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KONAMI UNVEILS Q&A SESSION WITH HIDEO KOJIMA

AND NEW METAL GEAR SOLID®: PEACE WALKER SCREENSHOTS

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today revealed a Q&A session with legendary video game creator and head of Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima, and new screenshots from the highly anticipated title coming to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system in 2010, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. This latest PSP installment picks up where Metal Gear Solid®3 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system leaves off as players take control of the famed Naked Snake. Taking place in 1974, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker features original game design, story and scenario by Hideo Kojima. The game takes the series in an exciting new direction with its incredible visuals and its unique new game system designed specifically with the PSP in mind.

HIDEO KOJIMA – Q/A

1) I bet many users had expected the next MGS5 announcement. When did you start this project?

I actually had the plan for this project in mind while working on MPO. Back then, I intended to place the project in the hands of the next generation of creators at Kojima Productions. However, in the end, I felt that it was still a little too early to leave it completely in their hands, so I decided to take the reins.

This game is an MGS5-class game. I am supervising, designing, producing, directing, and editing this title together with the MGS4 team. Therefore in that sense, “METAL GEAR SOLID” has not ended, and the “METAL GEAR SAGA” continues.

2) You have been telling for many years that your ultimate theme is “Anti-war and Anti-nuclear weapon”. Does this theme continue in this title?

Absolutely. The METAL GEAR SOLID series has always featured “Anti-war” and “Anti-nuke” themes. This title is no exception.

In the event of an attack from a neighboring country, I believe that finding a solution through diplomacy is ideal. However, the fact is that even peaceful countries with no intention of retaliating still maintain armies just for the sake of deterrence. I am sure there are varied opinions regarding this subject, but I believe that it is our generation’s role to “create peace through discussion.” What makes things complicated is that the youth of today have been born into a world where the current situation is the norm, so it’s difficult to convey this message. That is why my hope is to have players ponder and learn about why there are people who advocate the “need for armies, military power, and nuclear weapons” so that they may realize “why things turned out the way that they did” while they play this game.

3) I understand that it is a tactical espionage action game but could you provide some explanation for bringing this title to the PSP platform? I saw 4 Snakes in the trailer presented at E3, is this COOP?

The game will be stealth-action based. I can’t reveal too many details yet, but we are implementing features that can only be realized on the PSP platform that I believe everyone can look forward to. The game will be a little different from the METAL GEAR that players have come to know. However, the story can be replayed numerous times and the game is full of challenges to complete, so I feel that this title will really satisfy players with its long-lasting play time. Just as an example, do you recall the cardboard box at the end of the Peace Walker trailer? In addition to that two-man box, we are preparing a variety of other different cardboard boxes this time around.

To give a little more insight into the game, you can, how shall I say… customize Snake according to your preferences and determine what kind of soldier you will use prior to embarking on your mission. For example there’s heavy gear configurations that make a lot of noise, but that allow you to equip numerous weapons. Or, there are other configurations that won’t allow you to carry many weapons, but will allow you to be light on your feet. We will be preparing a variety of other types as well. Being able to make decisions and plot a strategy will be one of the really enjoyable features of this title.

We are also working on a “growth feature” as well, where your character evolves. It will be a new type of system, so I hope everyone will look forward to it!

4) “You’re known for boot camps and on site checks. This time which part would you like to stress about the reality in terms of game quality?

We conduct research in many ways and then begin game production. In regards to the quality of the game, the main staff of MGS4 are producing it. They are aiming for PS3 quality because they were creating MGS4 on the PS3 not too long ago. In reality it is hard to maintain the same quality as the PS3 but we strive for it and we are expressing this in ways only we can express it in.

5) Regarding the KJP countdown teaser site, there were several signs as a message, could you explain what this message is all about?

–

5=it is an MGS5 class game

S=Snake

巳＝snake in Kanji

E=E3

R=Raiden

3=3 from 360 and E3

6=6 from 360

P and S=PSP and adding 3 makes it PS3

–

Aside from the Snake and Raiden visuals, we featured a total of 10 “symbols” and when all of these are rearranged, they form connections to the announcements that we made at E3.

The first symbols that appeared were the number “5″ and the letter “S” for Snake that represented PW which, to me, is a “5″ class title. “巳” not only hints at the lowercase lettering of “E” for E3, but it is the kanji for the word “snake.” Also, the symbol that appeared at the very end is the kanji “日” and represents a sunny background and the sunrise that links to RISING.

The “RISING” of “METAL GEAR SOLID RISING” implies “the sun rising,” “the sun shining,” and “the sun shining on Raiden” that was revealed in the visuals on the HP. In addition, “RISING” also represents how “METAL GEAR SOLID” will be taking the next step up.

Going back to the symbols found on the HP, they also link to “the day of 360″ and also to each of the titles that we announced at E3. When each of the symbols are rearranged, I think you’ll be able to recognize E3, PSP, PS3, 360 and others. So everyone, how did you like it? Were your predictions on the mark?

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is being developed exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and is scheduled to launch in 2010.

NDOORS Interactive today officially launched the closed beta of their adventure-filled new MMORPG, WonderKing. Over 30,000 hopefuls turned out across the internet to claim closed beta keys and most are expected to enter the game world during this closed beta period.

“We’re proud to welcome the first group of players into the world ofWonderKing today,” said Peter Kang, CEO of NDOORS. “We plan to make good use of this closed beta period to fine tune the experience and we look forward to a seamless commercial launch later this summer.”

WonderKing is a 2D, side-scrolling MMORPG that takes players on an adventurous journey to become a hero and don the mantle ofWonderKing. Your quest to save the realm will take you from beautiful beaches to murky marshlands and spooky ghost towns. Some of the features in WonderKing include:

• PvP: Challenge each other and battle one on one at a special map for points that can be exchanged for special in-game items.
• Pet System: Adorable and loyal AI animals will aid in hunting, item collecting, and other tasks.
• Class Advancement: The game allows players to focus on specific character abilities and advance to higher classes to learn even more powerful techniques.
• Mounts and Vehicles: Get moving with a variety of vehicles to ride and animals to mount, providing boosts to attack and defense.
• Castle Battles: Engage in PvP battles using siege warfare across castles. This system will be available for players later this year.
• Home Town System: Players can personally decorate a private room where they can rest and store items and trophies. Like castle battles, this system will be implemented later this year as well.

Designed for gamers of all ages, WonderKing is set in a vibrantly colorful world and features some of the most uniquely creative character designs and gorgeous graphics in any game. As with all of NDOORS’ titles,WonderKing is 100% free-to-play.

For more information on WonderKing, please visit:http://www.playwonderking.com/wk.

In the vast expanses of space, Galaxy Online combines many unique design elements, including a commerce system, planetary colonization, warship design, fleet command, imperial expansion and much, much more. With all the game has to offer, the Galaxy Online team nevertheless has found a way to make it even more exciting. To create a better gaming environment with more intense PvP competition, they will merge Aries, Taurus and Gemini servers into the Libra server.

In addition, the developers are making modifications to some features to further encourage player conflicts and cooperation. First, the default nodes that separate the player factions will be removed. As players are forced to interact more with members of rival factions, they will evolve better combat strategies and teamwork. After the server merger, all characters’ friends and corps data will be deleted. Players will have to look for new friends and corps on the combined server, forming powerful new forces to withstand the challenges of a more densely populated universe.

If these changes aren’t enough to spice up your plans for exploration and conquest, the Galaxy Online team will also add offensive pirates to the vast universe. The extra variable will make battles more complex and their results more difficult to predict. Will pirates be your friends or foes when you engage your enemies? Either way, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The merger will also have an impact on players’ characters and virtual property on the affected servers. Only one character per account will be transferred over. By default, the character with the highest Composite Strength score will be selected, unless players apply to have a different character transferred. The remaining characters will be deleted. Characters moving to the Libra server will have the planets they occupy outside of their home galaxy moved into their home galaxy. Despite their new locations, players shouldn’t see any changes to those occupied planets. Also, any GO Mall points exchanged by a character marked for deletion will be moved over to the character that is transferring over to the new server. When the merger is complete, every character on Libra that was created with an account registered before 1:00 AM EDT (GMT-4) on July 17, 2009 will receive 500 GO Mall Points. Based on Composite Strength ranking, the top 2,000 characters on each of the affected servers will receive an additional 500 Mall Points.

After the Libra merger, the Galaxy Online team will open a brand new server for new Galaxy Online players.

Make no mistake: the Libra server will be a dangerous, intense place to play, but as characters encounter and overcome these challenges, their accomplishments will be that much more impressive. Get ready to test yourself against new foes and make new allies as you expand your horizons and experience epic journeys to far off places, all in Galaxy Online!

Visit http://go.igg.com to learn more about Galaxy Online.