Oddworld Deals Hand of
Odd on PS2
Oddworld fans will have more than Munch's Oddysee, the next
installment in the
Oddworld Quintology and follow-up to Abe's Oddysee, to keep their
plates warm
when Sony's PlayStation 2 arrives next year. Oddworld Inhabitants
just told us
about Hand of Odd, an offshoot of the Oddworld Quintology and a
full, real-time
3D strategy game for the PlayStation 2 and PC.
Hand of Odd won't be a Quintology game, meaning it won't
follow Abe's Oddysee,
or precede or follow Munch's Oddysee, but rather will live in
that sort of
offshoot territory Abe's Exoddus occupied. Oddworld Inhabitants
creator, Lorne
Lanning told us the specifics.
"With Hand of Odd, we wanted to give gamers the ability
to see Oddworld, and
play Oddworld, from Odd's perspective. We didn't want to focus on
individual
characters with specific dilemmas like we do in our Quintology
games. We wanted
the focus to be on the ideological conflicts that exist in the
Oddworld
Quintology, but to have the playing field work in much more the
strategy
fashion. We wanted to give the gamer a chance to choose sides,
then exploit
that side's ideology to its fullest potential."
Lanning also told us all about the game's concept, thus far.
"Hand of Odd is all about 'Ambitious Industrialists'
going up against 'Eco
Extremists'. While building up hordes of characters, the entire
landscape can
be transformed from one extreme to the other. Rape a beautiful
landscape and
profit from it until it's a useless wasteland, or nurture an
eco-disaster area
into the next rain forest. The choices are yours as you
manipulate a
dysfunctional world of characters with hilarious
interactions."
"The basic functionality of Hand of Odd is very similar
to a strategy class
game. You build up lots of characters, you build up the places
they live and
work, and you use them to do your bidding on a vast landscape.
But in real time
strategy games today, you basically deplete the natural resources
to build up
forces and then try to conquer an enemy who's doing the same. By
which time the
world is spent and the game is over. Hand of Odd more fully plays
out the
conflicts that exist between industrial civilizations and
aboriginal tribes.
You can deplete the natural resources if you want, but you can
also nourish
them. There is a monetary way to prosper, but there is also a
spiritual way.
There is an ecological balance at work that allows the game to be
played in
short spurts; or over much, much longer periods of time. It can
also be left on
while your not around, like a sim game, and you can return to see
how things
went while you were at work or at school.
"This game is extremely deep, and yet hilarious and
simple on the surface. It
might be described as a strategy game that has been gene-spliced
with an
environmental simulator, then left to stew with a few bags of
demented sea
monkeys."
So can we expect to see Abe, the rescued Mudokons, the Sligs,
and the whole
cast together again in Hand of Odd?
"[The game] will contain all of the species of characters
seen thus far from
Oddworld, and at least a dozen more," said Lanning.
"They will act and behave
as life forms. They have their own life cycles, and they act more
like living
creatures than they do game characters. All of them are worth
something...dead
or alive."
Hand of Odd will be single player and multiplayer from two to
16 players, with
the final multiplayer number yet to be determined. When you think
of Oddworld,
you no doubt think of the characters' personalities. Lanning told
us you won't
play a character in Hand of Odd, per se, but rather an ideology.
And that each
ideology lets you control various species of characters.
"There is a story, but
it's different from normal storylines. It focuses on a couple of
characters
caught in the middle of the conflicts between the two
ideologies."
Ideologies? Eco-terrorism? Capitalist plots? Thinking
characters? Sound like a
typical Oddworld game? Yes. But there's more. "It will only
be like our other
games in that it takes place on Oddworld, has tremendous
entertaining
sensibilities, intellectually interesting concepts,
high-production value,
fluid animations, beautiful art, and serious attention to detail.
Other than
that, and the fact that we're focusing on simpler interfaces so
that a broader
audience can also enjoy it... it's a completely new experience
from Oddworld,"
said Lanning.
There's really only one thing left to say - PlayStation 2.
"We wanted to design
the game to have more complexity, on its deeper levels, than a
typical strategy
game. But we also wanted to be the first to build an interface
that worked
beautifully on a console system," said Lanning. "We
know that console gamers
would love strategy games, if only they had one that interfaced
well to a
console system. With the PSII specs, and the latest PC specs; we
can design the
game for both systems without compromising either one."
Hand of Odd won't be available for about a year and a half, as
the production
cycle is very early, however, Lanning expressed, with confidence,
"I promise
that you will not believe how real it looks." Stay with
videogames.com for more
info as it becomes available.
By Lauren Fielder, videogames.com
Sony+Nabisco =
A Truckload of Vids and Vittles
05.03.99
Nabisco and Sony have hooked up to bring America the
Nabisco/PlayStation
sweepstakes. Up for grabs are more than 200,000 Nabisco,
PlayStation, and Sony
prizes. Consumers can enter by calling a toll-free number that
will appear on
specially marked packs of Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, Teddy Grahams,
Nutter Butter
cookies, Ritz Bits, and other Nabisco brands. The contest will
run from July 1
to October 31 of this year.
Prizes include PlayStation consoles, Dual Shock controllers,
PlayStation
clothing, games like Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot: WARPED,
and Gran
Turismo; and Sony music CDs. The Ultimate Prize is the
PlayStation Thrills On
Wheels: the big daddy -- a mighty Sony convoy rollin' across the
land, dodging
them smokies and puttin' the pedal to metal 'cuz they got a long
way to go and
a short time to get there that will be pulling into one lucky
winner's school
in May of 2000.
The Thrills On Wheels is a 68-foot mobile PlayStation come to
life, a touring
attraction with 33 kiosks filled with Nabisco cookies and
crackers, and loaded
with PlayStations and Sony games. You and your friends can skip
class, gorge
yourselves on junk food, and fry your brains with vids all day
long, and still
take home enough loot to ruin the rest of your lives with.
Woo-Hah!
----------------------------------
Courtesy Game Informer
Sega's Latest
Shenmue
TOKYO - During the weeklong holiday in Japan known as Golden
Week, most of the
local businesses are closed, and the companies that aren't on
vacation hold
special events to entertain people. One of the events called
Network Jungle II,
which was sponsored by the Post Office Department, the Ministry
of
International Trade and Industry, and NHK, was held from May 1-3.
It's an event
that introduces people to services that make good use of networks
and "digital
communication." Sega joined in on the festivities at the
Network Jungle II and
displayed the latest build of its highly anticipated RPG, Shenmue
for the
Dreamcast.
According to Yu Suzuki, the game's director, significant
changes have been made
since the last Tokyo Game Show (TGS). At that show, Shenmue's
most noticeable
exhibition was a facial demonstration where four CG characters'
faces were
produced in real time by the Dreamcast console. Each face had its
own voice and
told you about the exhibition and theme of the game. The camera
was
controllable (it was set on a rail, though), and light sourcing
was also done
in real time. This must have been the show-only demo, because Yu
Suzuki said
prior to the show that characters in the game were made up of
several hundred
polygons per character. But clearly, the facial demo used more
polygons than
that. This newer demo shown at teh Network Jungle II show was
intended to "wow"
show goers who think that the Dreamcast's capabilities aren't as
good as the
PlayStation 2's. Aside from the issue of the Dreamcast's
capabilities, the face
demo was quite impressive, although Suzuki admits that
lip-synching isn't good
enough. Texture maps used in facial area were amazingly detailed,
and you have
to admit that the female character, Syuei, is astonishingly
beautiful.
There were also other playable Shenmue demos at the show. One
demo showed Tom
teaching Ryo how to do a tornado kick, the same one we saw at TGS.
But it's
been tweaked a little bit, and the move is much easier to pull
off. There are
brand-new QTE events, like one where Ryo avoids a drunken man.
There are also
two minigames: Excite QTE 2 and darts. The last two minigames are
located
inside the Game Center You. Game Center means game arcade in
Japan. And of
course You means Yu Suzuki. Excite QTE 2 is an exercise for an
in-game Quick
Time Event. Just like in a real QTE, you have to push the correct
button shown
onscreen. The game is placed in an old cabinet because the game
is set in 1986.
At this game center, there are also cabinets like Space Harrier
or Outrun,
other games created by Yu Suzuki. So far, Sega has not announced
whether these
games will be playable in Shenmue, but we really hope they will
be.
And last, Yu Suzuki himself appeared at the show and talked to
fans about the
game itself.
At the last TGS, we heard that Shenmue will be at least 16
chapters, and the
one we'll see this summer will be the first chapter. It feels
like the game has
been chopped or something. According to Suzuki, it's not like
that at all.
During development, the game has been getting bigger and bigger,
and it's
almost ten times larger than originally intended. The game
contains 30 to 40
times more dialogue than the average two-hour movie. That's why
Sega will
release the game in several parts. Currently there is a total of
244
characters, and that number could grow to around 300 at the end
of the
development cycle. All characters have their own voices (and
lines), and some
even have their own time schedules. For instance, there's one old
woman named
Haru who owns a cigarette shop. She wakes up early in the morning
and sweeps
the grounds near her shop. Afterwards she takes a little walk.
Later, she goes
back to the shop to wait on customers during the day. At dusk she
goes shopping
at nearby shops for her dinner, and after she closes her shop,
she goes
upstairs to sleep. It's not currently known how many of Shenmue's
characters
will have similar behavioral patterns.
Shenmue: Chapter 1 Yokosuka for the Dreamcast is scheduled for
an August 5
release. While there's no official announcement about its price
yet, it is
expected to be a "strategic" price.
Sega's executive Hidekazu Yukawa appeared at the show and told
the audience
that Sega will soon release camera and microphone units for the
Dreamcast that
will enable Internet videophone capabilities. And Yu Suzuki also
revealed that
his other project, Ferrari F355 Challenge for the arcade, is
currently being
tested at one Sega arcade in Tokyo. No word yet regarding Ferrari
F355
Challenge's release date or game specifics.
By Yutaka Ohbuchi, videogames.com
Redline Racer
by Matthew Langan
Being the first developers to produce a motorbike racing game
on the Dreamcast,
Criterion Studio's Redline Racer should have drawn a considerable
amount of
attention. Apart from a few screenshots being released, little to
no publicity
was given to RR's launch in Japan. Therefore, an obvious cry of
worry was
going to arouse from a game which I was looking forward to
playing.
I've always been a fan of motorbike games, with classics such
as Super Hang On
and Manx TT eliminating any sort of social life I could have
possibly had.
Wondering what a 128-bit version of these games would play like,
I eagerly
awaited RR's release. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the
disappointment I was
letting myself in for...
Redline Racer's objectives are fairly straightforward. Enter a
tournament, pick
your bike, and do your best to win every race. There are a number
of different
championships to test your skills on, as you race over beaches,
country lanes,
snow and other terrains in order to become the best racer in the
World, or more
realistically, unlock a variety of other courses and bikes.
Offering 10 and 12
respectively, there's hardly a lack of road to race around on.
Each one is
filled with tight corners, hills and ramps, making it anything
but a peaceful
drive.
Graphically, RR is a sort of hit and miss. While bright and
colourful at times,
the graphics are nothing outstanding, especially when compared to
rivals such
as Sega Rally 2 or Metropolis. Thankfully, everything runs super
smooth, with
neither pop up or fogging being easily spotted. This does go some
way to
redeeming itself in this area, but overall, there's nothing that
couldn't be
done on a Nintendo 64.
Moving on to the sound, this is where Redline Racer really
falls. First off,
the engine noises themselves. Guess what? There are none! Well,
that's not
exactly true, but everything is so subdued that you'd barely
notice it
regardless. The audio itself is a mix of techno and rock.
Obviously trying to
convey a futuristic appeal, it's let down dramatically by the
fact that it
doesn't even suit the style of the game. In fact, you'd be best
to just switch
the volume off your television altogether.
One positive point about RR has to be the two player mode. Not
only is almost
all of the detail kept, but the frame rate remains intact,
letting you enjoy
some very fast and fun races. With the power underneath the
Dreamcast's
bonnet, this is something which should now be a standard affair,
but hold on,
where's the four player option? Once again, this feature is left
out in the
cold...
Overall, Redline Racer isn't that bad. The control of your
bike is nice and
tight, and once accustomed to the analogue pad, you'll enjoy
playing alone or
with a friend, albeit for a certain amount of time. With no
apparent
competition around the corner, Criterion Studio's PC port will
remain the only
type of game in this genre. However, this shouldn't be the reason
to make do
with second best. Unless you can get over its faults, I'd advise
you to stay
away - it's not worth it.
Courtesy of SegaDreamcast.net
Acclaim Sports
Re- Signs 6-Time Supercross Champion
Jeremy McGrath to Exclusive Multi-Year Deal
McGrath to be Featured in Upcoming Jeremy McGrath Supercross
2000 for Multiple
Gaming Platforms
Glen Cove, NY, May 3rd, 1999 -- Acclaim Sports, a division of
Acclaim
Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKLM), a leading worldwide
interactive
entertainment company, today announced they have re-signed the
most successful
racer in Supercross history, Jeremy McGrath, to an exclusive
multi-year
endorsement deal. McGrath will be featured in Acclaim Sports'
Jeremy McGrath
Supercross 2000, shipping in Fall 1999 for PlayStation, Nintendo
64, Color
Gameboy and Windows 95/98 computers. McGrath recently clinched
his sixth
Supercross Championship and is regarded as the greatest rider in
the history of
the sport.
McGrath, an avid gamer, will work as a consultant to the game
developers and
provide insight into track design, racing strategies, and bike
physics. The
game will also feature commentary from McGrath as you race
through indoor and
outdoor circuits.
"I was very impressed with the development team's
knowledge of Supercross even
before they spent time at my training facility," said
McGrath. "We're going to
create a Supercross game that everyone will love."
McGrath joins a select group of professional athletes
including Brett Favre and
Derek Jeter who serve as spokespersons for Acclaim Sports'
titles. McGrath will
be featured on all packaging, merchandising, and advertising for
the game.
Additionally, to further promote his tie-in to Acclaim Sports,
McGrath to
appear at Acclaim's booth during the 1999 Electronic
Entertainment Expo in Los
Angeles, May 13-15, 1999.
Since he began racing in 1989, McGrath has set countless
records and was the
first rookie to ever win a Supercross Championship. He has won
the 250cc
Supercross title six times and holds the record for the most
career Supercross
wins and championships. Jeremy rides for Chaparral and Yamaha.
"Jeremy has guided Supercross into the public spotlight
and we expect his
enormous popularity to once again drive our franchise," said
Mike Jerchower,
Acclaim Sports marketing manager. "If a racing fan wants to
see Jeremy McGrath
in a videogame, they will only find him in Jeremy McGrath
Supercross 2000."
Acclaim Entertainment Background Information Acclaim
Entertainment, Inc. is a
leading worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer of
software for use
with interactive entertainment platforms including Nintendo, Sony
and Sega
hardware systems, and PCs. Acclaim owns and operates four studios
located in
the United States and the United Kingdom, and publishes and
distributes its
software directly in North America, the United Kingdom, Germany,
France and
Australia. Acclaim also distributes entertainment software for
other publishers
worldwide, and publishes comic books and software strategy
guides. Acclaim's
company objectives are to produce high quality interactive
entertainment
software, build and maintain brands, and build shareholder value.
Acclaim's
headquarters are in Glen Cove, New York and Acclaim's common
stock is publicly
traded on NASDAQ under the symbol AKLM. For more information
please visit our
website at www.acclaim.net.
Michael Meyers
Director of Product Public Relations
Acclaim Entertainment, Inc
EA Sports E3 Lineup
It's no surprise what the company has in store for the
PlayStation.
Madden NFL 2000
This version marks the tenth anniversary of the series, and to
celebrate the
game will now feature an All-Madden Millenium team. The new
version wil also
include updated rosters and teams, including the Cleveland Browns
and also
features new motion capturing technology recorded with Jamal
Anderson and
Terrel Owens. A new arcade mode brings NFL Blitz-style action to
the series,
and new Madden commentary complements the on-field action.
Release date: Fall
1999
Tiger Woods 2000
This new golf title marks the ninth year in EA Sports' license
with the PGA
Tour and the second version with Tiger Woods. This new version
will feature a
more arcade-style golfing experience with input from Tiger Woods
himself. Like
last year, he will provide motion capture information. This year,
expect
surprise power-ups, fantasy golf courses, and an easy-to-play one
button mode,
as well as 300+monster drives, and a mixture of real and fantasy
players.
Release date: Fall 1999
Knockout Kings 2000
The next version of the company's boxing series will feature more
than fifty
fighters, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Joe
Frazier, and
Muhammed Ali. The game will feature a new Flashstart option, and
you'll be able
to re-enact classic bouts in the new Great Fights mode. The game
will also have
an updated create-a-fighter option, just like last year's game.
Release date:
Fall 1999
Nascar 2000
The next-in-line racer will improve on the past year's gameplay
as well as
adding a handful of fantasy road courses. There will also be a
create-a-driver
mode, motion-captured interactive pit stops and a two player
season mode in the
game as well. Release date: Fall 1999
NCAA Football 2000
College football fans should keep an eye on this one EA
Sports' new title
will feature 141 division 1-A and 1-AA teams and 80 historical
teams. You'll be
able to create a personal playbook or select from more than 1000
plays created
with the Coach's Edge software. More than twenty bowl games will
be included
with exclusive rights to the Orange, Sugar, and Fiesta Bowls.
Game improvements
include more teams, deeper game features, more plays, and an
optimized 3D
engine. Release date: Fall 1999
NHL 2000
EA Sports' series just keeps going and going, and let's hope the
company
listened to the collective groans caused by last year's game
it looks like
the new version will improve the graphic and animation quality
for the 2000
build, and it will also feature a cryptic "two-button"
mode and a full dynasty
mode. Release date: Fall 1999
NBA Live 2000
The sixth incarnation of the Live series will now feature player
speech and a
new broadcast-style camera technology. And for the first time,
Live 2000
enables users to challenge their favorite NBA players to a game
of one-on-one
street ball on an outdoor court. Release date: Fall 1999
FIFA 2000
The next rendition of the award-winning FIFA series features
national teams,
domestic leagues, and international matches. The new version
includes a
redesigned season mode as well as enhancements in graphics and
gameplay.
Release date: Fall 1999
Courtesy of PSX.IGN.COM
It's An Honor
Just To Be Nominated...
05.04.99
...Indeed it is. But, it's even more of an honor to win. To be
numero uno. The
best. Alas, it appears that GI will have to wait one more year
before we are
given the recognition from our peers that we so richly deserve.
This year, the
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences curiously overlooked
gameinformer.com
when it handed out nods for Online Entertainment Site of the
Year. We suspect
it might have something to do with last year's ceremony; from
which the Game
Hombre was forcibly escorted for wearing nothing but a cowboy hat
and a diaper.
But rest assured, next year, when we win, expect the GI staff to
bum rush the
stage like Ol' Dirty Bastard at the Grammy Awards.
Here's a rundown of the console games that are nominated for
IAA awards this
year:
Action Game of the Year
Banjo-Kazooie, Nintendo of America/Rare (N64)
Metal Gear Solid, Konami of America, Inc./KCEJ (PS)
Parasite Eve, Square Electronic Arts L.L.C./Square Soft, Inc.
(PS)
Spyro the Dragon, Sony Computer Entertainment America/ Insomniac
Games
(PS)
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Activision, Inc./Sony Music
Entertainment
Japan (PS)
Adventure Game of the Year
Banjo-Kazooie, Nintendo of America/Rare (N64)
MediEvil, Sony Computer Entertainment America(PS)
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus, GT Interactive Software/Oddworld
Inhabitants
(PS)
Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo of America/Nintendo Co. Ltd.
(N64)
Fighting Game of the Year
Bushido Blade 2, Square Electronic Arts L.L.C./Square Soft,
Inc. (PS)
WCW/NWO Revenge, THQ/Asmik of Japan (N64)
WWF: Warzone, Acclaim Entertainment /Iguana West (N64)
WWF: Warzone, Acclaim Entertainment/Iguana West (PS)
Racing Game of the Year
Extreme-G 2, Acclaim Entertainment/Probe Entertainment (N64)
F-Zero X, Nintendo of America/Nintendo Co. Ltd. (N64)
Gran Turismo, Sony Computer Entertainment America/ Polyphony
Digital
Inc. (PS)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, Electronic Arts/Electronic Arts
Canada (PS)
Role-Playing Game of the Year
DMG Pokemon, Nintendo of America/Creatures Inc./Game Freak,
Inc. (Game
Boy)
Panzer Dragoon Saga, Sega of America/Sega of America
(Sega-Saturn)
Parasite Eve, Square Electronic Arts L.L.C./Square Soft, Inc.
(PS)
Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo of America/Nintendo Co. Ltd.
(N64)
Sports Game of the Year
1080 Snowboarding, Nintendo of America/Nintendo Co. Ltd. (N64)
Hot Shots Golf, Sony Computer Entertainment America (PS)
Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside, Nintendo of America/Left Field
Productions (N64)
NFL Blitz, Midway Home Entertainment/Midway Games Inc. (N64)
NFL Quarterback Club'99, Acclaim Entertainment/Iguana
Entertainment
(N64)
Console Game of the Year
All Console category finalists are nominated.
Game of the Year
(Includes PC and Console Games)
Banjo-Kazooie, Nintendo of America/Rare (N64)
Grim Fandango, LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC (PC)
Metal Gear Solid, Konami of America, Inc/KCEJ (PS)
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Electronic Arts/Firaxis Games (PC)
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
&
Factor 5 (N64)
Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo of America/Nintendo Co. Ltd.
(N64)
----------------------------------
Courtesy Game Informer
Nintendo
Chairman to Step Down
Nintendo of America's Howard Lincoln to retire as chairman
of company early
next year.
May 03, 1999
IGN64 has learned that Nintendo of America chairman Howard
Lincoln plans to
retire from his position as chairman of the company by February
2000. Lincoln,
who has served as unofficial head of Nintendo's US operations for
more than 15
years, will not drop off the circuit altogether, but will instead
take a less
active role in the company, relinquishing much of his duties to
separate
executives of the firm. Nintendo currently has no plans to
replace Lincoln's
position.
"Howard will be with Nintendo into the millennium. He
plans to retire from his
specific role as chairman of Nintendo of America at the end of
February 2000,"
Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan, director, Corporate Affairs, told IGN64
today. "He
will remain on the board of directors of Nintendo of America,
Rare Ltd., and
the Baseball Club of Seattle, the owner of the Seattle Mariners.
As a board
member of Nintendo of America, he will continue to work closely
with Mr.
Arakawa and the other officers of the company and will also be
available for
special projects where necessary."
According to Kaplan, Mr. Lincoln will not be replaced.
Instead,
responsibilities will be delegated to various officers of
Nintendo of America,
including Nintendo of America President Minoru Arakawa.
------------------------------------
Courtesy IGN64.com
NASCAR and NBA
Live drive into the next millennium.
May 03, 1999
While NASCAR has been "America's fastest growing
sport" for the last several
years, the NBA has fallen on hard times recently and both leagues
will get a
nice boost from EA Sports' NASCAR 2000 and NBA Live 2000. It will
be the second
go-round for each game after debuting on the N64 last fall.
NASCAR 2000 will have all of the current paint jobs, teams and
new drivers
including Little E, Dale Earnhardt Jr. This year's game will also
have the
Homestead racetrack, bringing the total to 18 licensed NASCAR
tracks.
After successfully making the jump to the N64 last year, NBA
Live 2000
continues the in-your-face attitude of the NBA Live franchise.
The full NBA
license is there but the excitement should come from the new
player speech
feature and television-style camera views. If that's not enough
there's a
one-on-one mode where you can take on any NBA player on an
outdoor court.
These games are in addition to the other EA Sports games that
were announced
today and IGN64 will have more on all of these titles from E3
next week.
-----------------------------------
Courtesy IGN64.com
Say Hello to
Project Dolphin
IGN64 unearths new information regarding Nintendo's
next-generation hardware.
May 04, 1999
IGN64 has learned that Nintendo's next-generation hardware,
commonly referred
to by the press as "N2000," is officially being called
"Project Dolphin"
(codename only) internally at Nintendo. The machine, which is
still scheduled
for a 2000/2001 release, will feature powerful graphics hardware
comparable to
that seen in PlayStation 2.
"Management is claiming better graphics than the
PSX2," a Nintendo insider told
IGN64. "And supposedly it will run on DVD, but that's still
a big maybe at this
point."
According to the source, four companies already have
development kits and have
begun making software for the Dolphin. Those companies are Rare,
Retro Studios,
EAD and Nintendo of America's local studios NST.
"The buzz is that the system is a lot easier to program
for than the Nintendo
64," said the Nintendo source who wishes to remain
anonymous. "And it appears
Art-X [the system's graphics chip provider] managed to slap out a
nasty chipset
for pretty cheap."
Meanwhile, Nintendo is still keeping extremely quiet on the
specifics of the
hardware and isn't expected to announce anything in regards to
the system at E3
in less than two weeks.
IGN64 will have more on the story soon.
Courtesy IGN64
Accolade E3 Lineup
At long last, Accolade has finally unveiled their respective
plans for the
forthcoming E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) next week. As we
reported first
News Shorts 04.14 -
http://www.segadreamcast.net/news/news_990414_newsshorts.htm
the company had
already been involved in Dreamcast development for some time.
Included in their
upcoming E3 lineup for the Dreamcast are Test Drive 6 & Slave
Zero. Shown
below are two brief paragraphs regarding both of the
aforementioned titles:
Test Drive 6, the latest in the successful Test Drive racing
series, includes
40 licensed cars and 30 new tracks. The game has a completely
revamped physics
model, which will give each car in its class a specific driving
style and
handling model. As players win races, they are able to upgrade
their cars, with
five upgrades available per car. The game will feature
interactive driving
environments that will include breakable objects, unpredictable
objects and
nerve-racking shortcuts. Cars will race through outdoor cafes in
Paris, France,
causing tables to crash and fly into the air, swerve to avoid
alligators in the
Louisiana swamplands, or jump over forklifts in the back alleys
of Hong Kong.
Test Drive 6 will be available this holiday season.
Slave Zero is a 3D action giant robot game that gives players
control of a
60-foot biomechanical war machine 500 years in the future in a
battle against
rival forces throughout the vast metropolis of S1-9. The city is
ruled by the
SovKahn, an evil dictator who possesses dark matter, a mysterious
energy source
that is used to control the populace. The player is part of a
rebellion force
who steals the technology to create a 60-foot slave robot and
becomes one with
the giant biomechanical creature, Slave Zero. The game will be
available for
personal computers in July and Sega Dreamcast in the fall.
Written By: Dennis Day
Courtesy of SegaDreamcast.net
WWW.Soccer Update
Japanese developer 'Clean Fight' recently released some new
images and updated
information regarding their forthcoming Dreamcast sports title, 'WWW.Soccer'.
As we've told you previously, WWW.Soccer will feature seven
different world
soccer leagues, each broken down by region. The bulk of the game
appears to
revolve around it's internet related capabilities. Gameplayers
will be able to
log online and play against one another in a series of different
leagues,
matches.
Although a final number of gameplay modes haven't been
confirmed, gameplayers
will be able to edit a variety of in-game functions. In
particular, gameplayers
can keep track of how well players are performing, and replace
them at will.
Also, gameplayers can arrange different defend and attack
patterns. Albeit
still somewhat early, WWW.Soccer looks promising. The game is
said to be on
target for a release in Japan this November, we'll keep you
posted on it's
on-going development.
Written By: Dennis Day
Courtesy of SegaDreamcast.net
Interplay
Exhibits No Smoke No Mirrors Attitude at E3;
Awesome Lineup to Be Featured
at Expo
IRVINE, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Interplay Entertainment
Corp.
(Nasdaq: IPLY), a leading developer and publisher of interactive
entertainment
software, today announced its line up for the Electronic
Entertainment Expo
(E3), being held in Los Angeles, May 13 -- 15, 1999 at the Los
Angeles
Convention Center. Interplay, on a roll from first quarter
Baldur's Gate(TM)
success, shows no signs of letting up in 1999. Interplay will be
flexing its
muscles by prominently showcasing 13 titles, many of which have
already gained
attention within the industry as breakthrough games. All titles
displayed are
anticipated to release in the 1999 calendar year. Interplay
encourages E3
attendees to visit their booth, located on the ground level in
the Concourse
Hall # 5131.
The impressive breadth of titles being featured by Interplay
include, nine
PC titles (Giants: Citizen Kabuto(TM), Planescape: Torment(TM),
Star Trek(R):
Starfleet Command(TM), Messiah(TM), FreeSpace 2(TM), F/A-18E
Super Hornet(TM),
Star Trek(R): Klingon Academy(TM), Star Trek(R): New Worlds(TM),
and
Evolva(TM)) and four console games (Wild Water World
Championships(TM) and
Carmageddon(TM) for the Sony PlayStation(TM) as well as Nintendo
64(TM)
versions of Carmageddon and Earthworm Jim 3D(TM)).
"Our 1999 lineup is the strongest we've ever had,"
stated Brian Fargo,
chairman and CEO of Interplay. "Our upcoming titles
illustrate our strong
commitment to providing gamers with innovative, challenging and
fun products.
The quality, creativity and passion in our releases this year is
second to
none."
Leading the pack and shipping this summer is an amazing trio
consisting of
Giants, Torment and Star Trek(R): Starfleet Command(TM).
Appearing on the covers of gaming publications, Giants is a
must see title.
Developed by Planet Moon Studios, Giants is a new breed of the
action genera
that includes elements of strategy and offbeat humor in this
single and
multi-player game for the PC. This real-time 3D title is set on a
massive
fragment of a shattered planet consisting of 30 separate islands.
The
magnificent rendered world will blow your mind. Gamers will play
three very
original creatures, the Sea Reapers, the Meccaryn and the giant,
Kabuto. All
are fighting for control of the beautiful world. During
confrontation, each
character's strengths and weaknesses will come to the forefront.
Kabuto can
crush victims with his bare hands, Meccaryns have technological
might, space
travel and weapons to their advantage and the Sea Reapers can
travel the seas
and control devastating elemental powers.
Black Isle Studios' latest endeavor, Planescape Torment, is
being hailed
as; "Potential masterpiece," "one of the most
intriguing RPG concepts around"
and "Hallmarks of potential." The title is the first
computer RPG set in the
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons(R) world of Planescape(TM).
Torment is an epic
story of an immortal character who suffers from amnesia and must
search for his
own past, identity and destiny. Powered by the Bioware Infinity
Engine(TM)
used in Baldur's Gate, Torment is a mystery with the player's
character as the
central enigma. The player dies, only to find himself
miraculously resurrected
in a strange place with his memory completely erased. Throughout
the game,
curiosity, fear, greed, survival, self-defense and revenge will
all take turns
driving the character toward an unforgettable end.
With Star Trek:(R) Starfleet Command(TM) (SFC), explore dozens
of planetary
systems, stars, nebulaes, black holes and asteroid fields in the
historical
Star Trek(R) universe. Based on the popular board game, Starfleet
Battles
(SFB), SFC incorporates the richly developed game mechanics of
SFB into the
game's original design. The single-player experience will feature
dynamically
generated missions responding to events in the galaxy and the
player's career.
SFC also features up to six players in multi-player missions.
Players will be
able to pilot ships from several different political forces,
including: United
Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, Lyran
Star Empire
and the Hydran Kingdom.
Following close behind is the much anticipated and one of the
most talked
about games of 1999, Messiah. Come by and play what's got the
industry
salivating! Messiah is a state-of-the-art action adventure game
that uses a
third person camera view set in the dark world of a possible
future. As the
cherub, Bob, you have been given the daunting task of returning
Earth to its
once pristine beauty by defeating the forces of evil. Through the
course of the
game Bob will encounter over 50 different characters. Although
defenseless
against the powers of evil, Bob has been given one very special
ability, he can
possess and control the body of any living thing he encounters.
Messiah, with
its RT-DAT technology (Real Time Deformation and Tessellation)
will set the new
visual standard for all games. A PlayStation version of Messiah
is also
anticipated to release in Winter 1999 .
FreeSpace 2 is sure to knock you off your feet with
heart-pounding
dogfights and spectacular visual effects. The sequel to the
highly acclaimed
space combat simulation, Descent FreeSpace: The Great War(TM),
FreeSpace 2, is
being developed by Volition, Inc., and will offer players
significant new
gameplay advances, including immersive nebulas that cloak enemies
and allies
alike, Juggernaut capital ships that dwarf all other ships, and
new ships like
the Stealth Fighter and AWAC's designed specifically for nebula
missions. All
new single and multiplayer missions, including SquadWars and the
free matching
service, Parallax Online, add a new dimension to the space combat
genre.
Generated from the Titus agreement, Interplay will be
featuring F/A-18E
Super Hornet, which Interplay will be distributing for the France
based
company. Digital Integration, the same group that created such
award-winning
simulations as Apache Longbow(TM), Hind(TM) and F-16 Fighting
Falcon(TM), is
bringing the air combat simulation to life with F/A-18E Super
Hornet. The
F/A-18E Super Hornet is the future of naval aviation. It will be
the first
U.S. Navy aircraft to make use of radar and infra red
signature-reduction
technologies (STEALTH). The title is anticipated to ship in the
Fall of 1999
for Windows 98 based computers.
A prequel to Star Trek(R) VI: The Undiscovered Country(TM),
Star Trek(R)
Klingon Academy(TM) includes a star studded cast with Christopher
Plummer as
General Chang and David Warner as Chancellor Gorkon. Under the
tutelage of
Chang, you will learn battle tactics and the code of the Klingon
warrior.
Complete with 3-D space terrain, a Gunnery Chair and the ability
to command
capital ships, Klingon Academy has set a new standard in space
combat. Prove
yourself worthy and you may be recruited to fight with Chang in
an even
greater, conflict - a conflict that will decide the fate of the
Klingon Empire.
Boldly go where no one has gone before - the frontier itself!
Star Trek(R)
New Worlds(TM) is the first 3D ground based real time strategy
game set in the
Star Trek(R) universe. Choose to join the colonial forces of the
Federation,
the Klingon Imperial Task Force or the regiments of the Romulan
Star Empire and
journey to the surface of the planets. Construct colonies, build
war machines,
attack and defend your base against all enemies. Choose from a
wealth of
available structures and resources, all unique to their race and
customs. Three
separate story lines are interwoven throughout the game bringing
both conflict
and adventure into the strategy gaming experience.
If you think Aliens are trouble, then Evolva is certain to
jolt the
strategy gamer in you. Spawned from the Interplay/Virgin
agreement, Evolva
pits the player against an alien parasite as two warring factions
battle it out
for supremacy across a planet infected by the deadly creature.
Players are
challenged with building an army of fully customizable foot
soldiers then
guiding them into a series of confrontations with the parasite's
armies before
facing off with the central organism itself. The game uses the
organic art
design from the acclaimed development house, Computer Artwork
Studio in
England. Evolva will be releasing on the PC this winter.
Watch out gamers! Speeding into your living rooms this summer
is the PC
smash hit Carmageddon for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64! Two
all new
versions designed specifically with the console gamer in mind
will be sweeping
the nation. Carmageddon's console versions provide gamers with
completely new
challenges as they prepare for the race of their life! With all
new levels,
missions and cars, Carmageddon console is sure to deliver
smashing excitement
for the gamer in you.
Get ready, the ever-popular annelid is back. The worm has
returned to star
in his next adventure, Earthworm Jim 3D. Earthworm Jim 3D is
being developed
by Vis Interactive, in conjunction with Interplay. The game
features a new
engine with advanced polygon smoothing technology to give it the
look of a
cartoon and allow close-ups of Jim's most animated expressions.
Players will
have complete freedom of movement in a fully interactive
polygonal environment
as they play groovy games and solve nutty puzzles on Jim's road
to mental
recovery.
What happens when a bunch of bored eccentric millionaires get
together?
They race! Putting fortunes on the line, they make up their own
rules. Wild
Water World Championships is that race. It's a cross between
Cannonball Run
and Wacky Racers(TM).
Wild Water World Championships will release on four platforms
-
PlayStation, PC, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast. Containing six
tracks, 27
characters and countless obstacles and weapons, it's a fast-paced
adventure
with a cartoon look and feel.
Wild Water World Championships is being created by Promethean
Designs and
published by Interplay Sports.
Interplay Entertainment Corp. is a leading developer,
publisher and
distributor of interactive entertainment software for both core
gamers and the
mass market. Interplay currently balances its development efforts
by
publishing for personal computers and current generation video
game consoles.
Interplay releases products through Interplay, Shiny
Entertainment, Tantrum,
Black Isle Studios, Interplay Sports, 14 Degrees East, its
distribution
partners and its wholly owned subsidiary Interplay OEM, Inc. More
comprehensive information on Interplay and its products is
available through
its worldwide web site at http://www.interplay.com.
Rally Masters
This beautiful racer may just
leave the competition in the dust.
May 5, 1999
Developer Digital Illusions (Motorhead) has teamed up with
publishing force
Infogrames to bring a racer to Nintendo 64. But this isn't your
standard,
run-of-the-mill driving game, it's a realistic Rally speedster
and it looks to
give even Boss Game's best a run for its money. It's called Rally
Masters and
it features a ton of goodies -- from a huge selection of
real-world cars and
tracks to a four-player mode and beautiful visual effects -- that
are sure to
render racing fanatics ravenous with anticipation. Best of all,
the game is
already up and running on Nintendo 64 hardware and, judging from
the
screen-shots Digital Illusions has provided us with, it looks
absolutely
amazing.
Features
- 22+ Cars from all rally groups old and new with selectable
color schemes (two
skins per car minimum)
- 23+ real World Rally Drivers (new, WRC and legends)
- 51 unique tracks
- Four Championship Game modes as well as Single race, Time
attack, Ghost play
and four-player mode
- Custom championship editor
- Divisions on all championships
- Three Difficulty settings (Easy, Med, Hard)
- Various vehicle settings including tire choice, gear ratios,
springs, etc.
- Real-time on-screen car damage with option to affect car
handling
- Reflection mapping on cars in all modes of play
- Trophy room to see you achievements
- Car and driver bios
As you can see, the game has quite a bit going for it, but is
it really going
to be all that different from the competition's offerings?
Digital Illusions
think so. "Looking at the current racing games on the N64,
they seem to share
certain shortcomings," the developer says. And to ensure
that Rally Masters
doesn't fall victim to the same problem, the game will feature
special visual
enhancements in the vein of high resolution textures and
top-of-the-line
framerates.
"Blurry and repetitive textures are all too common in the
[N64's] current
lineup of racers," notes Digital Illusions. "The engine
[for Rally Masters] has
been designed to handle more and larger textures than normally
seen on N64
racing titles. This will give the game a much superior visual
impact."
As far as framerates go, the developer comments, "The
jerky graphics
experienced in a lot of N64 racing games comes from the fact that
the framerate
varies between 20-30 fps (16-25 on PAL systems). By keeping a
constant 30fps
(25 on PAL systems) we'll ensure a much smoother gaming
experience."
Other notable features the Digital Illusions is planning on
include:
- Detailed car models. With the processing power of the N64
there is no need
for the cars to look like cardboard boxes.
- Visually impressive weather effects like snow and rain.
Lighting effects,
lens-flares, specular environment mapping, water reflections
among others.
Environmental effects, - smoke and dust clouds, water splashes.
- High resolution graphics using Nintendo's 4MB Expansion Pak.
- Cars consisting of 750+ polygons each
- Tracks consisting of 60,000+ Polygons each
- 10 other specially written metal/techno tunes for the Nintendo
64.
The game will play very similar to other Rally-based racers,
meaning players,
using a variety of different vehicles, must race through
unforgiving terrain
while fending off aggressive opponents. Bumpy roads and sliding
through corners
will, of course, play an integral part of the gaming experience.
Outlook: Digital Illusions is certainly aiming high with the
title and has
listed a plethora of intriguing features and graphic effects that
Rally Masters
supports. If everything comes together as the developer plans
then the game
could very well show up being Nintendo 64's best racer to date.
Unfortunately,
that's a very big 'IF' at this point and we're going to have to
wait and see
exactly how the game materializes.
Hopefully an E3 showing of the product will wow us. Certainly
the Nintendo 64
screen-shots of the 75% complete game are extremely impressive.
Courtesy IGN64
Daytona 2
Over the last two years, Sega's R&D departments have been
hard at work creating
massive sequels to some of their biggest ever hits - Sega Rally,
Fighting
Vipers, Virtual On, and lastly Daytona USA. D2: Battle On The
Edge possesses
all the features which made the first game so popular, but
exaggerates
everything to make it even more exciting than before. More
players, faster
cars, more amazing scenery and even more astonishing crashes!
As with the original Daytona USA, there are three courses from
which to choose
- Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced - each with their own
distinctive look
and feel. The first track is a simple high-speed oval. As with
the first
Daytona's 777 Speedway, there's only one or two tight corners,
letting players
reach some ridiculous speeds! Set in a giant glass dome, it truly
is an
incredible course. Moving on to the intermediate track, this is
arguably the
best one. Hosted inside a bizarre amusement park, racers get to
travel past
canyons, rollercoasters, haunted houses and demons, before
returning to the
finish line to cross underneath a huge banana boat! Does the word
astonishing
spring to mind?
Finally, the advanced course, which like its predecessor, is
very long and
tough. Getting on the more realistic side of things, players will
race past a
dockyard, city streets and a freeway section. The track itself is
very twisty,
leading to a lot of reflexes being needed just in order to make
the
checkpoints.
Unlike the original, D2 offers a choice of three cars. For
novices, Chums Gum
Racing (nice name!) offers easy handling, but a poor
acceleration. For more
advanced players, Scorpio Plasma Racing is the automobile to go
for. If you
think you're an expert, Phantom Racing is the car to choose,
letting racers
reach maximum speeds, but at the cost of some very tight control.
With forty cars speeding around circuits such as these, you
can be sure to
expect many crashes. Daytona 2 definitely does not disappoint,
welcoming major
car damage and multiple pile-ups. If you're not careful in the
beginning, you
could be zimmer framing along at five miles per hour in no time!
Best of all
though has to be the collision graphics. Whenever you cars hits
the side of a
wall, showers of sparks will arrive out of nowhere, followed by
long trails of
smoke - a very nice touch.
Thanks to the power of the Model 3 Step 2 board, everything
looks wonderful.
Gone is the pop up which plagued the original, replacing it with
graphics to
die for! Even the cars themselves look great, boasting a very
solid style
appearance. While eclipsed by forthcoming titles such as Sega's
own Shen Mue,
D2 is still without a doubt, one of the best looking racing games
out there.
True to Sega tradition, Daytona, like Virtua Fighter 3 and
Spikeout, has
received an update in order to appease hardcore fans crazing for
more. Titled
"Daytona 2 Power Edition", this nifty little update
marks the return of the
Hornet from D1, and adds a special track which lets you race
through all three
courses! Starting off on the advanced track, racers move into the
expert before
making their way down to the beginner. Aside from that, and a few
graphics
changes, nothing else has been tinkered with. When a Dreamcast
version does
arrive on the scene, expect it to be a compilation of both games,
which will
hopefully feature some brand new courses, cars and gameplay
modes. Until the
inevitable is announced, get down to your nearest arcade to enjoy
one of the
best arcade sequels ever. I for one will be doing just that.
Previewed by: Matthew Langan
Courtesy of SegaDreamcast.net
Dreamcast Has
Furballs
Metropolis SR's developer throws cartoon characters into his
visually stunning
blast-o-rama for Dreamcast and PC - meet the Furballs...and
several exclusive
screens.
UK developer Bizarre Creations looks set to bring another
blinding title to
Sega's upcoming console on top of the already critically
acclaimed Metropolis
Street Racer, the only 1.5 party developer title as yet confirmed
for the
European launch of the machine. Furballs doesn't have a great
deal in common
with; well, anything else. It looks cute: cute cats, fluffy bears
and waddling
penguins roam around in fully 3D environments - until they take
up "f**k off"
guns and blows seven bells out of the animated enemy.
"Furballs gameplay is quite unique," said a Bizarre
Creations spokesperson.
"Its style can be summed up in one word: 'sarcasm'. It
blends intense shooting
action with challenging puzzles in a way which should appeal to
the mischievous
and even macabre nature in all of us.
"There are two main elements of the gameplay which
prevent the game from being
categorised into the neat slots that some publishers prefer. The
first is the
violence, action and skill of the third person shoot-em-up. The
second is the
deeper challenge and real-world complexity of the puzzles, which
unravel the
storyline as the player progresses.
"But the most important feature of the game is the
sarcasm and humor, which is
woven into every area of the game. From shooting off a bear's
head, to setting
dynamite traps for peacocks, there's adult humor all the way
through the
shooting action. We've got comical puzzles, rich character
animations, and
snappy cut scenes keep the humor flowing throughout the whole
game.
"Furballs is aimed at a teenage and adult audience. It
may seem from first
appearances that it's a cutesy little platformer, but nothing
could be further
from the truth. In the same way that South Park and other adult
cartoons
provide a shock factor in having a cute cartoon character acting
in a adult
way, we're aiming to have Furballs provide a breath of fresh air
in the area of
cartoon games," the source concluded.
The playable characters in the game, the Furballs, come in
various shapes and
sizes - here's all you need to know.
Roofus
The oldest of the Furballs, this tough hound has dependability
stamped all over
him. Raised in the brutal inner city kennels of Glasgow, he
joined the army to
escape the slums as much as fight. He was a natural soldier, and
has won many
medals, but shunned all offers of promotion. He leads the
Furballs as the most
experienced fighter, steeling himself for one last battle to help
save his
family.
Species - Dog
Age - 12 years
Height - 1.7 meters
Blood Group - A
Special Skill - Burrowing through soft ground
Chang
Chang was born into a rich family in rural China, and raised in
the bright
lights of the countries' southern boom cities. When the war
started, he
horrified his kin by choosing to become a common foot soldier.
His
encyclopaedic knowledge of science and strategy, combined with
his natural
agility and cunning, make him one of the Furballs' best weapons.
Species - Firefox (Chinese panda)
Age - 7 years
Height - 1.3 meters
Blood Group - B
Special Skill - Contortionist (can squeeze through holes)
Juliette
Beautiful and athletic, Juliette is also a supreme warrior. She
can be
temperamental stubborn and selfish, with an annoying tendency not
to listen to
others. When she becomes frustrated, she is often tempted to go
it alone, but
with persuasion, she has decided to stick with the team.
Species - Cat
Age - 5 years
Height - 1.6 meters
Blood Group - AB
Special Skill - Climbing
Rico
Raised among the huge penguin communities of southern Argentina,
this
idealistic bird always craved more than his mundane life of
fishing and dodging
orcas. He set forth in search of his dream, and stumbled upon the
Furballs, who
have helped him to hone his talents. Rico is somewhat
overconfident, and prone
to daydreaming. He isn't quite the hero he thinks he is, but is
quick to show
that in the water, there's no-one more skilled.
Species - Rockhopper penguin
Age - 5 years
Height - 1.8 meters
Blood Group - O
Special Skill - Swimming
Bungalow
Bungalow is a fully-grown male Kangaroo, whose best friend is
Roofus the hound.
This massive antipodean, although well-endowed with strength,
does not match
this in the brains department. He is happiest when taking orders
from others -
usually Roofus or his domineering wife!
Species - Kangaroo
Age - 7 Years
Height - 2.0 meters
Blood Group - A
Special Skill - High jumps
Tweak
Tweak is less than a day old. The last of his mother's eggs to
hatch, he only
spent a few precious minutes with her and his siblings before
General Viggo
stole them away. Although he is the largest and slowest of his
brothers and
sisters, he knows he must fight to get them back. Clumsy and
nervous, he finds
his new world scary and fascinating, but is helped by his
instinctive knowledge
of firearms, and the other Furballs looking out for him.
Species - Dragon
Age - 0.002 years
Height - 2.2 meters
Blood Group - A
Special Skill - Gliding long distances
The developer is yet to confirm a publisher for the title, to
be shown off at
E3. Furballs is expected to launch on Dreamcast and PC in the
first quarter
2000.
Courtesy Next Generation Online
Disney,
Nintendo Form Pub. Pact
It's a small world after all. Disney and Nintendo, certain
that they can't
acquire each other, are cutting a deal instead.
Disney Interactive and Nintendo have announced a worldwide
agreement for
Nintendo to publish a slew of games for the N64 and Game Boy
Color.
Additionally, titles using the Mickey license will almost
certainly appear on
the Next Generation Nintendo system, now dubbed (according to
Nintendo sources)
Project Dolphin.
This marks a reunification of sorts for the two companies,
given that Nintendo
was founded making licensed Mickey Mouse playing cards in Japan.
Now Mickey is
returning to Nintendo, in a way, as he will make appearances on
N64 in full 3D.
The Mickey games, a 'Mickey Racing' title (Game Boy Color), a
'Disney Racing'
title (N64 and Game Boy Color) and a 'Mickey Adventure' title
(home console and
Game Boy Color), will be created by Rare. The games are scheduled
for release
during the holiday seasons of 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.
"We are thrilled to introduce Mickey to an entirely new
audience by combining
his global popularity with the innovative technology that the
Game Boy Color
and N64 platforms have to offer," says Jan Smith, Disney
Interactive's senior
vice president and general manager. "Our relationship with
Nintendo and Rare
will create the most exciting and immersive Mickey gaming
experience ever."
"The incomparable ability of Rare to create interactive
magic is about to be
integrated with the incomparable appeal of Mickey Mouse,"
says Howard Lincoln,
chairman, Nintendo of America. "The results will broaden the
appeal of video
gaming to an ever-widening number of households around the
world."
Disney Interactive will also develop multiple titles for the
Game Boy Color
platform. The games will either target the girl game software
market or tie in
with major video releases from Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
The first two titles, 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Alice in
Wonderland,' which
focus on girl gamers, are scheduled for Fall, 1999.
Courtesy Next Generation Online |