Mecha-Press
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Mecha-Press | |
---|---|
Product information | |
Type | Magazine |
Development | Daniel Faucher (Editorial Director, V1#1); Martin Ouellette (Editor in Chief, #1–6); Marc-Alexandre Vézina (Editor in Chief, #7–17) |
Primary writing | Various contributors |
Pages | varies |
Cover Artwork | Various artists |
Illustrations | Various artists |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Ianus Publications |
First published | 1991 |
Content | |
Mecha-Press was a Canadian anime and manga magazine that was published by Ianus Publications of Montréal in the early 1990; it ran 17 issues after an initial one-shot co-published by Ianus and New Order Publications.
The magazine was released on a roughly bimonthly schedule, with 5 to 6 issues per year. Each issue usually focused on one particular anime or manga, dedicating up to one third of its page content on related synopsis, character and mecha presentations. Numerous mecha games were featured on a regular basis along with reviews and models; most issues carried some BattleTech material.
Although Mecha Press sometimes appeared as the magazine's name in articles, it was consintently styled with a hyphen in the indicia and on page headings.
Only BattleTech-related material is listed.
Contents
- 1 Mecha-Press Vol. 1 No. 1
- 2 Mecha-Press No. 1
- 3 Mecha-Press No. 2
- 4 Mecha-Press No. 3
- 5 Mecha-Press No. 4
- 6 Mecha-Press No. 5
- 7 Mecha-Press No. 6
- 8 Mecha-Press No. 7
- 9 Mecha-Press No. 8
- 10 Mecha-Press No. 9
- 11 Mecha-Press No. 10
- 12 Mecha-Press No. 11
- 13 Mecha-Press No. 12
- 14 Mecha-Press No. 13
- 15 Mecha-Press No. 14
- 16 Mecha-Press No. 15
- 17 Mecha-Press No. 16
- 18 Mecha-Press No. 17
- 19 References
Mecha-Press Vol. 1 No. 1[edit]
- Succession Wars Circle by Daniel Faucher. A one-page description of what you could be in the BattleTech universe.
- BattleTech: The Basic Game by Daniel Faucher. A one-page review.
- Battles from the Training Field by Daniel Faucher. A three-page how-to, including optional rules for hidden movement and the Paladin Shield, a ten-ton piece of equipment with its own armor factor, internal structure, and a payload of vibrabombs and command-detonated mines.
- Mechas Designs and Modifications by Daniel Faucher. A one-page article on modifications and using Gundam models. The 'Mechs are presented as the table at the start of a TRO description, with brand names and models for components.
Mecha-Press No. 1[edit]
Much of this issue is reprinted from Vol. 1 No. 1. Only differences will be noted.
- Succession Wars Circle.
- Mecha Designs and Modifications by Stephane Matis. Option shield rules moved here and revised, connecting shield size and states to size of 'Mech.
- CVL-8RD Cavalier. Reprint of the Paladin with armor and weapon placement added.
- LCT-2MP Locust. Reprint of the LCT-1MP with armor and weapon placement added.
- News from FASA. New, material, a sidebar on the first page of MD&M. BattleTech 3E announced for June, Pacific Rim released BattleTechnology: The Lost Issues in May.
- Battles from the Training Field by Stephane Matis. Now includes only the hidden movement rules.
Mecha-Press No. 2[edit]
- Actuator Systems by Dominique Durocher. BattleTech briefly mentioned.
Mecha-Press No. 3[edit]
- What's Cooking at FASA.
- Hot Out of the Oven. Capsule reviews of Wolf Pack, Bloodright, Objective Raids, Vehicle Record Sheets, Technical Readout: 3055.
- Still Baking. BattleTech 3rd Edition, Comstar Sourcebook, Jade Falcon Sourcebook, McCarron's Armored Cavalry, Natural Selection.
- Welcome to Solaris VII by Stephane Matis. Two-page review of Solaris VII: The Game World.
- TPL-8R Templar. TRO of a 90-ton Solaris VII arena 'Mech with short Q&A. Not related to the canon Templar, it carries a lot of Rules Level 2 and Rules Level 3 technology (like torso mounted cockpit and VRPP) and uses the custom shield rules introduced in earlier issues. It also has a BattleMech self-destruct system from Unbound. Using the existing shield rules it is possible to create this 'Mech.
Mecha-Press No. 4[edit]
- A/C and Missile Rules by Nicholas Gendron. A two-page description of flaws in existing rules and optional rules to address them.
Mecha-Press No. 5[edit]
- Mecha Questionnaire. A one-page reader survey that includes BattleTech among the content options are asked to rank.
Mecha-Press No. 6[edit]
- Mecha-Press Info. One-page photo catalog of recent models and figurines.
- Mecha Questionnaire. BattleTech no longer an option when ranking content preference.
Mecha-Press No. 7[edit]
- Mecha Models. Several pages, including two in color.
- Zentraedi Glaug. Split over two pages; there but for the sake of a name goes the Marauder.
- BattleTech: The Japanese Edition by Stephan Matis. Two-page review, including list of anime sources for 'Mechs. Since BattleTech originally used licensed artwork from existing Japanese intellectual properties, artwork which was also somewhat dated, the primary difference was the creation of brand new artwork in a drastically different art style to appeal to the 1990s Japanese market, though care was taken for each image to accurately represent the configurations available for each 'Mech in 3025.[1]
Mecha-Press No. 8[edit]
- Mecha Models. Several pages, some in color.
- Soltic H8 Roundfacer. Noted as the Griffin to BattleTech players, "borrowed and later licenced" [sic] from the anime studio.
- Adaptation for BattleTech by Marc-Alexandre Vézina.
- DGR-01 Dugger. 45-ton OmniMech conversion of a model from Walker Machine Xabungle.
Mecha-Press No. 9[edit]
- So You Wanna Be a Star Captain? Capsule reviews of space combat games.
- Aerotech [sic] paragraph.
- Adaptation for BattleTech by Marc-Alexandre Vézina.
- PBA-1C Ako. A 35-ton "(hopefully) hilarious tribute" to the well-known parody OVA "Project A-Ko" with a lot of L2 technology.
Mecha-Press No. 10[edit]
- Mecha-Press News. Product news from various publishers.
- FASA Corporation News. New and upcoming product: Mercenary Handbook 3055, Days of Heroes, BattleSpace, Solaris: The Reaches.
- Flash News. Medium OmniMechs Blueprint Set canceled; Blood of Heroes, Assumption of Risk blurbs.
- Mechwarrior II: The Clans. Activision press release.
- Heavy Armor by Marc-Alexandre Vézina. Reviews of models for various systems.
- Behemoth ralidium alloy miniature by Ral Partha.
- BattleTech: Shield Rules by Stéphane Matis. Optional shield rules different from those in either first issue.
- Technical Readout by Stéphane Matis. WTC-5A Watchman II, a 40-ton successor to the WTC-4X6 Watchman. A version of the Watchman with L2 technology, using the magazine's latest optional shield rules. This 'Mech can be constructed with existing BattleTech L2 shield rules.
Mecha-Press No. 11[edit]
Issue 10 (November/December 1993) announced that Mecha-Press would be replaced by Mecha Gear with MP subscribers receiving the first two issues. Issue 11's Editorial page stated that the change was canceled due to reader reaction and a refusal by distributors to carry the new title.
- Mecha-Press News.
- Win a 1/35 Scale Madcat! Reader contest with a single copy of the model signed by sculptor John Ferrari as the prize.
- The Thundering Madcat by the Dream Pod 9 modeling team. Interview with model sculptor John Ferrari and review of the model.
- Heavy Armor by the Dream Pod 9 Modeling Team. Reviews of miniatures.
- Light Omni 'Mechs Boxed Set by Ral Partha.
- Nashan's Arena by Stephane Matis and Marc A. Vezina. Nashan Diversified Corporate profile and arena 'Mechs.
- NSD-01 Pit Bull. 15 tons with four tons of pod space in each arm.
- NSD-02 Pit Fighter. 30 tons with jump jets mounted on legs and center torso and four tons of pod space in each arm.
Mecha-Press No. 12[edit]
- Mecha-Press News. Product announcements.
- Win a Madcat! Contest in Full Swing.
- BattleTech Convention. Supernova in Herndon, Virginia.
- FASA Corporation. The BattleTech Compendium hardcover, BattleTech Animated Series both on release schedule.
- Heavy Armor by the DP9 Modeling Team. Miniature reviews.
- Salamander PPR-5S by Ral Partha.
- Medium OmniMechs Boxed Set by Ral Partha.
- Victory Stables by Jake Brenner. A Solaris VII 'Mech stable with a stable of 'Mechs ranging from two Pit Bulls to a Stalker.
- Technical Readout by Stéphane Matis.
- DD-02 Corvus. Unrelated to the Clan Corvis, it masses 50 tons and carries a lot of L2 Technology.
Mecha-Press No. 13[edit]
- Mecha-Press News.
- Win a Madcat! Contest Extended!
- Thundering Madcat Part II by the DP9 Modeling Team. Includes Prime and all A–D configurations.
- MUSCATech Hover-Tank 'Mech by Prabal Nandy. See errata in next issue.
- VHT1AHTM Hover-Tank 'Mech. A 50-ton convertible 'Mech with Gun Emplacement and Hover-Tank modes, capable of jumping like a Kanga when in Hover-Tank mode.[2] Though it is not explicitly stated as such, the example 'Mech in question is in fact a recreation of the Spartan/Veritech Hover Tank from the Southern Cross/Robotech animated series.
Mecha-Press No. 14[edit]
- Mecha Gaming by Marc A. Vézina. Brief mention of BattleTech animated series with a montage including The BattleTech Compendium.
- Mecha-Press News. Product news.
- Win a Madcat! Contest Going Fast!
- Errata. The Hover-Tank 'Mech from issue 13 was based on the DD-1 Battlemover from Bubblegum Crisis, Episode 5, not an original design.
- Lost: A BattleTech Story by Jake Brenner. Original fiction.
- Technical Readout by Jake Brenner.
- GAL-2DSM Cannon. 20 tons, uses a lot of L2 Technology. Loosely based on the GM Cannon first featured in Mobile Suit Gundam.
Mecha-Press No. 15[edit]
- Mecha-Press News. Product news.
- BattleTech Animated Series. A list of stations carrying the show and timeslots used.
- Win a Madcat! Contest Winner!
- Building the BZK-F3 Hollander by Marc A. Vezina. Kitbashing instructions.
- BattleTech: More Power by Stéphane I. Matis. Lithium-fusion engines for 'Mechs.
- Technical Readout by Stéphane I. Matis.
- DD-03LF Prodigal Son. A 60-ton upgunned and enhanced version of the Mecha-Press No. 12 Corvus 'Mech using a lithium-fusion engine.
Mecha-Press No. 16[edit]
- Mecha-Press News. Product news.
- News & Releases. Upcoming products, including Crittertek, CityTech new edition, The Black Thorns, Somerset Strikers Sourcebook.
- Changing OmniMechs' Configurations by Marc A. Vezina. Kitbashing alternate configurations.
- BattleTech Novels by Marc A. Vezina. Reviews of Bred for War and Close Quarters.
- MUSCATech 'Mech Rifles by Prabal Nandy. Really, really big guns.
- Technical Readout by Marc A. Vezina.
- GRF-1RU Griffin. The right arm now carries modular weapons packages: A PPC, a large laser and two medium lasers, or four Streak SRM-2s with two tons of ammo.
Mecha-Press No. 17[edit]
- Mad Cat cover.
- BattleTech: A Short History by Marc A. Vezina.
- Battletech Show Overview by Marc A. Vezina. A complete overview of the show, from development to episode guide, along with technology specific to the show and capsule readouts of all the 'Mechs.
- Mecha Comic Books by Marc A. Vezina. Reviews.
- MUSCATech Shields by Prabal Nandy. The third (fourth, really) set of shield rules the magazine published.
- Technical Readout.
- HRB-7A Horned Beetle by Marc A. Vezina and Normand Bilodeau. A 45-ton 'Mech with a lot of L2 Technology and a shield using the magazine's new rules. This 'Mech can be created with the existing L2 rules.