MAG Shooting Gameside Vol. 4 - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The fourth Shooting Gameside magazine continues the theme of focusing on shooting 'em ups with 160-pages of new and retro coverage. Notable articles in the magazine include:

» Retrospective on Toaplan's games including Truxton, Slap Fight, Zero Wing, Hell Fight, Tatsujin, Batsugun, and more. Most of the games are given a full page with a short write-up, the original advertising artwork, and some screenshots. The "All your base belong to us" phrase from the introductory sequence in Zero Wing is also revisited.
» Interview with Tatsuya Uemura who co-programmed Kyukyoku Tiger, Hishou Zame, and Tiger Heli and composed the game ditties for Toaplan shooters such as Tiger Heli, Twin Cobra, Out Zone, Zero Wing, Dogyuun, and more.
» Interview with Masahiro Yuge who was a co-programmer with Tatsuya Uemura for Toaplan games including Kyukyoku Tiger, Hishou Zame, and Tiger Heli. Yuge also programmed Tatsujin. Like his contemporary Uemura, Yuge also composed the ditties for Toaplan's shooters.
» Coverage on Kokuga for the 3DS which ships later this year and the HD version of Under Defeat which ships for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 later this month.
» Information on Valhellio, a horizontal shooter for the PC from Ideastock/Elements which is being released this year.
» Mushihimesama Futari for iOS
» Pixel Junk (side scroller) is currently available on the USA and Japanese Playstation Networks.
» Chat with Naohiro Kimura of Q Games who led the planning for Pixel Junk.
» Rayforce for iOS and Ikaruga for Xbox Live.
» Preview of the Metal Slug Fiolina Germi fixed-pose figure.
» The Museum of Shooting Game Art checks out ASO (Armored Scrum Object).
» A look back at Crisis Force on the Famicom.

XRGB-Mini FrameMeister Compact Up Scaler Unit - In Stock

XRGB-Mini FrameMeister Compact Up Scaler Unit - In Stock
«©NCSX» Micomsoft's latest rendition of the XRGB upscan converter was released last month in Japan and new orders are welcome to ship today. Pricing in Japan is JPY38,640 which converts to US$496.27 as of this morning's exchange rate. NCS is pricing each XRGB-Mini at US$519.90 + shipping. Remember the good old days when the XRG-3 Upscan Converter was a measley US$300?

XRGB-Mini Specs
» Inputs: D-Terminal, HDMI x 2, D-Terminal, Mini-Din 8, micro-SD, mini-USB, Composite Video, Audio L+R, S-Video
» Outputs: HDMI (Please note VGA is no longer supported in this model)
» Output Resolution: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
» Onscreen Menu: English language only 
» System Firmware Update Possible
» Remote Control included 

   Preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders for the XRGB-Mini FrameMeister Compact Upscaler Unit are welcome to ship at US$519.90.

TOYS Zelda Skyward Sword Metal Item Collection - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Japanese toy manufacturer Kayodo has started reservations for a set of 'Zelda Skyward Sword Metal Item Collection' gashapon toys which are scheduled to ship in May 2012. The promotional photo released so far shows four of the six metal toys as follows:

» Shield
» Bow & Arrow
» Boots
» Slingshot

   The other two toys in the collection should be unveiled shortly but NCS is starting preorders today for the complete set of six toys to ship in May 2012. Pricing is set at US$28.90 per set.

TOYS Chogokin: Fireball Charming Drossel - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
Update: January 31, 2012
«©NCSX» The Chogokin rendition of Drossel of Fireball fame rounds out the robotic moppet into a more Rubenesque form with wider hips and thick metal thighs that taper off into hooves. A pedestal which plays sound effects is included with the 'Charming Drossel' which the figure may be plugged into for display purposes. Two AAA batteries (not included) are required for the pedestal. In addition to the fully constructed Drossel figure, the packaging includes:

» Five extra pairs of hands
» Replacement headgear and glasses attachment (Entire head)
» Mounting arm which plugs into the display base and steadies Drossel
» Incubator capsule '501622731' which holds a plastic flower within
» Jericho stick accessory

   The Drossel figure measures 18cm or 7.08" tall and is made of a mix of die-cast metal, ABS, and PVC. All preorders are shipping today and new orders are welcome.

Jan Code: 4543112709714

Japanese Product Name: 超合金  ファイアボールチャーミング ドロッセル

TOYS One Piece Chess Piece Collection R Vol. 1 - Import Preorder

 
NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Luffy's the Black King and Nami's the Black Queen in Megahouse's One Piece Chess Piece Collection R Vol. 1 toys which measure 6cm or 2.34" tall and may be used on any regulation issue chess board (not included). The other figures in the first collection of One Piece chess pieces are:

» Sanji - Black Bishop
» Roronoah Zoro - Black Knight
» Usopp - Black Rook
» Chopper - Black Pawn

    Preorders are welcome to ship in April 2012 at JPY650 for each figure which are packaged in factory boxes of 9 pieces at US$89.90 per box.

NEWS Japanese Release Outlook - Arrivals on Thursday

PS3	Soul Calibur V	Namco
PSP	Gift Prism	Cyber Front
	Gift Prism Limited Edition	Cyber Front
	Photo Kano	Kadokawa
	Photo Kano Accessory Set	Kadokawa
PSV	Ragnarok Odyssey	GungHo
360	Soul Calibur V	Namco

MAG Weekly Famitsu Vol. 1208 - New Japanese Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The February 9, 2012 issue of Weekly Famitsu includes coverage of the following games and events in the Japanese marketplace:

» Brief 2-page report from the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show.
» Famitsu's 'Face' feature interviews Kokia who sung "New Day, New Life" for PSV Tales of Innocence R.
» Reviews for PSP Photo Kano (9/9/9/8), PSV Ragnarok Odyssey (9/8/8/7), 3DS Fishing 3D (6/6/6/6), PS3/X360 Dragon Age II (8/9/9/8), PS3/X360 NeverDead (8/8/8/8) PS3/X360 Soul Calibur V (9/9/10/9).
» Previews for 3DS Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, PS3/X360 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, PSV Ciel no Surge, and PSV Samurai & Dragons.
» Continuing coverage on PS3/X360 Final Fantasy XIII-2. 
» Coverage on Sega's StarHorse3: A New Legend Begins horse racing and betting game system which features a massive DLP screen to view the video horse racing action and individual betting stations fitted with 32" monitors and control panels.
» Chocolates and candies from Morozoff, Godiva, Mary's, Cozy Corner, Royce, and more. 

MAG Shooting Gameside Vol. 0 - New Japanese Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» After printing three volumes of Shooting Gameside, the publisher goes back and prints Vol. 0 because they forgot to do it. Or something like that. Volume 0 is actually a compilation of shooter articles and vignettes from the original 'Gameside' magazine (defunct as of July 2010) which are reprinted along with some new content. The magazine was released in late 2011 but our vendors finally filled our request this week. The contents of Vol. 0 are as follows:

» Aesthetics of Shooting Game feature which looks back at the graphical stylings of classic shooters including Galaga, Xevious, Gradius, Space Invaders, and more.
» Namco Arcade Feature STG which checks out the publisher's shmup gameography: Galaxian, Galaga, Gaplus, Galaga '88, Bosconian, StarBlade, Xevious, Solvalou, Grobda, Baraduke, Baraduke II, Skykid, Ordyne, Dragon Spirit, Dragon Saber, Phelios, Assault, Burning Force, Cosmo Gang: The Video, and Cyber Sled.
» A retrospective on the Gradius series of games and the different conversions on various consoles through the decades.
» Darius retrospective which remembers the original game, Darius II, Sagaia, Darius Force, Darius Gaiden, G-Darius, Darius Burst, Darius Burst: Another Chronicle, and Darius R. 

   The magazine spans 161 pages and most of the content is in color but there's some black & white pages to peruse.