Track and Field is the name of a series of Olympic themed video games developed by Konami for several platforms since 1983. The first title called “Track & Field” or “Hyper Olympics” outside the United States was released in 1983 as an arcade game. The simple gameplay which was based on dynamically successive button presses (now known as button bashing) has set the rules for sequels and similar games ever since. Track & Field was later released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 and became one of the most popular NES games of its time.

Konami are proud to celebrate the game’s 25th anniversary with the release of “New International Track and Field” exclusive to Nintendo DS. All the fun and excitement of the original title has been brought bang up to date with a bright, stylish new look, innovative control method and for the first time ever...online play!

Challenge friends around the world, monitor their times and achievements, create your own tournaments and trophies, climb the worldwide rankings, earn exclusive content by setting world records and see your name in lights for all to see! For the first time ever in its illustrious career, Track and Field will finally fulfil its true multiplayer potential!

Challenge the World...become a legend!

Simon Belmont

Title: Castlevania
Age: 38
Home: Transylvania
Likes: Light and Truth
Dislikes: Bloodsuckers
Event: Focus

Simon is the definitive hero of the Belmont lineage and the most prominent protagonist in the Castlevania game series. His adventures began when Count Dracula awoke in 1691 and started terrorizing the people of Transylvania. They sought out Simon to fulfil the Belmont legacy and to defeat Dracula. However, Dracula was not so easily vanquished and would return to Transylvania to terrorise and terrify the locals. Simon has earned his reputation by appearing in more titles than any other of the series' hero characters. Typically in each game Simon will use a devastating whip to defeat hordes of evil creatures in Dracula’s haunted castle, however, the enemies in New International Track and Field are time and distance and they will not be so easily bent to his will.

Pentarou

Title: Parodius
Age: 12 (they only live to 15/20)
Home: Antarctica
Likes: Fish
Dislikes: Octopus
Event: Focus

When you are talking about penguins in videogames there is only really one name: Pentarou. Justly famous from the Parodius series of shooting games, he is the son of the penguin referred to as just "Penguin" who originally appeared in Antarctic Adventure. Penguin had a chequered career with a short stint as a professional table tennis player, then a spell working a desk in an office filled with typewriters led to a ballooning weight problem. His girlfriend Penguette even considered dumping him for another penguin named Ginji. But thankfully this romantic hurdle was overcome and a son and heir was eventually produced. Pentarou also acquired a mate in the Parodius series; a female penguin named Hanako, meaning “little flower”, and every garland he receives for his athletic prowess during New International Track and Field is dedicated to her.

Key Features:

• 24 gruelling athletic events
• Character themed challenge mode
• All new and original Track and Field characters (designed exclusively by Udon Entertainment)
• Playable Konami characters including the legendary ‘Sparkster’ from Rocket Knight Adventures and Pyramid Head from Silent Hill plus other as yet unannounced characters from Konami’s illustrious gaming heritage.
• Innovative use of Nintendo DS dual screens, stylus control and microphone
• Comprehensive single player career
• ‘Classic Track and Field’ game mode!
• Multiplayer! 2-4 players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, DS Wireless Play and DS Download Play
• Worldwide event records and player rankings
• Community based web site featuring exclusive downloadable game content – viewable via PC or Nintendo Wii.

Career Mode

The ultimate test for DS athletes! Test your levels of speed and endurance by competing in 24 gruelling events; the classic 100m sprint, long jump, archery, weightlifting, skeet shooting, discus, pole vaulting, javelin, kayaking, swimming and many, many more!

Customise your character, unlock hidden secrets, set personal bests, smash world records and show off your medals and trophies!

Compete and earn ‘stars’ to spend in the Track and Field shop. Buy your athlete new clothes, hairstyles or create your own designs and swap online with friends!

Challenge Mode

Challenge Mode takes the familiar sporting events from Career mode and spins them out of control to entertain the player with crazy tasks in unexpected new contexts. In each Challenge the player goes head-to-head against a Konami character – some well-known and some retro favourites – in custom built scenarios based on the game series they starred in!

Classic Track & Field

Relive the original arcade experience! Compete in all 6 classic events: 100m Dash, Long Jump, Javelin, 110m Hurdles, Hammer, and High Jump! Unlock bonuses and hidden surprises – see if you’re good enough to make it to the top of the worldwide leaderboard!
Multiplayer (2-4 players Nintendo WFC, Hot Seat, DS Wireless Play and DS Download Play)

Think you’ve got what it takes to beat the best? Take your athlete online and compete against a worldwide field via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection! Compete in custom tournaments, official competitions; earn ‘stars’, medals and unlock hidden surprises!

Leaderboards and Ticker Tape

Track and Field has always been about setting new personal bests, smashing event records, getting the best score on the leaderboard and wiping the floor with the competition! New International Track and Field takes this rivalry to a whole new level by rewarding record holders with bonus content exclusive to true champions!

Regardless of the mode you’re playing, providing you’re connected to the Nintendo Wi-Fi service, New International Track and Field will keep you fully informed of the progress of your friends or rivals via an innovative in-game ‘ticker tape’ system.

All event scores and times are automatically uploaded to the Track and Field leaderboards allowing you and your friends to monitor each others progress – direct from your DS.

New International Track & Field for the NDs is scheduled to be released in 2008.