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Mr March

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  1. Mr March
    Well we can be sure whatever the Hollywood studios do, 40-somethings won't be the target audience; it'll be the typical 18-34 crowd
  2. Mr March
    It's surprising how much of a hold this franchise still has on me. Granted, there's good reason; the first two films are still brilliant, AVP 2 is still one of the best PC games and all the mechanical designs are still fun to look at to this day. But only just in the last week has my willpower finally defeated the last of my blind nostalgia and I've completely accepted that I will not buy this game, even on a Steam sale. It took a surprising amount of self-convincing. I suppose this is why companies keep exploiting once-great franchises, because that adoration developed in one's formative years is a potent purchasing power. So...Die Hard 6 then?
  3. Mr March
    I'm absolutely with Yoshida on this one; who cares about the damn box? I don't understand the luddite attitude of some of those critics. It isn't the 1980's, the 1990's or even the 2000's anymore and Sony can't be faulted for prioritizing what matters more to today's primary young demographic. The grumpy 30-40-somethings aren't going to be there to save Sony when it's clear some aren't even interested in purchasing a Playstation 4. If some want old school products catering to retro tastes, buy an Ouya. The Playstation 4 has to fight for the future of the console market, no matter how grim it may be. Sony can't be faulted for chasing the tastes of the younger consumer demographic, only faulted if they fail to win those consumers.
  4. Mr March
    In all fairness pfunk, the gap between PC graphics and console graphics only seems so vast right now because the differences in hardware between the two are separated by almost a decade. I suppose the Wii U is technically new hardware, but it's underpowered and made on the cheap so it's graphics capabilities are understandably limited (exactly what was intended by Nintendo). Admittedly there's good reason why they tout the Playstation 4 as a "supercharged PC", because PC's ARE the benchmark. But let's be honest here, I'm sure we'll all be happy with next generation console graphics of the PS4 and the next X-Box. They will look sufficiently impressive and only the few of us will be able to really tell the difference. If one absolutely MUST play id Software's latest "Rage" or "Doom 4" engine on 2560×1440 at 60 FPS, one can always blow $1,600 on an enthusiast class PC. I think true 1920 x 1080 will be good enough for the foreseeable future.
  5. Mr March
    I very much agree. Hollywood has a long and well known history of always featuring the latest and greatest hardware in any given film. Any potential variable mecha will either be based on the most modern fighter craft or something with pseudo-futuristic styling. Also, the motivation for Hollywood to create a potential Robotech movie is pure brand recognition (something people will know) and trend exploitation (ressurgence of 1980s pop culture). Films made with those considerations as the primary motivator NEVER stray from formula. We can almost be assured any existing Macross design will not appear. Most likely, the designs will be disappointing, both from the point of view of a western/real-mecha aesthetic and from an anime/hyper-stylized perspective.
  6. Mr March
    But that is exactly the point; more consumers are spending their money on other hardware, not video game consoles. That same expendable income is being spent toward a high end phone or tablet. Casual gaming by the average non-gamer is what's growing. Like it or not, casual and mobile gaming is impacting the traditional platforms and not just on the consumer side. More and more new game developers that would have traditionally made PC or console games now design easier and cheaper mobile games instead that offer new opportunities to change the way we play games. Sony knows this, which is why their new console is being designed for social media, sharing and mobility like a smart phone or tablet. It's also why an indie game developer was front and center in Sony's Playstation 4 announcement. Now this isn't to say there's no big money to be made in console gaming, but the days of the PC or console being the only way to play video games are long over. And that's going to impact Sony and Microsoft in a BIG way as they make a play for the next generation market. Much has changed in the video game landscape in the 7 years since the last new Sony/Microsoft console was released. This year we're going to find out just how much that change will impact traditional gaming. My guess is the impact is going to be huge
  7. Mr March
    I can speak to this point. I know some of my friends and especially the younger generation coming up behind me have no interest at all in owning lots of "things", at least when it comes to movies, music, literature and video games. Being raised in the online world creates the mindset that everything is available online. So for many there is little reason to have your media physically. This is why most young people demand connectivity and speed. If everything they believe they want is on the internet, the only obstacle to everything they want is the means of access. Most people also want consolidation and are tired of having so many pieces of hardware that do the same thing or feel redundant. I know young people don't want to hang onto a PS2, PS3 and PS4 to swap around hook ups when they want to use them. And frankly nowadays, neither do I. I'd like all my media consolidated into one box, personally on a computer. But my desktop PC feels likes it may be on the way out too I know a lot of us old timers may not think like that (especially from the comments of those who want physical copies of everything). And I've heard all the reasons, from personal risk, lack of redundancy, backup, etc. But what we must understand is that paranoia doesn't exist in the younger generation, for good or ill. And for most of our generation and older who are still purchasing media, digital distribution has simply become a matter of convenience and a reality of modern distribution. Digital distribution isn't going away, it's physical media that is going away. If Sony wants to plan for the future, they have to face that reality and they are doing so with the Playstation 4 (at least partially). This is why Sony with their the Playstation 4 has to cater to connectivity, digital media and other current market forces. However, there are other considerations as well that may cause problems for both Sony and Microsoft. Because consolidation is such a big deal, opportunities for a video game console have never been worse. In fact, all the major taditional game platforms (PC, console, portable) have a big challenge ahead competing with mobile gaming. Most simply game on their mobile phones or tablets. Also, most are no longer willing to buy more than one console, if they want to buy one at all. Consoles are too expensive to purchase more than one and a not insignificant portion of consumers won't purchase a console at all. As it happens, this is why "Big Picture" from "Valve" might actually have a shot at dominating the home media center. To so many computer users, Steam already represents the pinnacle of digital distribution and consolidating your PC video games with your movies and music AND a video game console (via the Steambox), it's like a dream come true for the modern digital consumer. Everything consolidated, everything digital, everything accessible and all of it running on one box.
  8. Mr March
    Anyone else checked out the big press announcement for the Playstation 4? There's actually a lot of good information in the announcement. Here's a breakdown of what was covered in the 2 hour presentation: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/the-playstation-4-exists/1100-4583/ The big rumor going around now seems to be that "The Last Guardian" (the next game from the creators of "Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus") is being delayed so it can be released on the PS4 instead of the PS3. Thoughts? Praise? Complaints?
  9. Mr March
    Haven't seen a topic about this one yet, but it looks like Bungie is beginning the advance marketing for its new game titled Destiny. The game is a FPS, but looks like a lot more with a much broader, more interactive game environment and social network considerations. A new look at the game has been released: http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/bungie-talks-about-destiny/2300-7056/ This looks like a great new project. It feels like a lot of the creativity from this studio is once again at the forefront for Destiny. They may just have more to them than Halo, which would be a nice surprise. Anyone else interested?
  10. Mr March
    For anyone interested, the Slashfilm guys did a review of A Good Day To Die Hard, which is guaranteed to be more entertaining than the film http://www.slashfilm.com/filmcast-ep-219-a-good-day-to-die-hard/ Review starts at Time Index 41:40.
  11. Mr March
    Well, I guess for me the nail is in the coffin now. Giant Bomb just gave Aliens: Colonial Marines a score of 1 out of 5. Wow. http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/aliens-colonial-marines-review/1900-558/ General feeling from the GB team is the game is a competent shooter but simply doesn't do anything different from any other shooter. Most damning criticism of the game was the lack of almost any tension in either the single or multiplayer modes, which is a terrible thing to say about a franchise whose currency is making the audience tense. Given high fan expectation and adoration for the franchise, I figure the game had to be better than average to even hope for fan approval but instead what was delivered was a terribly mediocre result. They also have a quick look (about an hour) if anyone is interested. http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/quick-look-aliens-colonial-marines/2300-7033/ This is a real shame
  12. Mr March
    Interesting. If true, that's certainly in line with what the reviews have been saying about the game as being wildly inconsistent and fractured.
  13. Mr March
    Wow, when even the game sites in the pocket of the publishers write a lousy review, you just know this is a bad game (or they didn't pay them off enough) I'm saddened but that's why I wait for reviews for properties like these. The Aliens franchise - like so many popular franchises - has been exploited FAR too much to trust blind buying any film or video game made of it.
  14. Mr March
    I suppose I can understand that. I guess I'm surprised because poll results like this pull me out of "hardcore Macross fan" and show me the scope of what the broader Macross fanbase likes. I think a poll of mostly the Macross mecha fans would be much more familiar to me
  15. Mr March
    That's a fair assessment, but I'd say look at these new Star Wars films realistically. Let's admit from the beginning most of these new films are going to be crap, regardless of how many are made or how soon. That's the track record of Hollywood. But as I said, these standalone features represent more potential for a good film and the key word I wrote was inadvertantly. The press releases so far certainly don't lead me to believe they are planning to make good Star Wars movies, but odds are good they might make one or two by accident. As time goes on it's a given more terrible Star Wars films are to be released and the motivation to ensure the brand remains viable will guide Disney toward thinking they should done initially (better scripts, better directors, better ideas, etc). Happens all the time; the Bond films are a perfect example, as are the Marvel films. Honestly, I've long since accepted that big ticket garbage finances the finer few. So let most sit through a horde of horrible Star Wars films so long as a few gems come of it. IMO, those gems are the only new Star Wars films worth getting excited about.
  16. Mr March
    Damn, never even voted Kind of a weird list. YF-29 that high on the list seems very strange.
  17. Mr March
    While I share concern that Disney's strategy to expand the Star Wars franchise into as many money making ventures as it can is dangerous, I think many of you should consider the potential advantages (however inadvertant) that some of these films can represent. To my eyes, these spin-off films about certain Star Wars characters represent more creative opportunity for a great film than sequeling/prequeling the Star Wars trilogy yet again (even with Abrams helming). For starters, there would be far fewer contraints on these standalone films than the next trilogy. The new trilogy MUST be a trilogy and it MUST be a grand, space opera style film. But these spin-off movies? The story/style possibilities are much broader and more open-ended. The type of story, even in the constraints of a PG movie, can be more varied. They could be action films. They could be dramatic films. They could be anything. Imagine a Han Solo story told as a heist film or a revenge tale. Imagine a Boba Fett story told as a chase film or a prison film. So many more possibilities than just an epic space opera. Also, each of the spin-off films would require a completely different creative team placed in the hands of a unique filmmaker. While some of the films will doubtless fall to lesser directors, there is the very likely possibility of real talent being attached to these films. Imagine a Star Wars spin-off film with a Neil Blomkamp, or a Dan Trachtenberg, or a Pete Travis, or...the list goes on. In the hands of a young filmmaker taking full advantage of the opportunity to craft a singular vision, there's the chance one of these spin-off movies could actually be a legitimately awesome film. I think these spin-offs have me far more excited about Star Wars again than the thought of yet another trilogy.
  18. Mr March
    I'm speculating, but I always got the impression the Mark Twain VII was not one of the core support vessels of the Macross 7 fleet but more of a tag-along ship that could just as easily travel from one fleet to another entirely. That might explain why it doesn't have a permanently attached escourt vessel, but that's just guessing. Wasn't the Budokan in orbit of a specific planet? I got the impression it was a rather fixed station as opposed to moving around with a fleet. I think most of the vessels in Macross can dock with each other via ports and bridges but not in the same sense as two vessels completely combining with each other. It wouldn't be in the same way we see the escort ships "docking" with the Macross 7 fleet ships or the Macross 7/Macross Frontier/Macross Quarter "docking" with their City ships. That seems more elaborate and requires special design considerations for each ship involved. That said, I don't see any reason why the Macross Quarter couldn't dock with any of the emigration ships. Though it seems the Macross Frontier fleet and Macross Galaxy fleet didn't have any such emigration vessels at all. Perhaps the accompanying emigration ships are no longer part of the Colony Fleets...or maybe just the really big fleets like the Macross Frontier fleet have all the services of the emigration ships built into their City and Island vessels.
  19. Mr March
    getfresh, we've seen how subsequent Macross series have not adhered strictly to one version over the other but have used character/story/design elements from both SDF Macross or DYRL?. The topic of continuity contradictions is a subject that has been raised many times by many different Macross fans and there has been no way to reconcile it by stating characters/events/designs in Macross sequels are uniformly following series continuity or film continuity. We Macross fans must simply accept that Shoji Kawamori and the Macross creative teams will use preferred elements from both SDF Macross or DYRL? while disregarding any continuity problems that may arise from merging series/film elements. Why, thank you
  20. Mr March
    That actually makes a lot of sense. We also see the encountering of Meltrandi fleets (like in the Macross 7 PLUS episodes) which would certainly support such an interpretation. Not that it really matters all that much, since the SA was only every a basic plot point and never anything more. Backstory needed to make the fictional construct of the Macross universe work and not much else.
  21. Mr March
    The image on my website is an edited version of the page spread of the VA-3 from "This Is Animation Special: Macross Plus" and obviously fan colored by myself using the colors taken from inside the back section of that same book. On those websites you posted I'm unsure where they got their designations, but there doesn't appear to be anything within TIAS:M+ to suggest the pictures taken from the book for use on my website represent some variant of the VA-3 with a different lettering designation. Course, there's little information on this craft anyways and it's likely the design was merely a concept fleshed out into a profile until it got animated years later. And even once animated, the design never received much attention. In fact if you look closely at the Battorid art on my website, the right arm of the Battroid mode is missing the "wing"
  22. Mr March
    LOL! I wish I had half the talent you do for drawing mecha outside your comfort zone. Your work is solid and factoring that you don't consider yourself good at it, makes it all the more impressive. But whatever motivates you to draw more cool Macross stuff, I'm all for it
  23. Mr March
    IMO, Rian Johnson's glowing twitter post for Pacific Rim carries much more weight than some idle fan boy boast or most print reviews. This is just cause to be very happy.
  24. Mr March
    Very nice work! I agree the canards on the YF-19 need work, but I do really like the perspective of your YF-19 overall. The angle/perspective changes as you look along the length of the fighter. Very cool.
  25. Mr March
    The reason the whole story about the Supervision Army feels weird now some 30 real years after the first SDF Macross TV series has aired is because the SA were only ever meant to be a plot-driven device to get the protagonists and antagonists into a place where they needed to be to tell the story of Macross. Very little else has been said about the Supervision Army because it's never been required for any Macross story. THe SA is ultimately not that relevant to what goes on in the various Macross stories. Only really interested fans like ourselves have any motivation to know more. But when you look at it from the writer's persepective, there's no reason to detail anything more about the Supervision Army. Indeed, the Macross writers have all but ignored the SA.
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