|
- October 31, 2001 -
- Square has released new info on their first PlayOnline RPG Final Fantasy XI,
this time the game takes place in fantasy world named Vana Dir, with sword, magic,
technologies, crystals and different races coexist in the world. The job system will once
again return to the game, you can begin the game by selecting from a variety of races,
including Hum (human), Elf and many other races. There are also many NPC (non-player
characters) in the game, one of the NPC is an elf named "Bonchacha", who is a
student in the sorcery school. You will see many other players in the game, you may
recruit other players to form a team in the town or other areas. It seems like you can
form a team of 6 in the game. During the quest, you can also chat with other players real
time.....

 
 
Click for Full Details and 20 new screen shots
- Bandai announced a revision to the achievement forecast for the period ending on
March 2002. They expect to have a 12% increase in ordinary profit to 11 billion yen, due
to the continue popularity of Digimon, Power Ranger and Gundam in Europe and North
America, as well as the high sales of the popular game titles such as One Piece Ground
Battle and Gundam Zeonic Front. However, the handheld department is not doing so great.
Bandai has only shipped 200,000 units of WonderSwan Color for the first half of the year,
way below the expected 650,000 units. It is clarified that the launch of WonderSwan Color
in Europe and America has postponed until sometimes in 2002, due to the world economic
situation.
- Capcom will release their first PlayStation 2 racing game Auto Modellista
in Japan in spring 2002. This will be the first online racing game and cel-shading racing
game for PlayStation 2. But unlike other cel-shading racers, the graphics in this game are
in a more realistic category, with light sourcing, sparkle and other special effects. You
can also earn money from the races, upgrade the car parts and paint your car with
different colors and logos. The network mode allows you to search for random opponents for
battle over the internet, as well as trading car parts and chatting with other users
online.

 
Click here for 10 Additional Images
- EA Square will release Project FIFA World Cup 2002 Korea / Japan for
PlayStation 2 in spring 2002. A new soccer club simulation game developed by EA Square
Japan. In this game you play as a soccer club team leader, to lead your team to the world
cup final. Things you can do include selecting team members, training, and give over 50
different strategic instructions to the team during competitions. There is also a versus
mode, for you to use your custom teams to battle with other players.

 
Click here for Additional Images
- Square announced a new PlayStation 2 baseball title in Japan, called Nichibeikan
Pro Baseball: Final League, scheduled for a March 2002 release. The game will feature
real name pro baseball players from both Japanese and America leagues, players can pick
teams from both leagues for dream matches. There are 3 play modes in the game: All-Star,
Tournament and League.
- Konami announced that they have shipped 1 million copies of their PS2 survivor horror
adventure game Silent Hill 2. The game has sold over 650,000 copies in
Japan and North America, and they have shipped 350,000 copies to Europe.
- Konami announced that their PlayStation soccer game ISS Pro Evolution 2
has won the sports section of the British Academy Award 2001 BAFTA Interactive
Entertainment Awards. ISS Pro Evolution is the European version of Jikkyou World Soccer
Winning Eleven, the series has sold over 5.5 million units worldwide.
- Sony's PS2 racing simulation Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec has won the
Console Software award in the Euro BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts)
Interactive Entertainment Awards. Max Payne has won the PC Software
award, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 has won the Portable Software award.
- Konami Music Entertainment announced that they will release a Metal Gear Solid 2:
Sons of Liberty soundtrack and Tokimeki Memorial 3: That Promised Place
single in Japan on November 29. The Metal Gear Solid 2 sound track album will have 17
tracks, for 2548 yen. The Tokimeki Memorial 3 single will feature the theme song from the
game, for 1300 yen.
- Konami will release Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 8 Definitive Edition
for PS2, and Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2001 Definitive Edition in
Japan on December 20. Both games feature the latest player data after the pennant race
ends in the 2001 fiscal year.
- Sega announced that the Dreamcast title Phantasy Star Online has
acquired the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards in the Network Game Award Section on
October 25. BAFTA stands for British Academy of Film & Television Arts.
|