You can take Pikachu and slit Mickey Mouse's throat! Oh, I'm kidding. But the violence will be there...just not the mascots.

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Crave Entertainment Announces Line-Up for 2002

Licensed & Original Titles Scheduled for Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance

LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2002: Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of videogame entertainment products, today announced its initial product line-up for the 2002 fiscal year.

Dengeki reviews Doubutsu Banchou, Kyojin no Doshin, Jikkyou World Soccer 2002, and Extreme G3.

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Dengeki GameCube magazine reviewed four games this month – Doubutsu Banchou, Kyojin no Doshin, Jikkyou World Soccer 2002, and Extreme G3.

Doubutsu Banchou received 32 out of 40 (8,8,7,9). Overall reviewers praised the game on its simple, but deep and addicting gameplay.... Read more...

Gee whiz, there must be some sort of explanation for this amazing coincidence!

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Apparently, Japanese investors seem to like this Square-Nintendo thing, and it showed in the markets over yonder.

Nintendo's stocks were bumped up a respectable 5.6% on Monday to ¥21080 (around $162). However, it seems the big winner here is Square, whose stocks spiked 15.4% to ¥2550 (about $20).

Game Designers' Studio working on more than we thought ... including Final Fantasy Tactics for GBA.

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According to Magic Box, Game Designers' Studio is planning on releasing three or four titles for Nintendo's platforms in 2002 (March 2003 in the US, presumably ... MB's date is fuzzy).

One of these titles is Final Fantasy Tactics for GameBoy Advance. Another is likely to be the heavily rumored Final Fantasy Unlimited, this to be the combination GBA/GC game ... a requirement for Fund Q monies.

A new development house and a new RPG, under Nintendo's publishing wing.

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Created in early February, Skip Ltd., a new developer out of Japan has been discovered to be creating a new GameCube RPG by the name of "Gift." First details suggest Nintendo will be publishing the game, which will probably be first shown at E3 later this year.

Coincidentally,... Read more...

Disney Football is coming to the 'Cube... as in Disney Soccer.

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At E3 2001 there were various "Disney Sports" advertisements teasing the attendees. Now known to be a series and not just one title, the Disney Sports franchise has been confirmed for the GameCube, though exclusivity is unknown. According to Gaming Age, Mickey and his... Read more...

Doshin the Giant did well, but what about the other Japanese releases?

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As you read earlier this weekend, Kyojin no Doshin got dendo Gold. However, there are a few other games out this week in Japan that also recieved scores, and here they are, for your enjoyment.

Jikkyou World Soccer 2002 (ISS 2) (GCN, Konami) - 32 Gold (8 8 8 8)

Extreme-G 3 (GCN, Acclaim Japan) - 26 (6 6 7 7)

Konami confirms to Planet GameCube that ISS 2 is not on the GameCube release schedule for North America. What?!

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Most sites like ours assumed Konami’s title ESPN MLS ExtraTime 2002 was the new name for International Superstar Soccer 2. Unfortunately this is completely untrue.

International Superstar Soccer 2 may be released in Europe, and it will definitely be out in Japan on March 14th, but ISS 2 is currently not on the release schedule for North America. ESPN MLS Extra Time 2002 is a new, completely separate title.

One of the web's funniest talks about the possibility of what Square could do on Nintendo. Plus a funny comic.

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Penny Arcade's new comic tackles the whole Square - Nintendo issue that's all the rage. Tycho has some very interesting comments in the news post and on top of that there is a VERY funny comic. Read and enjoy.

Gaming-Age does an excellent interview with our pal Steven Kent. Kentians...click on!

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In a new special about Video Game writers, Gaming-Edge interviews the freelance writer, and author, Steven Kent.

Kent's asked about the history of his writing, what it takes to write, his book, and most importantly, what his favorite games are.

It's a good read, so head over there after you read this tiny snippet:

The latest Shounen Jump has revealed information on 4 antagonist characters in the game.

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They are:

Zefiel - the king of the Bern empire. His aim is to take over the continent.

Idoun - Zefiel's close aide who is a shaman (Kitoushi). Details about her are unknown.

(Zefiel and Idoun are the two characters who appear in the background of the boxart).

Weekly Toyo Keizai, provides us more info on Nintendo and Square deal.

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The latest issue of Weekly Toyo Keizai, a Japanese business magazine, features an article on Square’s decision to once again develop games for Nintendo’s consoles. Here is a summary of the article (translated from Japanese, of course).

Akitoshi Kawazu, the leader... Read more...

Both Famitsu and Gamespot Japan have posted similar articles on what Nintendo and Square have announced for the Gamecube and GBA.

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While nothing was announced specifically, it is said that a Final Fantasy game utilizing the GC-GBA connection will be released around this christmas, and at least 2 other games are being developed for Gameboy Advance. One of which is rumored to be a port of Final Fantasy Tactics.

Biohazard (Resident Evil) hits Japan next week, and we've got the new TV commercial online!

Ok, it's short but sweet, but here's the quicky Japanese TV Commercial for

Biohazard.  Click here

to download the 5mb file.

Enjoy!

Remember Yamauchi's fund to support development? Square's getting some of that money to make Final Fantasy games for GameCube and GBA. No, this is not a joke.

Please Use this Talkback thread to discuss this news.

Major props to Powder, who sent us this extremely important news tip! According to the Saturday morning (in Japan) edition of the popular Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper, Square and Nintendo are getting back together to bring Final Fantasy... Read more...

The movie isn't out yet, and the film house is already planning a sequel. That's ok...the more Milla we get, the happier we are.

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See more 'Evil': Sequel planned

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Constantin Film and Sony's Screen Gems have inked a deal for a theatrical sequel to "Resident Evil." Paul W.S. Anderson, who wrote, directed and produced the original film, which bows March... Read more...

Weekly Famitsu has awarded Doshin the Giant a Gold rating! Now you really want it, right?

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The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu features a review of the upcoming Kyojin no Doshin (a.k.a. Doshin the Giant), soon to be the latest addition to the GameCube library. Each of the four panel reviewers awarded it an eight for a total score of 32, which lands it solid Gold rating.

Well, there's some good news and there's some bad news...

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Game Title

System

Maker

Last Week's Rank

Week Before Last's Rank

This Week's Sales

Total Unit Sales

1

Dead or Alive 3

Xbox

Tecmo

-

-

84,471

84,471

2

Doubutsu Banchou (Animal Leader)

Not only will North American gamers get the chance to play one of the first RPG’s ever revealed for the GameCube, but the Japanese RPG lovin’ doesn’t stop with the GameCube…

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According to RPGFan, Activision will be publishing From Software’s (card based) RPG ‘Rune’ in North America. The game will be released over here May 15th, which is surprisingly quick, and will be titled Lost Kingdoms.

Also, SVG will be bringing over Wizardry: Summoner, an RPG for the GBA developed by Atlus. Summoner should be released by the end of September.

Mark your calendars! Zombies are coming to your GameCube just a bit sooner!

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According to Dengeki Online, Capcom’s Biohazard will be on retailers’ shelves on March 21, one day earlier than its scheduled release date. Since March 21 is a holiday in Japan, Capcom is releasing the game one day earlier to accommodate for distribution.