P L A Y S T A T I O N   2  /   P S O N E

- Sony Computer Entertainment anounced that they will be transferring the PlayStation 2 production line from Japan to China sometimes this spring, to reduce the manufacturing cost of the machine and remain competitive with GameCube and XBox.

- Sony Computer Entertainment announced Sarugetchu 2 (Ape Escape 2) for PlayStation 2, the new sequel to the popular monkey catching action game. This seems to be a real sequel to the game, instead of the indirect followup Sarugetchu 2001 (Ape Escape 2001) which was released last summer.

- Nec Interchannel has postponed the release date of the PlayStation 2 love adventure game Kanon from February 7 to February 28, the game will retail for 6800 yen.

- Namco / Monolith Soft have released new screen shots and details on their PlayStation 2 RPG Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht, there are the 14 supporting characters and 6 main characters in the game, including: Bahzir, Andrew, Peregury, Mahguris, Meri, Sheri, Gainan, Yoakim, Lily, Hamah, Tony, Mathews, Ziggy, Junior, Momo, Chaos, Kos-mos and Shion Uzugi, check out the details here.

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- Namco / Monolith Soft's Xenosaga also features an action combat mini game called A.G.W.S. Battling, in which you can use your robots (AGWS - Anti Gnosis Weapon Systems) to battle, similar to Armored Core 2 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation Vs Zion, it is also possible to battle with a friend in 2 players split screen mode. This mini game alone can already be released as a separate game!

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- Here are some screen shots of Sony's upcoming PlayStation 2 RPG Dual Hearts, scheduled to release in Japan on February 14, for 5800 yen. The main character can use a variety of actions to solve puzzles, such as push, life, jump. During the battles, you can attack the opponent up to 3 times continuously if you hit the action button in the right timing. Each kind of weapon also has a special action that you can use to solve problems, such as "shed it" for sword, "launch it" with spear, "pull out" in with bow and "crush" with hammer. You can also use special items to unlock secret pathways, such as lifting heavy rocks with gauntlet, attract things in a distant with boomerang and unlock secret paths with bombs.

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G A M E C U B E

- News recap: Nyko will release two new large capacity GameCube memory cards in US this spring, they are Memory card 123 and Memory Card 251. The two models will have 2 times and 4 times more memory blocks than the standard GameCube memory cards.

- News recap: Nintendo of Japan announced that 15 oversea developers are currently developing game titles for GameCube, several of the titles will receive a Japanese release:

• Atod AB - maker of Jeremy McGrath SuperCross and Hot Wheels Racing
• Codemasters - Colin McRae Rally 3 is confirmed for GC
• Coyote Developments - maker of Piegon Bombardier for GBA
• Eden Studios - V-Rally 3 is heading to GC
• Full Fat Productions - maker of Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX2 for GBA
• M4 Ltd. - developer of Resident Evil Gaiden for GBC
• Monster Games - released Nascar Heat for GC
• N-Space - developer of the Die Hard Trilogy series
• Outrage Entertainment - developing a new title called Rubu Tribe for PS2
• Runecraft - a UK developer
• Snowblind Studios - developer of Baldur's Gate for PS2 and Top Gear Overdrive for N64.
• Studio 3 Interactive - developer the sequel of The Last Ninja
• Wahoo Studios - maker of Bio Freaks for N64

D R E A M C A S T

- Here are some new screen shots of Sega's Sakura Taisen 4: Maidens fall in Love for Dreamcast, the game is scheduled for release on March 21, for 6800 yen. This time there will be a new drama from Royal Embassy Team called "Les Miserables", which will be performed by the girls from the Paris Geki team (the cast of characters from Sakura Taisen 3).

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H A N D H E L D S

- Koei will release Angelique Country for GameBoy Advance in Japan this March, a collection of mini games featuring characters from the popular Angelique series (a simulation game in which you play as a young princess who fight to protect the land and date with her male guardians). The mini games include Columns, sliding puzzles, shooting and action games.

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X B O X

- Samsung Semiconductor of South Korea announced that they have signed a contract with Microsoft to provide DDR DRAM memory chips for XBox.