General Updates

Virtua Fighter 5 HG Joystick Cancellation Due to reported technical problems in Japan, Sega has recalled/canceled the release of the Virtua Fighter 5 HG Joystick. A new ship date has not been confirmed as of last night but we'll update customers once news is available. We're anticipating late February for the fixed stick. Since the joystick has been delayed, we'll process and ship Virtua Fighter 5 game preorders today and keep everyone posted once we receive news on the new re-release date from Sega's distributor. Please note that you do not have to place another order for the VF5 HG Joystick - your original preorder is still on file and in good standing.

Next Week's Preview Despite the cancellation of the VF5 joystick, the rest of this week's new imports are scheduled to arrive on Monday. NCS will process and ship preorders for the following imports on Monday: PS2 Oretachi Game Center: Trio the Punch, PS2 Oretachi Game Center: Thunder Cross, and PSP New Rainbow Islands: Hurdy Gurdy Daibouken! The import preorder leader for next week is NDS Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Requiem followed by PSP Tales of Destiny 2.

Japanese Holidays Monday of next week is "Kenkoku Kinenbi" (建国記念日) or "National Foundation Day" which celebrates the ascension of the first emperor Jimmu (神武天皇) to the throne. Kenkoku Kinenbi is a national holiday that will be observed across Nihon. Wednesday of next week is "Valentine's Day" but it's not a national holiday and only the women give out Valentine's Day gifts in the form of chocolates to romantic interests and platonic male friends, coworkers, etc. Neither holiday is expected to affect NCS' normal trading activities.

Vice closes doors The Vice X Alter Motoko Kusanagi figure will be the last product from Vice. The company closed its doors last month and shuttered the business. Our shipments of the 1/7 scale Motoko Kusanagi figure should not be affected.

Last Hope

Our shipment of DC Last Hope finally arrived yesterday afternoon and we'll process and ship all preorders and new orders today. Some of the CD jewel cases were damaged or cracked during shipping but we'll include a replacement jewel case with any game case that has a hairline fracture or a chunk missing from the case.

The game is region-free and will boot on USA, JPN, and EUR Dreamcast consoles. Please note however that since the game is "homebrew" and uses a security exploit to boot on a DC console, it is CD-Rom based and will not play on Dreamcast consoles that have the MIL-CD function disabled by Sega. These consoles were released towards the autumn of 2000 and were designed to combat piracy which had, at that time, overtaken the console and quite possibly quickened the demise of the DC. «more»

XCM Universal Ypbpr VGA box

Despite being difficult to restock at the moment, the niche that the XRGB-3 upscan converter has carved for itself is safe from competitive assault. Nothing else really compares in the same price range. Still, there are alternatives out there and NCS imports one today for retail sale.
Farmer's recent universal Ypbpr VGA box accept video input from any component cable and pipes it to a VGA monitor. That's it. There's no upscan conversion process or any bells and whistles. The image quality is good but perhaps not as sharp and pristine as what we get from an XRGB-2+ or XRGB-3. Still, it's relatively inexpensive and gets video into a VGA monitor without any muss or fuss. The PC throughput is a bonus. «more»

Japanese Import Schedule Updates

Nintendo DS
3/15	Kuru Poto	Starfish
	Simple DS Vol. 13 The Arashi no Drift Rally	D3P
3/29	My Melody Angel Book: Denshi Techou & Enjoy	TDK
	Shin Sangoku Musou DS: Fighters Battle	Koei
4/12	Gyakuten Saiban 4	Capcom
Playstation 2
3/21	Musou Orochi	Koei
	Musou Orochi Treasure Box	Koei
3/22	Shinki Gensou Spectral Souls II [The Best]	Konami
3/29	Winning Post 7 Maximum 2007	Koei
	Zoids Infinity Fuzors [The Best]	Tomy
	Zoids Struggle [The Best]	Tomy
	Zoids Tactics [The Best]	Tomy
Playstation 3
3/01	Gundam Musou + PS3 60GB Console	Koei
3/29	Winning Post 7 Maximum 2007	Koei
3/31	Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War	Koei
	Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War L.E.	Koei
Playstation Portable
3/21	Sangokushi VIII	Koei
Xbox 360
3/31	Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War	Koei
	Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War L.E.	Koei

Shipment Update

Due to late product releases in Japan, please note that the remainder of this week's new imports are now scheduled to arrive on Monday. This includes the PS2 Oretachi Game Center games, PSP New Rainbow Islands and the PS3 Virtua Fighter 5 HG Joystick.

Suppliers started receiving the VF5 HG sticks on Wednesday but only in miniscule quantities. The balance of stock will be released to them tonight and NCS will be able to fill all preorders for the joystick on Monday. We cannot accept new orders at this time but additional supplies are expected to be released in Japan by the middle of next week.

According to vendors, the size of the stick is larger than the Real Arcade Pro 3 and fairly sturdy. We'll check it out when the shipments arrive.

Jet Impulse

Take to the skies in one of 20+ jetfighters and take on enemy squadrons in a somewhat routine flight combat action game. An invading air force is on the rampage and launches an assault on your country. To beat back the marauders, lead an offensive and engage the enemy in dogfights and other sorts of aerial conflict. Weapons that are available include missiles, artillery fire, and bombs along with more exotic ordnance. A total of 19 missions are featured in the game including simple seek and destroy skirmishes, bombing runs where enemy bases are taken out, and attacks on a massive enemy aircraft carrier. Before each mission starts, a primer and explanation is shown which details mission objectives and method of attack. Day and night missions are playable to mix up the theaters of war.

Luminous Arc

The strategy-rpg genre hasn't been well represented on portables but there's been glimmers of brilliance. Recently, we fell in love with Jean D'Arc on the PSP and this week, Luminous Arc carries the torch with a beautifully rendered S-RPG.
Take control of a hero named Alph who leads a team of adventurers caught between a conflict between the supposedly righteous Luminous Church and a Witch who leads an army of monsters. Viewed on conventional isometric battlefields, players move units, attack monsters, and imbue weapons with elemental power. Conventional weaponry, magic spells, special skills, and cooperative attacks from a total of 160+ spells / skills / tactics are available for use on the battlefield.

OutRun2 Special Tours

Slither into the cockpit of a Ferrari and make sure your sweetheart in the passenger seat is comfy. Once settled, throttle onto winding highways which cut through scenic backdrops. Outrun 2 SP features 15 courses from OutRun 2 and 15 courses from the arcade version of Outrun 2 SP. Throw in the reverse-courses and a total of 60 tracks are available for reckoning.

New to the nuts and bolts of OutRun racing is the "SlipStream" element where following in a competitor's wake allows your vehicle to accelerate with smooth energy. Hairpin turns that twist in vicious angles may be navigated by tapping the brakes and wheeling the vehicle into the direction of the turn. Perform the maneuver well and you're drifting sideways while your passenger finds love in her heart for your skills. Botch the race however and you'll find yourself being assaulted by the once loving girlfriend. When the Ferrari makes contact with the sides of a race course, it'll bounce off like a bocce ball. If the Ferrari crashes and swivels 360°, it's no big deal - simply tap the accelerator and you're on your way again. Overlook the unrealistic nature of the game and you'll find yourself enjoying the ride with melodious tunes and an overly enthusiastic passenger.