sketchley

Make that two of us. The VF-14 "Vampire" is from M3. It makes sense that the gunpod is stored in the leg, and is retrieved in the same way as the Fz-109. Though, with the missile launchers that are supposedly also in the legs too, it's definitely a tight fit! That said, with the trend in VFs in M7 and Plus, with space in the leg for an engine, a weapon pallet, and sometimes even a gun pod too, Kawamori Shouji must be of the mind that the thermonuclear engines must be getting quite small by the 2040s.

BOTH have images of the Battle 7. The former contains smaller images, and the design process. The latter contains larger images, and slightly more of them. If you are looking for a sample of all of Kazutaka Miyatake's work, than the former is recommended (it contains stuff from SDF:M, DYRL, M+, M7, M7 Dynamite, SDF:M DYRL, VF-X, VF-X2, and Orguss.) If you are only looking for material from the first 1/2 to 3/4 of M7, the latter is recommended.

Not only is this badly paraphrased, but it is written in a highly inflamatory mannor, and twisted into an unintended, and offensive meaning - a meaning that wasn't present in the original. I may be reading more into it than intended, as I am losing some of my English abilities, but IMHO that statement is both a form of trolling, and a recycling of other's comments. I agree that differing opinions are welcome, and valued in these kinds of discussions, but inflammatory and offensive language are not. It is one thing to say that you disagree (and why), and it is an entirely different thing to say that what someone else likes is something that negatively reflects on the person who expressed their appreciation for it. In other words, tone down the language, please and thank you.

Jenus, let it go. Not only have you repeated your stance numerous times, you are attempting, and badly I might add, to recycle the posts of others. In fact, I'd say that you are crossing the line into trolling. I'll summerize your position here: "I like mecha porn. Macross 7 isn't mecha porn. I don't like Macross 7. Macross II is mecha porn. I like Macross II." As for characters vs. plot: character's make or break a story. If it doesn't feel like the characters are directing, guiding, and/or controlling the story, and instead it feels like the plot is being forced onto them, then the story, frankly, sucks.

Yes, agreed. And as others have posted, they do: D-1, D-2, D-3, Skull-1, Eagle 1, Alpha 1, Omega 1, etc..

Recently, I've been rewatching the series - at a rate of about one every couple of days. I am quite impressed at the way the story is developing. By this, I don't mean the war story, the spirtia story, the SES development story. No, I mean the story's of the characters. Perhaps it's because I am living in Japan, but the story - especially Mylene's - takes on whole new dimensions that, say someone who is only grounded in the North American, English culture, cannot appreciate. Also, Basara's jerky behaviour does explain why Mylene seeks the security of Gamlin, but at the same time, as Basara is the 'bad boy' who shirks authority, it's understandable why she's attracted to him. Sure, the start of the Varuta war has had some interesting developments, but the main reason I'm interested in the show is the characters in the band (aside from Basara. He's a rather inaccessible character.)

If I'm not mistaken, that's the callsign for the entire squadron, and not individual pilots in the squadron. Here's the Fleet Squadron 7's page: http://www.dii.jda.go.jp/msdf/kanoya/SYOUKAI/7FS/7FS.HTM Air Station Kanoya: http://www.dii.jda.go.jp/msdf/kanoya/SYOUKAI/ASS/ASS.HTM (In section 2 it lists things like headquarters, (2)Management corps, (3)Guard corps, (4)Service corps, (5)Accounting corps, (6)Public welfare corps, (7)Hygiene corps.) Wasn't your original question, and arguement on individual callsigns for individual pilots?

As Kawamori has named these additional equipment options as both super parts (Ghost X-9, some of the VFs) and FAST packs (most of the VFs), I believe he knows what he is doing, when he adds something that has 'sensor' as part of it's name. I think a valid question is: what are the additional sensors for the FAST packs created for the F-15 Eagle? (Which is what the Macross FAST packs are based off of, FYI.) I don't think it is much (a la the VE-1.) Perhaps nothing more than a dedicated sensor for the missile launcher, and expanded range for the sensors on the VF-1 (more processing power? Bigger antenna?)

Too small to read anything other than the Macross logo. Is that the typing game?

Yes, but the Japan of now, is not the Japan of the past leading up to WWII. By design, shame, and/or sheer ignorance, the Japanese of now have few connections to that era, and prefer to distance themselves from it. Most of the Japanese live in the now, so they may not know about abandoned conventions in the former army/air force of one of the preceeding governments of the country. Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, and the anime cited may be one of them.

Agreed that it is tough to say either way. The circles I am involved with (read: hate munchkins in RPGs) generally agree that there is equipment, not missiles, in between the missile launchers and their magazines. Also, the launchers themselves should take up some space - at the very least, allowing for only 2 additional missiles (3+2=5 total), if no other equipment is in the FAST packs. That said, FAST = Fuel And Sensor Tactical Packs. We know the Macross FAST packs have a rocket nozelle, fuel, and (sometimes, not always,) internally carried missiles. What about the sensor aspects of them? IMHO, that is what some of the equipment is that's in between the missile launchers and their magazines...

http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/Statistics/VF22.htm http://www.macrossrpg.com/docs/index.php/G...y_VF-21_Omega_1 Stats are educated guesstimates. Take note that the VF-22 CANNOT mount the ventral FAST packs that were developed for the YF-21 - reason is that the VF-22 has built in missile launchers and conformal mounts for the gun pods there! Both can have their missile totals expanded with either the Stonewell/Royce B-7 Standard Internal Pallet or the Stonewell/Royce B-11A Specialized Internal Pallet. The Compendium claims that the VF-22 has space for 3, though only two are shown in the anime. Also, though it isn't shown in the anime nor mentioned in the Compendium, the cover of This is Animation: Macross Plus implies that a) wing missiles can be carried, and b) that a more aerodynamic version of the UUM-7 missile pod exists. Though, it is pretty much agreed upon that adding wing mounted stuff will reduce the performance (speed, manueverability), as well as ruin or reduce whatever stealthy attributes the VF may have.

Translations really depend on the availability of other translators in the area, and difficulty of the text. http://www.google.ca/search?hl=ja&q=translation+costs The first link that I accessed gave a rough quote of $0.25 USD per word, for most European languages (with a discount for more than 75-100 pages ordered.) The other thing to take note is that the translations will vary depending on the translators knowledge of Macross. If you check Egan Loo's website, there are even contradicting translations. Try a google search on his site for Supervision Army and Inspection Army. We all know that they stem from the same Japanese word, yet they both appear in his site, in different places. I have done Macross translations before, but due to running into individuals that demanded B/S 'translations in triplet'* and other headaches mostly involving denial and disbelief, I decline to do any more (plus I'm busy with baby, and getting my own manga off the ground.) You'll be able to find some of the translations I've done in the statistics discussion forum of this PBP-RPG: http://macrossroleplay.org/forums/index.php?board=8.0 as well as my own translations (mixed with stats from the Macross Compendium, and some RPG conventions): http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/Statistics/VF11.htm http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/S...ai/VF11DKai.htm http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/Statistics/VF22.htm and http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/untamed.html (though I revised the translations, and sent them to the author of the page, and he hasn't revised it.) All are as is (it's safe to say that most of the background description isn't canon. Refer to the Compendium for more accurate background descriptions.) If possibile, I can try to answer any questions about them, but it has been a few months to years... Re: Nanashi - his policy of claiming rights over images under someone else's copyright is a bit too much, IMHO. Asking for credit where credit is due (a la Egan Loo's policy with the Compendium) is more than enough, IMHO. As it's all material that is under someone else's copyright, claiming ownership is, well, violating a law, somewhere. That said, I thought the biggest greivance with him is his lack of citing his source material(s) in some kind of a bibliography. I may be mistaken mind you. Internet and hearsay, et al... * by three different people

So, you're saying that spiritia = qi? In other words, the producers of Macross merely extrapolated and embellished a concept that's been around for thousands of years?

Agreed about the other stuff. As time passes, and new things are learned/discovered/experienced, stories and the way that stories are told change. As for spiritia in the real world - when I first heard of spiritia, I thought it was merely a renamed version of qi (æ°—), something that has been around for 3,000 years, more or less. Though, with further viewing of Macross 7 (and other Macross shows that have spiritia,) that view has changed somewhat - spiritia is similar to qi, but different from qi. I think qi could be described as life energy, whereas spiritia is more akin to motivation energy. (I want to say motivational energy, but that makes it sound like it is something that is needed prior to doing something, when by appearances, it is the opposite: the motivation to do something creates spiritia.) The interesting thing is that the Japanese word for motivation, ã‚„ã‚‹æ°—, is a combination of "to do" + "energy" (as I'm losing my English, somewhat, it was the word that came to mind to describe spiritia. Funny... needed a language translator... ) So yes, Kawamori didn't discover spiritia, he created it - but it is grounded in Japanese, if not Asian, concepts. Maybe that's why it takes on 'magical' properties for Occidental viewers?

Not all emmigration fleets consist of only one New Macross Class ship - the 5th fleet in Macross 7 proves this! The bottom picture is, if I remember correctly, when the 5th New Macross colonization fleet landed on planet Rax. All three pictures in the set are from the same episode. I think the 1 colony ship per fleet is a fallicy propogated by those that haven't seen the series...

Try here: http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/books/_books_menu.htm

If, on the non-Jwin CD, you do not have a Japanese IME installed, all of the text will be illegible. Even with the J-IME installed, there's a strong possibility that Japanese text won't be visible, especially in dialogue windows. Otherwise, there shouldn't be any problems other than the standard ones involving file interoperatability.

Wasn't the VF-19 (and it's derivitives, VF-19F, P, and S) written and portrayed in both Macross 7 and Plus as being superior to all preceeding VFs? Doesn't Gamlin and co in Diamond Force pilot the VF-17, which predates the development of the VF-19? In other words, yes Basara does have good piloting skills, but shouldn't we also consider the machine used as potentially inhibiting the actual abilities of the pilot? In addition, as great a pilot as Gamlin is, look how easily he gets distracted (at least in the first few episodes) by Basara's appearance on the battlefield? I translate his ease of distraction, and obsession about the appearance of a civilian VF as making Gamlin a lesser pilot. If anything, the CO of Diamond Force is the *real* skilled pilot (he retains his focus despite the Fire Valkyrie), and Gamlin is the focus because his angst, conflict, and character growth experienced in the series makes for more interesting storytelling.

VF-X2

I didn't say it's because he has a VF. I said it's because he has access to a magical VF that is beyond the uber VFs of Macross Plus, despite it's lack of weapons. There is an explanation in Macross 7, if I remember correctly. The Fire VF was some kind of military experiment at first - call it torturing the enemy, if you will.

Let's keep that discussion out of this thread. Agreed that the Birdman has the power to take control (and possibly power) machines that are derivatives of Protoculture technology, and that it is "uber" powerful. That said, isn't this thread supposed to be on Macross II and 7? (or is that 2 and VII?) Agreed that II has plenty of magic - magic to suspend the viewers disbelief about how shockingly bad the story is. Journalist has access to civilian VF that is not only able to fly undetected by the enemy, but penetrate an enemy ship in the midst of it's explosive destruction, and return to Earth unscathed with an alien girl in it. Wait... didn't that battle happen at the orbit of Jupiter? Then there are his friends who can singlehandedly operate the SDF-1 when it required a whole crew in DYRL and the original series... don't get me wrong, Macross 7 isn't fine literature either, but at least there's adequate explanations that are relevant to in-universe concepts and situations. The way I see Macross 7 is, in the first half at least, a show about a rock band during a time of war with aliens, and transforming jets, and the leader of the rock band is doing the cliched rock band thing of protesting something. In this case - war (hey wait - wasn't that what the original TV series and DYRL were about too?) Macross II... I can't think of a theme for the entire series. I think it's basically about big ships making bigger explosions - on those terms it's passably okay, but is a let down in the final chapter. As far as stories in general go - a story without a theme isn't much of a story.

The signature (underwing) looks like HAL. In other words, I believe it was penned by Haruhiko Mikimoto way back in the day. ã¨ã‚‚よåˆå£ translates as "the stern is a daggar". Though that doesn't make much sense... maybe it's an inside joke?

Come to think of it... the 'interface' Sara had with the Birdman - tenticles - looks basically the same as the tenticles seen in the Zentraedi ships in DYRL. I think Aegis!'s arguement about a different means of communication with machines has merit. Hey, isn't that what M7 had too (a different means of communicating with a machine - in the form of a guitar)?

Agreed. Nothing for early to mid 2007. However, it is entirely possible for something to appear from mid-to late 2007. Though, my guess is it may end up being something more akin to "Macross 20th Anniversary" - a video collection with only a little bit of new animation, and possibly an announcement of something to come in the next year or two - Kawamori Shoji is apparently popular and a demanded mecha designer, so he's pretty busy. Though, honestly, the franchise has gone a bit cold these past few years... PS1 3 games, PS2 1 game... though, the franchise could be semi-cyclical, and we may just be nearing the end of one of the down points on the cusp of the next upwards turn, like when Macross 7 and Plus were released...