You know, some people complain about the tackiness of some of the tombstones in cemeteries, others seem to pretty much compete to have their loved ones’ tombs with the biggest, most obnoxious tombstone they can buy. I think this here is the only way to piss off everyone, lover or hater, from beyond the grave: a 10 ton stone Gundam.

Made out of stone by a stone sculptor in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture, this 4 meter stone Gundam statue is sure to piss off the haters as it will probably be the tackiest thing a cemetery would see. It would also piss off those who love them since there’s way they’ll be able to top this. Nothing short of a mausoleum that looks like the Space Battleship Yamato could trump it. Needless to say, this is yet another mecha replica that does not move.

[Japan Probe]

Now that all eyes have been cast on the life-size Gundam, he has a secret to tell you. No longer can he can fight alongside his comrades with this burdensome weight on his shoulders. Could this be a new yaoi storyline in the making? Did somebody get bedazzler for their birthday? You decide.

[MotoCity by way of Geekologie]

Its time again for Slow Diamond, news we should have posted days ago but didn’t. Hurr durr, we’re such pros.

Remember that 59 foot Gundam that’s debuting on July? A few weeks ago it was well into construction and now its nearly finished! Congratulations Japan you just out-geeked every other country in the world. The freaking thing towers over every other giant mecha we’ve seen in the past.

Read more!

Remember that 18 meter tall Gundam we talked about early last month? The one that’s going to debut on July? Well, its coming along nicely! The legs are are all built now and watching the construction is simply breathtaking!

If this doesn’t trick your mind into believing real giant robots fighting on the streets are true then nothing will. You know what Japan? If it turns out this thing can walk and you were keeping it under wraps? I wouldn’t mind, and let me just throw this out there, I look dashing in a plugsuit!

[Heaven]

Its been a while since we last talked about giant Gundam and even how much it would cost to make your own. But it seems man’s attempts to create replicas and strive for a real life giant fighting robot will never end!

The latest news come from Gundam’s 30th anniversary comity which will erect an 18 meter tall Gundam replica. The piece will be made of fiberglass and steel with 50 lights all over its body. Pretty cool, huh? Did we mention it will also shoot steam from 14 different places?

The exhibition will debut in July and last for 2 months, free admission  although it would be kinda hard charging people to watch an 18 meter giant robot standing in plain sight outdoors. Bandai is reportedly still figuring out what to do with the replica after the exhibit is done. I’m pretty sure we can clear up enough space here at DDN HQ by that time. I bet it would do wonders keeping door to door salesmen at bay!

[Gundam 30th Anniversary]

Famitsu continues its rather sporadic unveiling of new Mobile Suits in the upcoming PS2/PS3/360 Koei game, Gundam Musou 2. On top of the previous additions of v-Gundam and Sazabi (As well as the Char’s Counterattack cast), we can expect to play as Kira, Athran, and Shinn and their respective Gundams from Gundam Seed Destiny.

On top of that, though, screens are more of the same. There’s really not much to say when it comes to a Musou title. You’ll be charging into hordes of enemy Chinese peasants/Japanese soldiers/Enemy Gundams and killing/blowing up a lot of stuff. Mindless? Yes. Fun? Definitely.

[Wii @ Everyday]

KOEI has thrown out some new info for what I like to call their Gundamsty Warriors franchise, though what they decided to show is a little disappointing. A whole lot of screenshots show a whole lot of mobile suits on the receiving end of a whole lot of pain. What they don’t show a whole lot of, though, is new mobile suits. The only two new confirmed suits are shown above: v-Gundam and Sazabi. Shown on the bottom of the page is a chunk of Char’s Counterattack, though whether or not they’ll be playable is unknown.

I was hoping for some more Wing Gundams, like Deathscythe or Heavyarms (or any of the Customs), or some from any recent series like 00. Though a little bland as far as mobile suits go, it’d also be nice to see some of the cast from 08th MS team thrown in there. Regardless of new Gundam content, Gundam Musou will be coming out on PS3, Xbox 360, and PS2 on December 4th in Japan, and since Koei likes to bring every Warriors incarnation stateside, we can count on playing it some time next year.

[Wii @ Everyday]

This painting above, made by Japanese artist Hisashi Tenmyouya, sold for over $615,000.00 USD at a Christie’s art auction in Hong Kong. The artist describes the painting as such:

I produced this painting for the exhibition, “GUNDAM: Generating Futures,” which was held at the Suntory Museum from July 15 to August 31, 2005. The work was later exhibited at the Ueno Royal Museum and other venues. In Japan there are many “Gundam-Otaku’s,” and their adoration of Gundam is intense. Therefore, I did not want to change their image of Gundam. By changing Gundam’s “mobile suit” to tattoos, I altered his body, and made him even more customized. I emphasized the very concept of the “mobile suit,” and by setting Gundam against a background of gold leaf from traditional Japanese painting, I emphasized Gundam’s samurai origins.

Tenmyouya has actually created more works in this vein combining Japanese pop culture to traditional Japanese art, you can see more of his work on his personal website.

Now if only I could convince someone that my notebook sketches of Princess Zelda eating a triforce sandwich are worth a tenth of what this went for…

[Bloomberg]

$742,000,000.00 is a big amount of money but when you think about the possibilities of owning your own giant functional Gundam it starts to look reasonable. I mean, who’s gonna mess with you when you have a 60 feet tall robot? Takayuki Furuta, director of Japan’s Future Robotics Technology Center did the numbers and came to the $742 million magic number. Such a budget would get you a robot with $372 million in propulsion engines, a cockpit with panoramic screens and a hull made completely out of….. titanium. You know, because Gundanium doesn’t exist.

The man didn’t run the numbers in vain either, he plans to build one, not a 60 feet tall one mind you, but a much more budget conscious 13 feet one.

[Wired]

IN WIN, the computer case company has released a new case named The Conqueror based of a Gundam mecha. I have no idea if the case is actually licensed or not but its still a pretty cool case, from the website description:

A serene blue glow, cold aluminum, and metallic mesh all work to create a unique modern style, of a silent guardian who keeps global peace.

That’s right, this shady case will keep global peace, that is until your motherboard blows and the whole thing starts smoking and then you’ll be regretting the case wasn’t made with actual Gundanium!

[IN WIN]