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Fri 26 September, 2003 09:13 BST
MAKUHARI, Japan (Reuters) - Japanese video game company Nintendo Co Ltd said on Friday it plans early next year to offer a device that allows GameBoy Advance users to play games together without the use of cables.
The device will be included free of charge with the purchase of one of two "Pokemon" games, due to be released early next year, for Nintendo's hand-held game machine.
"We've had a lot of discussions about how to extend the networking capabilities for games such as 'Pokemon', to enhance head-to-head battles, exchange of information and communication with others," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata in a speech on the opening day of the Tokyo Game Show.
The wireless module will be bundled with Nintendo's "Pokemon Fire Red" and "Pokemon Leaf Green" titles for GameBoy Advance that will go on sale in Japan early next year. The games will sell for 4,800 yen ($43).
Nintendo said it planned to roll out other titles for the GameBoy Advance compatible with the device in the future.
Motorola Inc designed the chip that powers the device's wireless functions.
"It was designed primarily with the gaming experience in mind," Bridgette Cosentino, director of wireless connectivity at Motorola's semiconductor products group, told Reuters. She said the chip was customized to maximize battery life.
Iwata said the technology was similar to Bluetooth, which allows devices to communicate with each other without a physical wire connection. The wireless network extends for "several meters," Iwata said.
The most recent "Pokemon" title for GameBoy Advance sold over 10 million titles worldwide, Nintendo said.
Shares in Nintendo ended up 2.33 percent at 9,670 yen compared to a 0.08 percent rise in the Nikkei 225 average.
Source
MAKUHARI, Japan (Reuters) - Japanese video game company Nintendo Co Ltd said on Friday it plans early next year to offer a device that allows GameBoy Advance users to play games together without the use of cables.
The device will be included free of charge with the purchase of one of two "Pokemon" games, due to be released early next year, for Nintendo's hand-held game machine.
"We've had a lot of discussions about how to extend the networking capabilities for games such as 'Pokemon', to enhance head-to-head battles, exchange of information and communication with others," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata in a speech on the opening day of the Tokyo Game Show.
The wireless module will be bundled with Nintendo's "Pokemon Fire Red" and "Pokemon Leaf Green" titles for GameBoy Advance that will go on sale in Japan early next year. The games will sell for 4,800 yen ($43).
Nintendo said it planned to roll out other titles for the GameBoy Advance compatible with the device in the future.
Motorola Inc designed the chip that powers the device's wireless functions.
"It was designed primarily with the gaming experience in mind," Bridgette Cosentino, director of wireless connectivity at Motorola's semiconductor products group, told Reuters. She said the chip was customized to maximize battery life.
Iwata said the technology was similar to Bluetooth, which allows devices to communicate with each other without a physical wire connection. The wireless network extends for "several meters," Iwata said.
The most recent "Pokemon" title for GameBoy Advance sold over 10 million titles worldwide, Nintendo said.
Shares in Nintendo ended up 2.33 percent at 9,670 yen compared to a 0.08 percent rise in the Nikkei 225 average.
Source
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