Keith

The full situation was this: -Gametek licenses Robotech for a N64 launch game, which got delayed for at least 3 years, then officially became vaporware once Gametek went under. I'm sure most have seen the Robotech Crystal Dreams clips on youtube, and some even played the rom that one of the programmers (penguin something) put up on the web. -When Gametek went under, its licenses went wholesale, and another videogame company snagged up some of their titles, including the Robotech game. For some reason, looking at their contracts, they got it in their heads that they owned the whole Robotech license, this single act awoke the sleeping Harmony Gold legal team, which caused them to look over "their" contracts, and flaunt around that they owned all Macross licensing internationally (outside Japan). -Coincidentally, around this same time, George Sohn, & his company Toycom, decided they would start up a Macross Plus toyline, because of his/their love for the old Takatoku/Bandai toys. Seeking out feedback, they started posting on the usenet Alt.Fan.Macross forums, kept everyone informed along the process from Prototype to complete toy. The toyline being a joint venture between Toycom & Yamato. -Maybe because of the booming anime market at the time (Dragonball & what not), AnimEigo licenses Macross, Manga puts out Plus & II on DVD, Bandai decides to port their new Macross game for U.S. release, and all looks good on the U.S. Macross fan horizon for the first time ever! -Then HG lays down the smack that would be felt around the world. For full details, obviously head over to the licensing topic, but the short version is that because of Tatsunoko, HG believed they owned all Macross licensing, when in fact they only had distro & merch for the original series. First target, tiny toy company Toycom, second target, Bandai games, neither of which is sure of the situation, because at that point no one knew what the hell was going on. In truth, not even HG could be faulted for thinking they had what they did, since it was Tatsunoko's bone-up. The way they went about things was far from right, and by all means, you'd think they would have contacted all Japanese parties involved before going official. You'll note that after the recent legal battles in Japan, they've corrected their stance. Perhaps to save themselves litigation from using DYRL designs in toylines & comics. -And of course the ultimate dick move at the time, George Sohn makes a backhanded deal with HG, sells out Toycom by signing a contract with HG stating that they will not release any Macross merch, selling the company to Yamato, then starting up a new company with a shiny new Robotech toy license....and to this day I refuse to support Toynami for that very action. At the same time, HG deals with ADV to hurry out Robotech DVD's to cut off the release of Macross AnimEigo's Macross by a full year. And all of that lead to the animosity of the time between Macross fans & HG. The reverberations we're still feeling today. HG's current claims are that they're not hindering any attempts at licensing Macross properties, and that its Big West who are refusing to do business with American company's. How much of that is true is anyone's guess, but one thing is nie certain. We probably would have gotten domestic Yammies, the Macross PS2 game, & Zero licensed over here had HG not sent the fear of mysterious legal action into Bandai & what not. Frontier would also probably still be using the U.N. Spacy instead of the NUNS, but that change isn't so bad.

I'm not dissagreeing, just saying that all we really know about her is what Ozma has said. And usually in anime, it didn't happen 100% unless there's flashback animation. Also, just before Sheryl's concert, she sang her Nyan Nyan song... Could very easily be wrong, but any of her background info at this point could change as the series goes along.

Nope, wasn't me. Though I'm pretty sure we were all on for HG's stance on the licensing.

A little latle, but since we're throwing out whacky theories, has anyone proposed that Ranka is actually a Vajra found/captured during that colony incident, and Ozma's leaving the NUNS has something to do with taking her in? It just seems odd that the Vajra would be specifically targetting her when she sings, over anyone else.

Supposedly, according to HG at least, they're no longer laying claim to all things Macross, saying that it's Big West who is preventing U.S. releases somehow. Regardless of the situation, our best hope for testing the waters would be Bandai Visual.

Besides which, if anyone U.N. Pilots were letting themselves get distracted by Basara, that's due to lack of discepline, not anything Basara may have been doing.

I was having so much fun playing with snake's features, i forgot to look for dog tags... I've also ceased sucking quite as much in general, can't wait for the full game.

Wait a minute here, not only is Basara like John Lennon, but Sivil sings a lot like Yokko Ono!

I actually liked it better than Grozny Grad, though it does seem to be more of a sniper level than anything else. Just something fun about picking snipers off the roof's of buildings right when they get positioned. And after 3 days, I final raised my sniping skill to level 2...

Dubbed anime should have been dead years ago. This whole scenario would be much more appealing though, if Japan didn't bone themselves on DVD/Blue Ray prices. Though 7 years ago they were at $99 per disc, so maybe in a few more years, they'll go down to normal levels.

I just hope they add an octo-camo element to the online play, as it would add some stealth back into the mix.

AnimEigo got their audio from Big West, and by appearances, did it behind HG's backs. ADV just got whatever HG handed them.

I officially suck pretty hard at online shooters, but the good news is that it's a good primer for the control changes in the actual game.

If they could build a PS3 that doubles as an airconditioner, as opposed to the current heater models, I'd totally buy another one.

The only other online shooter I've played is Portable Ops, so I don't have too much to compare it too, but very awesome so far. I didn't like the control changes at first, but I've gotten used to them. I find myself sniping more than anything else so far. All the controls shown in the game are pretty easy to pull off. Jumping into first person, rolling on your back to toss a grenade, etc. I can't wait to see how Snake handles though.

I think it was on the old forums, back when robotech.com first launched.

Did we run him off? I think he only made 2 posts tops, seemed to be of the survey variety, and then off he went.

:::Disclaimer::: I know this topic was forever forbidden to be spoken of again, but in the interests of comic timing, I have to mention it just once.... No, he got pied!

Robotech will never be able to topple the awesome power of Tuna buns!

That was so almost my new wallpaper... As for Gurren Lagann, it's Bandai Entertainment doing the sub only release. Bandai Visual are the ones releasing Macross F in Japan, and they're already no strangers to sub only releases in the U.S. SRW, Gunbuster, Diebuster, and several others have all been sub only releases. The trick is in getting them to bring F here period. Supposedly the big hault on Macross being released over here (according to HG), hasn't been HG themselves, but Big West being wary of working with R1 companies (due to Tatsunoku & HG). But given their great relationship with Bandai Visual, I don't see how they'd refuse a license from them.

because the last time something macross got licensed in the U.S. was almost 15 years ago, and it'd be freakin' awesome if we could import legit releases & have them all ready to go with subtitles?

I'm a little behind all of you, waiting for crunchyroll to put up the episodes, but I'm also loving this series so far. As someone said, it's nicely rolling everything that came before it, all into one, plus more. It would be an incredible shame if this series doesn't get licensed here, and at this point, I'm hoping Funi picking up Aquarion is a preview of things to come.

And with Bandai, we're sure to get "Gurren Brigade" instead of "Team Gurren."

40$ per disc, and the quality would be much better.

Those better be two disc sets, even Tekkaman Blade only pushed 7 eps.