Magic the Gathering

Dragon Ball Z

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Pokemon

HeroClix

NeoPets

Yu-Yu-Hakusho

Duel Masters

Pojo's Friday News Page
for May 14th, 2004

Nintendo DS Officially Announced

The new Nintendo DS portable gaming system features dual screens, a touch screen, voice recognition, wireless and chat abilities.

For 15 years Nintendo's Game Boy line has dominated the hand-held video game market. But today at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3), the new Nintendo DS creates a whole new category by radically altering the way people will play games. Nintendo DS remains on track to launch in Japan and North America before the end of the year, and in Europe the system will launch during the first quarter of 2005.

With its two screens, Nintendo DS instantly shows its innovative face. But capabilities like a touch-screen input, voice recognition and wireless communication set it apart from every other game device, and again demonstrate Nintendo's passion for groundbreaking originality.
- Full Story

-----

Game Boy Advance Video

As of June 23, the Game Boy Advance will get cartridges containing episodes of popular children's programs such as Pokémon and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Nintendo says the cartridges, which don't look much different from standard game cartridges, will hold about 45 minutes of video, just enough for two TV episodes (Nintendo says 90 minute cartridges are in the works). I've watched one, and the video quality isn't pristine DVD level, but it certainly is very good considering that you're watching it on a tiny little cartridge-based handheld. You can pause the video and even use the controls to skip chapters, just like a DVD.
- Full Story

-----

Activision readying Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (PS2)
Reported By Mark Perry
5/10/2004

One of the most successful titles in its catalog was Tony Hawk's Underground, the open-ended reinvention of the classic Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. Since its release last October, the game has been a top seller on all platforms, and it remains one of the top 20 rented games in the US to this day.

So it should come as no surprise then, that Activison is planning a sequel to THUG. During its conference call--and on the press release preceding it--Activision listed its "key releases" for the coming year. In the middle of the list is "Tony Hawk's Underground 2," between Rome: Total War and Call of Duty: Finest Hour.
- Full Story

-----

Baldur's Gate on Your Phone

Sorrent has just signed a multi-year licensing deal with Atari, allowing the developer to create wireless games based on the Baldur's Gate franchise. The franchise itself is owned by Wizards of the Coast.

"We're extremely pleased to create and publish Baldur's Gate on mobile phones," said Greg Ballard, president and CEO of Sorrent.
- Full Story

-----

Official PS2 Magazine calls Mashed Most Addictive Game of the Year

Developed by Supersonic, Mashed is receiving high praise in the press and is already being hailed as 'the most addictive game of the year'* by the Official PlayStation® 2 Magazine. It has just featured in their 'Could be a Classic' section.

Mashed is a top down racing game that pits up to four players against each other in a gladiatorial racing battle extravaganza. Compete over 13 challenging and diverse environments using whatever means necessary to batter and bruise your opponents into submission, and claim victory for yourself. Using a plethora of weapons or just your driving skills unleash your fury, cause absolute carnage and send your friends to a humiliating defeat!
- Full Story

-----

NHL Faceoff 2005 Skates Onto the PS2

FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 11, 2004 - Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and 989 Sports® announced today that NHL FACEOFFTM 2005 will hit retail stores this fall for the PlayStationTM2 computer entertainment system. After a line change to developer Page 44 Studios, 989 Sports' new hockey videogame will deliver fast-paced skating, precise passing, and bone-jarring checks that simulate the fast, intense action of professional hockey.

NHL FaceOff 2005 will encompass the true power and raw emotion of the world's fastest team sport by showcasing players with detailed facial animations that convey the intensity of their sport, and arenas that have been recreated down the smallest detail complete with venue-specific game intros, goal horns, interactive crowds and reflections off the glass.
- Full Story

-----