Tuesday, June 30, 2009

KORG DS-10 Synthesizer Plus - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» The original KORG DS-10 Synthesizer software was released on July 24, 2008 and it found an eager global audience despite being relegated for sale solely on Amazon Japan. NCS sold a few hundred copies over the course of multiple shipments from Amazon.

The producer of KORG DS-10 (Nobuyoshi Sano) gave a stark and hokey visual presentation last week which gave viewers a peek at the next installment of their synthesizer software wunderkind. He's no Steve Jobs or George Bush but he gets the point across and enjoys some enthusiastic canned claps. The applause interrupts periodically throughout the keynote and even sounds off before he finishes some of his sentences. That's special. New features in KORG DS-10 are as follows:

» Dual Mode - Analog Synthesizers (from 2 to 4), Drum Machines (4 to 8), and Tracks (6 to 12). Note this is a Nintendo DSi exclusive feature.
» Expanded Song Mode
» Programmable Track Mute
» Realtime Edit in Song Mode

The new version of KORG DS-10 isn't an Amazon exclusive and will be available to normal Japanese distribution. Preorders are welcome today for a regular edition (JPY3990) and a limited edition (JPY5980) which includes demo tracks and a bonus booklet courtesy of Japanese science magazine/mook Otona no Kagaku which is published by Gakken. Both versions are scheduled to ship on September 17, 2009.

Makai Senki Disgaea 3: Nendoroid Raspberyl - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» A lad named Mao serves as the protagonist in Disgaea 3 but it's Beryl whom we remember. Raspberyl is a friend of Mao who walks to a different beat in the Netherworld. Unlike her demonic contemporaries, Beryl is a good girl who helps those in need and isn't underhanded in any way. In that respect, she's a special little imp who rightfully gets her likeness immortalized in Good Smile Company's Nendoroid series.
In her Nendoroid turn, Raspberyl is dressed in her regulation outfit with purple batwings protruding from her back. Three faces are included with the toy - "Smiling Beryl," "Demon Beryl," and one that we're going to describe as "Admonishing Beryl." Furthermore, three bonus accessories are also included: a demonic tome that's nearly half her height, a pair of shades, and a meat chop. Just to let us know that Beryl's hungry, a bite may be seen taken out of the chop. Preorders ship in mid-late Sept 2009.

Tears to Tiara: Nendoroid Arawn - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» A millennium has passed since a white-haired demon named Arawn was imprisoned inside a tomb. On the day of his awakening, a maiden named Riannon is all set to be sacrificed as an offering when she's saved by her brother Arthur. After a conspiracy of events, Arawn befriends the siblings and gathers together a party of adventurers to go on a world spanning adventure.

Arawn looks more like a girly-man than a mighty demon and his Nendoroid incarnation does nothing to refute that image. Frail, feminine, and slight of figure, Arawn bolsters his appearance by wielding a sword that he calls "Edram" which features a crimson-edged blade. Arawn's Nendoroid includes three faces - stoic, fearful, and mischievour along with the sword Edram, a black scabbard, and an apple that's been bitten. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2009.

Mari Makinami Illustrious Plug Suit Figure - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» A new character in an animated serial has to be relatively ingrained into the mind space of target audiences before a toy manufacturer sculpts him/her into a PVC figure. That's what we've observed over the years but it's not a hard rule that's followed by every company. Maybe Mari's special since she's a new character in the legendary Evangelion franchise but we would have preferred a little time and leeway before she made it to the toy market. The first figure featuring Mari comes courtesy of Wave but we're a little leery of how well she'll do in a fickle and soft market. She looks good enough overall with clean lines and colors but her face looks a little "off" which we attribute to her Mona Lisa-esque smile. Mari measures 16.50cm or 6.49" tall which is 1/10 scale.

Preorders for the Mari Makinami Illustrious figure are welcome to ship in late November 2009 at JPY4400 or US$46.90 from NCS.

Terminator Salvation T-600 Skin Damage Ver. - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Hot Toys has started preorders for a Terminator Salvation T-600 sculpture which stars a rag-covered robot that's definitely seen better days. The figure is from Hot Toys' Movie Masterpiece series which is the crème de la crème of mass produced movie toys. According to the promotional material that's been released thus far, the T-600 features 25 points of articulation which allow it to be posed in various postures and action stances. The T-600 is sculpted to 1/6 scale and measures 35cm or 13.77" tall with a firearm tethered to its right arm. The robot's outer clothing is in tatters which makes for a convincing battle-damaged look. In the Terminator Salvation movie, the T-600 is an infantry unit which can be covered by rubbery skin. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2009 at JPY20,953 or US$259.90 from NCS.

General Updates

PSP Project Diva tomorrow
An early partial shipment of PSP Project Diva is expected tomorrow. We'll begin processing and shipping preorders on Wednesday. The remainder of this week's shipments are scheduled to arrive on Thursday.
X360 Hori Real Arcade Twinstick update
Reservations for the Xbox 360 Hori Twinstick EX have been stronger than expected and we're fairly certain that Hori will proceed with the production this November. Hori is closing preorders on July 2, 2009 in Japan so if you're interested in purchasing one, please submit your reservation before Friday (July 3, 2009) in order to add your name to the hat. NCS will not be stocking any surplus units of the Twin Stick for our general inventory.
PS3 BlazBlue First Print Limited Edition incoming
The North American version of BlazBlue is expected to arrive later today but if there are any truck delays, they'll arrive tomorrow. We'd prefer that they arrive today however since tomorrow will be very busy.
NEWS Independence Day holiday
This coming Saturday is the Independence Day holiday in the USA. Even though the holiday falls on the weekend this year, the US Postal Service is only working a half-day on Friday (July 3). UPS and Fedex will be working a normal schedule this week.