Haha, sorry guys. I honestly didn't intend to spark anything here. It's just a bit of a strain reading this thread beginning to end and walking away with something positive to say. I honestly didn't think it would go this way but its good to see that Hateorade salvaged the conversation and everyone ended up taking everything in good humor.
However while we are "bitching" about Harmony Gold I started watching Captain Harlok for the first time in my desperate attempt to find something space operaish other than Macross (anyone have any suggestions?) and I noticed that it was done by HG yet I can't find a DVD release for it on their website at all. Its cool because I get everything way cheaper from Kora, but wouldn't it be smarter to release more of the stuff youve done then release re-re-re-re-re-re-re-remastered versions of the series we already own?
My only other real complaint is on the new Sentinels DVD release they've added new scenes... but cut others... which just seemed like a chance to re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-release Sentinels at a later date as a "whole product." Which admittedly is classic HG but I just wish there was a bit more of an effort made.
Also, to answer the question asked of me earlier, does it bother me that HG are blocking anime?
Well, on a very small level it does. I'm not a big anime fan to tell you the truth. I'm very picky when it comes to anime and I feel that quite a lot of new anime is lots of high-quality animation and not much substance or story. I know I'd be more upset that Macross couldn't be released if I couldn't buy it with English subs online. For a long time (before I put in a serious search effort) I only ever saw Mac-7 in Spanish, sighed to myself and wondered "what if" then moved on.
That said it'd be great to be able to watch the shows in English but after the horrible and unrealistic voice acting we see in otherwise amazing shows like History's Strongest Disciple Kinichi and well, the list goes on and I am sure we could each name 5 shows that we didn't like the voices for, I guess I'm just not sure that I'd be very receptive to Alto's baritone manly hero voice or Ranka's Mini Mouse squeak. As things are now (for me, this of course reflects on no way to the business side of things) I am happy buying things Online. Sure it'd be great is Bandai had a reliable english website with its Macross stuff on it or if there was some kind of Uuber Macross Emporium, but I makedo.
When I was a member on Robotech.com (in 2005 or 2006?) and Harmony Gold first came out and talked about the Robotech Movie it was pretty cool. Then after skuffle that happened yesterday when I went on to register I was honestly a little surprised to find out that they have not had a single update since back when I was a member, what was it... like..? Nearly five or six years ago. If my anticipation was a person it would be able to speak and make its own choices by now. Yet, not a word, it was confounding so I went to the News Section and the ONLY thing its updated with is Convention stuff. So I figure I am going to call the company today right so I go to Harmony Gold's official website and browse through looking for the contact number but nadda. In the end I called up a number I could find and in my most professional business tone asked to be transferred to the office of Mr. Yune the I sat there on wait for nearly two hours before he answers and I say...
"Hello, my name is [my name here] and I would like to inquire about investing in the Robotech Franchise."
And he says...
"I'm sorry I don't know anything about that, wrong number, wrong number" then hangs up on me.
So All e-stalker style I go to Youtube and re-re-re-re-listen to the guys voice and I am sure it was him.
Needless to say, I'm not really impressed but it is pretty clear that Macross is still going strong and Robotech isn't and at the end of the day it all comes down to money and numbers and I'm willing to bet Big West is making a hell of a lot more revenue than Harmony Gold is right now and if this movie deal doesn't happen then I highly doubt they will last another 20-25 years. (Again, that's just my opinion.)