What's this? Someone actually took the time of putting a robotic version of Sailor Moon for Armored Core: Master of Arena, and it looks like it is working just as expected. We're strangely excited about trying this out for some reason, and we're expecting some sort of magical transformation to occur when you equip the grenade launcher. See the gameplay video after the jump:

Thanks Moonlight Raven for the tip.

Around a month left before Front Mission Evolved's release and we get teased with a new Wanzer once again. This time it's the KEHEI, a Wanzer from Da Han Zhong, a faction that first appeared during the events of Front Mission 3, and given the introduction of this unit, they might play another role in the upcoming FME title. The appearance of this Wanzer is very much different from the previous ZEPHYR teased a few months back. Nonetheless, this new unit is a welcome addition to FME's growing arsenal.

Read more about this new Wanzer in the FME development blog.

It's. About. Time. (Video after the jump)

Armored Core's uber boss is finally making an appearance in Another Century's Episode R, the latest incarnation of the long running ACE series which allows players to pilot their favorite anime mecha from various shows and blow stuff up. Finally, the chance that many AC power tripping fans have been hoping for is here without using some cheatcode to use him (We don't really know if players can use him, but we're assuming they can). From Software, who developed the same game, also inserted a Murakumo mech from the game with the same name in the first ACE title as well, so the tradition kinnda follows. More screenshots of this magnificent find after the jump:

Thanks Black Dragon for the heads up.

BONUS:

Thanks J.E. for the video find!

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:

Thanks J.E. yet again for updating us.

[via: Kotobukiya through Ngee Khiong]

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:

GA Armored Core from ACFA:

Soldner AC from ACFA:

We'd love to get our hands on the plans to make these models.

[via: 東雲 遠音]

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!

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.

Yep, ground torps.

When it comes to missile technology, From Software has developed a twisted knack for finding all sorts of creative ways to screw us over. If you’re dodging the four-pronged assault of the Hydra, then you’re either evading Death-From-Above from a Mortar Rocket, or the slow, impending doom (and mushroom cloud) that follows from touching a Titan.

But while you may hate them, they’re not quite as evil as the other member of AC’s missile family: The Ground Torpedoes. What these missiles lack for explosive payload, they make up for with tenacity, and their habit of homing in on your AC’s lower extremities. Its like the Chihuahua from hell – they’re vicious little buggers that will never stop chasing you down until they’ve sunk their little piranha-teeth into your nether regions. Continue reading after the jump:

Castration missiles: Even the Gundam fears them

We could only breathe a sigh of relief when FS toned down their homing capabilities in the later games. It got to the point that all you needed to do to throw them off was make one quick hop. The missiles would follow your movement alright, and end up faceplanting on the ground while you lol’d, and your enemy stood there wondering WTF; For something called torpedoes, it’s rather odd that they don’t burrow too well.

But while we’re all lol’ing at the sad predicament of today’s generation of ground torpedoes, it wasn’t all fun and games for the crew of the HMS Sheffield, and their run-in with the real-life counterpart of our own castration missiles: The Exocet.

Developed by the MBDA company in 1967 and put into production in 1972, the Exocet anti-ship missile was developed as a sea-skimmer – Instead of flying in at a normal trajectory like most other missiles, the Exocet was designed to approach the target just above the water’s surface.

This served two purposes: First, it made the missile harder to track with a ship early warning systems, and hence more difficult to shoot down. Second, flying low enabled the missile to hit close to a ship’s waterline; if the warhead’s detonation didn’t blow the ship to smithereens, then it would still wound it badly enough to either sink or cripple it. In short, the Exocet wasn’t deadly because of its payload, but because it was designed to hit you below the belt.

The Exocet: The Johnny Cage of missiles

Getting back to the HMS Sheffield: on May 4, during a patrol to relieve the HMS Coventry during the Falklands War, the Sheffield detected two Exocets launched by carrier-based Super Etendard fighters from the Argentinian Navy.

While only one missile hit, it struck the Sheffield amidship, and tore a four by nine foot hole in the hull nearly eight feet above the waterline. The missile had failed to detonate, but its impact had knocked out the destroyer’s electrical and fire suppression system, while its remaining fuel started a raging fire. Imagine getting kicked in the balls and having your crotch set on fire at the same time, and not being able to do a damn thing about it because of the pain.

That’s gonna leave a mark.

So instead of destroying the Sheffield instantly in a catastrophic – and probably slow-mo- orange-white fireworks display that’d make even Michael Bay jizz in his pants, The Exocet had doomed the ship to the cruel irony of a slow, agonizing death by fire in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Save for twenty of their mates who had been killed when the missile struck, most of its crew managed to abandon ship, who sang “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” as they waited for rescue. Imagine doing that in ball-shrinking cold, shark-infested waters, and you will understand why the sinking of the Sheffield became synonymous with British stoicism in the face of an absolute FUBAR scenario.

The bottom line is that while you may cringe at the thought of a ground torpedo finding its way up your AC’s tailpipe, it’s not quite as nasty as the thought of being burned alive in some dark, smoking, twisted control room on a crippled destroyer out in the middle of nowhere. And remember, the missile that hit the Sheffield didn’t detonate – here’s a video of what may have happened if its warhead had actually done the deed:

Linka and Sophie listening to some AC tunes.

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:

Shining:

Artificial Sky:

Mattias' tribute album sample:

We really love where this project is headed, and we look forward to its completion. Now if he can do something about those boring Last Raven sound tracks, we'll bow down and worship this guy.

[via: Ansou through Armored Core Universe Forums]

Thanks for the heads up LCC, and J.E. for the reminder.

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:

Classy if you ask us. If you're feeling like it, go fight From Soft's mascot online for a few matches on August 20 and try to impress him. As for the Black Torrent's skill level, you be the judge. You can see much of his awesomeness/silliness at his own blog.

You can view more info on his online appearance this August 20 in From's official Armored Core site. No word on what times he will be appearing on that day, but we'll update you guys as soon as we find out.