Graham

Guys, The new January 2004 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine (just out), has details of a mail-in campaign for some clear FAST Pack covers for the Yamato 1/48 (see pic below). As best as I can figure, you need to cut out some coupons that come with the magazine and mail them in along with ¥1,500. As usual, I'm guessing this offer is only available for readers in Japan Dengeki Hobby magazine has had quite a few of these mail-in offers before, but usually they are for limited edition color scheme Gundam Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA) toys. This will be the first time for a Macross item. As you can see from the page below, I think the Yamato 1/1 scale flight helmets are also part of the mail-in campaign as well. It looks like just the helmet by itself is ¥158,000 and the helmet with shoulder/back/chest piece is ¥238,000! Graham

One of the biggest problems with gameplay in M3 is battroid mode, as the turning speed is so slow. IIRC, it's a little bit faster if you boost while turning, but not much. I liked the idea of the giant bugs and they looked awesome in the opening movie. However, in the game the flying bugs were so disappointing and looked like giant fat Bumble Bees, no resemblance to the bugs in the opening movie! Also, IIRC there was a stage were you have to shoot down two bombers. This was very bad as the bombers were just stationery in the air and it was as if your Vak were attached to a peice of string flying between the two bombers. Graham

Hmmmm.....................smell the BS. I have tried the VF-1J Super FPs on a Focker VF-1S and they fit perfectly. So yes, they do fit on all 1/48s. Also, the FPs that come with the VF-1J are a slightly lighter shade of blue than the DYRL FPs. They are not green. The only parts that are different between the two styles of FP are the arm packs, which are TV style, but will fit on all 1/48s. Graham

Not sure what you mean when you say you can't follow the story of M3 as it diverges from the anime? IMO, the story of M3 is pretty easy to follow and doesn't really contradict anything from the various Macross animes, as it is set in the period 2014 to 2030, i.e. after the events of Space War One and FB2012, but before the events in Macross Plus and Macross 7. In fact M3 ties in nicely with some of the events mentioned in Macross 7, such as Milia being the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor, which is shown in Macross 7. Anyway, for those of you not familiar with the story of M3, here's what the Macross Compendium has to say: - 2014 United Nations Forces dispatch Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus to form the Dancing Skull special forces team and combat internal revolts and conflicts. M3 Episode 1 Aerial Dance [interception]. Battle of New Alabama Lake. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an enemy aerial unit attacking a UN Spacy replenishment base and a spy piloting a captured VF-4 Lightning III on the planet Neo York. 2018 M3 Episode 2 Dancing Tightrope [Annihilation]. Battle of New Nile Weaponry Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team assaults the New Nile weaponry base and encounter a Zentradi Variable Glaug on the planet Cristrania. 2020 M3 Episode 3 Escort of Visitor. Operation Escort VF-5000. The Dancing Skull special forces team escort the Shinsei Industry VF-5000 being tested aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus over the planet Neo York. The Free York Liberation League launches two attacks to capture the VF-5000. 2022 M3 Episode 4 Black Celebration. Invasion of the Secret Relics Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team destroy an abandoned UN Forces biological weapons research base at the site of Protoculture ruins on the planet New Asia, after the base is deemed a biohazard. 2028 M3 Episode 5 Feast of Sandstorm [Defensive]. Battle of the Weapons Research Plant. The Dancing Skull special forces team protect the weapons research plant on the planet Susia from Zentradi guerilla land units and aerial bomber formation. Major Maximilian Jenius appointed as ship captain of the stealth space cruiser Haruna. 2029 M3 Episode 6 Fire Carnival [interception]. Battle at [Dahan's] Satellite Orbit. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an space unit and two Zentradi Variable Glaugs from a warship of the Zentradi terrorist organization Struggle in orbit over the planet Dahan. Captain Milia Jenius appointed as Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor. 2030 April M3 Episode 7 Devil Gate Drive. United Nations Government Chairperson Rescue Operation. Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius temporarily rejoin the Dancing Skull special forces team with Moaramia Fallyna Jenius. The Dancing Skull special forces team rescue United Nations Government Chairperson Lawrence Yun Kemal, being held hostage by anti-United Nations forces with two shield-enhanced Destroid Monsters on the planet Bellfan. During the operation, the prototype YF-11s [also known as VFX-11s] are introduced into actual combat for the first time. M3 Episode 8 Dancing Skull [interception]. Battle Over Susia. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept two aerial attacks on the United Nations headquarters on the planet Susia, including one by three unidentified Zentradi combining units. After the completion of the operation, the two [Jeniuses] are granted special leave. Graham

Only one Japanese Macross game was ever made for the Dreamcast, which was 'Macross M3'. As to whether it will play on a US Dreamcast, I've no idea as my Dreamcast is an Asian version. Anyway, M3, is widely regarded as being a very bad game with poor gameplay. On the positive side, it has an excellent opening movie and intro song, a fairly interesting story, which provides more background information on what Max and Milia were doing during the period after Space War One, but before Macross 7. Unless you are really a hardcore collector that must own every Macross game, I would avoid this one and pick up the far superior new Macross game for the PS2, or even the older VF-X2 or Macross Plus Game Edition for the Playstation, which are far superior to M3 IMO. Graham

It's not a hint or secret. I've stated many times on the forums that all of Yamato's future new transforming VF toys after the 1/48 would use CAD. Graham

Proabably in the MW magazine section under 'Dengeki Hobby', but I'm too lazy to go check. Graham which month Ahem, which part of "I'm too lazy to go check" did you not understand? If you go to the MW magazine section for Dengeki Hobby, you can see the pages for each month, so you can easily check it yourself. Graham

That's actually outdated news now. Things change. Watch this space for news!!!!!!!!! Graham

Anything is possible, but a 1/48 YF-19 and YF-21 would be really huge, much bigger than the VF-1. Not really practical as toys and would take up too much storage/display space. Plus, with Yamato's penchant for big boxes, just imagine how large the boxes would be! Graham

Proabably in the MW magazine section under 'Dengeki Hobby', but I'm too lazy to go check. Graham

I haven't watched this yet, I've only seen the original Full Metal Panic. Anyway, it's been bugging me, what the heck is the meaning (if any) of Fumoffu? As I don't know what Fumoffu means, I've been referring to this series by the following names: FMP Thumbs Off, FMP Fu*k off, FMP Bum Fluff Graham

So many bad science fiction movies. Yeah, I think I'd have to go with Battlefield Earth as the worst. That was just painful to watch. I also agree that the remake of Rollerball was just terrible compared to the original, as was Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes. And Father Jack, I think they are making a remake of Logan's Run, which no doubt will be a steaming pile of dog poo. The original is a classic. Runners-up on my personal list of terrible science fiction movies also include Phatom Menace, Matrix Revolutions and Highlander II, although perhaps that should be under the category of fantasy movies rather than sci-fi. Graham

The 1/48 was the first of Yamato's VFs designed using CAD, but it will by no means be the last. Graham

Welcome back Renato. Haven't seen you around MW in ages. Graham

If we do get to see some Mao fan service in ep # 3, this wouldn't be the first time for underage nudity in Macross. Remember Elma in D7 anybody? Graham

Dude, Mao is like 15 years old! Err....no, according to the Compendium, she's only 11. Graham

In cut scenes in the new Macross PS2 game, Armored VF-1Js can also be seen on the ground on the Mars Base mission. And of course you get to use one against hoards or attacking Regults. I've found in the Macross PS2 game, the Armored VF-1J is extremely effective in ground missions, but was actually quite underwhelming in space missions as it lacked the speed and manauverability of a normal Valk or FP equipped Valk. Graham

I asked this question many pages ago on this thread, but nobody replied. Anyway, just want to ask again whether anybody has managed to log on to the official BBS for the Macross PS2 game. yet? I've tried, but the Japanese registration process defeats me Even though the BBS will be all in Japanese, there might be some info or theories regarding the missing YF-19, YF-21, VF-0S and SV-51. Graham

I agree with your comments about Hikaru abusing the Armored Valk concept. I've always that that the GBP-1S armor was designed to give battroids more firepower and armor for ground based operations and not really be for use in space. Graham

Yep, Bandai. The Mission 2 Regults and VF-1 Battroids were pretty cool and very well articulated for the size. I much prefer these over the K&M figures. Graham

The TV pilot on the Hikaru VF-1J is a really nice sculpt. The new DYRL pilot sculpt that comes with the Hikaru VF-1S is a huge improvement over the original. If Yamato wanted to release a TV version VF-1S, then they would have to change the color of the arrows on the head from yellow (DYRL) to black (TV). Also, release it with the TV pilot repainted in Focker colors and include a set of the non-articulated TV hands. Personally, I think Yamato should release an accessory set including both standing and seated TV & DYRL pilots (the new sculpts so we can replace our old first sculpt DYRL pilots), ground crew figures, a weapons cart for stacking missiles and/or gunpod and some non-articulated larger DYRL type hands. Graham

I always thought GBP = Grenade Box Protector. Graham

I don't know why people automatically assume that armored Valks are limited to space use only. There is no reason why they can't be used for ground based assault or defence missions. Of course, depending on the thrust to weight ratio of the Armored Valk, they may not be able to fly, but they can still walk or run and perhaps also do powered jumps. Graham

I love Dragonar. Classic 80's mecha anime. IMO, the animation, story, characters and Mecha are far superior to MSG, Z & ZZ. Graham

One thing to consider, when wondering what Yamato will release next is whether or not multiple version are possible. The design and tooling costs of a transforming toy are sky high and if only a single version can be released, Yamato would make a loss. It's not just about breaking even, any manufacturer has to make a profit and in the case of transforming VF toys this is only possible if a) the production run is very large (Yamato's are not), or b) if multiple repaints can be released, e.g. VF-1A/J/S Hikaru/Max/Focker etc. As much as I would like to see a VF-4 or VF-5000 toy, the chances are probably slim as the repaint/multiple version potential is far lower. Graham