Graham

Ahh...so there is some conversion involved first. Hmm.......guess I'll have to do some research on converting avi files to whatever format it is that VCDs are in. Anyway, both my standalone DVD players will play VCDs, as VCDs are a very popular format here in HK. Most movies get released here in both DVD and VCD format. VHS is just not released here at all, it's completey dead, as I suspect it is in most of the rest of the world. Heck even the rental shops here like Blockbuster don't have VHS to rent anymore, it's all VCD & DVD. Oh, and VCD video quality sucks. It's worse than VHS IMO. It's fine for watching dramas and chick flicks, but try watching a special effects movie or action movie and there is just too much pixilation. I've never understood why VCDs are so popular here. Well, actually, it's the low price. Graham

It's a long time since I read them, but didn't the Robotech novels have Kyhron (Kamjin) adicted to Protoculture and smoking or chewing the leaves? Or am I just remembering wrongly? Graham

Hmmm.....never tried burning a downloaded anime before. So let me get this straight, if I burn the downloaded Macross Zero .avi file onto a CD-R, you are saying that it will play without problems in a standalone DVD player? Graham

The Manga OVA release is generally regarded as being better than the movie version, as IIRC the movie version was just a direct rip of the VHS with hard encoded subs. Graham

How come there was no poll choice for 'all'? I love all Macross equally and don't really have a fixed favorite. Yes, I even love MII. Even if really pushed I couldn't decide on just one favorite, but would have to break it down between TV series, OVA and Movie, in which case my favorites would be: - Favorite Macross TV Series = Macross 7. Favorite Macross OVA = Macross Plus (this may change after I've seen all 5 eps of Zero though). Favorite Macross Movie = DYRL. Graham

It will come when it comes, just be patient. As I've said before, I'd rather they took their time and get it right rather than releasea botched design. Graham

The VF-1S Hikaru is my favorite 1/48, closely followed by the Low-Vis & VF-1J Hikaru. I don't know why, but I've always prefered the look of the VF-1S Hikaru over the VF-1S Focker. Anyway, it's a beautiful toy. You won't regret buying it. Graham

We're all doomed I tell you. Graham

Banned, they're all banned I tell you! Banned, Banned, banned! Mwahahahahahah! Graham, going ban happy.

I've noticed that both the Infusion and ANBU-AonE Mac Zero ep # 3 are choppy in places especially during the CGI Valk action scenes. When it's just the cell animated characters talking things seem fine. I downloaded Mac Zero ep # 1 from another group and it was not choppy at all. As I'm new at downloading, I'm not sure if it's a problem with the download itself or with my hardware/software set up. Anyway, I've still got my original R2 DVD to fall back on, even tho it's only raw Japanese Graham

There's stuff I would love to tell you guys, but unfortunately for whatever reason Yamato doesn't like me to reveal as much stuff as in the past. It may have something to do with the fact that early this year or last year some Japanese fans were lurking on MW and complained to BW and Yamato that we had more info than they did. Also, while I still have some insider sources at Yamato, my main source is now virtually impossible to contact and much more tight-lipped than in the past Graham

You guys are not getting anywhere near my girlfriend Hmmmm.....maybe this is the real reason that Noel is not coming now........................? He is too scared to let all of us near his girlfriend! Graham

Rough date, middle of next year....probably. These things are always subject to change tho G-

Also gotta add, kudos to Spykes and Infusion. Very clear and readable subtitiles. The translations seems very accurate from what I can tell. Graham

Thanks for providing those links, I can now get both audio and video. Sound is excellent and picture quality is very clear, however, the video keps pausing and skipping a lot, especially in the CG Valk action scenes. It's just short pauses of like a half a second and then a skip ahead of maybe a second. It is very frequent and very noticable. It doesn't happen much during the cell animated character parts. I downloaded ep# 2 & # 3 and it happens with both. This is my first time ever to try downloading anything. Any idea what could be causing this? My computer is fairly low spec, actually you could say 'antique' these days, PIII 700MHz, 256 ram. Graham

AFAIK, there is no firm data published yet with regards to height and weight. Even the Compendium and Nanashi's have very limited information so far. Graham

The K&M (Kaiyodo & Movic) figures are constructed of PVC for the non-transforming figures and ABS for the transforming VF-1 figures. There are no metal parts. They are pretty small. The non-transforming VF-1J Battrroid from the series # 1 set stands at about 8cm tall. The transforming VF-1 toys stand at about 6.5cm in battroid mode. With the exception of the Regult figure, I was not impressed by series # 1. The transforming VF-1's have terrible proportions in battroid mode, although the look OK in Fighter and Gerwalk. There is a lot of parts swapping involved in transforming them. Articulation is also very poor on the transforming battroid. The non-transforming Hikaru VF-1J figure had very stiff joints and I snapped the elbow joint accidently after less than 5 minutes. Also, the paint job on the VF-1J was odd as some areas of the Battroid were white, while others were varying shades of grey. Articulation was quite good on this figure though. As I said, the only figure I really liked from series #1 was the Regult, which had an exccellent paint job and even had some of that squiggly Zentradi writting on it. However, it was not as well articulated as the Regult toys from the Bandai HG Mission # 2 set. Basically, these should be considered as similar quality to Gashapon toys, but at only ¥300 per figure, what do you expect. Graham

I already pointed out in another thread that at the end of ep # 3, when Mao is brought back to the Asuka, there is a side view shot of her lying unconsious on the examination table and her breasts seem to have magically grown much bigger. Graham

I really hate watching those 'behind the scenes' or 'making of' programs before I actually watch the movie. They always show the best action scenes and spoil the movie for me. Graham

I'm not really an FPS fan or PC game fan, but I don't mind playing a single player FPS console game occasionally, as long as it's got a good story, not just mindless shooting. I've just finished the PS2 Judge Dredd FPS game by Rebellion, which I really enjoyed as I've been a big fan of the character and reading the comic since 1978 (and yes I agree the Stallone movie which had little to do with the comic sucked). I've gotta admit, I've never seen the attraction of online FPS games. The few times friends have persuaded me to try games like BF1942 at cyber cafes, it all seemed pretty pointless, just run around for a few minutes shoot a few people and get shot. Ho hum, where's the enjoyment? Graham

Best Macross game so far IMO, just a little short. I've no regrets about buying it. Graham

Well, in episode # 4, they better bloody well answer the question of where all the VF-0's were when this attack was taking place, otherwise I will be most pissed off. Graham

That wasn't a VF-0A that Shin and Edgar were flying, it was a VF-0D. Graham

Actually, that's an excellent point about the infantry. So not only does the Anti-UN Destroid have to store that big gun and missile pod, but also carry infantry! When we first see it underwater stealing the AFOS head, it doesn't seem that large, certainly not large enough IMO. Graham

That's what I think, it's a sea skimming anti-ship missile. Also, you do see Nora and D.D.'s SV-51s carrying and launching 2 sea-skimming anti-ship missiles each, which they target against an Aegis cruiser. Two of the missiles get stopped by the ship's defences, but two get through and take out the Aegis. Graham