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News: Gundam Extreme Versus 2 Initial Roster And Location Tests AnnouncedNews: Gundam Extreme Versus 2 Initial Roster And Location... As the rest of the world has Gundam Versus on the PS4, Japanese arcades are gearing up for the upcoming Gundam Versus Extreme 2. On May 12 and 13, stores in Tokyo and Osaka...

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News: God Gundam and Master Gundam DLC Coming To Gundam Versus In JanuaryNews: God Gundam and Master Gundam DLC Coming To Gundam... It's been a long time coming, but God Gundam and Master Gundam are finally joining the Gundam Versus roster as the next DLC units in January. While we've had several melee...

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News: Aegis Gundam, GM Sniper II White Dingo Ver. and More Coming To Gundam Versus This DecemberNews: Aegis Gundam, GM Sniper II White Dingo Ver. and... This December, even more suits are being added to the ever growing Gundam Versus lineup. The first is Aegis Gundam, last seen in Gundam SEED Destiny: Rengou VS ZAFT II Plus...

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News: Atlas Gundam DLC Coming To Gundam VersusNews: Atlas Gundam DLC Coming To Gundam Versus If you were hoping for more Gundam Thunderbolt units, there's good news! Atlas Gundam will be joining the Gundam Versus roster as DLC in late November. This will more than...

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News: Gundam Versus To Add Phantom Gundam As DLC UnitNews: Gundam Versus To Add Phantom Gundam As DLC Unit As we await the upcoming Western release of Gundam Versus on September 29 on top of unreleased units such as Pale Rider and Gundam Guison Rebake, Phantom Gundam has been...

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Kits: Legend Silverhawk Burst Previewed

Posted on : 05-09-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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Whilst we know Darius isn’t strictly part of the mecha pantheon its recent entry, that of Darius Burst, had its designwork helmed by two renowned mecha designers; Kanetake Ebikawa and Takayuki Yanase. What with the new arcade version around the corner (and 4Gamer has an interesting interview with the developers on that) the rather small model manufacturer PLUM/PMOA (who also made those lovely Silpheed kits not that long ago) are making a 1/60 scale injection plastic kit of one of the latest Silverhawk fighter’s from the game.

GAGraphic has a very nice preview article showing the kit off (including its landing gear) and it is clear to see Ebikawa’s style shine through, especially from his recent designs from Gundam 00 (specifically the Exia, 00 Raiser and 00 Quan[T]). The kit will be released in September at a very reasonable 4,500 yen, you can pre-order it here and the PSP game is also still available here.

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Toys: Nineball and Dual Face figures announced

Posted on : 28-08-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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Over at this year’s C3xHOBBY show, all manner of new kits and toys have been displayed. Of note are the figures made by Griffon Enterprises, as they will feature prominent mecha from various Armored Core games. The first of which will be the updated Nineball as seen in Armored Core Ninebreaker in the spring of next year, shortly followed by Dual Face from Armored Core Nexus. Both of these will be around 12cm tall and made from PVC. It must be said though that even in prototype form, the Nineball toy has a wonderful sculpt to it and it also seems the grenade launcher will be articulated as well.

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Toys: Composite Ver. Ka Gurren Lagann

Posted on : 22-08-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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Courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent a toy from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann to review. Specifically, the new Composite Ver. Ka Gurren Lagann. In addition, to give the toy some context, we’ve also linked some anime and gameplay footage of it in action from its Nintendo DS game at the end of the review.

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Toys: Video Game Robotics 2 Announced

Posted on : 15-08-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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Over at Comiket, Takara Tomy have unveiled the next set of Video Game Robotics gashapon that were meant for a June release (that are now scheduled for December instead). In total, the series will contain four mecha from four different games. They are the PDF-802 X-4+ from Power Dolls 2, a PC turnbased strategy game with mecha designed by none other than Hajime Katoki. Followed by the HIGH-MACS 12 from the original Gungriffon and then the V-MH GLORY from the super rare Metal Slader Glory adventure game on the Famicom (later ported to the Super Famicom). The last mecha, of the four, is apparently a new blast runner from the upcoming Border Break Air Burst. However, all this may sound and look wonderful but the last set of gashapon in the range were pretty awful and they cost 700 yen a piece, these new toys cost 400 yen each. Considering the poor quality of the previous set, reducing the price for the new one doesn’t exactly bode well really.

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Toys: Super Robot Chogokin Mazinger Z Released

Posted on : 09-08-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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As we reported a while back, Bandai’s new flagship Super Robot Chogokin toyline has received its first entry in the form of Mazinger Z (as lovingly photographed over at R-Side). In addition, the Tamashii Festival has been in full swing showing off Bandai’s upcoming toy wares. Amongst them was the rather brutal looking Mazinkaiser SKL, from the upcoming series of the same name (with its latest promo here).

In any case, considering Mazinger’s formative influence on the Super Robot Wars games not to mention the fact that said Original Generation mecha (such as the Alteisen and Cybuster) will also be receiving Super Robot Chogokin renditions in the near future, means that this new Bandai toyline is worth keeping a gaming eye on.

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Toys: Robot Damashii Zegapain Altair Released

Posted on : 02-08-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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One of the more interesting Robot Damashii toys, that of the Zegapain Altair, has finally been released in Japan. Interesting in the sense that this mecha was the titular protagonist in the similarly titled Zegapain and that the series itself was strongly funded by Microsoft in Japan. The plan was to tie in two exclusive Xbox 360 games, Zegapain XOR and NOT, that were very plain ZOE clones alongside the series. Despite the insane amount of product placement in the anime, the most obvious sign of Microsoft’s handiwork was the revolting colour of green they picked for the mecha itself. Despite being a rather innovative mecha design, penned by Rei Nakahara, the saddest thing about the whole thing was that Microsoft hired Cavia to develop the games and it was patently clear their heart wasn’t in it. Though to be honest, who could really blame them when the host work featured a hideously bright green mecha. This then is the testament to the design itself; as this toy is a palpable reminder of when Western intervention in Japanese anime and gaming pop-culture just doesn’t work.

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Kits: Cougar S Announced

Posted on : 29-07-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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Kotobukiya have recently announced another Border Break kit, this is the Cougar S – a souped variant from Ver 1.5 of the original Cougar with new weapons and parts. As with all Border Break designs it looks bloody amazing and just keeps on hammering home the fact that this game is still only playable in Japan. The kit will retail for around 3,990 yen and be released in November.

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Kits: Oracle kit announced

Posted on : 25-07-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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The next in Kotobukiya’s very successful Variable Infinity range will be the Oracle from Last Raven. This was an AC piloted by a Raven called Evangel and whilst he was also prominent in Armored Core Nexus, he even adorned the game’s cover, it wasn’t until Last Raven that his role in the corporate/Raven conflict came to a head. Very much on the side of the corporations, Evangel was a noble and disciplined opponent, but also suffered from a bit of an inferiority complex. This isn’t the first time Evangel’s Oracle has been given kit form as one of the very first Variable Infinity kits was his AC from Nexus. This new kit will be released in December this year.

Update: Dengeki has shots of the Oracle kit, as well as the Sunshine, at Wonder Festival.

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Kits: Wonder Festival 2010 Summer Orders

Posted on : 21-07-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits, Videos

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Over at Tokyo Hunter they’re preparing for this summer’s Wonder Festival. From a lovely Arcee kit, including dat ass, to an amazing rendition of Samus. However, our favourite is the SD version of Dancouga from God Bless Dancouga, pictured above, that was used in Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. Whilst Gigabrain released the God Bless variant a while ago, along with a much more limited Final, this is the first SD version as inspired by the game. Anyway, if you want to pick any of these up place your orders now. Bear in mind though that these are meant for experienced garage kit builders only. In any case, enjoy the montage of Dancouga attacks from Alpha 3 shown below, as well as its somewhat epic final attack as seen in God Bless.

Spoiler

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGru9ggNRsU]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O49IvKusLgg]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulr_lug6awk]

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Toys: Tokyo Toy Show 2010 Coverage

Posted on : 15-07-2010 | By : | In : Toys/Kits

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A fair few places are covering this year’s Tokyo Toy Show, with Dengeki Online’s contribution being pretty thorough. From the upcoming Super Robot Chogokin Cybuster, pictured above and featured in the recent Nintendo DS port of The Lord of Elemental, to the Composite Ver. Ka Temjin, it’s clear that mecha gaming has had quite the impact on the Japanese toy community in recent years.

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