sketchley

Uhm, and what information do you have on who exactly the fans are of the series? Sure, oversees, it's mostly composed of 16 to 30 year old males. But that's not the primary audience. Another way to look at it is: which episodes had the least viewers during the original run? Answer: the one's with the most combat and least character interaction. From that information alone, it's safe to say that the manga IS aimed at the primary audience of the series.

If you want the information on the links in English, try: http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/variablepolice_air.html http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/variablepolice_space.html http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/variablepolice_ground.html ... as the information, in Japanese, is directly lifted from those, or similar pages (oberservant readers will notice things like feet, miles and pounds listed in the stats, which is never used in Japan (a metric country), or that the gun pod has "20 long bursts, 10 short bursts, 5 full melee bursts"; which is only how RPG game stats using the Palladium RPG game engine would list it). If you want the real information, refer to Macross Chronicle #47 pg 07 (aka M7 UNS 13a "Macross 7 Fleet Vehicles"). No offical canon stats exist for the air/space vehicle. It's official name is "City Police Machine". I find it really bizarre that the creator of the webpages would use English made-up stats, DESPITE having access to the Macross Chronicle article on the vehicle!

Pssst: best not call attention to yourself about it. Or else...

The Valkyrie II's SAP pack connection appears to be just an (English) 'net rumour.

It's still on the "to do" list. Though, that section will have to wait until after my current `target` the VF-5000. And I should finish wading through the VF-1 section, too. <sigh> not enough hours in the day.

Before I forget: the section on the Stampede Valkyrie mentions that it has similar packs to (or packs that inspired the packs on) the VF-25 Tornado Packs!

Haven't looked that closely at it, have we. It's got more weapons than a Kwadoran-Rau. Starts in 2091, and ends in... 2091. Intro paragraph at the top also says "takes place 80 years after the alliance between Earthers and Zentraadi". So far MC has been pretty consistant in focusing only on technology from the Studio Nue line...

Contents review #49 Front cover: English "1 ISSUE TO GO". Japanese "after 1 issue until the completion of this magazine" Mechanic: M7 Baroota: 01c: Fz-109 Erugaazorun. Gun pods, hand, ejectible cockpit, and transformation. M7 Baroota: 04b: Baroota Fleet: Gigiru's warship, standard battleship, high speed rading, Battroid large carrier, frigate. Some stats (though a lot more "under investigation" than I'd like), and some focusing on the weapons and catapults. 7Movie etc 01a: Kwadoran Kiruka Holy everything but the standard armaments is "under investigation!" (Though the user gets an honourable mention: "-".) Reverse has bits on how the cockpit opens and armaments (missile line art, too). DYRL UNS 04a: VT-1/VE-1 One data block for both. The VT-1 takes up 7/8 of the reverse! VE-1 doesn't get much coverage, but that's not surprising, as there's not that much data, let alone line art for it in the first place! The cockpit seating of the VT-1 in battroid mode is a nice touch (not sure if it's been published in the Gold Book, or elsewhere. First time I noticed it). DYRL Cit 01a: Civilian vehicles: (sports) car, mini-car, open sports car, random vehicles. Interesting, but sadly no line art on the grabbling hooks the cars have to prevent them from floating away when gravity gets cut... Characters: 7 Movie: cit 01a Emiria Jiinasu. Reverse has her fishbowl and guitar. D7 UNS 01a: Gamurin Kakizaki about 1/3 of the reverse is on his "new beloved craft", the VF-22S! Timeline MII 01: the... whole... OVA... series... one... page... !!!!!one!eleven! Extra reports on "Operation Minmei" and "the construction of Mardook society" History SDFM 18a: Macross City (offense and defense) battle. Extra reports on "Macross City after that" and "Earth and the Zentraadi" Worldguide: 02a: Anti-UN Alliance. Interesting. Bits on the history, people, and equipment (obviously M0 and SDFM only), as well as Anti-UN Alliance incidents (Birdman Incident, South Ataria Island Defensive battle, Bombing of the Grand Cannon II, and the destruction of the fleet returning from Mars). Extra reports on "The postwar influence/power of the anti-unification (UN) government" (with picts from the tail end of SDFM AND the Macross Galaxy fleet's mainland 1!) and "the military enterprises of the anti-UN alliance series" (that's series of equipment). 08b: Vajra "Fold quartz and the Vajra Network". Front has pict of vajra in tube from first quarter of MF, and re3verse is about their network and lifecycle (in short: egg -> ai-kun -> small Vajra etc.) Extra reports on "alien lifeforms other than the Vajra" (Galactic whale, Saurobird, protodevlin) and "the song of the Vajra". Technology: 13a: Unmanned Craft (aka: Ghosts, Ghosts, and more Ghosts). Reverse has a wicked cool bird's eye view of the AIF-7S (finally getting some clarity on the shape of the Ghost's lifting body!), as well as the ghost series (ghost of the UN War period, Ghost of the SWI period, and Ghosts after the 2040's); as well as the points of difference with a VF (unmanned, doesn't transform, multi-purose, excellent cost-performance). Extra report on "VFs that have systems to control the unmanned craft" (VF-171, VF-171EX Aegis Pack, RVF-25) Glossary #27. Noteable content: Ravens (as in VF-X), Roi Fokka x2! FTW!!, Captain Robert (M0. He had a name?!), (Destroid) Works, YF-19/21/24 Evolution (what? no YF-24?), Planet Eden/Zola/Rakusu, "My Boyfriend's a pilot", and of course, Rori Doseru and Warera Nantesu! Gooods Sheet #07 Games A lot. Sasdly, there's an all too brief, with individual images that are too small wicked cool photo montage from the featured games. (SDFM DYRL still has the best screen cuts!) Anyhow, featured games: PC Engine: SDFM Macross (1992) Game Boy Colour: Macross 7 (2000) Wanda Swan (?!) SDFM Macross (2000) PS1: SDFM DYRL (1999, also for sega saturn 1997), Macross Digital Mission VF-X (1997), Macross VF-X2 (1999), Macross Plus -Game Edition- (2000) Dreamcast: Macross M3 (2001) PS2: SDFM (2003) PSP: Macross Ace Frontier (2008), Macross Ultimate Frontier (2009) Each one has a brief synopsis. Extra report on "Macross games for the PC": Macross since 1983 (1998), Macross V0 (2001), SDFM Typing Valkyrie (2002) Extra sheet: G&AV 8: VF-X-7 Ghost Valkyrie, VF-X-11, VA-X-3, V-BR-2, Stampede Valkrie. All are listed as being from "Advanced Valkyrie". Extra report on "Other Valkyries". Featuring the Armoured Gerwalk, and mentioning the VF-X-4 gerwalk that appeared in an anime magazine's "Macross Times" section, and there are many variations that exist for (computer) games. #50 preview images: DYRL Rin Minmei DYRL VF-1S SDFM Captain Guroobaru M0 HWR-00-Mk-I Monster and the text "concluded at last in the next issue"

So, what you're saying is that we should ignore things like good storytelling and characterization, and only focus on the visual and spectacle of entertainment? That's cutting out the best parts, my boy.

It's a category consistant with other similar publications. It's not so much for overflow, but for stuff that doesn't fit into any of the other catagories. In MC's case, it also appears to be for content that isn't part of any of the animated releases.

Shame on the lack of VF-X Raven's pilots. Nevertheless, B&W is better than nothing when it comes to those Advance Valkyrie designs.

Issue #50 preview is out Technology: Variable Fighter / VF lineage figure Macross Class and successor warships Mechanic HWR-00-Mk I p Monster SDF-1 Macross Az-130a Pantsuazorun VF-25s Messiah VF-2JA Icarus Meltorandi Forces Military Vessels Timeline Protoculture History and Mankind's Progress Character Sheet Rin Minmei Burunoo J. Guroobaru History Sheet Rin Minmei Operation Worldguide Protoculture Extra Sheet Tracks of the Macross Series

This is a very good point. Especially because of the echoes of Atari, and the video game crash of '83: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_crash_of_1983#High-profile_disasters

That's entirely debatable, as some of us have better imagination than others, and actually find the limitations of (video) game play and special effects, well, too limited.

To be honest, I didn't notice the lack of any "profoundity". I was just offering an explanation why it could come across like it did to you. Of course, I liked the after-the-fact explanation, "I was giving him enough rope to hang himself", too.

I don't think that's a pacing issue. I think that's more the writers being forced to cut out content to fit into the 40 min TV episode format. From a writing standpoint, if you have to lose something, it makes sense to lose Young and Rush's debate over the accuracy of the memory, and move right to the meat and potatos of the episode. Same with the trio just suddenly appearing out of the stargate a couple of episodes ago. There's only so much one can fit into an episode, and I'm glad that they're being forced to cut content, rather than the opposite: fill out the 40 minutes with useless filler and SFX shlock.

Re: #18 Very nice episode. More juicy character revelations. Continuations of conflicts not only begun at the start and during the early part of SGU, but also from the end parts of SG1! I don't want to give away any spoilers, but it was nice seeing at least part of the original team back together, and especially the humour. I also really like how the episode asks some serious questions of the SGC and it's mission in general. Interesting, thought provoking stuff.

Checked a couple of Japanese sites. June 2nd appears to be the release date.

The last I saw (in a picture posted by a MW member from a recent convention) it said, release date, end of May. Given that they are publishing previews, I have a gut feeling that they're sticking to the end of May release date.

This is a good point. As cool as it would be, I don't think there's enough information, let alone art, available. The VF-2JA makes more sense to me, too.

Who said anything about tape? I was talking about labels. And this information is based off of what? I haven't seen any quotes of production runs. Which is odd, as many members of MW complain about prices, yet they don't know very much about the manufacturing side of the business. Speculation. Having worked for a company that purchased, directly or indirectly, products produced with molds/plates/what-have-you, I can say that the cost of those things never change. Therefore, limited runs means a higher percentage of the tooling cost per item, which means more money going to the factory, and not the manufacturer. Based on what information? If anything, direct sales costs more, as they now have to employ a larger sales division as well as an expanded shipping division to handle the individual orders. Not to mention the ancillaries, such as purchasing new, smaller-sized cartons and other shipping materials to package individual items in. If one is used to shipping in crates, shipping in individual cartons is a whole new ballgame. Not disagreeing. Just agreeing that you've stated the reason why they cost so much: astronomic production costs + small profit (+ exchange rate, middle men, etc.) = expensive. No. You are misunderstanding. Economy of scale means the cost of an individual item being effected by the total production number. Economy of scale applies if Yamato makes 5 or 5 million. The smaller a production run, the higher one item costs. The larger a production run, the lower one item costs. If you are referring to gaining the benefits of economy of scale, then yes, Yamato cannot take as much advantage of it as 3M or Panasonic (BTW: Matsushita, as well as National has been retired by the company to consolidate advertising expenditures). Nevertheless, those big companies are still affected. It all depends on the size of their production run. And those cost money. The software to do it. The computers to run the software. The wages of people trained to do it. Factories also have to upgrade to computers and software that can accept the format that the new CAD software saves in. This is all passed along to the end purchaser. It can. Case in point are the two posters in this thread who would rather pick up and examine an item before purchasing it. Of course, it's not just the manufacturer that suffers, but also the retailer, as they are shooting themselves in the foot by reducing shelf space and diversity.

These are actual misnomers. Sure, the amount of money per item received by the manufacturer may be higher, but as the total number of items sold is lower, the total amount of money received is lower. The same is true for costs - less items produced means a higher per item cost, which actually drives down the amount of money made as profit. Therefore, the total profit is generally lower. Economics of scale do not favour limited production runs, and tend to make for higher costing items. (I used to work in a company that purchased labels. The cost of 5,000 was the same as the cost for 50,000. It was only at numbers above 50,000 that the cost per label dropped. At runs less than 5,000? The per label cost was astronomical. I think I even heard the label supplier say that they actually ran through 3,000 to　10,000 just to get the colours right, and in the right place!)

Latest episode was "decent", but not quite "excellent". Thematically, I understand why it's a "slow" episode, focused on characters, but I found it a little too predicatable for my tastes (unlike the bugs from the desert planet - they were interesting, highly unpredictable, developed over a couple of episodes, and the solution to riding the ship of them was also unorthodox). Regarding the three returning to the ship in the previous episode: it makes sense. I'm a believer that not every story beat needs to be blasted out of the TV screen. It's fairly obvious that the three would have waited on the planet in the hopes of dialing the ship if it ever came out of hyperspace. I also understand why the episode didn't focus on their waiting for the ship to reappear - especially as the preceeding two episodes dealt directly or indirectly with their attempts to get back to the ship. That said, the payoff wasn't developed as well as it could have been. Though, I'm not disappointed by that episode overall, as their appearance was entirely unexpected, and we learned a bunch of new things about the Stargate technology in SGU (no DHD, amongst other things).

I find them useful! Yeah... the new update did a number on the old posts. Which makes me wonder... weren't the old posts written in BB code? Aren't the new posts also written in BB code? Why did the old posts get changed from BB code to HTML?