NCS' Frequently Asked Questions
XBox Related Questions
Do Japanese Xbox joypads work on USA Xbox consoles?
   Yes, the pads work swimmingly. Orders are now being accepted online. 
How about Japanese games working on a USA Xbox?
   Japanese games do not work on USA consoles.
Do you think a territory mod will be available soon?
   Now that consoles from two territories are available for inspection and reference, development begins on a region-free modification for the Xbox. More news as it transpires. 
Can the Xbox survive in a market heretofore dominated by Japanese consoles? 
   That's a question best answered by the Magic 8-Ball... Now, shoo!

Dreamcast Related Questions
I just bought a DC and want to play imports. How?
   Please visit the NCS modchip FAQ for details. We also offer an alternative product called the "Cheats 'n Codes" boot disc which works with roughly 90% of European and Japanese imports. All of the latest such as Shenmue 2 [EUR] and Fushigi no Dungeon [JPN] work fine with it.
How do I get my DC modified at NCS if I go that route?
   Send an e-mail to dcmod@ncsx.org and you'll get the skinny in three seconds flat. 
Do you still have Sonic Adventure 2 Birthday Pack JPN in stock?
   Yes, hundreds. Once thousands. Buy at will.
I can't find Sonic 2 Birthday Pack on the store. Sigh. 
   Type "Sonic Birthday" in the search box. Hit return and he'll magically appear. This search function also works to rouse other game titles to the fore.  

Gamecube Related Questions
Is the Panasonic Qube really the coolest? 
   Yes, it's divine. Check it out.   
How do I get my GC modified at NCS?
   Please send an e-mail to gcmod@ncsx.org to get our auto-response.
What's the best selling Gamecube color at NCS?
   Spice sells the most units, followed by indigo. Black brings up the rear, but probably because it's also available in the USA at a lower price than our Japanese market empowered price.

Gameboy Advance Related
Can I play Japanese imports on my USA GBA?
   Absolutely. Nintendo enforces no territory lock-out on any of their portable gaming machines. GB, GBC, and GBA games work without a hitch. European GBA cartridges also play well with others.
What light source accessory do you recommend?
   NCS rarely makes recommendations, rather, we relate. In this case, we relay the satisfaction that customers have expressed with regards to the official Sun-Seibu Light Boy. The third party version is ranked well also. Home grown projects such as www.portablemonopoly.com appear promising. 
I like the milky pink color. Am I unique?
   No, many male and female customers have purchased the milky pink version of the GBA over the other color choices. You might be unique in other respects however. 

Neo-Geo Related
Any chance of future AES cartridges?
   SNK recently released Sengoku 3. King of Fighters 2001 has been confirmed to ship on March 14, 2002. There's always a trickle of Neo Geo cartridges when there's a will - think of the Neo Geo as an undying beastly orphan who seemingly succumbs under great odds, only to rise again.

Playstation 2 Related
Is there a PS2 mod to play imports yet?
   No. Nein. Nyet. Non. NCS will update customers once something reliable and tested ships to market. Until then, there's nothing. Nada. If Sony has their way, perhaps never.
Then what's this Neo-2 I see on other sites?
   A hack to play bootlegs, which involves disc swapping with a Game Shark or Pro-Action boot-loader. And no, we don't support that $ # ! +. 
I broke my PS2 trying to NEO mod it. Help?
   Sorry, we no longer repair Neo wreckage. This policy is due mainly to staff time constraints but also disinterest and apathy.

Fulfillment
I just placed an order. When does it ship?
   All orders, placed online or phoned in, are shipped on the same day if submitted before 05:00PM EST on weekdays.
Just placed an on-line pre-order, when will I be charged?
   Pre-orders submitted on-line are not processed and charged until NCS stocks the product(s) and prepares the pre-order for shipping to our customer. 
I'm an international player. Can I buy from NCS?
   Certainly. NCS ships 30% of our daily outbound freight to customers outside of the USA. The bulk of our foreign customers hail from Europe but we ship to all of Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.... Basically, anywhere UPS, Fedex, and the U.S. Postal Service can reach, we'll reach. 
What's the turn-around time on a general NCS mod or repair?
   We require one business day. If there are exigent issues with your console, please inform NCS about them before sending the unit in. We may refuse it and refer to you an associate vendor.

Inventory
Are NCS' products all new?
   Yes, we only sell new, original software and hardware items for all consoles and portable gaming machines listed on our online shop. Neo Geo MVS cartridges and JAMMA boards are a special situation which we dabble in. 
Is everything listed on the online store in stock?
   Yes, all products that do not have a "RESTOCK SOON" or a "SOLD OUT" designation in the title are in stock and ready to ship. Same day.

General Topics
Are you hiring?
   Not at the moment, but we'll keep your e-mail on file for future contact when we do need to fill temp and permanent positions. Please don't send any resumes until contacted as we no longer keep resumes on file. 
Has any company made a Japanese game translation thing-a-ma-bob?
   Not yet, but given the evolution of robotic companions, perhaps we'll see a robo-translator within the next 10 years who'll sit next to you when playing a Japanese game and translate the on-screen text for you.
Why do I see NCS' content on other websites?
   We're not sure, maybe our technique is better, so they resort to thievery. Ask them why they're ripping off NCS' intellectual property and see what gems of wisdom they spew.
Is everything listed on the online store in stock?
   You asked that already. Remember, reading is fundamental.
How are you doing?
   Our days are usually fine, thanks. Have a nice day.

Completely out of context
Why does Jen jump at the end of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?
   In the desert scene towards the middle of the movie, the character Lo (Dark Cloud) tells Jiao Long (aka Jen) about the legend of the boy who jumps off the mountain. If he survives, he knows his wish has been granted to save his parents. He does survive and drifts away, never to be seen again. A little further along the desert sequence, Jen leaves Lo her comb as a token of their bond. She advises him to return it to her when they meet up again.  
   In the final scene, Lo wakes up to find the comb lying next to him, left there by Jiao Long. It's her way of telling him she's going away and perhaps he can return it to her should they ever meet again. Lo rushes out and finds her. Before Jen jumps, she asks Lo to make a wish. He wistfully wishes that the two of them return to the desert together. This is his wish but not hers. Jen asks him as mere courtesy since her decision has already been made and her path chosen. Remember Yu Shu Lien tells Jen to be true to herself in the scene where Li Mu Bai dies. As seen in the context of the movie, Jen's desire was freedom and release from the bonds of society and her station. Returning to the desert would cap this ideal she so desired. When Jen jumps, she herself makes a wish for freedom and to drift away, never to be seen again. 
   This is one interpretation from many possible ones. In the movie, the powerful symbolism of the jade comb, Jen's hair, and Jen's sleeping and awakening scenes all conspire to manifest other meanings for the conclusion of the movie but we'll delve into those at another time. Another possible scenario to explore lies in the parallel relationships between Jen and Lo, Jen and Jade Fox, Yu Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai. Edited out of the final cut was a fourth relationship but Ang Lee was forced to remove it to keep the film at roughly 2 hours. All main relationships in the movie end in tragedy with Jen as the pivotal role and x-factor. Wretched sub-titling from the Mandarin original aside, the bulk of the storyline remains intact. 
   The original works by Wang Du Lu inspired the movie but the film should be interpreted as it's own story. Yes, we're painfully aware of what happens in the final novel Iron Knight, Silver Vase.