TOYS Care Bears Mascot Tsuke Chain Strap - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Care Bears are back in Japan, courtesy of Sega, and a motley assortment of product offers are wafting in this week. Gaze at the Care Bears Mascot Tsuke Chain Straps and reminisce about your youth when toy brands such as "My Little Pony," "Cabbage Patch Kids" and "Easy Bake Oven" ruled your world. Three Care Bears mascot straps are available for preorder and each bear measures 10cm or 3.93" tall and is tethered by a length of necklace, a strap, and a little plastic jewel on a smaller length of chain. The jewel's gotta be worth at least 15 cents. Preorders ship in Aug.

TOYS Care Bears PM Fry Pan - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Care Bears hit their heyday in the early 80s and became a part of American pop culture. The CBs didn't experience the same level of success in other parts of the globe but the Japanese have taken to the bears. Maybe that's why Sega has announced a pink 34cm Care Bears Fry Pan so fans can cook up eggs, ham, grits, and other foods that have nothing to do with the Care Bears franchise. If NCS keeps some pans for ourselves, we're going to use them as a ping-pong paddles to make the game harder on ourselves. Preorders are welcome to ship in August 2010.

X360 Senko no Ronde DUO Regular Edition - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Way before the original Senko no Ronde made the rounds in amusement centers across Japan, a vector-based game with a similar theme was being enjoyed stateside. Cinematronics' Space Wars pitted two ships against each other against a starry black backdrop that sort of looked like outer space. By thrusting, shooting, swerving, and thrusting some more, the two ships engaged in a deadly ballet of space-based warfare. 'Twas good times and it only took 30 years for another company to explore and update the one-vs-one space fighter theme.

Senko no Ronde features mech-ships known as "Rounders" which are capable of dashing around the screen, pivoting on its own axis, and shooting like the dickens. On any given stage, one Rounder faces off against another Rounder and the two blast away at each other with conventional vulcan fire, exotic ordnance, and the occasional mega blast while attempting to dodge incoming fire of varying intensities. The sequel Senko no Ronde DUO is more of the same game bolstered with new characters, brand spanking new ships, technique updates, and partner mechs who lend a helping hand.

OST Shooting Love, 200X Original Soundtrack - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Shooting Love, 200X OST was originally announced in March of last year and it was supposed to include a music CD (possibly 2 CDs) and a video capture DVD. The publisher held an online poll for fans to decide what would be included in the final package but eventually postponed the project. Must've been consumer apathy or a bad economy but a little over a year later, the soundtrack was released last week on May 13, 2010.

The final product includes one audio CD which contains a total of 15 tunes from Shooting Love, 200X and Trizeal (DC bonus disc). Three "8-bit" tracks from an 8bit Remix Contest are also included. The full track listing may be viewed on our product listing for the OST.

Wii Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road Victory - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Late last year, NCS was budgeting our coin-op expenditures for the winter of 2009 and we considered Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road II Legends since the machine would look great in our little gaming room. The market was roaring back and our trading positions were favorable which usually meant available dosh. Then we started really looking at the game's play mechanics. While seemingly enjoyable in a button-mashing, sword shaking, frenetic light show of an action-packed "RPG," we eventually decided that the sizable cost of importation wasn't worth it.

When the summer of 2010 rolls around, our decision would appear to the correct one when Square Enix releases the game on the Wii for a measly JPY5800. "But you don't get the feel of the arcade controller," someone shouts from the crowd. Oh yes you do. Thanks to Hori, a special sword controller is also being released this summer so that gamers can play the game in style and pound the buttons as well as twist the sword just like they would when playing the coin-op.

The Wii conversion of Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road II Legends is titled Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road Victory and players use simple button commands to battle monsters and heroes from the entire run of Dragon Quest adventures. The sword is used to enact special attacks by twisting it or thumping downwards on it. A large collection of battle and character cards have already been released for the coin-op and they're all compatible with the Wii conversion of the game. As long as you have a DSi and the necessary DSiWare camera software to scan the cards, you're good to go. Preorders for the game and controller are welcome to ship on July 15, 2010 at JPY5800 and JPY12800 respectively.

PSP Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Originally released for the Japanese coin-op market on Taito Type X hardware, King of Fighters Sky Stage was a vertical shooter where the cast of SNK's KOF series took to the heavens and shot bullets at waves of enemies. It was a new venue for normally ground-based strikers such as Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami.

SNK is expanding on the Sky Stage premise with a new PSP title dubbed Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting. By changing KOF in the title to Neo Geo Heroes, the game is more inclusive and characters are recruited from other SNK properties so they can also take to the heavens and shoot. The cast of characters in the game is as follows:

KOF Sky Stage Returnees
» Athena Asamiya | Iori Yagami | Kula Diamond
» Kyo Kusanagi | Mai Shiranui | Terry Bogard

New SNK Shmup Inductees
» Akari Ichijou (Last Blade) | A.S.O. SYDIII female pilot
» Iroha (Samurai Spirits) | Marco Rossi (Metal Slug)

A number of game modes may be enjoyed by players as listed below:

» Story Mode | Challenge | Multi Play | Sky Stage | Museum

The "Sky Stage" mode refers to the inclusion of the coin-op version of KOF Sky Stage on the UMD as a bonus. The two games on the UMD may be played in default horizontal (Yoko) or vertical (Tate) viewing aspect by the simple act of setting the screen aspect and rotating the PSP.

Preorders are welcome to ship on July 29, 2010 at JPY4800 or US$52.90 from NCS. Early reservations will ship with a bonus Neo Geo Heroes Soundtrack CD which includes BGM tracks from KOF Sky Stage and Ultimate Shooting which is being given away in 50% ratio.

PS3 Shirokishi Monogatari: Hikari to Yami no Kakusei - Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» One year after the events of the first White Knight Chronicles, the lad named Leonard is still alive and preoccupied with a new adventure that lures him and his allies to brave new lands. The sequel introduces a fifth Knight named "Lunar Princess" who carries a bow for projectile attacks. Preorders are welcome to ship on July 8, 2010 at JPY6800 or US$73.90. All reservations will include a bonus DLC card which allows gamers to download special equipment for use in the adventure.

NEWS General Updates

Japan Game Delays Star*Fish should probably cancel it entirely at this point but NDS Dakkoshite! Chimpanzee has been delayed once again from May 27, 2010 to TBA. PSP Daisenryaku Perfect has also been delayed from May 27, 2010 to June TBA. Our shop listings will be updated once new ship dates are announced by their respective publishers.

Tales of Graces Disc Exchange The first batch of discs from the TOG Disc Exchange program have arrived and we'll ship them out today. There's another batch that should be delivered to us within the next 1-2 weeks. If your disc is being shipped back today, you'll receive a shipment notification before 6PM EST.