News

KONAMI SET TO SHIP NEW YU-GI-OH! VIDEOGAMES IN MARCH 2002

Games Based on Top Rated Animated TV Show and Record-Breaking Franchise Arrive in the U.S.

REDWOOD CITY, CA -- February 11, 2002 ­ Konami of America announces the North American debut of two new videogames based on the ultra-successful Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories for Nintendo Game Boy® Color and Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories for Sony PlayStation® will ship to retail outlets in March 2002. Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories will include three (3) Limited Edition Official Trading Cards for the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! collectible card game.

The two games represent the first step in Konami¹s plan to bring the Yu-Gi-Oh! phenomenon to North American shores.  The company also confirmed today that Yu-Gi-Oh! videogames will appear on next generation consoles later in 2002, including PlayStation® 2 and Game Boy® Advance.

An overwhelming phenomenon in Japan, the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise has already sold more than 3.5 billion cards, 23 million comic books, 10 million related books, 7.5 million videogames and in excess of $2 billion in merchandise. The franchise premiered in the U.S. as an animated TV series broadcast on the Kids WB. Entering its second season this fall, the show, Yu-Gi-Oh! King of Games, currently ranks number one in its Saturday morning timeslot.*

³Yu-Gi-Oh! videogames offer kids a rich world that they themselves can conquer through strategic thinking, puzzle solving and clever card combinations.² said Dick Wnuk, COO for Konami of America.

The adventures begin in Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories (GBC) as players compete to become the strongest duelist in the world. Battling for cards and experience in the Duel Monsters card game, players must think strategically to craft their customized 40-card deck. In order to gain cards, players can win battles, import cards by inputting passwords found on the Official Trading Cards, trade with friends using a link-cable, or even create new cards using the construction feature.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories (PSX) players voyage to ancient Egypt and embark on an adventure to save the world from total destruction! It is only the young pharaoh who can unlock the mysteries of the Shadow Game and the Seven Magical Totems! Players must duel with the townspeople to decipher clues and solve puzzles in an effort to avert the kingdom¹s imminent doom.
 

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About Yu-Gi-Oh!
The Yu-Gi-Oh! universe was born of artist Kazuki Takahashi and first appeared in the Japanese comic book Shonen Jump in 1996. An instant hit, the comic has spawned a cartoon television show, a collectible card game, several Game Boy® Color and Sony PlayStation® games as well as other licensed merchandise. Yu-Gi-Oh! follows the adventures of Yugi, a young boy who possesses the Millennium Puzzle that allows him to transform into his alter-ego, the Game King, whenever he is challenged.

About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market.  Konami¹s action and adventure titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Castlevania, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami of America, Inc. in the US and Konami of Europe in Frankfurt, Germany.

*Source: NTI, Kid Network season to date (10/01/2001-12/08/2001)