Gundam

otaku

Gundam Looks Nice In A Pink Plastic Dress

Needs more pink! Some Japanese lady thought a MG Gyan Gundam figure wasn't girly enough, so she was "inspired" to give it a more "feminine air." The customized model has been covered with faux jewels, and the plastic surface has been treated and lacquered. The attention to detail is astounding (like on the dress, for example), sure, we're just enthralled with GLOWING SWORD.
MG Gyan For Sale [Yahoo! Auctions via Sankaku Complex via Giapet]

1:00 AM on Thu May 8 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
5,530 views, 37 comments

coolness

How The Erected Gundam Statue Was Cast

Previously, we featured the Gundam statue erected in front of Kamiigusa Station in Tokyo. And today! Today we've got amazing picture of them casting the 3 meter tall, 20 million yen Gundam statue in 1,300 degrees Celsius hot molten. Yes, MOLTEN. Click through the pics below. They are spectacular.

Making Gundam [Teku Teku via Anime!Anime! via Alafista]

9:00 PM on Tue Mar 25 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
4,242 views, 31 comments

Latest by SlowDeath420: Wow,I'm torn about this emotionally,i mean i think this might be the coolest statue of all times.However i can't help but wonder....well i no longer fear Japan in entering a war aainst the west:) more »

only in japan

Gundam Train Statue Erected

Commuters arriving at Shinjuku's Kamiigusa Station in Tokyo see this: A large Gundam statue! Kamiigusa is home of Sunrise, Inc., the anime studio behind Gundam (among many other super famous anime series). Makes sense!
Gundam Statue [Yomiuri via alafista]

4:00 PM on Sun Mar 23 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
10,406 views, 75 comments

figurines

Bandai Makes Lucky Star Fugly

Ack! POM-POM HANDS!! Here's a toy figurine of Tsukasa Hiiragi from Lucky Star. It's made by Bandai, better known for its Gundam modeling. At ¥850 (US $8.45), it's certainly not an upper end figure as clearly even by its overall freakish appearance. We're sure it has a good personality, though.
Q Joy Lucky Star [Akiba Hobby via Danny Choo]

4:00 AM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,368 views, 20 comments

oddities

Hey Japan, Learn English From Cosplay Foreigners!

Hey, it's not only businessmen who need English. Nerds need it, too! You know, so they can play import Xbox 360 games and crap like that. Enter Cosplish, which claims to be not only Japan's first Cosplay English school, but the world's. (Matt Alt was telling me, though, that they've had otaku-geared English conversation clubs for years. There are even sites like this or books like Moetan, which are directed specifically at otaku learning English.) The school has its schedule up for February — looks like a couple times a week in Akihabara, each class is an hour long. I gotta agree with Matt Alt: The idea of learning English from a guy dressed as Amuro is terrifying.
Cosplish [Official Site]

4:00 AM on Thu Jan 17 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,145 views, 59 comments

Latest by Taince: @CFTF: the fact that they _know_ they're clowns, as opposed to all the (now ex) Nova bunnies who don't even realise they're entertainers and not educators... Wow I sound bitter... more »

japan

The Price of Making a Real Gundam

What's bigger than Gundam? The cost to make one. A real one. Science Portal, a site run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, figured the price tag of a real Gundam would be around US$725,000,000 for parts and materials alone. That does not include the labor costs incurred in constructing the 60 foot tall, 43.7 metric ton robot. A breakdown of parts looks something like this:

Aluminum alloy (honeycomb) $79,000,000
(+ Metal manufacturing/processing) $240,000,000
Main computer (IBM) $1,550,000
Gas turbine engines (GE) $364,000,000
Superconductive motors (IHI) $7,800,000
Motor drivers $7,800,000
Reducers $22,800,000
Sensors $910,000
Cockpit $450,000
TOTAL: $724,310,000

Pricey! And even after that, the only thing this Gundam could do is walk — though, doing so would probably destruct the ground below it.
Building Real Gundam [Pink Tentacle] [Pic]

1:00 AM on Fri Jan 11 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
13,464 views, 126 comments

Latest by heero117: dude i seriously almost crapped my pants when my friend showed me this today. its my dream come true, the only problem is i dont think my garage is big enough to fit a gundam AND my car more »

japan

Gundam Musou Coming to PS2

Gundam meets Dynasty Warriors mash-up Gundam Musou did pretty good on the PS3 and so-so on the Xbox 360 as Gundam Musou International (or "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam in America). So why release it on the PS2! That's right, Bandai Namco Games is bringing the title to the PlayStation 2 late this February. Dubbed Gundam Musou Special, it'll have a new scenario and mobile suits. No word on a Western release, but something tells me they'll dub it Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Special. Call it a hunch.
GM on PS2 [Famitsu]

3:00 AM on Wed Jan 9 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
1,964 views, 29 comments

Latest by muu: Namco-Bandai claimed this game was too advanced to run on the PS2. So, were they... 1) Telling the truth, but just happened to gain some super PS2 programming skills 2) Bullshitting in hopes of selling more copies of the PS3 game 3) more »

platinum clip

Amazingly Small and Expensive Gundam on TV

Back in March, we brought news of the platinum Gundam. Japanese news programs have been covering the pricey little robot. So now we have video of this wonder. Yes, VIDEO. Nice part is that the clip has been translated into English, complete with funny "Gundam" pronunciation. So if you've ever wondered what it was like watching the Japanese evening news, here's your chance! (Hint: It's pretty much like the news anywhere else.)

30 Million Yen Gundam [TV in Japan]

3:00 AM on Fri Aug 24 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
946 views, 23 comments

Latest by keyransolo: Nice little figure. more »

this is a robot

Learn English with Gundam!

Nothing is too difficult for Gundam. Not even English! While most Japanese struggle through the language, nerds can get help from a Gundam-based English instruction book, first published back in 2003, teaches valuable phrases like:

• "Let's test the reaction time of your brand-new mobile suits."
• "Gundam is ready!"
• "Fighting with Gundam isn't always the best solution."

...and the truly delicious:

More »

5:00 AM on Mon Aug 20 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
5,533 views, 32 comments

Latest by Manimalius: MATILDA!!!! Yeah, Amuro is certainly the whiner. Gonna have to look for this book. Anyone know if Book 1st has it? more »

bonkers

Crazy Expensive Gundam Shirts

The most I've paid for a t-shirt? Probably a hundred bucks or so for a Paul Smith shirt. That's nothing! Bandai and fashion maker Mastermind have joined forces to create pricey shirts. Swarovski crystal will be hand-switched into Gundam or Zaku design, costing an estimated ¥200,000 (US $1,690). Nutty! The "cheaper" versions will use glass instead of actual crystal and retail for ¥38,000 (US $320). Nutty, too!
Pricey Gundam Shirts [Plastic Bamboo]

6:20 AM on Thu Aug 2 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,681 views, 20 comments

clip

Tour of Giant Gundam

Daaaaamn talk about s a big robot! That's the 1/1 scale Gundam Crisis attraction we posted previously. Located at the base of Mt. Fuji, Gundam Crisis is impressing Japanese nerds. Some dude clamed, "It looks like the real thing." As if he's seen one! The wait to get up and close with the giant mecha is 40 minutes. Anyone who has been to Tokyo Disneyland will tell you that's nothing. The attraction is supposedly very real and features rad battle scars. Not just anyone can get in the cockpit, though. You must complete all the "missions" in the 8 minute time limit. Missions involve running around and collecting intel via a remote terminal. What's in the cockpit? A special video. Swell.

RX78 Attraction [Danny Choo]

9:00 PM on Tue Jul 31 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,483 views, 43 comments

Latest by ZeonicFreak: So, this is what Bandai did to make up for taking away "Gundam the ride"?. I guess thats better than nothing. It wouldnt surprise me if a bunch of otakus rigged that Gundam to move, then i would pay money to more »

mecha retro

Famicom Gundam

Look closer. That isn't just some Gundam statue. It's a Nintendo Famicom colored Gundam statue. Folks who purchase Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079 for the Wii will have a shot in hell to get one of these by registering the Club Nintendo serial number enclosed with the software. There are only a thousand of them so don't get your hopes up. Application period runs from July 26 to August 31st. ~~Gundam nerds only!~~ Japan only!
Famicom Gundam [Bandai via Giz Japan]

5:00 AM on Thu Jul 26 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,600 views, 27 comments

Latest by Heiae: @pjladyfox: Turn-A is super-sexy. I love that series. Victory was a bit of fun but it's one of my least favorite U.C. Gundams. Nowhere near as bad as ZZ Gundam, though. Victory's actually pretty good. more »

no really

PS3 Has Sold a Million in Japan

It's about time! According to Enterbrain, Sony's PLAYSTATION 3 has finally sold over a million units. Going on sale this past November, the console clocked in at 1,010,492 units sold as of July 15th. The top selling game is Gundam Musou at 280,000 units sold, followed by Ridge Racer 7 at 140,000 and Gundam Target in Sight at 138,000. Just think how well the PS3 would be doing if there were actual games.
PS3 Hits a Mil [Famitsu]

4:00 AM on Wed Jul 18 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
5,416 views, 122 comments

makes sense

Gundam Gets Own DS Lite

To promote upcoming SD Gundam G Generation: Cross Drive, the game is being packaged with a limited-edition RX-93 v Gundam DS Lite. The set is out August 9th for ¥21,840 (US $176). With all these limited-edition DS bundles coming out, it's getting hard to keep up — and care. Brian Ashcraft More »

11:00 PM on Mon Jun 25 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,331 views, 23 comments

hare hare

Haruhi Dances Onto PSP

How popular is anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? Popular enough to get a porno based on it, that's how. That's pretty popular! Today, it was announced that the anime will also be getting a PSP game from Bandai Namco. (From Gundam to THE iDOLM@STER, Bandai Namco sure have a stranglehold on nerd properties!) The anime's a smash hit, and the ending dance sequence has been memorized by dorks everywhere. Heck, I've watched that dance sequence into the ground, and I'm still not sick of it. Kinda hope that the PSP version is just a bunch of mini-games based on that dance. Sadly, I know that's not gonna happen. The title's official page launches July 10th, and the game's slated for sometime this year. More »

5:00 AM on Fri Jun 22 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
7,685 views, 47 comments

Latest by haruhixkyon7: the rockman one was scary creepy...it would have been funny if the rock like collapsed!!! more »

giant robot dancing

Gallery: Dynasty Warrior Gundam

I swore after the first PS3 Gundam game I would never buy another Gundam video game again as long as I lived. But Dynasty Warriors: Gundam...well that's completely different, now isn't it? It's a Dynasty Warriors game, and I never said I wouldn't buy another of those. Just trying to figure out if I should get this one or wait for the inevitable DW: Gundam Xtreme. Honestly still confused as to how I went from dreading a game to bitching about it not coming out for another two months in such a short period of time. More »

12:20 PM on Tue Jun 19 2007
By Mike Fahey
2,443 views, 36 comments

Latest by MilesTormani: @NewtypeS3: Gotta admit that Koei does act kind of like Capcom with their Musou series. :P Not that it's a bad thing. I'm glad they don't mess with the formula too much, save for Dynasty Warriors 4. No beat 'em up, more »

lights out

Gundam Online Going Offline

Bandai Namco recently announced that it's plugging the plug on Gundam MMO Gundam Online. The game, which launched in September 2005, will go offline on December 15th at 10am Japan Time. Good news! Gameplay will be free, free, free from October 1st to the bitter end, but no new accounts will be created in that period. I haven't played Gundam Online so I don't know if it was good or not. But, you'd think a MMO based on Gundam would be a big money-maker in Japan — just like you'd think a MMO based on the Star Wars universe would be in the West. Brian Ashcraft More »

1:30 AM on Tue Jun 19 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
3,458 views, 14 comments

Latest by ZeonicFreak: @eigokyoukan: Wow, i didnt even know there was a Front Mission online in the first place? I need to get back to playing 3, i havent touched it in like 3 years... more »