KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT, INC. MAKES Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL AVAILABLE TO OFFICIAL U.S. TOURNAMENT STORES

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – December 21, 2009 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE), the manufacturer of the global sensation, Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG), today is pleased to announce it is making the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL only available to official Tournament Stores in the U.S.  The DUEL TERMINALs are arcade-style video game machines that play and teach the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, and dispense cards to players.   

“After witnessing the excitement of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG players for the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL throughout Japan, we are excited to finally bring them to official Tournament Stores in the United States,” commented Yumi Hoashi, vice president of Card Business for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.  “The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL provides both new and existing players the opportunity to experience the highly strategic characteristics of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME in a casual manner.” 

The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL can be played at one of two levels of difficulty, or players can simply choose to get their card and skip playing the game itself. All cards from the DUEL TERMINAL machines are specially treated so that the machine can scan the card and allow its use within the arcade game! 

“The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINAL perfectly complements the game play of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME and allows Konami Digital Entertainment to create new synergies within our corporate business units,” added Naoki Okada, vice president of Amusement for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.  “The distribution of the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINALs will increase the overall exposure for the brand to new consumers at the hobby store level which will further strengthen the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME brand. 

DUEL TERMINAL cards also function as standard Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME cards. Cards from the DUEL TERMINAL are usable right away with the machine itself for arcade play. They will also become tournament legal for official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME events at a future date, once the cards have been widely released in (non-DUEL TERMINAL) products. 

The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s DUEL TERMINALs will enable stores to increase foot traffic, generate enthusiasm and greatly complement their in-store events.  

The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s animated series can be seen in the United States Monday through Saturday on Cartoon Network.  The original Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series can be seen Saturday mornings on TheCW4Kids block. For more information on Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME or how to purchase a DUEL TERMINAL for your store, please email us-duelterminal@konami.com or call 310-220-8630.