HNNNNNNNGH!

Yet another couple of pieces by Wave featuring Lucky Star Girls Izumi Konata and Hiiragi Kagami as part of their Beach Queens lineup.

I have a few Lucky Star PVC pieces by Wave and I like their quality and sculpt for them. My previous pieces were much larger though and the current LS figures by Wave have been 1/10 scale (including these) which is kinda small imho.

Nevertheless, Konata is still AWESOME in 1/10 <3

And I’m really loving the ball :3

She also comes with an alternate face X3

And all the proportions are just right too! XD

“Flat chests are a status symbol!”

And let us not forget Kagami, who looks equally glorious in swimwear. :3

Kagami comes with a float instead, and dress in a delicious bikini. You can check the back view. =D

There’s no alternate face for Kagami but instead, she gets a changeable hairstyle and a popsicle to hold. Awesome! (<–uber LS fanboy mode on)

And they can “gattai” too! :3

You can now pre-order Izumi Konata and Hiiragi Kagami on Hobby Search.

Fans of Touhou would be interested to know that Kinema Kan has released a PV for their upcoming music video release on the 14th of March.

The video’s embedded below.

You may also want to check their first full release.

Previously, we have reported about a dog that’s able to smile, now there is a dog which can sit like a human on a wall and the most interesting thing is that the dog learnt it herself.

Apparently, the reason given was because the dog was bored due to a narrow space and wanted a better view of the neighborhood.

This is an episode from Nani kore Chin hakkei.

Kudos to Japanprobe for sharing. Video as below

do u like dogs?

Have you been camping in the Internetz for any possible preview of Wonder Festival 2010 ? Well, lots of them and I am sure quite a number of you have been poisoned by the lovely figurines. ^^

Lets check out some of them! This post will be updated as I lurkz the internetz.

Last updated: Feb 7 2010, 1500hr (GMT+0800h)

Live Streaming on WonFes in ustream by stevengata

Some highlights:

Nendo Black Rock Shooter by GSC. Price and date unknown

figma Black Rock shooter by Maxfactory. Price/Date unknown

GSC’s Black Rock Shooter -anime ver-

THE 100th Nendo – Mickey Mouse

Amae Koromo from Saki by Alter

Azusa by Alter

Inaba Yui from Flyable Heart by GSC. Price and date unknown

Nendoroid Yuki from Suzumiya Haruhi Disappearance. Price / Date unknown

Clalaclan Full Armor Ver. from Shining Wind by Alter.

Alter’s Momohime

join WonFes in twittering!

no,she is not a fig ^^ a lovely miku cosplayer (Sayaka)

Souce of pictures: the internetz, hobbystock, 2ch, twitter, figure/gk

]]> http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/wonder-festival-2010-winter-highlights/feed/ 9 http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/microsoft-ends-xbox-live-for-xbox/ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/microsoft-ends-xbox-live-for-xbox/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:45:02 +0000 oOgA http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/?p=12090

Microsoft is ending its Xbox Live and online gaming services for Xbox, its last day of service will be on April 15, 2010. Thereafter, all automatic updates and community online auto updates will stop. This includes the first-gen Xbox games that are supported by Xbox 360.

The Xbox (name derived from DirectX box?) is the first gen console by Microsoft that was launched in 2001 and production ceased in 2005, which was succeed by the Xbox360.

初代 Xbox 本体を使用した Xbox LIVE サービスと、初代 Xbox の Xbox LIVE 対応ゲーム (Xbox 360 でプレイ可能な初代 Xbox のゲームを含む) 向けの Xbox LIVE サービスの提供を、2010 年 4 月 15 日付けで終了いたします。これに伴い、初代 Xbox に関する Xbox LIVE のメンバーシップ自動更新サービスも同日付けで停止となります。Xbox LIVE は、約 7 年間の歴史の中で、オンライン対戦の提供、ゲーム、映画、音楽の配信、さらには SNS へとサービスを拡大し、業界をリードするエンターテイメント ネットワークへと進化を続けてきました。今後は、Xbox 360 のハードウェアと全世界 2,300 万人を誇る Xbox LIVE コミュニティーを最大限に活かした、Xbox LIVE の新しいサービスや機能の提供に尽力してまいります。

Source

It seems like something is brewing that Dannychoo and Yoshimi’s being featured in Ctc holidays Tour. Indeed, Tokyoanitour is package tour that brings you around Japan for 6 Days, 4 Nights. Experience Cool Japan as the tour brings you and your friends around Tokyo in the comfort of your very own private coach!  Your Moe Meido-chan tour guide Yoshimi will be bringing you around key attractions in Tokyo, covering place like the 2010 Tokyo Anime Fair, Studio Ghibli, Nakano Broadway, Lucky Star Shrine and more! Visit the Otaku heaven Akihabara together with celebrity blogger Danny Choo, as he shows you his version of Akiba.

Prices start from SGD$1,999 for the full tour (Return Flight from Singapore to Tokyo Included) and SGD$1,499 for the land tour (Flight to Tokyo not included).  The “everything included” tour includes meals, accommodation and transport (Coach Bus).

for the official site, click here

To get a better picture, here is a video.. :o

moe moe kyun?

Shoko Nakagawa a.k.a Shoko-tan will be getting her life story in a manga. Yup, at 25 years old only. Asumi Hara  will be drawing the biography for Nakagawa-san and the title is Shoko Nakagawa monogatari. The story depicts Nakagawa’s coming-of-age as she dealt with grade-school bullying and the passing of her father. Nakagawa’s father, the popular Japanese actor and singer Katsuhiko Nakagawa (Choriki Robo Galatt, 1985’s Toki o Kakeru Shōjo), died when she was only 9 years old.

The first issue will be published on the March issue of Kodansha’s Nakayoshi magazine.

Now…if there is a Shoko anime..hmmm

Source

VideoGamer.com has got the rumor about Nintendo’s new hardware. It’s might be possible to announce in Game Developers Conference (GDC) this year. There’s no more information whether it’s handheld, home console or something else. However a quote mentioned

Developers are already working on a “new Nintendo platform” ahead of a possible reveal at this year’s Game Developers Conference, an industry source has told VideoGamer.com.

That site contacted Nintendo, but spokseman told, “This is purely rumour and speculation.”

What do you like to see in the next platform for Wii ?

国際的な有名パブリッシャーの従業員がVideoGamer.comに伝えた話によれば、任天堂は既に新型ゲーム機の開発に着手しており、今年のGame Developers Conferenceで発表される可能性もあり得るのだそうです。

それ以上の事は伝えられていないため、新型ゲーム機が据え置き機となるのか携帯機となるのか、と言った詳細は不明。ちなみにこの件に関してVideoGamer.comが任天堂にコンタクトを取ったところ、任天堂のスポークスマンは「これは単なる噂と推測です」との返事が返ってきたそうです。

次々と浮上する任天堂の新型ゲーム機の噂。果たしてその噂は現実となるのでしょうか

Reference:VideoGamer.com GamaSpark

“Miku-sen” is a rice cracker printed with Vocaloids and is on sale on Web and Akiba. The cracker are made from rice, shrimp, and Negi (leek). and of couse printed with vivid Vocaloids characters. These pictures are drawn by Piapro users. What’s more, there is a printed QR code one that can download the theme song of Miku-sen.

That includes 12 different picture printed crackers, the price is 1,280yen

「みくせん」は、初音ミクの開発元クリプトン・フューチャー・メディア（北海道札幌市）が運営するCGMサイト「ピアプロ」で一般公募した初音ミクを始めとするキャラクターデザインを、エビせんべい製造販売の老舗・志満秀（香川県観音寺市）が、新鮮な赤小エビを原料に手作業で製造したせんべいに印刷したのが特徴。せんべいは、ネットユーザーの要望に合わせ、ネギ入りの特製エビせんべいを開発。個包装の袋も専用デザインのものを使う。また、QRコード入りエビせんべいも封入。これにより、「ミクせんテーマソング」の着うたをダウンロードすることができる。

秋葉原での「みくせん」販売は今回が初だという。価格は12枚入りで1,280円。

Reference:mikusen

Nendoroid Azunyan was so hot that the first batch was gone on various retailers before many had a chance to place their preorder. Who could resist the moe-ness of A-ZU-NYAN from K-ON! ?

MOE!!!

Azu-nyan’s twintail hairstyle is simply so cute! Her guitar with it’s amp, as well as “Azunyan #2″ – the cat that appeared in one of the side stories, are all included. Three expressions are included: a smiling face, an embarrassed face and a confused face.

This will be the 2nd batch of preorders and will launch in June. The first batch preorders will be made available on May. There are still some orders left, so hurry and place your pre-order before it is gone !!!

A-ZU-NYAN! ^^

man..i really like that expression on her face :P There are still some pre-orders available on Hobbysearch, so grab it before it runs out ! As of now, the price is at 2833 yen cos of their promotion which lasts on the 2nd till 11th of February.

A leak from a Square Enix Japan staff noted that  Final Fantasy XIV will be for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 title. Gee…We know that an Xbox 360 version hasn’t been announced yet..so what could that mean ? A typo or.. ?

On a sidenote, it appears she is working as a Lighting lead and is working on FF XIV, 3rd Birthday and FF XIII Agito.

Whether it is, it is definitely good news if gameplay is across 3 platforms on the same set of servers.

Source

]]> http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/final-fantasy-xiv-on-xbox360/feed/ 0 http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/namco-bandai-posts-31-billion-yen-loss-10-sacked/ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/namco-bandai-posts-31-billion-yen-loss-10-sacked/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:44:01 +0000 oOgA http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/?p=12049 Sources have reported that Namco Bandai have posted 31 billion yen loss for fiscal 2009, after predicting 8.5 billion yen in profits. In addition, the company announced its intent to sack almost 10% of its 7,000 strong workforce. Ouch

The loss was blamed on the games division but Namco highlighted Tekken 6 met expectations while others did not meet expectations.

One might wonder what had happened to the Tales series ? A 10% loss of staff will mean more people are on the streets in Japan looking for jobs and carving out a living

PS: I miss playing Tales of Eternia somehow  ^^

Source (NSFW)

]]> http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/namco-bandai-posts-31-billion-yen-loss-10-sacked/feed/ 0 http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/eden-of-the-east-the-movie-ii-trailer-unveiled-2/ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/eden-of-the-east-the-movie-ii-trailer-unveiled-2/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:47:13 +0000 oOgA http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/?p=12047

who will be the winner?

The official site for Eden of The East has begun streaming the trailer for part 2 of the movie. Titled Eden of The East Movie II: Paradise Lost, it is slated for a launch in the cinemas of Japan on 13 March 2010. As a side note, the DVD and Bluray release for part 1 of the movie series will begin sales on 24th March 2010.

PS: I like the music being played on the official site, how about you ? ;)

In this series of Nanikore Chinhakkei, the focus is on a dog. Her name is Chii, a shiba inu in Okayama prefecture that smiles when her master is nearby.

To be honest, I like this dog, she looks so cute ! ^^ Do you like dogs ?

thanks to Japanprobe for highlighting :D

If you were wondering why there is a Playstation Network support on your Ar Tonelico 3 bluray box, it is known that Ar Tonelico 3 will have DLC in the future.  It is confirmed and official as seen on the official site. Details are still shabby but it should be expected to be extra cosmosphere which you will need to pay (wtf?)

Also, owners of R2 copy of Ar Tonelico 3, you may also refer to the last page of the manual and go the website to do a Japanese survey to get a free wallpaper (yes duh but hey! it is omake at least :P )

Also in Japan’s Playstation Store, a XMB theme for Ar Tonelico 3 is also unveiled. Of course, that is not free. ^^

Here is a video by MasterLL on a boss battle with pikachu Mute

:3  [spoilers if u understand Japanese]

Here we go again, the 2010 edition of SOY Cosplay held in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. A whole new location featuring cosplayers dawning on their costumes and posing as their lovable character. Big kudos to the event organizers to make SOY happen, it was fun and we enjoyed it.

Also kudos and cheers to meeting fellow bloggers during the event, you guys were great.

To check back on all our SOY news and reviews, you may click on the link here

Click on the photos in the gallery for a bigger image. For featured phtoos below the gallery, click on it to get a higher resolution photo. All Photos Belong To The Banzai! Effect, unless stated in the watermark. All Rights Reserved.

Here are some of our favorites:

:3

hiyuki

violin <3

i love her smile, cute! :3

awesomeness :3

mmm~full K-ON! army ?

cute :3

dreamy..

Miku Loves KFC <3

some lovely Kingdom Hearts :3

:D

More Miku

Hope you like our photos!  :3 Lets hope for a SOY’C’ 2011? ^^

Credits to the following for some of their photos in this gallery:

1. Hexlord

2. nutcase23 (a fellow author of this site)

Photo are taken with Nikon D90, D300s, D70 with different lens. :3

]]> http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/soyb-2010-mega-cosplay-coverage/feed/ 16 http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/soyb-2010-karaoke-highlights/ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/soyb-2010-karaoke-highlights/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:09:12 +0000 oOgA http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/?p=11853

I wasn’t able to follow all the singing performances as I was running around snapping shots of cosplayers but here is a collection of photos and also videos taken in SOY’B’. Apologies for the low quality. Videos are taken by Nikon D90. Personally prefer Aya and also another who did the cover for Final Fantasy XIII theme song – Kimi Ga Iru Kara

Here are the videos:

Kimi Ga Iru Kara

Dearest

hmm..i do not know the song title, anyone knows?  ;)

]]> http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/soyb-2010-karaoke-highlights/feed/ 1 http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/hobbysearch-special-sale/ http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/hobbysearch-special-sale/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:27:25 +0000 oOgA http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/?p=11848

From 2nd till 10th of February, HOBBY SEARCH is holding a Special Sale, commemorating the start of SAL service at our shop. What they offer is…

-For PVC Figrue, Mechas, Anime Toy and Fashion Doll, 15% discount and 5% points.
-For Gundam Model, Military, Model Car, Hobby Tool, Model Train and RC Model, 20% discount and 5% points.

*Note that this sale covers all orders placed during this period, SAL or EMS!!

Check out their official site here

There once was a young man.

He was handsome and strong and came to SOY’B in search for a worthy opponent.

There once was a young woman.

She was pretty, bright and very cute.

*trip*

And clumsy.

*faceplant*

In search of a soul mate, she chanced upon the handsome young man.

Believing it to be love at first sight, she approached the young man but was rejected.

“Uguu~”

However, she was a tenacious girl and persevered.

“Puweeese…”

And persevered.

“Puweety puweese…”

Undeterred, she hatched a plan.

“Maybe nice boat might do the trick”

Eventually, she convinced the young man with her tenacity, perseverance and intelligent use of blackmail.

“Marry me or the sword gets it.”

The young man soon grew to love the young woman.

And they lived happily ever after.

Or maybe not =/

“I got my sword back! The deal’s off!”

My word that was cheesy DD=

Many thanks for posing for the rest of us to take photos :3

Omake shots :3

Her drill is the drill that will piece the roof above her.

Happily ever after?

And I l finish off with a video of a flying Miku.

Or attempted flight at any rate =/

Perhaps Mikus weren’t meant to fly =/