The wonderful and massively popular Gundam networked arcade game Senjou no Kizuna, with its panoramic cockpit, is getting a version update (Rev 2.10 to be exact) on the 9th December. Apart from general balancing the game is receiving new maps and mobile suits, with the former featuring Odessa as well as the Libot colony from Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket. Considering how wonderfully nerdy the whole setup is, the thought of playing that map in a Yutaka Izubuchi designed GM Command gives me goosebumps of glee.

Despite the insane arcade hardware, there is a port of Senjo no Kizuna available (on the PSP to be exact). Whilst it’s pretty solid, as the arcade game only uses a pretty basic board, it does play a tad differently as the panoramic cockpit forces you to look around in the arcade whereas on the PSP the game occurs straight in front of you. In any case, you can buy the port here.

The arcade port Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus is released today in Japan. If you’re thinking of importing the game you can get it here (or here if you’re in Europe). In addition, Bandai Namco are hosting an online questionnaire for the game to take feedback from gamers. There’s still no word on the PlayStation 3 version of the game but this may have been a misunderstanding (as many PSP games can be downloaded via the PlayStation 3’s online store). In any case, considering this is still Gundam’s 30th Anniversary it seems only fitting to finish off with a lovely video of pretty much all the major Gundam’s effectively high fiving for the win. Enjoy!

To commemorate Gundam’s 30th Anniversary, Bandai Namco are re-releasing a selection of best selling Gundam games at a reduced price in Japan. Some of these games are still Japanese exclusives, which is a shame as the recent Wii game developed by Team White Dingo was superb and it never made the jump abroad. Likewise, Artdink’s excellent PSP games are still without a Western release. These anniversary versions will hit Japanese stores on the 17th December.

The latest in the epic Perfect Grade range of model kits has hit Japanese stores. Considering the last PG kit was a few years ago, Bandai have gone a bit nuts with their latest entry, that of the 00 Raiser. Despite the crowd pleasing lights display, the engineering for the endoskeleton is always far more impressive. The 0 Raiser and and 00 Gundam can also separate, as they do in the series. Naturally, the timing of this kit’s release is suitably fortuitous as the design is exclusively featured in the almost released Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus. For those that want this, the kit costs 25,000 yen and you can buy it here. Here’s also some footage from the series of the first time the 0 Raiser and 00 Gundam dock to form the mighty 00 Raiser…

The official site is now hosting a collection of player created AI arena opponents for Silent Line Portable (there’s even a staff page too). Some of the user created AI are actually quite challenging, so get stuck in.

For the upcoming launch of Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus, a 5 metre tall Christmas tree adorned with Gundam model kits will be erected in Akihabara. The first 100 people to buy the new PSP game will have a chance to be pictured with Tohru Furuya, the voice of Amuro Rei. Furuya was also present for the opening ceremony for the 1/1 scale RX-78-2 Gundam in Odaiba, unfortunately he wasn’t allowed to pilot it (something about recent regulations on Newtypes apparently).

Late last week, Silent Line Portable saw its Japanese release. The official site is now also taking AI Arena Battlefield entries, so if you have a copy of the game and have already birthed an AI AC or two you should try and share your creations.

Over at GA Graphic there is a nice preview of the upcoming Unicorn Gundam Metal Composite toy. This is part of the Gundam FIX Figuration range but uses, as the name suggests, a lot of metal in its production. Unlike the FIX toys, which are at 1/144 scale and mostly plastic, the metal composites are much larger at around 1/100 scale. The Unicorn is also using its metal innards as the literal psycho-frame (the pink bits basically), which is a nice touch. This toy is also being personally supervised by Hajime Katoki, who penned this design originally, and as such it fully transforms between Unicorn and Destroy mode. The price is pretty epic though; at 18,900 yen. It’s released in March of next year and, in case people are wondering, the Unicorn is a playable unit in the upcoming Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus.

The Kshatriya from Gundam Unicorn will be a playable unit in the upcoming Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus, released on the PSP in Japan at the beginning of December. The Kshatriya is a follow on design from the Quin Mantha, that was featured in ZZ Gundam, though admittedly a fair bit smaller.

The forthcoming PSP port of Gundam vs Gundam Next released at the beginning of December, has had more units confirmed exclusively for it. These are all mobile suits not present in the arcade iteration and are also all “bad guy” mobile suits. Specifically, the new units in question are; The O from Zeta Gundam, the Zeong from the original Gundam, the Rafflesia from Gundam F-91, the WaDom from Turn A Gundam and finally the Reborns Gundam from Gundam 00.