sketchley

The release schedule is unconfirmed. It is only speculation herein that supposed it was due to be released in October (the actual 25th anniversary month.)

Are those the same TV adds that are in the 20th Anniversary DVD?

It shows up in SDF:M. If you have Macross Perfect Memory, flip to the pages on Bodolza's attack on Earth (or watch the anime, etc.). There's an image of the SDF-1 with VFs and Regults in front of it, and Zentraedi ships behind it. Look closely at the VFs in front of the leg on the left side. About halfway down is the VEFR-1. Colourwise, it looks to be the same as the standard VF-1 (though, in that image, even the twanies are grey, like Skull squadron in shadow.) The radome (at least the edge of it) is a red colour. The interesting thing about the above mentioned image is that there is another non-standard VF even lower than the fully visible VEFR-1. Only the top can be seen, and it looks like there is a small vertically mounted radome on the left, and a horizontal sensor on the right (directions are that of the viewer, not the vehicle.) I think I may have seen it somewhere else before. Something makes me think it's a VF in gerwalk, though I could be mistaken.

ECM = Electronic Counter Measures. I suggest a search for the best idea(s) of what that is. All VFs can fly in both atmosphere and space. FAST packs are added in space to increase range, acceleration, and armament. The comment about FAST packs meant that the VEFR-1 can operate unchanged in both space and atmosphere, but the VE-1 can only operate in space, as FAST packs (it's sensor additions) cannot or are not (going by the anime), not the VF-X games) used in atmosphere. Elintseeker not only finds the enemies' positions, but also assists in relaying information. Therefore there are no VFs under the Elintseeker's control, but without it acting as a relay, all VFs in a certain area would be without a link back to the SDF-1. It's probably better to think of the Elintseeker as a mobile radar station able to go where the SDF-1 cannot go (behind a planet/asteroid/etc., deep into enemy lines) and also to help penetrate enemy ECM in an area.

Yes. He also did an F-15 for that movie that mirrors the F-15 ACTIVE pretty closely; though with better colours.

There are many cameras in different places on a standard VF. It's highly probably that the VEFR-1 has retained those cameras, added more, and has something under the radome. For an example of the camera views available on a standard VF, there's a shot in an episode of SDF:M just after Breetai has bashed Hikaru Ichijo's VF in the head, and destroyed the cameras there. Judging by the angles, it looks like there are cameras in a VF's feet, amongst other places.

Nope. The VEFR-1 is from SDF:M, and though based off of the VF-1, is entirely different! Instead of a head, it has a radome, instead of hands it has sensors. The VE-1 is from DYRL, and is essentially a VF-1 with a different head (no weapons, expanded sensors) and special FAST packs (no weapons, but lots of sensors.) As DYRL is supposed to be a movie produced in-series in the 2030s, one could say that the VE-1 was made post-SWI, whilst the VEFR-1 was made during SWI. As it only shows up near the end (the big battleTM) of SDF:M, one could say that it's a replacement for the Cats Eye Recon plane. You could also say that the VEFR-1 is a modification to an existing plane built during wartime, whilst the VE-1 is a purpose designed plane built during peacetime. The kicker is that the VE-1 could carry and use a gun pod, but it'd be impossible for the VEFR-1! (This is something that is done in the DYRL game for the PS1 and the SS.) Links with images: http://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/sdfmacross/vefr-1.htm http://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/dyrl/ve-1.htm

Patlabor II has the helicopter action. Mind you, Patlabor shouldn't be considered an action/mecha show. It's more driven by characters and plot. The action in the movies is great, and they've tried to make it as realistic as the medium allows. That said, the thought provoking parts of Patlabor II are that it's premise is based off of real-world events (the Japanese first overseas SDF mission,) and real-world events copied (or have a screaming simularity to) at least one sequence in the movie (Tokyo sarin gas attack.) So, if you do watch the movie, expect something along the lines of "Clear and Present Danger", and not something silly and no-brainer, like the standard Ah-nold movie. EDIT: it should also be mentioned that Patlabor II is the resolution for the characters. As such, it's got a much greater characterization than Patlabor I (which is all action and plot.) On it's own, it's great, but if you have the chance to see some of the other Patlabor anime first, the movie becomes that much better.

As this piqued my interest, I dug out the TIA Patlabor the Movie and OVA tome that I have. On pg 73, there's a nice picture of the JGSDF SH/JGSDF Hellhound. There's an exhaust port on the right side of the Hellhound (when viewed from the rear.) It's labelled (in typical Shouji Kawamori semi-legible scrawl) as a "counter nozzle" (counter-rotation nozzle). It's amusing that it's only on the one side, and that on the same page, there's an image of the Scout Helicopter, which also has the "counter nozzle", save that it's nozzle looks like it can be rotated to face in opposite directions. The TIA Patlabor Movies II and III books essentially recycle the same images; though II has a few additional images, though none have the "counter nozzle". I think that both artistic liberty has been taken with depicting these nozzles, as well as size not being an issue (what matters is the amount of force being produced by the air being shoved out of the nozzles. A small amount at high speed should produce the same amount of force as a large amount at low speed.)

The Russian Vympel R-73 air-to-air missile also has thrust vectoring. It's significant because it's both the first (TVC A-to-A missile) and entered service in 1985! Though, it too is a 4 plate design.

There was an "alternative" design that showed up in one episode of 2nd Gig (guy is killed but not killed, helicopter goes on autopilot, and takes command of all the other Jigabachi in the area.) But, if I remember correctly, it's look is different from the standard Jigabachi. Mind you, from a marketing point of view, I understand why they are plugging it this way. Agreed that the Commanchero needs a bit of tweaking. Perhaps along the lines of what Shoji Kawamori did to Starscream or the VF-1 (into the VF-0)?

They could've also had IR lights set up illuminating the audience (thought the bag/camera check kindof discounts this.) It'd make recording anything but the sound nigh impossible.

Newtype Magazine (not sure which one, character voice etc.) in September or October (could mean the October issue, which is released in September.) Media Up... not sure. I did a check on google, as at first I thought it was some kind of (TV) show. Now, I'm thinking it simply means "media section has been updated" or "media has been uploaded to the website." I'm keeping my eye out for the next issue of Newtype. I am getting the scratchy feeling that something Macross related will be in it.

Could the favouritism be because the Hellhound from Patlabor is also designed by Shouji Kawamori? Personally, I like both. The Jigabachi definitely fits it's namesake, diggerwasp, which is an ugly yet graceful insect. (Knowing the name also brings a new angle to the preying-on-insects Jigabachi vs. spider-like Tachikoma/Uchikoma/Fuchikoma battles, eh?) The gatling gun on the Hellhound is supposed to be wickedly huge; it's primarily an anti-labor weapon. I really doubt that the largest sized real-world gatling guns on navy ships and inside fighter jets would do much more than knock out cameras and break the headlights on a standard labor, let alone a combat labor! One complaint I have is that hlj's got their first appearance wrong. The 2nd episode of the first Stand Alone series - Tachikoma vs. the Think Tank.

Eh? Why compare one country's fashion choices to those in another? Check out the tobi on these construction workers: EVERY single construction worker (and by that, I mean laymen and foremen, not architects or engineers (they tend to show up in suits)) wear them. I could only find a few images on google (tourists don't take pictures of construction workers after all,) and these two are the closest to how I usually see them. Though, given how clean the clothes are, they must be new tobi, and the pair are going to work in the morning.

For a Macross related game, I've created a map of sorts. It's been filled in with real stellar objects and a few creations for the game, so I'm not directly linking to it. I am giving the link for the Sol system. It's as complete as I've been able to make it, and there have been no additions from the game. http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/Locations/Earth.htm (there's not much mentioned in Macross beyond Jupiter except for the ruins of South Ataria.) Re: VF-19P In addition to the built in spritia sound warfare speakers Zinjo mentioned, the VF-19 is a low-budget version of the UN Spacy VF-19. It doesn't have room for weapons pallets in weapons bays in the engine nacelles. In their stead, it does have a two-port dog-fight missile launcher.

At first I was going to say that there isn't very much new stuff in the line art, only a few trinkets here and there. However... it's got line art for the VF-11's gun pod AND the arm multi-weapon thingy for the YF-19! That's almost worth buying the box set! (I'll wait a few months, and hope that it'll show up in a used shop in Den-den Town.)

Let's keep the decision out of Isamu's court martial and imprisonment discussion.* The fact that the Ghost was defeated by a manned fighter says a lot. The rest of the finale of Macross Plus has nothing to do with the decision. It was shown earlier in the testing phase that the YF-21's pilot interface was faulty, and that the VF-19 was better in whatever they were checking for in checks A through I. *At most, they'd waive his stealing and destruction of UN Spacy property. A city full of killed and injured (from the fight with Guld)? You can't hide that, and too many people would be upset. It'd be like saying the guy who stole a tank and did a rampage through LA is innocent of all death and destruction, because he drove over a van full of terrorists that the FBI and CIA were aware of. Yes, Millard can cover some things, but remember, he also sent Guld to kill Isamu. He'd have been in hot water for the ensuing death and destruction as well.

Stealing a VF, blowing up satellites, significant collateral damage (and potentially huge loss of civilian life), and destruction of UN Spacy property and equipment. Plus the UN Spacy, once they figured things out, could've fired a shot from orbit to destroy the computer inside of the SDF-1. I certainly hope that the UN Spacy is smart enough to not make a hero out of someone who steals planes and shoots at his best friend with bullets and missiles inside of a densely populated area. Again, the way Macross Plus ends is a romanticized version of reality.

I remember reading somewhere (not sure if it's canon or otherwise) that civilian colony fleets were disassembled, and their parts used to build the colony. In terms of colonization missions, one must remember one small line in the timeline in the compendium (I'll let you guys find it). The meaning of it is quite big. In effect, there are (were?) two types of colonization mission: short range and long range. The dividing line is 100 light years from Earth. The Megaroad and New Macross Fleets are the long range type. The short range, well, given that they only went out 100 light years, I doubt that they had any big ships, and probably used ships only as bus-like transports (Embatron Transport anyone?) Eden was colonized by one (or more likely, a bunch) of these short-range colonization missions. Therefore, the big colony ships and fleets weren't involved in its creation. Of course, it doesn't mean that the big colony ships can't stop there and pick up supplies/colonists, take a month of R&R, etc.. In my research on Eden, I've come up with the following:

Didn't he get tossed into jail? I know how Macross Plus ends, but that's a rather romantic ending and doesn't have any of the consequences (for example, an unpowered SDF-1 crashing back to Earth would cause a minor earthquake, not to mention a tsunami, among other things.) EDITED for clarity

Animax is a cable anime channel here in Japan. For 24 hours they are running the most popular 27 shows out of the "Anison Best 500". Why Flashback 2012? Doesn't say. My guess is that it is the shortest of all the Macross releases (as in, there are no following episodes, parts, chapters, and as a stand alone, it is shorter than the movie, DYRL.)

It's also pretty much the only line art that exists for it.

デカルチャー！！！ What's not to like about "Deculture!!!"? (Note the three (3) exclamation marks. I guess the Zentraedi who said it was suitably freaked.)

Hmmm... rushed? No. When is this due to be released? Unknown. Have we seen concept art? Yes. About a month + ago. Therefore, it's matching or possibly beating the M0 publicity. Aside from what others have mentioned about Big West and Macross publicity, Sunrise/Bandai and the Gundam Marketing Machine , the two series (Gundam and Macross) most likely have wildly different release schedules (meaning Gundam is sooner). Also note that I have not seen ANYTHING on the two biggies (Gundam and the new Eva movie) anywhere but in magazines devoted to anime. Yup, despite the perceived hype, even they are off the radar map. The only anime (aside from the everpresent shows like Conan) that I have seen advertised is that Cup Noodle one - "Freedom", and a bunch of old anime and sentai series that are being incorporated into Pachinko machines (Hokoto no Ken, Kamen Raida, etc.). So yeah - consider this the pre-Christmas excitement. If you're not careful, you're going to burn yourself out, and be spent long before Christmas (Macross Frontier) gets released. In other words: take a Macross break, do something else, and check back in a month. Dante74 - reread Graham's post. He gives a rough time estimate. Another good point of reference is the last update by Egan Loo to his Macross website.