Yep. Japan is being weird again.
In a strange twist of fiction-turned-retail-reality, an actual mech starter kit has been listed on a Japanese tech company's Amazon store.
Suidobashi Heavy Industries describes itself as an organisation that "aims to spread human ride robots", of which their Kuratas is just one example. Having toured trade shows and game fairs across the nation, it looks like the company has put one of its operational models up for sale for 120 million Yen (around £677,000). However, before you start frantically researching international shipping costs and UK mech laws, there are some disappointing caveats you should be aware of.
Foremost, the company won't ship outside of Japan - not even beyond the Kanto region. For unknown reasons, the mech starter kit doesn't come with arms, which have to be purchased separately (and no, there's isn't an Amazon listing for weaponised mech arms - we checked).
According to a Google translation of the item listing, the company also states that "safety and comfort is not guaranteed", which is surely cause for concern? By the look of the 31 five star reviews the Kuratas has currently amassed, this could well be a publicity stunt for the company. But still, we notion that there's a group out there making mechs for live action events has made our week all the more interesting.
When the robot uprising begins, we know who we'll be turning to for help.
[Via: CNet]