the white drew carey

Theoretically? Yes, I'd like to see the original updated. Realistically? No, and it's never going to happen. I think the budgetary reasons alone would preclude any re-animation of the original series.

I really like that VD It would be nice if something like that is entered into the Macross, probably as a bomber more than a fighter, it looks to chunky in fighter mode. Well, my thinking behind the concept is that the Destroids are severely lacking in mobility. The variable idea would allow it to move to different positions on a battlefield rather quickly (as opposed to lumbering there like the do regularly.

Also, remember that Kawamori said he wasn't going to let continuity get in the way of a good story...

Understood, but the guy should've known that he would get some grief for his portly belly. I think he should've actually put effort into getting the drape/sash that some characters wore. It would've definitely helped his situation. Any fabric shop would've had the colors he needed to make it work. it just sounds like he didn't want to bother.

Our buddy Mr. Maynard just got featured as the awful link of the day on Something Awful.

OK, by utlizing your "save files" you can open up the final two levels listed. Afterwards it tells you "Thanks you for playing", etc. etc. I noticed that if you scroll down past the last stage listed (there are 6), there might be a secret level. If you tap down once past 6, nothing is highlighted. tap down again and it starts back over at the first stage. Sadly, I cannot test this right now because Queer Eye is on and my wife won't let me at the moment. One neat option which, once again, I can't remember is in FM3 or not, is in the Wanzer Shop, you can actually purchase basic Wanzer set-us (ie- Gunner I, II, Missiler I, Melee I, II, III and several "experimental" models). This greatly helps since you don't have to bother with putting a unit together. I do suggest making minor changes to the basic set-up, since they haven't (as of yet) come with any backpacks. This game is looking better and better!

OK- loading up your saved file opens up a new mission as well as the Wanzer Shop. Customizing your Wanzers: There about 30 camo patterns, around 100 different color for your armor plates and about 150-200 different colors for your "stripes" or markings. In the mission, you have a wanzer that has an EMP weapon. It's cool.

I ordered the demo from the Square/Enix site. You have to go HERE create a user and then submit a request for the free demo. As far as I know, they're still taking orders. On that note... FIRST OPINIONS Summary- The demo has 4 open levels, 1,2 and 4 are playable stages, while 3 is a cutscene. The fourth and final level also allows you to save your progress when you complete. I'm guessing this might unlock some neat-o secret thing on the full version. GRAPHICS- CGI cut-scenes: A+ Square, IMHO, has always been one of the greats for CGI cutscenes and FM4 is no exceptions. The craphics are clean, the lighting effects amazing and the cinematography is topnotch. In-game graphics: A- The graphics which are run on the game engine are nice. Some distortion comes into play during camera movements (what I like to call "mirage warble"), but that's only to be expected. The cut-scenes which are run using the game engine itself are also extremely well done, the only difference from the CGI is level of graphical quality, all of the other cinematic goodies are still there (it's really cool when the Wanzers are "skating" along the ground and top a hill to get some air). The animation for the Wanzers is great. You really get the feel that these are large machines. When you attack, you're Wanzer's position depends on which way he's pointing, so it's really cool when he whips around and blasts away on someone. The rocket/missile attacks are improved as well, adding cleaner zig and zag to make it more exciting. The camera is also much better. FM3 suffered from some angle issues, especially during the attack sequences, when the camera would be lodged in some object and cut off the view. No more!!! SOUND Music: A+ The music is very well done, and adds to the mood of the missions and cutscenes. Sound Effects: B The sound effects are good, as well. Some of the machine guns sound a little too wimpy, though. Voice Acting: C This is where it gets ya'. Some of the voice acting is OK, some of it blows. Many of the characters in the first two levels are of foreign nationality, so we get treated to Elsa's fairly poor french accent and some guy's extremely annoying italian accent ("I-ah might as well-ah join-ah in-ah." ...literally) CONTROLS A The controls are pretty good all around. Some confusion occurs when you have to use the left analog for one command and then instinctively try to use it for the next, but you actually have to use the joypad, and vice-versa. The zoom control kind of blows since it doesn't really zoom in or out that much, but the rotate (right analog) works well. When you rotate, you really get a feel for the level of detail in the graphics. Two benefits are the X and the O buttons. The X button speeds up movement and the O button allows you to completely skip the attack animation. I can't remember if these were featured in FM3, but they're damned good to have here. MINOR PROBLEMS Nothing much, really. During the 4th mission there were several moments when the voice acting didn't kick in. I'm not sure if it was a glitch or not, though. OVERALL The demo thus far gets a solid A. If you're an FM fan, then this is what you're waiting for. This could be THE mech game to beat, strategy or otherwise. Now I'll just have to wait for the full version to come out...

OK- The excitement is starting to brew. I got my FM4 playable demo today and I'm just about to fire it up. Thoughts and opinions forthcoming.

I've purchased from them a couple of times with no problems.

"Zone of Enders"??? I'm surprised it came out so puffy considering you never picked at it.

Hey Solscud... we know what the Konig Monster looks like already! No need to keep posting images! Hurin- I'm not sure I get where you're coming from... The VB-6 Konig Monster IS canon.

...and they keep trying to tell us Kelly Osbourne is in rehab.

Me neither.

More like the WALTER KOENIG Monster!!!

And... The SDF-1 visits Central Park.

Here's some examples to allow you to appreciate the scale of the SDF-1: SDF-1 next to the WTC towers.

Ummm... yes they were. Watch when Millia takes off vertically, you can see th other levels above them (also on page 35 of Perfect Memory). Given the realism of the arrangement in the TV series is dubious at best. But the set up in DYRL is much more plausible. Let's assume the "living space" is 300m long x 100m wide x 200m high*. That gives us roughly 6 million cubic meters. Already that is 120 cubic meters per person. Of course, if the image Nanashi provided is considered correct, alot of the that 200m height is empty space. So let's assume then there is roughly 10 sub-levels at 3 meters high each below the "main level". That takes up about 900,000 cubic meters, with each level being 30,000 square meters, or 300,000 square meters of floor space for 50,000 people= 6 square meters per person. That's not large, but it's not a bad amount of living space, considering their situation. That's assuming there are 10 levels of living space BELOW the main street level. But there are also high rises of more space as well. Of course, if we had actual dimensions for thes city space this would be easier, but it's not a bad estimate at all. As to the stadium analogy, remember that packing 50,000 people in a stadium means only putting them in seats for the viewing area. The total area of the stadium, both below the seats as well as the large empty cone of space above provides an amazingly large amount of unused space. I couldn't find an exact seating amount for our needs, so I'll go with Giants Stadium: Seating: 80,000 (roughly) Size: 64,500,000 cubic square feet (756’ long x 592’ wide x 144' high) That gives us a little over 800 cubic feet per person. Once again, not terribly large, but not uncomfortable either, roughly about the size of a college dorm room. *guestimates based on known dimensions and various images. Height determined by the overal width of an ARMD compared next to the "leg" of the SDF-1.

Budget and space.

[to usurp an old stand-up routine] "AgentONE wants to get a tattoo of Schwarzenegger on his entire body... Only 2 inches taller." As to you tat, if you shop around first and get someone good, then you don't have to worry about the quality of the tat. I got mine almost 10 years ago on the inside of my forearm, and except for a bit of fading on the right, where it's exposed to the sun more, it looks just about the same. As for your subject matter? I got a decepticon symbol. Why? Because I loved transformers as a kid. I kind of hate them now (actually for about the past 10 or 15 years) because they all look like crap now. BUt it still meant something to me. Enough so that I still got a tattoo of it. So it's up to you. I say, if you really want it, go for it. You'll never regret it. p.s.- Here's me laying my arm on the scanner.

OK, call me an "idiot" here, but what's the difference between the HGUC kits and the regular 1/144 kits? I love 0080.

I, too, knew it was his CG Q-Rau. But you must admit it's a pretty slick prank. If someone ( ) hadn't given up the farm so quickly, I was expecting people to asking where the seam-lines are or where the screw holes go! Great work, Rodovan. The lower legs are a tad too skinny for my tastes, but if that's all I can complain about, it means you've done good. (now get crackin' on a "meatier" TV-version Q-rau)

Not very logical, yes. But straight-forward? Even more so. My point was simply that the avatars are fine how they are. There's really not much that can be done in the extra 16 or a so pixels on up and over that will make an 80x80 avatar that much better. What it all really comes down to is whether or not it's something that the Admins can just flick a switch for? If it's that easy, go for it, and I too shall reap the benefits. But if it's any way time-consuming (and I'm talking 5+ minutes here) then it's really not worth the trouble, IMHO. Geez, do you REALLY want to see A1's man-boob's that badly!?!

The end is hilarious where the gal-cat runs past and the man-bunny is chasing her.

Personally, I don't see the need for larger avatars. If you can't fit it in the space provided, then you don't need it as an avatar.