Official Nintendo Cassette Cases

New official Nintendo replacement cassette cases for storing Famicom cartridges. Each case includes a label strip which may be written on and then affixed to the side. These are about 20 years old but they're in perfect condition although we did find one case which had a little desiccated mealworm in it. We were going to take close-up photos of the worm but someone with a smidgeon of common sense suggested that it might traumatize our visitors and potentially affect our efforts to actually sell this stuff. We have a large quantity of these in our inventory and we're bundling them in sets of three (pink, blue, and yellow) for US$6. We will automatically ship this item with USPS Media Mail at a flat rate of $2.60.

Hori Twin Adapter

The original Famicom's boxy controllers were hard-wired to the console which made using joysticks impossible. Unless you had one of Hori's Twin Adapters which plugged into the expansion port in the front of the console. Once inserted, two controller slots became available for use with ASCII joysticks, third party joypads, and other controllers.

The inventory is new but the packaging is a little weathered. The Twin Adapters may also be dusty - at least the one we took photographs of had specks of dust on it. A few cases of this item are available and pricing is set at US$45. We will automatically ship this item with Priority Mail for US$5.

Hori Wire Reel

Hori's been around for a long time, creating all sorts accessories for the gaming consoles of the day. Back in the heyday of the original 8-bit Famicom, Hori created something called the "Famicom Wire Reel" which was basically an extender for the Famicom AC plug and the A/V cable.

Pull out the two 3' cables from the UFO-shaped housing and plug them into the back of the Famicom. Next, plug an AV cable from the television to the corresponding port on the top of the Wire Reel followed by the AC adapter cord. Done. Multiple units of this item are available and pricing is set at US$19. We'll automatically ship this item with Priority Mail for US$5.

Composite A/V Cable for PC-Engine

The PC-Engine was released in a time when video standards were less stringent than they are today. It was a time way before the arrival of gold-plated Monster Cables and the choice of video connections were as follows: RF-Adapter or Composite AV. Take it or leave it. NCS digs deep into the late 80s portion of our warehouse and unearths a couple of boxes of official NEC composite AV cables for the PC-Engine. The stock is new but the boxes may be slightly weathered after two decades in storage. Pricing is set at US$25 each and we'll ship via Priority Mail for US$5.

PC-Engine Dragon Spirit Hu-Card

When a mighty demon known as Zawell escapes its bindings and kidnaps Princess Alicia, it's up to a warrior named Amul to rescue her. A mere mortal can't compete against a demon so he requests assistance from the gods. Raising his sword to the heavens, Amul is transformed into a dragon and wings his way to meet Zawell. Along the way, Amul must defeat nine creatures before the big confrontation.
The PC-Engine port of the Dragon Spirit arcade game is a faithful conversion and the entire game fits onto a 2-Megabit Hu-card. The stock in our inventory is new and in mint condition. Pricing is set at US$16 and we'll ship this item with USPS Priority Mail for US$5.

PC-Engine Joy Tap 3

The PC-Engine console featured one controller port. That's it. Gamers were relegated to playing by their lonesome unless a multi-tap was used. NEC supplied an official multi-tap back in the day which allowed the use of five controllers on the PC-E. Hudson also released an official multi-tap which featured three ports for those gamers who didn't need to plug in 5 controllers at once.
NCS offers new and boxed Hudson Joy Tap 3 units from our inventory. Some of the boxes may have slight imperfections from decades of storage but are in excellent condition. Pricing is set at US$16 + $5 Priority shipping.

PC-Engine Shuttle Backup Unit

When the PC-Engine first debuted in Japan on October 30, 1987, it was priced at a lofty JPY24,800 or US$209.10 as of this morning's exchange rate. Adjusted for inflation, that's US$384.65 in 2007 dollars. To target a less affluent customer base, NEC and Hudson released the PC-Engine Shuttle in 1989 at JPY18,800 which shipped with a modified expansion port and wasn't compatible with the CD-Rom or Super CD-Rom. The Shuttle also didn't have any way of storing save-game data... until NEC released the Shuttle Backup Unit. Stock is new but note that the boxes have weathering from warehouse storage. Price $35 + $5 shipping.

Virtual Boy Eye Shade

Has your Virtual Boy Eye Shade gotten greasy, grimy, and generally gross with the rivulets of sweat and oil from your unibrow and sloping forehead? Never fear because NCS has located a few boxes of replacement Virtual Boy Eye Shades which are new, fresh, and safely retrieved from the depths of NCS warehousing. The condition of the boxes are excellent overall but there might be small dents or slight abrasions on the cardboard from years of storage. Pricing per Vboy Eye Shade is set at US$16 and we'll ship this item with USPS Priority Mail for US$5.

Virtual Boy Headphones

Scenario: Your significant other is sleeping like a log in your one room hovel but the Sandman isn't bestowing his nightly gift upon your troubled brow. To pass the time, you just have to enjoy another game of Galactic Pinball and listen to its sweet surround-sound-like audio. However, if the S.O. hears a peep out of you, there'll be hell to pay. Hell. To. Pay.
Solution: A pair of Virtual Boy headphones. Plug them into the Virtual Boy control unit and you'll be able to play Galactic Pinball and listen to its BGM without disturbing the sleeping log. Stock is new and pricing is set at US$10 + Media Mail shipping at US$2.60

VBOY TeleroBoxer

The 22nd century is similar to the current one in that boxing is still enjoyed by the masses. Instead of muscle-bound pugilists doing all of the grunt work however, the fighting is now performed by robotic boxers controlled by humans. Take command of one such boxer named Harry who knocks opponents out like the best of them.
TeleroBoxer is played like Nintendo's Punch-Out game where nine mechanical boxers are attacked and their counterattacks blocked. By using a combination of offensive and defensive maneuvers, players guide Harry to the top of the boxing ranks. Stock is new and the packaging is in mint condition. Price: US$16 + $5 for USPS Priority Mail shipping.

Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It's a Wonderful World

Neku Sakuraba is a typical teenager who's been given the gift of mighty psychic power. Soon after receiving his new ability, the thoughts of his fellow denizens in Shibuya, Tokyo come rushing in. The next broadcast hails from the Shinigami Organization which informs him that he's been inducted into a suicide mission of sorts known as the "Game of Death." Neku has seven days to fulfill their demands or he'll be killed. To this end, Neku runs through the streets of Shibuya and destroys creatures known as "Noise" in a bid to save himself. Along his travels, he runs into a girl named Shiki who wears a belly shirt and an oversized hat. Along with Shiki, three additional cohorts named Beat, Rhyme, and Joshua also provide support and advice to help Neku along his way. «NCS Game Notes»

Densha de Go! Final [Eternal Hits]

Densha de Go! Final was originally released on May 27, 2004 and re-released under the "Best" label on July 14, 2005. Fast forward two years later and Taito gives the game another encore with an "Eternal Hits" re-release to give train fans another chance to enjoy the game.

Taito's Densha de Go! supposed swansong chimed in seven years after the series debuted in Japanese arcades in 1997. While train sims still sell decent numbers, the fascination and love affair appears over and Taito is apparently calling it quits with the franchise. That is, until Densha de Go! Pro ships in August or another train game franchise picks up the torch...

The parting shot to train fans is a decent one with classic tracks and new routes all gathered together for aficionados to master. Over sixty train models are featured in the game with examples taken from the Chuo Line, the Osaka Kanjo Line, the Tokaido Line, and the famous Yamanote Line. Game modes allow up to 2 player to perform as the operator and the conductor respectively as well as solo missions. A museum mode offers up a gallery of train photos, data and routes for the trains in the game.

Densha de Go! Shinkansen [Eternal Hits]

Densha de Go! Shinkansen was originally released on September 20, 2001 and re-released under Taito's in-house "Best" label on May 30, 2002 and again under the Sony "Best" banner on October 3, 2002. Fast forward five years later and Taito gives the game another much deserved encore with an "Eternal Hits" re-release.
Known as bullet trains, the Shinkansen line began life in 1964 with the Tokaido express service. Even back in the day, the bullet trains hit a blistering 200km/h while modern models push the envelope further with speeds topping out at 300km/h. Renowned for their punctual and "on the dot" service commitments, the Shinkansen enjoy an excellent reputation among it's passengers.

As a newly appointed Shinkansen conductor, it's your job to maintain the level of pristine service that your riders have come to expect. Never fear if your train driving skills are a tad rusty, a training mode guides you through the rudimentary tasks and procedures to properly maneuver your train. The player may view the progress of the ride from a standard cockpit mode or from the vantage point of a camera which floats outside the train, just above the locomotive car.

Jewel Shiny Cat

To create a mink stole, an animal must be butchered, bled, and skinned... sort of like peeling a banana but with chunks of flesh and gore involved. To create a Jewel Shiny Cat stole, acrylic fibers are spun onto a plushy material which is then affixed to a polyester lining. Next, shiny marbles are affixed to one end of the stole to give it a little gleam. Finally, a big plushy cat's head is mounted on one end to create the mighty Jewel Shiny Cat. Decades from now, animal rights activists will sing its praises in both songs and poems with proper iambic pentameter.

Each cat stole measures 75cm in length and three color variants are on offer: Purple, Pink, and White. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2007 at US$29 each.

Relakkuma Hokori Room Boots

When padding around a carpeted house or cabin, your feet can go commando or slip into a pair of furry slippers. That's fine and good during the spring or summer but how about the winter when the air is cold and the radiator isn't pushing out the heat like it should be? Enter System Service's Relakkuma Hokori Room Boots which are furry and enclose an entire foot with warmth and toasty goodness.
The shoes measure 35cm or 13.77" in length and a yellow boot and a pink boot are on offer. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2007 at US$16 each.

Japanese Import Outlook

NDS	Konchuu Wars	Success
	Slide Adventure: Mag Kid	Nintendo
PS2	J.League Winning Eleven 2007 Club Championship	Konami
	Capcom vs SNK 2 - The BEST	Capcom
	Sengoku Musou 2 - The BEST	Koei
PSP	Goku Makai-Mura Kai	Capcom
	Minna no Golf Jou Vol. 2	Sony
	Minna no Golf Jou Vol. 2 + GPS Receiver	Sony
	Gundam Battle Royale - The BEST	Bandai
8/2	Forever Blue	Nintendo
	Shin Chuuka Taisen [Delayed to August 31]	Starfish

USA Release Outlook

NDS Picross DS leads preorders for the week.
NDS	Bratz Ponyz	AGF
	Drake & Josh: Talent Showdown	THQ
	Glory Days 2	SSG
	Pet Alien	AGF
	Picross DS	Nintendo
	Professional Fisherman's Tour: Northern Hemis.	UFO
PSP	Brave Story: New Traveler	XSeed
	Crazy Taxi	Sega
	Harvest Moon: Boy & Girl	Natsume
Wii	Mario Strikers Charged	Nintendo
	Pool Party	Southpeak

Melty Blood Act Cadenza Ver. B

The cast of Shingetsutan Tsukihime gather together and settle blood feuds once and for all in a fast-paced 2D fighting game. Originally released on the PC in December of 2002 and made into a Naomi-based arcade game in 2004, the PC Act Cadenza Version B is based on the coin-op release which features a new Tag Team mode and fixes some glitches.

Melty Blood Act Cadenza plays a fierce fighting game with a cast of 23 fighters who all wield magic and in the case of Nrvnqsr Chaos, rabid animals that strike out from various parts of his body. A Magic Circuit gauge for each fighter builds up with every contact hit and allows the ignition of special attacks as well as the ability to go into powerful attack modes. Fighters may perform cancels, guard against attacks, double jump for air, chain attacks together, and conclude a monstrous attack sequence with a mighty magic blast. The action flows in fluid motion with responsive controls and a refined game system which allows a skilled fighter to perform special attacks and link them together in a frenzied ballet of destruction. In other words, it's everything a fighting game fan could want.
Note: A v1.01 patch was released yesterday and it may be downloaded here from Type-Moon's website.

Wangan Midnight

Fans of Initial D may also be aware of a similar street racing serial which has enjoyed similar success in the video game market as well as the worlds of animation and manga. Wangan Midnight follows the story of street racers who test their mettle on the Tokyo Shuto Expressway. Contrary to the twisting mountain roads found in the Initial D games which are perfect for drifting, the roads in Wangan Midnight are generally straight stretches that can accommodate a lot of traffic. The main character is a lad named Akio Asakura who finds a Fairlady S30Z in a junkyard and uses it to become a racing legend.

The PS3 release of Wangan Midnight is a conversion of the Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune arcade game that was originally released in 2004. Players race on 1080p powered courses that look stunning as they blow past at high relative speed. Genki adds a new "Maximum Speed" mode where players race against a rival on a selected course.

Sarugechu SaruSaru Daisakusen

When the dastardly Spectre shrinks Professor Hakase's laboratory and everyone in it into the size of a peak-point helmet, things look grim for the good professor, Kakeru, and Natsumi. However, since Hakase is a genius, he has a contingency plan where he's able to "graft" his research lab onto the head of a monkey. There's a lot of them running around the world of Sarugechu SaruSaru Daisakusen so they're the perfect vehicle for transport, utility, and the occasional special power. Once grafted, the motor functions of the monkey are entirely controlled by the residents inside the shrunken research laboratory.

Previous Sarugechu games had Kakeru and Natsumi wielding nets and other tools to capture mischievous monkeys but the latest Sarugechu release gives players the opportunity to control a hapless monkey. By barging through the levels and controlling a selection of nearly 200 different monkeys with individual skills, players collect Nano Cards in a bid to restore the laboratory and its contents back to normal size. There's one monkey that's fitted with a hang glider for aerial escapades while another has a fishtail instead of legs for easy mobility through the water. When it's time to break things, there's a bruiser monkey with a powerful punch who can destroy walls to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Players will have to capture different monkeys and their attendant skills to complete each level. In addition to solo action, up to four players may engage in a multi-player action game.

Simple DS Vol.18: The Soukou Kihei Gun Ground

D3 Publisher borrows a page from the Assaults Suits Valken games and drops players into a pudgy mech that's armed with guns and a powerful punch. In addition to its offensive capabilities, the mech can also jump and activate its boosters to soar over short distances. The game is played in typical platform-action style where the mech is moved from left to right across each level. When enemies appear, fire away with your unlimited artillery or get up close and punch away. There's a block move that's activated by pressing the R-Trigger but it only halves the amount of damage from an enemy attack. You'll still lose health when the mech's guard is up so it's wise to run and gun instead of standing pat.

Mahoroba Stories Limited Edition

Four unlikely heroines from the Pinky Street universe named Arue, Marizo, Suzu, and Tokko are drawn to a library where they're inducted into an adventure which takes place inside enchanted books. Their leader is a black cat named Toto who speaks perfect Japanese and their weapons of choice are pens that are shaped like swords. To enter the land of fairy tales, the girls simply select an open book in the library and they're whisked away in short order. Mahoroba Stories plays similarly to other 3D adventure games with full control afforded to the player during exploration sequences. When it's time to battle, the four girls each take turns moving and striking at enemies.

The Limited Edition of Mahoroba Stories is packaged with an exclusive Pinky Street figure of a new character named Arue. She wears an orange t-shirt with the words, "National Style" on the front and a pair of blue jeans. Arue also wears a blue/white striped wristband on her right hand and blue/white sneakers. The novelty of the Pinky Street toys is the interchangeability of the parts of each figure with any other figure which makes the number of combinations and variants nigh unlimited.

Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M LE

Back in 2006, a Mina Tsukishiro figure was given away as a prize item at arcades in Japan. Collectors and fans scrambled as they're apt to do and the figure was gone quickly. Fast forward to this week's release of the limited edition of Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M and Idea Factory bundles an exclusive repaint version of the same Mina Tsukishiro figure that was offered up as a prize last year.

The Mina Tsukishiro figure measures approximately 20cm or 8" tall and is pre-painted and fully assembled. Mina stands atop a white disc imprinted with the Futatsu no Project M logo and raises her arms in a casual victory pose of sorts. Two metallic-paint carrot weapons may be seen behind Mina which are roughly half her height. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome.

In the PS2 Getsumen Toheiki Mina game, players adopt the role of Dr. Tsukikage who interacts with the girls of the Lunar Rabbit Force in a bid to increase their affinity towards him. As the enforcers of a galactic treaty, the Rabbit Force is always on the lookout for cases of untoward alien influence on Earth culture and more importantly, Earth's sporting events. Once the interaction sequences are done, tactical battles ensue.

Monster Hunter 2nd + C. Gold PSP Bundle

Sony and Capcom team up to release a special Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack - Champagne Gold bundle which includes the following items:

» Monster Hunter Portable 2nd game
» Champagne Gold PSP handheld

Pricing is set at US$249 and all preorders have shipped as of yesterday. New orders are welcome to ship this afternoon.

Monster Hunter 2nd + M. Blue PSP Bundle

Sony and Capcom team up to release a special Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack - Metallic Blue bundle which includes the following items:

» Monster Hunter Portable 2nd game
» Metallic Blue PSP handheld

Pricing is set at US$249 and all preorders have shipped as of yesterday. New orders are welcome to ship this afternoon.

Metal Gear Solid 2 SOL 20th Anniversary

In Japan, good games usually enjoy three lifetimes. The best enjoy up to four or five before they succumb to the rigors of time and market satiation. The elite can go on forever as seen with Square's Final Fantasy games. The first lifetime is the initial release of the game at full price where 100,00 to a million copies are sold. The first release is where the publisher hopes to make most of its return on investment. Nary six months (or thereabouts) later, the publisher submits the game for "The Best" collection which is Sony's budget banner for older but still good games. Other than Sony's standard fees and printing costs, Best games at Y2800 are pretty much pure profit - the development and marketing costs have been factored into the first printing and product awareness is already out there. Should the publisher want to sow its oats for a third time, they'll normally release the game under its own in-house budget label.

In the case of MGS 2 Sons of Liberty, the 20th Anniversary re-release is the fourth reissue of the game by our count. Not bad. In addition to the game itself, the package includes a Sons of Liberty booklet and "The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2" which looks at the development of the game, the 3D models used, and interactive demos. The game package and booklet are both packaged in a collectible slipcase for safekeeping.

Metal Gear Solid 3 SE 20th Anniversary

In Japan, good games usually enjoy three lifetimes. The best enjoy up to four or five before they succumb to the rigors of time and market satiation. The elite can go on forever as seen with Square's Final Fantasy games. The first lifetime is the initial release of the game at full price where 100,00 to a million copies are sold. The first release is where the publisher hopes to make most of its return on investment. Nary six months (or thereabouts) later, the publisher submits the game for "The Best" collection which is Sony's budget banner for older but still good games. Other than Sony's standard fees and printing costs, Best games at Y2800 are pretty much pure profit - the development and marketing costs have been factored into the first printing and product awareness is already out there. Should the publisher want to sow its oats for a third time, they'll normally release the game under its own in-house budget label.

In the case of MGS 3 Snake Eater, the 20th Anniversary re-release is the third reissue of the game by our count. In addition to the game itself, the package includes a Snake Eater booklet and a second disc which contains the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake games from the MSX. The game package and booklet are both packaged in a collectible slipcase for safekeeping.

Taiko no Tatsujin DS

On the Playstation 2 and in the arcades, rhythm gamers played Taiko no Tatsujin with a pair of drumsticks and a drum. Since the NDS can't support such a control scheme or contrivance, Namco does the next best thing for the touch-sensitive NDS - virtual taiko. The touch screen features a familiar looking drum which may be tapped upon with your greasy, buttered fingers but Namco has a better way. Two stylus drumsticks are included with every copy of the game which are used to tap on the touch screen and beat your way to success. One pen is colored blue for the blue drum cues and the other is colored red for the red drum cues. The play mechanics are the same as the big Taiko games and a familiar cast of characters return such as Unagi, Ika, Toramai, Meka Don, and Wadatetuo.

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai III Remix

Originally released in Japanese arcades in 1999 and on the Japanese PC in 2002, Suchie-Pai III finally reaches the Nintendo DS in 2007. Yes, we're aware that a Dreamcast version of the game was released in 1999 but it was so chopped up under Sega's anti-adult policy that the game can't be considered a proper Suchi-Pai release. For the NDS release of the game, Jaleco cleans up the nudity, throws in new game modes, and dresses the girls up in new swimwear and costumes. Upon starting the game, you'll be able to choose an opponent and then plunge into the mahjong clacking action. The original version of Suchie-Pai III only featured five characters and one secret character but the new release offers up a total of eight characters to oppose and play.

Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M

If one were to travel across the Milky Way and visit the countless planets from end to end, one wouldn't find a planet quite like Earth. For example, did you know that Earth is the only planet where competitive sports are played? Well, it's true and when alien civilizations make contact with the people of Earth, the sporting culture of our little planet becomes an interstellar phenomenon. However, the dispersion of Earth's culture brings the bad along with the good. Aliens try to influence the outcome of games and pay off referees to make sure things go a certain way. That won't do. A "hands-off" treaty between alien civilizations is drawn up but such a treaty needs enforcers.

Enter the Lunar Rabbit Force whose members are a group of gals all named Mina who are charged with making sure that no alien culture influences Earth's sporting events. Any such behavior will merit a tactical and offensive attack. The PS2 Getsumento Heiki Mina game is broken up into an interactive portion and a battle-tactics portion where action cards are used to attack and trigger special skills. Players take on the role of an original character named Doctor Tsukikage who interacts with the girls of the Rabbit Force and develops an affinity with the ladies.