PRESS RELEASE
FMA TCG Artificial Human Pre-Release Announced
The first year of Fullmetal Alchemist TCG is coming to a
close, and what a great year it's been! Over 120 stores
participated in our August Launch Party, with over 1,000
players across the country helping to get FMA TCG off the
ground. The summer convention season introduced thousands
more to this great game, with Gen Con Indy drawing over 200
players to tournaments, including the 86-person Alchemist
Challenge Tournament. Fullmetal Alchemist TCG finished 2005
as the InQuest Gamer's Anime Game of the Year and the launch
of the FMA TCG League.
Most players' favorite event of 2005, however, was the
Pre-Release for the first expansion set, Blood & Water,
which gave hundreds of players at over 50 locations across
the first chance to see the Blood & Water set, up to 10 days
prior to the set's release. Most importantly, it was the
only way to get a copy of the exclusive Blood & Water promo
card.
Building on that success, the first major event of 2006 be
the Artificial Human Pre-Release Event, Feb. 3-5, 2006. This
event will be your first chance to see the power of the new
card type, advantages, and your first true taste of
level-four leaders! You can also pick up a copy of the
exclusive Artificial Human promo foil card, available only
at this event, and, if you're lucky, be the first to see the
preview chase card from A Hero's Passing! It'll be a blast!
If you're a player, a tournament organizer, or a State
Alchemist and want to set up an Artificial Human Pre-Release
near you, just download the application (found
here)
and take it to your local game store. If you're a retailer
just download the application, fill it out, and return it
yourself. All applications are due by Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Konami Opens Online Storefront
Konami has announced that they will begin selling their
products directly to customers via their new online
storefront, KonamiStyle.com. The online storefront launches
with a catalog of 75 Konami titles, including fan-favorite
franchises Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Yu-Gi
Oh, and Dance Dance Revolution. The move to a direct-sales
website will also open up possibilities for Konami to offer
customer incentive and reward programs, which Konami hopes
will help maintain a community of loyal gamers around the
publisher's many games.
FullStory
Yakima man sentenced in international fraud
A Yakima man whose fraud scheme ensnared collectors of a
popular fantasy card game on four continents has been
sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
Lande, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March on
39 counts of wire and mail fraud alleging he ripped off
dozens of collectors of Magic: The Gathering for just over
$56,000.
FullStory
Dutch hacking group cracks Xbox 360
'Team PI Coder' claims to have penetrated new console's
security systems
A Dutch hacking group known as Team PI Coder claims to have
successfully hacked Microsoft's Xbox 360.
In a posting the group said that it has successfully
penetrated the Xbox's security systems, which they report
are very similar to the older version of the console. The
news comes less than two weeks after the Xbox launched in
Europe.
FullStory
Sony CDs Still at Risk
Security experts say Sony music CDS are still vulnerable to
spyware despite patches.
Consumers who were exposed to spyware after playing CDs from
music giant Sony BMG on their computers may still be
vulnerable to malicious software as more problems are likely
to emerge over the next few weeks, security experts said
Friday.
Sony has tried to recall the problem CDs in the last few
weeks and has issued security patches for new
vulnerabilities that have been discovered, but security
experts warn that Sony hasn’t done enough to protect
consumers.
FullStory
Microsoft Patch Cleans Up After Sony Rootkit
Microsoft has included clean-up tools for the Sony CD copy
rootkit as part of Tuesday's round of security patches.
Microsoft tucked clean-up tools for the Sony CD copy
protection rootkit into its security releases Tuesday,
including one that automatically deletes the hacker-style
cloaking device and another that stymies Sony's uninstaller.
The monthly update to the Windows Malicious Software Removal
Tool adds detection and deletion for "F4IRootkit,"
Microsoft's name for the invisibility tool Sony BMG added to
52 of its music albums, and placed on more then 5 million
CDs.
FullStory
PS2 Taking Air-Guitar to the Next Level
Newsweek is reporting on the success of the Playstation 2
game Guitar Hero, which sees players don a guitar-shaped
controller and strum along in time to rock anthems like
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, and Boston's More Than a
Feeling.
FullStory
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Review
For years, Pokemon fans clamoured for a 3-D rendition of
their favourite monster-hunter. While they weren’t RPG’s,
the N64 Pokemon Stadium titles were a pair of good games
that showcased what Pokemon may be like in 3-D. Finally,
last year, fans got their wish … well, sort of. Pokemon
Colosseum was part watered-down RPG and part stadium
battler. It was a solid title but neither part really
captured the true essence of their predecessors. Following
up this year, is another 3-D RPG, Pokemon XD: Gale of
Darkness.
FullStory
Parents: Shop Smart
Christmas is the time of the year when it's always better to
give than receive.
But if you're a parent, what you give your kids is sometimes
is more important than "it's the thought that counts."
Some of the popular gifts for kids and young adults this
year have taken the maturity level up a notch, said Lisa
Graves, spokeswoman for the New York-based watchdog group
For Our Youth, which monitors popular entertainment items
and their suitability for kids.
FullStory
JoyRide Entertainment announces Fullmetal Alchemist
TCG expansion plans for 2006
JoyRide Entertainment's Fullmetal Alchemist TCG has been the
breakout hit of 2005, with a base set (Premier Edition) and
expansion set (Blood & Water) selling well in hobby stores
and receiving critical acclaim from players, collectors, and
media. Many stores have reported frequent sellouts, and
singles for the game are going for as much as $150 online!
FullStory
Atari Releases Legacy of Goku Double Pack
One game cartridge. Double the Dragonball RPG.
'Dragon Ball Z(R): Legacy of Goku(TM) I & Legacy of Goku(TM)
II 2-in-1 Pack' Best-Selling DBZ GBA Games Now Available on
Single Game Pack.
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