hulagu

I get the impression that the life expectancy (assuming peacetime) of Zentradi was in the thousands.... and we all know how long humans live. So.... Max will be long gone before his wife goes? What about Zentran/ human offsprings? How long do they live?

I think barring extreme body modication like DYRL Exsedol or Boddolle Zer, their expectancy should be similar to humans? Where do you get the impression they live thousands of years?

Interesting. Thanks for the translation Sketchley.

Graham

Is the VF-1X/P in the book the same as the VF-1X PLUS from the games?

Yes it is the same one, but decomissioned and put as a permanent monument in Macross City.

That's Macross II, isn't it (yet somehow they left the main cannon online)? In Macross Plus, it seems to be still fully armed and operational, and crewed.

Is that the new Battle Galaxy design? Talk about lack of subtlety, why don't you give it a pitchfork to go with the horns already?

Or is that the Vajra control thingy mounted on the bridge?

Ahem...

Ex-GEAR sounds like a nice way of doing the basic handling tutorial levels (which also happens to be their in-universe purpose), but I don't see how it can fit into campaign mode combat level play without quickly becoming hamburger like Gilliam.

except for the VF-27 being nothing like the SV-51 save for a couple small details (sort of) and being purple.

honestly I kind of like what I'm seeing, although I question it being a hero valk. It looks quit villainous actually. like it's the slightly less awesome cannon fodder that backs up the VF-27

I suppose it is the movie equivalent of the anti-Vajra VF-171EX for Alto in the series.

Most of us proberly new there was going to be a full story mode for Macross II this time from the shots,

but the site now has it up!

Hopefully, if they have a full Macross II campaign, they should include the obscure side mecha (destroids, Zentran VF and Marduk units) instead of getting SDF versions to stand in for them like in Ultimate Frontier. I was never a fan of the MII designs, but if they're going to do them at all, they should at least do them right. Not particularly optimistic about this though.

Oh, I think the stick is a metaphor, all right ...but not for DNA...

LOL.

I don't see the point in severing the AFOS device in half to "hide" it, since both pieces could be detected by the Cyclops cross-dimensional radar. Perhaps at that time, the technology wasn't available to detect on that spectrum.

Actually I think that _is_ the point of the AFOS - the individual pieces will only be recoverable and reconstructed by a humanity that has acquired spacefaring tech level, at which time the stay of execution expires and the Bird Human has to make the decision whether they should still be exterminated like the Mayan myth suggests tbey were ordered to by the great god "Prokulcha".

Notice the two questions the AFOS asks Sara - whether humans have attained space travel, and whether they are still a warlike race.

Not the nicest people, the Protoculture. Look at their protocol for testing whether peace has returned to the galaxy in Macross 7, Zentran/Human mixed blood drawn from a fricking deathtrap.

How could she know about that if neither she, nor her ancestors had ever used a microscope to see what really is in one's blood?

This is probably the real reason for the Mayan taboo passed down against drawing blood, to hide their unique genetic ability to interface with the AFOS.

What is the type of stand the connector that comes with Yamato 1:60s is meant for?

(Specifically, the VF-22S).

Also, how possible is it to get replacement parts for Yamato valks? I think I might have misplaced the tiny light cover of the left wing of my new VF-22S.

(Whew, found the thing. But I'd like to know anyway just in case.)

Was there ever a scale plastic model/toy of the Ghost X9?

Exsedol doing the "My Boyfriend is a Pilot" song and dance routine in SDF Macross.

Is the bonus Video UMD still region locked to Japan like the Ultimate Frontier bonus disc? I hope they drop that, I don't see that it actually serves any purpose.

The Frontier AVG aspect seems somewhat jarring, given the Macross PSP game's Macross anthology dogfight focus. I would rather something like this be a completely new gaiden game (make VFX-3 already!). Still, I'm excited about what awesome new content they're cramming into the UMD this time.

I wonder if initially there will be special SNN missions, where you have to get up close with Zentradi/Marduk mecha & snap pictures of them.

That would be a great alternate play mode.

Did the previous Hi=Metal VF-1J have the slots available to attach the Super/Strike packs of the 1S?

One question - Are the shoulder covers supposes to be that loose?

Eh? Where's that at? It doesn't appear to be inside my box. (Ah, it's slipped in between the back cover of the display case and the inner box. Thanks!)

Scored me a Hi-Metal Skull Leader! Is there a good guide around for transforming the Hi-Metal VF-1s? Apparently it doesn't come with one. Haven't had a VF toy since the old Joke machine, so I'm kind of leery of experimenting around with the stiffer joints without a guide.

I have to agree with Nexx's point #1. Get it.

As for the rest, the VF-1S and VF-1A are pretty much the same. With the VF-1J, at least Hikaru's, there is more then just the head changed. It has a whole new paint scheme that mixes the original SDF:M Hikaru scheme and the DYRL Skull Squadron ones. As far as other changes, especially story ones, I won't spoil much of it for you. It's mostly minor changes so far, like Roy piloting the lead Angel Birds VF-1A during the Launch Ceremony (Misa does commentary and the mic stand catch), bringing it to modern levels of tech, so they all have cellphones, etc. Oh, it looks like they are skipping Mars too...

The Zentran pilot suit seems to have a new helmet design that makes it less apparent that it is some guy in a suit and not a giant mecha.

Plotwise, they streamlined the pacing somewhat.

Bit of a newbie question. How does one go about learning new special attacks (the triangle+circle ones)?

One doesn't. triangle+circle is tied to the unit/pack you are using.

Circle+cross uses your support character's equipped active skill. Additional skills become available as the support charaxter is put to use.

In addition to protecting the miclone chambers, all the allied units must survive. The biggest problem is the ace Nousjadeul-Gers that show up periodically. They almost always kill off the redshirts if they are allowed to engage in combat. You need to take them out as quickly as possible.

I took along an upgraded Monster with a partner with high Gunnery skill and trust, calling in its special as soon as the star units appear on the map while rushing to engage them myself.

About the Regult variants (the scout and two missile variants), are they supposed to be standalone units or modular "packs"?

Does anyone know roughly the release schedule of the tankoubans?

Finally got Volume 1. Wonderful artwork as expected, this series got me reading manga again. Like the pacing so far (a little better than the original series, actually). At this point it's 3 episodes a volume, so that's like 12 volumes assuming they keep the pacing and stick to the TV outline, yes? How often do the tanks come out?

About Minmay's pet in the Secret Files appendix.