New Obsession: Busou Shinki

picture from Shinki Flickr Group
Yesterday I was reading through my blogroll when i stumbled upon Meimi's post on Busou Shinki!

I had just finished reading Angelic layer and loved the whole concept of the robotic angel fighting game! And was thinking that it would be a great game and wondering if there was a game like that on the pc somewhere! and thats why I was overjoyed in finding out about Busou Shinki's game Battle Rondo!
picture from wiki
What is Busou Shinki?

Busou Shinki (武装神姫, literally Armed God Princess) is an Action Figure line released by Konami Digital Entertainment. Each figure, based on Konami's MMS design, is highly poseable and features a wide variety of interchangeable parts. Each figure is also linked with an online game element.The online gaming element of the Busou Shinki series, Battle Rondo is a free MMO set in the fictional Busou Shinki universe. By inputting a code that comes with each Busou Shinki figure, or by use of Micropayments, players can unlock online versions of the figures, including their armor and weapons, as well as other gear.

Battle Rondo is set in the Busou Shinki universe. In this universe, Busou Shinki figures are AI controlled robot toys that people buy and train for arena combat. Busou Shinki robots are manufactured by a wide variety of companies and have different strengths, weaknesses, equipment, and personalities that are dependent on the model type and owner modification.Essentially a Pet-raising simulation, players are cast as the trainers of the Busou Shinki robots. Unlike many games in this genre, the Busou Shinki characters are completely AI controlled. The actions the various characters take are based on AI set values, and modified by the AI depending on the trainers responses during and after the fight. Actual combat is turn based and geared around PvP matches, although single player based training modes also exist.

Bundled with the Battle Rondo software is the Diorama Studio software. Not a game, Diorama Studio allows its users to create and save digital dioramas of the Busou Shinki figures. A wide variety of different backgrounds and props are available, and the finished dioramas may be uploaded to Shinki Net for others to view.Both Battle Rondo and Diorama Studio are updated regularly to incorporate new Busou Shinki figures. Both Battle Rondo and Diorama Studio are in Japanese, however numerous guides have been made by fans for English players.
(Information from wikipedia.)

So yes I have a new obsession, my poor wallet lol hehe I have to collect them all!! which getting my hands on a couple will be really hard, but fun to try ^_^

I've got two on the way from Hobby Link ^_^ and I've pre-ordered two which are hard to get now over at Hobby Search, which will be my first time using them! has anyone else bought things from them before? if so what are your thoughts?
one of my pre-orders Arnval (アーンヴァル, ĀNVARU), Angel Type! picture from flickr group
I really am quite obsessed lol, I love the look of the figures and the game, now all I have to do is get them. (although you dont need a figure to play the game, you get assigned with one character if you dont have a figure code)

Busou Shinki will be my first offical japanese game, and I'm going to have a hell of a time trying to figure everything out lol.

So even if I end up sucking at the game (which is a given with me) I'll still collect the figures because I've fallen in love with them ^_^

If your interested In Busou Shinki heres an english forum that has been a great help to me already ^_^ you should check it out.

I'll also suggest everyone go check out Meimi's original post and you can see one of the op's for the game which is awesome!