KONAMI ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER 2005 LINE-UP

 

KONAMI GAMERS’ DAY, SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 27, 2005 – Konami Digital Entertainment – America, a division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced new titles and additional details for its 2005 lineup.  On the heels off an unprecedented year that featured the release of landmark games such as Metal Gear Solid® 3: Snake Eater™ and Silent Hill 4: The Room™, this year’s Konami roster will boast all-new versions of blockbuster franchises Castlevania®, Metal Gear®, Winning Eleven and Frogger. Konami will also establish itself as a leader in the portable gaming space with the most anticipated content for the new portable systems. Several new franchises were announced today including Death, Jr. for the PSP™ handheld entertainment system and Dragon Booster and Lost in Blue for the Nintendo DS™. Overall, Konami’s broad 2005 line-up includes titles across all genres, age groups and skill levels. Below is additional information on the titles that will be showcased at Konami’s 2005 Gamers’ Day:

 

Castlevania®: Curse of Darkness™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Adventure

Platform: PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

 

The latest installment in the Castlevania series brings an all-new story and adventure to the PlayStation 2. Players take on the role of Hector, a new hero in the Castlevania series who has the power of Devil Forgery as well as the ability to cultivate powerful new allies, called Innocent Devils, to help defeat enemies throughout the game. The Curse of Darkness features strong RPG and adventure game elements along with innovative character growth and drastically improved enemy variation.  The game’s deep storyline unfolds against a backdrop of beautifully rendered and expansive environments.

 

Castlevania® for DS (working title)

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: Nintendo DS™

 

The first title in Konami’s legendary Castlevania™ series to be made for the Nintendo DS, this new title will continue the storyline that first emerged in the critically-acclaimed Castlevania®: Aria of Sorrow™. Taking place a year after Aria of Sorrow ended, Castlevania for DS will take players on a harrowing and challenging journey of selflessness.  As the incarnate of Dracula, Soma Cruz finds himself at the center of a cult’s plan to resurrect their evil lord and master.  In order to save himself and protect the lives of those he loves, he must infiltrate enemy territory, including a towering replica of Dracula’s castle that is teaming with monstrous creatures, to foil their elaborate plot.

 

Coded Arms™

Release date: Summer 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP™ handheld entertainment system

 

Coded Arms is a visually stunning first-person shooter that places the gamer in the role of a computer hacker who infiltrates an abandoned virtual reality system. Players will fight through six different game worlds against various types of enemies with more than 30 different weapons at their disposal. The game will also utilize the platform’s wireless capabilities for intense multiplayer action. Delivering stunning graphics, fast-paced action and a unique storyline, Coded Arms will be one of the PSP handheld system’s premiere titles.

 

Death, Jr.™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP handheld system

 

Featuring one of the most unique new characters to enter the industry in years, Death, Jr. is among the most anticipated titles for the PSP handheld system. The game stars Death, Jr., the son of the Grim Reaper who is a mischievous youngster armed with a mighty scythe, which serves as both a weapon and unique platforming tool. Boasting some of the best graphics on the PSP handheld system, Death Jr. seamlessly blends first-person shooter elements with third-person platforming action and serves up a large dose of intense gameplay and weapon heavy combat.

 

Dragon Booster™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Racing

Platform: Nintendo DS

 

Based on the popular animated series airing on ABC Family and Toon Disney, Dragon Booster is a fast paced 3^rd person racing/action game set in a fantastical world where humans and dragons co-exist.  When their peaceful way of life is disrupted, Beau, a legendary dragon, chooses Artha Penn, an ordinary 16-year old, to become a mythical hero known as the Dragon Booster. In this classic tale of good versus evil, Artha must use his new-found abilities to defeat his foes and unite humans and dragons once and for all.

 

Enthusia Professional Racing™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Sports/Racing

Platform: PlayStation 2

 

Get behind the wheel and experience the sensation of racing actual cars in -- Enthusia Professional Racing. As in the real world, Enthusia emphasizes pure driving skills and ensures that winning is a result of ability rather than how much money has been spent tuning a car. Maintaining a subtle balance between the power of the car and the driver’s skill, Enthusia promises to deliver the ultimate driving experience for racing fans of all abilities. 

 

Frogger™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Platformer

Platform: Nintendo DS

 

One of the most beloved video game icons of all time returns as Frogger makes his debut on the Nintendo DS in a “ribbit-ing” platformer game Frogger Helmet Havoc. In this latest escapade, Frogger finds himself called upon to stop an evil force that threatens his home, Firefly Swamp, and the nearby kingdom of Bunnington Hollow. To stop the insidious Dr. Wani and his destructive mining efforts, Frogger must use all of his hopping and dodging skills, along with many new talents, to infiltrate the mastermind’s lair and bring his evil plans crashing down.   The game is also being developed for the PSP handheld system, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube™.

 

Metal Gear Acid™

Release date: 2005

Genre: Strategy

Platform: PSP handheld system

 

The legendary Metal Gear® series comes to the PSP handheld system in Metal Gear Acid™.  Experience a whole new gameplay system that focuses on deep tactical strategy with an entirely new Metal Gear storyline.  As the role of top-secret agent, Solid Snake, players will make calculated decisions to plan out their infiltration strategy and accomplish the mission in a turn-based game.  Through the use of strategic battle cards, players are given different abilities and stealth tactics to achieve the mission objectives.  Metal Gear Acid delivers the trademark stealth-action experience for the portable gaming audience to enjoy.

 

Rengoku™: The Tower of Purgatory

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP handheld system

 

Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory is a stunning third-person action game that places players in a dark and distant future. Modeled in a compelling blend of Eastern and Western sci-fi/fantasy, Rengoku puts gamers in the role of a well-armed battle android that must fight its way to the pinnacle of a great tower to confront a mysterious foe. Rengoku also features immense replay value thanks to the PSP handheld system’s wireless multiplayer technology. Gamers can trade equipment and items with other players or battle up to three other opponents in the multiplayer mode.

 

Lost In Blue™

Release date: August 2005

Genre: Survival RPG

Platform: Nintendo DS

This innovative RPG takes players on a journey of survival, adventure and mystery.  After a disastrous incident at sea, the young hero of the game awakens to find himself on a seemingly uninhabited island.  After meeting another survivor, a 17-year old girl who has also drifted ashore, the two must work together to survive.  While planning their escape, they will learn survival skills, such as hunting, searching for food and building tools while uncovering the island's many mysteries.

 

TMNT™ Mutant Melee™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Fighting

Platform: Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube, PC CD-ROM

 

The perfect game for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle™ fans, TMNT™ Mutant Melee™ is the ultimate TMNT™ party experience.  The game offers hours of bashing, crashing and trashing fun with more than 20 playable characters, a competitive Adventure mode and a huge variety of mini games and unlockables. Gamers can play as their favorite Turtle, Casey Jones™, April O’Neil™, Master Splinter™ and even the villainous Shredder™ in one of two different modes – Adventure Story or Melee Match. Players can take on either mode in single player or play with up to three other friends for a four-player free-for-all.

 

World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International™

Release date: February 1, 2005

Genre: Sports/Soccer

Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC DVD-ROM

 

The world’s best soccer game returns with World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International (WE8) for the PlayStation 2, PC and, for the first time, Xbox. The Winning Eleven franchise is the closest thing to real soccer on a video game console and WE8 raises the bar once again with in-depth gameplay, improved realism and increased control. With more teams, players and stadiums than ever before, WE8 includes all the teams from the mighty Italian, Spanish and Dutch leagues under the official license. A must-have for soccer fanatics, WE8 brings realism to an all new level for the deepest and most advanced soccer simulation to date.

For more information about Konami games visit: http://www.konami.com/gs

About Konami Corporation

Konami Corporation is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market. Konami Corporation's action and adventure titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid®, Silent Hill® and Castlevania®, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the US and Konami of Europe in Frankfurt, Germany. Konami Corporation, the parent company of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami Digital Entertainment - America can be found at www.konami.com/gs.

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“CASTLEVANIA” is registered trademarks of KONAMI CORPORATION

© 1986 2005 KONAMI & Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo

 

Coded Arms™ © 2005 Konami and Konami Computer Entertainment Studios

 

Death, Jr., the Death, Jr. character, and the Pandora characters are trademarks of Backbone Entertainment. All rights reserved © 2004, Backbone Entertainment.

 

METAL GEAR® and Metal Gear Acid™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN, INC.  © 1987 2005 KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN

 

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All manufacturers, cars, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this Enthusia are trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their

respective owners. "Enthusia" and "Enthusia Professional Racing" are trademarks of KONAMI CORPORATION.

 

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