Konami announces three WiiWare games for Europe
THRii for WiiWare from Konami
Publisher details new Network Business Development department, as Konami®€TMs first WiiWare titles are unveiled
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced its first downloadable WiiWare titles, as it outlines the role of its new Network Business Development Department.Konami has created the all-new Network Business Development Department, which is designed to extend Konami’s online activities across Europe. The new team is headed by Florian Stronk, who will oversee all future downloadable content and mobile titles, including WiiWare, PSN, XBLA and DSiWare as well as iPhone and other mobile phone platform releases.
The first titles to emerge from the group will be released in the coming months, with Gradius Rebirth out today, followed by DRiiFT MANIA later this month, and the all-action Contra Rebirth in August. Each title is an all-new game, with Gradius Rebirth marking the welcome return of one of gaming’s most acclaimed shooters of all time.
Gradius Rebirth retains the 2D space-based action the series is famed for, with players guiding their Vic Viper ship through a series of horizontally-scrolling stages infested with thousands of aliens and huge end-of-level bosses. Power-up capsules allow the user to add lasers, secondary weapons systems, shields, etc, to their craft, while new additions include a Score Attack Mode wherein high-scores can be compared, and a Replay system where hard-fought battles can be reviewed.
DRiiFT MANIA will follow later in July, and is a top-down racer that allows up to eight players to race each other, using cartoon-style characters. Featuring twelve different tracks based on four themed environments – cityscape, hills, snow and a desert oasis – players can also select one of 34 vehicles from four categories. Each category is tailored for use within the different environments, with variations of speed, acceleration and handling and grip levels making specific vehicles ideal for particular locations.
DRiiFT MANIA ‘s multi-player modes allow users to play using combinations of Wii Remotes, Nunchucks and Classic Controllers, and seven game modes are on offer. These include single-player and multi-player championships, and Team Race; wherein participants are divided into two teams, with the winner those that amass the most points. The VIP mode elects one player per team as a VIP vehicle, who must be protected at all costs from the opposition cars, with the removal of the VIP car resulting in a win for the attacking team.
DRiiFT MANIA also has a fun ‘Contamination’ idea, where a player is marked contagious and must contaminate very other player within a set period, while ‘Cold Potato’ mode charges the user with collecting said vegetable and holding on to it for as long as possible! Finally, the ‘Meteorite’ option sees players embarking on a normal race, while trying to avoid a series of meteors as they fall from the sky.
Completing the trio in August is Contra Rebirth, a welcome return for Konami other celebrated shoot ‘em up series. Armed soldiers are charged with running and jumping through a series of 2D levels, each littered with alien forces, vehicles and face-offs with massive bosses. OTT weaponry is the order of the day as homing missiles, flame-throwers and high-powered lasers are used to blast a path to the end of each stage, while agility and dexterity are required to clamber over seemingly impassable areas, and scale crumbling buildings.
The Network Business Development Department will also be overseeing the release of Konami’s previously announced Vandal Hearts and Zombie Apocalypse titles for PSN and XBLA. “We have an enviable starting line-up, and are looking to continually offer a strong mix of updated classic Konami IPs and new ideas,” commented Florian Stronk, Head of the Network Business Development Department for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “Using a mixture of both internal and external talent, we look forward to some very exciting announcements in the coming months.”
About KONAMI CORPORATION
KONAMI CORPORATION was established in 1973, and became a holding company on March 31, 2006. KONAMI CORPORATION covers the fields of “Digital Entertainment Business”, “Health & Fitness Business” and “Gaming & System Business”. KONAMI CORPORATION went public on Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988, the Singapore Stock Exchange in 1997, the London Stock Exchange in 1999, and the New York Stock Exchange in 2002. Home Page URL: www.konami.co.jp. Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary, responsible for popular franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Pro Evolution Soccer amongst other top sellers. For more information concerning Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH and its products, please visit www.konami-europe.com/games.© 2009 Konami Digital Entertainment
