Welcome to this week's toys update. Check out the wonderful collectibles we just got in stock and all the new products made available for preorder.

As toys, especially collectible ones, are produced in limited numbers and are often sold out prior to the actual release date, we strongly recommend to preorder the figures of your desire as early as possible.

This is indeed an exciting week for all fans of Shin Megami Tensei, especially those of the Nocturne game. First we managed to locate restocks for this tremendously well recieved RPG, now we have the matching trading figures as our weekly special.

Although these figures are tiny, they are crafted and colored with care in full detail as seen in the pictures. Persuade these demons or deities to join forces with you in the game and get them to come home with you to join your increasing collection. This sixth volume include: Odin, Astarot, Troll, Pixie, Laksmi, Barong and a secret version.

The figures from Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne One Coin Series Part 6 are now sold at a bargain price of US$ 1.99 each and the maximum purchase is limited to 12 pieces per customer. Please notice that the figures are shipped out randomly. If you want a factory sealed container, please order twelve pieces. As usually, this weekly special is valid for exactly 1 week (if not sold out earlier).

Plenty of cool toys came out this week. We have one of the most popular women in gaming history, Mai Shiranui from the King of Fighters. The ninja is dressed in a glamorous black and gold tunic and holding fans which can be opened and folded up. Although she is a lethal fighter in the arena, this figure emphasized her traditional Japanese sense of grace and beauty.

Final Fantasy Miniature Trading Figures Vol. 2 is the highlight of April. Although these characters are all deadly fighters in the battle field, they are showing their lovable sides in this series.

It is an absolute treat to see how taciturn characters like Squall and Auron preserve their coolness and tough image even after they were adorably super deformed.

Preorders for Sonic the Hedgehog figures are opened this week. Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog is amongst the most recognizable mascots in gaming communities and this twelve inch statue of him cannot be overlooked.

Standing at twelve inches tall and manufactured at a limited number of three thousand pieces worldwide, this is a true collectible in high demand and we recommend our customers to preorder as soon as possible to avoid dissapointment.

Drawn by the famous illustrator Pop and sculpted by Morikawa Hiromitsu, both specialize in drawing and making cute girls, Little Red Riding Hood is the very best example of moe (translates loosely as excitingly cute.)

Painted in pastel hues with her removable hood, Little Red Riding Hood is a perfect companion for anyone.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...

Microsoft is teaming with the Companions in Courage Foundation to deliver Xbox 360 kiosks to children's hospitals across the country, the company announced today.

Each kiosk will include an Xbox 360 packed with select games, movies and television content as well asaccess to a private network that allows hospitalized children to play games and chat with one another across the country over Live.

The first kiosks will be showing up today at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the Children's Hospital of Orange County in California. Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, will even be on hand in Seattle to kick off the giveaway... and perhaps pwn some sick kids at Halo 3?

I kid because I care, seriously. As I've said before, I spent a chunk of one childhood summer in a children's hospital in Baltimore, so I know first hand how important it is to have toys and distractions when your hospitalized for long stretches of time.

http://kotaku.com/383046/360-kiosks-...rens-hospitals ...

The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today released additional details on MONOPOLY (working title), the first Hasbro-branded video game set to launch on next-generation consoles including Wii™ and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. MONOPOLY will also be appearing on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system as well as mobile phones and Pogo.com™. The multiplatform video game is inspired by Hasbro's highly anticipated MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition board game. Currently, the MONOPOLY video games are set to release this fall simultaneously with the global launch of the new board game.

The MONOPOLY video games promise a fresh take on the timeless classic with accessible gameplay for players of all ages and skill levels. The all-new digital gaming edition brings a party twist and features 4-player simultaneous play, ensuring that everyone is engaged and allowing the whole family to get involved in the fun and play together. Faster gameplay eliminates downtime freeing up players to wheel and deal their way through some of the most recognizable cities and landmarks from around the world. Families can fill up their passports as they try to unlock new and never-before-seen game boards or challenge each other to fun interactive mini-games like breaking out of the jail cell and running away with all the loot. Play in offline single or multi-player mode and compete to own it all and win!

"EA is taking MONOPOLY'S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Casual Label. "With this dynamic take on Hasbro's classic board game, we've accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family."

"It promises to be a very exciting fall for MONOPOLY fans worldwide," said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. "EA has done a tremendous job of re-imagining the world's most popular board game by remaining true to the traditional gameplay that millions of consumers have come to love while also creating new digital twists that can only be achieved in an interactive world. Rolling the dice and passing go will never be the same." ...

The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today released additional details on MONOPOLY (working title), the first Hasbro-branded video game set to launch on next-generation consoles including Wii™ and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. MONOPOLY will also be appearing on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system as well as mobile phones and Pogo.com™. The multiplatform video game is inspired by Hasbro's highly anticipated MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition board game. Currently, the MONOPOLY video games are set to release this fall simultaneously with the global launch of the new board game.

The MONOPOLY video games promise a fresh take on the timeless classic with accessible gameplay for players of all ages and skill levels. The all-new digital gaming edition brings a party twist and features 4-player simultaneous play, ensuring that everyone is engaged and allowing the whole family to get involved in the fun and play together. Faster gameplay eliminates downtime freeing up players to wheel and deal their way through some of the most recognizable cities and landmarks from around the world. Families can fill up their passports as they try to unlock new and never-before-seen game boards or challenge each other to fun interactive mini-games like breaking out of the jail cell and running away with all the loot. Play in offline single or multi-player mode and compete to own it all and win!

"EA is taking MONOPOLY'S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Casual Label. "With this dynamic take on Hasbro's classic board game, we've accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family."

"It promises to be a very exciting fall for MONOPOLY fans worldwide," said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. "EA has done a tremendous job of re-imagining the world's most popular board game by remaining true to the traditional gameplay that millions of consumers have come to love while also creating new digital twists that can only be achieved in an interactive world. Rolling the dice and passing go will never be the same." ...

Works? Check.
Combines two otherwise cluttering peripherals? Check.
Takes like 5 seconds and requires no adhesives? Check.
Seriously? We're really lazy. Check.
Sends at least one fanboy into "angry coma?" Check.

http://kotaku.com/383231/wii60-wheel-is-our-kind-of-mod ...

CEO Ray Muzyka and President Greg Zeschuk of Bioware, a company founded on narrative-centric RPGs, can't seem to decide if the Wii is a game (as opposed to, from what we gather, a toy). In an interview with GameDaily, Zeschuk said, "If gaming is defined by story, then generally Wii may not be," though he immediately expands on that, "The game [4 to 5 people together are] playing is actually very different than the rest of us. What they're doing as a company is like a different flavor."

Providing a counterpoint, Muzyaka noted that the Wii experience is "more toy-like" but also said, "there's also a narrative between the players outside the game and kind of fulfills the same things games do. Games are 'toys' in the sense that they're fun." Warren Spector had made a similar designation in an Escapist piece last year, categorizing games like Tetris and Madden akin as "retold" narratives.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/bi...wii-is-gaming/ ...

Leigh over at Kotaku did some digging around about the rumored Xbox 360 Wiimote, questioning all the parties involved (Microsoft, Rare, Gyration) and discovered some interesting facts. The most important one is that Gyration isn't working on it, but Motus probably is—they already have a precursor to it called the "Darwin".

http://gizmodo.com/383262/xbox-360-w...s-not-gyration ...

Nearly a year after the innovative (albeit not-entirely-practical) Nintendo Fan Network went live at Safeco Field in Seattle, the powers that be have decided to nix those pesky access fees and give every DS-toting guest access gratis. That's right, folks who show up to catch a Mariners game can now check out other MLB scores, dig deep within player stats, order up grossly overpriced grub and even watch a terribly pixelated version of the game they're currently at without handing over one red cent. The nosebleed section never had so much potential.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/n...-safeco-field/ ...

We can't really see the logic in releasing a Blu-ray player without BD-Live in 2008 -- and neither can Samsung, which just announced its fourth generation BD-P1500 will be BD-Live Ready. The bad news is the May release date announced earlier has slipped to June, and the formerly comfortable $399 MSRP is now a less promising TBA. We're not sure if that "ready" tag means it will be BD-Live enabled out of the gate, however DTS-HD "High resolution" is confirmed on the way in a future firmware update. A slight delay for a significant upgrade in features? We'll allow it.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/s...adds-bd-live-/ ...