In an interview with Reuters news on Friday, game publisher Konami revealed that it would deliver ten new titles to the PlayStation2 in the coming year. "We expect total worldwide PlayStation2 sales will at least grow to the same level as the existing PlayStation console within five years," said Konami managing director Kazumi Kitaue. Konami's first title for the PlayStation2 will be DrumMania, which will release on March 4 in Japan to coincide with the launch of the console.

　　"Five titles for the new machine will be added in the spring. We aim to release a total of more than ten games in the next business year starting April," Kitaue told the news service.

　　Konami currently develops titles for Sega and Nintendo platforms as well but intends for the PlayStation2 to become its prime focus. "Given the promising outlook, we will develop more than half of our game software for PlayStation consoles." Of the 55 video-game titles released by Konami in the business year that ended last March, 30 were for the PlayStation.

　　The confirmed Konami PlayStation2 game roster includes the following titles: DrumMania, Gradius III & IV, Jikkyou World Soccer 2000, Mahjong Yaroze, Jikkyou Powerful ProYakyu 7 Baseball, Reiselied, Track & Field, and the next installments in the Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid series. The company is also planning to deliver US-developed sports titles to the platform.

　　Konami will also soon reveal PlayStation2 titles based on licenses of Microsoft brands, such as MechWarrior, Age of Empires, and Motocross Madness. Expect these to appear at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.