one_klump Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 Animal mecha = fail in my book, I just can't stand it. Quote
RD Blade Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 the laser tail makes the dog gundam all sorts of pure awesome.The laser tongue, however, completely negates that. Quote
eugimon Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 The laser tongue, however, completely negates that. but the laser tongue is offset by the mecha whisker dimples! Quote
Gubaba Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 The laser tongue, however, completely negates that. No, it doesn't. It moves it past ridiculous AND sublime into the realm of the sublimely ridiculous. "Give Daddy a kiss, boy! ...AAAAARRRRGH!!!" Quote
badboy00z Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 Animal mecha = fail in my book, I just can't stand it. Zoids are pretty awesome IMO. Quote
one_klump Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 That Karate Federation fist ship is awesome! and ZOIDS were my main offenders. They look like animals, why have a tail on a basic quadruped mech? Unless some sort of weapon is mounted on it, and in those cases, it still has a severely limited arc of fire. I think the ZOIDS that were arthropods of some sort made more sense, like a crab, spider, or scorpion. The vertebrate ZOIDS just looks too goofy for my taste. Quote
anime52k8 Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) I have a feeling the only reason most people here slam it is because a few people complained "omg, that thing would never fly, the angle of the (insert random tech jargon here) is all wrong!". Seriously, is was never made to be a real world design in any way. people tend to slam the jet from stealth because it looks like someone ran over a platypus then dunked it in matte black paint. That Karate Federation fist ship is awesome! and ZOIDS were my main offenders. They look like animals, why have a tail on a basic quadruped mech? Unless some sort of weapon is mounted on it, and in those cases, it still has a severely limited arc of fire. I think the ZOIDS that were arthropods of some sort made more sense, like a crab, spider, or scorpion. The vertebrate ZOIDS just looks too goofy for my taste. I actually like some zoids, they were stupid but they look cool. except for the one's that looked like apes and snails. why would you make a mech that looks like a SNAIL?!? and thanks to this thread I'm now seriously considering getting a command wolf and a Geno Breaker Edited March 22, 2009 by anime52k8 Quote
one_klump Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 Alright, I retract my opinion on ZOIDS, those figures are indeed awesome. Quote
RavenHawk Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 That Karate Federation fist ship is awesome! and ZOIDS were my main offenders. They look like animals, why have a tail on a basic quadruped mech? Unless some sort of weapon is mounted on it, and in those cases, it still has a severely limited arc of fire. I think the ZOIDS that were arthropods of some sort made more sense, like a crab, spider, or scorpion. The vertebrate ZOIDS just looks too goofy for my taste. While I do think animal mecha are pretty silly (except for dogs, of course, which are automatically awesome), tails in nature serve the purpose of balance and stabilization on quadrupeds during running. Presumably, it would be something similar in a mech. Quote
eugimon Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 While I do think animal mecha are pretty silly (except for dogs, of course, which are automatically awesome), tails in nature serve the purpose of balance and stabilization on quadrupeds during running. Presumably, it would be something similar in a mech. yup and insects are actually inherently unstable in motion which makes their method of locomotion a poor choice for a weapon mount, imo. Quote
Gubaba Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 yup and insects are actually inherently unstable in motion which makes their method of locomotion a poor choice for a weapon mount, imo. They're better than a tripod, however... Quote
RavenHawk Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 yup and insects are actually inherently unstable in motion which makes their method of locomotion a poor choice for a weapon mount, imo. Plus there's a scale problem. Exoskeletons like ants and many other insects have work more and more poorly as scale increases, making giant bugs like in old scifi, horror, and Paul Verhoeven movies unlikely if not impossible. Quote
RavenHawk Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 They're better than a tripod, however... Also better than Tom Cruise... Quote
eugimon Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Plus there's a scale problem. Exoskeletons like ants and many other insects have work more and more poorly as scale increases, making giant bugs like in old scifi, horror, and Paul Verhoeven movies unlikely if not impossible. yup, it's one thing to have a very small object essentially falling down every time it takes a step but for a large multi ton machine to do it, it just puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the frame and mechanisms... which has a lot to do with why our large scale insect like robots tend to move very slowly, at least the ones that try to be stable. The ones that have abandoned the idea of stability can replicate the quickness though... but again, not ideal for a weapons platform. Well, unless you could have a computer basically predict how the frame was going to fall and then auto correct the aim on the weapon even before the frame moved thereby creating a stable mount... err... or you could just have a more stable mount to begin with. Quote
Gubaba Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) Well, unless you could have a computer basically predict how the frame was going to fall and then auto correct the aim on the weapon even before the frame moved thereby creating a stable mount... err... or you could just have a more stable mount to begin with. "Structural complexity, functonal simplicity: the best life for all." (At least, I think that's how the quote went... It's been many years since I've read it.) Edited March 23, 2009 by Gubaba Quote
Letigre Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Now, in my book I rank Stealth only the second worst movie of all time, typical Justice League America vs. The Third World crap story. ... but the jets I liked, and seeing the SU-37 Terminators on screen bumped it from #1 worse to #2 worse. Eh, Stealth was about a goofy AI plane and an arrogant jackass in the Navy ..it's a neat ride, but I could have sworn they lifted a few ideas from Macross Plus of all things. The dogfights are good, but the gratuitous use of gasoline fireballs that spoils things. Quote
Gubaba Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 it's a neat ride, but I could have sworn they lifted a few ideas from Macross Plus of all things. Believe me, you're not the first person to notice... http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=9070 http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=14939 http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=15028 http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=15085 http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=15259 There are more, but I think I've made my point. Quote
one_klump Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Plus there's a scale problem. Exoskeletons like ants and many other insects have work more and more poorly as scale increases, making giant bugs like in old scifi, horror, and Paul Verhoeven movies unlikely if not impossible. I didn't say realistic or effective, I just said that a giant scorpion mecha bristling with weapons is cooler than a monkey mecha, imo. Quote
eugimon Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 I didn't say realistic or effective, I just said that a giant scorpion mecha bristling with weapons is cooler than a monkey mecha, imo. the discussion originated from your comments regarding weapons on tails and then your comparison to scorpions and other arthropods. However... after Wild Wild West giant mechanized insects somehow lost their charm and menacing qualities. Quote
Killer Robot Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 yup, it's one thing to have a very small object essentially falling down every time it takes a step but for a large multi ton machine to do it, it just puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the frame and mechanisms... which has a lot to do with why our large scale insect like robots tend to move very slowly, at least the ones that try to be stable. The ones that have abandoned the idea of stability can replicate the quickness though... but again, not ideal for a weapons platform. Well, unless you could have a computer basically predict how the frame was going to fall and then auto correct the aim on the weapon even before the frame moved thereby creating a stable mount... err... or you could just have a more stable mount to begin with. That's actually why six legged robots have gotten a lot of design attention, because with six legs you can always have three on the ground for a stable tripod. Four or two legs have to be controlled falls just because it's not feasible to make a walking mechanism that works otherwise. Even if you're not relying on constant stability, six legs have some advantages. Insects are poorly suited for very large forms, but it's because of the particular way that their skeleton, muscles, and just as importantly oxygen distribution works. None of these are requirements for an insectile-looking robot, they're just how arthropod biology works. Quote
eugimon Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 That's actually why six legged robots have gotten a lot of design attention, because with six legs you can always have three on the ground for a stable tripod. Four or two legs have to be controlled falls just because it's not feasible to make a walking mechanism that works otherwise. Even if you're not relying on constant stability, six legs have some advantages. Insects are poorly suited for very large forms, but it's because of the particular way that their skeleton, muscles, and just as importantly oxygen distribution works. None of these are requirements for an insectile-looking robot, they're just how arthropod biology works. arthropod forms are good for unstable environments and in between movements they are stable, very stable... it's just during movement that they're not stable. During movement their weight actually isn't supported by alternating three legs, they're essentially falling forward and from side to side. Though, the stable human versions of arthropods do maintain stability by ensuring locomotion via alternating tripods but so far those forms are considerably slower and move with far more deliberation than the robots that actually move like real arthropods which move somewhat chaotically but very rapidly. Quote
one_klump Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 the discussion originated from your comments regarding weapons on tails and then your comparison to scorpions and other arthropods. However... after Wild Wild West giant mechanized insects somehow lost their charm and menacing qualities. You got me there, I got lost somewhere between giant scorpions and a gundam dog's laser tounge Quote
Gubaba Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 enough discussion. more pics! With pleasure, sir... Quote
geepogi Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 With pleasure, sir... eeekkk! ok. enough pics! solid gold? Quote
Gubaba Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 eeekkk! ok. enough pics! solid gold? As far as I know, it's the world's only gold robot that transforms into a cigarette lighter...all the kiddies love it! Quote
REbirth Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 This thread is going to ruin my childhood I mean, Gold Lightan, ugly? Quote
taksraven Posted March 23, 2009 Author Posted March 23, 2009 A little bit out of the anime mainstream (and by little bit I mean completely,) but wasn't there a transforming building mecha in the movie Big with Tom Hanks? Taksraven Quote
Gubaba Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 A little bit out of the anime mainstream (and by little bit I mean completely,) but wasn't there a transforming building mecha in the movie Big with Tom Hanks? Taksraven Yes, and it sucked mightily. As he pointed out, who wants a robot that turns into a skyscraper? Then, if I recall correctly, he went on to invent the Dinobots (or the Insecticons...memory's a little hazy here...) Quote
badboy00z Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Alright, I retract my opinion on ZOIDS, those figures are indeed awesome. I personally like the Liger/ raptor/ t-rex type zoids. My favorite by far is the Geno Saurer and the Murasame Liger from Genesis. Quote
taksraven Posted March 23, 2009 Author Posted March 23, 2009 This thread is going to ruin my childhood I thought that George Lucas had already done that?? Taksraven Quote
Morpheus Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Behold, the nightmare that will ruined your childhood: Mighty orbot Robotix Quote
taksraven Posted March 23, 2009 Author Posted March 23, 2009 I know that Transmutate was meant to look wrong and ugly, but still, ugh.... Taksraven Quote
Zentrandude Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 While I do think animal mecha are pretty silly (except for dogs, of course, which are automatically awesome), tails in nature serve the purpose of balance and stabilization on quadrupeds during running. Presumably, it would be something similar in a mech. the gun sniper's tail also is the main weapon. don't know how the phys on how the tail thats flexible turn into a rigid barrel for the sniper rifle. Quote
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