Haim Saban, the children's programming mogul who produced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, has exercised his right to have Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. buy out his interest in Fox Family Worldwide.
A sale would give Murdoch full control of the Fox Family Channel, a thriving cable network that reaches some 79 million homes in the United States, but at a cost that could be as high as $2 billion in cash just as he gears up for a bid on DirecTV, a leading U.S. satellite broadcaster.
Saban triggered a clause in his contract with News Corp. Thursday that forces the conglomerate to pay fair market value for Saban's 49.5 percent stake in Fox Family Worldwide. News Corp. owns 49.5 percent, and media investment bank Allen & Co. owns 1 percent.
Saban had until Dec. 31 to exercise his option to be bought out, and he announced Thursday that he had notified News Corp. of his decision to do so. A News Corp. spokesman said the company had been expecting the decision, but declined to comment further.
Bandai has released a new PlayStation card battle game called Digimon: Digital Card Arena on December 21, the latest Digimon game in card battle genre. The rule of the game is similar to the official Digimon card game, there are over 170 kinds of card in the game, including 50 new cards from the Digimon's second adventure. New features include the ability to perform Armor Digi-evolution and card synthesis to further improve the power of your cards. The battle sequences will be displayed in 3DCG graphics.
Capcom has confirmed that a special DVD entitled Wesker's Report will be included in the PS2 version of Biohazard Code: Veronica Complete. The Wesker's Report will have inside stories of the various events related to S.T.A.R.S. and Umbrella over the past 5 years, plus interviews with the game developers and exclusive images. The Wesker's Report will be given to customers who reserve the game at game retailers. A Devil May Cry demo will be included in the game as well.
Source: The Magic Box
BESM 2nd Ed. Character Diary and Tenchi Muyo! Character Diary
Two new character diaries should be on shelves over the next two weeks. The books are custom tailored for their respective games, and lavishly watermarked with images from the core books. Check out the BESM and Tenchi pages for more information.
GM Screens!!!
The BESM 2nd Ed. GM Screen and the Tenchi Muyo! GM Screen will both be available soon. Check the main pages for more info.
Sailor Moon Button Men, II
Six new sets of Button Men are available now. They look great! They are:
#06-007 Luna and Artemis vs. Wicked Lady
#06-008 Queen Serenity vs. Rubeus
#06-009 Princess Serena vs. Sapphire
#06-010 Rini vs. Wiseman
#06-011 Neo-Queen Serenity vs. Diamond
#06-012 King Endymion vs. Emerald
BESM 2nd Ed
Big Eyes, Small Mouths (Second Edition) is now at the printers for a second printing!
Ghost Dog RPG
The Ghost Dog Role-Playing Game and Resource Book is now available on shelves.
Sailor Moon CCG
Wizard's Attic has the Sailor Moon CCG in stock, and it can be bought from them here.
The Sailor Moon CCG is available in 7 Starter Decks (1 Two-Player Deck, or six 1 player character decks: Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Tuxedo Mask); each deck costs $9.95 and contains 60 cards.
Cards are also available in Booster Packs, each of 11 cards, for $2.95 each. The ultra-rare foil chase cards are only available in Booster Packs!
Heaven & Earth RPG
Heaven & Earth - has been delayed, as we have decided to convert the original rules into a Tri-Stat compatible system, so that our fans won't have to learn a completely different set of game mechanics. Of course there will be rules specific to Heaven & Earth, as we try to stay as true to the core of the original themes and fantastic setting.
Tenchi Muyo RPG
Tenchi Universe Resource Book - the release date is being revised; the reason that this product has been pushed back is because Pioneer has delayed the release of the DVD release; as we want Tenchi Universe to at least equal the quality of the Tenchi Muyo! RPG & Resource Book, we felt that we had to wait until the DVD's were available for our screen captures. Anything less would have been a drop in quality that we were not willing to accept.
Sailor Moon RPG Line
Big news coming soon! Keep coming back for details.
Tenchi Muyo! RPG Line
Tenchi Character Diary
The book is finally in from the printers and is on the way to Wizard's Attic. Done and out of our hands. Should be on the shelves soon, barring snow delays.
Tenchi GM Screen
At the printers. Approx. same as above.
Tenchi Universe
Late Winter 2001
Big Eyes, Small Mouth RPG Line
BESM Character Diary
The book is finally in from the printers and is on the way to Wizard's Attic. Done and out of our hands. Same as above.
BESM 2nd ed. GM Screen
At the printers. With luck it will be on the shelves by Xmas.
Centauri Knights (for BESM)
The layout is done. Scheduled to go to print late-January
Cute and Fuzzy (Cockfighting) Seizure Monsters
CFSM was delayed a bit because of stupid little things (tm) but is now at the printers. With a little bit of St. Nick's luck, the books will be available, in Canada at least, by Boxing Day.
Cold Hands, Dark Heart #1 (for BESM)
Late Winter 2001.
Heaven & Earth RPG Line
Heaven & Earth 2nd Ed (Player's)
Early Winter 2001 (we hope)
Heaven & Earth 2nd Ed (GM's)
Early Winter 2001 (we hope)
Hong Kong Action Theatre! (HKAT!)
Hong Kong Action Theatre! 2nd Ed
Mid-late Winter 2001.
"Not in the -near- future, I'm afraid, but we do indeed plan to release Nadia on DVD."
Banpresto has released new details on Super Robot Taisen Alpha Gaiden for PlayStation, the latest installment of the highly popular robot battle role playing game, scheduled to release in Japan in Spring 2001. This time the game will have all the characters from the previous works, plus new characters from 4 new anime series like Gundam X and Turn A Gundam. The story takes place in the new age 187 year, right after the ending of the last game.
Bandai announced a new Gundam real time battle simulation game for PS2 called Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front, scheduled to release in Japan in summer 2001. The story of this game takes place in the battles of Zion army in the time of 0079.
Source: The Magic Box
From Tomy comes new ZOIDS figure line entries such as ELEPHANDER (EZ-038) (with many ears and two kinds of tusks), retailing at 2,500 Yen and an accessory pack, BAIKING RANS UNIT, which can be added to existing ZOIDS figures. Eight capsule versions of ZOIDS characters retailing at 100 Yen each and standing 2-3cm in hieght are also out.
Source: Cool Japanese Toys
4 New Hello Kitty Tumbling dolls are being introduced in Japan from December 26, 2000. At Sanrio's Puroland the event, 'Tumbling Doll Festival' will take place.
Blue Seed DVD 2 (Hyb) (eps 8-14): Descent into Terror
Date Available - Mar 27 2001
Format - Hybrid
180 Minutes
Publisher - AD VISION
Rating - 12+
Normal Price: $29.98
Sale Price: $26.99
Sping and Chaos DVD (Hyb)
Directed by acclaimed anime creator Shouji Kawamori (Macross, Escaflowne), this is the animated biography of Kenji Miyazawa, a poet and a writer who lived between 1896-1933 in Iwate, Japan.
With use of cats as characters in the story, expressive editing, and computer graphics, the animation captures fantastic and surrealistic world of Kenji Maiyazawa, whose works are often known to be allegorical and abstract.
DVD Features: Interview with Director Shouji Kawamori and an introduction of Kenji Mayazawa.
Spoken Languages: English and Japanese.
Subtitles in: English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Chinese.
Date Available - Mar 27 2001
Format - Hybrid
57 Minutes
Publisher - MIXX
Normal Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $27.00
Also, when Animeigo re-released the 3 AD Police Files episodes on a single tape earlier this year, they had a few left-over copies of the original 1-episode-per-tape versions, and now the company has put together all 3 of the original AD Police files tapes in a money-saving 3-pack at $19.95 per pack.
"I just called Faulconer Productions again to find out more information on the CD. They will have special items that will be released on their webpage. Some will be themes (Satan), some will be Character songs (I guess thats the same as themes...). There will be episode scores and there is a SLIGHT possiblity that our Texan voice actors may have something to do with it. Maybe my dream will come true and I'll be able to here Krillin rap like he's Eminem. Faulconer also said the first thing to be on the webpage will be Trunks' theme (whatever that is.) Cell's theme is also one of the guaranteed ones that will be on there. He also thought I sent him a Cell music piece. I guess you can send in compositions. This all may happen. This all may not. Everything's being worked out, but Trunks' theme (?) WILL be on there."
The Yamato VF-11 has been delayed and is scheduled for release in late Feb. or early Mar. '01 in Japan.
Urban Vision Entertainment and The Right Stuf International are hosting a contest to celebrate the upcoming release of the Bio Hunter Special Edition DVD! Get the chance to win an advance copy of Bio Hunter, or be the lucky winner of a special Bio Hunter animation cel, signed by creator Yoshiaki Kawajiri (director of Ninja Scroll and Wicked City) !
Please visit http://www.rightstuf.com/contests/contests.shtml for how to enter!
The first track is appropiately titled "Mameshiba", and Maaya sounds great as usual. The second track is named "Kuki to Hoshi", and I actually like this song more than the first one. It's sort of a slow,"ballad" type song that really highlights Maaya's beautiful voice. :) Kuki to Hoshi is what really makes this single awesome. The third track is a karaoke version of Mameshiba. No fourth track, although I would love to have a karaoke version of Kuki to Hoshi.
Mp3's of the first 2 tracks can be downloaded from the site.
This Week Second Only To Christmas in Lycos Top 50 FUNimation's Dragon Ball Z Website Receives Millions Of Visitors Ft. Worth, TX - Internet leader Lycos today confirmed what kids already know, that Dragon Ball Z, star of the top rated anime series on the Cartoon Network, is also 2000's number one online fad. On December 11, 2000, the Top 10 Fads online as reported by Lycos were: 1. DRAGONBALL Z 2. Pokemon 3. Napster 4. Big Brother 5. Digimon 6. Harry Potter 7. Survivor 8. The Sims 9. Beanie Babies 10. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Gen Fukunaga, President of FUNimation Productions Ltd, producers and licensors of Dragon Ball Z in countries including America, Canada and Australia, said, "We are elated Dragon Ball Z has touched the hearts of children, collectors and all fans of anime. Attaining the number one spot for the year 2000 on the Lycos list, underscores that Dragon Ball Z is truly part of pop culture in countries around the world."
We realized why the site had been down for so long (several weeks) last Monday and took steps with our Domain Registration Service to remedy the situation. As I understand it, they agreed to credit us for the lost time and were in the process of directing the site to animenet.org, who is graciously hosting us.
On Wednesday, someone else registered the name for themselves. How they were able to do this is still unclear, and we have not yet heard from our DRS concerning it. We contacted the new registrants, and here's what they had to say:
"Thank you for your interest in Toriyama.org. This name went back into circulation because the registration fees weren't paid. We realized the name had potential (as it had traffic going to the name), so we bought it and have had developing a site around it as a goal. I am sorry to hear that you did not intend on letting it go back into circulation. We would be happy to discuss reselling this name to you and getting it back into your use immeadiately.
"We have some costs accrued so far with the name and planned developement. They aren't alot, however, we would like to be compensated. Please make us a reasonable offer and we will transfer the name to you immeadiately."
Things took an ugly turn after that, and we are now contemplating litigation, so I probably shouldn't say too much more (like how a long-established, well-respected, non-profit dot-org domain could have suddenly gone commercial and started shilling "the Best Deals on The Internet!").
Nintendo of Japan announced that they will be "distributing" the rare Pokemon Serebi of Pokemon Gold Silver and Crystal at the Next Generation World Hobby Fair in Japan in February 2001. You can fill up the application form at the Nintendo of Japan website (Japanese only), only 20010 applications will be accepted.
Source: The Magic Box
Gamers.com is reporting that Square is looking for customer feedback through its support@squaresoft.com address regarding a potential North American release of the PlayStation versions of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger. According to The GIA, it's sources report that the two titles are already headed for North America:
If the two titles do appear in English, they would be released with a "discounted price," probably $20-$30 US. Both titles would likely be released sometime during the summer of 2001. While this move may come as surprise given Square's previous reluctance to release the titles, it is hardly implausible. With Square EA's 2001 line-up currently consisting solely of PlayStation 2 titles (The Bouncer, Final Fantasy X, and Driving Emotion Type S being the confirmed titles thus far), two popular PlayStation 1 RPGs would make a valuable addition to its release roster. In addition, a change in Sony's licensing policy has made it easier for third parties to release low-priced titles. The Final Fantasy IV port was released as both a stand-alone title and a piece of the Final Fantasy Collection in Japan. However, it was excluded when the collection was brought to North America as Final Fantasy Anthology. Chrono Trigger PSX was released only by itself; its release shortly preceded the Japanese debut of Chrono Cross. Both games feature new FMV movies, including an expanded ending to Chrono Trigger that ties into Chrono Cross' storyline.
Square EA has announced that Final Fantasy IX was the top selling PlayStation game in the U.S. for the month of November, though exact numbers were not revealed.
Greetings everyone!
Just to let you all know, the Urban Vision offices will be closed for the week of Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, 2001.
We'll be back to work on the following Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001!
Hope everyone has a great holiday season!
Rhona
Unfortunately, a massive blizzard has hit the midwest, which has snarled up incoming freight, incoming staff, and outgoing shipments. We've tried hard to keep up our stock levels, but because of delivery time for reorders from suppliers and the recent storms, we might not get all shipments to every customer wanting their product for Christmas.
Our customer service reps are manning the phones for extra hours, and are also available to you by e-mail. Please contact us if you have any questions about the status of any pending orders.
We hope to soon have a system in place which will allow you to check the status of current orders, request partial shipments, and get tracking data on-line. If we are temporarily out of stock on an item, the new system will also tell you our expected restock date.
With a several meter high Gundam RX-78 and Char Zaku MS greeting visitors at the main hallway, a sale commemoration event for the upcoming classic Mobile Suit Gundam PS2 title was held. Demo versions of the game and mini anime screenings were held. The title is due to release on December 21.
Hayao Miyazaki's most ambitious work is to anime what Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is to the martial arts genre, a barouge, self-conscious masterpiece. The insanely complicated plot triangulates somewhere between Joseph Cambell, The Lord of the Rings, and Japanese myth, and the images carry a majestic shock, as if you're peering over a mountain into a new world.
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