At this point, in the Gaming industry its good to have a your news come from a good source. besides who wants to hear about someones Opinions all the time. So i did some searching on where I could find some good info straight from the the Gaming Giants Coorperate mouths, so i say indeed that the info is based on fact and is not opinion. Unless it says in plain english that it is. So enjoy.
>>The Latest 4 stories will appear on my first page.
Sources Used:
Bloomberg.com
GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter
NPD Group
NPD Funworld
Gamespot.com
IGNCUBE
E3Expo.com
>LucasArts Unveils Another [5/17/2002 1:21:59 PM ET]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.LucasArts Entertainment Co. LLC has announced a new Star Wars-based action combat game for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 platforms.
In development by Pandemic Studios, Star Wars: The Clone Wars will allow gamers to play as a Jedi hero leading a Clone army into battle against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
The title will feature multiplayer action, including Duel, King of the Hill and Conquest modes. Between two and four players will be able to battle in split-screen mode on the GameCube, with the PS2 offering up action for only two players.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be released for both platforms this fall.
>Sega Beefs Up Online Offerings [5/16/2002 11:17:33 AM ET]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.Sega of America today announced plans today to enable users of all three next-generation consoles to take their games online in the near future.
Nintendo’s announcement earlier this week centered on Sega’s Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II as the title that will help usher in online gaming on the GameCube platform.
That was only the start for Sega, as the company has unveiled more titles that will take the next-gen consoles online. The list includes:
· NFL 2K3—Featuring online play for PS2 and Xbox users.
· NBA 2K3—PS2, Xbox online
· NCAA College Basketball 2K3—PS2, Xbox online
· Phantasy Star Online (working title)—Xbox online
· Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II—GameCube online
Sega will announce two more online titles later this year (or at E3) and will also bring the latest version (III?) of Phantasy Star Online to the GameCube as well.
>Activision E3 Lineup [5/16/2002 10:36:33 AM ET]
Activision, Inc. has released an extensive list containing all the titles it will be exhibiting at the upcoming E3 Expo.
Activision will be based in booth #1224 in the South Hall, where it will be showcasing:
· Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4—PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA
· Matt Hoffman’s Pro BMX 2—PS2, Xbox, GBA
· Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer—PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA
· Shaun Murray’s Pro Wakeboarder—PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA
· X-Men: Next Dimension—next-generation consoles
· X-Men: Wolverine’s Revenge—PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA
· Blade 2—PS2, Xbox
· Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions—PS2
· True Crime: Streets of LA—PS2, Xbox
· Rally Fusion: Race of Champions—PS2, Xbox, GameCube
· Minority Report—PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA
· Star Trek Elite Force II—PC
· Star Trek Starfleet Command III—PC
· Stuart Little 2—GBA
· Tarzan: Return to the Jungle—GBA
· DOOM III—PC
· Return to Castle Wolfenstein—PS2
· Tenchu 3: Wrath of Heaven—PS2
· Street Hoops—PS2, Xbox
· Medieval: Total War—PC
>WaveBird Details [5/14/2002 10:22:15 AM ET]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.
Nintendo of America will launch its WaveBird wireless GameCube controller stateside on June 10.
The controller will be available for an MSRP of $34.95 and can transmit to the console from up to 20 feet away. To use the wireless pad, gamers simply plug in a receiver—include with the WaveBird—into one of the GameCube’s controller slots.
The controller contains 16 different frequencies to choose from, which will allow up to four wireless users to play per console. Nintendo adds that two AA batteries should provide over 100 hours of game play.
In related news, Nintendo is reducing the price of its standard GameCube controller to $24.95, effective immediaetly.
>GameCube Faring Well in Europe [5/14/2002 11:57:23 AM ET]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.
Nintendo sent out a release this morning stating that it has sold 400,000 units of its GameCube console since it launched in Europe on May 3. That number equals almost 80 percent of the initial amount shipped. Nintendo has earmarked the delivery of another 500,000 GameCube units to Europe over the next seven weeks to help supply demand
On average, the European attach rate for the GameCube is 2.3 games per system, with Luigi’s Mansion and Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II the two top selling games.
>Nintendo Reveals Online Plans [5/13/2002 4:37:43 PM ET]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.
Apparently not content to wait another week to make an announcement, Nintendo of America today announced its online gaming plans for its GameCube console.
Scheduled to kick off this fall, the GameCube online world will begin with Sega’s Phantasy Star Online I & II. Gamers, depending on their Internet connection, will have the choice of purchasing a v.90 modem or broadband adapter module for their GameCube. Both parts will retail for $34.95.
In a bid to spur publishers into creating more online titles, Nintendo will not require royalty fees from revenue generated by games played online through the GameCube.
Nintendo added that Sega’s title would be playable at this year’s E3. It also stated that its internal teams are “researching” online projects, but that nothing would be displayed “or discussed” related to its in-house developers at E3.
> Nintendo, Namco Link Up [5/10/2002 10:17:29 AM]
Source: GameDaily's Nightly Newsletter.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Namco Limited are joining forces in order to bring multiple Namco titles to the GameCube and Game Boy Advance.
Namco has six games ready to be released for the GameCube by the end of 2003 and another eight set to hit the Game Boy Advance in 2002. The two will work jointly to produce a GameCube space shooter based on the Star Fox series.
Namco’s GameCube titles in development are:
· Mr. Driller (working title)—November 2002
· Soul Calibur 2—January 2003
· Ridge Series Racing Game (title to be announced)—March 2003
· Star Fox (working title)—April 2003
· Tales RPG (title to be announced)—July 2003
· Original RPG (title to be announced)—December 2003
It’s Game Boy Advance offerings will be:
· Family Tennis Advance—June 2002
· Famista Advance—June 2002
· Mr. Driller Ace—August 2002
· Klonoa of the Wind G2—August 2002
· Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2—October 2002
· Klonoa of the Wind (title to be announced)—November 2002
· Puzzle Game (title to be announced)—December 2002
· Tales of Phantasia—December 2002
>EA E3 Lineup [5/14/2002 4:26:08 PM ET]
Electronic Arts has released a list of titles it will be showcasing at the looming E3 Expo.
The company will be located in the South Hall in booth #1000. All told, EA will be showing whopping 31 titles, including:
EA Sports:
· Madden NFL 2003—PS2, GC, Xbox, GBA, PSone, PC
· NBA Live 2003—PS2, GC, XBOX, PSone, PC
· NASCAR Thunder 2003—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· 2002 FIFA World Cup—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· Knockout Kings 2003—GC
· NHL 2003—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· F1 2002—PS2, GC, PC
· NCAA Football 2003—PS2, GC, Xbox
EA Sports Big:
· Freekstyle—PS2, GC
EA Games:
· Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets—PS2, GC, Xbox, GBA, PSone, GBC, PC
· James Bond 007 NightFire—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· Battlefield 1942—Xbox, PC
· The Sims—PS2
· Sim City 4—PC
· The Sims Online—PC
· Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2—PS2, GC, Xbox, PC
· The Lord of the Rings. The Two Towers—(not listed)
· Medal of Honor Frontline—PS2
· Command & Conquer Generals—PC
· Earth and Beyond—PC
· 1503 A.D- The New World—PC
· Ty the Tasmanian Tiger—PS2, GC
EA Distribution Co-publishing:
· Buffy the Vampire Slayer—Xbox
· Disney Golf—PS2
· Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension—PS2, GC, PC
· Drome Racers—PS2, PC
· Bionicle: Matoran Adventures—GBA
· Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter—PC
· The Simpsons Skateboarding—PS2
>He-Man and Friends to TDKM [5/14/2002 1:35:44 PM ET]
TDK Mediactive, Inc. and Mattel, Inc. have signed a worldwide, multi-year agreement, which gives TDKM exclusive rights to publish interactive games based on the Masters of the Universe license.
The license covers console systems from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo as well as the PC platform.
"Masters of the Universe is a retro-brand that is still tremendously popular," said Vincent Bitetti, chief executive officer of TDK Mediactive. "And with the brand resurgence, it's the perfect time to make the leap into the video game arena."
Mattel is planning to launch a revamped set of Masters of the Universe action figures and playsets in the near future.
>SSI’s E3 Lineup [5/14/2002 11:12:22 AM ET]
Simon and Schuster Interactive has announced the lineup of games it will be showcasing at the E3 Expo.
The company will be located in its now familiar spot in the West Foyer, right outside the main entrance to the West Hall. Here is what they will be showing off:
· Outlaw Golf—Xbox, GameCube
· Farscape: The Game—PC
· Warbirds III—PC, Mac
· Seablade—Xbox
· Real War: Rogue States—PC
· Soldiers of Anarchy—PC
· Darkened Skye—GameCube
· Eve Online: The Second Genesis—PC
· BMX Trick Racer—GBA
· The Last Ninja—Xbox
· Outlaw Volleyball—Xbox
>- (cube.ign.com)
More Specifics on Final Fantasy Announcement
New details, with statements from top NOA executive.
March 08, 2002 -
Earlier today Nintendo of America confirmed an article first posted by the Nihon Kezai Shimbun, that Square's acclaimed Final Fantasy series would return to Nintendo. The news piece, broken in Japan, stated that Nintendo and a still unnamed Square affiliate -- a company backed with money from Hiroshi Yamauchi's Q Fund and led by Square director Akitoshi Kawazu, were already underway jointly with undisclosed projects for GameCube and Game Boy Advance.
Since the announcement IGNcube has been able to uncover more details.While not officially announced, the first Final Fantasy game thought to be in development under the agreement is Final Fantasy Unlimited, a title based on Square's anime series of the same name. In the anime series, a black pillar appears mysteriously in the waters near Japan and begins to summon monsters from another world. A Geologist named Dr. Hawayaka and his wife enter the portal and return later to write about their adventures. When they attempt to travel to the other world for a second time, though, they go missing. And this is when their children, Ai and Yuu decide to look for them.
Akitoshi Kawazu, who worked on Legend of Mana and SaGa for Square, began development on a Final Fantasy Unlimited project for an unnamed console as far back as October of last year. His role in the Q Fund startup studio suggests that the game is indeed bound for GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The titles, according to Nintendo of America, will be totally interactive with one another and will arrive, at least in Japan if not America, before the end of the year.
"This is very exciting news for us and surely for gameplayers around the world," Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs Perrin Kaplan told IGNcube today. "Square's talent is well-respected. Between the combination of their good work, and Nintendo's exclusive connectivity ability between GCN and GBA, the result will be great."
The first titles, whether they be Final Fantasy Unlimited or not, would appear to be originally created for GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The link between the two consoles will certainly be emphasized, said Nintendo of America.
A character from the Final Fantasy Unlimited anime series in Japan
The first titles, whether they be Final Fantasy Unlimited or not, would appear to be originally created for GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The link between the two consoles will certainly be emphasized, said Nintendo of America.
>- The Triforce is here. (Nintendo.com)
Namco Limited, Sega Corporation and Nintendo Co., Ltd. today announced they have joined forces to develop a 3D computer graphics board for next-generation arcade game system applying the architecture of Nintendo's all-new home video game console, Nintendo GameCube(TM).
Dubbed "TRIFORCE," the system board of Next Generation Arcade Game is designed to improve graphics performance and enhance overall arcade game play. Through their alliance, Namco and Sega will seek to expand the arcade game market, create a cost-effective environment for arcade game developers and establish a wholly new fun-game system to bridge the home and game arcade entertainment experience. A prototype will be shown at the AOU 2002 Amusement Expo in Makuhari, Japan on February 22nd.