A Closer Look At The Upcoming 1/72 Oracle

Here are some pictures of the Armored Core: Last Raven version of Evangel’s Oracle, soon to be released by the end of December this year. Collectors should be happy to know that this kit will contain a new set of legs (DINGO2) and a core (C89E) never seen in any AC kit before it in addition to the GERYON2 back-mount.

Check out a small gallery of the upcoming Oracle model kit after the jump:

Armored Core Papercraft

Here are a bunch of Armored Core papercraft models made by a person known as 東雲 遠音, who has painstakingly created three different Armored Core models out of paper. Papercraft or Paper Models for those who are new to the hobby, is the creation of 3D scale models using nothing but paper (or card paper for a little more stability in the finished product), glue, and a cutter. Hobbyists print out pre-set patterns of the models (sometimes of their own creation) and after hours of hard work, a 3D paper model of the figure emerges.

Time consuming and somewhat difficult to do, Papercrafting is a labor of love. As 東雲 遠音 shows, it is also rewarding as he has created the basic starter AC from Armored Core Nexus, a GA SUNSHINE AC, and a SOLDNER AC from Armored Core: For Answer. He also created an X-SOBRERO core, but the remaining parts might have been discontinued due to the flimsy frame.

Watch videos of him assemble AC models from paper after the jump:

Happy 4th Year Anniversary Raven Republic!

Welp, it’s that time of the year. Raven Republic was founded on August 13, 2006. We couldn’t resist posting a new colored Sophie Emilia picture to commemorate this event, drawn and colored yet again by the very talented Trace 02. RR’s cover girl still looks as fresh as ever. With all the events and meetings RR’s members have been through, we all hope to expect RR to stay around much longer.

Happy Birthday RR!

New Anime: Infinite Stratos

Attn: Immaterial and general Busou Shinki fans. Part of your dreams have come true:

So what is this? Like Busou Shinki, this is an anime about cute girls girls in battle armor. The difference is, they actually have some nice looking CG battles to show for it. Not exactly on the level of the beautiful Macross F, maybe a level below it but still quite good if you ask us. Watch the trailer above to see for yourself.

To quote Fox, one of our forum members:

I see a weapon that looks like funnels, a weapon that looks like an exceed orbit and a weapon that looks like an AC-style laser blade, plus the guy’s armor seems strangely familiar as well.

A connection maybe?

[via: Japanator]

Infinite Stratos is set for a winter anime season release.

Someone is Making a Tribute Album for Armored Core Soundtracks

So far, he’s making a damn good job at it. Mattias Häggström Gerdt is a freelance Swedish video game music composer who had a hand at developing music for various video games and music artists (what did you expect from a guy that had Viking war music in his bloodline?). Inspired by various Armored Core OSTs, particularly the synthesized vocals used in most soundtracks, he decided it was high time that a tribute album be made in honor of this unique method of music composition.

You can read his essay on processed vocals in Armored Core soundtracks (Prominent examples include Artifical Sky, Shining. Samples of which can be listened to after the jump) that got him started on this project. If you need a quick memory refresh on what synthesized vocals were like in Armored Core, hit the jump for a quick refresher on Shining form AC:N and Artificial Sky from AC3 as well as a sample of Mattias’ awesome tribute album:

Fight Aaliyah Kawate In ACFA On August 20

From what we gather, From Software’s Armored Core corporate mascot the self dubbed “Black Torrent” Aaliyah Kawate, will be making an online appearance this coming August 20 Japan time on player matches in Armored Core: For Answer. The Black Torrent will be making an online appearance for all AC fans to basically beat him up, and you can tell everyone that you’ve played an online match with an Armored Core celebrity. Essentially a guy in an Aaliyah helmet and a suit, he’s From’s company representative in recent officially sponsored tournaments, as well as various player meetings over the past few months.

Select matches will probably be broadcast live on Ustream on that day as well. Check out Aaliyah Kawate’s awesome looking AC emblem after the jump:

Front Mission Evolved Pre-Order Bonuses

Okay, looks like our mecha trigger fingers will have to wait a little further, as Front Mission Evolved’s release date has been pushed back to September 28, a full 2 weeks from the original September 14 release date. However, all is not lost as FME’s devs are preparing two pre-order bonuses for those who wish to purchase the game prior to its release date. These bonuses are only available when you pre-order the game at Amazon, Gamestop, and Best Buy in North America only.

The two bonuses are the Calm and Rexson series of wanzers, both of which have existed since the first game and have been given updated visuals for FME. Like in previous games, the Calm is a multi-role wanzer while the Reckson is more sniper-oriented in design. Hit the jump to see what these classic Wanzers look like now:

Macross Trial Frontier Announced For The PlayStation 3

Famitsu magazine released details that Bandai Namco have announced Macross Trial Frontier for the Playstation 3. The PS3 game is set to be a sequel to Macross Ultimate Frontier released a year ago for the PSP. The game itself is bundled with the first Macross Frontier movie in one blu-ray disc packaged as “Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime ~ Hybrid Pack” an unusual method of distributing a game similar to the blu-ray release of District 9 included an early demo of God of War 3 for the PS3 as well. Hit the jump for the magazine scan: