Magic the Gathering

Dragon Ball Z

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Pokemon

HeroClix

NeoPets

Yu-Yu-Hakusho

Duel Masters

Pojo's Friday News Page
for April 30th, 2004

PS2 price cut chatter emerges, Sony Europe stands firm

Following Sony's rather gloomy predictions on the amount of PS2s it's going to ship this financial year, analysts in the US have been queuing up to predict that Sony will be forced to announce a price cut at this year's E3, or else lose significant sales to Microsoft's Xbox.

With the PS2 retailing for $179 in the US, it's currently the most expensive of the three major consoles and analysts are suggesting that Sony will come under pressure from game publishers to make the cut in order to stimulate software sales. Some analysts are even predicting that this month the Xbox, which currently retails at $149, will actually outsell the PS2 for the very first time in the US. - Full Story

-----

Two New DBZ Titles

Atari announced more games for the franchise with a power level of 80 kajillion...

Atari announced today two more games in their successful Dragon Ball Z franchise. They are Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 for the PS2 and Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic for the GBA, respectively.

"Right from the start, our main aim was to create a faithful Dragon Ball Z video game experience," said Martin Spiess, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Atari Europe. "By working closely with Bandai throughout and hitting the high standards the franchise demands, we have seen the fan base grow beyond the hardcore Dragon Ball Z audience. With an incredibly strong 2004 product lineup on the way, it's a trend that looks set to continue." - Full Story

----------

PRICE Cut Doubles Xbox Sales

Microsoft's decision to cut the price of the Xbox by $30 in North America at the end of last month caused weekly sales in the USA to double - while Sony is rumoured to be planning to drop the PS2 to $149 with two bundled games in the coming weeks.

The Xbox cut dropped the US price tag to $149 as of March 30th, and the company has confirmed that retailer feedback indicates that sales of the console doubled in the week immediately following the cut.

Some commentators expected that the impact of the cut would be minimal, with $30 being seen as too small a drop to cause significant consumer interest - but with the launch of a special $169 Halo bundle next week, strong sales are likely to be sustained for a few more weeks.

The question, however, is just how long the sales boost will last - with some analysts suggesting that the "bounce" isn't sustainable. Certainly, there are many factors which suggest that Microsoft will cut the Xbox price again before Christmas 2004.  - Full Story

---------------

Thief takes trading cards

A Waukesha, WI man was cited for retail theft after stealing trading cards from Wal-Mart.

According to the report, Michael Kolbeck, 39, allegedly took 12 packs of Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards from the store at about 6:25 p.m. April 22. Kolbeck said he had taken about 30 packs of cards over the past several days, the report said.

Kolbeck told police he would bring the other cards back to the store.

Kolbeck was arrested on a city of Waukesha warrant. - Source

-----
FBI seizes computer, PS2 from frat house boarder

FBI agents with a search warrant entered a boarder's room in the Kappa Alpha fraternity house at 1 Fraternity Row and confiscated a computer and PlayStation 2 Wednesday morning, the fraternity's president said.

Members of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity identified the boarder as Jeffrey Lerman, a member of their fraternity. Lerman was not arrested or charged.

The raid coincides with Attorney General John Ashcroft's announcement of Operation Fastlink Thursday, the "largest multi-national law enforcement effort ever directed at online piracy," according to a statement from the Department of Justice. FBI spokesman Barry Maddox said he could neither confirm nor deny a connection between this case and Operation Fastlink. - Full Story
-------

Majesco Files Patents for Compression Technologies for Handheld Devices

Majesco, a publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products, today announced it has filed five patents for compression technologies related to the creation and playback of video for handheld devices. By improving on state-of-the-art video compression technologies, Majesco is able to bring video playback to platforms that have never been able to support this capability.

"We are excited and optimistic about the range of opportunities this technology offers," commented Jesse Sutton, CEO of Majesco. "We are now able to bring television and film content to the consumer on devices that were originally designed for games, like the Nintendo Game Boy(R) Advance. This means the more than 30 million Game Boy(R) Advance and Game Boy(R) Advance SP users in North America and Europe can now play videos on their favorite handheld device." - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Full Story

----

Pokémon To Debut on Game Boy Advance Video

Entertainment becomes more accessible at a lower price as consumers can leave their portable DVD players at home to enjoy episodes of POKÉMON on Nintendo’s portable Game Boy. No additional hardware purchase is required to view POKÉMON shows on standard game cartridges.

With an MSRP of $19.99 per Video pak, Nintendo's Pokemon franchise will be represented initially with episodes "Playing with Fire!" and "Johto Photo Finish" on one pak and "A Hot Water Bottle" and "For Ho-Oh The Bells Toll!" on another. Game Boy Advance Video initially allows up to 45 minutes of animation with brilliant full-color video and audio. - Full Story

----

Upper Deck's new game stacks up as a winner
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Considering that since 1993, at least 200 collectible trading-card games (TCG) have been attempted but only about 10 have caught fire with fans, introducing one is a risky venture. Especially when powerhouses such as Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon and Magic the Gathering still consume players' time and money.
So can popular-culture lovers digest another card challenge?

Upper Deck is betting $1 million in cash prizes they will through its new TCG and the initial release of its Vs. System game, Marvel Origins, pitting multiple players against one another in the world of Stan Lee's favorite superheroes and villains.

Each of the 220 cards features original illustrations from familiar sequential artists such as Howard Chaykin, Brian Steelfreeze, Andy Kubert and Chris Bachalo. They will apply their talents to an arsenal of characters, including Wolverine, the Human Torch, Thomas Cassidy of Hellfire Club fame and the powerful Onslaught.

However, what really makes the game special is its expansive possibilities in the DC Comics set to arrive in June, when cross-branded heroes will team up and battle one another.

"Since we have both the DC and Marvel licenses, this will let players do what comic-book collectors since the dawn of comics have wanted to do," says Mike Hummel, lead game designer for Upper Deck, who has spent 11 years playing and creating trading-card games.(more) - Full Story

------------

YU-GI-OH: Two New Volumes in June
Animated Bliss

Two new DVD's hit streets in June. - Full Story

-----

Man Attempts to Kidnap 6 Year Old From Bus Stop, by offering YuGiOh cards!

A Saratoga Springs boy had a big scare today.

GUNNER CHLARSON:"SOMEBODY TRIED TO STEAL ME."

A man tried to abduct the six year old boy as he waited by a bus stop.

The man promised to give the boy one of these Yu-gi-oh cards if he got into his car.

Yu-gi-oh trading cards are very popular with kids.

Fortunately...the boy's father had just told his children to be wary of strangers...especially if they offer something the kids might want. - Full Story

----

News Article: Pokémon Colosseum Mega Pak for Europe

Go Pokémon crazy this summer with the launch of the incredible Pokémon Colosseum Mega Pak. Included in the Mega Pak is a black Nintendo GameCube, a copy of the new game Pokémon Colosseum, the Pokédex organiser - Pokémon Box, a Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Link Cable and a Memory Card 251 that will give you plenty of space to save your Pokémon game. The Pokémon Colosseum Mega Pak is available from 14th May 2004 across Europe at the estimated retail price of 159 Euros. - Full Story

----------

Final Fantasy I & II Destined for Game Boy Advance
CORTNEY STONE - RPGamer.com

"This week's issue of Shonen Jump reveals Square Enix's special plans to bring its classic 8-bit titles Final Fantasy I & II to the Game Boy Advance. Both games recently appeared on the PlayStation in the form of Final Fantasy Origins, but the new GBA versions will include special features not found in PSOne remakes.

Square Enix is adding a special bonus dungeon named "Soul of Chaos" to Final Fantasy I. Players will encounter well-known bosses from later Final Fantasy games in its mysterious depths. Final Fantasy II will feature an expanded story through a sequence called "Soul of Rebirth," which explores the backgrounds of the four heroes.

Final Fantasy I & II is scheduled for a July release in Japan. Unfortunately, Square Enix has yet to announce any intentions of a North American release." - Full Story