Hello everyone.
This is Funasen, in charge of CSM development.

Today, detailed information about the "CSM Exabelt & Exalyzer" was released and pre-orders have begun!


Thank you for the immediate response!
The first round of reservations is currently expected to close early, with the second round planned to begin tomorrow at the earliest.
During today, items that have remained in your cart but have not yet been fully reserved may occasionally be released and become available again, so if you have time, please check the page regularly.
(By the way, I get told off every time, but we don't limit the number of applicants for the first round...)

Today's blog is the first, so we will introduce the overall overview of this product.

First off, here is the feature that I'm sure many of you were excited about, which was mentioned in last week's blog.

The Ixa Knuckle comes equipped with two modes: "Modern Mode" and "Past Mode"!!


Many people may think that this is a standard feature by now, but it now makes it possible to transform using the low-pitched system voices and sound effects of the 1986 version of Ikusa, something that wasn't possible in the DX version at the time.
*Sorry, but in the product introduction PV posted on YouTube, the transformation standby sound of the previous version was the same as the modern version.
Please rest assured that the actual product is the correct, lower version.

The power switch on the back of the Ixa Knuckle can be turned on in two directions, marked "2008" or "1986," and each mode produces different sounds, including the transformation sound, sound effects, whistle loading sound, dialogue, and background music!
It really does make a huge difference, so it feels like you're getting a great deal, like getting the equivalent of two belts in one.

We will be going into more detail about the different behaviors for each mode in a blog next week, so please stay tuned.
Above all, we have carefully recreated the transformation sounds from previous episodes, which was what was most desired.

Also, did you hear the transformation sound in the PV?
Naturally, this time, after pressing the transformation standby sound activation button, the chattering robot voice does not play before "Ready," so you can recreate the exact sequence from the movie.

As for the transformation sounds, it also features the first "Burst mode transformation sounds"!
When transforming in modern mode, only the save mode transformation sound will be heard, but if you pull the knuckle trigger after transforming, the "burst mode transformation sound" will be activated.
And that's not all.
The "dialogue button" now doubles as a "performance change switch", so by pressing and holding this before transformation,
"The sound of transforming from save mode to burst mode in one go."
You can switch to the "Rising EXA direct transformation sound" !
Rising EXA has had several different transformations, so we've included all of those variations.

...And this effect changeover switch also has an effective function in the past mode. (I will explain it later.)


This time, we asked two cast members to record the voices: Keisuke Kato as Nago and Kohei Takeda as Otoya.
The two of them are still as cool as ever, even after 10 years, and they have some great lines, so please look forward to it!
Just the lines in the promotional video are enough to give you goosebumps!
Anyway, these two have a lot of great quotes.
I was really surprised when I found out in an interview that it was all improvised...!
"Once is a coincidence, twice is a miracle, third time is inevitability, four times is fate..." It's incredible that this was ad-libbed...
It is also of high quality and can be enjoyed as a memorial item, tracing the journey of the two men who fought as Ikusa through their dialogue.
There are quite a lot of words included this time, but just like with Garrenbuckle, there is a dialogue skip function, so I think it will be easier to play!







●Ixa Belt

Isn't the electronic gimmick of the Ixabelt also a long-awaited feature?
Naturally, the EXA Generator lights up, and when the belt is fastened, a "click" sound is heard when the joint on the right hip is connected.
In addition, a sound was played when the Whistle was inserted, so this has been reproduced, and by installing a switch that recognizes when the Ixa Knuckle is attached or pressed in, it is possible to light up the Ixa Generator in response to the operation of the knuckle.

The biggest feature of this electronic belt is that it allows for the forced cancellation of past Ikusa's transformation.
When you transform using the Ixa Knuckle activated in Past Mode, after 100 seconds a radio wave will be transmitted from the knuckle to the belt, and the generator will flash along with a warning sound.
After another 100 seconds have passed, radio waves will be emitted from the knuckles again, and the knuckle belt will return to its pre-transformation state along with the "forced de-transformation sound."

Regarding the forced transformation cancellation, it is possible to change the performance by long pressing the "dialogue button" described at the top of the blog and then transform without the ringing!
(The default setting is to ring.)


Equalizer

Perhaps the most pleasing feature of the Equalizer is the long-awaited independence of all buttons.
That alone makes it feel even more authentic. It's also fully painted, so I think it gives it a luxurious feel.
(Only the riser whistle will be molded in color to prevent the paint from peeling off when it is installed.)
The Equalizer's transformation has also been changed from the DX version to match the sequence in the movie, so it's quite an upgrade.
Today's blog is getting too long so I will explain this in more detail in a future blog.


●About size and details
The size of the CSM EXA belt is the same as the DX size, both the knuckles and the belt buckle.

Regarding this, I had heard opinions for a long time that "DX is a child's size and not all of the fingers can fit, so we want it to be made bigger with CSM," so until I started development in earnest I also thought, "For now, we have to make it bigger so that it's easier to grip the knuckles." However, when I actually started development and looked at the materials, I changed my mind and realized that it wouldn't work unless it remained the DX size.

After researching the props, I found that the Ixabelt (knuckle) came in three different sizes.

① Something that actors use when transforming
② Something that is wrapped around your neck when wearing a suit
③ This is what you hold when wearing a suit for knuckle attacks .

And ① was the same size as the DX Ikusa Belt. (Please also see the interviews with Mr. Kato and Mr. Takeda.)
In terms of size difference, the hierarchy is DX = ① (normal) < ② (big) < ③ (super big).

If you increase the size of everything as in ②, it would be fine for gripping the knuckles, but the belt and whistle would also become huge, so they would end up being so large that it would feel strange for a flesh-and-blood human being to wear them.
Similarly, with the CSM KIVAT BELT, we based it on the size in the movie when it is placed on the hand, and as a result, it ended up being the same size as the DX.
When considering lining up with CSMs from the same work and considering the compatibility of the Whistle, we decided that this should be the same as KIVAT BELT.

By the way, regarding the belt when wearing the suit (②), if you watch the movie, you will see that even when Ixa is wearing the suit, when he grips the knuckles on the belt, there are only three fingers left - the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger - so in fact, the proportions are no different from those of a living human wearing DX.
When removed, knuckle ③ is so large that it can be gripped with four fingers, which gave me the illusion that all prop knuckles were large, but this was not the case.
(Also, the actor's knuckle attacks were sometimes quite loud, but I think that was probably because he had ②.)

The first molded product was completed the other day, so I would like to post it here.
I was very particular about the appearance.



The exterior will match ①, with almost the same details as the DX version.
However, we have made small adjustments that will be obvious when you actually hold it in your hands, such as hiding screws, filling in holes, and reviewing the position of part division (changing the part division to one that has been carefully thought out so that the division lines are not visible).
In addition, the LED that was on the DX version of the Ixa Knuckle has been removed.
Since it doesn't glow in the movie, we decided to eliminate that and instead focus on improving the appearance by printing and painting an impressive striped pattern.


*The BGM button is located opposite the dialogue buttons.

Almost all of the strange dividing lines have disappeared, except for the dialogue and background music buttons.
In particular, all of the screw holes on the back of the knuckle have been filled in, so I think we have created the ideal Ixa knuckle.
Due to the compact size of the Ixa Knuckle, even though the inside is packed with electronic components, we were able to place the dialogue and BGM buttons in the positions we had aimed for from the beginning. They can be easily pressed with your thumb or pinky finger.
The dividing lines for the buttons will remain, but they have a necessary function as a toy - in particular the dialogue buttons, which, as explained at the top of the blog, also serve as the transformation sounds and various effect buttons, so we have placed them in this position with the understanding that they are absolutely necessary for the product.
I hope you understand that I have given this information careful thought.

By the way, the CSM KIVAT BELT reflected all the details of the suit props even though it was DX size. However, when the Ixa Belt was also sculpted to resemble a suit prop using the same techniques, we found that the unevenness of the grip was so deep that it would hurt the thumb and little finger when gripping it.
Therefore, we are proceeding by pursuing DX details, i.e. the design of the actor's version of the prop.
(Only the Whistle and Whislot are based on the suit design version to match KIVAT BELT. The DX version is full of holes.)

On the other hand, the Equalizer is slightly larger than the DX version.
The design is based on the compatible size of the Whistle and worked backwards from there.


...Wow, this is getting too long.
There really isn't enough time or words to talk about it.
That's all for today. In next week's blog I will continue to talk about the appeal and true value of the Ixabelt.

Finally, deliveries of the second batch KIVAT BELT and the first batch of Tatsurot began last weekend.
Finally, alongside Tatsurot, the CSM KIVAT BELT really shows its worth.
Did you enjoy the radio conversations and transformations?
If you have one, be sure to display it together with the Ixa Belt!

That's all for today's blog.
The next update will be on Monday, June 1st.

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing some of the more in-depth gimmicks of the Ixa Belt.
Well then!