| DC March 2001 Schedule |
DC GD-Rom |
Sakura
3 turns up missing in March but it may show up in time for April.
A number of other Dreamcast titles have been listed for March 2001
including Fire Pro Wrestling D from Spike, who took over the
license after Human went belly up. Expected on March 1, the link for
the new wrestling game may be clicked here.
Game Village promulgates the Eve lineage with Eve Zero: The Ark of
the Matter, expected on March 22. The new game takes place before
the story in the original Eve Burst Error episode. Power Jet Racing
looks to be a Wave Race clone from CRI, also due in on March 22. Sega
Gaga simulates the business that is Sega. Run the company as you
see fit and determine if you are savvy enough to hoist the company to
a dominant market share and in the process, to profitability. The
current management team in place at Sega is incapable of doing this so
perhaps you'll fare better. Gaga is scheduled as a D-Direct
only release but NCS will be able to supply this game if we receive
enough pre-orders to make a request. It's niche but may appeal to Sega
fans.
A number of other interesting softs include Marie
& Elie ~ Atelier which joins the two alchemy students
together for an adventure. Players will have the option of playing as
either girl. Restaurant dating will also return in March with Pia ~
Welcome to Carrot v2.5 in which the player seeks love and
companionship with the various anime waitresses in an eatery. The
complete DC first quarter import schedule as well as the PS and PS2
listings will be posted online by Tuesday morning's update. |
Pre-orders are now
welcome for the new special Dreamcast Magazine dated 01/26/01
which includes a GD-Rom preview of Sega Gaga, Hundred Swords,
and Shenmue 2. The first two games are playable while Shenmue 2
will only be a cinema preview. Pre-orders are welcome via e-mail
request or online.
NCS guarantees all pre-orders received up until Friday of this week.
The magazine is expected on Wednesday, January 17, 2001.
The upcoming D-Direct edition of Fighting Vipers 2,
slated for release next week, contains a Shenmue 2 preview. It is
unclear of first production batches of FV2 will also include the
preview but if not, the DC magazine provides some consolation.
|
| Dreamcast
Magazine Vol. 1 and 2, 2001 |
Summary 1
| 2
|
The
first two issues of DCM for 2001 herald the New Year with covers
sporting Phantasy Star Online and Shenmue 2. Volume 1 goes in-depth on
the upcoming Sakura Taisen 3 with back story on the new characters and
animation sequences in action. The artwork is crisp, bright, and very
detailed. Sakura 3 should put VGA Boxes to good use. Hint guides for
Phantasy Star Online and Detective Dash arrive in time to help those who are
stuck already in both respective games. The storyline and main players
for the next installment in Eldorado Gate are also covered. The third
volume of Capcom's RPG serial is on schedule for February 2.
DCM Vol. 2 features Happy New Year greetings from
Dreamcast developers and licensees. It's a cornucopia of images,
greeting card scans and product updates. Pia ~ Welcome to Carrot
v2.5 and Illbleed are the main games in this issue. Hint
guides continue as well for Phantasy Star Online and Detective Dash to
aid players on their quests for completion. Both magazines are in
stock today. |
|
|
|
DC
Magazine v. 1 |
|
US$11.50 |
|
| Going
Postal |
Monopoly
|
The U.S. Postal Service vanguards this year's shipping rate increases
by effecting new pricing over the weekend. UPS and Fedex will both
follow suit in February with their own shipping and handling
adjustments. Other bit players may move with these changes in order to
stay competitive. The NCS online store automatically reflects these
new shipping charges and has been running off the new Postal shipping
rates as of this past Saturday. UPS pricing will also be automatically
updated in February.
The previous Postal rate increases occurred on January
10, 1999 when Priority Mail went up 6.7% and Express Mail rose 9.3%.
This year's rate increases are 9.3% and 4.2% respectively. |
The correct term is
actually oligopoly, where a small number of suppliers or providers
control market prices and move in tandem with each other. They make
and administer the market. The airline industry an extreme example
where prices can fluctuate within minutes of each other.
|
| Hiatus
Over |
Next
|
|
Most, if not all, companies in Japan will
return to work tonight. Yesterday was Seijin no Hi, or Coming
of Age Day. This national holiday celebrates young people who have or
will turn 20 years old in 2000 and 2001 (If your 20th birthday lies
between April 2000 and March 2001, then you have come of age). Back to
business, shipments of both restock and new stock will return to
normal over the next couple of days as the wheels starting moving
again. |
February 11 marks
Kenkokukinen no Hi, aka National Foundation Day, the next Japanese
national holiday. The first Emperor Jinmu's ascension to the throne is
the basis for the day.
|
