Atari’s press release from earlier today clarifies what is going on with the online play in their domestic release of “Sparking! METEOR” (“Budokai Tenkaichi 3”):
Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) one of the world’s most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that Dragon Ball Z(R): Budokai Tenkaichi(TM) 3 will have online multiplayer capability on the Wii(TM). Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 combines the lightning fast fighting and action game play that have made Budokai Tenkaichi 1 and Budokai Tenkaichi 2 the #1 fighting games of 2005 and 2006. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Spike, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is slated to release during the 2007 holiday season.
In addition to offering online game play on the Wii, Dragon Ball Z will celebrate the final installment of the Tenkaichi series for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system with an exclusive ‘Disc Fusion System.’ In combination with Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 when either Budokai Tenkaichi 1 or Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is inserted into the PlayStation 2 system, game play modes will be unlocked. Each game in the series will provide a different and exciting game play mode.
“Atari is incredibly excited to provide online game play for the Wii and a special ‘Disc Fusion System’ for the PlayStation 2 system version of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3,” said Emily Anadu, Senior Product Manager, Atari, Inc. “Adding online game play for the Wii will finally deliver on a feature that the fans have been waiting for while the ‘Disc Fusion System’ on the PlayStation 2 system rewards those fans that have supported us since the beginning of the Budokai Tenkaichi series.
Improving upon last year’s hit 3D fighting experience, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 offers more than 150 playable characters, more than 30 battle stages, and upgraded shading techniques providing enhanced and devastating effects. Furthermore, the Wii control system has been fine-tuned, allowing players to easily direct characters, mimic their favorite DBZ moves and execute explosive attacks.
The immensely popular Dragon Ball Z(R) series is the gold standard of anime-based video games, with more than 25 different games and over 10 million units sold since May 2002.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is set for release this holiday season. For more information on Dragon Ball Z video games, please visit http://www.atari.com/dragonballz.
Improving upon last year’s hit 3D fighting experience, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 offers more than 150 playable characters, more than 30 battle stages, and upgraded shading techniques providing enhanced and devastating effects. Furthermore, the Wii control system has been fine-tuned, allowing players to easily direct characters, mimic their favorite DBZ moves and execute explosive attacks.
Anyone hear anything about the “Disc Fusion System” with the Japanese PS2 versions of the game? Those are the ones I’ve been buying the last two years! I would assume they are coming out over there, since Atari does not do a whole lot else beyond distribute what is produced over there in Japan.