Topics

[Goku and crew are back for another adventure on the Game Boy Advance.]

126

TalkBack / Atari Reveals Dragon Ball Z: The Legend of Goku 2

« on: April 11, 2003, 10:14:25 AM »

Goku and crew are back for another adventure on the Game Boy Advance.

The Best-Selling Saga Continues as Atari Introduces Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II

The Next Chapter in the Blockbuster Franchise Continues on the Game Boy(R) Advance  

 BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2003-- Atari adds to the success of the Dragon Ball Z franchise by introducing an all new role playing adventure game for the Game Boy® Advance. Capitalizing on the success of Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku(TM), the best-selling role playing game for the Game Boy Advance in 2002(1), Atari today announced Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku II(TM). Slated to release in June 2003, Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku II(TM) adds a thrilling new chapter that invites players to experience even more of the Dragon Ball Z® story.  Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku II(TM) allows fans to play as any one of five DBZ® heroes, including Trunks®, Vegeta®, Piccolo(TM), Gohan® and Goku®, as they journey from the Trunks Saga through the Cell Games. With more than 10 gigantic game maps to access and explore, Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku II(TM) spans approximately one-third of the Dragon Ball Z® story and allows players to train, fight and fulfill quests as they advance their way to battle the evil Cell.  

"We are thrilled to continue working with the massively successful Dragon Ball Z® license," Paul Rinde, senior vice president of Infogrames, said. "Partnering with FUNimation has allowed us to develop fantastic and totally engrossing Dragon Ball Z® interactive experiences, and The Legacy of Goku II is no exception."  

FUNimation Productions president Gen Fukunaga said, "We have worked closely with Atari to ensure faithfulness to the rich DBZ® universe. Atari has added several gameplay and graphics enhancements that will make the player's DBZ® experience even more exciting. The end result is another successful DBZ title that we are sure fans are going to love."  

Developed by WebFoot Technologies, Inc. Dragon Ball Z®: The Legacy of Goku II(TM) is scheduled for a June release, and will have an ESRB rating of "E" for Everyone. For more information on this title and all Dragon Ball Z® titles, visit www.dbzgamer.com.

[It comes preloaded with codes for 130 GBA titles, plus enhanced support for the new monster-collecting games.]

127

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: April 09, 2003, 12:49:46 PM »

It comes preloaded with codes for 130 GBA titles, plus enhanced support for the new monster-collecting games.

DATEL UNVEILS NEW ACTION REPLAY FOR GAME BOY ADVANCE

Clearwater, FL  - April 9, 2003  - Datel Electronics, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of video game enhancement products, has announced the release of a new Action Replay for Game Boy® Advance and Game Boy® Advance SP. The new Action Replay for Game Boy Advance will be available at retail in April, 2003.

Specifically designed to provide maximum game enhancement for the newest crop of monster-collecting GBA games such as Pokemon® Ruby and Sapphire, and Yu-Gi-Oh!™  Dungeon Dice Monsters, the Action Replay for Game Boy Advance takes advantage of new software allowing for better results while using fewer game enhancement codes. While the Action Replay is designed to maximize play with these newer collecting games, it still works great with other Game Boy Advance titles.  

“With the new Game Boy Advance SP hardware and games like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! hitting the shelves, more gamers than ever are using the Game Boy Advance", says Doug Parsons, Manager of Public Relations for Datel Design and Development. "The new Action Replay for Game Boy Advance will give these gamers, as well as all Game Boy Advance users, the ultimate weapon against tough to beat games. With new codes being added to our extensive database on a daily basis, Action Replay for Game Boy Advance will be the only portable cheat device a gamer will ever need."

The new Action Replay for Game Boy Advance comes loaded with over 3000 codes for more than 130 great Game Boy Advanced games. Included with the Action Replay is PC Linking software and cable, allowing users to download new codes directly from www.CodeJunkies.com, the official Action Replay support site. Codes can also be entered manually through the intuitive new Action Replay interface.  

The Action Replay for Game Boy Advance will be available in April 2003 and will retail for only $19.99.

[Rick mananged to grab a few clips of WrestleMania XIX in action last weekend. Now see what Rick was so excited about!]

128

TalkBack / WrestleMania XIX Movies

« on: April 02, 2003, 09:37:20 AM »

Rick mananged to grab a few clips of WrestleMania XIX in action last weekend.  Now see what Rick was so excited about!

Rick got to spend a couple of hours checking out an early build of WrestleMania XIX for GameCube this past weekend, and while the game was still in pre-alpha state, it moved very fluidly.  But why don't you check it out for yourself?  We have seven videos below for you to check out

Don't forget to right-click the link and save the movie to your computer:  

WrestleMania XIX

Movie 1 (4.5MB MPEG)
Movie 2 (4.7MB MPEG)
Movie 3 (11.3MB MPEG)
Movie 4 (2.8MB MPEG)
Movie 5 (16.6MB MPEG)
Movie 6 (16.6MB MPEG)
Movie 7 (8.8MB MPEG)

[We've got even more movies of Link kickin' ass. Now in MPEG and Windows Media 9 Format! Hiiiiyaaahhhhhhhhhh!]

129

TalkBack / Soul Calibur 2 - More Link Action!

« on: March 28, 2003, 10:30:13 AM »

We've got even more movies of Link kickin' ass.  Now in MPEG and Windows Media 9 Format!  Hiiiiyaaahhhhhhhhhh!

We just got our shiny new import copy of Soul  Calibur 2 from our good friends at Video  Game Depot (order now!), and put Link to the test.  We've got the full  intro and Link playing in a bunch of different battles.  Warning:  If  you don't want to see the final boss in Arcade Mode, don't watch Movie #8.

We've decided to encode these videos 2 ways:  Windows Media 9, and MPEG.  Don't forget to right click and save this file to your computer.

*You will need Windows Media Player to view the Windows Media Files.

Soul Calibur 2

Windows Media:

Movie 1 (11.9MB Windows Media File)
Movie 2 (8.4MB Windows Media File)
Movie 3 (2.6MB Windows Media File)
Movie 4 (2.9MB Windows Media File)
Movie 5 (3.8MB Windows Media File)
Movie 6 (3.8MB Windows Media File)
Movie 7 (4.2MB Windows Media File)
Movie 8 (6.0MB Windows Media File)

MPEG:

Movie 1 (28.1MB MPEG)
Movie 2  (20.3MB MPEG)
Movie 3  (11.4MB MPEG)
Movie 4  (12.4MB MPEG)
Movie 5  (16.5MB MPEG)
Movie 6  (16.2MB MPEG)
Movie 7  (18.0MB MPEG)
Movie 8  (25.9MB MPEG)

[Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire ship to retailers today!]

130

TalkBack / Pokemon To Take Over North America

« on: March 17, 2003, 04:01:25 AM »

Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire ship to retailers today!  

America Braces for Next Huge Pokemon Wave

Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire for Game Boy Advance Give New Game-Play and Learning Experience

REDMOND, Wash.--March 17, 2003--If people doubt Pokemon's stronghold on the hearts of fans worldwide, they haven't been paying attention -- Nintendo estimates worldwide Pokemon franchise revenue in 2002 alone at $1 billion.

In addition, Pokemon(R) Ruby and Pokemon(R) Sapphire for Game Boy(R) Advance sold more than four million copies combined within its first six weeks of launching in Japan, and the Kids' WB! cartoon is achieving some of its highest ratings ever. Today's launch of Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire proves the Pokemon fever carries on five years after its video game and entertainment product introduction in North America.

"The Pokemon franchise continues to generate anticipation and has solidified its place as an evergreen property," says George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America Inc. "Fans will love the new characters, the involving storyline and challenging new features, like two-on-two battles."

Similar to previous Pokemon games, the quest to become a Pokemon Master continues, as players work as a boy or girl trainer to discover more than 100 new Pokemon characters, along with many returning favorites. In these new versions, however, players will need to think of new strategies as they battle using two Pokemon simultaneously, with up to three other players battling it out at once.

Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire stimulate players' minds, allowing them to think strategically, observe and analyze. To be successful, players must learn about the forces of nature in order to move on with the game; for example, what a player learns about ecology will become extremely important when the game begins to climax.

Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire are the first two Pokemon titles designed for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and are available for a suggested retail price of $39.95 each. Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire are published by The Pokemon Company and distributed exclusively by Nintendo of America.

To support the franchise's newest video games, Nintendo kicked off the Pokemon Rocks! online contest on www.pokemon-games.com on March 11. Through April 4, anyone 18 years and younger is encouraged to enter by writing their own Pokemon-themed lyrics to the Pokemon cartoon series "Master Quest" theme song, perform it on videotape and send it in to be judged by Nintendo. Nintendo will initially choose 10 semi-finalists, before eventually choosing the grand-prize winner to drive away in a Pokemon-customized Chrysler PT Cruiser. In addition, on March 15, New York fans had a chance to dress up as their favorite Pokemon character while visiting the Pokemon Center NY to sample and buy the games before anyone else, witness the exhibition and judging of life-size Pikachu statues decorated by local YMCA children and see the Pokemon costume characters in real life!

Pokemon USA, Inc., the New York-based subsidiary of The Pokemon Company in Japan, manages and oversees the Pokemon franchise in North and Latin America, which includes licensing, merchandising, TV animation, theatrical releases, home video entertainment, the official Pokemon Web site, the Pokemon Center NY in Rockefeller Center and www.pokemoncenter.com, an e-commerce site.

Pokemon first launched for the world's best-selling Game Boy(R) video game system in Japan in 1996 and has since evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Since bringing the franchise to North America in September 1998, Nintendo has sold more than 110 million Pokemon games worldwide. Pokemon merchandise has generated over $15 billion in worldwide retail sales since 1998. The trading card game, fueled by organized play programs in 47 countries, has spurred global sales of 9.8 billion cards to date. For more information on Pokemon games, go to www.pokemon-games.com or www.pokemon.com.

[We hooked up with Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack after he won his AIAS award, and let the questions fly. Get the full audio interview right here!]

131

TalkBack / Denis Dyack vs. Planet GameCube

« on: March 01, 2003, 02:48:16 PM »

We hooked up with Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack after he won his AIAS award, and let the questions fly.  Get the full audio interview right here!

On Friday during D.I.C.E, Senior Staffer Daniel Bloodworth and Director Billy  Berghammer got to sit down with Denis Dyack, the President of Silicon Knights (while policed by our friend, NOA's Tom Harlan -- you'll hear him too),  and talked to him about all things Eternal Darkness, winning an AIAS award, and  what's in store for SK in the future.  The entire interview runs over 30  minutes (33:33 to be exact...coincidence?), so we've broken it up into a few MP3 files while we transcribe  everything. (Note: There are possible Eternal Darkness spoilers in here if you haven't played.)

Special thanks to Denis Dyack for taking the time to answer our  questions. 

Don't forget to right click and save these files to your computer.

*You will need some sort of MP3 player like WinAmp to listen to these files.

The Denis Dyack 2003 D.I.C.E. Interview

Part 1 (5.9MB MP3)
Part 2 (6.0MB MP3)
Part 3 (2.9MB MP3)
Part 4 (1.4MB MP3)
 

[GameCube developers now have a new resource to help them tune up their games.]

132

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: February 27, 2003, 06:20:21 AM »

GameCube developers now have a new resource to help them tune up their games.

"ProDG Plus" for Nintendo GameCube

BRISTOL, UK: 24th February 2003

SN Systems will be exhibiting on stand 1022 at GDC 2003 where they will be presenting their latest product "ProDG Plus" for Nintendo GameCube.  

Going one step further than its ProDG predecessor, ProDG Plus unites two of SN Systems top-selling products, ProDG and "Tuner", to create a tools package for developing games on the Nintendo GameCube platform. Already a hugely successful product for the PlayStation2, Tuner allows you to capture performance data from a running ELF, with minimal impact to your game speed, enabling you to eliminate conflicts and bottlenecks in your code. By locating untapped performance capacity, Tuner enables the full potential of the GameCube console to be realised and better high performance games to be developed as a result.

The new ProDG Plus package for the Nintendo GameCube has evolved as a result of valuable feedback from developers seeking a similar solution for their Nintendo GameCube titles. As a result, ProDG Plus has been launched and now also incorporates exclusive debugger scripting features, which are not available in the standard ProDG suite. A conversion offer for existing ProDG users wishing to access the new features is available.

This new product further strengthens SN Systems' close relationship with Nintendo, and consolidates the company's successful market position in delivering ProDG development tools to the majority of games developers worldwide.

Commenting on this new product, Andy Beveridge, Director at SN Systems, said: "ProDG Plus takes games development to a new level of efficiency and sophistication and we anticipate a strong demand for this new product. Building on the success of ProDG, we feel that we have now established ourselves as the first port of call for development tools."

ENDS

About SN Systems SN Systems is an independent games software tool producer based in Bristol, England. Since 1988, SN Systems has been setting the standards for development tools within the console industry. As new platforms appear SN is the first to provide tools to the industry to work with the new target. SN's tools are widely regarded as the leading development system on all main console platforms and for programmers throughout the world.

Further information on all the products can be obtained on the SN Systems' website at http://www.snsys.com, or e-mail sales@snsys.com.

[Magnifiers, carry cases, game cases, charger kits, grips and link cables - it's all here.]

133

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: February 26, 2003, 04:53:27 AM »

Magnifiers, carry cases, game cases, charger kits, grips and link cables - it's all here.

MAD CATZ TO LAUNCH LEADING EDGE NINTENDO GAME BOY ADVANCE SP ACCESSORIES

Mad Catz Inc., the worlds leading third party manufacturer and marketer of video game accessories, today announced that the Company's full line of accessories for Nintendo's recently announced Game Boy Advance SP, will be available to European retailers in time for the launch of Game Boy Advance SP in March.  

Mad Catz will launch with an innovative range of core accessories for Game Boy Advance SP, which will include magnifiers, carry cases, game cases, charger kits, grips and link cables.  

"We are expecting an amazing response to the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP, after the success that the Game Boy Advance received over the last two years", commented Mike Sale, Director of Sales for Mad Catz Europe, Ltd.

"The Game Boy Advance SP provides Mad Catz with the opportunity to further strengthen our world class product line and to further enhance the SP gaming experience for all gamers. We have an exciting range of products ready for the launch of the SP in March and expect to add many more exciting and innovative products to our SP range as the year progresses."  

[The screenshots are trying to tell you something.]

134

TalkBack / Network Play in Pikmin 2?

« on: February 25, 2003, 06:15:54 PM »

The screenshots are trying to tell you something.

Multiplayer has been just about the only sure thing regarding Pikmin 2 since the game was first confirmed a few months ago.  Most people assumed the feature would manifest in a split-screen mode, and sure enough, the first set of screenshots released include a look at the horizontal split-screen mode for two players.  You can see separate target icons on the ground, as each player is working separately.  This screen is likely showing a competitive multiplayer mode.

In the next shot, only one targeting reticule is visible.  It could be a trick of the camera angle, but you’ll also notice that the display is not split-screen.  Every screen released so far depicts both Captain Olimar and his new companion, a fellow astronaut who also seems to be capable of commanding the Pikmin.  Yet only one of these screens shows the split-screen mode.  Of course, it could be argued that Nintendo has simply implemented a smart split-screen feature, in which the two displays merge into one if the players are close enough to each other.  Such a feature has been done in a few games before.  But that can’t be a valid explanation, because the two spacemen are close together in the last screen too, which did have a split.  It's possible that you can select whether to use split or merged displays during multiplayer.  Another reasonable assumption is that the screen is split for competitive multiplayer and shared for cooperative multiplayer.

However, other screenshots may reveal something even more exciting for Pikmin fans.  In the next screen, you’ll see that the standard Pikmin interface is in place, but the other spaceman is also in the shot!

There is no sign of a second targeting reticule, so it’s tough to judge just yet, but it’s definitely odd.  Of course, it’s possible that this is just like the last screen, but from a later build that includes the HUD.  But why is there only one?  How is the blue player to control his Pikmin or know how many he has?  The answer lies in this final screenshot…

Above, you see the pink targeting reticule, and a pink arrow.  There is no sign of the blue reticule, no split-screen…what’s going on?  There are two possible explanations.  First, the second astronaut could be controlled by the computer, a “bot”, if you will.  The first Pikmin sported some impressive artificial intelligence, and having the GameCube control both the little Pikmin and another astronaut, with his own pseudo-autonomous control over the Pikmin, would be quite a feat for the sequel.  However, bots are typically used to provide artificial competitors, not helpers.  The screenshot above clearly indicates that the other guy is there to help.  Either that, or Captain Olimar is really lacking in the homeland security department.  It is also possible that the second character is under the player’s control via remote control of some kind, but Pikmin is such an involving game that it’s questionable how much good a second controllable character would be.  Plus, there doesn’t seem to be any on-screen information about the second character’s status, which would probably be necessary if the two spacemen became involved in separate tasks at some distance from each other.

The other explanation, and a far more enticing one, is that this second character is being controlled by a real person on a different television screen.  The only way for that to happen is network play…either via LAN or an online mode.  PGC’s own Louie the Cat has already hinted that several GameCube titles this year would enable LAN play over an Ethernet connection and broadband adapters.  And of course, we all expect Nintendo to unveil its online plans at E3 2003 in May.  Pikmin 2 is looking like a very ripe candidate for either one or both of these network features.

Please note that this article is highly speculative and that Pikmin 2 is still early in development; these screenshots may not be indicative of the game’s final form.  We just wanted to point out a few interesting things that you may not have noticed.

Rick Powers collaborated on this article.

[Nintendo may be in second place in sales, but no one is making more money.]

135

TalkBack / Nintendo down for the count? Not even close.

« on: February 25, 2003, 07:02:19 AM »

Nintendo may be in second place in sales, but no one is making more money.

Pundits are quick to proclaim that Nintendo is on the ropes, that they'll pull out of the hardware market and focus on software like former rival Sega.  Nintendo denies the possibility, and a new report has been released that proves just that.

In a 600 page report released by DFC Intelligence entitled "Market Leaders in the Video Game and Interactive Entertainment Industry", they calculate the gross profit each of the video game powerhouses has made, and how much went into the bottom line.  While Nintendo has made close to half of what Sony has in revenue, Nintendo has pocketed more money by keeping careful tabs on the bottom line.

The report goes on to say that this attitude might have cost Nintendo, as the market has evolved and Nintendo has remained as focused as ever.  It's mentioned that the same fourteen-year-olds that Nintendo considers its core market are more interested in games like Grand Theft Auto...games parents wouldn't want those kids playing.

The question is left open ... what does Nintendo need to do in the next generation to compete?  Will Nintendo shift its focus and attempt to be the "it" console with the successor to GameCube, or will they remain focused on the family market?  The report acknowledges that Nintendo's focus has shifted slightly with games like Eternal Darkness and Metroid Prime and by making deals with companies like Namco, Capcom and Square/Enix.

Thanks to Forum member "nolimit19" for the tip!

[As Nintendo shows off the arcade version of F-Zero at AOU 2003, they've also opened up the official website with full details on the game.]

136

TalkBack / F-Zero GC/AC Japanese Website Online

« on: December 31, 1999, 07:00:00 PM »

As Nintendo shows off the arcade version of F-Zero at AOU 2003, they've also opened up the official website with full details on the game.

Nintendo has pulled the covers off the arcade version of F-Zero and opened the official website to the public.  There are full details on both GameCube and arcade versions of the game, videos, pictures of the arcade cabinet, and details on how the games connect.  

There are also several wallpapers that you can download and a contest to win an F-Zero T-shirt and pins.  To top it off, there is a full interview with Nagoshi from Amusement Vision.  

The game is set to release in Japan this May with a US release following soon after.  Our Japanese correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya will have more details and photos from the AOU 2003 Amusement Expo in the coming hours, but if you can read Japanese, head over to the official site and get your fix now.

[The Zelda bonus disk will be included with the game at the European launch.]

137

TalkBack / Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker European Release

« on: February 18, 2003, 04:19:34 AM »

The Zelda bonus disk will be included with the game at the European launch.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Limited Edition Hits Europe

European Zelda fans will be able to get their hands on two additional classic  Zelda games for the NINTENDO GAMECUBE

February 18 2003 – Nintendo today announce the eagerly anticipated news that a limited edition bonus disk will be included with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker at launch on 3rd May.  

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, will include a bonus disk containing two additional NINTENDO GAMECUBE games:  The N64 Classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and previously unreleased title The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest, which was originally designed for the N64DD.  Also on the bonus disk will be additional gameplay footage including the all-new F-Zero, 1080_ Avalanche, Time Splitters 2, Phantasy Star Online, Rayman 3 & Super Monkey Ball 2, all for NINTENDO GAMECUBE.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the latest in the Zelda series, which began in 1986 with The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo’s NES console.  Since then, over 36 million Zelda games have been sold worldwide for Nintendo’s NES, SNES, N64, and Game Boy consoles.  

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker limited edition double disk set will be available from 3rd May 2003 priced around €60 whilst stocks last.

Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.

[In Europe that is. Get the goods here.]

138

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: February 17, 2003, 05:34:44 AM »

In Europe that is.  Get the goods here.

MOTORS, MUSIC, MISSIONS AND MILES OF RACING EXCITEMENT

TDK gets ready to go,go,go with next-gen racing spectacular World Racing

Are you a racing fanatic with staying power who's up to the challenge of becoming the Number one test driver?  

TDK Mediactive Europe, a leading entertainment software publisher, announced today the imminent release of its action-packed 3D racing-simulation game 'World Racing'. Developed in close cooperation with Mercedes-Benz, 'World Racing' is a virtual driving experience offering an extensive range of current, vintage, racing and even prototype cars - some shown here for the very first time in the public domain.

'World Racing' will speed into retail in first place for the XboxTM video game system from Microsoft on February 28th 2003. After a short development pit stop it will also race in for the Sony PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo GameCubeTM video game system. A PC release is also anticipated at the end of the first quarter 2003.

Barry Stearns, National Account Manager for TDK, said: "Excitement is mounting as we prepare for the launch of our highly anticipated World Racing title across the next generation platforms. Do you have nerves of steel and the stamina to take on the 'wall-of-death' in the ultimate test of endurance? or the racing lines and skill to burn up your opponents? If so, pull on your driving gloves and get the stop clocks ready as you prepare to enter this visually stunning driving spectacular. "  

'World Racing' features a revolutionary 3D Landscape Engine, which not only creates separate race tracks but facilitates the creation of kilometre long 3D sceneries allowing a 'virtually realistic' full driving experience on the race tracks and also off the road. The player can select his favourite model car from a nearly complete current range of cars from Mercedes-Benz. Each model is sculptured based on original data from Mercedes-Benz.

'World Racing' offers training missions, race and championship modes and also mission based play. Advanced technologies allow each driver to develop its own character and driving history to enable them to master.

[Pelican claims that Mad Catz and Fire International have competed unfairly. They, of course, disagree.]

139

TalkBack / Mad Catz and Fire Respond to Pelican Lawsuit

« on: February 14, 2003, 05:50:53 AM »

Pelican claims that Mad Catz and Fire International have competed unfairly. They, of course, disagree.  

MAD CATZ AND FIRE INTERNATIONAL RESPOND TO FRIVOLOUS ELECTRO SOURCE/PELICAN ACCESSORIES LAWSUIT            

SAN DIEGO, TORONTO & DONCASTER, England--Feb. 14, 2003--Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX:MCZ) (TSE:MCZ), the world's leading third-party video game accessory manufacturer, and Fire International Ltd., a leading intellectual property and technology development firm, today responded to a lawsuit filed on February 10, 2003 against both parties by Electro Source, LLC, which does business as Pelican Accessories. The suit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Mad Catz and U.K.-based, Fire International, Ltd. competed unfairly with Pelican in the development and marketing of certain video game products.

    Mad Catz and Fire are unaware of any basis for, or facts to support, the claims made by Pelican, and believe the claims are completely and entirely baseless and without merit. In particular all intellectual property being used by Mad Catz in its GameShark products was either developed independently or acquired by Mad Catz when it purchased the GameShark brand and the www.gameshark.com Web site URL from InterAct in January 2003.

    Mad Catz and Fire will vigorously defend themselves against the suit and will seek to recover all costs and expenses imposed on them by Pelican resulting from the lawsuit. Additionally, both Mad Catz and Fire are considering filing countersuits against Pelican and its principals.

    Morris Perlis, Mad Catz' CEO, and Jason Cooper, Group Managing Director of Fire, jointly issued the following statement, "We are outraged at the claims of Pelican, which are based on total inaccuracies. This ludicrous lawsuit is baseless and spurious. It is an offensive attempt to improperly use the courts to achieve an end that Pelican could not achieve commercially. GameShark was acquired by Mad Catz in an auction that was fairly and legally conducted. It is an affront to suggest otherwise. We will be strongly and forcefully defending this lawsuit and have no doubts of our complete success. We look forward to presenting the true facts. In particular, any attempt to intimidate our customers will not be tolerated."

    GameShark is the industry leader in video game enhancement software, which enables players to take full advantage of the secret codes, short cuts, hints and cheats incorporated by video game publishers into their game offerings. The highly popular GameShark web site is one of the highest traffic gaming sites on the Internet. Mad Catz intends to continue aggressively marketing its new GameShark brand and looks forward to continued success as the world's leading third party video game accessory manufacturer.  

[Well don't get too excited, unless you're from Europe. This will not be making a trip stateside.]

140

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: February 06, 2003, 05:31:30 AM »

Well don't get too excited, unless you're from Europe.  This will not be making a trip stateside.

Konami notches its ISS hat trick!

International Superstar Soccer 3 confirmed for March release

Konami of Europe returns to the football field with Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka, Inc (KCEO)'s International Superstar Soccer 3 (ISS3) running out for PlayStation 2 in March, with a version for the Nintendo GameCube following in May.

Designed as a companion title for Konami's world-renowned Pro Evolution Soccer series, ISS3 is a more arcade-orientated game than its stable-mate. Featuring a full selection of volleys, passes, flick-ons and rasping shots, ISS3 pits more than 90 FIFPro-endorsed international and club squads against each other in a variety of friendly and tournament matches. ISS3 also breaks new ground with the inclusion of a 'Mission Mode' wherein victorious players are awarded points after every match or by betting on the outcome of a two-player game, which can be used to build stadiums and unlock a wealth of special options and features.

ISS3 also extends this innovative approach to its on-field play, with KCE Osaka debuting an all-new 'Close-Up' mode. During the course of a match, an icon will flash above the head of a player as he nears the edge of the opposition's penalty area. On pressing L1, the game seamlessly zooms in on the attacking player, changing the view to directly behind him and giving the user more control over his actions. By holding down the R2 button on the controller, feints, spins and skill moves can be used as ISS3 players attempt to beat defenders in their way, while the 'Mission Mode' also holds the key to a number of additional tricks and moves.

The true beauty of ISS3, however, is its ability to grow with the player. While the controls are designed to introduce novice fans to the football genre, the intuitive use of passes, through-balls and first-time shots means that precision one-touch play is also possible, while the individual stats attributed to each of the instantly recognisable football stars can also be used to the player's advantage.

The game also benefits from the most detailed visuals in an ISS title to date. KCE Osaka has ensured that the sport's most famous names are instantly recognisable both in terms of appearance and trademark moves, with key players particularly adept as free kicks, while others enjoy enviable distribution skills and can make seemingly impossible defence-splitting passes with ease.

With its four-player mode, professional commentary and stadium announcements, ISS3 is the most accessible yet entertaining arcade football title to date. Its deft moves, intelligent player AI and incredible visuals and sound combine to create a truly immersive and always entertaining football title guaranteed to leave its rivals trailing in its wake.

ISS3 will be released for PlayStation 2 in March, and GameCube in May.

[The Bear Necessities come to GBA next week!]

141

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: February 05, 2003, 03:48:56 PM »

The Bear Necessities come to GBA next week!

UBI SOFT TO LAUNCH JUNGLE BOOK GAMES FOR  PLAYSTATION 2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM  AND NINTENDO GAME BOY  ADVANCE  

Two Titles Based on one of Disney's Most Popular Animated Features -  Just in Time for The Jungle Book 2

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - February 5, 2003 - Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced plans for two exciting games based on the classic Disney movie, The Jungle Book.  First released in 1967, The Jungle Book remains one of Disney's most popular animated features captivating three generations of moviegoers.  Now, for the first time in 36 years, Disney is bringing Mowgli and his friends back to the big screen in The Jungle Book 2. Two engaging games based on the original film will complement this new adventure, Disney's The Jungle Book for the Game Boy Advance and Disney's The Jungle Book: Rhythm n' Groove for the PlayStation 2.  Both are scheduled to launch in February 2003, to coincide with the theatrical release of the new movie.

"With these two Jungle Book titles based on the original film, Ubi Soft demonstrates its ongoing commitment to providing the finest in family games," said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing for Ubi Soft Entertainment.  "Children and adults alike will have a great time with this updated classic game, complete with new adventures, cool 3D graphics, entertaining characters, and the magic of the movie-going experience."

The brand new Disney's The Jungle Book for the Game Boy Advance allows players to explore vivid worlds and greet familiar faces as the young hero Mowgli.  Six lush, 3D worlds and 20 massive levels, such as the Indian Jungle, the Swamp, and King Louie's Temple, deliver mind-bending puzzles and mini-games:  

"       Encounter wild creatures  "       Challenge King Louie to a dance contest  "       Take a fast-action ride on Baloo's belly  "       Avoid the hypnotizing gaze of Kaa  The Animation Gallery offers another bonus where players can unlock photos of favorite jungle pals as well as special animated sequences from the original film.

Disney's The Jungle Book: Rhythm n' Groove for the PlayStation 2 updates the popular PlayStation version of the same game with spectacular new 3D graphics to take advantage of this next generation system; players can also view the theatrical trailer for The Jungle Book 2 and unlock 3D sequences based on the original film as they move through the game.  Using the game controller or any PlayStation 2-compatible dance pad, players can dance through the jungle:

"       Imitate the funky moves of all the jungle pals to bring Mowgli safely to the man-village  "       Move to the beat through 9 stunning 3D worlds, based on the main scenes of the movie  "       Groove to favorite tunes like "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You"  "       Play solo or with a friend: Dance as Mowgli or choose one of 10 characters from the film  

Both titles will release with the opening of The Jungle Book 2.  Cross-promotional ads will appear in the The Jungle Book 2: Born to Be Wild! book series, published by Random House, and the Jungle Book music album.

[By the former developers of the GameShark line, the Action Replay is set to ship mid-February.]

142

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: January 28, 2003, 03:29:48 PM »

By the former developers of the GameShark line, the Action Replay is set to ship mid-February.

DATEL ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES SHIP DATE FOR GAMECUBE ACTION REPLAY  

Clearwater, FL  - January 28, 2003  - Datel Electronics, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of videogame enhancement products has announced it will begin shipping the highly anticipated Action Replay™ Game Enhancer for GameCube™ to retailers on February 18.  

The Action Replay is the first game enhancer for Nintendo’s GameCube console, and is the lone solution for gamers looking for unauthorized GameCube cheat codes. With many GameCube titles featuring few if any official cheats, Action Replay is the only way for novice GameCube gamers to level the playing field.  

“We’re very excited about introducing a new group of gamers to the power of Action Replay,” says Doug Parsons, managing editor for Datel Design & Development, LTD. “Nintendo gamers will now have an option to get past difficult sections in a game or give an older title new life. Of course if you just want to crank up your ammo and have some fun, you have that option too.”

Action Replay for GameCube comes pre-loaded with over 1000 codes for more than 60 GameCube titles, including Super Mario Sunshine™, Metroid Prime™, Animal Crossing™, and James Bond 007: NightFire™.  Free code updates are available at the company’s official Action Replay website, www.codejunkies.com.

Action Replay for GameCube is designed with Datel’s best-selling game enhancer technology. Over the past 6 years, Datel developed game enhancers have become the most popular cheat device in North America, selling in excess of 4 million units.

Action Replay for GameCube will retail for $39.99, and to insure no gamer has to purchase additional hardware, comes complete with a memory unit to store new codes.  A limited release Action Replay packed with a fully compatible 1000 block memory card will be available for $49.99 allowing for both Action Replay code saves or to be used as a stand alone memory card when not being used with Action Replay.

Visit www.codejunkies.com to learn more about Action Replay for GameCube and Datel’s exciting lineup of other products.  

[You can get one of four games with a new GameCube. Also, new Player's Choice deals inside!]

143

TalkBack / Free game with GameCube

« on: January 23, 2003, 03:33:26 PM »

You can get one of four games with a new GameCube. Also, new Player's Choice deals inside!

This is the good word from Nintendo of America - starting February 9th, when you buy a GameCube at the regular price, you can snag Metroid Prime, Star Fox Adventures, Mario Party 4, or Resident Evil 0 - for free! This is for as long as supplies last. Tell your friends!

Also, Pikmin, Super Smash Brothers Melee, and Luigi's Mansion are going to be featured as Player's Choice games and will be priced at $29.95.

[As long as Fred Savage isn't in the movie, it's probably going to be a hit.]

144

TalkBack / RE: Metroid Movie in the Works

« on: January 21, 2003, 07:56:19 PM »

As long as Fred Savage isn't in the movie, it's probably going to be a hit.

Variety.com is reporting that Hollywood producers Warren Zide and Craig Perry (whose credits include Final Destination and American Pie) have acquired the rights to make a movie based on Nintendo's Metroid game series.  The producing duo is currently seeking out writers, directors, and some actors and actresses to fill out the roles of all involved.  Here's the preliminaries, courtesy of Variety:

The story is set in a once peaceful galaxy, which has its prosperity shattered by a startling discovery: On a routine mapping expedition of a planet, a survey crew discovers a new airborne life form -- the Metroid. Able to engulf other living beings, feed on their energy, and multiply in great numbers, they prove a terrifying menace. Female bounty hunter Samus Aran is commissioned by the Galactic Federation to eliminate the pests, but she soon discovers that pirates with a stolen Metroid specimen are plotting to breed an build an unstoppable army.

No other information has been revealed about the film other than this small tidbit.  Of course, when we learn more about the Metroid movie, we'll be the first to inform you about it.

[Less than a month out from Japanese SP launch, and the commercial is on the tube. We've got the first look at the new GBA SP commercial direct from Japan]

145

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: January 18, 2003, 07:42:32 AM »

Less than a month out from Japanese SP launch, and the commercial is on the tube.  We've got the first look at the new GBA SP commercial direct from Japan

The new Game Boy Advance SP commercial has hit the Japanese airwaves, and our correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya has captured it in all its 30 second glory.

Don't forget to right click and save these files to your computer.

*You will need Windows Media Player to view these files.

Game Boy Advance SP Commerical

Movie 1 (2.7MB MPEG)

[ATI touts Flipper's success at CES, and demos The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the public. So what’s next on the horizon for ATI? Could they be working on the next Nintendo console? Billy investigates….]

146

TalkBack / ATI @ CES 2003

« on: January 13, 2003, 08:30:59 AM »

ATI touts Flipper's success at CES, and demos The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the public.  So what’s next on the horizon for ATI?  Could they be working on the next Nintendo console?  Billy investigates….

As far as CES is concerned, Gaming wasn’t really "back at CES"  as they were saying it would be.  I have to be honest when I say that in the 12 hours I was on the show floor, I literally had to hunt for not only Nintendo news, but anything video game related.  Sure, Dolby was running Metroid Prime in Dolby II, but that’s not the news you crave.  I waded though the 1.25 million net square feet of exhibit space, the aisles of cell phone accessories, PDAs, booming car stereos, and booth babes (ahhh it’s good to see booth babes again), and found a TV running the import version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.  I looked up, and found that I was at the ATI booth.

ATI had Zelda on display, and was promoting the fact that because of their graphics hardware Zelda can look so outstanding.

I met with John Swinimer, Public Relations Manager for ATI, and talked with him about some of their upcoming products.  After beating around the bush for a while, I then asked him, "So now that GameCube has been out for well over a year, what's ATI working on next?  Are you working with Nintendo on their next generation hardware?"

John smiled and answered, "We were very happy to work with Nintendo on their GameCube hardware, and we'd be interested to work with them again in the future."  I prodded and tortured him to the best of my abilities.  I even asked him if he'd seen the Tazer booth that was across the way.  But, no matter what I tried...he wouldn't say anything further than the company line.  If ATI is actually working on the successor to the GameCube is still an unknown, but after seeing what ATI pulled off with the GameCube hardware, I sure wouldn't mind.

For more pictures of the ATI Booth at CES, click here.

[Even though it's not Super Hang On without the handlebars, I suppose this will do.]

147

TalkBack / THQ and Sega Announce Sega Arcade Gallery

« on: December 20, 2002, 03:13:52 PM »

Even though it's not Super Hang On without the handlebars, I suppose this will do.

THQ to Publish "SEGA Arcade Gallery" for Game Boy Advance

SEGA Arcade Classics Explode Onto Game Boy Advance

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Dec. 20, 2002 - THQ® Inc. and SEGA® Corporation today announced that THQ will publish SEGA ARCADE GALLERY™ for the Game Boy® Advance. Scheduled to ship in early Spring 2003, SEGA ARCADE GALLERY is part of THQ and SEGA's multi-title exclusive publishing agreement.

"Arcade classics like those developed by Yu Suzuki are legendary and very popular and we are very proud to add them to our Game Boy Advance line-up," said Alison Locke, executive vice president, North American publishing, THQ. "Great games will always be great games whether they are developed today or ten years ago."

"SEGA has a 40 year heritage in the video game industry and some of the world's most legendary video game talent including Yu Suzuki," said Shinobu Toyoda, executive vice president of content strategy and business development, SEGA of America, Inc. "SEGA's alliance with THQ, a leader in the handheld gaming category, helps us to bring our leading brands and classic content such as SEGA ARCADE GALLERY to the Game Boy Advance platform and an even bigger audience of gamers."

About SEGA ARCADE GALLERY™

A compilation of master video game visionary Yu Suzuki's finest arcade games:

• AFTER BURNER™ - Hop into the cockpit of a Navy F-14 to gun your way through wave after wave of oncoming bogeys.  

  
  

• OUTRUN™ - Get behind the wheel of a high-powered sports car as you race against the clock on tracks around the globe.  

  
  

• SPACE HARRIER™ - Blast your way through enemies and save dragons in this classic 3D action shooter.  

  
  

• SUPER HANG ON™ - Race across 4 regions on some of the most powerful GP motorcycles on the planet!

[Playboy and ARUSH Entertainment In Conjunction With Groove Games Announce Global Licensing Deal]

148

TalkBack / Playboy to create a "world builder" video game

« on: December 11, 2002, 03:09:33 PM »

Playboy and ARUSH Entertainment In Conjunction With Groove Games Announce Global Licensing Deal

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) (NYSE: PLA - News, PLAA - News) today announced a global licensing deal with ARUSH Entertainment in conjunction with Groove Games to create, market and distribute a set of interactive simulation video games. The first Playboy- branded game, which will be playable on multiple platforms including PC, Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox consoles, is targeted to be in stores in 2004.   The game, which is based on the world-builder simulation genre of video games, will allow players to walk in the slippers of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, establishing and building the Playboy empire and living the ultimate Playboy lifestyle. ARUSH Entertainment recently published Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project and Hunting Unlimited and will publish Devastation in 2003.

"We're delighted to work with ARUSH and Groove to develop this game and provide the Playboy audience with a new and exciting way to interact with our brand," said Alex Vaickus, President of Global Licensing, PEI. "This deal marks Playboy's entry into the video game category and is a significant breakthrough for us as we expand the licensing of our brand in the entertainment arena."

In addition to game industry advertising and merchandising initiatives, ARUSH and Groove Entertainment will aggressively market the game in Playboy magazine and on Playboy.com to support the launch. Playboy readers spent over $300 million on video games over the last year with more than 3.1 million readers owning a video game system.*

"This unique new game based on the incredibly popular Playboy brand will enable game players to become their own Hugh Hefner," commented Jim Perkins, president and CEO, ARUSH Entertainment. "This will be a fun, exciting experience that will challenge players to build their own virtual Playboy empire and live the fantastic Playboy lifestyle, appealing to video game enthusiasts and Playboy fans worldwide."

(source MRI Spring 2002 report, MRI) About Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international multimedia entertainment company that publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world; operates Playboy and Spice television networks and distributes programming via home video and DVD globally; licenses the Playboy and Spice trademarks internationally for a range of consumer products and services; and operates Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment Web site.

About Groove Games

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Groove Games ( www.groovegames.com">www.groovegames.com ) is a worldwide video game publisher and licensor of content. Groove's mission is to develop and partner with worldwide-recognized brands in order to publish and license great games for avid gamers everywhere.

About ARUSH Entertainment

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., ARUSH Entertainment is a worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software for personal computers and advanced entertainment consoles. As a division of World Entertainment Broadcasting Corporation (WEB Corp.,) ARUSH publishes PC and console video games for sale in retail outlets and on the Internet. It recently published Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project and Hunting Unlimited, and will publish Devastation in 2003. For more information, please visit www.ArushGames.com.

[...as long as you don't mind cheating. Also: Freeloader almost done, to be sold in North America as well as Europe.]

149

TalkBack / (No subject)

« on: December 10, 2002, 02:56:13 PM »

...as long as you don't mind cheating.  Also: Freeloader almost done, to be sold in North America as well as Europe.

Today Datel, makers of InterAct's popular GameShark devices and the upcoming Action Replay cheating devices for GameCube and Game Boy Advance, confirmed to PGC that they are in the final stages of production for both the GameCube Action Replay and the long-awaited Freeloader import disc.

The Freeloader is a GameCube boot disc that allows you to play games from any region on any GameCube.  (For NTSC-to-PAL conversions, you may need a special TV or converter.)  Announced months ago, the Freeloader has been delayed time and time again, and many thought it would never see the light of day.  Now Datel says not only should the Freeloader be in stores by the end of the year, but it will now be released in North America as well as Europe.

As for the new NES games in Animal Crossing, as you may have guessed by now, unlocking them early requires the GameCube Action Replay.  This information could be considered a SPOILER, so scroll down if you really want to know which games are left on the disc.












It's been known that both Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda are both hidden on the Japanese version of Animal Crossing.  We can now confirm that both are included in the North American version as well.  There's no telling when Nintendo will announce the in-game codes to unlock these treasured classics, but you can get them much earlier with the Action Replay.  Datel has already discovered an Action Replay code to unlock Zelda, and they are currently working on one to unlock Mario as well.  Remember that once these games are unlocked, you can also download them to your GBA for portable play.

[Nintendo has revealed the latest secret Super Smash Brothers figure: Unmasked Samus. Read to find out how to get it!]

150

TalkBack / Unlock unmasked Samus figure in Smash Brothers

« on: December 10, 2002, 07:32:10 AM »

Nintendo has revealed the latest secret Super Smash Brothers figure: Unmasked Samus.  Read to find out how to get it!

If you have beaten Metroid Prime with the unmasked Samus ending, by placing that save data on the same memory card with your Smash Brothers save data and loading Smash Brothers, according to Nintendo, you will get an Unmasked Samus figure.

Unmasked Samus is the latest of the hidden game-required Smash Brothers figures.  Other games that unlock figures include Pikmin and Super Mario Sunshine.  It remains to be seen if there are even more games coming down the road that will have unlockable figures.  Possible Wind Waker Link figure anyone?