We now have a new Border Break on the way. Effectively Version 3.0, Border Break Union will continue the series and feature new parts and now airborne enemies by the looks of it. There’s a nice shiny new opening movie too (shown below). Interestingly, the game will be shown at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show along with an iOS app. Anyway, we’re just glad that the Border Break games have been doing so well and that SEGA have decided to take them further.

On the 28th August the mighty GF13-021NG Gundam Spiegel will be added to Gundam Extreme Versus Full Boost. In addition, the African desert stage from the previous game will also be incorporated into Full Boost. Anyway, we’re looking forward to breaking out some Sturm Und Drang in matches again. For those that don’t know, “spiegel” is the German word for mirror. So if you know anything about G Gundam and its story, then that should be something moderately interesting.

There’s an interesting interview with the team behind Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter, especially as it’s revealed that the (arcade) game utilises the Unreal engine and toolset. This is pretty rare from a Japanese development point of view, as they tend to use their own internal tech and tools. The reasoning behind the usage of external middleware (such as Unreal) was down to the fact that Square Enix’s internal engine wasn’t ready in time. Considering the fact that the game was a bit off the beaten track functionally also meant that they had issues repurposing Unreal (primarily designed around first and third person shooters) to work in a turn based way, though the driving sections apparently caused almost no issues. Naturally the upcoming 3DS game won’t be using Unreal but still it’s interesting to hear that a Japanese arcade game went down this route.

As part of the upcoming Rev 3.09 update to Senjou no Kizuna, we’ll be getting two new units from the first and second MS IGLOO series. Notably that of the YMT-05 Hildolfr and RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank. As you can see both of these are very ground based units with an emphasis on ranged bombardment (something the game HUD has had to accomodate it seems). Game Watch has lots of nice pictures and more details on the new units too, all of which go live on August 6th.

At this summer’s Wonder Festival, Sentinel have definitely revealed something rather cool in their increasingly awesome Riobot toyline. That of the mighty Blodia (pictured above) from the classic arcade game, Cyberbots. The mecha was also featured in the Cyberbots sequel Kikaioh as well, though as a slightly pimped up unlockable. If that wasn’t enough, Kotobukiya are also apparently releasing a kit of Metal Gear Rex as well. Though, Sentinel still steal the show for us as the recent reveal that the exquisitely designed Tsugumori from the Knights of Sidonia manga (by the simply brilliant Tsutomu Nihei) will be also getting the Riobot treatment. If you want to peruse the rest of the Wonder Festival coverage, then have a look here and here.

At this summer’s Comiket in August, SEGA will be attending and selling all manner of nifty paraphernalia. From some cool Border Break merchandise to some equally lovely Virtual On gear. The latter even including some nice One Man Rescue book sets. This was a sidestory that tracked the shift in technology and political power bases between the original Virtual On and Oratorio Tangram. Apart from the One Man Rescue books, there is a t-shirt and some “cels”. All of which seem to be very reasonably priced.

In a recent update, it seems that the GF13-021NG Gundam Spiegel from G Gundam will be playable in Gundam Extreme Versus Full Boost at this year’s C3X Hobby. This is in advance of a later update that will include the unit. Previously, the Spiegel appeared as a support attack so to have it as a full blown unit finally is a nice addition.

As you know, we’re fans of the lovely Dreamcast game Rise from the Ashes and we especially adore Yutaka Izubuchi’s fantastic design of the RGM-79SP GM Sniper II. We’ve also already reviewed the Robot Damashii toys, both of the classic design and the White Dingo variant. Well it now seems we’ll also be getting a limited release HGUC kit of the latter. It comes with more guns and even a Minovsky tank too. Unfortunately it’s one of those premium Bandai shop items. In any case, the kit is release in September and will cost 1,890 yen.

Two more units will be added to Gundam Extreme Versus Full Boost on the 24th July. These are a new type of Extreme Gundam variant (called the Eclipse Face, pictured above) and the suitably mighty RX-139 Hambrabi. In addition to the new units, a new map will be added too. That of New Hong Kong, something that was (sort of) available in the PS3 port of Gundam Extreme Versus.

Finally, the unit we’ve most wanted to see in Gundam Extreme Versus Full Boost has been revealed. The mighty MS-08TX (EXAM) Efreet Kai from the pretty damn fantastic Blue Destiny games on the Saturn will be added to the game on June 26th. To be fair, this mobile suit was telegraphed a while back in a “blink and you’ll miss it” segment of the game’s first promo. Much like the RX-79BD-1 GM Blue Destiny Unit 1 in Full Boost, the Efreet Kai is very much based around melee combat and it also only costs 1000 points to use (half that of the Blue Destiny GM). Anyway, we’re just glad the Efreet Kai has finally made it into the game.