PSO 1&2, Super Monkey Ball 2, Beach Spikers, and a whole slew of Sega Sports titles are on the way. But is Nintendo getting the shaft?
SEGA TO SHOWCASE BLOCKBUSTER GAME LINEUP AT E3 2002
Delivering More Than 20 Games Across All New Next-Generation Consoles, SEGA
Shows its Strength as a Content Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO - (May 1, 2002) - Illustrating its power as a
platform-agnostic content publisher, SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced
its lineup of more than 20 entertainment and sports games to be unveiled at
this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Featuring titles for the
Nintendo GameCube(tm), PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the
Xbox(tm) video game system from Microsoft®, this year's E3 lineup reinforces
SEGA's commitment to delivering industry-leading content across all
platforms.
"SEGA is proud to announce this exciting lineup of quality content across
all platforms after just over one year as a platform-agnostic content
publisher," said Peter Moore, president and COO, SEGA of America, Inc.
"With a string of recent hits including 'Sonic Adventure(tm) 2 Battle,'
'SEGA Sports(tm) NBA 2K2' and 'Virtua Fighter(tm) 4,' and a first-class
lineup of entertainment and SEGA Sports titles slated for release this year,
it is clear that SEGA is quickly establishing itself as a leading global
content provider."
This year at E3, SEGA will feature entertainment titles including:
* "Shinobi(tm)" (PlayStation 2): Shinobi returns, hunted by demons, haunted
by the dead and hindered by the very rage that spurs him on in this latest
installment of one of SEGA's most revered action franchises. Players take
the role of Hotsuma as he battles through the demon-filled streets of a
post-apocalyptic Tokyo, running on walls, summoning Ninja magic and
mastering an arsenal of ancient weaponry on a quest to avenge his clan.
Available this fall.
* "Super Monkey Ball(tm) 2" (Nintendo GameCube): SEGA is on a roll! Hot on
the heels of the runaway success of the original "Super Monkey Ball," the
ultimate party game is back. Jam-packed with more than 150 stages, a new
story mode and 12 addictive party-games, "Super Monkey Ball 2" delivers the
ultimate in addictive multiplayer action. Available this fall.
* "ToeJam & Earl(tm) III: All Funked Up" (Xbox): After 10 years of
chillin', the original alien duo from Funkotron has returned. ToeJam, Big
Earl and their new partner-in-funk Latisha are on a mission to retrieve the
12 sacred Albums of Funk that have been stolen by the ever-so-unfunky
Earthlings. In the Xbox exclusive "ToeJam & Earl III: All Funked Up,"
gamers explore randomly generated worlds, collect present power-ups of
almost endless variety, play mini-games, use Funk-Fu and generally get down
with their bad selves in a rhythm-filled, off-the-wall adventure. Available
this fall.
* "Panzer Dragoon(tm) Orta" (Xbox): Years ago, a legacy was born that ruled
the skies. This fall, the Dragon will rise again. Gamers take to the skies
aboard their own dragon for intense aerial combat through 10 branching
stages as they battle to save humanity from the brink of extinction.
Dragons morph in real time, allowing players to constantly change their
fighting styles as they master devastating techniques that influence both
the action and the storyline in this thrilling Xbox exclusive. Available
this fall.
* "Crazy Taxi(tm) 3: High Roller" (Xbox): The king of crazy driving games
is back and taking to the streets of Glitter Oasis with new cars, new
drivers and new thrills. Whether it's making crazy money, conquering the
new batch of mini-game challenges or trying out new tricks in the completely
overhauled West Coast and Small Apple levels, "Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller"
guarantees the best odds to beat the house. Available this summer.
* "SEGA GT(tm) 2002" (Xbox): Prepare for the definitive car racing
simulation. "SEGA GT 2002" features more than 125 classic and contemporary
high performance vehicles, which were created using the exact handling and
performance specifications from their real-life counterparts. Players can
fill their garage with tricked-out cars and trophies as they race their way
through the SEGA GT circuit. Classic car buffs can also drool over
"Chronicle Mode" where they can take to the streets in the hottest muscle
cars from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Available this fall.
* "The House of the Dead(tm) III" (Xbox): Prepare for the ultimate in
horror. In "The House of the Dead III," players will battle the undead as
they explore a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Gamers can shoot up the undead
as they travel different routes and advance the storyline, uncovering new
secrets and hidden areas along the way. Available this fall.
* "Beach Spikers(tm)" (Nintendo GameCube): Bump! Set! SPIKE! SEGA's
"Beach Spikers" delivers intense beach volleyball action for up to four
players and showcases beautiful female athletes as they battle it out under
the fierce summer sun. Gamers will have to cooperate and compete as they
take control of bikini-clad beauties and go two-on-two at the net.
Available this summer.
* "Phantasy Star(tm) Online Episode I & II" (Nintendo GameCube): The
award-winning "Phantasy Star Online" sparked a gaming phenomenon, and is now
coming to Nintendo GameCube with all-new gameplay modes and exclusive new
features. New character classes, weapons, enemies, items and quests are
only a portion of the new content waiting to be discovered. Episode I
delivers all the action from PSO Ver.2, while Episode II offers an exclusive
new full-length adventure. The evolution of the original revolutionary
gaming experience continues. Available this fall.
* "Gungrave(tm)" (PlayStation 2): "Gungrave" casts gamers as "Grave," a
dark hero who fights alone to annihilate a mysterious criminal organization
that controls the city. With over-the-top action sequences ripped straight
from intense Japanese animated films, "Gungrave" delivers some of the
fastest, most stylish action to ever grace a console. Employing twin
handguns and a huge coffin as weapons, players fight their way through six
intense varied stages, destroying everything in their way. Available this
fall.
* "SEGA Bass Fishing(tm) Duel" (PlayStation 2): "SEGA Bass Fishing Duel"
focuses on fun, carefully balancing the addictive arcade gameplay from the
original hit game with an added level of realism, including real-life lakes
and their complete ecologies. Players can go head-to-head against other
armchair anglers in new Tournament competitions or play against AI opponents
that are more than happy to motor out on to the lake and challenge gamers to
go bass for bass in a fishing tournament. Available this fall.
* "Ferrari® F355(tm) Challenge" (PlayStation 2): Racing fanatics, Ferrari
lovers and speed-junkies unite! "Ferrari F355 Challenge" provides
everything players need to push the limits of the awesome Ferrari F355 on
the world's fastest racetracks. Even amateur drivers can get up to speed
using the unique Assist function to hone their skills step-by-step.
Available this fall. (Game not yet concept approved.)
SEGA Sports will also feature titles including:
* "SEGA Sports(tm) NFL 2K3" (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): The
series that redefined the conventions of football gaming returns for a brand
new season, with a totally revamped franchise mode, drastically improved AI,
and brilliant new graphics featuring redesigned 3D stadiums, updated player
and facial models, and hundreds of new animations. "SEGA Sports NFL 2K3" is
the cure for gridiron fans everywhere, whether your squad happens to be the
Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, or the expansion Houston Texans.
Available this fall.
* "SEGA Sports(tm) NBA 2K3" (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): SEGA
Sports will once again establish new levels of realism and entertainment in
the basketball genre. Building on its critically acclaimed roots, the
ultimate hoops simulation, which brought relentlessly authentic gameplay to
basketball fans, steps onto the court for another year with hundreds of new
animations including highlight-reel dunks and fancy dribble moves,
redesigned player models and arenas, and a revamped street mode. Available
this fall.
* "SEGA Sports(tm) NHL 2K3" (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube):
Building upon the acclaimed "NHL 2K" series, SEGA Sports is proud to bring
to the passionate hockey fan the next level of authenticity in hockey video
games - "NHL 2K3." Highly adaptive AI and a variety of new gameplay options,
including advanced line controls and a redesigned franchise mode, defines
this fast-paced game, which brings the player closer to the ice than any
hockey title ever before. Available this fall.
* "SEGA Sports(tm) NCAA® College Football 2K3" (PlayStation 2, Xbox,
Nintendo GameCube): College football is about tradition, pageantry and the
purity of the game. "SEGA Sports NCAA College Football 2K3" embodies all of
those things, as this year's game features dramatic improvements including
new player models, completely redesigned stadiums, all 25 official BCS bowls
and a revamped Legacy mode where gamers can recruit key high-school stars
and compare lifetime records against other collegiate programs in the
historical rankings system. Available this fall.
* "SEGA Sports(tm) World Series® Baseball" (Xbox): "SEGA Sports World Series
Baseball" delivers authentic baseball action in dazzling graphical detail,
while a deep and innovative franchise mode lets you control complete player
movement and management transactions, providing enough stats data for the
most hardcore fan of America's National Pastime. Featuring the new
Cooperstown Collection(tm) License, which lets you play as or against 25
legendary ballplayers, and classic uniforms for all 30 Major League teams,
"SEGA Sports World Series Baseball" provides the ultimate in baseball
simulation. Available this summer.
* "SEGA Sports(tm) Tennis" (PlayStation 2): The acclaimed arcade and
Dreamcast tennis franchise brings its signature pick-up and-play controls,
stunningly realistic player models and incredibly detailed venues to the
PlayStation 2 this summer. Featuring a World Tour Mode with various
mini-games, addictive four-player doubles action and 16 internationally
ranked men and women's tennis players, SEGA Sports Tennis hits the
proverbial sweet spot. Available this summer.