PS3 Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» Never has the glint of blue sent so many hearts racing. No, it's not a new cerulean-hued sweater on the racks at Uniqlo. It's Sony's Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack which includes an eye-catching Titanium Blue Playstation 3 Slim console. The "Titanium" refers to the metallic sheen that's painted onto the surface of the Playstation 3 which is guaranteed to draw attention and envy since animals, children, and adults are attracted to shiny things and desire them.

   The contents of the Racing Pack are as follows:

● Playstation 3 Gran Turismo 5 software
● Playstation 3 Titanium Blue Console with 160GB hard drive
● Playstation 3 Dual Shock 3 Controller
● Playstation 3 Power Cable
● Playstation 3 AV Cable
● Standard USB Cable

   North America and Europe are getting special limited editions of the Gran Turismo 5 game which include extra bonuses that the regular edition of the Japanese GT5 game doesn't. However, only the Japanese are getting the Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack which is being released exclusively in Japan.

   Preorders are welcome to ship on November 3, 2010 at JPY35,980 or US$519.90 from NCS. Please note that pricing reflects the oppressive Japanese yen to dollar ratio and shipping costs from overseas.

TOYS GEM Series Naruto: Hatake Kakashi 1/8 Figure - Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Kakashi is a central character in the Naruto manga and animation who's a laid back and disaffected hero. Although he is integral to the structure of the Naruto universe, his character is more of guiding influence rather than the focal point. Kakashi is the social glue that keeps a coterie of ninja together.
   Toy manufacturer Mega House is going to make Kakashi the focus in a new fixed-posed toy figure that's part of the company's GEM Project lineup. Whereas many toy series' have grouped women characters together in a special lineup, GEM is all about the male heroes; past figures include Gintama's Hijikata Tosiro, Bleach's Hitsugaya Toshiro, and Code Geass R2's Zero. The Kakashi figure is sculpted to 1/8 scale and measures 24cm tall. In addition to the default Kakashi head where his Mangekyo Sharingen eye is covered, a second head shows it uncovered. Megahouse also includes two hands - one which grips a Kunai throwing knife and the other which holds a copy of Icha Icha. Preorders are welcome to ship in late November 2010.

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MAG Weekly Famitsu Magazine Vol. 1133 - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The August 19-26, 2010 issue of Weekly Famitsu includes print coverage of the following games and events in the Japanese marketplace:

» Updated coverage on PS3 Gran Turismo 5 which spans 2 pages.
» Preview for a PS3/X360 game titled Catherine which includes a 3-page foldout where the title character Catherine's eating a slice of pizza.
» Famitsu reviews PSP Monster Hunter Nikki: Poka Poka Ailu Mura (8/8/8/9), PSP Project Cerberus (6/6/6/6), PSP Shin Masters of Monsters Final EX (6/6/5/6), and Wii Twinkle Queen (5/6/5/5).
» In-depth coverage on PS3 Another Century's Episode: R which includes detailed mission information for the robot series' featured in the game.
» Continuing coverage on Wii Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road Victory.
» What's new on Wii Virtual Console? Famitsu provides the skinny.
» Pre-packaged cups of noodles are featured in this week's PICK UP FOOD along with dishes currently being served at eateries located in Tokyo.
» Idol Studio photo spread on cover model KAHO (夏帆) who's an actress.
» Preview for NDS Okami-den Chiisaki Taiyo which ships on September 30.

NDS Solatorobo: Sorekara Coda e - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The warrior named Red Savarin is a dog. No really, he's an "Inuhito" or furry mongrel but he's got skills, rolls with a mech named DAHAK AZ103, and carries a broadsword that'll strike a vagabond dead with one swing.

Red lives in the world of Shepherd Republic where dogs and cats with humanoid bodies populate the land. Red's profession is a Hunter and his profession takes him on retrieval missions, search missions, and other missions of that ilk. One day, Red is sent on an assignment to recover stolen data but the mission gets botched by an unexpected attack on the vessel that Red has boarded. While making his way to safety, Red runs into a cat girl or Nekohito named Elh Melizée and the two decide to team up and work together. A third compatriot named Chocolat Gelato who's Red's younger sister joins the duo on their adventures.

Red's mode of transportation is a highly versatile robot which is reminiscent of a "Steambot" from the game of the same name. The DAHAK has arms which can be used to lift and throw objects and flight capabilities to travel between islands on the world of Shepherd Republic. Red and his party sit on top of DAHAK on their travels but occasionally, Red will have to dismount and walk on his own when the game environment is too restricted for the DAHAK's bulky metal girth.

The production of Solatorobo involved the creation of a game world with an unusual culture, social system, and religion which is integrated into the game. However, many of the development materials couldn't be fitted into the adventure so the publisher is including a bonus "Solatorobo Prelude Disc" (given away in 50% ratio) which contains much of the pre-production material on a special DVD.

Preorders for the regular edition of Solatorobo are welcome to ship on October 28, 2010 at JPY4800 or US$56.90. Reservations are also welcome for a limited edition of Solotarobo which is packed with an soundtrack and an illustrations booklet.

TOYS Lineage II Dwarf Archer - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Lineage II lineup of toys have included a Human Mage and an willowy Elf armed with a weapon called the "Infinity Scepter." The next race featured in the Lineage II series are Dwarves. Specifically, a ginger-haired dwarf archer who holds an ornate weapon called "Cupid's Bow" which is decorated with a heart on top. The female dwarf smiles as if shooting an arrow through a beast's heart is a trifling amusement.

The Lineage II Dwarf Archer is sculpted to 1/7 scale and measures 21cm or 8.26" tall from the base of her perched left foot to the top of her tasseled hair. When making display bases for figures, manufacturers tend to go the no-frills route by throwing in a non-descript circular base that's either transparent or colored black. Orchid Seed goes the extra mile with the Dwarf Archer by fabricating a special pink display base that's made up of four large hearts, four dagger-like inclusions, and a ring that made entirely of little hearts. That's value. Preorders are welcome to ship in December 2010 at JPY8800 or US$105.90 from NCS.

PS3 Another Century's Episode R - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Mechs on the battlefield are rarin' to go once again with NBGI's rebirthing of the Another Century's Episode series on the Playstation 3. Animation franchises and attendant mechs featured in the game include:

» Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion - Lancelot Conquista, Albion
» Full Metal Panic! - ARX-7 Arbalest, Bonta-Kun, M9
» Genesis of Aquarion - Aquarion Luna, Aquarion Mars
» Macross Frontier - VF-25F Messiah Alto Custom, RFV-25 Messiah Luca
» Macross Zero - VF-0A Phoenix, VF-0A + QF-2200A "Angel" Phoenix
» Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam - XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam X-1 Kai
» Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny - ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom
» Super Dimension Century Orguss - Orguss, Orguss II, MBG-24C Nikick

Players engage in fast-paced ground skirmishes where mechs tackle other mechs in blistering melee and firefighting action. The first printing of the game includes a bonus DLC code to download Amuro's Zeta Gundam 3 mech for use in the game. Japanese product title: アナザーセンチュリーズエピソード R

PS3 Chou Jigen Game Neptune - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Remember Sega Gaga on the Dreamcast? That game put players in the shoes of a Sega mercenary-employee and the goal was global domination of the video game industry. Sega's come a short way since those days and they're just a publisher now. A lowly publisher who has to scrabble daily for the favor of fickle gamers. Chou Jigen Game Neptune may be considered the sequel to Sega Gaga but since Sega doesn't have a relevant console anymore, they've retro-conjured one up for this game named the Neptune¹. Get it? Saturn. Neptune. Uranus. Fuggedaboutit.

In a land known as Geimu-gyokai (Game-industry), the world is split into two divisions. Up on high is where the deities reside and way down below goes the devoted rabble. Four deities representing the consoles of today compete against each other for supremacy over the people and they are:

» Purple Heart aka Neptune - Goddess of Planetume (Sega Neptune)
» Green Heart aka Verd - Ruler of Rinnebox (Xbox 360)
» Black Heart aka Noir - Lady of Lasdition (Playstation 3)
» White Heart aka Blanc - Rani of Ruwii (Nintendo Wii)

Since the goddesses sustain themselves with offerings from their lowly subjects, they're in constant conflict with each other for control over followers. In business parlance, followers mean market share and the goal for each goddess is to become the hostess with the most.

However, there is another goddess in Geimu-gyokai who has the power to threaten all four "Hearts" because she's evil. Her named is "Majikonne" which sounds an awful lot like game copiers called the Majicom and the Super Magicom from back in the day. Nowadays, the term is used in Japan to refer to game piracy in general. In any case, Majikonne is a like a Pirate Queen and her theft of intellectual property could ruin the livelihoods of the four goddesess so Neptune and her helpers must rise up and slap Majikonne down. The term "console wars" takes on a literal meaning in Chou Jigen Game: Neptune where the deities battle Neptune in turn-based 3D action. In addition to the regular edition, a limited edition of Chou Jigen Game: Neptune is available which includes two special items as follows:

1) Chou Jigen Game: Neptune Original Soundtrack
2) Eco-friendly totebag made of natural material (not plastic)