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In press releases from both Nintendo and Sega, it was announced
today that F-Zero will be coming to Nintendo's GameCube console and
the Triforce arcade system. Triforce is a 3D computer graphic board
for next-generation arcade machines that applies the architecture of
the GCN.
F-Zero AC (Arcade) and F-Zero GC (GameCube) will be jointly developed
by Sega's Amusement Vision and Nintendo's EAD. While Amusement
Vision will be responsible for the bulk of the game's development,
EAD execs including Sheguru Miyamoto, Takaya Imamura, and Isshin
Shimizu, will take on leading roles - Miyamoto being the project's
producer. The game will be seen in some form at this year's E3'02.
Amusement
Vision is the firm responsible for development of Sega's early
coin-op hardware hardware business. AV later found great success in
arcade software in the mid 1990's with the development of Daytona
USA and Virtua Striker. AV became a private subsidiary of Sega in
2000, lead by president Toshihiro Nagoshi - a racing fanatic. Beyond
their long-established franchises, GameCube owners are probably most
familiar with Amusement Vision's puzzler, Super Monkey Ball.
Nintendo, Namco, and Sega announced joint development of the
Triforce arcade board in January. The goals of the agreement were to
expand arcade video game market, create a cost-effective environment
for arcade video game development, and establish a totally new game
system that will bridge game play between the home and amusement
facilities.
At least one of these goals will become a reality as a result of
today's announcement. Via GameCube's memory cards, F-Zero AC will be
able to communicate with the jointly-developed F-Zero GC. Though
details have yet to be announced, gamers could possibly use this
feature to bring their high scores, best racers, or self made racing
tracks to the arcade. Any number of interconnectivity features could
be accomplished through this method.
F-Zero AC will be published by Sega and F-Zero GC will be published
by Nintendo. Both
titles are scheduled for a Japanese release within 2002. A North
American release date has yet to be announced.
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March
27, 2002 |
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Jim - News
Contributor, GameCubicle |
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