August 17^th, 2005 (3:13pm) - Konami has entered into a multi-year agreement with Marvel Enterprises and Upper Deck Entertainment that gives Konami exclusive worldwide interactive rights to develop games for current and next generation video game systems based on Upper Deck Entertainment’s best-selling Marvel Trading Card Game. This is the latest addition to Konami’s collection of interactive trading card based properties, which also includes the tremendously successful Yu-Gi-Oh! series.

The Marvel Trading Card Game is a trading card game (TCG) developed by Upper Deck Entertainment, which uses the highly popular "Vs. System" game engine designed to support traditional one-on-one dueling competitions with popular Marvel comic book characters. In addition to the rights for developing this property into a video game for both online and offline formats, Konami also secured the license to incorporate Marvel character content into the game -- including content based on The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.

"The Marvel characters are among the most recognizable icons in popular culture, with a significant presence across all media," said Kazumi Kitaue, Chairman and CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "When combined with Konami’s experience in developing successful video games based on trading card properties, this will give consumers a powerful new way to interact with some of their favorite Marvel characters, especially as the online community expands."

"The Vs. System utilizes the strengths of the Marvel characters and universe in a unique and compelling way," said Jerry Bennington, Vice President of Entertainment at Upper Deck. "Upper Deck Entertainment is excited to be working with industry giants such as Konami and Marvel Enterprises on this amazing project."

"Given the vast popularity of the "Marvel Vs." card game, we are very excited to be working with both Upper Deck and Konami in bringing "Marvel Vs." to the world of interactive gaming," said Ames Kirshen, Vice President, Interactive at Marvel Enterprises.

Since its release in 2003, the Marvel Trading Card Game has been one of the top-selling TCG’s in the market, and has been honored with such awards as Inquest Gamer Magazine’s 2005 Fan Award, and GAMA’s 2005 Gamer’s Choice Award. Using the innovative Vs. System, the game allows players to build some of the most power-packed decks around the some of the strongest characters in the comic universe. Development of the game included testing by top professional TCG players from around the world to ensure that the Vs. System is carefully balanced for high-level competition, as well as casual play.