While it's been established that I know little about The King of Fighters series, I am not without a sense of reportorial obligation to cover the series well. So when I returned from my E3 meeting with The King of Fighters XII publisher Ignition without having asked about Mai Shiranui's whereabouts in the game, I vowed to make amends.

I did so when I met with Ignition folks in New York today.

I did want to know why she was in such heavy demand. Not that I hadn't seen pictures of her and couldn't guess. And, sure enough, I was informed that it was not because of her love of making boxed lunches (which I have verified). It is assumed it is because she has large breasts. (She's 87cm, 55cm, 91cm according to the official site, that first number converting to 34 inches).

OK, then. So, she's not in the game. Any expectations to the contrary due to her recently being featured on The King of Fighters anniversary website should not be seen as proof of anything, I was told. But perhaps she'll be in DLC?

Ignition's director of business development, Shane Bettenhausen, to me: "SNK has not divulged plans for downloadable characters at this time."

Bettenhausen said that while there will be downloadable content, it's not been clarified whether that content will be new characters, levels, or who knows what.

I questioned SNK's decision to leave their popular character out. Bettenhausen likened it to Capcom leaving their most popular female fighter, Chun-Li, out of the original release of Street Fighter III. He theorized: "I think the thinking is that they are making you wait because you want her."

He then started making a fruit analogy. Something about waiting for fruit to ripen. Not wanting fruit to go rotten. That was enough on that. No further questions.

Released this month, figure company Volks released this 180mm-tall Mai Shiranui Queen's Gate version — yours for ¥8,000 (US$84.60). The blue version is the standard release, and the red version is limited edition. The King of Fighters? No, The King of Figures. Or Queen. Whichever.

Queen's Gate Moe Collect Plus SP01 Shiranui Mai QG Volks Ver. 1/8 PVC figure by Volks M.O.E. [Neko Magic]

At the Volks Osaka hobby showroom has a Mai Shiranui from SNK's The King of Fighters. She'll be up on the Volks charity auction block. The proceeds will go to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Never have plastic boobs done such good. Well, maybe not never. More NSFW pics in the link below.

チャリティーオークション出品予定作品　ボークス・絶対領域 不知火舞の緊急お披露目会 [Ota Road]

After all, it's been a good six months since she's been sculpted into a T&A-showcase pose. Or has it been six weeks? Who can keep up with all these otaku-catering sculpts? The newest, due March of next year, is based on Mai's KOF: Maximum Impact appearances.

Set aside 16,590 yen (just shy of $180 USD) if you desperately need one for your secret shelf. Or just peruse the gallery to get your kicks.

Have a closer look after the jump. Pics are NSFW.

おっぱい祭り　「クイーンズゲイト 紅の忍 不知火舞」発売 [Akiba Blog]

Two final production notes: first, her fans are made of paper and wood and actually collapse and unfold like real folding fans, which is a really cool touch, though they should be treated with care to avoid breakage. Also, while clearly not intended for castoff it's easy enough to pry the front of her costume away from her breasts and peel the front back over her shoulders — though that's as far as it goes.

Mai Review [Heisei Democracy]

Mai Shiranui [HobbyStock]

Again focusing on the characters most dramatic assets, her T&A, Aizu Project ups the gratuitous double cleavage exposure from Kinu Nishimura's Max Factory version of Mai with this impossible pose. While the "T" shot doesn't show off the goods that well, I thought the "A" view was too hot for the front page (sorry RSS readership!), so you'll have to make the jump for the booty shot.

Yikes! Put this thing away if you ever get a girl back to your place.

The 1/7 scale Mai Shiranui figure will set importers back $165 USD and ship this July. Michael McWhertor

Aizu Project Mai Shiranui 1/7 Scale Figure [NCSX]