Perfect Grade 00 Gundam - Offical Website (PDF Report)

Images from the PDF Report for the PG 1/60 00 Gundam from the Bandai Hobbysite:
http://bandai-hobby.net/pg/00raiser/index.html

Release Date: Nov. 09
Price: 26,250 Yen

What's cool is the spinning LED GN Drive gimmick.

Images from Bandai Hobbysite

SHCM-Pro Unicorn Gundam - Updated Images

Here are some new images for the upcoming SHCM-Pro Unicorn Gundam
Release Date: Oct. '09
Price: 10,290 Yen

Images from ToysDaily

HG 1/144 GN-X III ESF Type - Work Log 2

Here is my 2nd work log for the HG 1/144 GN-X III ESF Type to detail out the works done to the arms & legs. (I've included the 1st work log here as well)

One more work log to go.

Enjoy!

PS3 - Mobile Suit Gundam Senki U.C.0081 - Initial Thoughts

PS3's Mobile Suit Gundam Senki U.C. 0081 has been released for a day now. Although I am still a long way from playing enough to compose a genuine no bias review for this game. I thought it would be beneficial to people what has yet to purchase this expensive game to decide whether to buy or not. So here I will provide my initial thoughts on the game, follow later by a full review.

Most Gundam related games in the past are usually a hit & miss affair, plagued with more misses than hits. They all started out as good concepts, but most of the time failed miserably in execution. No one mention about Gundam Crossfire for the PS3 or Operation Troy for the Xbox360 anymore (evil grin). And the only worthy Gundam games was the original Gundam Senki for PS2 & Gundam Side Story: Rise from the Ashes, that one was a classic. And during the past few years, Bandai had been publishing more games that are of good quality, however, most of these games resided on the PSP console, with limted graphical abilities (Senjou no Kizuna, Gundam Battle Series, Gundam vs. Gundam, Giren no Ambitions..etc.). And the Wii console was graced with a pretty exciting MSG Sensen 0079 which is a blast to play on a big LCD screen. But we needed more, somethings that is equally fun in terms of gameplay as well pleasing graphic that would immerse us into the Gundam world. So is this wait over with PS3's Mobile Suit Gundam Senki U.C. 0081? Here is my initial thoughts on the game:

Presentation:
Game menus are mostly in japanese, but with enough english text to help foreigners navigate to where you need to go to enjoy this game. The game GUI (Graphical User Interface) are well done, is easy to tell the functionality of each menu screen. Actually the GUI is very (VERY) similiar to those found on Wii's MSG Sensen 0079. And because I played that game extensively, it took away all the 'Wow' effect, not that there were any 'Wow' moment to speak of. Overall, presentation is well done, and japanese novice won't get lost.

I was hoping for a big eye-popping opening intro for start of the Senario portion of the game. But I was greatly disappointed by how the intro was presented. It was not 100% anime... far from it; the intro was 50% moving comic book style storying telling (similiar to the PC game: Homeworld), mixed in 25% of character animation sequence that everyone had seen on the TV ads, and 25% cell shaded graphics when displaying the mobile suits sequence. But I was glad that subsequent anime sequence no longer display those terrible comic book style art, but that reminds unconfirmed until I play more.

Presentation thus far is functional.... The 1st senario intro was a bit of a disappointment, but subsequent anime sequence were pretty good.

Graphic:
The in-game graphic is surely a delight on the eyes, and definitely helps immerse player doing battles across the battlegrounds. While the graphic is not top notch when it compares to other top quality PS3 games, but good enough to be worthy for the PS3. In-game graphic suffers from very minor slow down when there are lots of stuff going on, and also minor clipping here and there. But none of it caused any major distraction, say compare to Gundam Crossfire.

Mobile Suits are very well done & detailed. They move pretty smoothly, and not jagged like Crossfire. When 6+ MSs doing battle on the screen is very exciting.

Explosions & Cannon Fire are all pretty well done. My only nags when MS are destroy, they all seem to be destroyed the same way...first they kneel then explodes. A bit more variety here would really help.

I would probably have more comments on the graphics as I playthru the game.

Gameplay:
I hate to say this, I usually has a saying, "Play one Gundam game, you played them all". Although there are a some new game functions, but basic gameplay is like any other 'Behind the back MS gameplay'. Eventhough I am having a blast playing the first few missions, but I expect the excitment will die down very quickly, because everything is just so similiar been there done that.

The controls are tight and responsive, squad command is quick and effective.

Squad AI are sometimes effective, and some time just down right dumb. They response to command and act appropriately. But sometimes you will see them shooting the ground & rock, because of line of sight issue. Enemy AI is pretty dumb on Easy & Normal setting. They pretty much just aimlessly run and shoot, there is 0 intellegence to them. While on Hard mode is a bit more challenging but still not quite the hard mode I was expecting.

Hopefully in later missions, a few surprises & gameplay variety will provide some needed punch. I do admit that playing the game with a vibrating game pad is rather fun.

Another thing I noticed was the long game load time. Is not that bad, but there will be a bit of waiting between missions & anime sequences.

Sound:
The game has a rather nice soundtrack, it has an epic feel to it. Cannon fire & explosion sounds nice but nothing too surprising here.

Anime sequence sound is top notch, character speaks just as you would expect from anime standards and definitely adds the excitment before playing a mission.

Multiplayer:
[Edited]
I was finally able to access a mulitplayer game. Load time is quite long though. I played a 4 player co-ops mission. Is pretty fun and fast paced action.

Tried 4 vs. 4... it is mayhem! Wow....just wow. Very fun indeed.

Graphic suffers from a little of of lag as expected on multiplayer games on the PS3. But otherwise the game runs very well.

More in my final review.

Replay Value:
Will conclude in my final review.

Final Thoughts:
Will conclude in my final review.


Some Screenshots of the game:


Game Start Screen

My GM took a bazooka blast when I took this pic

Later, my final review will tell if this new game is a mission success or failed.

1/100 Van Savior Gundam - New Images

Updated Images for the 1/100 Van Savior Gundam, showing a bit more detail on the back components. Still looking very much like the original Savior gundam, but I wonder what the color scheme will be.

Release Date: Nov. 09 Price: 2,940 Yen

Image from ToyWorldForum

New HG 1/144 Gunpla Released!

HG 1/144 Full Armor 7th Gundam
Price: 1,500 Yen

HG 1/144 Seravee Gundam GNHW/B

Price: 1,800 Yen

HG 1/144 0 Gundam (Roll Out Version)

Price: 1,200 Yen

Images from Hobby Search

HG 1/144 GN-X III ESF Type - Work Log 1

People has been asking me where is that 1/100 Astraea FA Kai. Well, I am still working on it. As I had previously mentioned, I accidentally got some of the parts onto spilled paint. So I am still cleaning them up (mainly sanding a lot..... very tedious & boring).

So at the same time I had begun working on the HG 1/144 GN-X III EST Type. Originally I bought this kit for myself, but soon after that a fellow blogger emailed me and ask if I could build this kit for him and he would pay me for it. We bargained a little, and finally we agreed upon a price of $125 USD (including shipping & a MSG black color stand). So.. since this is for a paying customer, I better do a good job.

Basically, the kit is 95% finished, just need to add in some more details on the head & and enhance the look on the weapons, then is off to shipping to Mr. Romo from Wesminster, CA. (He does not want me to share his first name. =)

Anyhow, In the shipment I am including printed color copy of my worklogs on this kit. And here on my blog, I will post them one at a time in a series for the next couple of days (3 work logs total). Here is the first one. Enjoy!

PS3 - Mobile Suit Gundam Senki U.C.0081 - RELEASED!!!

PS3's Mobile Suit Gundam Senki U.C. 0081 is finally released..... TODAY!

The store owner of the import game store called me and asked me to come in to pick it up. And the best thing is I didn't need to pay for it! Well actually I do, but by another method. He asked if I can build and paint the HG 1/144 0 Gundam for him (He will buy the kit). This sounds like a good deal, probably more on my part. So we agreed to a 3 weeks lead time from the time he hand me the kit, and so I took the game home. =)

I will probably try out this game later tonight, as I have other serious business to work on first. And I will also provide a 1st play review later as well.

MG Astray Blue Frame 2nd Revise - Updated Images

Some new images of the MG Astray Blue Frame 2nd Revise from Chara Hobby 2009
Release Date: Oct. 09
Price: 5,040 Yen

Images from GA Graphic

Info about the releases of the PG 1/60 00 Raiser. Initial release will include 2 special prices:

1. Original Base
2. Clear Parts (To show the inner frame of the kit) - Methods to obtaining these parts is TBA.

Release Date: Nov. 09
Price: 26,250 Yen

Images from ToyWorldForum & Info from Ngee Khiong

1/100 VS Astray Regen Duel & Nix Providence Gundam

Updated images for the 1/100 VS Astray Regen Duel & Nix Providence Gundam

1/100 Regen Duel Gundam
Release Date: Sept. 09
Price: 2,625 Yen

1/100 Nix Providence Gundam

Release Date: Sept. 09

Price: 2,625 Yen

Images from ToyWorldForum

Robot Damashii (Side MS) - Arche Gundam

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Limted Edition G.F.F.N Strike Rouge w/ Launcher / Sword Parts

Updated images for the Limted Edition G.F.F.N Strike Rouge w/ Launcher / Sword Parts
Pre-Order Begin: Nov. 11th, 09
Releasse Date: December 09
Price: 9,240 Yen

Images from CyberGundam