Mecha-Press

(Redirected from Mecha Press)
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.

Mecha-Press Vol. 1 No. 1[edit]

Mecha-Press Vol. 1 No. 1
  • 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.
  • PLN-2MP Paladin, a 90-ton conversion of the Gundam RX-78 Prefect.
  • LCT-1MP Locust. Carries a split-configuration SRM-6 in the arms.

Mecha-Press No. 1[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 01

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.

Mecha-Press No. 2[edit]

  • Actuator Systems by Dominique Durocher. BattleTech briefly mentioned.

Mecha-Press No. 3[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 03
  • What's Cooking at FASA.

Mecha-Press No. 4[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 04
  • 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.
  • Battletech Madcat. 1/30 scale vinyl model kit from Horizon.
  • Macross Models. Includes the Zentradi Battle Pod that was the original Marauder.
  • Mecha Questionnaire. BattleTech no longer an option when ranking content preference.

Mecha-Press No. 7[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 07
  • 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-Press No. 08
  • Mecha Models. Several pages, some in color.
  • Adaptation for BattleTech by Marc-Alexandre Vézina.

Mecha-Press No. 9[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 09
  • So You Wanna Be a Star Captain? Capsule reviews of space combat games.
  • 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 No. 10
  • Mecha-Press News. Product news from various publishers.
  • 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]

Mecha-Press No. 11

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 No. 12
  • Mecha-Press News. Product announcements.
  • Heavy Armor by the DP9 Modeling Team. Miniature reviews.
  • 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 No. 13
  • 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-Press No. 14
  • 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 No. 15
  • Mecha-Press News. Product news.
  • 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 No. 16
  • Mecha-Press News. Product news.
  • 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.

Mecha-Press No. 17[edit]

Mecha-Press No. 17
  • 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.

References[edit]

  1. Mecha-Press, issue #7, pp. 34–35
  2. Mecha-Press, issue #13, pp. 46–48