PS2 matchmaking service comes to US gamers

Capcom- and SNK-supported broadband online gaming service will hit stateside in the next fiscal year.

TOKYO--Major Japanese communications company KDDI has announced its plans to launch its Multi-Matching BB (MMBB) online gaming service in America during the next fiscal year. In Japan, the MMBB allows PlayStation 2 owners to battle online with a number of different titles, such as Bandai' s Mobile Suit Gundam Z: AEUG vs. Titans and Capcom' s Resident Evil Outbreak.

Thus far, Capcom has been the strongest supporter of the MMBB, but SNK Playmore recently announced a large spate of titles that will support the service. There are currently more than 100,000 subscribers to the MMBB service in Japan.

No announcements have been made as to what American games will support the service, but they are expected to be similar to the current lineup of titles in Japan. KDDI will launch its MMBB service in Korea this December; although gamers in Korea won' t be able to play against gamers in Japan right off the bat, KDDI is exploring this option for the future. Services for Europe and other Asian territories are also in the works.

MMBB-compliant games currently active in Japan are as follows:

Monster Hunter / Capcom
Resident Evil Outbreak / Capcom
Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 / Capcom
Auto Modellista U.S. – Tuned / Capcom
Mobile Suit Gundam Z: AEUG vs. Titans / Capcom

MMBB-compliant games that are scheduled for release in Japan are as follows:

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Z Gundam vs. Gundam / Bandai, Winter
Monster Hunter G / Capcom, TBA
The King of Fighters ReBout / SNK Playmore, Dec 22, 2004
The King of Fighters ' 95 / SNK Playmore, TBA
The King of Fighters ' 96 / SNK Playmore, TBA
The King of Fighters ' 97 / SNK Playmore, TBA
The King of Fighters ' 98 / SNK Playmore, TBA
The King of Fighters ' 99 / SNK Playmore, TBA
The King of Fighters 2000 / SNK Playmore, TBA
Garou: Mark of the Wolves / SNK Playmore, TBA
The Last Blade / SNK Playmore, TBA
The Last Blade 2 / SNK Playmore, TBA
Twinkle Star Sprites / SNK Playmore, TBA

By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot