Hatsune Miku Project Diva - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Hatsune Miku is a merchandising superstar who started her career representing a piece of software called Vocaloid2 from Yamaha. The Vocaloid software gives amateur musicians the tools to compose songs that are sung by a computerized voice. In the case of Miku, a voice actress named Saki Fujita provides her high-pitched and highly ebullient vocals. From relatively humble beginnings, Miku went on to inspire manga episodes, promotions, and numerous toy figures that have sold very well and probably better than their makers anticipated. When the summer rolls around, Miku appears in her first leading role as a video game heroine.

Hatsune Miku Project Diva isn't a 2D fighting game as we had hoped nor is it a shooter. Project Diva is a rhythm action game where buttons are tapped in time to the cues on screen so Miku sings, dances, and swirls on stage like a generic J-Pop idol. A diva, if you will. In addition to the rhythm action, there's also a dress-up feature where Miku can be adorned in 39 different costumes including the Space Channel 5 Ulala costume and a pirate outfit. There'a also a decoration mode where Miku's room is designed with furniture and other touches per your preference. The first production of the game will include a bonus Nendoroid Puchi Hatsune Miku toy in 1:1 ratio. Preorders are welcome to ship on July 2, 2009 at JPY5800 (US$58.90).

One Piece Portrait of Pirates Straw Theater - Preorder

«©NCSX» Megahouse started the One Piece Portrait of Pirates toy series in the Spring of 2004 and quickly gained a loyal fan following thanks to the high production quality of the figures. The core members of the Straw Hat Pirates are sculpted once again in a new trio of Portrait of Pirates (Straw Theater) figures which feature big heads and disproportional bodies. The characters are (from the left and going right):

» Roronoah Zoro - Crosses his arms and glares outwards
» Monkey D. Luffy - Wears a straw hat and a wide smile
» Nami - Just Nami; Cute ginger with big eyes and friendly grin

Each fixed-pose figure in the Straw Theater set measures 10cm or 3.93" tall and is constructed of PVC. Although the toys are immobile, their heads may be swiveled around to and fro. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late July 2009 at JPY1800 per figure or US$20.90 each.

Koihime Musou Aisha Kanu FREEing Ver. - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» The animated adaption of the Koihime Musou game placed the heroine Kanu Unchou in the position of lead heroine and self appointed bandit destroyer. As the story goes, a group of bandits killed Kanu's family and everyone in her village which led her to seek vengeance against all bandits and brigands lest they harm other innocents. After a lengthy stint of battling bandits, Kanu's renown grows and her name strikes fear into the criminal fraternity that preys upon the folk of ancient China.

The latest Kanu toy to make the preorder rounds hails from FREEing where Kanu wields the Green Dragon Crescent Spear in her right hand whilst her left hand splays outwards with an open palm. We saw Bruce Lee open his palm like that once but the significance is unknown. Kanu is sculpted to 1/6 scale and measures 27cm or 10.62" tall which makes the toy rather large. A specialized base is also included which features a surging display of flames. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late July 2009 at JPY10800 ($108.90).

EXMC Queens Blade SE Steel Princess Yumil - Preorder

«©NCSX» Megahouse released Queens Blade Steel Princess Yumil last summer in her original color scheme which consisted of a black and white ensemble. Yumil's the daughter of the Lord of Dwarves and she's handy with a weighted battle axe which is included with the toy package and may be inserted into her right hand. The figure sold well and eventually sold out.

For Yumil's figure encore, Megahouse has announced a Special Edition repaint where soft pink is the main color of choice. Yumil wears boots with an exotic design where a blade basically protrudes from the top like the horn of a rhinoceros. The figure measures 18cm or 7.08" tall and is fixed-pose. Yumil's outer garment may be shucked to show off her skivvies (and more) if you're so inclined. A circular base is included with the toy for mounting purposes.

Preorders are welcome to ship in late July 2009 at JPY6300 or US$68.90 from NCS. Due to the size of the toy packaging, NCS recommends only shipping by UPS Ground within the United States.

To Heart 2 Manaka Komaki After School Ver - Preorder

«©NCSX» In the popular To Heart 2 animated serial, Manaka Komaki is a high school classroom representative who's a very giving person. She's always lending a helping hand to her fellow classmates and eager to offer her assistance. Manaka has appeared in a number of toys over the past few years and they've generally all depicted Manaka as a brunette with dark brown hair, big blue eyes, and a pink/red school uniform. She's also a bit of a moppet with an impish demeanor.

Alphamax's upcoming 1/6 scale cold cast rendition of Manaka Komaki diverges from convention and depicts her as a sandy-blonde with a lanky frame and long legs. They're not supposed to be that long. Her impish demeanor is also gone and she's all grown up. Is this supposed to be a sensual version of Manaka? If so, it doesn't really work because it doesn't look like her and her eyes betray fear rather than sensuality. Preorders are welcome to ship in late July 2009 at JPY14800 or US$153.90 from NCS.

Biohazard 3 Memory Card Case - New Old Stock, Sale

«©NCS» The year was 1999 and Capcom brought gaming terror to the Playstation once again in the form of Biohazard 3. Gone was the cramped quarters of a mansion in the middle of nowhere and the Raccoon City police Dept - the new killing fields of BH3 took place in the forlorn environs of Raccoon City itself. That's where Jill Valentine did her thing and shot down hordes of lumbering undead.

NCS recalls a fairly good amount of merchandising that tied into the Biohazard 3 fervor back in '99. One bout of merchandise was Hori's officially licensed Biohazard 3 Memory Card Case which stores four Playstation memory cards safely within a CD jewel case with mounting retainer. The front and back of the case features the S.T.A.R.S. Raccoon Police Dep logo along with the Capcom logo below it. As a bonus for buyers, Hori also included a little pack of seeds so you can grow some herb. Not that herb but "healing herbs" so you can recover your health and vitality just like Jill. Sort of. Orders are welcome to ship today. «NCS Photo gallery»

Real Action Heroes Evangelion 2.0 - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Medicom has started preorders for two Evangelion figures which are inspired by the Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance theatrical film which bows in Japan on June 27, 2009. The two characters are:

» Shinji Ikari who's dressed in a blue plug-suit
» Rei Ayanami in resplendent form-fitting white

Each figure measures 30cm (11.81") tall and is part of Medicom's renowned Real Action Heroes collection which features toys that are highly posable and of high caliber construction quality. Pricing is set at JPY16,800 or US$179.90 and preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late August for the Shinji (RAH-449) figure and mid-late September for Rei's (RAH-454) new RAH turn.

Super Robot Wars Bath Vol. 2: Ibis Douglas - Preorder

«©NCSX» Ibis Douglas is a red-eyed, flame-haired heroine who made her debut in Banpresto's Super Robot Wars Alpha 2 video game for the Playstation 2. She went on to appear in the SRW Original Generation games as well as the third canonical SRW Alpha release. When we first meet Ibis in the SRW chronology, she's not much of a pilot and is given the nickname of "Silver Shooting Star" since she's often shot down in flight combat sims. Even though she starts off as amateurish, Ibis has great potential within and eventual becomes a formidable mech handler capable of devastating similarly formidable opponents.

Chara Ani celebrates all that is Ibis with a bathing figure which shows her dreamy side. Ibis leans against a crag and stares off into the distance with a listless posture that suggests the Sandman might be drawing near. Ibis measures 11cm or 4.33" tall in her kneeling position and the figure is made of PVC. Preorders are welcome to ship in late July 2009 at JPY6500 ($65.90).