Lucky, lucky Japanese Monster Hunters -- millions of them! -- will be jumping into the world of Monster Hunter Tri come August 1. Once again, the Capcom e-Store team are producing an awesome limited-edition bundle, pictured below

Not only is the crate-inspired packaging rad, but the $100-ish Limited Edition version comes with a DVD that contains the inevitable "Making of" that you'll never watch, but also a more interesting live orchestral performance of MH music. Also in the box is a random rubber monster head that you can use to scare your cats or nerdify your work environment, your call.

No, we're not announcing MH Tri in the US, so just cool your jets. In the meantime, watch this Japanese trailer and gnash your teeth over all the fun you'll be missing out on...

Hey! I stole this info and the video from Kotaku, so make sure you're reading their site every day, mmm kay?

The Encyclopedia Gigantica is filled with help for all you Hunters. It's a little light on content at the moment, but more will be added both before and after the launch of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on the PSP on June 23.

While over in Japan in early October for Tokyo Game Show, I managed to sneak off to legendary gamer/otaku sanctuary Akihabara. While down there, I saw a huge display for what turned out to be Monster Hunter-themed ramen. This is not the 90% styrofoam that you undoubtedly live/lived on during/after your collegial years; this is a full on Campbell's Chunky-style meal in a can, complete with dancing Felyne on the can and a cute tote bag that came free with a purchase of two cans. I bought two cans in Akihabara, grabbed the free tote and headed back home, only to have crazy Japanese airport security seize the soup on my way through the gate, forcing me to either throw the soup away or go all the way back to United check in and... I dunno what I was supposed to do, wasn't like United was going to pull my bags out just for me to tuck in two cans of soup. So to summarize: the Japanese version of TSA owes me two goddamned cans of Monster Hunter ramen, stat.

Actually, that was before I had read this description of the ramen on import site NCSX:

If you boil pork bones and whatever's still attached to those bones for about 10-15 hours, you'll end up with a milky liquid known as tonkotsu soup. Add a heaping of stringy arum root noodles, soy sauce, a few slivers of shimeji mushroom, and assorted spices to create Umai's canned Monster Hunter Tonkotsu Ramen. The company is selling the ramen in two types of cans but the contents are the same.

Bleargh! Look, I'm no hippie vegtarian like weird-o beard-o s-kill, but the knowledge of the contents of the can has now pretty much turned me off of ever again randomly purchasing packaged goods in Japan. I'm sticking to a strict Crunky and CC Lemon diet next time I'm in Japan.