Tuesday, December 22, 2009

DRINK Final Fantasy XIII Elixir with Trading Arts Mini - In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» NCS could blow smoke up your chimney and describe the previous Final Fantasy potions and elixirs from Suntory as quaffable or enjoyable. But we'd be lying. They're barely sippable and the word "enjoy" isn't normally paired with the Final Fantasy potions. Like other Square schwag, the potables are designed to be stored in personal Final Fantasy shrines where proud owners can look upon them with fondness and perhaps a little love.

Suntory and Square team up again to produce a new brew which dovetails with the release of Final Fantasy XIII and the FFXIII Elixir is an aloe-flavored carbonated beverage. What does aloe taste like? Well, it's pretty much tasteless. We grow aloe plants and when a stalk is broken open, the yellowish ooze inside the plant smells like bitter medicine and tastes somewhat bitter but doesn't really have much of an identifying taste signature. That's why drink makers that use aloe in their beverages normally sweeten it up with sugar or honey. In Suntory's FFXIII drink, they're using glucose and fructose... which are basically sugar. The other ingredients include royal jelly, caffeine, Vitamin B1 (thiamin) and B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride). Each can holds 100ml of liquid with a shelf life of 10 months.

Each Elixir is bundled with one randomly packaged Fantasy Fantasy figure which can be any of the following:

» Lightning - Stands tall and holds her sword like she's ready to swing
» Snow Villiers - He's a brawler at heart and his figure shows his nature
» Oerba Dia Vanille - An attractive ginger who carries the Bind Rod
» Sazh Katzroy - Armed with two guns which he points outwards
» Oerba Yun Fang - If we met her in an alley, we'd pray for salvation
» Hope Estheim - Reminds us of Roxas or Sora or any other tyke-ish hero

The figures measure approximately 3" tall and NCS is supplying the Elixirs in complete factory cases of six. Pricing is set at JPY5880 or US$95.90 from NCS. The price reflects the strength of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar and the shipping costs to ship the heavy drink cartons from overseas with overnight air freight. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome to ship this afternoon.

NDS Pokemon D&P Houou/Lugia DS Lite Hard Cover A

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Dress up your Nintendo DS Lite with a pretty Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Houou/Lugia DS Lite Hard Cover which may sound complicated but it's as easy as pie to plant onto the top of the DS Lite. Since the Nintendo DS handheld is subject to the rigors of normal everyday use, it can get scratched up or possibly tainted by a smudge of peanut butter. A smudge of greasy, chunky peanut butter that valiantly escaped from your maw when you were busy masticating a hearty PB&J sandwich.The Pokemon Hard Cover will keep the top of your beloved gaming gear clean.

The
Houou/Lugia cover features what we consider a "loud" and "bold" design where both monsters are seemingly performing thuggish hand jive if such a thing existed in the Pokemon universe. How else to explain their aggressive stances and attack mode demeanor? In addition to the default design, a second design is included in the blister pack which is imprinted on a piece of film that sticks on top of the shell in case you're not feeling either Houou or Lugia on a particular day. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome.

NDS Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Arceus DS Lite Hard Cover B

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Dress up your Nintendo DS Lite with a pretty Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Arceus DS Lite Hard Cover B which may sound complicated but it's as easy as pie to plant onto the top of the DS Lite. Since the Nintendo DS handheld is subject to the rigors of normal everyday use, it can get scratched up or possibly tainted by a smudge of peanut butter. A smudge of greasy, chunky peanut butter that valiantly escaped from your maw when you were busy masticating a hearty PB&J sandwich. The Pokemon Hard Cover will keep the top of your beloved gaming gear clean.

The Arceus cover features two rainbow patterns on the top and bottom of the shell which look snazzy. The mighty Arceus Pokemon may be seen galloping on the left side of the shell with its head down. We think its contemplating the constant exploitation of his kind by the House of Nintendo and all of its licensors. In addition to the default design, a second design is included in the blister pack which is imprinted on a piece of film that sticks on top of the shell in case you're not feeling Arceus on a particular day. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome.

DRINK Final Fantasy XIII Elixir Complete Edition - Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The FFXIII Elixir Complete Edition was released last week and distributors have finally gotten around to procuring inventory for us. Please note each FFXIII Elixir Complete Edition box is huge.... and obnoxiously heavy... and our offer price reflects the shipping charges to import this beast from Japan into the United States. The box of the FFXIII Elixir CE is roughly triple the size of the Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion Limited Edition.

Each complete set includes sixteen cans of carbonated "Elixir" which we don't recommend drinking and an FFXIII Elixir tumbler that's made of stainless steel with a plastic outer shell. The production of the Complete Edition is limited to only 30,000 sets and a serially numbered plate is included in each box. Preorders are welcome.

NEWS Chronology of Final Fantasy XIII

«©NCSX» How last Thursday panned out with the debut of FFXIII.

10:36AM - UPS arrives. Lots of boxes to unload. Move two "flatbed" style handtrucks down to help UPS driver bring the shipments in. Why are the FFXIII Lightning Bundle boxes so &%#($@ heavy?
11:02AM - Finish unloading. Now all of the inventory has to be counted and sorted to make sure nothing was pilfered, crushed, or inundated with water while in transit from Japan to New York.
11:18AM - Everything looks good. Now the packing starts. Hundreds upon hundred of boxes have to go out today. Or there'll be hell to pay. The Postal shipments have to go out sooner since the Postal Service has an earlier cutoff time; UPS gives us some leeway at the end of the day where they'll pick up at around 6PM or 7PM for later shipments.
12:11PM
- Lunch? No, we won't be having any of that today. There won't be any afternoon tea and scones either.
12:17PM -
Why are the Lightning bundles so &%#($@ heavy?
03:13PM -
Midway. We're on track to get everything out but there's a little bit of trepidation in the air since time seems to stream faster on big days like this. Nothing compares to the day we got Ikaruga on Dreamcast though...
05:28PM - UPS arrives. We need a little more time and there's about 80 packages remaining to be packed. We ask for, and receive, a much appreciated 30 minute reprieve.
06:02PM - UPS returns again. We're almost ready but there's a few more boxes to be packed and taped up. While the truck is being loaded, everything else will be finished and ready to go.
06:12PM
- Database uploads for shipment confirmations are being prepared.
06:37PM
- Some administrative duties need to be completed.
07:13PM - Friday's orders and shipments are being prepared.
08:47PM - Almost done and the garage closes in 13 minutes.
08:59PM - Escape from NCS' premises... in the nick of time.