Mr March

Looking at the pictures more closely, the official photographs show a definite wing overlap for battroid mode. This is more clear than any previous photos. The overlap is almost like the CGI and lineart of the VF-0. It's impressive that they were able to get this Valkyrie so close to the original computer models and drawings. Though I supposed being designed more realistically from the beginning (as a CG model would demand) helped bring the anime and the toy closer.

That is one great looking Yamato Valkyrie. Impressive!

I admit the opening is humorous, but I couldn't really get through the rest. Fast forward, fast forward

There is no internal heat shield. On the VF-0 in fighter mode, the heatshield stays external, located behind the cockpit and does not retract under the chest plate. Graham 367592[/snapback] Ah, thanks Graham. That's actually better, since it's more true to the anime.

The high gloss finish sure will make for some nice lighting effects should one choose to take some pictures. The close up also reveals that the VF-0 should have just a few more degrees of flexiblity in the elbow joint over the 1/48. I could swear the second last picture shows a slightly less than 90 degree bend. The third picture also shows that the two wings are indeed slightly off when folded for battroid mode. In previously released photos, we did see some slight overlap, though nothing nearing the extreme of the CG model or lineart. Still, this would seem to confirm that the final design will achieve some wing overlap for battroid configuration. This new VF-0 toy must have been much easier for Yamato considering they have adopted so many tried and true design features from the 1/48 VF-1. The internal heat shield, the hip/leg joints, the swing bar, the multi-joint hinges for the primary hull folding, etc. This might explain why they are putting a little more effort into the plastic and the gloss finish, having saved costs on some of the R&D.

That was pretty much my reaction. The legal assault is quite impressive, but I thought that many of the items listed bring into question the derivation of the concepts that WW itself has used for its products. I mean, vampires and werewolves within the realm of fantasy are about as generic as the words federation and starship in science fiction. Granted, my example is a non-specific comparison, but the analogy is sound. From what I read of the filed documents, WW is opening up debate on all kinds of issues. Perhaps the strategy is to capitalize upon the legal communities ignorance of fringe hobbies like sci-fi and fantasy in the hope it will lend credibility to an otherwise vague arguement. I would like to know more about what has happened to date, though after 2+ years, it sounds as if the case has died.

Cough........Gundam.........cough! Graham 367201[/snapback] Hehehe, very true.

Sadly, there isn't much. I haven't been able to find any further information on the case beyond the original 2003 news report, at least nothing online anyway. Here's a link the the original article. They also have a link to the filing documents at the end of the article. http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=10015 Enjoy

Must have hit a nerve, though to be helpful, the back button is right at your finger tips. If you honestly wanted an answer, try asking with a little tact next time.

I actually didn't really dwell on this plot hole much, because so many action flicks are guilty of this very same thing. How many times have we been watch some action flick with an uber weapon that isn't really uber once it's used in a particular situation in the film (typically against the hero)? But still, it is a good point.

Fantastic. The pose leaves much to be desired, but I'm not expecting shop owners to know so much about a specialty item, nor should they really devote much time to displays anyway. Point is, it looks cool and we all want to purchase one I have to say, this new VF-0 really puts that VF-1A behind it to shame. The VF-0 is just so much more pleasing on display, though the design is an improvement on an already tried and true classic mecha.

Longevity has always been a two-edge sword. Long term success has always created as many problems as it solves. Release numerous productions, the franchise becomes formulaic, tiresome, and old, leading to eventual audience apathy. Cater to a larger market by releasing homogenous productions that appeal to the lowest common denominator, the franchise lasts only as long as it takes the audience to figure out such is the case. Release nothing and the original only lasts as long as it takes for the industry technology/advance of the artform to date the original and propel it into obsolesence. Kinda sucks if your a fan, but the eventual obsolesence of your favorite franchises does insure the continued need for reinventing storytelling. Thus, bigger and better stuff as the years go by.

Those are some very well done pictures on that website. The GBP Gerwalk is funny, but I love the shots of all the different poses and accessories/armor configurations on display. Nice to see a flattering pictorial of the Yamato 1/48.

As long as a market for productions and merchandise exists, companies will sell more Macross. Basically, if there's money to be made, some entrepreneur will sell products to turn a profit. The production of Macross productions and merchandise seems to be continuing in earnest, so for the foreseeable future it appears Macross fandom will continue onwards. For the next ten years...anything is possible, even the Macross franchise can cease. But if you ask this question, all it means is you're growing up, getting older, and becoming wiser. Any successful creative work invariably has a peak of awarness/popularity and then diminishes, often acting as a catalyst for other creative works. Like all human activities, creation is rarely seminal, rather building upon lessons and the works of past generations. Some creative works meet their peak early, others can go decades before recognition of the full potential is accepted. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Macross reached it's peak in the mid 1980's and has been a cult franchise ever since. This doesn't mean it will fade away quickly, if the Macross fandom and continued production of new merchandise is any indication. However, Macross is more likely to fade as our generation grows older, rather than sustaining itself by renewing interest in future generations, as has been accomplished by franchises like Star Wars and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Simply put, demand is not great enough for Macross to be sustained without renewing interest over and over again. Macross achieves a slightly diminishing return with the sale of nostalgia products and the occasional new production bringing in a few fans every few years, but not quite replacing the lost ones. This can go on for years, but eventually it will stop. Older fans will grow away from fandom (typically through lifestyle changes like new life directions, career goals, or families), become interested in other hobbies, or simply die. The fewer and smaller Macross productions will fail to bring in new fans as modern fandom places money into more appealing productions (Evangelion, Bebop, etc). Personally, I'm not all that concerned should the end come for Macross. Few of the other franchises I adore have sustained my interest this long, yet I still enjoy those old franchises even after they are long past from pop culture memory (Alien, Terminator, and Mad Max just to name a few). Then new franchises appear to enjoy (Matrix, Bebop, Lord of the Rings to name a few) and the cycle of creative art and entertainment continues onward. Soon, holography will take over and all our beloved 2D films and entertainment will seem a quaint hobby to our children and their new world. Such is the cycle of life, no shame or sorrow, simply reality.

This was certainly unexpected. New Low-Viz and Stealth colors? Very strange. Like most, I have to say I'm extremely curious what these color schemes will look like. I have to say that this is certainly coming at a lousy time. I'm much more interested in the new Macross Zero products like the 1/60 VF-0 and variants, especially the VF-0D. I'm also still awaiting my 1/48 GBP set, which will give me two super sets and one full armor set (one armored set for each valkyrie I own). I've already got my fill of 1/48 Yammies and I'm looking forward to obtaining some more varied products. Perhaps what I'll do is sell one of my three existing 1/48's and purchase a low-viz or stealth variant. That way I maintain my desired number of three 1/48s Yammies and enjoy a little bit of variety in the collection. Regardless, this is surprising news.

Miller's Mad Max films are classics of Australian cinema, but I can't really see a sequel working all that well. The third film was awful and really, Mel Gibson is too far removed from the character at this point. There is also such a thing as too much of a good thing I'd love to see another decent post-apocalyptic film that actually works like the Mad Max films, but I think the Max franchise is pretty much done.

Beautiful hi-res pictures! Thanks a bunch mm!

The bottom right-hand canopy is the best. It looks perfect now.

Hehehe, knew you'd love it

Oh, new pic's! Cool stuff. Looking better all the time.

Fantastic work. I like the new side pylons as opposed to the old. I must say the larger fighter looks as good or better than the older, smaller version. You could easily go either way and have a fairly tight design. I don't like the truncated cockpit. It really interferes with the flow of the design, creating an odd angle that does not fit with the rest of the craft. I'd definitely recommend restoring the original cockpit or tackling a complete redesign of the cockpit area.

[brando mode] "The horror...the horror..."

I watched the film in theatres. It was good and so was Cage, but it just lacked that little extra "pow" that turns a film from good to great. Still, it's well worth at least a rental and the humor is quite amusing. Plus, who can resist all those guns?

Interesting topic. Something I have yet to consider in Macross. I can't see the UN and the survivors of Earth indulging in Zentradi-style cloning, especially given all they know of the Zentradi's pyschological immaturity and the danger of pre-programming thinking sentients. Not only would this lead to serious complications with cloned humans, one has no idea how the clones would react given the circumstances. The humans could be faced with another war which would turn against the natural humans. Considering the fact in the Macross universe this is the first time humans will be using cloning on a massive scale, natural human tendancies of fear and discrimination against different humans (clones being just the most recent in human history) would make for some potential social/political disasters. Most likely humans-style cloning would involve newborns and infants so they could be raised in a more natural fashion leading to better adjusted adults. More than likely, the UN/remaining human population would adopt an aggressive re-population mentality and some new laws. Much like China has population control policies, the UN would probably require mandatory procreation, at least for the first generation. This would obviously include natural born humans, but would also likely expand, encouraging/forcing single adults without children to adopt a clone or adopt abandoned children who survived the war. Sterile couples incapable of reproducing or gay male couples would also have to be encouraged/forced to adopt children. Not even the elderly would be exempt. In such a time of crisis for a civilization, it would be necessary to have every able-bodied adult raising at least one child, preferrably more. Also, it would be in the best interests of the UN to clone from as many different humans as possible, even Zentradi too. Genetic diversity would be a very high priority, to ensure that the human gene pool remains healthy and viable. This in turn would require new laws put in place by the UN. It would most likely be illegal for clones to reproduce among their own kind for at least one or two generations. Also, it would be illegal for a natural human to reproduce with clones created from immediate family relatives. Think of the potential danger for genetic inbreeding without laws and more importantly, strictly kept records. A natural human could become involved with a clone of his/her mother or father. Given the change in appearance due to age, it would be very possible a natural human would not recognize much younger versions of his own parents. Especially within the context of the depopulation crisis, the age of consent would undoubtedly be lowered to increase the population that much more quickly. Some many things to consider, this is probably going a bit farther than you expected. Regardless, those are my thoughts and I hope they get you thinking.

What I'd really like to see more than anything else is a Macross movie. A film hasn't been attempted in a while and the film format would be better suited for a strong story considering all that's been done in the Macross franchise. Another series akin to the first Super Dimension Fortress Macross wouldn't really work in my opinion. Obviously, Kawamori is not interested in another epic Macross story and quite simply such a story is not breaking any new territory for the franchise. I'd have to say that another OVA wouldn't be too promising either. The OVA's have pretty much been done to death for Macross and I'd have to agree with the detractors that the Macross Zero OVA failed to live up to its potential. I hope something is in the works for the 25th Annivesary, but I wouldn't be that surprised if not much is happening. I think I'm happy with the Macross Zero merchandise from Yamato and the GBP. I'd probably get more out of Macross via the Yamato products. Maybe if Yamato released some new Macross Plus sculpts that'd really impress me!