Hello Kitty Kimono Plush

Hello Kitty's a traditional kind of Japanese gal. Instead of kicking back in jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap, Sanrio's marquee superstar goes with the kimono and a bow.

Kitty finds herself bedecked in four types of yukata, a summer kimono that is made of lightweight cotton. A different hair bow and obi sash also adorn each version of Hello Kitty to further distinguish one from the other. Although the kimonos and the bows are different, every kitty features the same old feline face that has delighted children and adults alike for decades. Preorders are shipping today and new orders are welcome at US$10.50 per plush. «photos»

Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Plush 2

The latest Pokemon games for the Nintendo DS have sold impressive numbers and a number of merchandising tie-ins have already reached market. To expand the Pokemon market a little more, Bandai releases a new set of plushes which feature strange looking creatures:

Japanese/English: Cherimu (Cherrim) | Naetoru (Turtwig) | Pachirisu (Pachirisu) | Pinpuku (Happiny) | Usohachi (Bonsly)

Each plush measures 15cm tall and all preorders will ship today. «photos»

Kinu Nishimura 1/6 Mai Shiranui Figure

Max Factory has begun accepting preorders for a new Kinu Nishimura sculpt which features the irrepressible Mai Shiranui of KOF fame. The preorder solicitation from our primary toy suppliers specifically mentions that the figure will be a very limited production item and they're not guaranteeing our preorders.

We've submitted our case quantities last night but we're not sure if we'll get them all. Due to the limited nature of the item, please be aware that we cannot guarantee customer preorders for this item. We'll do our best however to eke out a few cases and wire deposits in advance to bolster our cause because Mai is worth the extra effort.
Pricing is set at US$85 and preorders are welcome but not guaranteed. Why does Max Factory hate their fan base? «photos»

Release Outlook

Japanese Imports
NDS	Gyakuten Saiban 4	Capcom
	Kakikomi Shiki 'Hannya Shinkyou' Renshuu Chou	IE Instit.
PS2	Grim Grimoire	Konami
North American Releases
Wii	Super Paper Mario	Nintendo

Super Mario DX Sofubi Figure 2

Banpresto releases a pair of delightful Mario Bros vinyl figures which feature smooth lines and accurate video game to toy product dimensions - both figures look exactly like their digital counterparts. The gentleman on the left is Mario while the monster on the right is Goomba. Mario measures 22cm or 8.66" tall while Goomba clocks in at 18cm or 7.08" squat.
Mario's arms may be positioned in different poses and we found a few uses for the figure as shown in our photo gallery this morning. Goomba doesn't have any movable parts but since he's one of Mario's enemies in the legendary SMB game series, we're guessing he had to make an appearance to provide some adversity. «more»

Catch the Dots: Bomberman

With the release of the Bomberman Catch the Dots toys, Tomy misses Bomberman's 20th Anniversary by 2 years. Nonetheless, the delayed toy homage is better late than never since lesser known games have already made it to the Dot-Pin league. Measuring 7.5cm tall and part of the miniature Dots series, two Bomberman kits are on offer - one for creating the recognizable helmeted Bomber and another for creating bonus pick-ups such as expanded blast radius and quickness. «more»

Famicom Controller Microphone

If you've ever felt the uncontrollable urge to bellow into a Famicom controller, Banpresto has something to fill that desire. The company fits a battery-powered microphone inside a Famicom controller and adds a volume lever along with on/off button controls to project your voice to the heavens. Or maybe just down the hallway...
The controller is a near perfect recreation of the original FC controller with the same shiny gold patina and red plastic shell. The buttons are also soft-click-style for a convincing copy of the original controller. «more»

Super Mario Bros Crystal Maze

Japanese manufacturer Epoch is primarily a toy maker although they've dabbled in video games and related products in the past. The company dabbles a little bit more by releasing two board games based on New Super Mario Bros. The first game on offer today is called "Crystal Maze" which ships in a large cardboard box and is suitable for children at least 4 years old and adults with a penchant for anything related to Mario gaming and frivolity.
Anyone who's played Super Monkey Ball will take to Crystal Maze like a fish to water. By using the red joystick/lever located at the bottom of the game, players tilt the play board to move three metal marbles (one at a time) from the START area at the bottom of the board to the GOAL located at the upper left corner of the board. It's pretty challenging due to the convoluted and tight-spaced maze one has to maneuver through. «more»