Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 - Restock

Orders are welcome again for Hori's third (canonical, not chronological) Real Arcade Pro Joystick which uses the same form-factor and case of the other Real Arcade Pro sticks. Similar to earlier HRAPs, the new stick uses actual arcade buttons and a clicky Sanwa lollipop-style joystick to give gamers an authentic coin-op experience at home. A heavy duty base completes the package to give the controller a weight of nearly 6 lbs or 2600g.

The RAP3 features the same button arrangement found on the RAP2 with the eight standard buttons (face and trigger) in red and the START and SELECT buttons in a bright yellow patina. The RAP3 does away with the row of slide levers on the upper left corner of the stick which controlled rapid-fire on the RAP2. Hori uses a more elegant solution this time around and adds a "PS" button. The RAP3 connects to the PS3 by way of USB cable and the analog thumbsticks on the SixAxis controller may be emulated by toggling a slide lever which switches from D-pad, L-analog, or R-analog control.

Due to the dimensional weight of the HRAP3, NCS recommends only shipping by UPS Ground within the United States.

Super Mario Bros Stamp Collection

One of our suppliers in Japan was able to get their grubby hands on approximately 50 sets of the SMB Stamp Collection a couple of weeks ago. The stamp sets are new and apparently purchased from a Japanese collector who wanted to free up some cash flow. We weren't able to snag them all but we got a good chunk of them in today. The stamps were originally released in the spring of 2006 and were only sold through May 31, 2006 by the Japanese Postal Service.

The Stamp Collection consists of 10 stamps valued at JPY80 each with dot-graphics artwork of Mario, Princess Peach, Goomba, a Koopa Trooper, and others. The sheet of stamps is protected by a transparent wrapper so you can look at them without getting them oily or dirty with your fingers. Upon opening the binder that holds the stamps, the first page lists every Mario game as of the Spring of 2006 from the Famicom, Disk System, Gameboy, Super Famicom, Virtual Boy, Nintendo 64, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo Gamecube, and Nintendo DS. That plumber's been working hard these past 2 decades. The second page of the binder features Mario and Princess Peach together while two fireworks blow up in the background and the following words are listed: «more»

Japanese Import Outlook

NDS	New Zealand Story DS	CyberFrt
	Simple DS Vol.14: The Jidoushakyoushuujo	D3
OST	Shining Wind Music Collection	Sega
PS2	Guilty Gear XX Accent Core	Sammy
	River Ride Adventure featuring Salomon	Red
	S2000 Vol. 118: Ochimusya - Dokakubu Samurai	D3
PSP	Minna no Golf Ba	Sony
	Minna no Golf Ba + GPS Receiver	Sony
Wii	Biohazard 4 Wii Edition	Capcom

USA Release Outlook

The USA version of PS2 Odin Sphere was originally scheduled to ship this week but we received a partial quantity of the game last week and some preorders have been filled already. The remainder of the game is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
GBA	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
GC	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
NDS	Pony Friends	Eidos
	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
PS2	Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm	NIS
	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
PS3	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
PSP	Crush	Sega
	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
X360	Forza Motorsports 2	Microsoft
	Monster Madness Battle for Suburbia	Southpeak
	Shadowrun	Microsoft
	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
Wii	Mario Party 8	Nintendo
	Mortal Kombat Armageddon	Midway
	Surf's Up	Ubi Soft
	Tamagotchi Party On	Namco

Hoshigami + Bonus Visual Book

The Valaim Empire is on the warpath and their actions rouse resistance from two neighboring countries. The protagonist is a mercenary named Fazz who's services have been employed by the Nightweld Empire to guard the Tower of Wind from attack. From a simple assignment, Fazz eventually goes on mission to save the land of Mardias from utter cataclysm. Originally released on the Playstation in 2001 to mixed reviews, Hoshigami on the NDS is an overhaul of the original which makes for a more enjoyable gaming experience. The game features updated graphics, new missions, a new character named Kasha who looks like Fazz but with red eyes, three difficulty levels including an Easy Mode, multiple endings, more save spots, and complete stylus control if desired. «more»

Kurikin: Nano Island Story

Wee beasties are on the rampage and it's your prerogative to make sure they are marshaled properly to destroy other wee beasties. In the early missions, players control masses of nano creatures known as kin that look like dispersions of dust on the touch screen. The top display features a magnified examination of the kin, some of which look like paramecium. To send the beasties into war, scribble a circle around them and then swish the stylus in a direction to mobilize them against enemy forces. When two opposing groups meet, the attack is shown on the top screen where the enemy beasties are devoured and destroyed by fevered gangs of your little kin. Groups may be divided intro smaller attack forces to perform a two-pronged attack or even quartered to swarm the enemy. «more»

Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 + Bonus

The latest and possibly greatest Bleach: Heat the Soul on the PSP features a sizable roster of characters, a new Soul Blaze system, and new special attacks for all of the participants. At the outset of the game, players may opt to transfer data from Bleach HTS 1-3 which unlocks main characters and partners in the game. If you don't have any Bleach data to convert, you'll have to unlock the characters and partners on your own. At the outset of the game, only 16 playable fighters are available but there's a total of 51 playable characters and 17 partner-only characters for a total cast of 68 fighters.

Game Modes
Character Master / Choose a champion and 2 partners; battle the ranks
Mission Battle / Engage opponents where conditions must be met
Vs CPU / Battle the CPU in Time Attack, Survival, 100 Survival, Free Battle
Soul VS / Wireless versus play against another player
Training / Practice with a fighter and 2 partners from 16 available choices
Appendix / Sound Mode, Gallery Mode, Movie Mode, Convert
Option / Game Setting, Sound Setting, Key Config, Save/Load

All preorders shipping today will include a bonus file folder which features colorful Bleach artwork. The file folder can be used to hold a few sheets of paper, currency, or anything else that's thin enough to slip inside. Sadly, we don't have any extra file folders for new orders that are submitted today.

Shining Wind Kureha 1/7 Scale Figure

Max Factory has started preorders for a 1/7 scale PVC figure which features the willowy form of Touka Kureha from the Shining Wind game as well as the Shining Tears X Wind animation serial. In the television series, Kureha is transported along with Souma Akizuki to a land known as End Earth. Although Kureha is an average student, she serves double duty as a shrine maiden and works with Souma as well as Kiriya and Seena while stranded on End Earth. Kureha is also one part of a love triangle where she has strong feelings for the aloof hero Kiriya while Souma has unrequited love for Kureha.

The Shining Wind Kureha figure is set at 1/7 scale or 25cm which converts to 9.84" tall. Her eyes are hazel, a lavender bow adorns the top of her head, and a flower-like bloom billows out from the back of her outfit. Kureha's weapon of choice is a long bow which she tucks behind her right arm. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late September 2007.