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Previous News Articles
Tuesday December 9, 2002 Codemasters releases games career guides Last Thursday, Codemasters informed us that it has released several video game related career guides for people who are interested in getting a job in the gaming industry. The careers that they mainly focused on are programming, graphic design, and quality assurance technicians (read: game testers). So if you are serious about working for your favorite game developer/publisher, you should consider checking out the guides at the link below. -Matt C. Pro Race Driver ships to stores Codemasters has announced today that the PlayStation 2 version of Pro Race Driver has been shipped to stores nationwide. Unlike other racing games, Pro Race Driver is known by some people as a "CarPG" due to an innovative narrative character-based storyline (yes, a storyline in a racing game). Players assume the role of a fictional test driver named Ryan McKane, looking to prove himself in the world of racing. The game also has 42 detailed cars, 38 licensed tracks, Dolby Surround Sound, and real-time vehicle damage. Pro Race Driver has a MSRP of $39.99. -Matt C. Monday December 9, 2002 GO-net PS2 Broadband Network Adaptor Coming Soon I'll make this short: Official Sony PlayStation 2 Network Adaptors are still very difficult to find at most stores despite being "available" since August 2002. If you are truly desperate, you might want to check out the upcoming GO-net PS2 Broadband Network Adaptor. According to the manufacture, it is 100% compatible with all online PS2 games. GO-net adaptor connects via the PS2's USB port. Sadly, it only supports people who have broadband (cable, DSL, T1). Those of you who use dial-up will have to wait a little longer. For more details, click the link below. Note: The GO-net PS2 Broadband Network Adaptor is $10 cheaper than the Sony brand adaptor because it does not come with a PS2 online demo disc or Twisted Metal Black Online. GO-net PS2 Broadband Network Adaptor -Matt C. Sunday December 8, 2002 Capcom releases new Devil May Cry 2 media A couple days ago, Capcom released some new videos from Devil May Cry 2. The two movies below feature Dante's "Devil Trigger" move. After viewing the movies, be sure to read our preview if you haven't done so yet. Movie 1 (4.8 MB) | Movie 2 (6 MB) -Matt C. Thursday December 5, 2002 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon ships Ubi Soft announced today that it has shipped the PlayStation 2 version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon to North American stores. Unfortunately, the PS2 version of Ghost Recon does not have any online gameplay, but the developer included eight additional missions from the Desert Siege expansion pack that cannot be found in the Xbox version. Ghost Recon is rated "M" for Mature. -Matt C. Dynasty Warriors 4 release date We've known for quite a while now that Dynasty Warriors 4 has almost been completed, but Koei recently confirmed that the game is scheduled for a March 2003 release date in North America. Expect a preview of Dynasty Warriors 4 soon. -Matt C. Datel ends Interact distribution agreement Due to overwhelming demand, Datel Electronic's has announced that it has ended its distribution agreement with Interact Accessories. Future Datel code devices will now be released under the 'Action Replay' name. Basically, this means that the GameShark 2 cheat device will now be called the Action Replay. "Although our relationship with InterAct has ended, we continue on with the technology, creative talent and manufacturing expertise to expand on what we started a number of years ago", says Mike Connors, Managing Director of Datel Electronics, LTD. "We look to the future with great excitement and a commitment to continue building next generation products that will further enhance the gaming experience." Datel plans to release the Action Replay for the PS2 sometime this month for $39.99. -Matt C. Wednesday December 4, 2002 New Clock Tower 3 Media The Clock Tower series is obviously not as well known as other survival horror games, such as Resident Evil, but the third installment in the series is looking quite interesting. Clock Tower 3 will be out in Japan on December 12, 2002 (the U.S. version is expected in March 2003). In order to help build anticipation of the game, Capcom has released a new promotional video. Click the links below to view the MPEG files. Medium Resolution (15 MB) | Low Resolution (5 MB) -Matt C. Pro Evolution Soccer 2 reaches 1 million mark in Europe Konami of Europe announced today that Pro Evolution Soccer 2, also known as Winning Eleven 6 in the U.S. and Japan, has surpassed sales of 1 million copies since its release date in late October 2002. "After the success of Winning Eleven 6, we were confident that Pro Evolution Soccer 2 would be warmly received by the public--but these figures are nevertheless extremely pleasing," said Kunio Neo, president for Konami of Europe. "Everyone at Konami of Europe has worked incredibly hard to make the game a huge success, and all their hard work has been worthwhile with Winning Eleven 6/Pro Evolution Soccer 2 now standing proud as our best-selling PlayStation 2 football game of all time. We are incredibly proud of this achievement, and look forward to the next edition of this groundbreaking series." As we previously reported, the Winning Eleven series will be published in the U.S. for the first time ever March 2003. American soccer fans should definitely keep an eye on this game next year. -Matt C. Monday December 2, 2002 Armored Core 3: Silent Line Movie Here is a movie from Armored Core 3: Silent Line that Form Software recently released . Silent Line is yet another expansion game to the Armored Core series. The game is due out in Japan January 23, 2003, with a U.S. release date unknown at this time. Don't worry, we're guessing that Agetec will bring the game over sometime next year. More details will be provided later.
Armored Core 3: Silent Line MPEG -- 20 MB -Matt C. Sega Announces Classic Games for PS2 Sega recently announced in Japan that it plans to bring Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, the arcade upgrade to the original Virtua Fighter 4, to the PlayStation 2 this Spring. Sega is also preparing to re-release some of its classic titles on the PS2 for a mere $20. Titles in this line-up include Golden Axe, Phantasy Star, Space Harrier, Monaco GP, Streets of Rage, Phantasy Star 2, Phantasy Star 4, Virtua Racing, Last Bronx and more. As usual, there are no North American release dates regarding any of the titles above. More details later. -Matt C. Wednesday November 27, 2002 The music of Silent Hill 3 Yesterday, Konami released two music samples from Silent Hill 3. One is titled "Memory of the Waters" and the other is called "You’re Not Here." If you want to check out the MP3 songs, please use the links below.
Memory of the Waters - 686KB -Matt C. Pro Race Driver receives ship date Codemasters today announced that the PlayStation 2 version of its upcoming racing game, Pro Race Driver, will ship one week later than expected. The game will arrive in stores December 10, 2002. -Matt C. Evolution Snowboarding now available Konami of America, Inc. informed us yesterday that Evolution Snowboarding for the PlayStation 2 has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Evolution Snowboarding features eight unique levels, 80 missions, and real life snowboarders -- including 2002 Olympic medallist Danny Kass. The game also has music from Slipknot and Stone Sour. Evolution Snowboarding is rated "T" for Teen and is available at an MSRP of $39.99 -Matt C. Guilty Gear X2 and Galerians: ASH get release date The folks at Sammy Studios announced today the release date of two of its upcoming PlayStation 2 games. Guilty Gear X2, the newest sequel in the 2D anime fighter series, and Galerians: ASH, a third-person 3D action game that continues the sci-fi horror saga that began on the PlayStation, will be available in North America on February 4, 2003. Guilty Gear X2 will feature six new characters, which makes a grand total of 20 fighters in the game. There will also be new moves, new animations and bonus features, including the first U.S. release of the animated Guilty Gear narrative released in Japan. Galerians: ASH is the third-person 3D action sequel to the first Galerians game that originally appeared on the PlayStation. "Six years have passed since the epic war between artificial and organic intelligence turned for the better, when Rion defeated the biomechanical Galerians and their genocidal leader, mother computer Dorothy. Now a catastrophic program, launched as Dorothy died, has released a new set of evil Galerians and their powerful leader Ash to fulfill her genocidal dreams. Employing a unique arsenal of psychokinetic attacks, psychic abilities and neural enhancers, Rion must once again fight for human survival." Both games are rated "T" for Teen and will have an MSRP of $39.99. -Matt C. Official TimeSplitters 2 Map Maker site opens In order to help players create the best maps possible in TimeSplitters 2, Eidos Interactive has launched its official TimeSplitters 2 map maker web site. Not only will you find Tutorials, but Downloads are also available. Check out the site here. -Matt C. Monday November 25, 2002 Enix and Squaresoft announce merger According to Famitsu.com, Enix (the folks responsible for the mega-popular Dragon Quest series in Japan) and Squaresoft have both announced today that they plan to merge into one company. Beginning April 1st, 2003, both companies will be known as Square Enix Inc. According to the article, both firms believe that they can acquire higher profits if they combine their resources. So how will this affect Square's partnership with Electronic Arts? Unfortunately that information is not available at this time. We should have more details on this story by tomorrow afternoon. -Matt C. Disaster Report gets release date Agetec announced today that it plans to ship Disaster Report, a unique survival game, on January 14, 2003. Instead of taking on a criminal mastermind, Disaster Report has players fighting against Mother Nature herself. As a newspaper reporter, you must escape a city that has been recently struck by a massive earthquake. "As a California-based company, we are only too aware of the challenges and fear that occur when an earthquake hits," said Kevin Sullivan, Agetec VP of Sales and Marketing. "Such a catosphrophic event provides an original setting and unique opponent for the popular survival-adventure game genre. Disaster Report also gives us the opportunity to make people aware of important real-world survival tips in the event of such a natural disaster." Disaster Report is definitely a one of a kind game, but will North American gamers embrace it with open arms? Only time will tell. -Matt C. Friday November 22, 2002 XIII Delayed Ubi Soft announced today that its unique looking cel-shaded first-person shooter game, titled XIII, has been delayed until 3rd Quarter 2003 (around September 2003). The game was originally supposed to be ready to ship in Spring 2003. The company said today that it wanted to add additional features to the game that would unfortunately push the release date back a couple months. We'll have more on XIII at a later date. -Matt C. Wednesday November 20, 2002 Kojima-san asks for input on MGS3 According to one of our readers in New York City, a recent issue of Famistu is asking its readers to submit their input and feedback for Metal Gear Solid 3. Once the information has been collected, it will be forwarded to Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear series. Kojima-san says that he will definitely put the feedback to good use for the creation of Metal Gear Solid 3. And before you ask, Metal Gear Solid 3 is expected to be released on the PlayStation 2 first, not the Xbox. Also, please don't ask me about the game yet since it is still very, very early. -Matt C. 007: NightFire ships to stores Electronic Arts announced yesterday that it has shipped James Bond 007: NightFire to all stores across North America for the PlayStation 2. NightFire's missions take players through the South Pacific, Austrian Alps, Outer Space, and more. James Bond 007: NightFire even features driving levels created by the folks who are responsible for the recent Need for Speed titles. James Bond 007: NightFire is rated "T" for Teen. Monday November 18, 2002 The Getaway finally goes gold Gamers who are itching for a more realistic version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City will be happy to know that The Getaway has finally reached gold status. According to European retail outlets, The Getaway will hit stores in that region on December 12, 2002. As a SCEE title, North American gamers will have to wait until about mid-January 2003 to get their hands on the game. We'll have more info on The Getaway at a later date. Saturday November 16, 2002 Video Game and Music Survey Want to win a $100 Gamestop gift certificate? Our friends at the ElectricArtists are currently running a gaming survey, so please participate by filling it out. Thanks. -Matt C. Friday November 15, 2002 Aero Elite Combat Academy coming to PlayStation 2 SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that Aero Elite Combat Academy (known as Aerodancing 4 in Japan) is currently in development exclusively for the PlayStation 2. According to Sega, players will have the opportunity to pilot over 60 aircraft -- including helicopters. There will also be a 2-player mode. Aero Elite is due out in North America in March 2003. -Matt C. Midnight Club II gets official release date Rockstar Games recently announced that Midnight Club II is on track for a February 11, 2003 release date. "Midnight Club redefined the racing genre by offering an entirely new freedom and style never before seen in a racing game," said Dan Houser of Rockstar Games. "Midnight Club II evolves those trademark ideas, adds a host of innovative features with a revolutionary new design creating a racing experience that continues the tradition of excellence and innovation expected from a Rockstar title. We believe we are making the fastest and most complete racing game people will have ever seen." -Matt C. Wednesday November 13, 2002 Square Co. stock rises According to Bloomberg, Square Co. shares rose 6.9 percent in trading on the Tokyo Exchange after the company predicted a first-half profit and raised sale projections of game titles. Square posted a 700 million yen loss back in May, but the company has managed to bounce back after excellent sales of Final Fantasy X in Europe and Kingdom Hearts in the United States. Square shares traded at 1,522 yen as of 11:16 a.m. on the Tokyo Exchange, a gain of 2.5 percent. Source: Bloomberg Tuesday November 12, 2002 Shinobi now available SEGA of America, Inc. today announced the release of Shinobi exclusively for the PlayStation 2. Shinobi for the PlayStation 2 is the first new game in the series to be released in more than 7 years. "One of SEGA's greatest strengths is our staggering back catalog of blockbuster content, including seminal hits like Shinobi," said Mike Fischer, vice president, entertainment marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Now fans of the original Shinobi and new-school action gamers alike can experience the next chapter in this legendary action series on the PlayStation 2." In Shinobi, players take on the role as "the ninja Hotsuma, who has defeated his brother Mouritisne to become leader of the famous Oboro clan. As the leader of the Oboro, Hotsuma inherited the cursed sword Aukujiki, which feeds off the souls of his enemies. But the sword comes with a price: if Hotsuma does not feed Aukujiki, it will eat his own soul. Then, when a mysterious earthquake decimates Tokyo and an evil force turns his own clan against him, Hotsuma is forced onto a dark quest for the ultimate revenge." Shinobi is rated "M" for Mature and is available at retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $49.95. -Matt C. ATV Offroad Fury 2 ships to stores Sony Computer Entertainment America today announced that it has shipped ATV Offroad Fury 2 to retail stores nationwide. The sequel to last year's hit racing game will feature online gameplay for both broadband and dial-up users. "In ATV Offroad Fury 2, we take advantage of the highly successful gameplay of its predecessor to present an even more, in-depth racing experience with all new features," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "ATV Offroad Fury 2 will set the stage for national gameplay competition with the online mode, allowing multi-player racing to reach new heights on PlayStation 2." "Kawasaki is very excited and pleased to partner with Sony Computer Entertainment America for the launch of ATV Offroad Fury 2," said Kawasaki Motors Corp, U.S.A. "We are certain this sequel will be met with the same type of overwhelming response created by the original, providing a perfect place to showcase our newest ATV, the 2004 Kawasaki KFX700 V Force. As ATV Offroad Fury took gaming, video and graphics to a new level, the KFX700 V Force raises the bar in the ATV arena with the only V-twin power plant and race inspired chassis and suspension available in the sport ATV market." ATV Offroad Fury 2 is rated "E" for Everyone. -Matt C. Shox now in stores Electronic Arts announced today that it has shipped Shox to North American stores. Shox is an arcade rally racing game that features 24 licensed rally cars from Subaru, Toyota, Ford and other popular manufacturers. Shox is rated "E" for Everyone and it has a MSRP of $49.99. -Matt C. NHL 2K3 ships The folks at Sega of America announced today that it has shipped NFL 2K3 to stores for the PlayStation 2. NHL 2K3 features online capabilites, an expanded franchise mode, and more. NHL 2K3 is rated "E" for Everyone and it has a MSRP of $49.99. -Matt C. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter goes gold LucasArts announced today that their game based on the adventures of Jango Fett, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, has gone gold for the PlayStation 2. Bounty Hunter is scheduled for release on November 22, 2002.
Monday November 4, 2002 BMX XXX censored for PS2 in the U.S. Acclaim announced today that the PlayStation 2 version of BMX XXX will have the topless nudity removed. However, the Xbox and Gamecube versions will remain completely unedited. Interestingly, it looks like Sony Computer Entertainment Europe isn't forcing Acclaim to censor the European version of the game. BMX XXX will ship to stores November 14th. -Matt C. Winning Eleven 6 coming to U.S. for first time Konami of America Inc. announced today that its popular Winning Eleven series (known in Europe as Pro Evolution Soccer) will be published for the first time in North America due to considerable demand from North American consumers. Winning Eleven is the world's best selling soccer game for the PlayStation 2, with the Japanese and European versions selling nearly 4 million units worldwide. "Soccer fans around the world have declared Winning Eleven as their favorite soccer game. Now, North American soccer fans have a chance to see what they’ve been missing," said Robert Goff, Product Manager at Konami of America. "Winning Eleven elevates the genre to new levels with superior visuals and exciting gameplay, setting the standard by which all others will be judged." Developed by the Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc., the critically acclaimed Winning Eleven series is widely considered to be the greatest soccer simulation to date. The Winning Eleven series is renowned for its realistic soccer gameplay, including an expanded Master League franchise mode, groundbreaking AI, striking graphics and staggeringly realistic animations. Winning Eleven 6 is slated for a March 2003 release date. -Matt C. Rocky goes gold Ubi Soft announced today that Rocky has gone gold and that it will ship for the PlayStation 2 on November 19, 2002. -Matt C. Friday November 1, 2002 Colin McRae 3 Delayed to 2003 Codemasters announced today that the PlayStation 2 version of its highly anticipated rally game, Colin McRae Rally 3, has been delayed from November 2002 to February 2003. The reason for the delay is to make sure the game's graphics and gameplay are of the highest quality possible. Expect a preview for Colin McRae Rally 3 soon. -Matt C. Thursday October 31, 2002 SCEE Outlines European Network Adaptor plans Our friends in Europe and Australia will be happy to know that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe revealed its online plans today. The Network Adaptor will be released March 2003 in the UK -- followed by France, Spain, Australia and in other territories throughout 2003. The Network Adaptor will ship with pretty much the same items that the North American one did, but some of the game demos and videos will be different. SCEE hopes to have SOCOM: US Navy Seals, Twisted Metal: Black Online, Destruction Derby Online Arena, World Rally Championship Online, and other games ready to launch or launch near the release of the European Network Adaptor. "PlayStation 2 owners with broadband Internet access will be able to purchase a Network Adaptor and immediately start playing a great selection of multiplayer games online," said Chris Deering, president of SCEE. "It will be simple to set up, exciting to play and affordable. Our philosophy is to have a very diverse and inclusive platform that will enable content companies, games publishers and ISP portals to provide consumers with the broadest selection of new online experiences and entertainment from a variety of sources." March is still five months away, so we'll have more info on SCEE's online plans when it becomes available. Wednesday October 30, 2002 Ace Combat 5 on the way Namco announced recently in Japan that they are currently hard at work on Ace Combat 5. We're not sure yet on how long the game has been in development, but Namco refused to release any major details about Ace Combat 5. On a related note, Ace Combat 4 is now a Greatest Hits title. You can now purchase it at most retail outlets for only $19.99. -Matt C. Tuesday October 29, 2002 DDRMAX ships to stores Konami of America informed us today that DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution for the PlayStation 2 has shipped to retail stores nationwide. DDRMAX is the first game in the series specifically designed for a next-gen console. All in all, DDRMAX has over 70 songs, with 37 of them available from the get go. The game also features full-motion video and high-resolution graphics. "Bringing the high-energy interactive experience of DDR to next generation technology enabled us to take this title and the series to the next level," said Jason Enos, Product Manager at Konami of America. "People have been clamoring for a dance game of this magnitude and DDRMAX delivers. It is revolutionary to the max!" DDRMAX is rated "E" for Everyone and has a MSRP of only $39.99! -Matt C. Saturday October 26, 2002 Contra: Shattered Soldier and Suikoden III ship to stores Yes, I know I'm a little slow today, but Konami of America Inc., announced on Thursday that Contra: Shattered Soldier and Suikoden III for the PlayStation 2 have both shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Contra was first introduced in North America back in 1987 and in 2002, it returns with stunning 3D graphics and heart-pounding action. Suikoden III returns with 3 different battle systems, 3 main characters, 3 styles of combat and a fully detailed 3D world. Both games are rated "T" for Teen and have a MSRP of $49.99. -Matt C. Tuesday October 22, 2002 Tomb Raider delayed into next year Eidos Interactive announced today that Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness has been pushed back from November 2002 to February 2003. The reason for the delay is to make sure Angel of Darkness is the best product possible when it is released. Eidos also stated today that TimeSplitters 2 and Hitman 2 are currently ranked as number 1 and 2 on the UK best selling games chart. -Matt C. Square reveals Final Fantasy X-2 At a press conference in Japan today, Squaresoft officially revealed Final Fantasy X-2 for the PlayStation 2. Final Fantasy X-2 is an official sidestory to Final Fantasy X and it is primarily focused on Yuna. FF X-2 appears to be more action based and it features Yuna in more suggestive clothing. As you can see in the picture below, Yuna is wearing amazingly short shorts and is holding two pistols -- just like Lara Croft. Interestingly, Yuna can also climb, run, jump similar to the gameplay found in Tomb Raider. As for the battle system, it has been totally redesigned to provide more exciting battles. At the moment, Final Fantasy X-2 has not been announced in the U.S. but it is slated for a March 2003 release date in Japan. We'll have more information later. -Matt C. Wednesday October 16, 2002 Activision releases Tony Hawk 4 soundtrack Earlier today, Activision released a list of all 35 songs that will appear in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 when it is shipped on October 23rd, 2002. Here is the list in alphabetical order:
AC/DC - "TNT" -Matt C. Wild Arms 3 ships SCEA announced today that Media Vision's latest RPG, Wild Arms 3, has shipped to retail stores across North America. "We are thrilled to see the Wild Arms franchise expand onto PlayStation 2," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America "With the franchise popularity of the first two games on PlayStation, and the advanced technical capabilities made possible with PlayStation 2, fans of the role-playing category are sure to embrace the evolution of Wild Arms 3." -Matt C. Tuesday October 15, 2002 GTA: Vice City reaches gold status Rockstar Games announced today that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has officially gone gold. The only thing left to do is produce millions of copies of Vice City to accommodate the 4,000,000+ pre-orders that the game has accumulated over the past several months. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is shipping to stores in North American on October 29, 2002. Our good friends in Europe will have to wait until November 8 to pick-up their copies of the game. -Matt C. Batman: Dark Tomorrow delayed Kemco has announced that Batman: Dark Tomorrow has been delayed until the 1st Quarter of 2003. "We made the decision to push the game back until Q1 in order to ensure that we are publishing the best Batman video game to date," said Glenn Halseth, vice president of sales and marketing of Kemco. -Matt C. Monday October 14, 2002 Three major retailers refuse to sell BMX XXX In a not so surprising outcome, Reuters reported today that Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and KB Toys will not carry Acclaim Entertainment's controversial game, BMX XXX. This decision is heavily based on the game's explicit language and softcore nudity. "We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it," said Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams. Interestingly, Best Buy said that it intends on selling a censored version of BMX XXX for the PlayStation 2 this November 19th. As of this report, Gamestop and Electronics Boutique are still taking pre-orders for BMX XXX. Source: Reuters -Matt C. Colin McRae Rally 3 to feature Dolby sound Codemasters announced today that the PlayStation 2 version of Colin McRae Rally 3 will support Dolby Pro Logic when it is released next year. "The effect is incredible and we reckon it's the best audio in any motorsport game," said Guy Wilday, producer of the Colin McRae Rally series at Codemasters. "The audio technicians have gone for perfection all the way through the development of the game's sonics--from the recording of sound effects using a rally-spec Ford Focus, through to this incredible sensation of surround sound." -Matt C. Thursday October 10, 2002 Activision reveals official Tony Hawk 4 release date Activision announced today that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Gamecube, and Gameboy Advance has been set to ship to stores in North America on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 -- which is one week earlier than previously expected. "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 marks a revolutionary step forward in the franchise," said Ron Doornink, president of Activision. "The reinvented, free roaming career mode with 190 progressively harder goals adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay, providing a compelling new challenge." Tony Hawk 4 is rated "T" for Teen and it will have a MSRP of $49.99. Check out our coverage of the game in the Previews section. -Matt C. Evolution Skateboarding ships to stores Konami of America, Inc. announced today that Evolution Skateboarding for the PlayStation 2 has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. "This is truly an evolutionary step in extreme sports videogames," said Justin Kubiak, Product Manager for Konami of America. "Evolution Skateboarding takes the best elements of the popular skateboarding genre and infuses them with the style of action-packed gameplay that only Konami can provide." Evolution Skateboarding features over 70 authentic tricks, out-of-this-world fantasy levels (such as the Big Shell from MGS2), and Boss Missions. These missions allow the player to go head-to-head against giant opponents including a runaway truck, a monstrous fire-breathing spider, and a tank run amok in downtown Tokyo. All in all, Evolution Skateboarding has 8 pro skaters. Each character has access to different areas of each level, as well as individual mission objectives. You can also create a skater from scratch. Evolution Skateboarding for the PlayStation 2 is rated "T" for Teen and is available at an SRP of $39.99 -Matt C. SEGA kicks off $10 million marketing campaign for NBA 2K3 SEGA of America, Inc. today announced the details of its marketing campaign for NBA 2K3. Sega will spend $10 million in marketing with an extensive advertising campaign, national sponsorships and key promotions with partner ESPN. "Receiving rave reviews from gaming critics, NBA 2K3 is the leading basketball simulation on the market," said Tom Nichols, vice president of sports marketing, SEGA of America. "Befitting a game of this magnitude, SEGA is putting major marketing muscle behind the title including TV advertising that like the game, blurs the lines between NBA 2K3 and an NBA telecast." Beginning Thursday, October 10, 2002, TV commercials on CBS, ESPN, MTV and others will feature dunks from Vince Carter, forward for Toronto Raptors; three point shots from Gary Payton, guard for the Seattle Supersonics; and tenacious defense from Ben Wallace, forward for the Detroit Pistons. These 30-second ads are directed by award-winning hip hop music video director, Hype Williams. In addition, SEGA Sports will host the third annual SEGA Sports NBA All-Star Celebrity Challenge at this year's NBA All-Star Game. -Matt C. Wednesday October 9, 2002 Arc The Lad Strategy Guide now available Working Designs announced today that their massive Arc The Lad Official Strategy Guide: Chapters One And Two, which thoroughly covers the first two games in Working Designs' acclaimed Arc The Lad Collection, has shipped to stores across North America. This strategy guide has more than 570 pages and it features complete game walkthroughs, detailed full-color maps of every location, behind-the-scenes interviews with Arc Collection's creators, memory card stickers, comprehensive charts for weapons, spells, items and enemies; and much more. "There's never, ever been a strategy guide this complete before," said Victor Ireland, president of Working Designs. "It's big. Really, really big. By far the biggest, most comprehensive guide we've ever published, and as far we know the biggest one ever made for a console game. What that means for Arc The Lad fans is more tips, strategies, hernias, maps, charts, interviews and information. If you can think of it, it's probably in there." The Arc The Lad Official Strategy Guide: Chapters One And Two has a suggested retail price of $29.95. -Matt C. NBA Starting Five ships to stores Konami of America Inc., today announced that NBA Starting Five for the PlayStation 2 has shipped to stores nationwide. According to Konami, NBA Starting Five fetaures improved player models, hundreds of new in-game animations, a deep franchise mode, and intelligent AI. In addition, there is insightful commentary from Indiana Pacers commentators Al Albert and Clark Kellogg. "This is the most accessible and exhilarating basketball game that Konami has shipped thus far," said Robert Goff, Product Manager at Konami of America. "By improving on our strengths, we’re kicking-off our new basketball game with style, and setting a strong precedent for the future." The PlayStation 2 version of NBA Starting Five will have a SRP of only $39.99. -Matt C. TimeSplitters 2 Now available If you haven't heard all ready, Eidos' highly anticipated FPS title, TimeSplitters 2, is now in stores. Expect a review this weekend or on Monday afternoon. -Matt C. Monday October 7, 2002 Red Faction II reaches gold status, ships early in U.S. THQ announced today that its PlayStation 2 exclusive FPS title, Red Faction II, has gone gold. Red Faction II features improved Geo-mod technology, USB keyboard and mouse support, and a four player split-screen mode. Red Faction II will be shipped to stores October 16, 2002 -- which is about two weeks eariler than expected. -Matt C. NBA 2K3 ships to stores SEGA of America, Inc. announced today that it has shipped NBA 2K3 for the PlayStation 2. This year's edition features an in-depth franchise mode and full online gameplay. The Franchise Mode allows users the option of signing free agents and coaches, scouting and drafting rookies, making trades and even drafting graduating seniors from Sega's other b-ball game, NCAA College Basketball 2K3. Lastly, one of NBA 2K3's key visual enhancements is called "Specular Highlighting", which is a graphical technique designed to show players sweating during the game. SEGA Sports NBA 2K3 has a suggested retail price of $49.95. -Matt C. Thursday October 3, 2002 NBA Live 2003 to ship early Yesterday, SEGA announced that NBA 2K3 would be shipping one week earlier than other next-gen basketball games. Not surprisingly, Electronic Arts promptly confirmed today that it is has pushed forward the release date of NBA Live 2003 to Tuesday, October 8, 2002. -Matt C. NHL 2003 now available Electronic Arts has announced today that it has shipped NHL 2003 for the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System to all stores nationwide. -Matt C. Monday September 16, 2002 Tony Hawk 4 Demo Coming Soon Last Sunday, I reported in the Price Watch section that people who purchase Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer from Circuit City would be able to get a free Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 demo. At the time, I didn't know if this was just a promotion from Circuit City or a feature that would be included with all copies of the game. Luckily, it looks like the latter is the correct answer. So be sure to pick up a copy of the Tony Hawk 4 demo because it comes with a free full version copy of Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer. :) -Matt C. Friday September 13, 2002 Robotech: Battlecry has gone gold TDK Mediactive announced today that Robotech: Battlecry for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold and that it will be available for its September 25th release date. Robotech: Battlecry is a cel-shaded shooter/action game that is based on a popular cartoon series. "With a multitude of streaming missiles, furious action and gigantic transforming robots, Robotech: Battlecry is locked and loaded, ready to deliver a powerful action gaming experience," said Steve Ryno, vice president of product development, TDK Mediactive. "The enormous Robotech fan base will also rejoice when they discover how accurately the series has been captured and recreated. It's sure to please even the most hardcore of fans, while delivering great depth and scope." -Matt C. Tuesday September 10, 2002 Colin McRae 3 Web Site Opens Codemasters recently opened up an official Colin McRae 3 web site filled with gameplay details, screenshots, movies and more. The game appears to be shaping up very nicely, so check out the site below. -Matt C. Monday September 9, 2002 New TimeSplitters 2 Trailer Released Earlier today, Eidos Interactive released a brand new TimeSplitters 2 trailer. The movie is about 15 MB, so broadband users only. TimeSplitters 2 is due out on the PlayStation 2 October 9, 2002. -Matt C. Thursday September 5, 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City delayed Rockstar Games has announced that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has been pushed back from October 22 to October 29, 2002. No specific reason for the delay was given. -Matt C. Run Like Hell has gone gold Interplay and Vivendi Universal announced today that Run Like Hell for the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System has gone gold. The game should be shipping to stores on October 8, 2002. Expect a review in the next few weeks. -Matt C. NBA 2K3 release date pushed forward Sega of America has announced today that it will be shipping NBA 2K3 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on October 8, 2002, which is about a week earlier than expected. This year's edition will feature online gameplay and stunning new moves and graphics. -Matt C. Tuesday September 3, 2002 Your Name in MGS2: Substance Konami announced recently that it is now accepting requests for gamers to get their names in the dog tags of enemies in MGS2: Substance. The form closes on Monday September 30th, 2002, so get your name in while you still have a chance. -Matt C. Friday August 30, 2002 Sony looking for EverQuest Beta Testers Wanna become a beta tester for EverQuest Online Adventures for the PlayStation 2? Well, you're in luck because Sony is currently looking for qualified gamers to help them beta test their upcoming MMORPG. To qualify, you must have a PS2, Network Adapter, 8 MB Memory card, an ISP (broadband or narrowband) and you must be 18+. Sony will NOT provide you with the items above. A HDD is not required. The testing starts next month, so good luck. -Matt C. Wednesday August 28, 2002 Sony Releases Defective Network Adapters? A couple people e-mailed me this afternoon and informed me that there is a notice in the manual included with the Network Adapter that says some PlayStation 2 consoles may not work properly with the recently released online adapter. SCEA has yet to make an official statement regarding this rare problem, but one of our readers was kind enough to send me a list of serial numbers of PS2 systems that may not work with the Network Adapter:
3369556-3369651 To find the serial number, look onto the back of your console. If you have any of the numbers listed above, call SCEA technical support @ "1-800-345-SONY". Specials thanks goes out to Adam Smith for sending me this list so that I wouldn't have to type it out myself. :) -Matt C. PS2 Price Drop in Europe Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced today that they will be dropping the price of the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System to £169.99 ($260.80) in the UK and between $244 to $253 in other European countries. "We are happy to announce that PlayStation 2 is now more affordable than ever and with over 145 more outstanding games due in the shops between now and Christmas, there has never been a better time to buy a PlayStation 2," said Chris Deering, president of SCE. The price of the Xbox is also expected to drop in Europe in the next couple days. -Matt C. Summoner 2 has gone gold THQ has announced today that Summoner 2 for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold and it should be on store shelves September 13, 2002. Summoner 2 was supossed to be out on September 17th, but the release date was moved up. -Matt C. Tuesday August 27, 2002 The EA Sports Madden Challenge to start September 7th Electronic Arts announced today that it plans on having a nationwide Madden NFL 2003 Tournament starting September 7th, 2002. The tournament will span 10 U.S. cities, with the winner from each city flown to Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club in Ocho Rios, Jamaica to compete in the Madden Challenge Finals. The winner will recieve bragging rights and an invatation to EA SPORTS Madden Bowl, which is held every year during Super Bowl week. "The EA SPORTS Madden Challenge is a tribute to the tremendous number of Madden NFL Football competitors who have asked us to stage a major nationwide competition and earn bragging rights," said Chip Lange, EA's vice president of marketing. "EA SPORTS is excited to offer each Madden NFL 2003 devotee the opportunity to become the first official amateur champion of the game and a chance to compete against the best Madden players from around the country."
San Francisco (Sept. 7-8, Justin Herman Plaza)
Monday August 26, 2002 Tribes: Aerial Assault has gone gold Sierra announced today that Tribes: Aerial Assault has gone gold and is on track for its September 28, 2002 release date. Aerial Assault is an all new Tribes game for the PlayStation 2 and isn't a port from the previous PC versions. Up to 16 PS2 users can play Tribes online. Tribes: Aerial Assault is rated "T" for teen and has a MSRP of $49.95. -Matt C. Sunday August 25, 2002 Stores cannot keep up with demand for upcoming Network Adapter In a not so surprising outcome, many gaming stores have reported that they cannot keep up with demand for the PlayStation 2 Network Adapter. Ebgames.com says that they have sold out initial shipments of the adapter and that they expect a second shipment to arrive on September 13th. In addition, I spoke with an employee at GameStop and he told me that the Network Adapter has been "sold out" since late July. He then went on to say that Sony recently called and informed them that they might be short a couple Network Adapter units. If you didn't reserved a Network Adapter, your best bet to find one is to check stores like Best Buy -- which are getting their shipments on Thursday or Friday. Since they don't let you reserve items (unless you go online), you might be able to find one there. Or if you're really desperate, be sure to check out your local K-mart or Walmart stores. Good luck and hopefully I'll see you guys online later this week. -Matt C. Friday August 23, 2002 New Devil May Cry 2 Screenshots Capcom recently released some new screenshots from Devil May Cry 2. In one of the screens, you can see the new playable character named Lucia (I've also been told that her name is "Kyara" in English). Also, it appears that Dante finally got around to seeing The Matrix because in two of the screenshots, he is running across a brick wall. Lastly, DMC 2 takes place several months after the original game. We'll have more info on DMC2 at a later date. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Screenshot 3 | Screenshot 4 Wednesday August 21, 2002 Commandos 2 has gone gold Eidos has announced today that Commandos 2 for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold and that it will be out on store shelves August 31st, 2002. Commandos 2 is a World War II strategy game that will allow you to take command of a team of soldiers with unique abilities. -Matt C. Turok has gone gold Acclaim Entertainment has announced today that Turok: Evolution for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Gamecube has gone gold and that it will be out on store shelves September 1st, 2002. "Turok: Evolution has been in development for the past three years and we are very proud of our team in Austin, who have diligently focused on delivering this incredible action gaming experience," said Edmond Sanctis, president of Acclaim North America. "On 9/01/02, consumers, regardless of what system they own, will be able to immerse themselves in the best and biggest Turok game we've ever done." -Matt C. Monday August 19, 2002 New TimeSplitters 2 Screenshots Eidos released some new screenshots of TimeSplitters 2 last Friday. Check them out below. Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Screenshot 3 | Screenshot 4 -Matt C. Acclaim changes name of upcoming BMX game Acclaim revealed today that it has changed the title of the game Dave Mirra BMX XXX to BMX XXX. BMX XXX is still the same dirty M-rated game that was shown at E3, but Dave Mirra and other professional riders won't be appearing in the game anymore. Instead, Dave Mirra's BMX game, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 3 will be released next year. The reason for the change is that Acclaim didn't want to give Mirra and other riders a negative image since BMX XXX is full of nudity and harsh language. BMX XXX will be out this fall. -Matt C. Grandia Xtreme web site launches Enix launched its Grandia Xtreme web site last week and it is jam packed with information about the upcoming PS2 RPG. To visit their web site, head on down to this URL. -Matt C. Thursday August 15, 2002 SCEA outlines PS2 online plans Yesterday, SCEA confirmed its plans on releasing the PlayStation 2 Network Adapter on August 27th, 2002. Although most of the statements made yesterday were previously reported, Sony did reveal that it plans on shipping 250,000 units of the Network Adapter on launch day and 400,000 by the end of the year. According to the press report, here are the things that will come bundled with the Network Adapter:
If you want to learn more about the Network Adapter, please check out our PS2 Online FAQ page. -Matt C. Wednesday August 14, 2002 Jet Li to star in Rise of Honor Earlier today, SCEA announced a brand new action game called Rise to Honor (working title). Those of you who are fans of Hong Kong martial arts films will be pleased to know that Jet Li (The One, Romeo Must Die, Kiss of the Dragon, etc) has signed on to do the motion capture work in the game when it comes out next fall. Rise to Honor will take place in San Francisco and Li's character, Kit Yun, will need to find his dead boss's daughter so that he can take her back to Hong Kong. "Working with the Foster City Studio team to create a game for the PlayStation 2 has been an exciting experience--very different from making a movie," said Jet Li. "The motion-capture system allows for extremely realistic movements, and, in addition, we were able to use a lot of actions in the game that we can't normally put in a film. The results in the final game should provide the player with a genuine feel for the action." -Matt C. Tuesday August 13, 2002 TimeSplitters 2 loses online gameplay Earlier today, Eidos Interactive made a disappointing announcement regarding the online mode in the PlayStation 2 version of TimeSplitters 2. As of now, TimeSplitters 2 will not support any online features. "We had always hoped to include an Internet online component in the PlayStation 2 version of TimeSplitters 2," said a representative from Eidos . "However the infrastructure is not yet in place that will enable us to incorporate an online element and still make the game's proposed release date. We certainly don't want to delay the release of one of the year's most anticipated games and as a result disappoint the many fans who are eagerly awaiting the game." In light of losing online gameplay, Eidos promptly restated that TimeSplitters 2 will still support iLink and LAN multiplayer modes. Players will be able to link up to six consoles via the PlayStation 2 iLink, which will support up to 16 players. Users can also create a LAN using the upcoming PS2 Network Adapter. The LAN option allows the connection of eight consoles and 16 player matches. TimeSplitters 2 will be out September 24th, 2002. -Matt C. Activision gets Worms Activision has announced that it has acquired the rights to publish Worms 3 and another unannounced Worms game. Worms 3 is scheduled for a 2003 release and it will feature full 3D landscapes. "We are thrilled to be introducing Worms onto the next-generation console systems," said Kathy Vrabeck, executive vice president of global publishing and brand management at Activision. "The franchise has sold more than seven million units worldwide since its inception in 1995. Worms' unique humor, instant playability, and addictive gameplay have remained popular across two generations of hardware, with the franchise appearing on almost every platform. Now delivered in 3D, the game is sure to be even more popular than its predecessors, drawing in a new generation of gamers around the globe." -Matt C. Monday August 12, 2002 EA ships Madden NFL 2003 Electronic Arts announced today that it has shipped Madden NFL 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Xbox, GBA, and the PC to all U.S. retail stores. Originally, the game was supposed to ship tomorrow, but due to consumer demand, EA pushed the date forward by one day. One exclusive mode this year belongs to the PlayStation 2 version of the game -- which is online gameplay. A maximum of 2 players can play online together and a USB keyboard can be used for lobby chat. Madden NFL 2003 will have a MSRP of $49.95 and is rated "E" for Everyone. -Matt C. Sega ships NFL 2K3 Sega of America has announced that it has shipped NFL 2K3 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox to all retail stores nationwide today. NFL 2K3 is compatible with the upcoming PS2 Network Adapter and will be able to support up to 16 players online in each game. "Our goal with the NFL 2K series is to create the most true-to-life football video game experience possible," said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts. "With Sega Sports' NFL 2K3 we have taken a giant step forward in realizing that goal, successfully capturing the subtle nuances of a real NFL game." NFL 2K3 will carry a MSRP of $49.95 and is rated "E" for Everyone. -Matt C. Friday August 9, 2002 Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 coming to U.S. Konami of America, Inc. finally confirmed today that The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, an interactive documentary of the development of The Sons of Liberty, is indeed coming to the U.S. on September 24th. According to Konami, here is what will be included on the disc: Characters: Users can view 2D concept artwork and realtime 3D models of all the characters in MGS2. You can also rotate the camera and zoom in on the characters as well. If you want a closer look at Olga's armpit hairs, you might be able to do that too. Mechanics: Same as above, but this section is geared toward the machines and vehicles in MGS2, such as Metal Gear Ray and the Harrier. Background: Users can view still images and 3D models of all the environments in the game, such as Arsenal Gear or the Big Shell. Polygon Demos: Here, you can watch every realtime cutscene in the game and move the camera around, pause, rewind, and play it again in slow motion. You can also view the storyboards as well. Program: Background detail of many of the programmers. Sound: You can listen to the in-game music and sound effects in this section. Game Plan: Original blueprint for the game. Only in Japanese. Script: Read through the entire game script for MGS2. Staff: Information about the development team and such. Chronicle: A timeline of the game's development and milestones over the three-year development cycle. Special Footage: Behind-the-scenes documentary footage on the making and marketing of Metal Gear Solid 2. Items: Gallery of all the items used to promote MGS2, including art books, action figures, t-shirts and more. VR Missions: Players will be able to try out five VR missions that will be included in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. This exclusive DVD will only work on the PlayStation 2, so if you don't yet own one, you'll be out of luck. -Matt C. E3 2003 dates announced The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) has announced that next year's E3 will take place on Wednesday, May 14, through Friday, May 16, 2003. Hopefully, I'll be able to miss a week of school and attend the show. -Matt C. Tuesday August 6, 2002 Sega ships NCAA College Football 2K3 Sega of America announced today that it has shipped SEGA Sports NCAA College Football 2K3 for the PlayStation 2 to all retail stores nationwide. "The first in SEGA Sports series of 2K3 games, NCAA College Football 2K3, helps usher in a new era of sports video gaming, delivering the utmost focus on both realism and excitement," said Tom Nichols, vice president of sports marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "SEGA Sports NCAA College Football 2K3 is also the first product in the 2K3 lineup to feature an ESPN telecast-style presentation, which helps deliver the purity and overall ambience of the college game." NCAA College Football 2K3 carries a MSRP of $49.95 and is rated "E" for Everyone. -Matt C. Grandia Xtreme voice cast revealed Enix has announced today that Mark Hammill, Dean Cain, and Lisa Loeb will all be part of the voice cast in Grandia Xtreme - which is due out in September. Hammill will play the role of Colonel Kroitz, Cain will voice Evann, and Loeb will be the voice talent for Lutina. "We are extremely pleased to have Mark Hamill, Dean Cain, and Lisa Loeb as integral members of the Grandia Xtreme team and are thrilled with the work they have accomplished," said Paul Handelman, the president of Enix America. "Consumers today demand a total experience from their favorite games and utilizing the talents of such accomplished professionals increases the quality of the gaming experience and brings the characters to life in an exciting new way." -Matt C. Kingdom Hearts gets official release date Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Disney Interactive announced today that Kingdom Hearts for the PlayStation 2 will ship nationwide on September 17, 2002. The North American release of Kingdom Hearts will feature an all-star voice cast that includes Haley Joel Osment ("The Sixth Sense," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence") as Sora, while David Gallagher ("7th Heaven") and Hayden Panettiere ("Ally McBeal," "Remember The Titans") will voice Riku and Kairi, respectively. Other voice talents featured in the game include Sean Astin ("The Lord of the Rings," "Rudy"), Lance Bass (member of *NSYNC), David Boreanaz ("Angel," "Valentine"), Mandy Moore ("A Walk to Remember," "The Princess Diaries"), Christy Romano ("Even Stevens," "Kim Possible"), Steve Burton ("The Last Castle") and Billy Zane ("Titanic"). In addition, many of the original star Disney voice actors are reprising their roles for this project. "We are excited to launch Kingdom Hearts in North America, which combines the magic of Disney and game development expertise of Square in one adventurous game," said Jan Smith, president of Disney Interactive. "This innovative new game will be a unique experience for both Disney and Square fans alike." Source: Squaresoft Sunday August 4, 2002 New Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Screenshots Here are some new screenshots from Rockstar's "official" Grand Theft Auto: Vice City website. Once again, the screenshots are disguised as postcards, but they still look very interesting. Check them out below: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Screenshot | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Screenshot 2 -Matt C. Skies of Arcadia Canned for PS2 Sega of Japan has announced that Skies of Arcadia has been canceled for the PlayStation 2. The reason for the cancellation is that Sega wishes to spend more of their resources on the Gamecube version. -Matt C. Friday July 19, 2002 The PocketStation bites the dust Sony Computer Entertainment announced today that it is discontinuing the PocketStation in Japan. If you didn't know, the PocketStation was a tiny memory card with a 32x32 dot pixel screen that you could play mini-games on. The device even had an infrared port, which allowed for 2 player competition. The PocketStation was released back when Final Fantasy VIII came out and from that time, SCE has shipped about 4.9 million units - despite a shortage of initial shipments. The PocketStation was never released in North America or Europe, but you can still purchase one at Sony's online store or at online import shops. -Matt C. Thursday July 18, 2002 Pierce Brosnan to appear in James Bond 007: NightFire Electronic Arts announced today that it has reached an agreement with Pierce Brosnan to use the famous Bond actor's likeness in their upcoming video game, James Bond 007: NightFire. The game, which uses an original storyline created exclusively for the interactive project, is based on the Bond universe and will be released worldwide the same month as the newest 007 film starring Brosnan, "Die Another Day" produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. NightFire is currently under development and is scheduled for a simultaneous release on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and PC-CD. "Pierce Brosnan and Bond have created an unbeatable combination for the franchise over the past few years, so we're excited to have Pierce aboard to help deliver to fans the ultimate Bond experience," says Chip Lange, VP of Electronic Arts marketing. "I am confident that together, Pierce Brosnan, EA and NightFire will make for the most dynamic and appealing Bond game yet." NightFire promises to stay true to the tradition of the James Bond property. The game will feature more than 10 stunning exotic locations from around the globe and outer space, as well as offer an all-star cast of villains and allies, including sexy Bond women, both new and familiar to the 007 universe. Each of the mission levels will offer enormous, highly detailed 3D environments that can only be experienced through the eyes of Bond. Neil Haldar, vice president of Production and Business Development for MGM Interactive, observes, "We welcome this fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Brosnan, who so masterfully personifies James Bond, and to re-team with a great partner like Electronic Arts on Nightfire to deliver the finest integration of creativity and technology to date." Source: EA.com Wednesday July 17, 2002 Jason Kidd to be cover athlete for NBA Live 2003 EA Sports announced today that New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd will be featured on the cover of NBA Live 2003 when it is released this fall. "I am very excited about working with EA Sports on NBA Live 2003," Kidd said. "It's an honor to be on the cover of a game with so much history. I look forward to getting together with the developers this summer and adding my thoughts to help make NBA Live 2003 the best basketball video game around." -Matt C. Infogrames announces Driver 3 Infogrames announced this morning that Reflections is currently hard at work on Driver 3 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Gamecube. If you didn't know, Reflections is the same UK based team from Driver, Driver 2, Destruction Derby 1 and 2, and Suntman. "Gamers love the Driver series and have made it one of the best selling games of all time – Driver 2 continues to top the sales charts on the original PlayStation," said Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Infogrames’ Los Angeles studio. "Reflections is already working on bringing all the excitement associated with the Driver franchise to the next generation consoles." Driver 3 will be released in 2003. -Matt C. Monday July 15, 2002 Perfect Dark Zero Coming to the PS2? Don't quote us on this, but sources inside the industry say that Rare is indeed working on a project for the PlayStation 2. Amazingly, the project is Perfect Dark Zero, the sequel to Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64. We'll have more info on this story when it becomes available. -Matt C. Friday July 12, 2002 Top 10 Game Rentals According to Vidtrac.com, Stuntman has topped the current list of top game rentals nationwide -- which isn't surprising, considering how swank the game is (assuming you have the skillz to deal with the steep learning curve). Here is the entire list:
1. Stuntman (PS2) In related news, Dual Shock 2 controller sales have sky rocketed since the release of Stuntman back in late June...... Thursday July 11, 2002 Prisoner of War Canned for PlayStation 2 As of today, the PlayStation 2 version of Prisoner of War has been canceled. The game's developer, Codemasters, has made POW an Xbox exclusive title. Codemasters has yet to make an official announcement for the sudden cancellation of Prisoner of War. -Matt C. Tuesday July 9, 2002 Activision Reveals Street Hoops Song List (6:10 P.M.) Santa Monica, CA - The hip hop music that echoes in playgrounds from New York City to Venice Beach will have gamers on their feet in Activision's Street Hoops, an all-out street level, black top basketball game. Featuring top hip hop artists Cypress Hill, Method Man and Redman and Xzibit, to name a few, the soundtrack will rock gamers on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Xbox video game system from Microsoft this August. Street Hoops features the following artists and tracks:
DMX - "Who We Be"
Instrumental tracks include:
Talib Kweli - "Gun Music" Street Hoops encompasses the look, speed, energy and attitude of park/playground blacktop competition. The game allows players to compete in a nationwide tournament representing their hometown on the most famous street courts in nine U.S. cites, as well as four fantasy courts that can be unlocked during gameplay. Realism is the rule, allowing players to bet cash on competitions, buy authentic real-world gear including Sean John, Ecko Unlimited, Southpole, Pure Playaz, AND 1 and more with their earnings, talk trash, shout and push other players around, if need be. Source: Activision.com Thursday July 4, 2002 Rockstar Launches GTA: Vice City Web Site (7:30 P.M.) Yesterday, Rockstar Games launched its Grand Theft Auto: Vice City web site. Although the actual site is disguised as a fan page devoted to a man's love for the 80s', it is indeed the first "official" Vice City web site. At the bottom of the page, you can send an electronic post card to your friends. At a glance, the post card appears to be a photo of downtown Miami, but on closer inspection, you can see that it is a screenshot from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. As you can tell from the screen below, Vice City uses the same basic graphics engine from GTA3. Anyway, visit this web site if you haven't already. We'll have more on GTA: Vice City in the next few weeks. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Screenshot -Matt C. Colin McRae Rally 3.0 Car and Track List Revealed (7:30 P.M.) Codemasters revealed yesterday the cars and tracks that are slated for appearance in their upcoming rally game, Colin McRae Rally 3.0. Remember, this isn't the final list and that there will be more cars to unlock in the game.
Car List (in alphabetical order)
Track List (in alphabetical order)
-Matt C. Tuesday July 2, 2002 New Gameday 2003 Online Features Revealed (4:30 P.M.) 989 Studios and SCEA released some new information on the online features that will be included in NFL Gameday 2003:
Online Game Features
Online Lobby Features
Source: Sony Computer Entertainment of America -Matt C. Dynasty Warriors 3 to be rereleased in Japan (4:30 P.M.) Koei announced today that it plans on releasing an updated version of Dynasty Warriors 3 (Shin Sangoku Musou 2) in Japan, titled Shin Sangoku Musou 2: Moushoden. New featues include the ability to play the 2-player mode solo (with the computer controlling the other character), seven new generals to choose from, and edit and customize guard troops. Shin Sangoku Musou 2: Moushoden will be release August 29 for about 3,980 yen ($30). A possible North American release date is unknown at this time. -Matt C.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance delayed (4:45 P.M.) Midway announced that Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has been pushed back from its original September 23rd release date to some time in December. -Matt C.
Friday June 28, 2002 Metal Gear Solid 2 Documentary to Include VR Missions (3:30 P.M.) According to the Japanese publication, Famitsu, "The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2" (due out this summer) will include a few playable VR missions from MGS2: Substance. The exact number of missions that will be included are unknown at this time. For other items that will be on the DVD-ROM, see the quote below taken from Konami's web site: "The development chronology, polygon demos, storyboards, reference sketches, models that did not make it in the game, etc. -- all linked together. Extensive materials never released before are finally revealed. This is no MAKING OF book that you "read and view". This is a MAKING OF piece that you yourself can touch and control!"
Source: KCEJ and Famitsu.com -Matt C.
Wednesday June 26, 2002 .hack gets U.S. Release Date (5:30 P.M.) Bandai announced today that it plans to release .hack Volume 1 for the PlayStation 2 this October in North America. The game recently came out in Japan and has already sold over 100,000 copies (120,000 to be exact) in the first four days. Not bad. We'll have more info on .hack at a later date. -Matt C. Tuesday June 25, 2002 Stuntman Now Available in Stores (3:30 P.M.) Infogrames shipped Stuntman yesterday and the game is now availale in North America. For more info on Stuntman, read our preview of the game here. Stuntman is rated E for some violence and mild lyrics. -Matt C. New ATV Offroad Fury 2 Screenshots (3:30 P.M.) SCEA has released new screenshots for ATV Offroad Fury 2. Remember, this game will support online gameplay! Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Screenshot 3 -Matt C. Monday June 24, 2002 SCE Peripheral Price Drop (10:30 P.M.) SCE announced today that it plans to cut the price of the PlayStation 2 Dual Shock 2 controller and 8MB memory card in Japan this June 27th. Both the controller and memery card will drop to 2,800 yen ($22.99) and will come in an assortment of colors -- including Red, Yellow, Green, and Clear. -Matt C. New Cables for HDTV Gamers (10:30 P.M.) SCE announced today that it plans to release official D-terminal audio/video cable for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on July 25th. These cables are specifically made to work with HDTV's. To get the full potential out of the D-terminal cables, a game must have progressive-scan video output, which is become more and more common in today's games. At a 2,500 yen ($20.54) price tag, these cables are a must buy for gamers who own a high-definition television. -Matt C. Monday June 10, 2002 The Fast and Furious Races to the PS2 (10:30 P.M.) Universal Studios Interactive announced today that it has acquired the rights to create a game based on the blockbuster movie, The Fast and Furious. This upcoming game (due out in 2003) will also be based on the sequel to the original The Fast and Furious movie. How the game will play out is unknown, but Universal Interactive says they are attempting to get licenses for most of the cars seen in the movie. "The ultimate games capturing the street-racing life, UI's upcoming titles will captivate fans of The Fast And The Furious movie as well as hardcore racing game fans," states Jim Wilson, president of Universal Interactive. "The thrill of speed will come alive on next-gen and handheld systems to the beat of top Universal Music artists as players customize import and muscle cars, complete dangerous missions and compete in harrowing street races." -Matt C. Majesco Ships GTC Africa (10:30 P.M.) Majesco announced today that it has shipped GTC Africa to retail stores. The game should be available by tomorrow morning and will sell for a reasonable MSRP of $29.99. "GTC Africa provides an exciting, adrenaline-fueled gaming experience sure to appeal to racing fans everywhere," said Ken Gold, vice president of marketing. "With fully realized environments, beautifully detailed graphics, and a variety of licensed vehicles to operate, GTC Africa delivers one of the best racing experiences on the PlayStation 2." -Matt C.
Saturday June 8, 2002 PlayStation Awards 2002 (5:30 P.M.) Sony Computer Entertainment had their 2002 PlayStation Awards ceremony this week (Holy Crap! Has it been a year already?), with many awards handed out to various game companies. Here is a break down of all of the winners:
Gold Award (500,000+ copies sold since May 31, 2001)
Platinum Award (1 Million + copies sold)
Double-Platinum Award (2 Million + copies sold) -Matt C. Friday May 31, 2002 Infogrames ships Test Drive (10:30 P.M.) Infogrames announced today that they have shipped Test Drive for the PlayStation 2 to North American retail stores. Test Drive takes place in London, San Francisco, Monte Carlo, and Tokyo and gives players the chance to drive 13 licensed cars -- including the Nissan Skyline and Chevrolet Corvette Z06. "Powerful exotic racers and muscle cars, ruthless opponent AI and huge crashes make Test Drive the new measuring stick for console arcade racers," said Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Infogrames’ Los Angeles studio. "Not only is the game visually spectacular, it throws the player into the driver’s seat of the most prized custom vehicles in the world and sets them loose to wreak havoc on the streets of the world."
Source: Infogrames.com -Matt C. PlayStation 2 sales boost due to price cut (3:45 P.M.) Electronic Boutique has reported that PlayStation 2 system sales have increased 6.8 times since SCEA dropped the price two weeks ago. I recently talked with an employee at EB and this is what he told me: "PlayStation 2 is selling very good right now. A lot more customers have been coming in to buy new consoles, instead of just games." I then asked him about Nintendo and Microsoft's consoles. "Xbox and Gamecube sales are good too, but more people have been buying PlayStation 2's lately." -Matt C. Thursday May 30, 2002 The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 (10:30 P.M.) According to Konami's Japanese web site, a documentary of Metal Gear Solid 2's creation will be released this Summer for the PlayStation 2. This DVD-ROM will include: "The development chronology, polygon demos, storyboards, reference sketches, models that did not make it in the game, etc. -- all linked together. Extensive materials never released before are finally revealed. This is no MAKING OF book that you "read and view". This is a MAKING OF piece that you yourself can touch and control!" The price for this package has not been determined yet.
Source: KCEJ -Matt C. Wednesday May 29, 2002 Medal of Honor: Frontline ships to stores (4:30 P.M.) EA announced today that they have shipped Dreamworks' latest WWII game, Medal of Honor: Frontline. The game was originally supposed to come out on D-day, (June 6th) but the release date was pushed forward. I'm personally very excited about Frontline, so look out for a review very soon. Hopefully Dreamworks ironed out the bugs that I saw in the preview version. -Matt C. Tuesday May 28, 2002 Final Fantasy X: Episode 2 and 3? (3:30 P.M.) Squaresoft has announced this morning that they plan on developing two PS2 games based on Final Fantasy X. An official title for both games has not been revealed yet, but for now, the two upcoming games will be called Yuna version and Rikku version. Some of the members of the original FFX team are working on these titles together and are using the same game engine - which should help reduce the development time and cost. A North American release date is unknown, but both games should be out in Japan around March or May 2003. More info later. -Matt C.
SCEI to Release Colorful PS2 Peripherals in Japan (3:25 P.M.) Sony Computer Entertainment announced recently that they plan on releasing different colored PS2 memory cards and controllers on June 27 in Japan. The new colors include: red, green, lemon yellow, and crystal (clear). -Matt C.
Monday May 20, 2002 E3 Is Almost Here
The Electronic Entertainment Expo starts tomorrow, so head on down to this page for the latest E3 news and other crap. -Matt C. Thursday May 16, 2002 Rockstar Announces Midnight Club 2 Rockstar Games announced today that Angel Studios is hard at work on the sequel to Midnight Club: Street Racing. Rockstar is holding off until E3 to reveal most of the details, but we do know that the game will feature cities modeled after Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Paris. "Midnight Club turned a lot of heads at the launch of the PlayStation 2 with its frantic gameplay, open plan racing and unique attitude," said Dan Houser, Creative Director of Rockstar Games. "With Midnight Club 2, we're pushing the boundaries even further by adding more cities, tricked out vehicles, stylized characters and a myriad of extra features to keep the series moving forward. With a slick interface and a truly original approach, Midnight Club 2 stands in a class of its own." No release date has been set for Midnight Club 2. -Matt C. Wednesday May 15, 2002 Madden NFL 2003 to Feature Online Gameplay EA announced today that the PS2 version of Madden NFL 2003 will feature a full fledged online mode. In addition to playing against people via Sony's online network, gamers will have the opportunity to chat and download roster upgrades. The number of players supported in each game has yet to be determined.
-Matt C. Tuesday May 14, 2002 Sony Cuts Price of PS2... Finally! Sony Computer Entertainment of America announced last night that they have slashed the price of all U.S. PlayStation 2 consoles by 33%. Effective immediately, the PS2 is now available for $199 from the original price of $299. Dual Shock 2 controllers and official PS2 memory cards are now $24, which is $10 less from the original price of $34. In addition, SCEA has cut the prices on the PS One, which will now sell dirt cheap for $49.99. According to Kaz Hirai, the president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony is looking into reducing the price of all PS2 software (except the "Greatest Hits" titles) in the near future, although nothing is guaranteed yet. -Matt C. Monday May 13, 2002 Red Faction 2 at E3 THQ has announced their plans on revealing Red Faction 2 at this year's E3, which is said to be an exclusive PS2 title. RF2 will feature an improved version of the geo-mod engine from the first game, as well as new weapons and vehicles. In addition, a four-player split-screen mode is being planned. Red Faction 2 should be out by Christmas 2002. -Matt C. Grandia Xtreme is Coming to the US Enix has confirmed that they plan on bring Grandia Xtreme (known as Grandia X in Japan) to the US this September. Grandia Xtreme is the first Grandia game designed specifically for the PlayStation 2. "Grandia Xtreme is the first result of our new partnership with Game Arts, the creators of the Grandia and Lunar RPG series," said Paul Handelman, president of Enix America. "For many, the Enix brand is synonymous with quality RPGs due to our strong franchises such as Dragon Warrior and Star Ocean. Now we add Grandia to our profile, further increasing our mark of RPG quality and strengthening our active fan base." -Matt C. Blockbuster to Start Selling Video Games Blockbuster, best known for their large selection of VHS, DVD, and Video Games for rental, has announced that they will be expanding their retail section to include games, consoles, and accessories within the next few months. In hopes to compete with GameStop/Funcoland and EB - Blockbuster will also have a program that allows a $5 discount on either a used or brand-new game if that customer had previously rented that specific title. "Blockbuster is currently the leading renter of video games and one of the nation's largest profit-producing companies in the interactive gaming market," said Executive Vice-president and Chief Concept Officer for Blockbuster. "In conjunction with our enhanced retail proposition, and just in time for the busy summer months, we are also rolling out a wide array of programs designed specifically for renters." -Matt C. Friday May 10, 2002 Two More Games Added to Greatest Hits List Two of Rockstar's first generation PS2 games, Midnight Club: Street Racing and Smuggler’s Run, are now on Sony's Greatest Hits lineup. As expected, the price of each game has been dropped to $19.99. -Matt C. Sony Ships 30 Million PlayStation 2 Units SCEI announced yesterday that they have shipped 30 million PlayStation 2 systems worldwide. 11.3 million units have been shipped in North America, 9.9 million in Asia, and 8.8 million in Europe. "Even after a pivotal year for the gaming industry in 2001, we remain confident about our opportunities for continued growth. As an illustration of the demand for PlayStation 2, we announced in February 2002 that the company had shipped 26 million units worldwide. Now, as of May 5, 2002, just three months later, we have shipped 30 million units worldwide," said Kaz Hirai, president and COO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. See. Now you know why SCEA refuses to drop the price of the PlayStation 2. -Matt C.
© Copyright 2002 PlayStation Pro 2
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