Gunota Headlines
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Overman King Gainer 5.1ch DVD Box pic
From Bandai Visual's site.
Friday, March 30, 2007
From the Bandai Hobby Site.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Bandai put out a press release announcing the joint creation with jewelry designer Ginza Tanaka of Gundam Fix Platinum, a pure platinum RX-78-2 Gundam Fix Figuration figure. The Fix Platinum figure will be on exhibit at Basel World 2007, the world's largest watch & jewelry trade show, held in Basel, Switzerland, from April 12th through the 19th and on display at events in Japan afterwards. While there are no current plans to sell it, its value is given by Bandai as $250,000.
The idea for the piece was suggested to Ginza Tanaka in 2004, with Hajime Katoki overseeing the production of the 89 separate parts made through platinum processing to create the 120mm tall, 1.4 kg GFF figure. From design to manufacturing, it took 2 years to make. As a final touch, the head is adorned with a 0.15 karat diamond. The apparent goal of the endeavor was to create a masterpiece combining the rare, eternal pureness of "the king of precious metals" with the lasting worldview of Gundam.
GA Graphic reports, as a symbol of Japan's largest character & hobby event, a 10-meter tall RX-78-2 Gundam will be built starting in April for Chara Hobby 2007 in August. The RX-78-2 will be a "tachineputa", a kind of giant neputa lantern float seen in a festival held in Goshogawara every August. This tachineputa will also be seen there from August 4th through 8th and then on display at Goshogawara's Tachineputa No Yakata from August 9th through the 12th before going to Chara Hobby on the 18th and 19th.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
GA Graphic put up pics of the EMSiA Gelgoog, MSiA Akatsuki and In Action!! Offshoot L-Gaim from TAF 2007.
A section for Pailsen Files is up on VOTOMS.net. The main attractions for the moment are the AT page and a 30-second promo video.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunrise put up the official site for the novel Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, serialized monthly in Gundam Ace. The first update includes the entire prologue available online (in Japanese) in PDF format.
From The Gundam Base.Side 1:
BB Senshi Verde Buster
R3 New Layzner
MG Zeta Gundam Unit 3
HY2M Rick Dom
HY2M Char's Rick Dom
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Danny Choo posted pics of Bandai kits and figures on display at this year's TAF.
Edit: GA Graphic also put up pics of the GFF and Gunpla.
Edit again: Also covered by GFF-Maniax.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Toru Furuya goes to Malaysia
The Star Online has an article covering Toru Furuya's visit to Malaysia for GACC 2007.
With the 98th (Char's Zaku II ver 2.0) and 99th (Char's Gelgoog ver 2.0) MG kits announced, the "MG No.100 Countdown" campaign is now underway. Sponsored by Gundam Ace, Dengeki Hobby Magazine, and Hobby Japan Magazine, readers can submit their guesses as to what the 100th will be on a postcard that comes with each issue. Bandai will randomly give away 100 gold-plated versions of the 100th MG kit to contestants with the correct MS.
The 100th MG will be announced at the Shizuoka Hobby Show (May 17-20th).
Friday, March 23, 2007
Game Watch gives details on the latest update to the arcade game, coming March 28.
New MS: RAG-79 Aqua GM, Gelgoog
MS weapons performance tune-ups:
- Tank B version (anti-base)
- 6-tube missle cannon B for Z'Gok
- Hide bombs for Gyan
Adjustment of MS power restoration at bases
Zaku Tank (V-6) flaw corrected
Adjustment of battle score adjustment amount from Bandai Namco MS
"Thanks", "Sorry", and "Enemy unit defeated!" added to symbol chat
Introduction of Minovsky particle concentration into the game
Danny Choo, Part 1
Danny Choo, Part 2
Akiba OS, Part 1
Akiba OS, Part 2
Mainichi Mantan Web
Ota☆Suke (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)
Anime News International
Bandai Visual lists the first memorial box set of an HD remastered version of the New Mobile Report Gundam W TV series coming out August 24.
Edit: AV Watch elaborates this will be 3 box sets total with the second (September 25) being made up of the second half of the TV series and the third (October 26) containing the Operation Meteor and Endless Waltz OVA's.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
ITmedia +D Games has pics of the DS game.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Ultimate Mark site update
Mark Simmons put up partial translations of historical accounts from Mobile Suit Variation 1, 2, and 3.
Sunrise put up a tiny site promoting the SEED & DESTINY Supernova Fan Discs.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
MG Char's Zaku Ver. 2.0 - w/ loading crane, May, 3,675 yen
MG Char's Gelgoog Ver. 2.0 - July, 4,725 yen
HGUC Ground-Type Gundam - June, 1,575 yen
BB Senshi Blu Duel - May, 630 yen
HCM-Pro Destroy Gundam - May, 6,825 yen
Super HCM-Pro RX-78-2 Gundam - 1/144 scale
PG Wing Gundam Zero Custom - pearl coating version, June
Wakuteka News pointed out media reports originating from Mainichi over the weekend about the vandalism of a 180cm bronze statue in the courtyard at Oita prefecture's Oita Uenogaoka High School. As video reports from OBS News Line (high-res/low-res) show, police are investigating the incident in which the statue was completely spray-painted in gold, had the kanji "hyaku" written on its shoulders, and the words "Sieg Zeon" etched into its back. The statue had been given to the school by an alumnus for its 110th year anniversary in 1995.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Anime Boston, which takes place April 20-22, announced G Gundam director Yasuhiro Imagawa as a Guest Of Honor. Thanks to Nigoki for the heads-up.
Famitsu.com put up a pair of articles devoted to G Generation Cross Drive and Alliance Vs. ZAFT Portable.
Sunrise announces the SEED/SEED Destiny Fan Disc will have a presence at this coming weekend's Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007. Bandai & Bandai Visual will have SEED Club goods and promo video to show off.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
On May 2, Mami Ayukawa (Z Gundam, L-Gaim, Dragonar) releases Gundam! History Hit Song. The mini-album is a collection of covers and self-covers of various Gundam theme songs. The track list:
Z Toki Wo Koete (Z Gundam OP)
Tooi Kioku (Gundam 0080 ED)
Love & Peace (SD Gundam Force OP)
Tsuki No Mayu (Turn A Gundam ED)
Bokutachi No Yukue (Gundam SEED Destiny OP)
Find The Way (Gundam SEED ED)
Hoshizora No Believe (Z Gundam ED)
Now up in a limited capacity here.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
In an interview with Nikkei BPnet's Digital Arena, Namco Bandai Games vice president Shin Unozawa mentions the first shipment of Gundam Musou was 200,000 units and expects the game will end up with around 500,000 copies sold.
From Tamashii Web:
EMSiA Char's Gelgoog
Zeonography Qubeley Mk II/Mass-Production Qubeley
From GA Graphic's Miyazawa Mokei sale coverage:
HCM-Pro Gundam Ground-Type, Char Custom Rick Dom (Special Painted), Freedom Gundam, and New Marking versions of the Gundam, Zaku II, Rick Dom, and Guntank
HY2M Glorious series Char Custom Rick Dom
From Moe Yo! Akibajin's Miyazawa Mokei sale coverage:
Everything at the Bandai booth
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The latest issue of Famitsu announced SD Gundam G Generation Cross Drive for the Nintendo DS. It's possible to create original MS by equipping them with things like funnels or phase shift armor. Can form teams of up to 4 MS that enhance your offensive & defensive capabilities. 120 stages. Release date is May 31. Currently 70% complete. The listed series:
Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Z Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War In The Pocket
Mobile Suit Gundam F91
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
Mobile Suit V Gundam
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
New Mobile Report Gundam W
Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team
After War Gundam X
Turn A Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
GA Graphic covered the private 19th Miyazawa Mokei Spring Business Support Sale. Bandai had a booth and there are pics for the following:
MG Strike Noir
HGUC Blue Destiny Unit 2, EX Model Oggo, 1/100 Akatsuki Full Set
MS Gundam Bust Up Collection #1: Ramba Ral (by Daiki Industry)
Moe Yo! Akibajin has their own report which includes substantially more female bits.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Bandai Hobby Site announces this year's Gunpla Expo is to be held from April 20 to May 7 at Shizuoka Parco.
From Amiami:
Zeonography Qubeley Mk-II
Celebrating the 25th anniversary, Big West renews the official Macross site. As usual not much is available content wise, however Victor Entertainment is holding audition for the next heroine of the upcoming Macross series.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Media Create says the numbers for Gundam Musou, which include the bundled version, indicate 86.32% of the stock sold. Additionally, the PS3 sold 44,000 units, over twice the number compared to last week.
Moon Phase shows Keroro Gunsou begins its 4th year on the air April 7 with a timeslot shift to Saturdays at 10 am on TV Tokyo.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
eg's weekly game sales ranking shows Gundam Musou as the #1 selling game in Japan for the week ending March 4 with 170,725 copies sold. SRW W comes in at #2 with 139,311.
Though game sales rankings will occasionally differ somewhat depending on which site you go by, this week's rankings play musical chairs more than usual: Famitsu.com says SRW W grabbed #1 and Gundam Musou wound up second while Gpara.com says Musou is #1 and SRW W is #3, behind Monster Hunter Portable 2nd.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The fifth Modelers' Flea-Mar was held in Shizuoka over the weekend. Bandai showed up with a booth and Yoshimu's Blog covered it.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
RX-78 lantern at Taiwan Lantern Festival UPDATED
engadget reports on the appearance of a large RX-78 Gundam lantern at a lantern festival in Taipei. Though the article says the Gundam is 1/1 scale, judging by further pictures of its construction it falls short of that mark but is nonetheless extremely impressive.
Edit: Thanks to Dr. Core for additional info from the construction link. The height of the roughly 1/2.5 scale lantern is 7.5 meters (sitting) and took 2 1/2 months and 9 people to build.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
While not giving specific numbers, according to the Game Tsutaya Blog, Gundam Musou became the first PS3 game to sell over 100,000 copies in its first day of release.
Edit: Shinobi No Enmachou reports Gundam Musou sold about 70% of its 170,000-180,000 first shipment, beating Virtua Fighter 5's 30,000 first day sales four times over. It also instantly becomes the 3rd ranking PS3 game in overall sales behind Ridge Racer 7 (Around 130,000 copies sold to date) and Gundam: Target In Sight (120,000). But unexpectedly, even this wasn't enough to drive PS3's system sales as it's said the majority of people bought the game separately rather than with the bundle.
AkibaOS, Akiba Blog, and Moe Yo! Akibajin put up pics from Sofmap, Yamagiwa Soft, & Asobit Game City while Kotaku investigates in Osaka to see how the game is selling.
The official site also updated with a movie of the Gundam Epyon.
AV Watch announces a complete DVD Box of Heavy Metal L-Gaim will go on sale May 17. It includes all 54 episodes of the TV series, the L-Gaim I & II compilation OVA's, and the Full Metal Soldier OVA.
From Hobby Shop Midori:
MG Zeta Gundam (White Unicorn color ver.) - March, limited production
HGUC Acguy - April, 1,470 yen
Also up is info for MG Countdown 100: August of this year will see the sale of the 100th Master Grade item since the MG line first appeared with the RX-78 Gundam in July 1995. When you buy a MG from a participating shop, you get a 36-page, full color book which contains a development history & main selling points of the MG MS-06J Ver. 2.0, a How To portion for simple finishing (beginner/minor pro), and an introduction to the 99 MG items paving the way for the MG Countdown 100. The book is Bandai's first step in commemorating the 100th Master Grade.
