General Updates

Japanese Import Delays Three upcoming games have been delayed as follows: NDS 13-Sai no Hallo Work DS - From May 22 to May 29 PSP Mana-Khemia: Gakuen no Renkinjutsu Shitachi - From 6/26 to 7/31 PSP Mana-Khemia: Gakuen no Renkinjutsu Shitachi LE - From 6/26 to 7/31

Golden Week Holiday Our Japanese suppliers are on holiday from May 3 to May 7 and no new imports are expected next week. The Wii Super Famicom Controller was expected to ship next week but we're not sure if the holiday will cause any delays. We'll update once we know for certain.

Abbreviated Business Hours Today NCS will observe a shortened day and phones will be shuttered at 4:00PM EST this afternoon. All orders submitted before 5:00PM EST will still ship today and emails will still be answered if we receive them before 6:00PM EST. Normal business hours will resume next week.

Beatmania Append 4th Mix - Clearance

The beat goes on with the Beatmania Append 4th Mix music and graphics data disc for use with the original Beatmania 2nd Mix game CD. Jam to new tunes, become bedazzled by flashy graphics, and have another go at becoming a scratch rhythm master.

Sale Offering
NCS' remaining inventory of Beatmania Append 4th Mix for the Japanese Playstation One is new, factory sealed and in excellent condition. Please note the Append Disc requires the original Beatmania 2nd Mix game disc in order to play. Pricing is set at US$16.90 per copy which includes free shipping by USPS Media Mail within the U.S. Larger Photos.

Emblem of Gundam - New Import, In Stock

Bandai avoids doing another run 'n gun Gundam game and plunges the fabled franchise into a turn-based strategy sim which follows the events that began in the Gundam 0079 timeline. Emblem of Gundam is a mix of interactive story-driven sequences and tactical theaters of conflict.

Players marshal mechs on grid-laced battlefields where single unit encounters are possible along with skirmishes between entire squadrons of up to 100 mechs. The action takes place on the touch screen while the top screen shows team stats and other indicators. When a battle begins, the Power Balance of the two sides is shown which determines which contingent is stronger.

Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! Fate of Heat - New, In Stock

The cast of Hitman Reborn find themselves in an RPG which features card-battling action where two sides fight it out in a conventional side-viewed encounters. Think of it as a gritty urban take on the RPG fighting style engendered by the Final Fantasy games. When an encounter starts up, the takes place on the top screen while the touch screen features an assemblage of attack cards that are tapped to swing a bat or throw an armful of crackling dynamite. Two new characters are introduced in the game - Albito and Rizona, two sandy-haired blondes from the Evocadore Familia. The first production of the game includes a set of five bonus trading cards featuring Hitman characters in 1:1 ratio.

Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium - New Import, In Stock

The Famista game series hails from the old school. The real old school of the late 80s. In the video game industry, anything that's roughly 2 decades long in the tooth can be considered ancient since four successive console generations can be squeezed into those 20 years. For a while, Namco allowed Famista to languish in limbo but started producing games again in 2003. As we close out the last week of April, the baseball season is in full swing and a new Famista game joins our growing Wii software library.

Family Stadium for the Wii features glossy and polished visuals. Whereas earlier Famista's featured pudgy baseball players and vanilla stadium graphics, the new release is sleek and shiny. The unique control mechanics of the Wii allow pitchers to whip the Wiimote forward to throw a fastball while batters literally swing for the virtual fences. A new feature is the "Cheering System" where supporters armed with Wiimotes can wag them to increase the likelihood of player hitting a pitch or knocking a batter out. A training mode allows players to practice batting, catching, running, and pitching by engaging in simple mini-games. Famista features a total of six stadiums and the Wi-Fi mode allows players to play ball online.

Virtual Boy Panic Bomber - Clearance

Hudson's Panic Bomber is a Tetris/Columns play-alike where blocks fall from the top of the screen and waft downwards. The user rotates and moves each block so that it touches congruent parts below. Bombs may be earned and then positioned to clear out swaths of blocks on the playfield. Nice 3-D background effects make the game look like it's floating in mid-air but staring too hard at the crimson screen might cause headaches.

Sale Offering
NCS' remaining inventory of Panic Bomber for the Japanese VBoy is new and in excellent condition. Pricing is set at US$12.90 per copy which includes free shipping by USPS Media Mail within the U.S. Larger Photos.

Ikkitousen 1/9 Scale Kanu Unchou Nurse Figure - Preorder

Kanu Unchou of Ikkitousen fame hurts people. In Taki Corp's upcoming figure, the warrior becomes a caregiver. Kanu dons a pink nurse's uniform, a pink nurse's cap, and seemingly slinks across the floor in search of the injured and bloodied. The figure is set to 1/9 scale and is constructed of PVC. Preorders are welcome to ship in late May 2008 at JPY4800 or US$49.90.

Sesame Street Cute Full Dekagurumi Shoulder Bag - Preorder

American pop culture is pervasive throughout the world. Kids in Kazakhstan listen to Britney alongside native songstress Zarina and everyone in the UAE knows what an iPod is. American movies enjoy far-flung penetration around the globe which in turn promotes American culture and perhaps viewpoints. Sesame Street is an American cultural phenomenon but the franchise has also been inculcated into the minds of Japanese children thanks to television, books, and of course, toys.

NCS receives a few hundred Japanese Sesame Street preorders every year. We dodge most of them but occasionally, we're be drawn to one or two and throw them up for preorder. Today's offer is for a Sesame Street shoulder bag which features one of three animals from the popular series. Preorders are welcome to ship in late May 2008 at US$15.90 each.