02.16.99
From the Nikkei news wire, Sega and Konami have announced two new arcade games that will make use of technology first pioneered by Midway and Nintendo. Using the memory save units (Sega will use the VMU, Konami will use the PocketStation) from consoles, gamers can load information from playing a game at home and then use it on the arcade machine, allowing for personalized gameplay. The first Sega game to use this technology will be a new wrestling game, called All Japan Pro Wrestling: Giant Glam. Players can take saved, created characters and use them in the arcade. Konami's first effort is with its smash arcade hit, Dance Dance Revolution. In a new version of the arcade game, players will be able to play the game at home, save the information on a PocketStation, and then use it in the arcade. At this time, it is unknown if these will appear in the States, but let's hope that the concept continues on, for the benefit of gamers everywhere.