PLEASE READ: The NEW SHOP is separate and distinct from the OLD SHOP. If you place an order on the OLD SHOP, you will not be able to use the NEW SHOP to check on your order and vice versa. Unfortunately, we were not able to resolve the two shop databases in order to transfer customer histories and accounts. Both shops are fully operational and capable of taking orders.
 
 

PSP Launch USA
 PSP USA Units in stock - North American Launch

Update
   Preorders are shipping today and we have a few surplus units for new export orders. Since we have a backlog of customers interested in the USA Value Pack, we will contact everyone today with offer details. If we sell out later this afternoon, we expect additional supplies of the PSP Value Pack by next week for new orders. Our price is US$285 for the PSP Value Pack which includes the following items:

• 32MB Memory Stick Duo
• AC Adapter
• Battery Pack
• Carrying Case and Cleaning Cloth
• Headphones with Remote Control
• Sampler UMD with game/movie/music previews (Kung Fu Hustle...)
• Spiderman 2 movie UMD

   We are forced to charge a premium over the normal PSP price of US$250 because we had to purchase 5 PS2 games for every PSP unit which added to our cost of procurement. What do PS2 games have to do with the PSP launch? Nothing. But it helps the PSP supplier/distributor get rid of old and stale PS2 inventory in a jiffy.... at our expense.

No Shortage
   After cruising to a few local retail chain shops this morning to evaluate the stock situation, it appears that no PSP hardware shortages are apparent and units are available for anyone to walk in, plunk down $, and walk away with their own PSP. The only caveat is that many retail chain shops are only selling the PSP in bundles for upwards of US$400. 

Dead Pixels Present
   We've tested three USA PSP units so far. Two of the units have 1 dead pixel each but they were near the edge of the screen. The third unit is perfect. The USA user manual mentions the dead pixels under the Troubleshooting section except they're called "black, red, blue and green spots." We're guessing the word "dead" is never good when describing a product. Similar to the current policy in Japan, we're fairly certain that Sony will not accept returns for units with dead pixels although a Gamestop employee we spoke to earlier didn't know the official stance.

Import Price Drop and Japanese Firmware Update
   With the launch of the USA PSP, we are lowering prices for the Japanese Value Pack to US$320 and Regular Pack to US$270. Stock is readily available for import systems and we expect to keep them in stock for the foreseeable future. For our Japanese PSP customers, please note that a 13.2MB firmware update was released last night and may be downloaded here. To install it, copy the file from PC to your memory stick (dir X:\PSP\GAME\UPDATE\) and then select the memory stick in the PSP browser. Once detected, the installation will begin.

Import Software Compatibility
   There is no region lockout for PSP game software and we've tested every game in our library to verify the compatibility. USA games work on Japanese PSPs and Japanese games work fine on USA PSPs. Please note however that the USA Spiderman 2 movie does not work with Japanese PSP units and we expect all future PSP movies to be region protected as well.

Europe Next
   No date has been set for the European PSP launch but now that the Japanese and USA debuts are behind us, news should be forthcoming in the next few weeks. We expect European PSP software to be region-free.
 

 

 

The Playstation Vol 111
185 pages, NM condition
$6.50/copy shipped
 MOTD The Playstation Vol 111 [July 24 1998] allGone
p7-11 News of the day - Knight & Baby promotional event, King of Bowling play test, Vampire Saviour trading card game, ornate hand fans, a pink colored calorie counting pedometer, and Austin Powers reaches video.
p20-22 New reviews - Brave Fencer Musashiden (80/75/82), Great Peak (53/70/54), and Jingle Cats (45/45/35) along with 7 other releases.
p34-35 Sampaguita scene information and captures.
p42-45 Thousand Arms background info and system explanation.
p52-53 Dancing Blade character portraits and bios.
p56-57 King of Fighters Kyo preview.
p92-93 Reader artwork submissions in color. 
p102-103 Tekken Tag competition photo log.
p124-127 To Heart character profiles and creator interviews.
p128-133 Shadow Tower maps, level details, and creature list.
p134-137 Real Bout Fatal Fury Dominated Mind move list and examples of attacks shown in screenshot panel sequences.
p142-145 Colony Wars mission data.
p160-161 Capcom Generation preview of all five volumes.
 
 
Summary of the Week
Monday NEWS Import outlook for the week - Beatmania IIDX 9th Style leading preorders, Doraemon plushes
Tuesday NEWS Some more PS2 preorders for May  PSP-USA Darkstalkers Chronicle, Dynasty Warriors
Wednesday NDS-JPN Space Invaders DS, Touch! Kirby Magic Paintbrush  PS2-JPN Beatmania IIDX 9th Style, Phantasy Star Generation 2, Shining Force Neo, Wild Arms 4th Detonator, Winning Eleven 8 Liveware Evolution, Yokushin: Gigawing Generations  PSP-JPN Bleach: Heat the Soul  XBX-JPN Spikeout Battle Street
Thursday NEWS PSP Value Pack launches in the United States and NCS appraises the situation
Friday NDS Color variants - Graphite-Black and Pure-White  PS2 Beatmania IIDX Complete Edition, Get Ride! AM Driver, Gold Gashbell Friendship Tag Battle 2, Ys III Wanderers from Ys [Regular and Limited Edition]  PC  Tokimeki Factory
National Console Support, Inc ° Your Import Specialist
Phone: (718) 523-5774  Fax: (718) 523-7069  Old Shop: http://hh141.hiphip.com E-mail: ncsx@msn.com 
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