My 3DS XL will soon sport one (or more) of these adorable Animal Crossing menu themes

Word on the street is that the handful of Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS menu themes that have been available in Japan for some time now will be brought to the European and North American eShops this week.

That's music to my ears, as I've been clamoring for the Sable Able one (below) since I first became aware of it.



Later, I'll pick up the "Isabelle in Town Hall" (below) and "Timmy and Tommy Nook" ones, too.



To see (and hear) the rest of this batch of 3DS menu themes in action, check out this video (for the "Bulletin Board" one) and this video ("Mabel Able").

Are any of you planning to add one or more of the above themes to your 3DS systems in the coming days? If so, which ones? And if not, have you bought--or are you considering buying--any of the other menu themes that have been made available so far?

I'm not completely sure what's going on in this crazy MH4G x Animal Crossing 'collaboration trailer,' but I (think I) like the looks of it anyway

Of all the collaborative content the folks at Capcom could've announced for Monster Hunter 4G (Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate elsewhere), this one--involving Isabelle and Resetti costumes for the 3DS game's felyne characters--has to be the most surprising. Or at least the most "out there."



Thankfully, it appears as though the costumes shown off in the trailer above, as well as the previously revealed Sonic the Hedgehog armor and Taiko no Tatsujin hunting horn, will be offered to those who pick up the North American version of the game as well, although Capcom has yet to say how that will be accomplished.

I'm not entirely sure what a 'sofubi' is, but I'll take one of each of these Animal Crossing: New Leaf sofubi figures anyway

Seriously, if anyone can provide me with a comprehensible definition of "sofubi," I'd greatly appreciate it. I attempted to find one on my own last night, but all I could come up with is that sofubi refers to the soft vinyl material that's used to construct figures like the ones seen below.

My question to all of you "figure heads" (get it?), though, is this: how do sofubi figures differ from, say, the nendoroid figures that seem to be all the rage these days?

Regardless, I think the K.K. Slider, Lisa (Reese), Shizue (Isabelle) and Tom Nook figures seen throughout this post look pretty sweet.

Each of them look to be about five inches tall, by the way--if size matters to you when it comes to such things.

Also, AmiAmi is selling each of these New Leaf-inspired concoctions--which will hit store shelves in early August--individually and in sets of two. Individually they'll run you about $13, while the sets (K.K. Slider and Isabelle or Reese and Tom Nook) will set you back just $24.

For anyone who cares, a small sample of my favorite Animal Crossing: New Leaf QR codes

After spending just about a month and a half with Animal Crossing: New Leaf, I'm finally at a place where I'm pretty darn happy with the look of my town. As such, I thought I'd take a moment today to share some of the QR codes I've put to use while developing Animachi.

For instance, here's the path design that twists and turns its way around my humble borough:





(I found it while perusing the wonderful merongcrossing.tumblr.com, by the way.)

I considered using the following design instead, but in the end I preferred the more natural look of the one above.



That said, if I ever buy another copy of this game (a distinct possibility given the number of 3DSes in my possession at the moment), I may finally put it to use.



I also like the path design shown above, but I've been unable to find a QR code of it anywhere. (FYI: QR codes for the "little boats on water" pattern can be found here.)

Those of you who have visited Animachi in person or via its Dream Address (5600-2252-0337) likely have encountered the adorable Isabelle "photo face board" that sits just a hop, skip and a jump away from the town's Re-Tail shop.



It was nabbed from soeurs-doigts-de-fee.skyrock.com, in case any of you would like to know where I first came across it.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the fabulously fungal pattern that covers the walls of my main character's (Mayor Aino) cozy study.



It was produced by Pixiv illustrator Meyu, by the way, and I was turned onto it by my pal Anne (of chic-pixel.com).

If any of you have favorite New Leaf QR codes you'd like to introduce me to, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.

See also: 'Aino's (and Bryan's) Adventures in Animachi'