Poll: Mecha, Japanese, European, or North American?

[Warforger]

Japanese mecha is pretty easy to imagine, but what is the difference between european and North American?!?

European just seems to be soley 40k while America is Mech Warrior. 40k though IMO is pretty ugly mecha and is just power fantasy, I mean look at the recent Grey Knight Dreadnought.

Ok ok that's the worst, normal dreadnoughts though are pretty cool looking if not a bit clunky so it gets a little weird when you try to imagine them fighting hand to robo fist. But the titan he shows is not the average one.

But look at Mech Assault's iconic mech in comparison

And the bulkier they get they don't go downhill like 40k does.

 

[twistedmic]

Gotta go with Japanese. Love the fluidity and grace. Asuka's got my back on this one:

While I share your views on mech designs, I have to throw my support behind Shinji on this one.

What is that purple mech from? I bought a model of it at hastings because of its distinguishable badassness.

It's from Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the series is available on Netflix.

 

[Grey_Focks]

Mech Warrior. Always mech warrior. Those games were my childhood, and the sense of weight and raw strength that they had almost made it feel....believable? Not sure if that's the word. I've played a few Japanese Mech games, too, and I must say, the majority of them just made me feel like I was playing as a dude wearing a robot suit. Just was not doing it for me. As for European, well, I love Warhammer 40k, but the mechs aren't the first thing that pop to mind when I think of it. I still like it over Japanese design, but I just prefer American design.

For what it's worth, this is entirely based around video games with mechs in them that I've played. I don't really have much experience with mechs in other mediums, so I figured it would be best to keep it to games.

And on a mildly related note, HOLY CRAP THEY'RE ACTUALLY STILL MAKING THE NEW MECH WARRIOR GAME OMGOMGOMGOMG.

*ahem*, sorry about that. My inner child got out for a second. I'll be sure to lock the door this time.

 

[Syntax Man]

Japanese all the way,

I rest my case

 

[mcpop9]

I prefer Scott Westerfield's version of mechs.
safe to say i just won the thread.

 

[Asmundr]

I'm gonna have to go with Japan on this one. I just like the Armored Core series and one of my current favorites is the GAN01-SUNSHINE model by Global Armaments. Its characterized by its simple design and easy of use. I also like Rodie's AC NEXT.

On retrospect though...GA is American in game. The also have/had a European branch (GAE). So by voting Japanese I've ended up with a American/European mecha.

Odd...and a bit mind screwy...

 

[Gauntes]

lot of my designs seem to come from mix of both japanese and american designs. General theme and designs stem from japanese mech designs while keeping the overall construction economically reasonable.

 

[FortheLegion]

I prefer Scott Westerfield's version of mechs.
safe to say i just won the thread.

While I enjoyed the setting of that book I wasn't fond of the the characters.
They had awesome mechs though

OT: I like my mechs believable and I just don't see Japanese mechs happening. European and American mechs are slightly more believable in my eyes.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Well I could hardly tell you want the style of American or European mecha, but I do know I prefer Western mecha (for lack of a better word) more than Japanese. While sure the Japanese is all sleek and humanoid, often being like a giant suit of armor rather than a piloted vehicle, I still like the bulkier look of Western mecha. Not only are they huge, but they aren't sleek moving pieces of art; they're big, ugly and intimidating war machines. While the Japanese aesthetic is nice, I prefer the brutish nature of Western designs. They don't zip around or run around, they plod with great and heavy steps.

Keep your skinny little suits of armor, I'll stick with these lumbering behemoths.

European just seems to be soley 40k while America is Mech Warrior. 40k though IMO is pretty ugly mecha and is just power fantasy, I mean look at the recent Grey Knight Dreadnought.

Ok ok that's the worst, normal dreadnoughts though are pretty cool looking if not a bit clunky so it gets a little weird when you try to imagine them fighting hand to robo fist. But the titan he shows is not the average one.

While most 40k 'mecha' are certainly more stylized then would be normal for a war machine (from the literal walking cathedrals of the Titans to the heavily Japanese-influenced Eldar walkers), the dreadknight is generally considered pretty stupid. It's a guy in a huge suit of armor, piloting a large exo-suit.

Yeah, it's a bit too silly and overdone.

 

[mcpop9]

snip

I prefer Scott Westerfield's version of mechs.
safe to say i just won the thread.

While I enjoyed the setting of that book I wasn't fond of the the characters.
They had awesome mechs though

the story was entertaining, then again its a steam punk theme to boost it up, still searching for the third book.
Would love to see a movie based on the setting, we have the technology to create it now. would be amazing eye-candy if nothing else.

 

[Aircross]

To be honest, I prefer American walkers to humanoid mechs.

Must be because I grew up with Star Wars...

 

[Fanfic_warper]

Japanese mechs by far outstrip all others. ONE word: Gundam.


'nuff said.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Well I could hardly tell you want the style of American or European mecha, but I do know I prefer Western mecha (for lack of a better word) more than Japanese. While sure the Japanese is all sleek and humanoid, often being like a giant suit of armor rather than a piloted vehicle, I still like the bulkier look of Western mecha. Not only are they huge, but they aren't sleek moving pieces of art; they're big, ugly and intimidating war machines. While the Japanese aesthetic is nice, I prefer the brutish nature of Western designs. They don't zip around or run around, they plod with great and heavy steps.

Keep your skinny little suits of armor, I'll stick with these lumbering behemoths.

Ah the Warlord. A fifty meter giant box with legs and highways coming out of its arms. Gotta love it.

 

[octafish]

My favorite Mech (to look at anyway) is the Warhammer from the BattleMech universe...

...so Japanese I guess.

 

[FortheLegion]

snip

I prefer Scott Westerfield's version of mechs.
safe to say i just won the thread.

While I enjoyed the setting of that book I wasn't fond of the the characters.
They had awesome mechs though

the story was entertaining, then again its a steam punk theme to boost it up, still searching for the third book.
Would love to see a movie based on the setting, we have the technology to create it now. would be amazing eye-candy if nothing else.

Oh yea I would definitely go see a movie of it. I would love to see that.

 

[ramboman88]

American Dammit! They even teabag!

(Robot Jox, forgot how to embed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzfxKRIEUy0

 

[Iron_will]

Probably Japanese, since I'm incredibly obsessed with Armored Core NEXTs right now. I blame goddamn White Glint.

 

[mcpop9]

snip

I prefer Scott Westerfield's version of mechs.
safe to say i just won the thread.

While I enjoyed the setting of that book I wasn't fond of the the characters.
They had awesome mechs though

the story was entertaining, then again its a steam punk theme to boost it up, still searching for the third book.
Would love to see a movie based on the setting, we have the technology to create it now. would be amazing eye-candy if nothing else.

Oh yea I would definitely go see a movie of it. I would love to see that.

have there ever been any good steampunk/dieselpunnk movies?


OT can't forget the grandaddy of all:

 

[Singularly Datarific]

I prefer the western design's more so, but Robotech/Macross has the best looking set of mechs ever made. They were so awesome that Battletech stole them as the basis for their designs. Lots of fun legal crap resulting from it.
In particular, the Excaliber/Tomahawk/Warhammer is the best thing ever.

Closely followed by the Defender/Raider X/Rifleman

 

[WanderingFool]

I prefer Western style mechs that are more mobile armageddon. Give me a Timberwolf, and im set.

[sub]fuck yeah...[/sub]