Konami announces lineup

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced last night new titles and additional details for its 2008 lineup. Highlighting this year’s releases are all-new versions of blockbuster franchises such as Metal Gear Solid®, Castlevania®, DanceDanceRevolution®, Lost In Blue® and Silent Hill®. Additionally, the recognized industry leader in the music gaming category announced its latest IP – Rock Revolution for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. Below is additional information on the products that were showcased at Konami’s 2008 Gamers Night:

Critter Round-Up™
Release date: May 2008
Genre: Puzzle/Action
Platform: WiiWare™

As Konami’s first WiiWare™ title, Critter Round-Up introduces a fun puzzle game where players are challenged with separating each different critter species into their own area by building fences. Avoid the predators and other mischievous animals as they will try and stop you from rounding them up. Test your skills and get more points by corralling all the same critters into just one area and by using less fence. Four player co-op and a great set of competitive mini-games will have you rounding up critters until the cows come home.

Castlevania®: Order of Ecclesia
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Action
Platform: Nintendo DS™

Following on the success of Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin the legendary Castlevania® series is back in its 3rd installment on Nintendo DS™. This time you play as a member of the Ecclesia, an organization that has sworn to defeat the evil forces of Dracula. Use the brand new Glyph attack system which has more than 100 different combinations to battle Dracula and his minions throughout 20 explorable areas inside and outside of the castle. Take part in side quests and collect items to power up your character in the next great Castlevania® game produced by Koji Igarashi.

DanceDanceRevolution®X
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Music/Dance
Platform: PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the most popular dance video game! Continuing its evolution on the PlayStation®2 system, DanceDanceRevolution®X explodes onto the dance floor with enhanced graphics, fun interactive gameplay, an incredible song selection with 70 awesome music tracks and innovative new game modes. Brand new LAN Battle Mode will let up to 8 players battle simultaneously through the LAN connection on their PlayStation®2 system. Create your own workout and fitness program through an enhanced Workout Mode. Utilize the EyeToy USB Camera (for PlayStation®2) to implement yourself into the game.

DanceDanceRevolution® Hottest Party™ 2
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Music/Dance
Platform: Wii™

DanceDanceRevolution® celebrates its 10th anniversary with an all-new game for Wii™! The best selling dance game returns, with an entirely new soundtrack, game modes and interactivity. DanceDanceRevolution® Hottest Party 2 enhances the series’ trademark interactive gameplay by combining the physically engaging, innovative and easy-to-pick-up-and-play mechanics of the Wii™ console. DanceDanceRevolution® Hottest Party 2 is sure to be the life of the party with 4 player multiplayer, Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk support, smash hits taken from the last four decades of music, entirely new modes and more!

DanceDanceRevolution® UNIVERSE3
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Music/Dance
Platform: Xbox 360®

DanceDanceRevolution® celebrates its 10th anniversary! DanceDanceRevolution® UNIVERSE3 dances its way to you with an all new sleek enhanced interface, fun new modes and settings for players of all skill levels, cool smash-hit songs, robust online and offline support and exciting new exclusives! DJ Mode makes its debut on the Xbox 360®, allowing gamers to create their own tracks and song lists to dance to! Innovative City Mode lets you compete against bosses throughout the DanceDanceRevolution® city to become the ultimate champion.

Deca Sports™
Release date: May 13, 2008
Genre: Sports
Platform: Wii™

It’s the ultimate sports package! So fun to play and easy to master for casual and hardcore gamers alike! Experience fun filled sports competition across 10 different sporting events. With easy-to-pick up and play controls, Deca Sports™ will make a multi-sport athlete out of everyone in your entire family. Smash, spike and smoke the competition in events like Badminton, Beach Volleyball, and Kart Racing. The spirit of competition never felt this good. Deca Sports™ takes Wii™ play to the next level!

Hellboy™: The Science of Evil
Release date: June 24, 2008
Genre: Action
Platform: PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 system

Hellboy™: The Science of Evil will give players the opportunity to experience the epic adventures of the acclaimed comic book hero, fusing action, atmosphere and humor. In his latest quest, Hellboy must rush to defeat the crazed Hermann Von Klempt before he can exert his evil will upon earth. The game lets players unleash Hellboy’s superhuman abilities and the Right Hand of Doom as they smash their way through hordes of enemies using their environment for added destructive power and strategy. Just another day for Hellboy.

Lost in Blue®: Shipwrecked! (working title)
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Survival Adventure
Platform: Wii™

The Lost in Blue® series makes its console debut with Lost in Blue®: Shipwrecked! (working title). Experience a survival adventure like never before through colorful 3D graphics and the uniquely interactive capabilities of Wii™. Players will find themselves stranded on a mysterious island filled with lush forests, ancient ruins, and an active volcano. With the help of a trusty pet and a new friend, you’ll explore the mysteries of the island to find a way home or make a new life for yourselves there forever.

Metal Gear Solid®4: Guns of the Patriots
Release date: June 12, 2008
Genre: Stealth Action
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 system

Created by the legendary Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid®4: Guns of the Patriots is the final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake, which sends him around the world in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. Armed with new gadgets and abilities, Solid Snake must shift the tides of war into his favor, using the chaos of the battlefield to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. In his globetrotting final mission, Snake must sneak deep into enemy locations in the Middle East, South America, and other corners of the earth to foil Liquid Ocelot’s plans for total world domination.

Also included with Metal Gear Solid®4: Guns of the Patriots is Metal Gear® Online, the ultimate squad based, tactical shooter based on the Metal Gear Solid® Universe. Players can immerse themselves in this next-gen multiplayer experience with various maps, game play type and weapons to choose from.

Rock Revolution™
Release date: Fall 2008
Genre: Music/Dance
Platform: Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 system, Wii™, Nintendo DS™

Konami’s latest addition to the music category, Rock Revolution™ will let players release their inner rockstar! Featuring the most realistic drum peripheral available, players can enjoy an immersive and realistic drum experience while allowing friends to accompany them on guitar or bass to mind bending rock and roll tracks. Rock Revolution will also feature an extensive selection of music tracks (including downloadable songs for the Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3 system), single-player and multiplayer co-op modes. This is the musical revolution the world has been waiting for!

Silent Hill®: Homecoming
Release date: September 2008
Genre: Survival Horror
Platform: Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 system

Silent Hill®: Homecoming is the latest entry into the Silent Hill franchise. The story follows Alex Shepherd who returns to his hometown of Shepherd’s Glen to investigate the sudden disappearance of his brother. From Shepherd’s Glen to the foggy streets of Silent Hill, Alex must face the darkest of horrors in order to find his brother. Struggling with his own grip on reality, Alex must unravel the mystery behind his nightmares, discover the truth behind his brother’s and father’s disappearances, and confront the evil that has taken hold of his own flesh and blood.

New International Track and Field™
Release date: July 2008
Genre: Sports
Platform: Nintendo DS™

The classic sporting game series of Track & Field celebrates its’ 25th Anniversary by coming to Nintendo DS™. All the excitement and fun of the original titles is brought up to date with a bright and stylish new look, more events and online play.

The hyper-addictive gameplay was developed to take full advantage of the touch screen and stylus, thus providing gamers with a unique experience on DS™. Players can either dip into single events or take on the challenge of the sporting career mode. Test your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and see if you have what it takes to become the best in the world. Going beyond mere online play New International Track and Field™ features online tournaments and worldwide rankings.