sketchley

Doubtful. Perhaps it's a production VF-24?

"saabisu" being "service".

I think the *real* reason that the VF-4 is so heavy, is it's built in rocket boosters. Them, and their fuel probably weigh something much. But it is interesting that after the VF-4, beam weapons have been returned to secondary weapon statis. I think those mentioning power consumption are on the right track for explaining why.

Been talked about before here: http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?show...0552&st=120 (last few posts. Especially when Egan Loo started participating.)

I partially agree that the fleet has a different design to differentiate it (a la the Zentraedi motif of the M5 fleet in M7.) However, as it's radically different, I think it is also different as it looks like it may become the opposing enemy fleet of the series. Is it just me, or does the Macross Galaxy fleet appear to have more effort put into ship designs than the Vajra ships? Both in detail, and quantity of ship designs, that is.

One more random comment on beam/laser weapons in Macross: realism aside, they don't fire and hit at the same moment of time. If anything, there are many times that they have appeared the same as fired bullets. Yes, there are some laser or ray guns that appear to shoot and hit (or miss) at the same moment, such as the Ghost X-9 in M+. Anyhow... me thinks the gun pod works best because it is an independant weapon, with it's own internal power supply and ammunition. If worse comes to worse, it can also be dropped. Perhaps for these factors, as well as other ones mentioned, it is the "main weapon".

I always felt that the episode 6 reveal of different types of ship for the Galaxy Fleet was more for the viewer of preceeding Macross series. In that we see all the ships from M7 in the Frontier fleet, plus a few new ones, and feel that MF is a continuation of the preceeding series. The new ship designs being spawned from a different fleet mentality, etc.. Now, half (?) the series in, I feel that the different type of ships are our clue that the Galaxy Fleet will become the primary opponents of the heroes of the series. Perhaps that is why they did the slow reveal?

Good points all around. Nevertheless, I still think the deciding factors are: the volume of shots fired along slightly different vectors (the recoil factor); lasers are how many shots per second? The GU-11 was 20 rounds per second. Highly likely that the later gun pods have an even higher ROF. the realism factor (for the viewer)

I'm not disagreeing with the ability to put a continuous beam of light on a target. What I'm disagreeing with is the capability to do so when the firer and the target are moving on different vectors at different speeds. Also, in combat, Macross energy weapons aren't usually shown as continuous beams being fired. They usually appear along similar lines to those bullets. Though, even bullet fire isn't portrayed that realistically... mind you, if it was, we would only be seeing the muzzle flash, and maybe the tracers. Anyhow, there is also the idea floating around in RL about bullets that chase their targets. I'm not saying that gun pod bullets do that, but there is the potential of adjusting the course of the bullet after firing whereas beam weapons don't have that potential (tangent: unless if there's a lot of gravity or magnetic force. But at the scales I'm thinking of, why use beams anymore when one can crush the enemy in a micro black hole?) It should be noted that the cannon rounds fired by the VB-6 in MF do appear to possess the ability to change tragectory mid-flight (I'm scratching my head thinking how. There was no exhaust, nor flare from rocket engines being fired... no gas of significant quantity... something to do with the rail cannons and magnets???)

Japan: age of majority: 20 (drinking, driving, voting. Funny how those go together.) Japan age of marriage: men (over) 18. Women (over) 16. Japan age of consent: 13 (though most prefectures have ordinances against "immoral sexual acts". For more info, start here: http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/Se...ws/csaJapan.asp ) Therefore, the questions are: Ranka is how old? Your intentions towards her are what exactly, son?

Story influences aside (hero must kill villian no matter what he shoots with, etc.), another couple of angles to look at are the ammo capacity and damage output. Gun pods tend to have large supplies of ammo, and barrel overheating doesn't appear to be an issue. Lasers/beam weapons in Macross - well, in my memory, I think it was mentioned all of once that head lasers overheat (in SDF:M.) Otherwise, I think the weapons are powered by a capacitor with a low recharge rate relative to the speed a new bullet can be loaded and fired in the gund pod. Damage output - as has already been mentioned, head lasers do far less damage than bullets. In M0 eps 1, Roy fires a bunch of bullets at an SV-51. If one looks closely, only two or three of them actually hit. All shots look like they pack a large punch, and the SV-51 is downed. Yes, technology advances, and the recharge rate of capacitors and the damage potential of laser/beam weapons increases. But so to does the ammo capacity, rate of fire, and damage potential of the gun pod. Another pair of non-technical angles are the human factor and misinforming the enemy. The pilots of VFs may simply prefer using gun pods as they feel more powerful (vibrations, etc.). The misinforming angle is making it appear like VFs are only armed with gun pods and missiles, and once both are gone, they are out of ranged weapons. (Yeah, I know this is a rather weak angle, as either the opponents are vaporized, or the VFs are before the missiles and bullets run out...) Lastly, and I think this is the real reason: as a viewer, guns firing bullets adds an element of realism.

Different mechanical designers, different robots. Don't forget the destroids that were converted into work mecha in M7. I'm waiting for a canon explanation as to why the Cheyenne disappeard from Macross for the duration of SDF:M, DYRL, M+, M7, M7 Dynamite, VF-X, and VF-X2, and makes a reappearance as the Cheyenne II in Macross F. So far, I only have the start of a theory:SMS being a military contractor trying out non-UN (or non-NUN) gear...

I know it's not new. I'm just happy that the VF-5000 is featured so early. Hopefully they'll have the UN Spacy FAST packs as well, sooner or later.

Ooooo! VF-5000 w/ FAST packs! Where'd you spot this?

Why gun pods and not lasers? Easy - lasers fire directly from point a to point b. The chances of that shot hitting a moving target (or the target moving through the area that the beam of light travels through) are low. Gun pods, on the other hand, fire a horde of metal on different tragectories. Depending how close one is to mass, the tragectories may be alterted (moreso than lasers over the distances both weapons are effective at.) Therefore, the chance of getting a bullet to hit is much higher than that of getting a beam of light is. I'm not saying it's impossible for the beam of light to hit, nor that the gun pod is more powerful. A couple of other factors to consider are the coolness and gimmick factors. Is it not cool to see a multi-barrel gun spitting out hundreds of bullets a second? Is it not retaining a gattling gun in a transforming jet fighter the gimmik; the factor that makes Macross unique from other mecha anime?

I take it you haven't seen the line art for the VF-25, and the translation of them?

Oh yeah... that reminded me: the plastic folder from animate has on the upper corner, the same VF-25/VF-1 in the Spacy kite. I can't say about the rest of it, as it was stuffed in a shrinkwrapped magazine, and I didn't want to rip it out...

<sigh> I believe that this post sums things up nicely:

Got Bluray. Yay. All that VF questionaire/video thingy: scanlation: available until 2008.08.31, 24:00 for Macross F #1, and 2008.09.30, 24:00 for Macross Zero. Macross Goods brochure: 8.20 "Raion", by May'n and Nakajima Megumi. Contains "Raion" and "nohzankuros" (Northern Cross). Looks like they're be versions without vocals as well on the disc. Macross Chronicles ad. Macross F comic and Novel ad. THe 2nd manga collection will be released on 8.26. ￥567. Macross F DVD/Bluray #2 released on 9.25. 95 min (planned). ￥6,300 for the DVD, and ￥7,350 for the Bluray. Also says that there'll be 9 discs in total. (3 eps per disc, 25 episodes total. 4 eps. per disc, 33 episodes in total.) (more rerelease info also listed.) On the reverse: Macross Ace Frontier: on sale in autumn 2008. Macross F "gashapon". "Nyan Kore" - subtitled "nyannyan card collection": on sale about the end of 2008.09. 10 cards per pack, 1 pack costs ￥420. VF-1 "origin of valkyrie" toys? models?. Hikaru's VF-1J, ￥8,190. Released planned for the end of July. Roy's VF-1S, ￥8,190. Release planned for the end of July. (Both of these are pictured in all 3 modes.) Hikaru's VF-1J Super Packs, ￥9,450. Release planned for end of August. Max's VF-1A Super Packs, ￥9,450. Release planned for the end of August. (These last two are only pictured in battroid mode.) Bandai's 1/72 scale plastic model: VF-25 Messaih. Fully transformable. ￥4,200. Release planned for August. 16 Page Booklet that comes with the disc: Pg 2~5: Macross (Frontier) history. Basically looks like an expansion of the emmigration fleets expanding from Earth intro seen in the first few episodes. 6 Episode 1 "Yack Deculture Edition" Brief description (summary??) and Macross check: 1 hand blocking the sun (that M+ scene), 2 "Listen to my song!" (homage to Basara of M7), 3. Gerwalk firing gunpod (same as Eps. 2 of SDF:M). 7 Episode 1 3 versions. Quickie scanlation: About 3 months before the december broadcast, the preperations of the "Yakku Edition" were completed. It was too long, and parts were cut out to make the Deculture Edition. Also talks about the other two versions, and the changes between them. 8 Character art and description: Saotome Aruto 9 Character art and description: Ranka Rii 10 Mechanical art: VF-171 w/ descriptions of battroid, gerwalk, fighter, and the RVF-171 <<<<-*** attention Graham. (text says that it's a custom based on the VF-171 with a giant radome. I think it also says that it doesn't have a good fighting ability (presumably compared to the VF-171). 11 AIF-7S Ghost and Extender Case (for the EX-Gear) 12 EX-Gear 13 City 25 based on San Fransisco, Shibuya, Beijing (天空門）. Etheral Body (エーテルボディ): in fold space, the Etheral body seperates from the body. Super High Speed Transport Linear Catapult: used for launching from the Carriers in space. Similar to a linear motor. Hologram System: used by Sheryl in her concerts, etc.. 14 Art gallery: Gas planet - the first places that the Frontier encounters the Vajra Sheryl Conert Poster - a key visual. 15: Nyannyan Restuarant: Ranka's part time job, etc. Space port Tenkuumon Plaza: Sheryl's concert hall. Has two dragons on top of upside down tendon bowls on the roof. Of course the text is a bit more than the taste I'm scanlating herein. There are parts that I skipped over as well (the toys, for example).

ok. It didn't have much impact then, either. Macross Chronicles + Binder are available at the local Animate. They are also including a freebie: a (persumably in-house made) plastic Macross folder.

Again. Refer to the thread. A serviceman in a navy illustrates quite well how surface going naval vessels could survive the instant trip to space. Not to mention that only one of them is an aircraft carrier...

Re Asuka II, refer to: http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?show...amp;hl=Asuka+II

Sorry, but shipped and purchased are two different things. The good news is that there are multiple copies of the DVD in CD and DVD shops near me. Sadly, no Bluray. I feel like I live in the frikken countryside! Going to go out to the nearest Animate and check out what's there later today.

No. As he said, little to no cultural impact. Of all the people that I have met, very, very, very, very, very few have heard the name Macross, let alone know anything about it. Of those, there are two types: parents, who may have watched the original series, and tend to talk more about the music and Iijima Mari. Or those who only know about Macross from Macross F. Everyone has heard of Gundam, weither they've actually scene it, know details about it, or not. EVA is probably halfway between the two. Though, about a month ago, I had a junior high school student suddenly start singing the theme song in one of my classes! Which had me scratching my head, as she hasn't seen the new movie(s), and was something like 2 or 3 years old when the series was first released! For all our love of Macross, it is still quite niche. Hopefully the continuing broadcast of Macross F as well as the constant presence of Macross Chronicle in the magazine stands will raise awareness and rekindle forgotten love of it. All of that said, I do hear, or think I hear "fire bomber" or "let's fire" or "fire!" (screamed like Bassara) on occasion. I'm not sure if they are a genuine culture footprint of Macross 7, or simply borrowed cool sounding English words spouted at random.