R2-D2 DVD Projector

After showing the R2-D2 DVD Projector earlier this year, Nikko has started preorders for the ultimate Star Wars fan's home theater companion. Weighing in at nearly 20 lbs, R2-D2 can project a video image that's 80" with a brightness of 1500 lumens and image contrast of 1800:1.

Included with R2-D2 is a Millennium Falcon remote control which can be used to move R2-D2 around and control the video functions. The front of the droid has a slot for DVDs, a memory card adapter for SD, MMC, and MS cards, and a dock for iPod so you can play music through the built-in stereo speakers. Limited to 1000 units only. Preorders ship in Oct 2007.

Animal Crossing Touch Pens Series 2

Japanese capsule toy manufacturer Yujin has started preorders for a second set of Animal Crossing touch pens for use with the Nintendo DS. The wandering minstrel named Totakeke aka KK Slider was in the original AXing Touch Pen set and he returns in the new set. The other animals in Series 2 are new with Rover, Brewster, Booker, Pascal, and Snowman making their touch pen debut.

Some simple snap-lock assembly is required to put each touch pen together but it'll only take a couple of seconds. Each touch pen also includes a cap to keep the tip clean and soil-free. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2007 at US$20 for a complete set of six pens.

Deco Peta Art: Sanrio Characters

E-Revolution of Japan has started preorders for a toy that's somewhat reminiscent of the Tomy Dots toys. The first collection is dubbed the Deco Peta Art: Sanrio Characters which features four kits based on popular characters as follows:

» Hello Kitty
» Sugar Bunnies
» Melody
» Kuromi

Each kit is priced at US$12 and preorders are welcome to ship in Sept 07.

Disney Laugh Koron Figure

Feeling sad and morose for whatever reason? Instead of drowning your sorrows with liquor, grab a Disney Laugh Koron figure from E-Revolution and turn it round and round to make it chortle loudly with wild abandon. Once the smiling animal begins laughing and continues to laugh for the next few minutes, your spirits might rise and you'll join in the hysterics with some raucous laughter of your own.
Six Disney Laugh Koron figures are on offer - Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Stitch, Chip, and Dale which measure 25cm or approximately 9.84" tall. Each toy is meant to be mounted to a base which is included but we're guessing rolling the figure free-style will also make it laugh. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late September 2007 at US$39 per figure.

One Piece Portrait of Pirates Neo 2

Banpresto accedes to the cries of clamoring One Piece fans by re-releasing the One Piece Portrait of Pirates Series 2 figures this October. There has been a change in the line-up however - the original release of the One Piece POP2 figures in 2005 consisted of Sergeant Major Tashigi, Portugues D. Ace, and Nefertari Vivi but the Major has been removed in favor of the blue-haired cyborg named Franky aka Cutty Flam.
The figures are set to 1/8 scale and measure approximately 23cm tall. Pricing is set at US$49 per figure and preorders will ship in mid-late October 2007.

Turtles Gashapon

«©NCS» There's a restaurant that we visit once in a while which has stylized pool of sorts in the waiting area. In that pool live a number of red-eared sliders including some small ones and a monster that's the largest slider we've ever seen. It's bigger than a football and we didn't know sliders grew that large. The manager at the restaurant explained that turtles are considered lucky because of their longevity.

Yujin originally released the Turtles Gashapon a while ago but due to outstanding demand, the company has decided to produce a new batch for the market. The turtles measure approximately 6cm or 2.36" each and include sea turtles with flippers, box turtles, snapping turtles, and red-eared sliders. We plan on giving a set to the restaurant so they can double their luck. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late September 2007.

Japanese Import Outlook

NDS	Death Note: L o Tsugu Mono	Konami
	Monster Farm DS	Tecmo
	Rockman ZX Advent	Capcom
PS2	Pop'n Music 14 Fever	Konami
PS3	Railfan Taiwan High Speed Rail	Sony
Wii	Dragon Quest Swords	SquarEnix

USA Release Outlook

Microsoft kicks off the downsized E3 Show this Tuesday with a press conference while Nintendo and Sony will hold their respective press conferences on Wednesday.
GBA	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	EA
NDS	Vegas Casino: High 5	SVG
PSP	Riviera: The Promised Land	Atlus
	Smash Court Tennis 3	Namco
X36	Project Sylpheed: Arc of Deception	SquarEnix