NEWS Japanese Release Outlook - Arrivals on Thursday

NDS	Do-Konjou Shougakussei: Bon Bita	Bandai
	Koede Asoubou Heart Catch Precure	Toei
	Radiant Historia	Atlus
PSP	Yuusha 30 Seconds	Marvelous
	ToraDora Portable! (PSP the Best)	Bandai
	Fallout: New Vegas	Bethesda

Keiji Inafune deserts Capcom

   The man responsible for designing Rockman and giving him that natty blue suit is leaving Capcom, effective immediately. Keiji's been at Capcom for 23 years where he oversaw the production of the Rockman series of games and most recently, Dead Rising 2.

   Keiji was promoted to the title of "Global Head of Production" in April 2010 where he managed underlings and gave them direction. He was living the life of a corporate manager but apparently, that's not the kind of job that a designer necessarily desires. Based on some of his comments, it's my opinion that working in a huge corporation like Capcom is rife with politics and internal strife that can wear a manager down. His comments about the lack of innovation in Japanese game design may have also played a part in Keiji's departure.

   That's why I want to work in small and nimble firms where the hours are flexible and the workers have independence and autonomy (for the most part). A large corporation moves slowly and deliberately since there are multiple layers between upper management and the working stiffs. When there are that many layers, elements of mediocrity like politics, backstabbing, ass kissing, nepotism, and all that other crap gets shoveled into the mix.

NDS Ougon no Taiyou: Shikkokunaru Yoake - New Import

From the Publisher
   A classic role-playing game branches out with a new look, countless adventures and heroic battles. The game picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off. At the end of Golden Sun: The Lost Age, the heroes succeeded in bringing the world-healing power of the Golden Sun back to the world of Weyard. In the years since, the immense power of the Golden Sun has changed nearly everything. Continents have shifted. New countries have emerged. New species have appeared. But the world is now imperiled by a new threat. Psynergy Vortexes, which suck the elemental Psynergy from both the land and power-wielding Adepts alike, are spreading across the world. The new generation of heroes – the children of those from the previous games – are drawn into the mystery behind the vortexes, as they cross a chaotic world that is succumbing to a new evil.

MAG Weekly Famitsu Vol 1143 - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The November 11, 2010 issue of Weekly Famitsu includes coverage of the following games and events in the Japanese marketplace:

» Preview for PSP Persona 2 Innocent Sin which is a remake of the Playstation original. A preview for PS3 Samurai Dou 4 follows.
» Famitsu ranks NDS Radiant Historia (9/8/8/9), NDS Do-Konjou Shougakussei: Bon Bita (7/7/7/7), X360 Fable III (9/9/8/9), PS3/X360 Fallout: New Vegas (10/9/9/9).
» Famitsu bookends their Radiant Historia feature in this week's issue with two 2-page ads from Atlus. It stars on page 66 and runs up to page 81. 
» Continuing coverage on NDS Kingdom Hearts Re:coded which looks at Hallow Bastion and the bosses within.
» Retro-view back at Thunderforce III for the Sega Mega-Drive. The original adverts for the Japanese and North American markets are shown.
» A selection of Pon-de-Ring donuts from Mister Donut, drinks from "Star Backs" and eats from Cafe de Crie are displayed in PICK UP FOOD.
» Michael Jackson The Experience is headed to the PS3, X360, and Wii next year. We don't know what we're supposed to feel about that. 

PSP Dream C Club - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Last summer, a new and highly exclusive hostess bar debuted in Japan. Armed with a liquor license and a coterie of attractive attendants, the fledgling club attracted all manner of patrons who were willing to pay the price of admission. Dream Club was the name and libation's served by lovely hostesses was the game. Literally. Dream Club is a hostess bar simulation where players visit the Dream Club, order colorful alcoholic beverages from an extensive menu, and talk to attentive hostesses. 

   By being somewhat clever through the input of prompts and cues, players try to learn more about the girls and get them to drink. By loosening a hostess up, she might reveal a personal secret or get up on stage to do a little dancing or singing. Familiarity normally breeds contempt but not at Dream Club. The more that you visit and spend your hard-earned yen, the friendlier the hostesses get. You probably won't find love at Dream Club but you'll get lots of undivided attention that might not normally be forthcoming. Remember, as long as your virtual money is flowing, you can do not wrong at Dream Club.

   The Playstation Portable port of Dream C Club plays the same kind of game as the Xbox 360 original but the conversion includes a few new features that might appeal to players. The Dream Clock feature gives the receptionist of Dream Club the freedom to utter the time. To listen to more tidbits from the receptionist, pressing the "Square" button forces her to divulge information about the hostesses.

PSP Carnage Heart EXA - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Overkill Engine mechs (OKEs) of Carnage Heart are back in a new PSP game where players design a mech and program it with artificial intelligence known as "thinking routines." The goal of the programming is to create a automated war machine that is capable of going into battle by its lonesome in order to attack enemy mechs, avoid obstacles, and defend itself against the opposition. The logic routines are called "chips" and they may be linked together into strings of commands which dictate how the OKE reacts to conditions on the battlefield. In addition to allowing a mech to rely on its logic to protect itself and launch offensive measures, players can also manually take control of an OKE and guide it to victory.

   To get gamers started, a Tutorial Mode leads players through the rudimentary basics of the programming system which is based on visual routines. These routines are chained together into "if-x-then-y" commands which the OKE obeys. Since the programming is simple, just about anyone can create simple commands for the mech to follow. More complex routines and multi-chain commands for high-level programmers may be implemented as well. To get players started, a series of sample logic routines is included which show how a mech acts based on the programming. The ad-hoc mode allows up to six players to link up along with a video data trading mode.

   All orders will ship with a bonus soundtrack CD which contains songs that were composed by but not used in the game.

X360 Rajirugi NOAH Massive - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Sales for the Wii conversion of Radirgy NOAH were tepid. Maybe the elite shmup corps overseas didn't feel like playing a shooter with an input device called a "Nunchuk" or a "Remote." This week, Radirgy NOAH debuts on the Japanese Xbox 360 which should prove to be more favorable for Milestone's sales. In the confines of NCS' offices, we consider the X360 to be the spiritual successor of the Dreamcast... at least in terms of coin-op to console shooter conversions.

   Radirgy NOAH is a vertical shooter where a squat ship displays its versatility by shooting at flitting enemies, shielding itself from danger, and slashing at incoming attackers. By firing away and slashing during the course of the stages in Radirgy, the ship levels up both offensive functions for improved performance. "NOAH" features a simultaneous 2-player option and is viewed in the Yoko (horizontal) aspect which allows enough room for both gamers to maneuver and takes sides. The final boss "Ruki Mishima" from the first Radirgy is an optional player-character in NOAH. Bosses in the game include a bald-headed homo sapien in yellow pants who performs a spin attack that launches fireballs and an aerial platform that disappears in a puff of clouds when destroyed.
   Milestone is adding the word "Massive" to the Xbox 360 conversion of Radirgy NOAH but that impressive descriptor appears to only encompass new game modes in addition to the default arcade mode, an illustrations gallery which features unlockable artwork, and an online ranking mode.

NDS Nintendo DSi LL Mario 25th Anniversary - New Import

NCS Product Synopsis
   Nintendo celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Super Mario with a limited edition Nintendo DSi that's sort of super. The new handheld is painted dark red to match Mario's cap and shirt. He's been wearing the same uniform for the past quarter of a century which shows dedication and perhaps a lack of wardrobe. Three imprints are etched onto the lid of the NDSi - a mushroom, a flower, and a star (in that order) which are recognizable graphics from the Mario games. Below the three imprints, the following text is etched: "Super Mario Bros 25th Anniversary."

  Prices for the NDSi LL Mario 25th Anniversary Edition were finalized by Japanese vendors earlier in the week and they came in lower than originally expected. All preorders will be automatically adjusted down to the new price of US$309.90 and new orders are welcome to ship today.