Date: 2009-12-14 11:26 Subject: Resistors Are Fissile: Meme C/O thejim Security: Public Tags: aviation, battletech, comments, fandom, friends, livejournal, meme, quizzes, robotech, robots, school, science-fiction, who am i

Leave me a comment saying "Cripes A'Mighty."
• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

[thejim's Questions:] 1) Favourite Mecha and why?
Probably the Aestivalis from Nadesico. Granted, it's not that big and it's not that powerful, but it's quick, it's tough, it looks cool, and can be adapted dozens of ways depending on the mission.

2) Favourite Mecha-centric series and why?
Right now it's a bizarre even split between Zeta Gundam and The Big O. Zeta Gundam because I identify a lot with Camille Vidan and how, as a misfit, he'd get himself in trouble every so often. The Big O because of its psychology and how it works in spite of its juxtaposition of police/private eye procedural and giant superhero robot elements.

3) Aviation Management...what is it? What got you interested in it?
The economic science and practices behind the running of an aviation-related business: airlines, airports, aircraft factories, flight schools, crop dusting, air taxi and so on. This was a compromise because my folks didn't have the funds for me to concentrate strictly on a Professional Pilot program (which is aimed at making the student Airline Captain material).

4) What got you interested in Mecha in the first place?
I'd been a fan of Japanese science-fiction cartoons since childhood, specifically Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets and Star Blazers...so when Robotech came along at the time I left High School, I was pretty receptive to it.

5) What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen GRF-5K Griffin? Alternately, what is the level-ground maximum speed of a Scopedog? Why did you know either of those?
The -5K variant is new to me. I only have handy information on the earlier models...although, if the Griffin were fitted with the disposable wing system its anime Soltic Roundfacer inspiration could use, then it could easily exceed the 15 meters per second "book figures". As for the Scopedog, the Roller Dash system redlines at 108 kilometers per hour. This isn't spelled out in the VOTOMS RPG rulebook, but can be easily calculated. PS: Just saw on SARNA.net that the -5K Griffin can do 24 meters per second airborne.

Date: 2009-12-12 17:41 Subject: Just Because Security: Public Tags: battletech, computer games, games, gaming, heavy gear, japan, robotech, robots, stuff i want, video, video games, wargames, youtube

( A Couple More Embedded Border Break Videos )

Date: 2009-12-06 00:01 Subject: I'm Bord! I'm BORD! I'm Chairman Of The...BORD. Security: Public Tags: anime, backward compatible, battletech, fandom, full frontal nerdity, games, gaming, gundam, heavy gear, japan, otaku, robotech, robots, science-fiction, stuff i want, video, video games, wargames, youtube

( Border Break! )

A new Japanese arcade video game that looks very MMO-ish. With the current state of console games these days, is a MMO like this possible now?

SEGA!

Date: 2009-11-06 17:05 Subject: Stuff I Find When I Seek Elsethings Security: Public Tags: anime, battletech, books, design, games, gaming, heavy gear, japan, robotech, robots, science-fiction, video, youtube

( Industrial Divinities )

Date: 2009-09-19 17:07 Subject: Not As Bazaar As I Hoped Security: Public Tags: battletech, business, errands, full frontal nerdity, games, gaming, knoxville, money, robotech, robots, stuff i want, travel

The Gamer Bazaar at the HobbyTown today was a disappointment, especially compared to the previous such event there. Then, it was packed with people buying and trading; this time there were eight or nine of us.

I sold more than I bought in cash terms but got more than I sold in product terms. But I brought loads of stuff I was sure would sell but didn't.

My main haul back to Rather Manor was a bunch of Mechwarrior "Clicky" pieces, including one of this type:



Which brings my tally to three of them.

More to come.

Date: 2009-09-12 01:59 Subject: Useless Gamer Fact Security: Public Tags: battletech, full frontal nerdity, games, gaming, mathematics, robotech, robots, wargames

A point of Battletech armor can be represented in the real world by a cube of solid metal 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters.

Date: 2009-09-11 21:45 Subject: You Really Want To Remember? Do You? Security: Public Tags: anime, comments, fandom, forii, friends, history, politics, robotech, science-fiction, terrorism, war

The following is excerpted from a real discussion on the Disciples of Zor (Robotech fan club), starting September 3rd, 2001:
ME: I hear the bizarre news out of South Africa about the "Race" conference and wonder what might happen next. ( Read more... )
REV PREZ: The threat of global war, as popularly defined by security and defense analysts a decade ago, has dropped significantly with the inability of the former Soviet Union to pursue a conventional campaign into Central Europe and the general stability of the nuclear situation between the US, China and the nuclearized former Soviet states.

Major war, generally defined as a conflict between a major power and a reasonable well armed minor power or more specifically a conventional conflict between two states, is still a huge problem. Right now, there are three main axes for major war -- in the Mideast between any of the usual suspects and/or the United States; East Asia between China/Taiwan, DPRK/ROK-US, and Japan vs. a number of small polities.

[September 11th] ME: Welcome to the major war, Prez. You made the call.

Date: 2009-09-09 16:23 Subject: Screenshots From The Mechwarrior 5 Demo Video I Posted Earlier Security: Public Tags: battletech, design, fandom, games, graphics, law, macross, photography, robotech, robots, science-fiction, technology transfer, wargames

( More Behind THIS )

My view: the Warhammer (called such in the graphics) here is completely different IN SURFACE DETAIL to the Studio Nue anime original, but FUNCTIONALLY identical to the concept in the original Battletech game. It probably fits the legal definition of reverse-engineered. I wouldn't want to be in the courtroom for this case.

Date: 2009-09-08 00:01 Subject: Evidence Security: Public Tags: backward compatible, battletech, comic books, disney, full frontal nerdity, games, humor, law, macross, marvel comics, news, robotech, video, wargames, webcomics, youtube

( The Mechwarrior 5 Demo Trailer At The Center Of The Dispute )

Meanwhile:
( Fallout From The Big Comics Merger--Backward Compatible-Style! )

Date: 2009-09-07 13:36 Subject: Historical Perspective: The Battletech/Robotech War Security: Public Tags: battletech, fandom, games, history, law, marketing, money, robotech, robots, science-fiction, wargames

This is an article I originally wrote for the Mekton Z mailing list: ( Read more... )

More to come.

FP

Date: 2009-09-07 00:39 Subject: What Battletech Looked Like BEFORE It Was Battletech Security: Public Tags: anime, battletech, games, law, models, robotech, robots, the 1980s, tv, video, youtube

Fangs Of The Sun: Dougram--one of the main sources for Battletech and Robotech--model kits for the latter. Some of which I still own, but I digress.

( Animated Clips And A Trailer And Model Kit Promo Video Behind This Cut! )

The rightsholders for both Robotech and Battletech are headed for yet another legal face-off soon because the trailer for an upcoming video game of Battletech included a Mech that was very similar to the Warhammer, which came from the Macross (Robotech) TV series that Harmony Gold USA has exclusive copyright and trademark rights to in the United States. This legal battle has been going on practically since the day Robotech first appeared on American TV and Battletech's first edition box set was shipped to game stores!


"Warhammer"


"Destroid Tomahawk" in Macross, became "Excalibur" in Robotech

Date: 2009-07-10 00:01 Subject: Needz Moar Robotickz Security: Public Tags: computer, full frontal nerdity, games, gaming, gundam, robotech, robots, video, video games, violence, war, weapons, youtube

( Insanity Way Beyond My Budget And Tech Support )

Date: 2009-06-16 14:07 Subject: More, But Is It The Same? I Think Not Security: Public Tags: anime, comedy, humor, japan, macross, remakes, robotech, robots, video, youtube

( The Super-Deformed Version of the Macross TV Series Titles )

This was made in the Nineties for the syndicated re-release of the show.

Date: 2009-06-15 22:40 Subject: Anime Addiction + Research Addiction + YouTube Addiction =... Security: Public Tags: anime, bubble gum crisis, car chase, fandom, japan, research addict, robotech, robots, science-fiction, the 1980s, tv, video, youtube

( Three Title Clips From Anime Of The Awesome Eighties Behind This Cut! )

The Matinee is the title sequence of Super Robot Galatt, which was among the first "Super Deformed" shows and which followed the equally tongue-in-cheek Daitarn-3 in its time-slot. And it's a good idea for a series. In a future Earth in which a world government has banned private ownership of weapons, a mad scientist receives aid from good aliens who want him to arm Earth against an invasion of evil aliens. So he builds some bizarre little robots who look absolutely harmless. But when the bad guys show up, the robots transform to B@d@$$ Mode with the help of their pilots and save the day.

The second of our Triple Spin is Galvion, an obvious thematic stepping stone for Artmic, which went on the following years to make Bubblegum Crisis, Gall Force, and Megazone 2-3.

The nightcap is Dorvack, which could have been another chapter to Robotech if Carl Macek had been paying attention at the time.

More to come, I hope!

Date: 2009-03-08 16:15 Subject: Sunday Drive...In KiffieScope(TM) Security: Public Tags: cars, driving, dvd, errands, robotech, shopping, toyota, travel, video

So the last few weeks, I've noticed that the movies 1941 and The Big Red One had been available on DVD in the bargain bin at certain Big Lots stores. Finally got paid on Friday from my photo album-counting job, so I began looking for them. Tried Jeff City's on Friday night--sold out. Tried Morristown's yesterday--all gone, but I did get Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and Galaxy Railways #1. So today...

ME: Sevierville!

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

No dice there.

ME: So...Chapman Highway/Seymour!

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

Nada.

ME: Grr...

MOONSHINE: Ut oh.

ME: Broadway/Fountain City!

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

Still no sign of 1941 nor Big Red One.

ME: What a load of--

MOONSHINE: Don't say that, this is a family blog!

ME: *sigh* I'll visit Turkey Creek on Tuesday and the Farragut Big Lots, no point going that way today. Wait, is there a Best Buy on Washington Pike? Perhaps I should reconnoiter.

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

And so...

ME: Drat. No Best Buy, only an already kaput Circuit City. I guess we'll take WashPike further east.

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

Soon...

ME: Hang on, are we going EAST or NORTH?

MOONSHINE: Vrum vrum vrum vrum...

A little later...

MOONSHINE: Vrum vrum vrum vrum...

ME: Are we still in Knox County?

MOONSHINE: Vrum vrum vrum vrum...

Later still...

SIGN: Now Entering Grainger County!

ME: Better take this road here.

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

And then--

SIGN: Welcome to Blaine. Junction Highway 11W.

ME: Should I go SOUTH back to Knoxville or EAST to Rutledge? *casts Newtype senses...gets answer from the Great Beyond* Rutledge it is.

MOONSHINE: Adventure! Yeah! Vrum!

From Rutledge we take Route 92 SOUTH...

RADIO: ...and I'm Flirtin' With Disaster!

ME: How come that song always plays when I'm in this part of the state?

MOONSHINE: Skateboard chute! Whee! Vrum!

And we finally get out of that corkscrew of a road and back to Jeff County/Jeff City.

I pull back into the carport empty handed.

MOONSHINE: Let's do that again later!

ME: I'm taking tomorrow off.

Date: 2009-02-25 13:06 Subject: News From Backward Compatible Security: Public Tags: backward compatible, comics, computer, full frontal nerdity, games, horror, humor, movies, pr0n, robotech, video

( If It Exists, There Will Be Porn Of It )

I don't play much in the way of video or computer games, but even I can understand this. A live-action pr0n based on Macross Frontier has been in production since December (it may already be out?) and is well ahead of Hollywood's live-action remake of Robotech.

Date: 2009-01-27 00:21 Subject: Shopping In Kentucky Security: Public Tags: anime, errands, fantasy, friends, games, gaming, ideas, kentucky, models, movies, robotech, shopping, travel, wargames

Buddy Stanley and I were at Leisure Time Hobbies in Corbin today...

They have piles of old plastic model kits, most from the past dozen years or so.

Stanley was amused at the Nineties-vintage reissues of the old MPC Gigantics dioramas, in which they show bigger than life critters in menacing poses among urban scenery and props.

I told him that they were all to the same scale as his collection of Macross/Robotech mini mecha figures.

Now that I'm back here afterward...I'm wondering about how to stat out such beasts for wargames. After all, they're also about the same scale as Heavy Gear Blitz!

Blarg.

Date: 2009-01-21 12:49 Subject: Another Shot of FreeWill Astrology Security: Public Tags: astrology, backward compatible, full frontal nerdity, games, gaming, horoscope, robotech, robots, the future, zodiac

Sagittarius

Ninety-seven percent of all youth play video games, dwarfing the number of kids who participate in activities like basketball, track, and javelin throwing. That's why I'm an advocate of making video games an Olympic sport. We should recognize where the real future of competitive sports lies. I mention this, Sagittarius, because it would be a good time for you to start upgrading your video game prowess in preparation for a possible berth in the 2012 or 2016 Olympics. In fact, the moment is right to plan on getting the training you'd need to become a master of any skills that may eventually win you rewards, even if they're not yet getting their rightful due from our culture.

I've been trying to defeat the fifth level of Quar on "Thexder for Win95" at the highest level of difficulty for weeks now. I guess I'm not to that level yet.

Date: 2009-01-19 12:53 Subject: 太陽系戦隊 ガルダン Security: Public Tags: anime, battletech, games, gaming, gundam, japan, models, ramen, robotech, robots, the 1980s, time, wargames

...Or "Solar System Squadron Guldan", if your computer doesn't read Japanese.

When the original Mobile Suit Gundam model kits were hot in Japan in 1980, the other manufacturers wanted in on the bandwagon, and this was a knockoff series. But what interests me isn't the main series of kits, but the ones Nissin (yes, the "Oodles of Noodles" company!) marketed as premiums for their chewing gum.



Now, the actual model kits were tiny, crude and somewhat ugly...but they're spawning a "what-if?" idea in my mind. If I were in the design think-tank for these, I'd come up with accessory packs that could fit any and all of them...and then the accessory sprues would be randomly packed along with the robots themselves.

Oh yeah...and these were about the same size as the model kits from established robot anime that inspired the FASA game Battletech. But unlike them, Guldan wasn't from any anime! So no intellectual property conflicts down the road.

I don't necessarily want the Guldan model kits as I have plenty of others around. But it's just a pipe dream I had to share.

Date: 2009-01-12 02:17 Subject: PS To Mospeada Post Security: Public Music: Mine Matsuki -- Yattsukero Tags: anime, guitar, japan, robotech, rock, the 1980s, tv, video, youtube

( Yattsukero )