NEC Interchannel Announces Culdcept For PlayStation 2

YOUR FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS;
NEC Interchannel Announces Culdcept for PlayStation®2

Strategic Collectable Card Videogame Comes to the USA After Laying Waste to Japan

SANTA CLARA, CA  (September 15, 2003)NEC Interchannel, Ltd., a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, today announced that it will release the first US version of the highly addictive strategy game, Culdcept, for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system in October 2003. Culdcept combines the best elements of a fantasy card battling game with a tabletop tactical board game, to create a unique gaming experience that has already captivated a legion of followers in Japan.

About Culdcept
In Culdcept, each player has a customizable deck of 50 cards that come from a total in-game deck of 480. Up to four players (human or computer-driven) maneuver around the map, taking control of unclaimed land in an effort to build their power. Players defend their land by placing creatures from their card hand on the individual terrains. Battles ensue when opposing players land on occupied space and don’t wish to pay the “toll.”

The game is loaded with options that will extend its playability well over 100 hours including:

• 42 unique map layouts to choose from, including maps used in the All Japan Cepters Cup, and one designed by the Japanese national champion player.

• Tutorial modes and an electronic hint guide allows anyone to jump right in and play.

• Special medals to be collected during the game unlock additional hidden cards and maps.

• A scarily addictive quality that will make players forgo other games, friends, sleep, and perhaps, personal hygiene, to play “just one more round.”


Culdcept features art from a cadre of well-known Japanese fantasy artists such as Kastsuya Terada (Blood: The Last Vampire), and music from Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage) and Kenji Ito (Romancing SaGa).

History and Hype
The Culdcept series was launched in Japan in 1999 and has appeared overseas on earlier gaming platforms such as the Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, and the PlayStation® game console. The game quickly built up a huge following, ultimately leading to the launch of the Culdcept National Championship. This event has seen thousands of the country’s best Culdcept players compete for cash and prizes, including the chance to have their winning tips featured on the annual “Secrets of the Culdcept Masters” DVD, released every year since the inception of the tournament.

“We’d like to apologize in advance to those gamers who end up getting hooked on Culdcept,” stated Norman Evangelista, vice-president, NEC Interchannel. “We realize that unleashing something like this on an unsuspecting gaming public is a bit irresponsible; however, we also believe the greatest games in the world should be available to all gamers, not just those in the games’ country of origin.”

About NEC Interchannel, Ltd.
NEC Interchannel, Ltd., an interactive entertainment company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan develops and publishes for video game systems, personal computers and other digital devices. Established as an NEC group company to specialize in planning, development and sales of digital content, in only a short time, NEC Interchannel, Ltd. has built a solid reputation for producing a wide variety of digital content in the areas of culture, education/edutainment, amusement and music. More information about NEC’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.necgames.com.