General Updates

President's Holiday Today's a postal and bank holiday in the United States. As such, orders that are shipping by USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail will not be dispatched until tomorrow.

Lunar New Year Prognostication Based on readings from soothsayers, 2008 is going to be a good year for the economy. Their pronouncements fly in the face of possible recession, flagging corporate earnings reports, the credit crisis, etc. The oracles are generally on the mark year after year but maybe they've read the entrails wrong for 2008. Interestingly, they've pegged 2009 as when things start to really go to pot. We'll see how things pan out but maybe the bulls have a fighting chance against the bears this year.

DC Border Down Reproduction We received a shipment of Border Down from the Messe Sanoh special reproduction released on January 16. We'll contact customers who inquired about the game today but the price is dear.

Love Tester - Preorder

Determining compatibility and the potential for love between two people is an inexact art. Hookups by way of matchmakers fail and dating services are basically meat (meet?) markets but Taito has figured it all out.

By using a simple device fitted with an LCD screen and two touch pads, a couple can determine if they're in love. Yes, it really is that simple. Based on Taito's photographic schematic, the couple joins hands and then places a finger from their other hand on one of the touch pads. This creates a circuit which is then measured by the machine to determine your love.

Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late June 2008 at US$22.90 each.

Digimon Powertime Watch - Clearance

Strictly geared towards the pre-teen set, Bandai's Digimon watch features mighty monster mugs on the faceplate. Flip it up to reveal the digital LCD which tells time and keeps track of the date. Rotate the outer rim of the watch so that "30" hits the "secret no." mark and the entire watch flips up to reveal a secret compartment to store your candy, secret notes, or other small sized miscellany. Also included as a bonus is a small bag of sweet/sour candy. The velcro wrist strap that is included will only fit young children since adult wrists are too beastly to slide in...

NCS Sale Offering
Pricing per Digimon Watch is set at US$6.90 which includes free shipping by Media Mail within the USA. [View larger photos]

Japanese Import Outlook - Arrivals on Wed-Thurs

NDS	Bokujou Monogatari: Kira Kira Taiyou to Nakama	Marvelous
	Dramatic Dungeon Sakura Taisen	Sega
	Neon Genesis Evangelion Magokoro wo Kimini	D3
	Sekaiju no Meikyuu 2: Shoou no Seihai	Atlus
	Space Invaders Extreme	Taito
PS2	Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2	Konami
	Nights into Dreams	Sega
	Nights into Dreams - Nightopia Dream Pack	Sega	X
PSP	Musou Orochi	Koei
	Space Invaders Extreme	Taito

USA Release Outlook - Arrivals on Tues-Thurs

Capcom's Apollo Justice for NDS leads export preorders for the week followed by PS3 Dynasty Warriors 6. We expected a better showing from Square's Dragon Quest Swords since the Japanese version sold well but the Dragon Quest brand isn't as big here as it is in Nihon. Most of this week's new releases should be in by Wednesday and the latest arrival date would be on Thursday.
NDS	Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney	Capcom
	FIFA Street 3	EA
PS3	The Club	Sega
	Dynasty Warriors 6	Koei
	FIFA Street 3	EA
PSP	Need for Speed ProStreet	EA
Wii	MX vs. ATV Untamed	THQ
	Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen	Square
	Pimp My Ride	Activision
X360	FIFA Street 3	EA
	Dynasty Warriors 6	Koei
	The Club	Sega

Cloud Vol. 1 Special DVD - Japanese Import, In Stock

Cloud is what we would consider a sympathetic hero. While awe-inspiring with his innate skills and abilities, we nonetheless pity him. Cloud suffered an agonizing loss in Final Fantasy VII and he suffered from Geostigma in Advent Children. His eyes betray a great sadness within but he shoulders onwards nonetheless. We'd advise him to go Goth and dye his blond locks black to match his somber aura.

Square's got a cottage industry centered around Cloud and the company produces a 122-page book and DVD which focuses on the tragic hero and the games that he's featured in. Yes, we're aware that the mook was released in mid-December 2007 but better late than never?

The early pages of the mook (magazine + book = mook) contain a Final Fantasy VII Compilation Gallery which features full-page artwork and information on the main characters in the game. There's Cloud, Tifa, Sephiroth, Aerith, and others. On page 45, Gackt makes an appearance and he's strangely exotic with his blue eyes and feathered hair. He's sort of like a Final Fantasy character come to life. A full listing of the chapters in the mook and the DVD may be viewed on our product page.

One Piece Portrait of Pirates Neo-4 Shanks - Preorder

In the One Piece animated series, Shanks is captain of the Red Haired Pirate Crew which is a group of rabble rousers with a penchant for living it up. Despite their tendency towards alcoholic libations, the Crew is nevertheless a fearsome group of brigands with formidable pirate skills.

Shanks makes his first appearance in the One Piece Portrait of Pirates toy series and he does it in style. Cloaked in a swishy black cape and garbed in a white shirt, Shanks may be mistaken for a crusader. Except Shanks wears sandals, only has one arm, and is a rogue of the highest order. The OPPOP Shanks figure is sculpted to 1/8 scale and measures 22cm or 8.66" tall. An octagonal display base is included for mounting purposes. Preorders ship in mid-late May 2008 at JP4500 or US$53.90 from NCS.

One Piece Portrait of Pirates Neo-4 Sanji - Preorder

Sanji is a skilled fighter but that's not all. He's also an excellent cook (much to Luffy's delight) and can whip up a tasty meal at a moment's notice. Before joining the Straw Hat Pirates, Sanji worked on a floating restaurant called the Baratie which was established by his mentor Red Leg Zeff. Whenever pirates are lost and chance upon the Baratie, they can climb aboard for a meal and perhaps a respite from the rigors of the sea.

Sanzi made an appearance in the first Portrait of Pirates Series 2 along with Usopp and Nico Robin. The Neo-4 version of Sanzi appears to be identical to the original but we'll do a side-by-side comparison once we receive it. An octagonal display base is included for mounting purposes. Preorders ship in mid-late May 2008 at JP4500 or US$53.90 from NCS.