Press release: 2000-09-07: Infogrames Explodes Onto SegaNet With the Award Winning Unreal Tournament for Sega Dreamcast

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English third-party Original source: The Free Library

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Highly Anticipated Online Console Gaming To Take Off With The Definitive Multiplayer Action Game This Fall

Infogrames, a worldwide leader in the interactive entertainment software industry, today officially announced that it will bring the PC Game of the Year, Unreal(R) Tournament (UT) to Sega Dreamcast(TM) this fall. Known for its raucous award-winning multi-player action, Unreal Tournament will take full advantage of the Dreamcast's technology including its built-in modem and SegaNet(TM), the only high-speed console gaming network, that will provide up to eight players the same hardcore online mayhem that UT fans have grown to love.

"Unreal Tournament is the perfect game to demonstrate SegaNet's capabilities and continues to confirm Infogrames' commitment to online gaming," said Barbara Gleason, director of marketing for Infogrames' San Jose Label. "The original game was very successful with over one million copies sold and many awards including PC Game of the Year. The next logical step was to unleash it on Internet hungry console fans. With the advanced technology of the Dreamcast and SegaNet, Unreal Tournament is realizing its full gameplay capabilities on a console system."

"We are thrilled that Infogrames, one of the top publishers of interactive entertainment, is supporting the future of this industry, which is online console gaming," said Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "Delivering quality online content is key and Unreal Tournament will be a tremendous addition to Sega's online library of games for this year."

Originally developed by Epic Games, Unreal Tournament for Dreamcast is being produced by Secret Level in San Francisco. The game pits players against the toughest warriors in the galaxy in multiple contests and fantasy-based settings. The goal is to become the Unreal Grand Master, testing your skills against, or fighting alongside, teams of `bots' or other players. The first-person perspective action includes deathmatch and team-oriented modes of play, as well as an enhanced version of Unreal's critically acclaimed Botmatch, which allows players to compete against extremely lifelike computer-controlled enemies in deathmatch play. In addition, Unreal Tournament's advanced artificial intelligence allows players to lead a squad of computer-controlled allies against teams of human or computer-controlled opponents, taking the team-oriented game play experience to a new level of immersion.

Receiving many awards and accolades for its intense multi-player action, Unreal Tournament has set the standard for finely tuned first-person perspective action and console fans won't be disappointed with UT's robust gameplay, designed specifically for the Dreamcast. Players can choose to battle it out with up to 8 players online through SegaNet with the system's built in modem or through the 2-player split screen mode.

"Until now it has been impossible for Unreal Tournament to make the transition over to a console system, but with the new next generation consoles we are able to do the game justice," said Mark Rein, president of Epic Games. "Choosing the development team to produce this feat was tricky but the team at Secret Level is already blowing us away with their expertise in working on the Dreamcast system. Within two months of beginning the project they had the online play working through the built-in Dreamcast modem! It is really exciting for us to have Unreal Tournament involved in the online console gaming revolution."

Targeted at mature audiences, Unreal Tournament for Sega Dreamcast will be available this fall.

Epic Games Inc., based in Raleigh, N.C., and established in 1991, is a developer of cutting-edge PC games. The company is best known as the creator of hit PC 3D action games Unreal, an award-winning blockbuster hit having sold more than 1 million copies, and Unreal Tournament which has been recognized as the Game of the Year by leading gaming media outlets including Computer Gaming World, the No. 1 PC games magazine. Epic's Unreal Engine has been licensed to several top PC game developers for games in a variety of genres. In the past Epic was well known for it's shareware games including Jill of the Jungle, Jazz Jackrabbit and Epic Pinball. Additional information can be obtained through Epic's Web site at http://www.epicgames.com.

Infogrames Entertainment, S.A. (Paris Bourse: SICOVAM 5257) is a worldwide leader in the interactive entertainment software industry. Headquartered in France, the company develops and publishes award-winning computer and video games for the PlayStation(R) game console, PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo(R) 64, Nintendo(R) Game Boy(R) Color, Sega(R) Dreamcast(TM), Macintosh(R), and personal computer platforms. Founded in 1983 by chairman and CEO Bruno Bonnell, Infogrames has published many award-winning franchises in its 17-year history, such as Alone In The Dark(TM), Test Drive(R), Driver(TM), Deer Hunter(TM), Oddworld(TM), Unreal, Independence War(TM), and V-Rally(TM). The company is also known for its best-selling and award-winning line of children's entertainment software from Humongous Entertainment starring Putt-Putt(R), Freddi Fish(TM), Pajama Sam(R) and SPY Fox(TM), as well as its successful Macintosh publishing label, Macsoft, the number one publisher of Macintosh entertainment software. In addition, Infogrames has a number of key strategic licenses including Warner Bros. Looney Tunes(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM), Le Mans 24 Hours(R), AM General Hummer(R), Harley-Davidson(R), and Dodge(R) Viper. For more information, visit Infogrames' US Web site at www.us.infogrames.com.
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