[Audio Drama CD] Virtual-On: CyberNet Rhapsody Episode #14

[chunkypuff31]

Check out what just came in the mail today! Found it for pretty cheap off of Amazon Japan. One of the spines has some sun damage, but the rest of the case is fine, and the disc and booklet are in pristine condition! I'll see if I can rip the audio later this week for you guys.

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EDIT: Just uploaded it. Download link here: http://rapidshare.com/files/404812296/_ ... ode_14.zip

EDIT EDIT: Thanks to neoKEN for the reupload. Use this link instead: http://rapidshare.com/files/411145792/_ ... 4.zip.html

[RVR - 42]

Very nice!

[MasterFygar]

Awesome! Nice score!

[Akuma_from_Germany]

Got to out myself that I am not that much into the background story of VO... How do I have to imagine such an audio drama? Does it feature mech pilots who live their dramas or do the virtuaroids have their own personalities like Autobots and Decepticons??

[chunkypuff31]

I'm actually not sure if this one is canon or not (Iknow that the second VO audio drama, Counterpoint #009A, was canon). Here's what I could make out with my (almost non-existant) knowledge of Japanese:

The audio drama centers on two guys, Taku and Nobu, who get sucked into a VOOM machine while they're playing against each other (One of them uses an Apharmd, and the other a Dorkas. I think it was Taku with the Apharmd and Nobu with the Dorkas, but at times I wasn't sure who was speaking, so it might be the other way around). The two find themselves inside the cockpits of their respective VR's, and meet up with Fei-Yen (voiced by Chieko Higuchi), who can transform into a 14-year-old girl for some reason (I might be wrong about that. I heard the word "henshin" somewhere). Some bad stuff goes down, Nobu and Taku fight the bad guys with their respective Virtuaroids, then Fei-Yen transforms into her Virtuaroid form, saving the day with her heart beam. Nobu and Taku are then transported back into the real world. When they're walking back home, they see the human Fei-Yen, much to their surprise. And by surprise, I mean they're scared sh*tless and run off.

I think that's the basic jist of it, though I could be dead wrong. Once I get it uploaded, could someone give it a proper translation? I'd like to know what Taku and Nobu were yelling about (one thing I forgot to mention: these two yell a LOT. You'd swear that they were piloting super robots or something).

[chunkypuff31]

Just ripped and uploaded the CD to Rapidshare. Check first post for link.

[shamanic_beat]

"Witness the true power of Fei-chan!
Heartbeat Power full on!!! Lovely Heart Beaaaaam!!!"

"Huhh ohhh whaaa!? I don't understand! This heart beam! T-this this thing! aaahhh!!!!!"


Most of the screaming is just the usual hotblooded super robot anime idiot yelling. One of idiots is Mic Sounders the 13th from GaoGaiGar and the other is Billy from Gundam 00.

And I ain't gonna try translating this CD. My Japanese sucks and its way too much work unless the CD booklet has some kind of transcript (which I doubt).

[chunkypuff31]

My Japanese sucks and its way too much work unless the CD booklet has some kind of transcript (which I doubt).

Unfortunately, it doesn't. The booklet only contains song lyrics, a tracklist, and what is possibly Hajime Katoki's only foray into the field of character design (see below).

Also, was I right about Fei-Yen transforming into a 14-year-old girl? I wasn't really sure what I heard, so I might've been wrong.

[guarayakha]

Yeah, you nailed the whole plot the 1st time. She's the original Fei-Yen, reverse converting between human & VR form is one of her many quirks.

[shamanic_beat]

and what is possibly Hajime Katoki's only foray into the field of character design (see below).

Well disturbingly enough Katoki did draw this...

[chunkypuff31]

and what is possibly Hajime Katoki's only foray into the field of character design (see below).

Well disturbingly enough Katoki did draw this...

1244780902456[1].jpg

[guarayakha]

^^ That would be one hell of a Haruhi game if it's ever made.

[shamanic_beat]

Katoki also helped with the (weapons) design of Powered Natsumi from Sargent Frog.

[chunkypuff31]

True, but I consider what you posted to be mecha designs, not character designs, as he drawing off characters that were created by someone else. What I posted is the only truly original character design of his that I know of.

[MasterFygar]

O_O

Holy crap.

The first track on this CD is a deleted song in VOOM!

It's one of the first songs on the VOOM sound test and was removed from future ports and romsets. I wonder if this plot was originally to be in the machine or something? Very odd.

[neoKEN]

Audio_Drama_CD__Virtual-On_CyberNet_Rhapsody_Episode__14.zip

I got a permanent link. Use this from now on!

http://rapidshare.com/files/411145792/_ ... 4.zip.html

[Timeenforceranubis]

I'm lovin' the alternate versions of the VOOM BGMs.

Honestly makes me wonder why there's no Virtual-On anime.

[Testament/Seven7]

I'm lovin' the alternate versions of the VOOM BGMs.

Honestly makes me wonder why there's no Virtual-On anime.

I made a thread about VO's story, it should be around somewhere....

In a nutshell, if you live outside japan, the story is very, basic, maybe even cookie cutter. When Marz finally intruduced us to current events, we had (have in my case) no idea whats going on.

I'm still trying to get all the details sorted, but in a nutshell, VO's story is extremly complex, very intriquite, and in some cases borderline "WTF". 4 games, at least 2 Manga series, and at least 2 audio drama cd's, nevermind any story that gets thrown in the supplementary books.

So why is there no VO anime? Because Japan's suicide rate is high enough without subjecting a production studio to it. XD

Having said that, if ever one got released, i'd buy a box set ^^

[chunkypuff31]

In a nutshell, if you live outside japan, the story is very, basic, maybe even cookie cutter. When Marz finally intruduced us to current events, we had (have in my case) no idea whats going on.

Pretty much. Except for Marz, the story was never really mentioned in the games. Sure there were references to Mind-Shift-Battle-System and Plants and such, but that's about it. The plot was instead expanded through outside material, suc as audio dramas, manga, etc.

4 games, at least 2 Manga series, and at least 2 audio drama cd's, nevermind any story that gets thrown in the supplementary books.

As far as I know, there was:
-CyberNet Rhapsody, the audio drama that I posted above.

-Counterpoint 009A, the other audio drama. IIRC, it was about 2 members of the S.H.B.V.D., Mimmy Salpen and Black Onyx, who were sent out to retrieve the original Fei-Yen

-Scrambling Concerto, a one shot manga that was published in the Feburary 1997 issue of Comic Dragon. Had to to with 2 Temjin pilots who meet up with the original Fei-Yen (the original Fei-Yen seems to be a very popular topic for these sidestories).

-Virtual-On Kids, another one shot published in the special winter '96 issue of Comic BonBon. No idea what it's about, but the title would lead you to believe that it's a gag comic more than anything. Don't take my word for it, though.

-One-Man Rescue, a side-story that was published in Hobby Japan from 1999 to 2000. Had to do with a Limited War that happened in Australia.

-Fragmentary Passage, another side story published in Dengeki Hobby from 200 to 2002. Don't remember much about it. I just know that this is where the Rose Sisters, Shadow, and the White Knights first appear.

This doesn't include any supplementary or guide books that were released, such as Wall of Truth and Reference Schematic.

Having said that, if ever one got released, i'd buy a box set ^^

You and me both.

[shamanic_beat]

Just out of curiosity, did anyone translate Wall of Truth yet?