Armored Trooper Votoms

(set 32 years after the television series)

Technology

Except for its starships and medical technology, the "VOTOMS" universe is fairly low-tech (and is often described as hard science fiction). Soldiers and combat vehicles alike are equipped with missiles and projectile weapons; only large spaceships have energy weapons, and then only in small numbers. The main weapon of the conflict is the common Armored Trooper (also known as AT, described in a derogatory term as a 'tin can with a machine gun'), a mass-produced humanoid combat vehicle piloted by a single soldier. They are also known alternately as VOTOMS (Vertical One-man Tank for Offense & ManeuverS).

ATs are rugged, simple machines equipped with one or two weapon systems, usually a light automatic cannon and a rocket or missile pod. They stand between three to four meters tall, with the pilot occupying most of the chest area and the head. Batteries are used to energize a special liquid called Polymer Ringers Solution in the limbs' "muscle cylinders" to emulate a range of human-like motion. Polymer Ringers Solution is highly flammable and breaks down over time, requiring regular replenishment for ATs that do not have Polymer Ringers Solution Purifier systems (typically housed in armored backpacks). ATs can be readily maintained in the field and can even be put together from spare parts using little more than a simple workshop. Unlike other mechas in other series at the time Votoms came out, the Votoms are more or less walking tanks as they can not fly or transform.

ATs have simple internal computer systems that allow them to operate in a semi-autonomous or "rabbit" mode without a pilot. Pilots may also prepare a "mission disk" in advance of deployment which is then inserted into the cockpit computer. The mission disk is used to store information relating to maneuvers that the pilot anticipates will be necessary, such as using the evaluation of an opponent's tactics to prepare against him. The pilot activates the mission disk at the approprite time and the AT's execution of pre-programmed maneuvers then becomes faster when the pilot needs them. This allows the pilot to pay more attention to the battle and react faster as a result.

Games

Video games

"VOTOMS" has appeared in numerous video games since the series' original airing. None of them have seen release outside Japan.
*X68000: "Dead Ash"
*PC8801: "Black Unicorn"
*PC-9801: "Votoms: The Real Battle"
*Super Famicom: "Votoms - The Battling Road"
*PlayStation: "Blue Sabre Knights"
*PlayStation: "Armored Trooper Votoms - Uoodo and Kummen"
*PlayStation: "Brave Saga" (as a guest character)
*PlayStation: "Armored Trooper Votoms Lightning Slash"
*PlayStation: "Armored Trooper Votoms Steel Force"
*PlayStation: "Brave Saga 2" (as a guest character)
*Dreamcast: "Sunrise Eiyuutan" (as a guest character)
*PlayStation 2: "Sunrise Eiyuutan 2" (as a guest character)
*WonderSwan: "Harobots" (as a guest character)
*Game Boy Color: "GB Harobots" (as a guest character)
*Game Boy Color: "Brave Saga Shinsou Astaria" (as a guest character)
*PlayStation 2: "Soukou Kihei Votoms / Armored Trooper Votoms"

For a limited time the "Armored Trooper Votoms - Uoodo and Kummen" game included a Red Shoulder Custom model. Chirico also figures in the "Sunrise Eiyuutan (Sunrise Heroes)" game for the PlayStation 2

Role-playing

"VOTOMS" was a direct inspiration for the "Heavy Gear" role-playing game. "VOTOMS" also has its own official role-playing game, developed by R. Talsorian Games and using the Fuzion system.

pin-offs

*"Armor Hunter Mellowlink", a 12-episode OVA series set in the same universe, but with a different story and characters. Loosely ties in with events that lead to the start of the main TV series.

References

External links

* [http://www.votoms.net Official site] ja icon
* [http://www.mahq.net/animation/votoms/atvotoms/votomstoc.htm Episode Synopsis]
* [http://www.talsorian.com/atvindex.shtml Official Roleplaying Game]
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