Arcade distributors in Japan have started preorders for three upcoming kits which ship in the fourth quarter as follows:
» Mushihimesama 2 (Futari) from Cave
Includes Cave SH3 kit, marquee header, and side panel artwork. Delivery is scheduled for late October and pricing is set at JPY248,000 or US$2300 which includes shipping directly from Japan.
» Karous from Milestone/Sega
Includes Naomi GD-Rom disc, marquee header, and side panel artwork. Delivery is scheduled for mid November and pricing is set at JPY158,000 or US$1580 which includes shipping directly from Japan.
» Melty Blood Act Cadenza ver. B from Ecole/Sega
Includes Naomi GD-Rom disc, marquee header, and side panel artwork. Delivery is scheduled for mid December and pricing is set at JPY158,000 or US$1480 which includes shipping directly from Japan.
Japanese manufacturer Sol International makes use of their Animal Crossing license by announcing two types of pouches which ship in November. First up, face pouches where the lovable mugs of an AC character serve as barely functional carrying bags. Since each face pouch measures a mere 10cm in diameter, we're guessing Sol wanted potential customers to store coins and candy since that's all that'll fit. Next up, Nintendo DS carrying pouches decorated with the images of various AC figures. Throw an NDS or NDS Lite unit in the case and lug it around in sweet Animal Crossing style.
After gobbling a greasy pork sandwich, your mitts might find themselves dredged in oil and saliva. If the supplier of the sandwich was particularly generous with the mustard, the yellow condiment might also be slathered on your fingers. The cell phone rings. Absent-minded and delirious from the meal, you greedily grab the phone and smear the unholy mess all over it. A lesser mortal would grab a Kleenex and do a quick wipe. But you're no lesser mortal. You are a Nyanyan paw carrying international player who slides the paw from your pocket and waxes the phone in even strokes until it's like new again. Five styles are on offer and preorders ship in Nov.
Yujin has started preorders for Nintendo DS game card carriers which feature peachy Animal Crossing themes. Six styles are on offer and each case opens up like a book and holds three NDS games in transparent sleeves. Since the card cases are so petite, gamers may store their monthly rotation of NDS cards (figure about 12 games spread across four carriers) in the little leaflets and throw the lot of them in a gym bag, a satchel, or a man-purse. The red one with polka dots. Pricing is set at US$19 per set of six and preorders are scheduled to ship in mid-late November 2006.
If you've ever dreamt of sitting on Wolverine, Spiderman, or Captain America and potentially suffocating them with your girth, paradise is nigh. Come December 2006, Japanese manufacturer System Service fulfills the dreams of Marvel Superheroes sitters everywhere with large 32cm (12.59") cushions which feature the recognizable faces of marquee Marvel action heroes. Wolverine is chubbier than we expected and Spiderman looks like a dinner plate but we'll take them. Preorders are welcome today.
Puppeteers and street theater performers may rejoice when Sol International ships their line-up of Animal Crossing Hand Puppets in November 2006. Crafted from a mixture of pliable plush material and cloth, the hand puppets are designed to twitch to the movement and rhythm of one's fingers. Pop two Animal Crossing puppets on both hands and spout some rubbish impromptu dialogue for your own private pleasure.
For truly ambitious puppeteers, NCS recommends that you learn a little ventriloquism and practice your ability to make squeaky animal voices. Once your Animal Crossing act is honed like a fine-tuned instrument, open up a show and charge admission. We're so there if you're performing in New York City and comp us. Preorders are scheduled to ship in mid-late November 2006 at Y750 or US$9 per hand puppet from NCS.
Unchi is the Japanese word for "dung" and NCS has chronicled recent unchi toys here and there. Since unchi is so boring and just sort of sits there, Japanese manufacturer Epoch has elected to spice things up. Enter Funchi. That's right, FUNchi with the emphasis on the FUN. Loaded with a spring underneath, NCS imagines Japanese children pushing down on Funchi and releasing so that it springs up like the dickens. Push down three in a row and watch them fly up like an unchi gang. Fun just doesn't get much better than that. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late Dec 2006.
The dueling sisters of the PS2 Oanechan games will soon be slashing it up on the new generation proving grounds of the Xbox 360. To coincide with that momentous occasion, Yujin has started preorders for a set of Oanchan Bara gashapon where the heroines of the blood-soaked gaming series are crafted in PVC representations of their bad-ass selves. Joining Aya and Saki in the set are Riho Futaba, Makato Futaba, Reiko, and others for a total of 8 toy figures.
Preorders for complete sets of eight figures are welcome today to ship in mid-late December 2006.
Arcade distributors in Japan have started preorders for three upcoming kits which ship in the fourth quarter as follows:
