Solution 9 - Unfounded Speculation!

[WhiteArchmage]

I'm... uh... Garlemald was a military dictatorship, not just a dictatorship, but one that had the pretense of utilitarianism. I'm not at all surprised the military had the high-tech, overdesigned mechs (spider-bots are also better for uneven terrain, but not cost-effective for civilian paved roads) while the rubes use the highly practical, if somewhat boring box cars.

Which actually reminds me, didn't someone actually suss out the Garlean cars and they turned out to be pretty similar to an actual Japanese car from the (I want to say) 80s?

[MikkoAkure]

Which actually reminds me, didn't someone actually suss out the Garlean cars and they turned out to be pretty similar to an actual Japanese car from the (I want to say) 80s?

I can't find my own quote but I thought I remembered posting somewhere in these forums comparing the Novus D minion and the snow-covered cars in Garlemald to an old Honda or Suzuki kei car (which were based on older European peoples' cars).

But those were meant for driving in the city instead of going on the highway. Even today I'm sure most Japanese (where the game was made) and Europeans (that the Garleans are based on) travel via rail instead of car anyway. I don't think car ownership was very high in Soviet Russia either.

[kaynide]

I can't find my own quote but I thought I remembered posting somewhere in these forums comparing the Novus D minion and the snow-covered cars in Garlemald to an old Honda or Suzuki kei car (which were based on older European peoples' cars).

They're basically that- something like the 1950-60s-ish German Goggomobil or Japanese Toyopet Master.

(Goggomobil)


(Toyopet Master)


(Our boy Nero cruising)

..those were meant for driving in the city instead of going on the highway. Even today I'm sure most Japanese (where the game was made) and Europeans (that the Garleans are based on) travel via rail instead of car anyway.

This is a very big (and interesting) misconception about Japan- my American parents couldn't really wrap their head around it. Basically, it's VERY similar to the USA, except a lot more Japanese live in Urban centers compared to Americans living in Suburbs. So, people living in the big cities like Tokyo are a lot like New Yorkers (who may or may not have a car, and don't need a car for daily life). Owning a car in a major city is almost a status symbol with how much parking costs ($100s a month just to park, and that's lower-end pricing).

People (like me) living in mid-sized cities almost all have cars and use them pretty much like Suburbanites would in USA. Soccer moms and all.

The only real difference with small-sized cities is a much more prolific use of bicycles. People DO use public transit, but it's more...a tourist thing. As in, the public transit company makes negative revenue and is propped up by the government because "what kinda city doesn't have public transit!? think of the people!" (Think Streetcars in San Francisco)