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Pojo's Friday News Page
for September 17th, 2004

A News Blurb from Gym Leader Phil

Pokemon's premiere constructed events will be free of charge this year (the Gyms, Stadiums, City Champs, State Champs, Nationals). Prereleases are the only thing that Pokemon USA is charging for. More Info

PRESS RELEASE
Gen Con So Cal Slated to be the West Coast Gaming Event of 2004

Thousands of gaming, fantasy and science fiction fans are gearing up for the 2nd annual Gen Con So Cal Convention set for December 2-5 in the Anaheim Convention Center in California. For any one into games, whether electronic, interactive, tabletop or role-playing Gen Con is the place where enthusiasts come together with some of the industries best and brightest designers, manufacturers and distributors to share in everything gaming!

Gen Con LLC¹s flagship show, Gen Con Indy (Indianapolis), is North America¹s largest hobby gaming convention, which has been successfully held for the last 37 years in the Midwest. In 2003, the company launched a Gen Con show for the West Coast, creating Gen Con So Cal to reach a broader audience and build upon the popularity of Gen Con Indy.

"Gen Con So Cal was by all measures a success in its first year. Attendance beat our expectations and exhibitors enthusiastically participated," said Peter Adkison, CEO of Gen Con LLC. "This year we anticipate an even better show, with more attendees, more exhibitors and events and show highlights unmatched on the West Coast. We look forward to making Gen Con So Cal The Best Four Days in Gaming! especially for all those game lovers living on the West Coast."

At Gen Con So Cal gaming enthusiasts don¹t simply "walk the show" they can actually participate in over a thousand gaming events. These events include interactive game play, hobby-related events, and computer gaming. Attendees also join in card games, board games, role-playing games, live-action role-playing games, seminars and workshops ranging in topics from how to develop games to how to paint miniatures. The four-day event will feature appearances by celebrity guests, events such as Upper Deck Entertainment¹s Pro Circuit featuring the new Marvel Trading Card Game Vs system and Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, Magic: the Gathering Trading Card Game tournaments, True Dungeon, a life-size dungeon adventure, True Heroes, a life-size walk-through Marvel super heroes experience, Dungeons and Dragons role-playing adventures, a collectible auction (with lasts years¹ big ticket going for $95,000), a costume contest, anime room, a Kids Track, and a LAN arena, to name just a few.

Gen Con So Cal will be open to the public Thursday, December 2 through Sunday, December 5 with gaming events offered 24 hours a day. The convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center, a 933,000 square foot state of the art facility in Anaheim, CA just steps from Disneyland.

Attendees must purchase a badge to gain entrance to the show. Badge pre-registration runs through October 25, 2004, noon PST at www.gencon.com. On-site badge registration starts at 5pm on Wednesday, December 1. A four-day badge is $50 with pre-registration, or $55 on site. A one-day badge is $18 with pre-registration, or $20 on site. Children 8 and under are free with an accompanying adult. For more information and to register, call (800) 529-EXPO or visit www.gencon.com.

Gen Con is a name that has been one with the gaming world for over 36 years. It began as a meeting between some friends to play games in Lake Geneva, USA - thus the name Gen (Geneva) Con (Convention). Today that name lives on in the gaming industry as the places to go to get the goods. Gen Con has expanded to more than three shows worldwide. There are shows in Europe, Indianapolis (USA), and California (USA).

Gen Con, LLC produces the largest consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North America. Its operations include Gen Con Indy, Gen Con So Cal and Star Wars Celebration III, and licensees for European Gen Con shows. It was founded in May of 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who solely owns the company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company¹s mission is to create The Best Four Days in Gaming! every year for its customers. For more information visit the website at www.gencon.com.

PRESS RELEASE
MechWarrior: Age of Destruction Coming in January

WizKids Inc., makers of the best-selling MechWarrior®, Mage Knight™ and HeroClix® collectable miniatures games (CMGs), is proud to announce plans for MechWarrior: Age of Destruction, the next base set for the MechWarrior CMG line.

“With Age of Destruction, we’ve opened MechWarrior to nearly unlimited possibilities,” said Jordan Weisman, WizKids® CEO. “Players can now customize their ’Mechs™ with pilots and different kinds of gear, alliances will bring factions together — or tear them apart — and ’Mechs will take their place as kings of the battlefield once more.”

The Age of Destruction rules upgrade the MechWarrior game, so old and new units alike can shine as the battle for the future of the Inner Sphere turns deadly.

Planned for a January 2005 release, Age of Destruction will feature Starter Sets that include two predetermined Mercenary armies and everything two people need to play, including dice, rules and terrain. Booster Packs will each contain four randomly selected units, including one ’Mech; one vehicle and two infantry, and three randomly selected combat enhancements cards (one pilot, one gear and one random card).

Learn more about MechWarrior online at www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior
The game is fully supported with organized play at conventions and in-store tournaments.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MLB™ SportsClix™: Extra Bases Expansion Releases September 15, 2004

WizKids Inc., makers of the best-selling Mage Knight™ and HeroClix® collectable miniatures games (CMGs), is proud to announce the release of the MLB™ SportsClix game’s first expansion: Extra Bases.

“Extra Bases introduces new players, rookies and trades that vastly increase the playability and collectability of MLB™ SportsClix,” said Jordan Weisman, WizKids® CEO. “With the outstanding success of SportsClix, Extra Bases will take the game to even greater heights.” New players make their debuts in the SportsClix line, hot rookies enhance game play and some players appear in new, updated uniforms. The set contains 104 MLB™ players.

An Extra Bases Booster Pack contains three randomly selected, prepainted miniature figures, and it carries a suggested retail price of $6.99. Booster Packs are available at game, hobby and sports stores everywhere. An MLB™ SportsClix Starter Set is required to play.

Learn more about MLB™ SportsClix online at www.wizkidsgames.com/sportsclix. The game is fully supported with organized play at conventions and in-store tournaments.

PRESS RELEASE
UPPER DECK MAKES TRADING CARD HISTORY WITH U.S. HISTORY TRADING CARD SET
 

'Upper Deck U.S. History Available Now' CARLSBAD, CA - September 10, 2004 - Making a mark in trading card history, Upper Deck has released the company's first-ever U.S. History trading card set, which features the greatest people, places, periods, and events in America's past. "Upper Deck U.S. History" (SRP $2.99 per 10 card pack) is available now at participating retail, hobby outlets.

"We always seek opportunities to bring in new products to the trading card industry," said Joe Fallon, Group Product Manager for Upper Deck. "'Upper Deck U.S. History' offers an exciting opportunity to make American History a fun subject for kids to learn and enjoy."

The 300 U.S. History regular set offers history buffs the opportunity to collect cards depicting U.S. history's greatest people, places and moments, varying from Columbus and the Colonists, to the Civil Rights movement of the late 1960's.

Inserts include presidential cards, which will feature U.S. Presidents from Washington to JFK, and, symbols relating to the U.S. Presidency; historical inserts, which highlights people and moments who have helped build and mold America to what it is today; and limited cut signature cards from U.S. Presidents and American legendary figures, such as Robert F. Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Gen. George S. Patton, and Thomas Edison, to name a few.

In addition, U.S. State Quarters cards will be sold exclusively at hobby stores. The U.S. State Quarter cards will feature the quarter released by the U.S. Mint that month, and, a photo and information that captures the essence of that state.

The Upper Deck Company, LLC is a premier sports/entertainment publishing company, which delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts. For more information on the Upper Deck Company or its products, please visit www.upperdeck.com.

Regular 300 Card Set Breakdown: 10 Early Americans 10 Colonial Days 15 The Revolution 15 Birth of a Nation 10 Into the West 15 The War Between the States 10 Reconstruction & Reform 15 Into the 20th Century 50 The Presidents 50 Inventors & Inventions 50 The States and Capitals 50 Explorers

Insert Card: 15 Documents, Moments, & Places 25 The Greatest Moments in American History 10 Famous Americans 15 The Making of America 20 Etched in History (cut signatures) 10 Presidential Cuts (cut signatures) 30 U.S. State Quarters Cards

DEF JAM UNVEILS IN-GAME TRACK LIST FOR DEF JAM FIGHT FOR NY

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Def Jam® today announced the explosive in-game soundtrack that will fuel Def Jam® FIGHT For NY™, the blazing-hot sequel to Def Jam VENDETTA™, set to drop this September. Delivering a hard-hitting mix of 28 hot new tracks and old-school hits from Def Jam and other prominent hip hop labels, the soundtrack magnifies the game’s gritty, intense gameplay and dramatic storyline.

Def Jam FIGHT For NY thrusts players onto the mean streets of New York amidst a brutal battle for control of the city’s hip hop underground. Featuring a cast of more than 40 hip hop artists and celebrities, players will come face to face with dozens of hip hop’s biggest names in the game, including Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Ice T, Lil’ Kim, Method Man, Redman and Snoop Dogg. Website

Neverwinter Nights JAMDAT's new epic RPG may just be your Bag of Holding.

September 11, 2004 - Neverwinter Nights is perhaps one of the most beloved PC RPG franchises ever. The 2002 epic, based on the Dungeons & Dragons universe from Wizards of the Coast, sold handsomely. Handsomely enough that many of its ideas are still ripped-off and found in other RPGs today. JAMDAT enlisted the help of developer Floodgate to scale this bestseller down to mobile size and get the jump on the wireless RPG market. Is Neverwinter Nights the game to launch -- and own -- this genre? Full Story

Campaign contribution: Stage your own electoral battle with `The Political Machine'

A lot has been happening in the kid-tech cosmos the last few months. ``The Political Machine'': If your family has not had enough of the bitter wrangling of this presidential election season, this new game from UbiSoft (PC CD-ROM, $19.99, all ages) might appeal. This new title pits the Dems against the GOP in a strategy game that is more real life and less fiction. The candidates you set up in the game can be the real ones - George W. vs. John Kerry [related, bio] - or you can invent your own candidate. Your ``difficulty level'' for the game is determined by initial settings on basics such a the economy, domestic unrest and international tensions: positive, neutral or nightmarish? Then you're off to try to win the election. Full Story

Atari's Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone Hits Retail Stores; Popular Dungeons & Dragons World Explodes Onto PlayStation 2; Xbox and PC Versions to Ship in November

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATAR) under license from Hasbro, Inc., today announced that the highly anticipated Forgotten Realms(R): Demon Stone(TM), an action game set in the popular Dungeons & Dragons(R) world created by Wizards of the Coast, is now available at retail outlets nationwide. Demon Stone for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system is retailing for an estimated price of $49.95 and is rated "T" for Teen. Demon Stone is expected to become available for the Xbox(R) videogame system from Microsoft and the personal computer in November. Full Story

Legendary G.I. JOE VS. COBRA Saga for Kids and Fans:`G.I. JOE: VALOR VS. VENOM'

Direct-to-Video Animation Feature Premieres Today, on DVD and VHS

The DVD is Loaded With Bonus Features, Including an Exclusive Trading card, CD-ROM game, The Making of VALOR VS. VENOM, Key character profiles, Drawing board to film comparison and more -

The culmination of a yearlong campaign by Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) and its licensees will be the highly anticipated release of the CGI-animated feature film G.I. JOE: VALOR VS. VENOM, which arrives today on DVD and VHS, distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The DVD of G.I. JOE:VALOR VS. VENOM offers fans the opportunity to follow their favorite characters as they embark on a brand new mission, along with providing hours of interactive entertainment. Full Story

X-Men Legends - Developer Diary #3 (PS2) An inside look at boss battles in X-Men: Legends.

Boss battles are a huge part of action games. Showdowns with baddies are an integral part of comic books. So naturally, the boss fights in X-Men Legends are one of the game's highlights. Programmers Ryan Danz and Simon Parkinson discuss the construction of the game's boss fights. From their blueprint, you'll learn what goes into making those cool face-offs with Toad, Mystique, Pyro, Juggernaut, Magneto, and more. Full Story

New PS2 Racing Wheel from Pelican

Pelican announced the Evo Sport Wireless Racing Wheel for PlayStation 2 today. The wireless wheel, with a range of 30 feet, is designed for Gran Turismo and Grand Theft Auto games, but is compatible with many other PS2 titles. The Evo Sport Wireless Racing Wheel is set to ship the first week of October with a retail price of $59.99 USD.
Source

Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox/PS2)

IT’S time to burn rubber and hit that nitro button as EA’s racer takes us to unprecedented speeds with more than a few bumps and scrapes.

What really sets Takedown apart from all the other arcade racers on the grid is the way that you are actually rewarded for smashing into your opponents – the bigger the pile up, the bigger your points total. Combine this with a first place and you’ll hit the jackpot. Full Story

Deception IV Becomes Official

We hate to say we told you so, but we did. As we previously hinted in the inaugural edition of our rumor column PS2 Confidential back in June, Tecmo has now officially announced the fourth installment of its popular Dungeon Keeper-like strategy series known as Deception with an official teaser page for Kagero II: Dark Illusion.

Due for a release in Japan sometime before the end of the year, Kagero II will once again put players in the role of an evil personality whose goal it is to trap and kill do-gooders that have invaded your property. As always, users will have access to a myriad of different catch and ambush devices with environments that span castles, forests, and more. Full Story

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe

Xbox/PS2 Super Monkey Ball Confirmed
SEGA confirms SMB to be released on both the Playstation2 and Xbox early 2005

As TVG reported last week, rumours have been floating around of an Xbox release of the Super Monkey Ball titles, following on from rumours last June that suggested the title was going to be released on the Playstation2. On both occasions, there was no official confirmation from SEGA, but today came the news that the game will be released for both Xbox and PS2 in early 2005.
Full Story

PS2 Gets Final Fantasy VII Spinoff Square Enix officially unveils an action game starring Vincent.

As we reported in July Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children won't be alone in Square Enix's attempt at taking gamers back to the world of the biggest Final Fantasy of them all, Final Fantasy VII. The latest issue of Japan's Jump Magazine contains first information on an action game starring FFVII vampire character Vincent Valentine. The game, Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus. Full Story

Sony announces new PSX models

A new generation of the PSX with additional media features will hit Japanese stores this Christmas. In anticipation of the holiday season, Sony will release two new models of the PSX in Japan. The company today announced that the PSX DESR-5500 (160GB HDD edition) and DESR-7500 (250GB HDD edition) are slated for release in the beginning of December. This is the third incarnation of the multifunction PS2 and DVD-HDD recorder that has been released since the machine's debut last year. Full Story

Cuddly new Pokemon games are hard to resist

Parents, open your wallets and prepare to spend $40. Nintendo has released two new Pokemon (short for Pocket Monsters) games for Game Boy Advance -- "FireRed" and "LeafGreen."

You can tell your children that these games are just like the Pokemon "Ruby" and "Sapphire" games you bought last year, but resistance is futile. Full Story

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 bouncing onto the GameCube
Already a hit on the PlayStation 2, the ever-popular anime adaptation is headed for the Nintendo console.

Despite middling reviews, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 was popular among fans of its cartoon inspiration when it was released for the PlayStation 2 last year. Now it looks like GameCube owners will also be able to get their hands on the title.
Full Story

Walmart is taking Pre-Orders on Nintendo DS (Dual Screen), Platinum $199.82

Walmart's Product Page

VIZ TO BEGIN PUBLISHING RUROUNI KENSHIN MANGA MONTHLY BEGINNING OCTOBER 2004

Samurai graphic novel is a consistent national best seller

The SHONEN JUMP Graphic Novel line includes DRAGON BALL, DRAGON BALL Z, YU-GI-OH!, YUYU HAKUSHO, ONE PIECE, NARUTO, BLEACH, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS, HIKARU NO GO, WHISTLE!, BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER, SAND LAND, KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC and SHAMAN KING . In partnership with Shueisha, Inc., the Japanese publisher of Weekly Shonen Jump, VIZ, LLC brings the best of Japanese comics to American fans. Full Story