Radd

Well, you'll find with a little searching that this has been quite a big topic for a while now. The VF-1J is, like others have already mentioned, being made 'tv' style. That is to say, tv style hands, tv style pilot, and tv style cockpit. In addition, it will come with the standard 1/48 hands (at least I believe Graham confirmed this at some point), but the tv style hands will be oversized (because many feel that the standard 1/48 hands are too small), and non-articulated. Also, the hands will have to be removed to transform the Valkyrie. The larger hands simply will not fit into the Valkyrie's forearm, which is why the 1/55ths and the 1/60ths have oversized 'popeye' style forearms. "Perfectly proportioned" hands, that being hands as large as they are in the show, simply will not work. Even in the show it took "anime magic" to make the hands fit for the transformation. The arm width of the VF-1J will not be any different than those of the previous 1/48ths, though there will be minor changes to the sculpt. Mainly, the back of the forearms will be left 'open' forming a U shape, as this is closer to the line art.

Notice how the word 'Midichlorian' was avoided all throughout the second movie, despite the big deal made of them in the first? Something tells me that Lucas and Company will do their best to forget about that very bad idea. Knowing Lucas' track record, we'll probably see a new version of The Phantom Menace in which Midichlorians never pop up. In this instance, I would think that a good idea on Lucas' part.

For the longest time, people were obsessed with oversized verniers on the FAST packs. I've never been a fan of the look, but the Club M's overall detail more than makes up for it. This reminds me, way back when, someone posted some low-res, very fuzzy pictures of the 1/48 FAST packs and somehow deduced that the verniers on them would be oversized like that...

In fact, didn't Graham or someone mentioned that the SWAG technology was present in the VF-1?

Mikeszekely summed up my thoughts pretty well. I'd also like to reiterate that technology mentioned and shown for the VF-0 could indeed be incorporated into the VF-1, but was just never mentioned previously. Also, keep in mind that when it comes to Macross Zero, the Compendium, unfortunately, comes into question. At this time I don't think we should discount anything that's in the Compendium, but I think we should strongly consider the idea that there's information about the VF-0 that's not yet in the Compendium. I mean, this part of the chronology is brand new. The show's not even done yet, and last I heard, Kawamori was still writing it.

I'm not certain it was your intention, but this comment comes off as very mean-spirited. I certainly hope that wasn't the intention as not all of us are modellers. Not all of us are huge into making our own customs, or even paying others to do it for us. Some of us simply like to collect toys based on mecha from our favourite anime series. Some of us are happy with the toys themselves, and don't even bother to add stickers. Some of us will go the extra step to guy one of the custom sticker sets floating around. Some of us, for better or worse, will try our hand at panel lines, while others will go all out and customize everything to the point that it becomes an entirely different display piece. There's nothign wrong with any of these options. No need to belittle someone simply because modelling/customizing isn't a hobby of theirs, and they just like to collect the toys.

Actually, when the alternate engines are so much larger than the engines the plane was made for, it is easier just to build a new plane. In fact, it would probably be required. Possibly not so for a conventional plane (but I think so), but most definitely for a variable fighter like the VF-1. My belief is that the VF-0 was designed with conventional engines in mind. Nothing else explains the size of the craft and the fuel tanks. How easy do you think it is to just add things like that to an existing plane? Also, we have no clue when the VF-0 "first came on the scene". We know when it was deployed for the Mayan conflict. that's it. We knew there was a small number of working VF-1 prototypes, but mass production of the engines was having some problems. For all we know they pulled these prototypes, which were designed around conventional engines, dusted them off and sent them into battle while waiting on the nuclear engines promised for the finished product. Probably because they were easier to convert to battle readiness than the VF-1 prototypes with the nuclear engines. Also, everyone remember Kawamori's statement about continuity? I think we've been reading that in the wrong light. Perhaps what he meant was that he wasn't going to follow the non-animated continuity (as in written timelines and back stories that were written for the production of the show), as nothing in Macross Zero conflicts with SDF Macross or DYRL?, and we know Kawamori's current vision of Space War 1 is somewhere between the two.

Based on what I've read, I gotta agree with Duke. He's provided facts and numbers, with sources to back them up. Perhaps, Skull Leader, you misunderstand what Duke Togo's been saying. He's simply stating the effect that Final Fantasy VII had on the marketplace and the gaming industry. This has nothing to do with how good a game it was. Heck, DoA3 was listed as the top fighting game out by some gaming magazine's reader polls, despite the fact that the game was mediocre at best. Enough people thought it was good enough to warrant being the top fighting game at the time, while I thought it was crap and much preferred Project Justice. My opinion didn't change the fact that it led the polls. The fact is that Final Fantasy VII sold record breaking numbers around the world and got more people in the U.S. talking about RPGs than any RPG before it had. Heck, FF7 had MTV spots running for months. It was everywhere. Sure, lots of people returned their copies soon after, having bought it without knowing what an RPG was (I've read reader complaints in magazines about how much FFVII sucked because of all the talking and plot and exploration, with not enough action), but many more kept theirs, and got into more RPGs afterwards. During that time, the gaming industry as a whole was brought further into the US mainstream, and since FFVII RPGs have a bigger share of the pie than they did when gamers were a niche subculture, and RPGs were a niche of that.

You forget that history distorts facts. Those mounds may very well be the remains of the SDF-1, 2, and Khyron's ship, but the only ship of note out of all three is the SDF-1, so people just refer to the whole area as the SDF-1's remains. The SDF-2 did nothing of importance, and Khyron's ship...well, other than smacking into the SDF-1, it wasn't a famous ship. Similar to how Egyptian rulers would be buried with their servants, but hte tombs would be known only for the Pharaoh buried there. None of the servants' names would be brought up.

Wow, Wyrlac, I just read that entire thing. I see no reason to question the authenticity of the document at this point, but I must admit that I read it very differently than you apparently did. I got from the document that Tatsunoko got the right to SDF Macross, they own the show as a whole, which is how I've always interpreted the case to be. However, I also got out of the document that the designs and story were created before Tatsunoko's involvement, and that Big West retained the rights to all the designs, and the Author's Copyright to the show. I'm doing further research before I determine what this means, but it does not state anywhere in the document anything that would lead me to believe that Tatsunoko has any rights to the derivatives. If my understanding of the copyright terms are correct, then the document does specifically state that Tatsunoko does not have those rights, and that they rest soley with Big West. Again, I'm doing further research on the topic, though I welcome further input from other board members that may be more knowledgeable on Japanese copyright terms.

The problem with all of that, BoK., is that it's only Big West's fault if Harmony Gold's claims to the Macross franchise are legitimate. We, the fans, simply do not know. Perhaps they do have a legitimate claim, or perhaps Tatsunoko's at fault for a poorly worded contract with HG. We do not know. The Tokyo Court rulings, as I understand them, seem to indicate that Big West has sole ownership of the designs and the authority to create derivatives, which would probably mean ownership of those derivatives. While it does not specifically say that, it heavily leans in that direction. IF Harmony Gold's claims are not valid, then Big West has every right do pull the plug on such a deal between Tokyo Pop and Harmony Gold. Not only the right, but it's in their best interest if they wish to persue the international market. It's also in the interest of Macross fans, but only if Big West does persue litigation to open up their claims to the international distribution of derivatives and the merchandising thereof, as splitting profits with HG would mean higher prices for us fans. Unfortunately, in the meantime we fans to get the worst of things. I must reiterate that all this is purely speculation, and without all of the neccessary facts. HG's claims might be valid, and maybe BW is just being greedy. Perhaps HG's claims are valid according to their contract with Tatsunoko, but Tatsunoko sold them rights that Tatsunoko themselves didn't have. Perhaps both HG and BW honestly believe they're in the right, but the contracts between them and Tatsunoko were translated in such a way as to not convey specific ownership of the derivatives, or the contract was mistranslated alltogether. All I can say is that if Big West and Harmony Gold are going to continue to fight over rights like this, I hope Big West does persue the international market in such a way (even if it means legal action) that will clear the uncertainties surrounding all of this.

I still prefere the Bandai/Takatoku 1/55ths to Yamato's 1/60 Valkyries in terms of playability. The 1/6oths might have actually been better recieved with a swing bar transformation, as I personally don't see how anyone can find those oversized hip lumps any more asthetically appealling. Now the 1/60ths suffer from three problems, the huge hip bumps that look as bad as swing bars, loose hips that make it nearly impossible to get the toy to stand up, AND removable legs for the transformation. Overall, though, the 1/60ths do look better, but wind up being less fun to play with than the good 'ol 1/55ths. On the other hand, the 1/48ths are much better looking than any Valkyrie toy to date, have no swing bars or cancerous hip bulges marring their appearance, pose easily, and are just a lot of fun to play with in general. I'd say it's debatable which is more fun to play with (the 1/55ths or the 1/48ths), as the 1/55ths transform easily and are tough as a brick, while the 1/48ths have a complex transformation that might be more appealing to lots of people, and, while not as tough as a 1/55th, are a lot tougher than most people give them credit. I do find it odd that people will crtisize the proportions of the 1/48th, but not mind that the 1/60ths and 1/55ths have much worse proportions. Both the 1/60ths and especially the 1/55ths have huge "Popeye" arms, and the 1/60ths have tiny, almost non-existant upper arms. The nosecone of the 1/60th is mishapen, lacking the curves present in the 1/48th and the lineart, and are as much too thin as the 1/48th nose cone is too thick. Personally, I don't see too thin as an improvement. Again, those huge bulges in the "thighs" of the 1/60 Valks look terrible. I do see the complaints about the "broad chested" 1/48ths, and the small hands. Unfortunately, to get correctly proportioned arms, the hands simply won't fit unless they're undersized. I do wish Yamato had made DYRL? style non-articulated hands like the tv version hands coming with the 1J, though I don't find the hands big enough of a problem to say I'd keep the the stock hands off. I do like perfect transformation in my Valkyries, and the smaller hands are more realistic. I suppose preference can't be argued, as that's simply opinion. Porportions, on the other hand, are fact. It's either more correctly proportioned, or it's not. Anyways, it seems I went off on a huge tangent. In short, I like the 1/55ths a lot and have all of the reissues. I don't think the 1/60ths are bad, but I only have one and don't intend to get anymore, as the 1/48ths look better are are more fun to play with. I do think the 1/48ths are better toys than the 1/55ths as they look better and they're more posable (and most of the problems associated with the 1/48ths are grossly exaggerated in my experience), but all that comes at a steeper price tag.

Another wonderful translation! Thanks much!

This news is pretty old, actually. With Harmony Gold claiming rights to "all things Macross", Big West probably won't attempt to bring any new Macross stuff out in the US, and probably much of abroad, until the legal situation is worked out. Also, if it is someone else holding the international rights, then they probably know as much as we do about the situation. As for Macross 7, that's always been the case. A seperate company owns the music, and they want a fee that's just way too much for any distribution company to stomach. About the court statement, I believe that's fairly recent as someone found something like that on Yahoo! Japan just the other day. It's basically the courts repeating themselves on their earlier (February of this year?) statement that Tatsunoko owns the tv series SDF Macross, but Big West owns all the designs and the rights to create derivatives. See the Harmony Gold Legal Debate Thread for more information on all of this.

Wasn't the Macross 7 fleet also laying the groundwork for a galactic communications network?

I think the "zentradi in space" question has been adequately answered. As for Macross City using money? Well, the best answer I can give you for that question is to point you at European cities during World War II, that's probably the closest real-life equivalent. I can imagine lots of bartering, with military ration coupons being the major currency for a long time before things settled down. Onboard the ship, especially, ration coupons were probably the major currency. This may have changed over the course of the ship's voyage back to Earth, as I imagine some of the people may have brought money with them, and it was an entire population of 50,000 people.

That's just a rehash of information we already know.

They're probably all locked in their rooms playing Homeworld 2.

Way, way, back in something like 1994, possibly 1993 or so, I had my Robotech RPG book from Palladium in class, French class. I was reading it before class began, waiting for the teacher to arrive. A guy I knew, looked over and said, "Hey I have a toy of that!", pointing at a picture of the Macross. A few minutes later and he told me it was just sitting somewhere in his room collecting dust. I imeadiately offered him 15 bucks for it, and he agreed, just like that. The next day he brought a paper bag in with a mis-transformed Matchbox version of the SDF-1. Needless to say, that toy was the most important item I owned up until I got my first 1/48th. I still have that toy, though the Prometheus arm broke off at the rail cannon "shoulder". I need to mail it off to a friend of mine who's good at fixing things like that, it's currently in the care of another friend of mine, who's holding onto it for safe keeping (an arrangement worked up when I moved halfway across the country). My next Macross toy was a Bandai model of the VF-19S, pretty sweet except for having to remove pieces to transform it. Then nothing for years until last summer when I picked up the Focker 1S Bandai reissue. My collection's grown quite a bit since then, having grabbed all the reissues (including the two Macross 7 Valks), 3 1/48ths, a Banpresto Strike, and a 1/60 V-1A.

This seems like a topic that should (and is, if you look) be in the Harmony Gold/Big West licensing debate thread.

What do you know? I'm suddenly looking forward to this, if for all the wrong reasons.

Ummm, they played all if Minmay's songs for the final battle in the tv series. The big end song was 'Love Drifts Away' and I don't see how anyone could hate that song yet still claim to like 'DYRL?'. Unless you mean Robotech's 'We Will Win', but I wouldn't expect you to make a mistake like that.

Also, if Egan Loo says it's Hikaru's first kill, well he's about as much of an Authority on the subject as you can get.

I have to agree with the Duke here. I'd been playing Final Fantasy games long enough to hear all the RPG geeks complaining that Final Fantasy III(VI in Japan) was nothing but eye candy and fancy graphics, with a craptastic story and dull characters. I remember people complaining that the end of FFVI was nothing but a flashy cinema sequence and a huge let down. How many other people remember this? As for Final Fantasy VII? Well, it did have the deepest, most well written and well developed cast of characters since Final Fantasy IV. Sure, most of the characters in FFVI were more likable, but the stories, feelings, and personalities of the characters were more fleshed out in VII. Even better, to see all this "fleshing out" you had to go on side quests and find certain areas where these stories would be told. Like the waterfall where you got to see Vincent's story, or the secret sequence where you learned all about Zack, which fleshed out Cloud even more. There was even a huge long sequence that delved into Yuffie's character. Kinda beats out the stories and character developement we got for Mog and the Yeti in VI, doesn't it? Not to mention Gogo's back story, remember that one? No, of course not. And if the main plot of Final Fantasy VII was so simple, how come we are still debating the ending? FF VI's story was simple. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it immensley, but for being the crown jewl in the FF crown (according to most fanboys) it sure is simple compared to not only FFVII, but FFIV as well. FFV had even less going for it. My theory behind the complaints on FFVII is that so much less was spelled out for the audience. You actually had to read between the lines and think for yourself to see all that was going on. Not to mention the fact that for the side quests, there was nothing pointing you at them. No hint of their existance. You either had to be one of those RPG gamers that scoured the map for secrets, or one of those RPG gamers that scoured the cheat guides for secrets, to even know they were there.

Yeah, that'd be my only critisism at this point, your custom looks a lot lighter in colour than the Valkyrie shown in the screencap.