私のさいきんのこうにゅう (Figure Collecting)

Well, recently I received some money as Christmas gifts, so I purchased some new figures, some really good ones at that, considering how I haven't really bought any figures for myself in a good while I figured now was a good time. Every otaku needs his figure collection, right?

Anyways, here is all that I bought, I've never spent this much before on figures at one time, but whatever, I like it, so that's what counts.

Excellent Model Core Queens Blade EX 1/8 Scale Pre-Painted PVC Figure: Shizuka

Manufactured by Mega House

I don't think I have ever spent this much money on a single figure before, it cost me $80 in total with shipping from Japan. It is a very rare limited production model, and it looks fucking amazing, the second I saw it over at figure.fm I just had to buy it. The amount of detail and quality put into this figure is amazing, not to mention that Shizuka is just an awesome character to begin with.

This figure is of course pre-ordered, and comes out in April, with it's other version already sold out, and this one following close behind. I'll be sure to post once I receive it and take some pictures with the SLR.

Haruhi Suzumiya 1/8 Scale Figure
Manufactured by Max Factory

I loved the Haruhi Suzumiya series when I watched it, and I thought it would be awesome to have a figure from the series to own, so I did some research and picked out the best Haruhi figure I could find that wasn't super expensive, and I came upon this. Very nice build quality again, and a very nice pose, fits her personality well. This one cost me $37, not too bad for the quality of the figure.

Mikuru Asahina Nendoroid Figure
Manufactured by Good Smile Company

I bought this figure for my girlfriend as she is new into figure collecting and is wanting to start her collection, so I figured I would start her out with some nice quality figures, I think Nendoroid series is awesome (Would -love- to have that Hatsune Miku figure coming out). She thought that having Mikuru as a Nendoroid would be cute, so I got it for her.

Apparently though, after I placed my order, I noticed it said PREORDER: 11/30/07. Not sure what that means considering it's 1/7/08... May have to get my girlfriend a different figure if this one falls through.

Shining Wind Xecty Ein 1/8 Scale PVC Figure

Manufactured by Kotobukiya

The Shining Wind figures that have came out recently were actually what made me want to buy some figures again. I actually have not played the game yet (Which I am fixing that problem at the moment), but I fell in love with the characters and their figures once I saw them, and so I just had to pick me up one of them. Once again, pretty good build quality for the price, It's a awesome figure for the price in my opinion.

All of the Shining Wind figures that have been produced recently have either gone way too high for my taste on Ebay, or are pre-orders. So, I pre-ordered this one, it's release is Jan 28th.

Tales of Phantasia Arche Klaine 1/8 Scale PVC Figure
Manufactured by Kotobukiya

I played Tales of Phantasia years ago, when I was around 12 years old, and I loved every minute of it, since then, I have played it a couple other times as well. Arche was always my favorite character, and about 3-4 months ago, I saw this exact figure in a store, and at the time, I was flat broke, and could not afford it. So now, a couple months later, I found it online, and bought, had to pay about $10 extra then what it was at that store, but at least I have it now.

I think its another great figure, and I love her wooden stand. Man, just looking at the figure makes me want to play Tales of Phantasia again. One of the best RPG's to grace the Super Nintendo (and now Gameboy Advance) in my opinion.



Well, that is all that I bought, it was a hell of a lot, I definitely had a nice Christmas this year, seems like a pretty awesome way to finish off the year. I am also going to Ikea in Atlanta, GA soon to pick up the famous Detolf glass display case from Ikea. I am starting to get too many figures (30+ now), and I need a better place to put them, especially the new ones.

Here's a picture of the display case:


I am probably going to install some lighting into it as well. So, overall I'm going to have a pretty nice set-up for all of my figures. No more collecting dust on my desk! They are quite dusty...

I will definitely post some pictures one I pick up the Detolf (Which is about a 4 hour drive from here, it is out of state, but I'm sure as hell not paying shipping for that heavy thing). I am looking forward to all of my new figures and display case (which is more incentive to collect more), so even if things are going downhill for me recently, this is definitely a very big plus!

戦場のヴァルキュリアの新しいビデオ

A new video of 戦場のヴァルキュリア has been released recently, describing more in detail the gameplay mechanics of the game. The video describes the ”BLiTZ” system. Each character / vehicle will have action points that allow the player to control the squad. The player will have to take control of a certain amount of control points to win the game.

I really want this game, I downloaded this video the day it came out over the Japanese PSN network. I'm defintly importing this, moreover, I hope this ends up with a English release.

Heres the full video for you to watch, fresh from PSN:

ビデオ：
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/28226.html

新海誠 (Makoto Shinkai) Latest Work

For all of you out there who have not seen it yet, Makoto Shinkai has recently created a short commercial to advertise his hometown's paper, "The Shinano Mainichi Shinbun", which is Nagano Prefecture's leading newspaper. While short, it is very nice. If only USA has more commercials like that...

初音ミク (Hatsune Miku) Vocaloid 2

After watching some videos involving the girl above, voice synthesizers, and anime/video game songs on ニコニコ動画 (Nico Nico Douga) a week or two ago, I started getting curious. Who is this girl? Where do I get the program that everyone is using?

After some searching, I found out quite a lot. Basically, 初音ミク (Hatsune Miku) is the voice (or the first voice released so far...) of Yamaha's new Vocaloid 2, which is a voice synthesizer which allows users to generate singing by inputting the lyrics and notes for their song into the program.

This program has blown away Yamaha's expectations of how it would sell, and apparently they are striving just to make enough copies to go around, it has easily became the fastest selling voice synth on the market in Japan. Due to video sites like ニコニコ動画 and Youtube, Hatsune Miku has sparked interest in many on the internet, including me, which then lead to more purchases of the software.

When I first encountered 初音ミク, I was not sure if liked her voice, but it seems to have grown on me quickly. It is very good for a computer, and with the more musically inclined people out there, it really shines in their hands. I have gotten my hands on this software as well recently, and I am now working with it, seeing if I can make something, though I am no where near as musically inclined as some.

Anyways, here are some of my favorite videos of songs remixed by 初音ミク. You can find plenty more on ニコニコ動画 or Youtube.

はちゅねミクをふやしてみた

I would just like to say that I love the 3D for the movie above as well, I wouldn't mind doing something similar to that in Maya 8.5 sometime...

Amazing remix of Chrono Cross - Radical Dreamers



じゃまた

サクラ大戦

I would like to take a moment to talk about サクラ大戦 (Sakura Taisen). Sakura Taisen was is one of my favorite video game franchises. The first time I ever played サクラ大戦 was sometime when I was around じゅうさんさい (13 years old). My first experience was with サクラ大戦I on Sega Saturn. Of course, I am not fluent in 日本語 (Japanese), so I followed a fan translation that was on the internet, a very good fan translation at that.

Over the years, I have played and beat サクラ大戦Iとサクラ大戦II, and sadly that is about all, except for some games on the GBA, and I have seen the anime. I have been wanting to play サクラ大戦III-V, but my Sega Dreamcast has been dead for a long while and I have yet to buy a new one...

Anyways, I would just like to reflect upon the awesomeness of サクラ大戦. Also, I would like to tell anyone who does not know, that a new サクラ大戦DS game was announced at TGS awhile back, and it is looking good. Though I would much rather prefer サクラ大戦VI or something, though, then I would be even more behind...＼（－－）／ マイッタ

Here is some media about the new DS game as well as some other nice memories:

Sakura Wars DS Trailer

らき☆すた

It had to be done, らき☆すた (Lucky Star) has been blogged about a thousand times already, but I am late due to how busy I have been recently. Since I had a break this weekend I watched this series since it has been on my "to watch" list for awhile. It felt nice to finally be able to sit back and watch anime again. I can defiantly say I am glad I took the time to watch it.

Lucky Star is the story of a group of girls in high school, and pretty much follows their daily life and has alot of random humor that is sure to make you laugh. The main character is Konota Izumi, who is a big gamer/otaku. I think its funny/sad that I am able to relate to what Konota says and does, although I am sure that is what they were aiming for when making the series, and therefore, it has sparked alot of interest worldwide.

らき☆すた is a very spastic and humorous anime, almost on the same grounds with Excel Saga, but in a different view. I think any otaku/gamer would really apreciate this series and it is well worth the watch for anyone who has not seen it yet, though I think most have already seen this by now.

I will leave you with some various clips from the anime as well as the video for the very catchy into from ニコニコ動画, which I recommend everyone use, it blows Youtube out of the water by far.

アルトネリコ２

アルトネリコ (Ar Tonelico) is one of my favorite 2D RPG games released for the PS2. I reserved and purchased the first one the day it came out and played it constantly until I beat it. Something about that game really gets me going, I just love it. The nice hand drawn sprites, the anime touch, (which is a very good style of anime I may add) and also the amazing RPG side of the game along with a touch of a dating sim with the "diving" in the "cosmosphere", or mind of a girl. You have to complete various quest within the girls "cosmosphere" in order to establish a better link with her, which is similar in style to a dating sim.

This combination alone reminds me of サクラ大戦 (Sakura Taisen), which is another favorite of mine. Anyways, I am very excited as アルトネリコ2 is going to be released 10/25/07 in Japan, and hopefully sometime in 2008 by NIS in America. It looks amazing so far and I may go ahead and buy the art book that is being released soon just to tie me over for now. I recommend looking up some more info about Ar Tonelico for all of you out there who have not played it.

As for how it plays...think サクラ大戦 + イリスのアトリエ (Atelier Iris). If this sounds interesting at all to you, it would be to your advantage to find out more. Here are some pictures and a recent trailer of アルトネリコ２.

Ar tonelico 2: Sekai ni Hibiku Shoujotachi no Metafalica Offical Website

-じゃまた

秒速５センチメートル『Byousoku 5 Centimeters』

I finally watched 秒速５センチメートル 『Byousoku 5 Centimeters』 last night. I am a very big fan of Makoto Shinkai 『まかとしんかい』, and his newest movie does not disappoint. The movie is 63 minutes long, and is a span of three episodes of a boy, Takaki Tohno, and a girl, Akari Shinohara. It is set in the 1990s in Japan, and unlike his other movies, does not have much of a Sci-Fi or Fantasy touch to it, it is firmly set in present day.

The movie deals with the life of these two characters and their interaction between themselves and their surroundings. Following Shinkai tradition, it is a very sad, yet touching movie. Shinkai's style of writing is some of the most touching writing I have ever seen, and it really hits you deep inside. I believe this has became one of my favorites from Shinkai. My all time favorite so far is 彼女と彼女の猫 『She and Her Cat』. I would suggest watching some of Makoto Shinkai's work, I believe it will have a positive effect on your life and maybe make your day a little more meaningful/pleasant.

Mr Shinkai says about 秒速５センチメートル:
"We did thorough location hunting, and are trying to scoop this present real world up by the style of animation. Our daily life rarely includes eventful dramas, dramatic treachery or sudden revelations. Nevertheless, after all the world is filled with flavor and beauty here and there, and it is worth to live. We try to depict such an aspect of real life by this film, and to make your familiar landscapes more shining than usual after finished viewing. We aim to make such works which cuddles up to your daily life."

I will leave you with some pictures and information on the movie.

Makoto Shinkai Fan Website

Also, on a side note, I found the full video of one my favorite Shinkai movies, 彼女と彼女の猫 『She and Her Cat』. So here is the full movie, so you can form your opinion on it.

-じゃまた

飛天オンラインのぼうけんしょうせつ

Midterms are almost over at my college, and fall break is near. Time to play video games and relax some. Today, I have a day off from my college, so I played 飛天オンライン (DOMO Online) today. My friend and I have been playing for about two weeks now. I am really enjoying the game as it is a very good game, and I am also using it to study my にほんご。

I (Shinjuu, しんじゅう) am almost a level じゅうご(15) thief (どろぼう). My friend (ともだち), Kagamasa (かがまさ) is a Saber Warrior (サーブルぶし), and is also the same level as me. He is my best friend in real life, so we often talk about the game and so on...

Anyways, here is some screenshots of my time on 飛天オンライン up till now. In order of new to old.


またあとでね

戦場のヴァルキュリア!

So, I really want 戦場のヴァルキュリア。。。

I have not seen a game before that is cell shaded anime graphics, with a combination of WWII RTS strategy. It is a very interested concept, and it has me hooked. The graphics to begin with a very nice and fluid, it is the closest I have seen to watching an anime, but playing a video game.

It is being released for the PS3 and has a release date of Sping 2008 in Japan. I will be sure to import this the day it is released. I will leave some media for you to form your own opinion on it.

うれしい。。。