LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2007) &mdash Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, has announced that DRAGON QUEST® MONSTERS: Joker, available exclusively for the Nintendo DS™ is being distributed to retailers across North America today.

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is the latest installment in the premiere RPG franchise that has sold over 43 million units worldwide. Combining ingenious gameplay elements from series creator Yuji Horii, character designs from famed artist Akira Toriyama and music from renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama, the "big three" of game creators delivers the newest entry in a timeless franchise that continues to reinvent itself in new and exciting ways.

Capture, train and synthesise a powerful team from a selection of over 200 classic DRAGON QUEST creatures! Already achieving sales of more than 1.4 million units in Japan, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is a breakout title that combines the depth of a classic DRAGON QUEST RPG with the addictiveness of a monster-catching adventure.

STORY
Enter the world of DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker as the young hero, locked in a prison by your own father, the leader of a mysterious organization known as CELL. Released under orders to enter the Monster Scout Challenge, you will embark on a journey starting with a single monster and a scout ring, unaware of the dark and mysterious intentions that surround the competition.

FEATURES

The "big three," comprised of series creator Yuji Horii, legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama and renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama, teams up once again to create an unforgettable gaming experience

Witness the same breathtaking visuals that brought Akira Toriyama's art to life in DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King®

Create new species as you synthesise customized monsters from a selection of more than 200 different DRAGON QUEST creatures

Experience an innovative and exciting mix of the monster arena battles from DRAGON QUEST VIII and traditional DRAGON QUEST gameplay

Challenge your friends via local wireless play to see whose team is the strongest

Robust Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection component allows players to upload and download monster team data for battle on their Nintendo DS systems

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.com for more information about ratings. DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $39.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/dqmj/.

© 2006, 2007 ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. DRAGON QUEST, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: JOKER, FINAL FANTASY, JOURNEY OF THE CURSED KING, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection are trademarks of Nintendo.