Bomberman has long toiled under Hudson's yoke, appearing in numerous maze-bombing games and other video gaming adjuncts of the original franchise. It all started in 1985 when Hudson introduced gamers to a bomb laying warrior who planted explosives to derail maze-roaming creatures in hot pursuit. From those humble beginnings, Hudson built an enduring franchise which has since branched off into Bomberman racing, mini-game collections, tactical strategy, and adventuring.
The exploitation of Bomberman continues with the Bomberman Bakudan straps which may be attached to any cellphone with a standard through-hole receptacle. Four varieties are on offer as follows:
Red Bomber
Blue Bomber
Black Bomber
White Bomber
Each Bomber is trailed by a quartet of bombs with orange-colored lit fuses. The tops of the bombers' heads are also linked to a cellphone strap for tethering purposes. «more»
Bomberman has become iconic in the past couple of decades that its been in the wild. To give fans and gamers a little taste of wearable Bomberman imagery, Hudson by way of Banpresto offers three Bomberman t-shirts:
A) White t-shirt with an explosive combination in progress that travels the upper length of the tee.
B) Green shirt which features an old school maze with grey blocks and Bomberman action
C) Black t-shirt with six power-up icons lined up in two rows that span the chest area.
Each t-shirt is packaged in a nifty shirt-shaped cardboard pouch which is then wrapped in a plastic bag. Please note the t-shirt size is considered "Free Size" in Japan but the measurements are :
Shoulder Seam to Shoulder Seam : 43.18 cm or 17" across
Collar to the Bottom of Shirt : 55.88cm or 22" in height
We'd describe it as a medium-size shirt that's made of sheer cotton material. We wouldn't recommend the shirt if you normally wear a large size because your body will be bulging through the material and you might take on a Simon Cowell-esque likeness. That's the phenomenon when a male wears a shirt that's too tight.
When Lode Runner went to Japan in 1984, Hudson handled the Famicom conversion and the company designed a cutesy elf-like hero for the main character to replace the stick-like figure used in the original game. On the adversarial side of things, Hudson created helmeted hunters who chased the hero across levels and up and down ladders. The adversaries would eventually get their own game - Bomberman, where they dropped bombs to derail each other.
Tomy shows love to Lode Runner with a pair of Catch the Dots toys which each feature a single pegboard and roughly 200 pegs to create recognizable Lode Runner characters in various action poses. By plugging the pegs into the board, artwork may be produced at a slow and deliberate pace. The (A) Runner kit includes enough pegs to create four depictions of hero boy but we're sure we can think of a lot more positions to put him in. The (B) Robot kit includes enough pegs to create four interpretations of the original Bomberman character in various poses and action shots. Preorders will ship today and new orders are welcome at US$8.50 per kit. «more»
If you're bipedal and not standing, you're probably sitting or sleeping at any one moment. A biped can opt to plop down on a chair or a stool but we'd recommend a bright yellow Chocobo Cushion which measures 41 x 45 cm (16.14 x 17.71") in area. That's enough space to accommodate most posteriors and may even serve double duty as a mattress for a cat, dog, or a pet ferret.
The Chocobo Cushion is filled with a soft yet resilient material that should provide years of service. If you're afraid of scuffing up Choc's brilliant yellow patina, we'd recommend wrapping it in a plastic bag or a transparent sheath before squatting down upon it. «more»
Megatron lords over the Destrons and he's the subject for the 25th Revoltech toy. Yamaguchi Katsuhisa sculpted the figure and gave Megatron a tiny head, exaggerated shoulders, and a shiny patina that catches the light quite nicely. The beauty of the Revoltech toy line may be found in the Revolver Joints which allow for total freedom when posing the figure. Once a joint is positioned, it'll ratchet into place and stay there until you change its position. Megatron features a total of 13 joints and he may be positioned into battle stances galore or even into thoughtful repose.
The Revoltech 25 packaging also includes a second Megatron head which may be swapped with the default head and three extra hands which may be swapped into Megatron's wrist. Weaponry comes in the form of two cannons - one mounted on his back and the other on his arm. «more»
The art of dungeon crawling was perfected by college students in the mid 1980s on Unix machines. Rogue was the game and it set hearts afire across campuses in America. Monsters and dungeon walls made of ASCII characters provided a stark visual presentation of the action on monochrome monitors. Despite the simplicity of the graphics, the strategy involved in the game kept players rapt and ignited a slew of clones and derivatives that would keep dungeon crawling a popular diversion.
Compile reaches back into the early days of gaming and releases a Rogue that looks a lot better than the original but the game play remains pretty much the game. Players start on the top floor of a dungeon and the only way to go is down. Explore the first level, slay a few sleeping monsters, gather treasure, and then find the stairs so you can descend into the depths below. The design of Rogue Hearts Dungeon retains the simplicity of the ASCII-based Rogue where every game begins with a randomly generated dungeon that changes each time you play. At the conclusion of a dungeon run when you've reached the bottom and conquered the beasts within, all of the items and treasure you've gathered are converted into points and tallied up. In the next dungeon, you'll start again at level 1 with only a basic weapon, a suit of armor, and supplies. «more»
Once upon a time, there was a quaint kingdom with cottages and clean streets. In that kingdom lived a red-haired princess named Lisette Lander and an extravagant king in green robes and other finery. One day, the royal treasurer unrolls a parchment and informs the king that the royal family is not only destitute but in debt. Mortified and plunged into a state of angst, the Princess runs away and sleeps in the forest for the night. She continues traveling until she reaches the kingdom of Ordre. Once there, she figures out that the only way to rebuild the family fortune is by learning alchemy and bringing honor back to her kingdom. By deftly using the art of transmutation and reagent mixing, Lise creates objects and items that may be sold for a handsome profit. «more»
Fine china from Tiffany is generally desirable. We're partial to the Audobon design pattern versus the Federal or the Birds of the Nile pattern but they're all pleasing to the eye.
Hello Kitty has no pedigree in the world of fine china but maybe the line starts now. Sanrio by way of Eikoh releases a Hello Kitty China set which includes two cups, two saucers, and a creamer. Each item is decorated with a blue Hello Kitty + flowers pattern which may evoke feelings of melancholy or just a little sobriety. The saucers feature sloped edges which ensure that any spilled liquid from the cups will gravitate to the center instead of splashing outwards. Orders are welcome at US$39 per set. «more»
