous series. And after that, Turn-A Gundam, because its possibly the best Gundam series Tomino ever made (and if you did watch V, you'll need cheering up). [1] Some people might take this to mean "blatant unoriginal rip-offing".

The same place as the 4,000 TIE Fighters were during the first trench run.

Turn-A Gundam. Possibly best appreciated after seeing a couple of other Tomino-directed Gundams first, to see where its come from, and after seeing Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny, to see what the difference is between Tominos vision for Gundam and Bandais.

Patlabor on TV. 'cause every time you don't, a puppy dies. (I will get more people to watch this series, if I have to die trying...! )

If anything, Patlabor 2 is even more talky than the first...

I did say "probably". I have done Japan without a rail pass, though my experience is it does require a little planning. I've also travelled from Hokkaido to Kyushu and back to Tokyo over nearly three weeks on a rail pass, and if you consider that a one way ticket between Tokyo and Osaka costs £60 or so, it can be worth it in some cases. You pays your yen, you takes your choice...

Wow. I'd heard a live action movie was planned, but never released they actually made a trailer. Can't say I like the Ingram redesign too much (if that is meant to be an Ingram), but still...

Rule one of visting Tokyo: YOU WILL GET A GOOD MAP OF TOKYO. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE! Seriously, Tokyo is a fun city to get lost in but there will be times when you don't want to be lost. Even the taxi drivers don't know their way round, thats why they all have GPS. Kodansha publishing do a handy, A5-size Tokyo city atlas that also covers Yokohama and should probably cover most of the things you're likely to be doing in the amount of time you have. If you have a PDA, theres a freeware program called Metro that covers Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and whioch can be very helpful if you get stuck. It sometimes suggests a slightly more roundabout route than strictly neccesary, but I'd still be going round and round Osaka without it! You will probably want to investigate a Japan Rail Pass; these cover a specific period (up to 21 days, IIRC) and are well worth it if you're going to be travelling around a bit. Prices start at about £150 or so for a 7-day pass. 2 -3 days is nowhere near enough time to see all Kyoto and the surrounding area has to offer, but you could probably see the most famous sights. Do try to get to see Himeji castle while you're there. If you want any advice on anime shopping for while you're there, please PM me and I can send you some tips. Bear in mind you need to arrange a time to visit the Ghibli museum before you get to Japan.

The Patlabor on TV series is perhaps one of the most overlooked anime around, and well worth investing in. I just wish it could have enjoyed the same quality of treatment as ADVs Gatchaman release... The New Files make the perfect follow-on, and feature one of the best-written anime episodes ever made, with Captains Goto and Shinobu finding themselves looking for hotel accomodation one rainy night... I have the large scale (1/32) Bandai plastic Ingram toy. In many respects its a crap toy - a largely fixed lump of plastic that doesn't really do anything and lacks almost any detailing. However, it does have quite a presence, especially if you have other Patlabor toys in your collection - it towers over them!

R.e. Cameo. e e e e e e e e e E E EE EEE EEEEEEEEE! <THUNK!> Penny just dropped from great height.

Just a note, the Doctor Who spin-off series "Torchwood" aired last night in the UK. Its apparently had the highest non-sports viewer ratings for a UK satellite channel. I'm still absorbing my initial impressions, but wow - they don't say "B*****ks!" on Doctor Who! Also, the series is set in Wales. Note to the translators of Magister Negi Magi: thats NOT ENGLAND.

The OP toy issue could be settled by the fact that a number of toys released as Transformers were originally part of the so-called "pre-Transformers" toys from Japan. Many of the designs were re-used for Transformers, and some of them had minature pilot figures (this includes the toy that would eventually become Starscream, for example). However, as far as I know, it wasn't possible to fit a pilot figure into the actual OP cab, although that was the original purpose of the "Roller" six-wheeled buggy. http://1500bc.com/pretf/diaclone_toys.html for more information. I also remember Jetfire as being huge as a child, so maybe thats the answer there...!

If you're looking for game scenario material based around potential on-going reserach into BDI, you could try reading Dale Browns "Day of the Cheetah", which - entirely coincidentally - has a number of plot elements similar to Macross Plus.

Ah, okay - sorry, must have missed your confession. About the wrongness, not the nekkid Zero-G lovin'.

The Germans also experimented with a prototype FSW jet bomber during World War II.

Er... correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the very first shot in DYRL the Macross in battleship mode gradually emerging out of the darkness...?

Sorry, what can I say? I was never a truly serious Battletech player, but when we played, for whatever reason, Thunderbolts tended to still be standing when everything else was scrap metal. Sorry. (Of course, this was with the original rules. The introduction of gauss rifles and ER PPCs sort of changed things a touch... )

Ah, the self-described "Lesbian trapped in a mans body" and the closest thing we will ever get to a real-life Berg Katse...