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. Many of the figures have been designed by noted Japanese artists. While most figures in the line have been released only in Japan, several of them have seen a limited release in the US.

All Busou Shinki figures released so far have been female, and most feature armor in a Mecha Musume based style.

Features

The Busou Shinki figure line uses a body style that Konami has dubbed 'MMS', or Multi Moveable System. The MMS body was designed by Masaki Akai(浅井真紀). MMS figures have multiple joints, similar to the Revoltech line, which give them a wide range of poseability. Additionally, multiple body parts are interchangeable, allowing a wide variety of customization without tools. The typical Busou Shinki figure is 15 cm tall.

Busou Shinki figures are divided into full sets and EX sets. Full sets come with a complete, painted MMS body and a variety of armor, weapons, and extra body parts. EX sets are meant to be expansion sets and thus do not tend to include the MMS Body. 'Naked', unpainted MMS bodies may be purchased separately.

Busou Shinki figures are technically 1:1 scale models as they are action figure versions of Battle Rondo's AI controlled robots.

Official Busou Shinki Releases

Wave 1

Japanese Release Date: 7 September, 2006
US Release Date: 18 April, 2007

* Arnval (アーンヴァル, "ĀNVARU"), Angel Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)
* Strarf (ストラーフ, "SUTORĀFU"), Devil Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)

Wave 2

Japanese Release Date: 28 September, 2006
US Release Date: 22 March, 2007

*Howling (ハウリン, "HAURIN"), Dog Type, Full Set
Character Designer:BLADE
*Maochao (マオチャオ, "MAOCHAO"), Cat Type, Full Set
Character Designer: BLADE
*Waffebunny (ヴァッフェバニー, "VAFFEBANĪ"), Rabbit Type, EX Set
Character Designer: Kasahara Tetsuro

Wave 3

Japanese Release Date: 7 December, 2006
US Release Date: 22 March, 2007 (Note, this release consisted of Benio only)

*Xiphos (サイフォス, "SAIFOSU"), Knight Type, Full Set
Character Designer: Shinofusa Rokurou
*Benio (紅緒), Samurai Type, Full Set
Character Designer: Shinofusa Rokurou
*Tsugaru (ツガル, "TSUGARU"), Santa Claus Type, EX Set
Character Designer: GOLI

Wave 4

Japanese Release Date: 22 February, 2007

*Zyrdarya (ジルダリア, "JIRUDARIA"), Flower Type, Full Set
Character Designer: okama
*Juvisy (ジュビジー, "JUBIJĪ"), Seed Type, Full Set
Character Designer: okama
*Fort Bragg (フォートブラッグ, "FŌTOBURAGGU"),Battery Type, EX Set
Character Designer: Yanase Takayuki

Wave 5

Japanese Release Date: 31 May, 2007

*Eukrante (エウクランテ, "EUKURANTE"), Seiren Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 間垣亮太 (Magaki Ryota)
*Ianeira (イーアネイラ, "ĪANEIRA"), Mermaid Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 間垣亮太 (Magaki Ryota)
*Waffedolphin (ヴァッフェドルフィン, "VAFFEDORUFIN"), Dolphin Type, EX Set
Character Designer: Kasahara Tetsuro

Wave 6

Japanese Release Date: 30 August, 2007

*Tigris (ティグリース, "TIGURĪSU"), Tiger Type, Full Set
Character Designers: Shimizu Eiichi & Simoguchi Tomohiro
*Vitulus (ウィトゥルース, "VITURŪSU"), Calf Type, Full Set
Character Designers: Shimizu Eiichi & Simoguchi Tomohiro
*Grapprap (グラップラップ, "GURAPPURAPPU"), Builder Type, EX Set
Character Designer: Kito Eisaku

Wave 7

Japanese Release Date: 29 November, 2007

*ACH (アーク, "ĀKU"), High Speed Trike Type, Full Set
Character Designer: Choco
*YDA (イーダ, "ĪDA"), High Maneuver Trike Type, Full Set
Character Designer: Choco
*Dengeki Limited repaint version, Release date: Late October~Early November, 2008
**Law Enforcement type ACH
**Law Enforcement type YDA
*Schmetterling (シュメッターリング, "SHUMETTĀRINGU"), Butterfly Type, EX Set
Character Designer: Chibisuke Machine

Wave 8

Japanese Release Date: 5 April, 2008

*Murmeltier (ムルメルティア, "MURUMERUTIA"), Panzer Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)
*Asuka (飛鳥, "ASUKA"), Fighter Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)
*Zelnogrard (ゼルノグラード ,"ZERUNOGURĀDO"), Firearms Type, EX Set+Body
Character Designer: Yanase Takayuki

Wave 9

Japanese Release Date: 10 July, 2008
*Lançamento (ランサメント, "RANSAMENTO"), Rhinoceras Beetle Type, Full Set
Character Designer: たにめそ
*Espadia (エスパディア, "ESUPADIA"), Stag Beetle Type, Full Set
Character Designer: たにめそ

Wave 10

Japanese Release Date: 20 November, 2008
*Grafios (グラフィオス, "GURAFUIOSU"), Scorpion Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 間垣亮太 (Magaki Ryota)
*Wesperior (ウェスペリオー, "UESUPERIŌ"), Bat Type, Full Set
Character Designer: 間垣亮太 (Magaki Ryota)

MMS Naked

February, 2007: Whte, Black, Flesh Colour
June, 2007: Flesh ver. 2, ver. 3
July, 2008: School Swimsuit style Flesh ver. 2 type navy blue, type white.

Light Armor Wave 1

Japanese Release Date: 20 November, 2008
*Varona (ヴァローナ, "VARŌNA"), Succubus Type, Light Armour Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)
*Werkstra (ウェルクストラ, "WERUKUSUTORA"), Commando Angel type, Light Armour Full Set
Character Designer: 島田フミカネ (Shimada Humikane)

Light Armor Wave 2

Japanese Release Date: 4 December, 2008
* Brightfeather (ブライトフェザー, "BURAITOFEZĀ"), Nurse Type, Light Armour Full Set
Character Designer: マーシーラビット (Mercy Rabbit)
* Harmony Grace (ハーモニーグレイス, "HĀMONĪGURAISU"), Sister(nun) Type, Light Armour Full Set
Character Designer: マーシーラビット (Mercy Rabbit)

Light Armor Wave 3

Japanese release date: Feburary, 2009
* Partio (パーティオ, "PĀTIO"), Ferret Type, Light Armor Full Set
Character Designer: BLADE
* Pomock (ポモック, "POMOKKU"), Squirrel Type, Light Armor Full Set
Character Designer: BLADE

Busou Shinki Variants

Several limited edition versions of the Busou Shinki figures have also been released. These variants sport alternate color schemes and additional parts.
*Dengeki Exclusive Devil Type, Arnval
*Dengeki Exclusive Angel Type, Strarf
*Dengeki Exclusive Cat Type, Maochao
*Dengeki Exclusive Dog Type, Howling
*Wonderfest 2008 Seiren Type, Eukrante
*Wonderfest 2008 Mermaid Type, Ianeira
*Konami Style Exclusive, Blue Santa Claus Type, Tsugaru
*Konami Style / Chara Hobby 2008 Prototype Squirrel Type, Pomock
*Konami Style / Chara Hobby 2008 Prototype Ferret Type, Partio

-upcoming-
*Dengeki Hobby Magazine ed. High Speed Trike Type, ACH Stradale
*Dengeki Hobby Magazine ed. High Maneuver Trike Type, YDA Stradale

MMS Naked Body Releases

Exclusively sold on the Konami Style Japan page, these are unpainted, featureless MMS Figures meant for use with EX sets or for customization. They come in a variety of colors
*Naked White
*Naked Black
*Naked Flesh
*Naked Flesh ver. 2
*Naked Flesh ver. 2 - Navy Blue Type
*Naked Flesh ver. 2 - White Type
*Naked Flesh ver. 3

Battle Rondo and Diorama Studio

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.

Cast

Ach - Yui Horie
Arnval - Kana Asumi
Asuka - Saki Fujita
Benio - Mai Kadowaki
Eukrante - Emiri Katou
Fort Bragg - Ryoka Yuzuki
Fubuki - Yukari Fukui
Grapprap - Hitomi Nabatame
Howling - Eri Kitamura
Ianeira - Marina Inoue
Juvisy - Kaori Nazuka
Maochao - Mai Hashimoto
Murmeltier - Masumi Asano Schmetterling - Sakura Nogawa
Strarf - Minori Chihara
Tigris - Kana Ueda
Tsugaru - Rie Kugimiya
Vitulus - Haruko Momoi
Waffebunny - Ayana Sasagawa
Waffedolphin - Kaori Shimizu
Xiphos - Miyuki Sawashiro
Yda - Yukari Tamura
Zelnogrard- Ryōko Shiraishi
Zyrdarya - Sanae Kobayashi

Links

Official

* [http://www.busou.konami.jp/ Konami's Busou Shinki Japanese Page]
* [http://www.konami-data.com/officialsites/BusouShinki/ Konami's Busou Shinki English Page ]
* [http://www.shinki-net.konami.jp/ Shinki-Net, Konami's Battle Rondo Page]

Unofficial

* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/busoushinki/ Flickr's Busou Shinki Group]
* [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=143503 TFW2005's Busou Shinki Thread] , A large information and display thread dedicated to Busou Shinki figures on the TFW2005 message board.
* [http://www.busoushinkiworld.com Busou Shinki World] An English fansite dedicated to Busou Shinki and other MMS Figures