June 27, 2001 (Wednesday)

Midway Pulls from Arcade Business - Midway Entertainment will be closing down it's arcade game division to focus it's resources exclusively on the home console market. Sixty employees will be laid off with the closure of their arcade division. Apparently, the arcade business proved to be less than profitable for them. Midway was quoted as saying "in light of ongoing declining demand in the coin-operated videogame business."...  

Japan's Dreamcast gets Two New Games - In a change of pace, Sega of Japan officially announced two new Sakura Taisen games for the Dreamcast console. Sakura Taisen 4 (Spring 2002) and Sakura Taisen Online (December 2001) are the two new games in development. However, it seems very unlikely that these titles will be released in the US. Importers might want to look into these games as they might be the last DC titles released...

June 20, 2001 (Wednesday)

Nintendo's Reaction to GBA Launch - Nintendo of America seems to be greatly satisfied with the North American Launch of the Game Boy Advance handheld. Peter Main (vice president of sales & marketing at NOA) was quoted as saying; "We knew demand was going to be strong, but this is a record setting response." The company reportedly sold all 500,000 GBA units in the first two days after launch. Another 500,000 GBA units will ship before the end of June. In all, Nintendo expects to ship 24 million units worldwide by the end of the fiscal year (March 2002)...  

Tomb Raider takes Top Spot - The video game-based film, Tomb Raider, did well for itself despite lackluster reviews. Tomb Raider came in at the number one spot (at the box office). With Disney's Atlantis and Shrek sitting at the number two and three positions respectively. Tomb Raider generated $48.2 million during it's opening weekend...

LE Gundam WonderSwan Colors - Bandai plans to release two new versions of their WonderSwan Color handheld system. Both units will feature color schemes and symbols from the Gundam universe. In case you didn't know Gundam is a popular anime series in both North America and Japan. The release date and price point hasn't been announced yet. But the new units will be in limited supply and only released in Japan. Check your nearest import shop for more info... 

Best of E3 Awards - The winners of the 2001 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Game Critic Awards are as follows. Just click here to get the full list of winners and runner-ups...

June 17, 2001 (Sunday - Father's Day)

Happy Father's Day - I'd like to take this moment and say thanks to all the wonderful dads out there, who have done their part in raising their children. Without pops like you, this place wouldn't be as good as it is...  

DC Half-Life Cancelled - Sierra issued a press release last Friday with some bad news. The once upcoming Dreamcast title, Half-Life, has officially been cancelled. The only reason given was; "due to changing market conditions." In other words, because of Sega's decision to get out of the hardware market and to stop Dreamcast production...

"XBox" Name Ownership Case Settled - Let me refresh your memories. Back in 2000, Microsoft announced the existence of their XBox gaming console. Shortly afterwards they went to the patent office to register the "XBox" name. However a small Florida company (XBox Technologies) had already applied for the patent of "XBox" back in 1999. So talks between the two companies began. Forward several years later, and Microsoft has officially (and finally) obtained the "XBox" name patent from XBox Technologies. No details were revealed about the settlement. But the road ahead is clear for Microsoft when they release their XBox this November 8th...

Tomb Raider: the Movie - Tomb Raider finally opened last Friday at most theaters across the nation. Unfortunately the buzz and reviews aren't looking too good for this movie. I haven't seen it yet, so I'll wait for the DVD release before passing judgment on it. But Tomb Raider sounds like it might just join the ranks of many bad movies based on video games. Such as Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter, and several others...

June 12, 2001 (Tuesday)

Editorial - I'd like to take this time and welcome the Gameboy Advance into the GameyPlace Reviews section. I was able to get a hold of a Glacier system, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. I won't write any reviews until I fully complete each game. But in the meantime, I recommend hitting GameFAQs.com, VideoGames.com, and/or IGN.com for ready-to-go reviews and impressions... 

Game Boy Advance Launches - The brand new handheld from Nintendo, the Game Boy Advance, officially launched on June 11th with a MSRP of $99.99. Seventeen games shipped in time for the launch ranging in price form $29.99 to $39.99. Supplies are limited, but a second shipment is expected June 18th. Check with your local retailers for price and availability...

Parasite Eve Movie, US Release - ADV Films will be releasing the US version of the Parasite Eve movie (the live-action film that originated from Japan). The movie will remain in Japanese, but have English subtitles. Both the DVD ($19.98) and VHS ($14.98) versions are slated for August 14th...

Perfect Dark Going Hollywood? - Fireworks Entertainment recently picked up the film and television rights to Nintendo/Rare's Perfect Dark. Rumors currently suggest that a TV series could air in 2002, and the movie is already being pitched to several different studios. Details regarding the license haven't been released yet. But we'll let you as this story develops... 

June 6, 2001 (Wednesday)

No US Dreamcast Guilty Gear X - In a recent talk, a Sammy representative revealed some new information to Gamespot.com. The North American release of the Dreamcast game, Guilty Gear X, will not happen. It has been cancelled. Instead the game will be released on the Sony Playstation 2 in September. There was no word about the fate of Dreamcast's Last Blade...

Even More GBA Games - A few more Game Boy Advance titles have hit store shelves early. GT Advance and Army Men Advance should be available at your local retailers shortly. With Konami Krazy Racers & Castlevania: Circle of Moon shipping right afterwards. Be sure to call your local retailers for price and current availability before going out...

Dragon Ball Z GBA Details - Wizardworks (a division of Infogrames) has revealed some details regarding their Game Boy Advance title, "Dragon Ball Z: the Legend of Goku". The game is being touted as an action-adventure with RPG elements. The plot will begin when Gohan is kidnapped (I think the Dead Zone movie) and will follow the series up to the end of the Frieza Saga. Players will be able to build up their characters' powers and special abilities for use in combat. Fights will incorporate a "Melee vs Ki" battle system. And the game will flow from chapter to chapter. Each one with it's own unique quest and fight scenes. No price or release date has been revealed yet...

Koei Supports Gamecube - Koei's official website revealed their stance on the upcoming NGC. By saying they will "fully support" the system. Versions of the games, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Dynasty Warriors, are in the works for the Nintendo Gamecube... 

June 4, 2001 (Monday)

Game Arts & Enix Team-Up - Enix of Japan has financially invested in Game Arts, the makers of the Lunar and Grandia RPGs. In return, Game Arts has given Enix the publishing rights for the Playstation 2 games, Grandia 2 and Grandia X (tentative title)...

Game Boy Advance Games Hit Stores Early - Some retailers (such as Toys R' Us and Wal-Mart) have received a portion of the GBA launch titles.  Here's a list of the shipped games; Earthworm Jim, Pitfall, Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2, Iridion 3D, and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. Be sure to check with your local stores for price and current availability. These stores have to fulfill their preorders first and some titles may already be sold out...

Dreamcast Inventory Dwindling - Plenty of retailers are clearing out their stock of Dreamcast games, systems, and accessories. Most likely in light of Sega's jump out of the hardware fray. And the anticipated Fall arrival of the consoles, XBox and Gamecube. Prices are getting lower and lower. You can now pick up great games (and a few recently released titles) for roughly $20 or less. In fact, Kay-Bee Toys has completely dropped the Dreamcast (and remaining stock has hit the bargain bin). I recommend getting out there and grabbing the games you want while they're still there. Because the Dreamcast might not be in stores too much longer... 

June 1, 2001 (Friday)

Online Fee for PSO v2.0 - The upcoming Dreamcast game, Phantasy Star Online Version 2.0, will have an online access fee. The cost has yet to be revealed, but it is expected to be minimal. The original PSO will remain fee-free..

Date Set for Fall TGS - The Fall 2001 Tokyo Game Show will run from October 12 to 14. And will be held at Makuhari Messe outside of Tokyo, Japan. An audience of 150,000 people are expected...

Next Bleemcast Title - The next Bleemcast disc will let you play the PSX title, Metal Gear Solid, on your Sega Dreamcast. But you'd best call your local retailers and ask for the disc if you ever expect to see it. Bleem! recently made a claim that Sony was using "strong-arm" tactics to keep Bleem! products off of store shelves. This hasn't been confirmed as pure truth, but it would explain the difficulty in finding the discs...

Tekken 4 Details - Tekken 4 is set to hit the arcades at first and then make its way to home consoles (most likely the PS2) afterward. The story is set to take place 2 years after Tekken 3 and will disregard the events from Tekken Tag Tournament. Fights will return to one-on-one battles. And the arenas will be enclosed featuring walls and other structures...

New Dreamcast Games - Believe it. Some amazing SNK titles are heading over to the US Dreamcast. Tommo (Agetec) will be releasing "Guilty Gear" and "the Last Blade" sometime this Fall. Yes, the titles have been renamed for some reason (like all their other SNK DC/PSX ports). Both games were originally released in Japan under the names "Guilty Gear X" and "the Last Blade 2: Final Edition"... 

2001 June News

May 28, 2001 (Monday - Memorial Day)

Memorial Day - I'd like to take a minute to honor and to remember the people who lost their lives fighting for this country, the United States of America...

GameyPlace.com Updates - The new reviews are finally posted, so get going and check them out. This month's focus was on the PSOne & Super Nintendo...

May 23, 2001 (Wednesday)

Gamecube Pricing - Nintendo has made some price points regarding their upcoming console, the Nintendo Gamecube. The system will launch with a $199.95 retail price. And games (on the average) will cost $49.95. The launch is still set for November 5th, 2001 in the US...

Final Fantasy XI Details - The first online game of the Final Fantasy series will require a monthly access fee and member registration with Square's internet service, PlayOnline. The title will retail between 6000 yen to 7000 yen. And is cheaper than the 8800 yen, Final Fantasy X for the PS2...

Matsushita Gamecube - A picture of the hybrid system was shown at last week's E3 Expo. The console combines both the Nintendo Gamecube system and a Matsushita DVD Player together in one nifty package. In fact, the system looks like a giant silver cube will a retro-design. The system is set to hit Japan in September with a higher, unspecified price tag. And nothing has been mentioned about a US release yet...

XBox First-Party Peripherals - A price list regarding Microsoft's XBox peripherals have hit several sites. A Standard XBox Controller will retail for $39.99. The XBox 8MB Memory Card will sell for $34.99. And the XBox DVD Remote Controller (required to activate the DVD Player) will cost $29.99. Some of these prices seem a little steep, but I guess that's the price of high-technology..

New Capcom Games - Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Breath of Fire II are officially in development for the Gameboy Advance. Details regarding these titles haven't been discussed yet. And what might be the final game in the series, Mega Man X6, is currently in the works for the PSOne. The game is set to take place just two days after Zero's death in Mega Man X5. There's also a new stage system planned. In which your actions during early parts of the game will affect the stage layout and item placement of later levels...

May 17, 2001 (Thrusday - E3 Special)

GameyPlace.com Updates: I just updated the previews for the "Microsoft XBox" and "Nintendo Gamecube" under the Console Previews in blue to your left. They now reflect the information learned at the Pre-E3 Press Conferences. And check out today's news for even more E3 coverage. 

Pre-E3: Sony Playstation 2 Conference - In a 3-hour conference, Sony revealed some of their plans for the Playstation 2. A special Playstation 2 / Gran Turismo 3 Package will be available July 10th for $329.95. The PS2 Network Adapter (with 56k and Broadband Connections) will hit us in November for $39.99. The PS2 40GB Hard Drive is set for November, but no price was mentioned. And the Official PS2 DVD Remote will retail for $19.99. Sony also unveiled their PS2 LCP Display (basically a flat screen computer monitor), a keyboard, and a mouse for later this fall when their internet browser is launched.   

Sony showed off a list of exclusive (at least for one year) games including Final Fantasy X, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Virtua Fighter 4, and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2. Footage was shown of Jak and Daxter (Naughty Dog's new game), SSX Tricky, NBA Street, and Madden NFL 2002.  

Pre-E3: Microsoft XBox Conference - The hour and half long conference solidified many details about the Microsoft XBox console. The North American release is set for November 8th of this year. And the system will retail for $299.99. Roughly 600,000 to 800,000 units will initially be available. With a total of 1 Million to 1.4 Million units being out by the end of the year. Games will come packaged in neon green DVD cases. 

The list of playable titles shown included Oddworld: Munch's Odyssey, Halo, Mad Dash Adventure Racing, Pirates of Gold Cove, Dead or Alive 3, and NASCAR Heat Network. 80 exclusive titles are currently in development. Including Sega's Crazy Taxi Next, House of the Dead 3, and the latest versions of their NBA, NCAA, World Series Baseball, and NFL games (with online features). Capcom's Onimusha (redesigned for XBox), Dino Crisis 3, and Brain Box. And games based on the films A.I. and Shreck. Not to mention a fighting game starring the famous Bruce Lee...

Pre-E3: Nintendo Gamecube Conference - Several details were revealed about the upcoming Nintendo Gamecube in their hour long conference (followed with a half-hour Q&A session). Nintendo's new slogan is "the Nintendo Difference". The new console is set to hit Japan on September 14th, then in North America on November 5th, and finally in early 2002 for Europe. No price date was revealed. But more information is forth coming at Nintendo's Spaceworld Convention this August in Japan. 

Focus was put on the controller and three playable titles; Super Smash Bros, Luigi's Mansion, and Pikmin (an action-based, ant colony game). Numerous titles were shown on tape only including Dinosaur Planet, Star Wars: Rogue Leader, Wave Race, NBA Courtside Basketball, Mickey (Mouse), Donkey Kong Racing, Metroid Prime, Mario Kart, Kameo, Eternal Darkness, Animal Planet, and the Legend of Zelda...

May 16, 2001 (Wednesday - Pre-E3 Special)

Pre-E3: Microsoft XBox Conference - The hour and half long conference solidified many details about the Microsoft XBox console. The North American release is set for November 8th of this year. And the system will retail for $299.99. Roughly 600,000 to 800,000 units will initially be available. With a total of 1 Million to 1.4 Million units being out by the end of the year. Games will come packaged in neon green DVD cases. 

The list of playable titles shown included Oddworld: Munch's Odyssey, Halo, Mad Dash Adventure Racing, Pirates of Gold Cove, Dead or Alive 3, and NASCAR Heat Network. 80 exclusive titles are currently in development. Including Sega's Crazy Taxi Next, House of the Dead 3, and the latest versions of their NBA, NCAA, World Series Baseball, and NFL games (with online features). Capcom's Onimusha (redesigned for XBox), Dino Crisis 3, and Brain Box. And games based on the films A.I. and Shreck. Not to mention a fighting game starring the famous Bruce Lee...

Pre-E3: Nintendo Gamecube Conference - Several details were revealed about the upcoming Nintendo Gamecube in their hour long conference (followed with a half-hour Q&A session). Nintendo's new slogan is "the Nintendo Difference". The new console is set to hit Japan on September 14th, then in North America on November 5th, and finally in early 2002 for Europe. No price date was revealed. But more information is forth coming at Nintendo's Spaceworld Convention this August in Japan. 

Focus was put on the controller and three playable titles; Super Smash Bros, Luigi's Mansion, and Pikmin (an action-based, ant colony game). Numerous titles were shown on tape only including Dinosaur Planet, Star Wars: Rogue Leader, Wave Race, NBA Courtside Basketball, Mickey (Mouse), Donkey Kong Racing, Metroid Prime, Mario Kart, Kameo, Eternal Darkness, Animal Planet, and the Legend of Zelda...

Impressions on E3 Coverage - I watched both the Microsoft and Nintendo press conferences on the internet with streaming video. The Microsoft XBox conference was covered by XBox.com. And for the most part the streaming went well, but it would begin to buffer multiple times after a half-hour or so. So I had to reload the page a few times to keep things moving. I caught the Nintendo press conference on Gamespot Live (videogames.com). Their Windows Media Player wasn't working, so I had to use the Real Player. And it worked really good in audio terms, despite losing a lot of visuals. Unfortunately, I couldn't get their Sony press conference coverage going, so it looks like we're going to have to do without that news for now...

May 13 ,2001 (Sunday - Mother's Day)

Happy Mother's Day - In celebration of Mother's Day, I'd like to give recognition to all the great Moms out there who have raised or are raising responsible children. The world needs more dedicated parents such as yourselves. Thanks for everything...

Gamespot's E3 Coverage - The gang at Gamespot (videogames.com) plans to do extensive coverage of the upcoming E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) starting May 16th with pre-show press conferences. In addition to continuous updates, web viewers will be able to access live streaming video broadcasts straight from the show floor...

Virtua Fighter 4 Street Date - The arcade version of Virtua Fighter 4 is set to hit the streets of Japan by the end of this July. Gamers will also be able to access VF.Net around the same time. The free part of this service will allow players to build experience points, earn items, and eventually receive new costumes for their characters. Whereas the fee-based part will get you access to rankings, search features, and a newsletter. The only catch is that you'll need an I-Mode Cellular Phone, be a Japanese resident, and be playing Virtua Fighter 4..

Resident Evil Movie Details - The movie is being directed by Paul Anderson (who previously worked on Mortal Kombat: the Movie). And the film is being shot in Berlin, Germany. The two lead characters are known as Rain and Angel. Rain is played by Eric Mabius (from Cruel Intentions). Angel is being played by Milla Jovovich (from the Fifth Element)..

Nintendo Pirate Arrested - In Japan, the police had raided the apartment of a 34 year-old office worker. But only after the man had set up a website and allowed more than 1.5 million people to download pirated video games. Including the ROMs of the several Pokemon games among other titles. Inside the man's home, the police found more than 200 illegally copied video games. The man has been charged with violating several copyright laws...

Tech TV to Cover E3 - The new television channel known as Tech TV (Techtv) will cover the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) when the event begins May 16th. The channel can be accessed on Direct TV, channel 354... 

May 09, 2001 (Wednesday)

GameyPlace.com Updates - I've changed the color scheme of the news section again. So it should be easier on everyone's eyes. Sorry about the lack of recent updates. There really hasn't been a whole lot of news, actually it's been mostly rumors over the past few days. And rightfully so with the upcoming E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo). Just think of this as the calm before the storm. I'm also working on a lot of other surprises and reviews for later this month...

N64 Game Cancellations - Two mysterious titles on the N64 release list have finally disappeared. A few days ago, Dinosaur Planet and Eternal Darkness slipped away. Whether or not these games are headed to the Gamecube has yet to be seen...

Handheld Atari 2600 - You read right. A single person, Ben Heckendorn, has taken it upon himself to make a portable Atari 2600 system. He constructs the nifty device from old 2600 boards and mini-screen TVs. A custom unit will run you $248.79. Click Here to check out his website for more information...

May 02, 2001 (Wednesday)

New Reviews Added - This month's batch of reviews are finally done. 

Daily Radar Closes - Another website has fallen victim to the internet shakeout. The Daily Radar at dailyradar.com has officially closed. Taking at least 25 employees with it...

Spongebob Squarepants Gone Gaming - Nickelodeon's hit cartoon, Spongebob Squarepants, will be hitting the Gameboy Advance and Sony Playstation (PSOne) later this year...

New Crazy Taxi Competition - Twin Galaxies (of Twin Galaxies' Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records) will be holding a Crazy Taxi World Competition all their own. Beginning May 3 and ending June 2, they will award over 200 winners for breaking various records on the PS2, Dreamcast, and Arcade versions of Crazy Taxi. For more info, check out their website at www.twingalaxies.com...

Classic Gaming Expo 2001 News - The 4th annual Classic Gaming Expo will take place this August 11-12. Inside the Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the title suggests, many classic games and forgotten consoles will be on display for the audience...

More Game Statistics - According to a report released by the IDSA (the Interactive Digital Software Association), the game industry created 219,000 new jobs and sales were up 15% since a 1997-2000 average...

2001 May News