Aruze and Nihon Falcom have announced plans for a joint network business stratgey called Multi Access Play. Multi Access Play will be a system allowing players using various hardware devices - ranging from arcade machines to home consoles to cell-phones - to play together online. The system's focus will be the arcade sector, however. The first Multi Access Play-compatible title will be Dragon Slayer AC, which will be available in Japan sometime this year. Ys AC, Sorcerian AC, VM Japan AC, Xanadu AC and Eiyuu Densetsu AC (Legend of Heroes) will follow suit. No details regarding platforms have been released so far, however.

Last year, Nihon Falcom entered the online gaming business by signing a cooperation agreement with a South Korean company to take its flagship Ys series online with the appropriately-titled Ys Online. Pachislot maker Aruze, parent company of Shadow Hearts II (Shadow Hearts: Covenant in the US) developing studio Nautilus and the game's publisher in Japan sees Multi Access Play as its chance to gain a foothold in the Japanese arcade market, which is currently dominated by Sega Sammy, Konami and Namco.

• GameWatch