Macross Ace Frontier for the PSP.

[big F]

Boldoza WTF?? are you kidding? whats he going to do? sit there and vegetate looking at miclonian porno?

Fly about in his Giant Tree stump ship and fry anything that gets too close with his Pulse Cannons I Suppose.

"oh darn there goes another wing of Miclonian fighters"

"woops did I just vaporise that Zentrant Frigate"

[Mellow Yellow]

Have you seen the Japanese hardware sales charts?

http://kotaku.com/5020116/playstation-3-fa...ts#viewcomments

The Japanese seem to be handheld crazy over there. PSP has been the number one seller every week for the past 3 months ever since Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G was released, and I'm guessing the recently released Super Robot Taisen A Portable will carry it a bit longer. Prior to Monster Hunter, it was nothing but DS and Wii on top, week in and week out (I wanted to gouge my eyes out lol). That's why Macross Ace Frontier is going to be on PSP, plus it's cheaper to make on a handheld, like Cacophanus mentioned.

Prior to MGS4, PS3 sales were pitiful (around even with PS2!). Japanese developers just don't seem to want to put the time and money into developing titles for PS3 that don't look like they could have been made on a PS2, which is kinda sad.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Mellow Yellow

[Fly4victory]

I emailed HimeyaShop.com about preordering it when it was announced and they said as soon as a date was set they will begin taking preorders for it.

I checked YesAsia.com and nothing is there either.

[d3v]

Prior to MGS4, PS3 sales were pitiful (around even with PS2!). Japanese developers just don't seem to want to put the time and money into developing titles for PS3 that don't look like they could have been made on a PS2, which is kinda sad.

Initial D Extreme Stage came to mind (although in fairness it is an arcade port).

I guess these days, the only way for an anime to get a PS3 reelase is if it's part of a crazy populare franchise like Naruto or Gundam or Dragonball Z.

[JB0]

Initial D Extreme Stage came to mind (although in fairness it is an arcade port).

I guess these days, the only way for an anime to get a PS3 reelase is if it's part of a crazy populare franchise like Naruto or Gundam or Dragonball Z.

They may start embracing the downloadable game model.

It offers them a lower target than the disk games, which've become a bit over-the-top in terms of development requirements.

For now... PSP, DS, PS2, Wii. The lower hardware specs set the demands lower, meaning the games can be developed relatively cheaply.

[kensei]

Well, using the PSP to control anything but 2D games still sucks.

Actually, just tested myself, you're kinda right. Depends on what 3D game it is, but not optimal compared to others.

[yellowlightman]

I guess these days, the only way for an anime to get a PS3 reelase is if it's part of a crazy populare franchise like Naruto or Gundam or Dragonball Z.

Or Megazone 23.

[Oihan]

If this game is as good as everyone (including myself) hopes it is...then I'll definitely be buying it and a PSP as soon as this game comes out. My only hope is that they include "Dogfighter" and track 42 off Disc 3 (the complete collection). Those two songs would be the icing on the cake for me.

[Cacophanus]

Or Megazone 23.

That's a glorified dating sim with lots of 2D art, so very cheap to produce. It was hardly a full blown Garland simulator.

[ruskiiVFaussie]

I want the tunnel run inside Boldoza's castle. Re-playing Hik in the finale would be wicked! Has there ever been a game to date that tries to re-create that?

[JB0]

I want the tunnel run inside Boldoza's castle. Re-playing Hik in the finale would be wicked! Has there ever been a game to date that tries to re-create that?

Didn't one of the ACE games do that?

[ruskiiVFaussie]

Didn't one of the ACE games do that?

Can anyone confirm this?

[Golden Arms]

I want the tunnel run inside Boldoza's castle. Re-playing Hik in the finale would be wicked! Has there ever been a game to date that tries to re-create that?

The SDF Macross game for the PS did, but its a side scroller.

[ruskiiVFaussie]

lol, well i hope they incorporate it in this one then. Maybe they will do it for the higher end stuff like PS3...

[KOTUS]

Can anyone confirm this?

As an owner of about 4 ace combats...I can safely say that pretty much ALL of the ace combats have a tunnel run mission of some sort, sometimes 2-3 of them.... (some can be pretty fustrating though). Thats why I've always thought that big-west (or whoever owns the macross rights) should simply approach the group that make the ace combats and get them to do a macross game (...or two (...or three)).

I honestly think that they would do a great job, and it would be relatively easy for them as well, simply use the existing game dynamics, add a few space missions, a few atmosphere ones, a few with both, simply create some new models to cover the macross world & all it's enemies and there you have it.

Familiar ACE COMBAT missions:

Take down a giant plane(s)

Take out a giant submarine.

Take out some sort of super weapon.

Chase and destroy a cruise missile.

Escort choppers.

Fly inside some sort of superstructure mission.

Sink ships.

Mid air refuelling.

Runway & Carrier landings.

Loads of *excellent* dogfights against enemy aces.

Loads of bombing runs.

Oh...and the ability to fly back to base to resupply mid mission.

AND most of all...try to evade way too many missiles in every mission.

Now, it's not too hard to replace the above with familar macross 'missions'.

Big west! (if your reading)... YOU CAN DO IT!

ninja edit: oh yeah...one more thing. most have HANGARS where you buy and sell planes, so they already have the facility where you could mix and match fighters...and when you pass through the games a few times, you get extras like the ability to choose different colours schemes and stuff.

Edited July 8, 2008 by KOTUS

[d3v]

I want the tunnel run inside Boldoza's castle. Re-playing Hik in the finale would be wicked! Has there ever been a game to date that tries to re-create that?

Didn't VF-X have something similar, albeit not exactly playable and not exactly Hikaru attacking Bodolza's fortress.

[TheLoneWolf]

Didn't VF-X have something similar, albeit not exactly playable and not exactly Hikaru attacking Bodolza's fortress.

Yes, Macross Digital Mission VF-X had a tunnel finale. Think of a rail-shooter in 3rd person, though it was impossible for your character to crash or take any damage. In fact, you didn't even have to shoot any of the enemies. It was pretty disappointing overall.

[Xeros]

As an owner of about 4 ace combats...I can safely say that pretty much ALL of the ace combats have a tunnel run mission of some sort, sometimes 2-3 of them.... (some can be pretty fustrating though). Thats why I've always thought that big-west (or whoever owns the macross rights) should simply approach the group that make the ace combats and get them to do a macross game (...or two (...or three)).

(...)

Now is Bandai-Namco the publisher of the Ace Combat franchise, so they must be in something for the "big" consoles

The problem is the console I think, I still waiting for AC6 in PS3

[ruskiiVFaussie]

Well eventually i'll be getting a PS3 so either way i hope there will be a proper tunnel run in store for us. Here's hoping PSP will get one.

[Morpheus]

I think most of the mission will be similliar to Gundam Battle series, basically is to survive within time limit and accomplishing certain task.

Runway and carrier landing could be easily done by changing to gerwalk/batroid

I wish they included Itano circus challenge mode, survive through several stage of M3 (Macross Missile Massacre)

[ruskiiVFaussie]

.. that sounds way cool! (missile challenge)

[bchan009]

Didn't one of the ACE games do that?

They're not talking about Ace Combat. They're talking about ACE, or Another Century's Episode - a mecha crossover series for PS2. I have all three - they feature robots from Gundam, Macross, and every other famous mecha franchise. Lets you play with all your favorite pilots/robots - good stuff!

And yes, I think they did that in ACE 2 at the end.

Cover for ACE 3:

Edited July 9, 2008 by bchan009

[ruskiiVFaussie]

ARRRRRRAAAGHHHHH that looks soo COOL! Nadesicio, MACROSS, awesome. What platform will the next one come on? I see this was for the PS2.

[bchan009]

I believe ACE 3 was going to be the last one. =(

All three are on PS2 - check out videos on YouTube to see what it's like. The games aren't particularly difficult, but they're quite fun. =D

[Wes]

ARRRRRRAAAGHHHHH that looks soo COOL! Nadesicio, MACROSS, awesome. What platform will the next one come on? I see this was for the PS2.

Yeah it came out for the PS2 awhile ago, and it was great. The "walking stick" was pretty cheap, but then when Max and Focker pop out and say something I can only guess "Hey guy we'll cover you take it out!"...it was wonderfull...

[ruskiiVFaussie]

Sweeet. I can only hope for emulator/rom or whatever is needed goodness to play them later down the track...

Edited July 11, 2008 by ruskiiVFaussie

[protostar8]

So 30 pilots, 40 valkyries....has anyone confirmed how many "different" valkyries will be present. In other words, how many of the 40 are simply skins or minor differences like heads?

Oh, and for all those wanting to hear certain pieces of music in the game, there are ways to do that if you have a modded psp and the game files if you have enough skill (I don't, but I've read where people have custom music in their games or where people actually take out music to make the game size smaller for putting more games on a memory card).

And I just read that transformation will handled with the analog stick, meaning that maneuvering will have to be done with the d-pad......I hope they have an option to invert that b/c it'd make so much more sense to use the d-pad for mode change and the analog stick for MOVEMENT as that's what it's there for. After playing Katamari for 20 minutes using the d-pad, my fingers on that side of the PSP hurt, so I really hate using the d-pad for extended periods.

Edited July 11, 2008 by protostar8

[JB0]

And I just read that transformation will handled with the analog stick, meaning that maneuvering will have to be done with the d-pad......I hope they have an option to invert that b/c it'd make so much more sense to use the d-pad for mode change and the analog stick for MOVEMENT as that's what it's there for. After playing Katamari for 20 minutes using the d-pad, my fingers on that side of the PSP hurt, so I really hate using the d-pad for extended periods.

PSP d-pad's not THAT bad.

Not on mine, anyways. Sony's certainly got an up-and-down track record on that thing(the PS1's d-pad will kill your thumb).

Now, there's something to be said for analog flight control. But really, with the range of motion afforded the PSP slider, it's not going to be very precise. Even compared to the usual sloppy thumbstick.

I find it very interesting that Sony's still making the analog input a secondary control almost a decade after the PS1 started coming with Dual; Shocks. It's well overdue for a promotion like MS, Nintendo, and (sorta) Sega gave it.

(The Dreamcast tried to strike a middle ground, so neither the analog stick nor the d-pad was in an optimum position. But there wasn't a clear preference either, and the shape of the grips was such that you could slide your hand up or down it easily to correct. Too bad you couldn't do anything about the missing C and Z buttons, or the fact that the d-pad sucked.)

[protostar8]

PSP d-pad's not THAT bad.

Not on mine, anyways. Sony's certainly got an up-and-down track record on that thing(the PS1's d-pad will kill your thumb).

Now, there's something to be said for analog flight control. But really, with the range of motion afforded the PSP slider, it's not going to be very precise. Even compared to the usual sloppy thumbstick.

I find it very interesting that Sony's still making the analog input a secondary control almost a decade after the PS1 started coming with Dual; Shocks. It's well overdue for a promotion like MS, Nintendo, and (sorta) Sega gave it.

(The Dreamcast tried to strike a middle ground, so neither the analog stick nor the d-pad was in an optimum position. But there wasn't a clear preference either, and the shape of the grips was such that you could slide your hand up or down it easily to correct. Too bad you couldn't do anything about the missing C and Z buttons, or the fact that the d-pad sucked.)

My PSP is an old Phat PSP. I've actually thought about buying the little d-pad to thumbstick custom set I've seen from time to time that makes the d-pad into another thumbstick wtih a simple thing that slides over the top of the buttons for improved comfort. Either way, the game will be fun and I'll put up with the sore fingers b/c it's the Gundam Battle team making the thing and the Gundam Battle games are pretty fun (event he demo for the one that releases on the 17th is really fun and it's only two levels and you're forced to use the d-pad to move....or else I just couldn't figure out how to change the controls which is very possible).

[JB0]

My PSP is an old Phat PSP. I've actually thought about buying the little d-pad to thumbstick custom set I've seen from time to time that makes the d-pad into another thumbstick wtih a simple thing that slides over the top of the buttons for improved comfort.

That may be it, then.

Mine's a slimline, and a recent slim at that.

[Keith]

D pad works fine for the battle games, so it should be just as fine for ace frontier. As for the 40 fighters, my guesses would be

VF-1A

--Cannon Fodder

--Max

--DYRL Max

--DYRL Hikaru

--DYRL Kakizaki

VF-1J

--Full Aarmor

--Hikaru

--Max

--Milia

VF-1S

--Roy

--DYRL Max

--DYRL Hikaru

VF-11

--VF-11B

VF-17

--VF-17S

YF-19

VF-19

--VF-19S

--VF-19 Kai

YF-21

VF-22

--Max

--Milia

VF-25

--Alto

--Ozma

A Destroid or two

Maybe a couple Varuta mecha

Regult

Glaug

Quadran Rau

We'll likely have to wait for the next revision for cooler stuff like Angel Bird varients, Pheyos, VF-9, VF-14, VF-5000, etc.

[ruskiiVFaussie]

We already know of the destroid line up (SDF/DYRL?)

Tomohawk, Phalanx, and the Monster, but i haven't seen the Defender or Spartan. and if they have the phalanx i can't see why they wouldn't include the other two.

Be nice if they added Zero destroids in there too. I want to pilot the Cheyenne to try and take out Nora or DD.

Edited July 12, 2008 by ruskiiVFaussie

[MilSpex]

Blame the TV. 60Hz/50Hz is the oldest and most logical regional definition.

If you guys had adopted 60Hz NTSC, your PS3s would probably play Japanese and US games.

(Honestly, I didn't know that PAL PS3s couldn't play NTSC games)

multi system TVs that can accept NTSC signals have always been common in Australia. They`re a must for any anime/game nerd in the country.

I just got 20,000 yen points at the local electronics store for connecting with an internet provider here. I was gonna buy a printer to help with my work and study but I think I just changed my mind. Hello Macross PSP and surfing the net on the toilet!

[DestroidDefender]

Anyway I already got the PSP in anticipation for this game hehe, and as an added bonus I found out I can play all Macross games (for the PS) from the PS3 using remote play! VF-X2 in the PSP without hacking firmware or anything!

Sold! I'll get a PSP just to try out my VF-X2.

[JB0]

I'd hold off on that. The PS3 is only region-unlocked for PS3 games.

Unless I've missed something big, it still only plays same-region PS1/2 games.

...

I suppose you COULD import a japanese PS3. But aren't they expensive enough?