Radd

Ja, I think a lot more people fall into the "I hate some parts, but love others" category that doesn't have an option. It's no secret that many Macross fans hate M7, but love MII. Or hate MII and love M7. Hate M7 and love M0. Etcetera, etcetera....

Capcom has something special for Phoenix Wright fans waiting for the new game. a "mock trial" demo featuring the first section of the first trial: http://www.ace-attorney.com/aj/ Also, saw a release list that puts the new game on the street in February. Thos new Castlevania screens look nice. Looks like they're moving back towards the SotN direction with the character portraits, which is fantastic. As great as the past two games were, the generic anime look really put me off.

Wait, let me get this straight. Is the picture lechuck posted on the previous page a fake, or was there another picture that was a fake? I've not liked Trek for a very long time, but that retro style looking version of the Enterprise definitely has my interest. Regardless, that teaser description sounds like it was tailored to my tastes, so when some friends and I get together next week to head to the movies, I think I'm going to push Cloverfield, which I want to see anyways.

I dunno, just saw the TF Animated episode with the Dinobots, and must say I prefere their original origin. It was just like that, right?

I more or less love the whole franchise. There are things I could do without, and things I feel could have been done better, but as far as franchises go I feel Macross has retained a kind of integrity that many other series lose over such a long period of time. SDF:M is great, but it's age shows a great deal. Aside from some minor details, DYRL achieves a kind of timelessness and, while not as fullfilling as a full length series, does a great job at delivering SDF in a movie length form. Flashback 2012 is what it is, and it gave Macross a kind of mystique with it's all too brief segments featuring the VF-4 and the Megaroad. Macross II is not one I'm a fan of. I won't get in to why, as it does have its fans and that's fine. I thought Macross Plus was a brilliant return to greatness. Especially the movie version which proves that longer does not necessarily mean better. I'm in Graham's camp, for the most part, when it comes to Macross 7, I think it's stronger than SDF in some respects. Though I believe some things could have been handled better. The directing and flow of the story for one example. Personally, I never saw spiritua as a kind of magic, and felt the director was giving shiney lights and sound effects to something a lot more subtle. Dynamite 7 addressed pretty much all my grievances with the series, and was a fun little side story in its own right. I feel Macross 0 had more going for it than a lot give it credit, but it was at least one full episode short, possibly two. It shows that they were really struggling to wrap things up in that last episode. A lot of people are speculating that Frontier will tie in directly with Zero, if so, and done well, I wonder if that might put Zero in a better light with some people. Not really much to say about Frontier yet. I think the first episode was phenomenal. Most people seem to agree. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series.

I did wind up sending a message to the customer service message thingy on their website. I was going to go through the comment thing on the stream, but that page was down. This was before I'd heard that they'd gotten it off the Gainax website. Dunno, though, kinda wish I knew about the actual translation bit, I mean I've seen many a Japanese company use completely wrong english. Look at how Yamato spelled Excalibur on the 25thy anniversary YF-19 toy. Maybe it's intentional, maybe it was the wrong context, or maybe Gainax themselves made a translation error. Still worth talking about. Besides, "Gurren Brigade" sounds so much better. Also, there were those other questionable translations. "Kick reason to the curb and stick to our crazy guns" and "Target the dimensional waterfall!"?

Well, if it's Team Gurren it's Team Gurren. Not as cool as Gurren Brigade, but hey, I certainly can't fault ADV for going with the official name.

Are we talking about the same VF-4? I don't see how it compares to the A-7 corsair at all. Are you sure you're not thinking the VA-3 or something?

And many previous lead characters showed far more of this "emo angst" people are talking about than Alto. Amaro Ray from a little show called Mobile Suit Gundam, and this character called Shinji who was the lead in a tiny production by the small, independent studio Gainax. Just to name a couple.

The Shinsen subs still have enough errors to make me question the translation. I hope a really polished sub eventually comes out.

I've never really liked Galvatron. I'd love a G2 tank Megatron done up MP style, though. I've always loved that version of Megatron the best. Rodimus would be on my list, except that I've got Alternator's Rodimus, and think he looks far and away better than any other incarnation of the character. Also, I know people have mentioned wanting MP versions of characters such as Wheeljack, I hope the line mostly sticks to larger, non-car style TFs. I'd love to see MP Soundwave, Thundercracker, Ultra Magnus with his trailer/armour, Thrust, Dirdge, Ramjet, Warpath, Astrotrain, Blitzwing... Further down the list, but only because they saw Alternators releases, I'd love to see MP Grimlock and MP Shockwave. Ratchet and Ironhide might be good for the line, too. They're both larger than a regular car, and neither got an appearance in the Alternators line.

I can safely say that if this ever occurred I would buy at least one of every single variant they'd release, assuming of course they did a halfway decent job with it. I'd be less inclined if it wound up being as fragile as the original VF-11, and as floppy as the M0 Vallkyries. Though, even then, I'd have to have one at least. Maybe one to display in each mode. c__c

Ever since the first release came out people have been jumping to the same conclusions, though. It's very likely these translations, which are questionable even when put together, came out this way due to the perception of the translators, or simply that's the way they come out being a little too literal while losing intended meaning. There's also a lot that is not even directly conveyed in the translations, people drawing conclusions that Sheryl must know about things based on the high priority given her arrival and safety, when that can more easily be explained by the simple fact that she's a famous star. Of course, I'm not saying that it's certainly not the case that they know about the bugs, or that half the cast certainly wasn't expecting them, I'm just throwing out what I see as an equally plausible scenario at this time. Future episodes will, of course, shed more light on all of this.

I wouldn't read too much into any of the subtitles quite yet. There are so many little flaws in even the "good" subs I've seen that I have little confidence in little lines like "They're finally here!" I suspect Ozma's line may have been more along the lines of "Ranka, finally some action!" As in finally getting out on to a real battlefield and showing his skills. Not necessarily suggesting a specific enemy. Also all the talk of "Code Victor", I don't see why that can't just be a plan of action for a very serious situation, again not specifically related to this particular enemy they find themselves fighting. Ozma's line about "Cowards not being able to fight these things" could just be more along the lines of how complacent the regular military is. Probably mostly kids with no previous battle experience, while SMS is made up of vets who've seen actual combat. As for the ships physically connected, and the absence of the "Milky Road", and also the main city ship not having sky scrapers that reach all the way to the top of the dome...I think these might all be visual cues showing that the fleet to have been less advanced when it left Earth than the Macross 7's 37th long distance fleet. Do we know the dates at which these respective fleets left earth? Frontier is the 11th long distance fleet, isn't it? No force-field or however made inter-ship roads, and it's possible, likely even, that the Frontier city ship isn't larger, just that the City 7 ship has huge freaking towers, allowing for more people and other things. It's easier to upgrade things such as the fighter contingent than the actual colony ships themselves, I imagine.

I move that the word "kibble" be stricken from the lexicon. As it tends to mean whatever the hell the user wants it to mean, it winds up conveying little to no meaning at all and winds up being as useful as the word "smurf". Some people use it to mean vehicle parts that wind up hanging off the robot, some only use it in that case if said pieces hinder articulation. Some people use it to mean any part on the robot that looks like a piece of it's alt mode, some only use it in that way if they don't like how it looks and don't use it if it looks cool. Some people only use it for pieces of the alt mode that simply get in the way when in robot mode, as if the designers had absolutely no idea what to do with the piece. Some people mostly use it for shellformers, with the large pieces of alt mode hanging off the robot. Some people use it for any portruding piece that does not sit flush with the part of the robot it's sprouting from, but only when they don't think it looks good. Some people use it to convey two or more of the above. Others use it only for one specific description. Everyone nods their heads when the word is used, but I don't know that anyone really knows exactly what one person is talking about over what they themselves think the word means. It's so subjective to the point where it can mean just about anything, for anyone, and even differ from toy to toy for the same person using the word.

I'm also a fan of the utilitarian looking heads. the DYRL variant of the VF-1A is my favourite version of the VF-1 series. Funny what a difference a few changes can make, the tv variant of the 1A is my least favourite. I also appreciate the head design for the VF-11 and the YF-21. I disagree that the 19 is "overhumanized" though, unless you're talking the VF-19Kai. The VF-19P is my favourite version, probably not coincidence that it also has the cyclops thing going on.

I do not think that word means what you think it means. I just can't wait until the next anime season!

I'll be the first to agree with you, Fit, that Takara is not a company one wants to emulate if they wish to remain successful. However, the old saying about the broken clock being right twice a day applies. Obviously this is not something that makes or breaks Hasbro, but putting out correctly transformed marketing photos and box art photos is just something one would expect. It's incredibly sloppy and unprofessional for them to do otherwise.

VF-4 Lightning III hands down. Valkyrie perfection, in my eyes. I love every mode, and it boggles me as to why so many people seem to have issue with the battroid (I've heard it all before, not asking for a repeat performance). In my personal opinion it's simply one of Kawamori's most creative and refined creations. Sleek and gorgeous in fighter, while big and badass looking in battroid. Gerwalk is the only mode that doesn't really grab me, but I don't dislike that mode on it either, just there are other Valkyries I see as having a better looking gerwalk. I also have a fondness for the VF-14. I've always been a fan of the SR-71, and someone has already pointed out the resemblance, additionally it shares some qualities with the VF-4. The VA-3 Invader will always hold a special place in my heart, too. I really hate the idea that every VF needs to be "pretty", and I'm a big fan of variety. I also love things that have a retro look to them, and there's something in the VA-3's design that seems to have that appeal to me. Kinda like the WWII-ish variable fighter designs Kawamori was doing before that project became Escaflowne. I'd still love him to revisit that idea. If I had to choose toys I'd love to see Yamato make, out of all the "underdog" Valkyries, well the VF-4 would be my obvious first choice, but I'd say the VF-9 would be my second. As we already have a VB-6, the VA-3 would be third on my list of priorities. Out of Valkyries with more "mainstream appeal", the new VF-171 I absolutely adore, far more than the VF-17. I dunno what it is, just a few small changes really made the design for me. Not that I disliked the 17, but now the 171 ranks among my favourites.

I collect Transformers and Macross, that's about it. Both are a mix of nostalgia, along with admiration of some pretty impressive toys. My TF collecting is limited to the Alternators and the Masterpiece lines. I might nab a particular favoured character from a line like Classics, something to put on my desk at work, but I'm just not nearly as interested in them. I suppose I just really like realistic alt modes, combined with detailed and poseable robots. Both of those lines have an almost model-like quality to them that I appreciate, while still being sturdy enough that I'm never afraid to take them off the shelf. Macross, well it's Macross. My favourite show of all time. Yamato has done a great job with the toys in recent years, but I still find enough to be picky about to keep me from buying up every toy they put out. Particularly, the hips on the old 1/60 VF-1s put me off in a big way, and the floppy loose joints in the initial releases of their Macross Zero toys really put me off of sending more money their way. I'd seriously set aside the funds to buy Focker, Ivanov, Shin, Nora, and a cannon fodder of both the SV-51 and the VF-0, but both my VF-0s and my SV-51 suffer from horribly loose joints. Great designs, but this flaw really puts me off. So much so I'm having second thoughts about nabbing up an the YF-21 when it first comes out. I used to be less picky, I've got a box full of RiD toys, plus a couple G1 reissues and random TF figures that will eventually find its way to eBay. I think my tastes have become a lot more focused and my standards a lot higher. Other than the M0 toys, I've had exceptionally good luck with Yamato. With Alternators done with, and MP releases so infrequent, I'll probably concentrate on Macross, though I think I'm still getting pickier so I suspect my purchases will be less frequent still.

Precisely, I'll buy a ton if the price is reasonable. If the price is even just slightly beyond reasonable, I'll probably only get one.

Argh. I've got a floppy first gen SV-51 Ivanov. Beautiful toy, but like my VF-0S it's so floppy it's really difficult to pose or display. Really bothers me that Yamato does that. Yet I'm always afraid that if I wait for a revised 2nd wave, it will never come and I'll be left with nothing. Since the 21 is such a sure win for Yamato, I'll probably actually hold off on that until they release a fixed version.

Heh thanks for the price in yen, right after I posted I was thinking the higher price might be due to the deflating dollar, but no it really is a jump. I really hope they come with FAST packs.

If they go for that much with FAST packs, I'll be much more inclined to attempt at nabbing as much of the line as I can. Without...well, yeah. A couple here and there maybe. Possibly just one or two to display along with my other 1/60 Valkyries. How much did the first 1/60 VF-1 toys go for? I recall picking them up my DYRL Max 1A for about $60.

Yamato has come a long way since those Macross Plus toys. The VF-11 hip joint was known for breaking. None of the Yamato toys I've picked up have had any similar problems. Even my reissue VF-11, where they reinforced the hip, has survived many transformations without issue.