Press release: 2000-10-31: Jet Grind Radio Brings Graffiti Art, Street Beats and Futuristic In-Line Skating to Sega Dreamcast

From Sega Retro

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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
Original source: The Free Library


SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000

New Cel Shading Design Turns Jet Grind Radio Into an Urban Comic Book Sprung to Life

Join the graffiti crew, stamp your territory and keep moving, because the price of self-expression just got higher! Sega(R) of America today announced the release of "Jet Grind Radio(TM)," for the 128-bit, Internet-ready Sega Dreamcast(TM) videogame console.

Combining hip-hop and alternative music, extreme skating, and new cel shading design to achieve a cartoon dimensional style, "Jet Grind Radio" takes gamers on the ultimate urban fantasy. Armed with aerosol, overdrive magnetic-motor skates and tuned into the Jet Set Radio program, kids keep the spirit of free expression alive in a world full of rival taggers, angry cops and lots of paint. Fueled by street beats, underground fashion, and tagging with a purpose, "Jet Grind Radio" captures the vibe of the street and takes gamers on an urban adventure like no other.

It is the 21st Century, and the City Government has initiated stringent laws to keep kids from expressing themselves. In a race against the clock, players assume the role of various crew members, all with distinct styles, attitudes and abilities, whose mission is to tag targets and perform tricks for points while avoiding the police -- all in the name of free expression. Maneuvering on overdrive magnetic-motor skating shoes, gamers are challenged to mark their territory throughout the sprawling urban environments of Tokyo-to and the exclusive New York-inspired Grind City while simultaneously defending their turf from rivals.

"With the release of 'Jet Grind Radio,' Sega once again breaks the mold with new and innovative content," said Rob Alvarez, product manager, Sega of America. "Never before has a game truly delivered an urban street-action experience that combines all the edgy elements of the streets, such as graffiti art, skating and music."

Created with a new cel shading design style, "Jet Grind Radio" pioneers a genre that that will pave the way for future videogame design. Cel shading creates a black outline around the 3D polygonal characters to render them in a seemingly 2D fashion, thus creating the unique and stylish cartoon look and feel never before seen in a videogame.

The action in "Jet Grind Radio" is driven by the powerful sounds of DJ Professor K from his underground radio station. Featuring an urban and alternative music soundtrack, the game includes music from Jurassic 5, Mix Master Mike, Rob Zombie, Cold, P.M.M. and a handful of Asian hip-hop and techno-funk artists. Special to "Jet Grind Radio," Players can also adjust a knob on a virtual boom box to tune into any of the tracks featured in the game.

For the ultimate piece of graffiti art, players can choose to create their own custom tag and logo or use graffiti art designed by renowned graffiti artist Haze, best known for his album cover work for Public Enemy, Beastie Boys and LL Cool J. "Jet Grind Radio" lets gamers choose from limitless customized logos of all shapes, sizes, colors and letters and can be created for use in the game or exchanged over the Internet via Sega Dreamcast and saved to a VMU (Visual Memory Unit). For a truly unique piece, gamers can download any JPEG image from the Web to use as graffiti art in the game.

"Jet Grind Radio" is rated "T" for Teen and is available for $49.95 at retailers nationwide and at www.sega.com.

About Sega Dreamcast

The 128-bit Internet ready Sega Dreamcast is available in the U.S. with a built-in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality via SegaNet, the only high-speed online console gaming network and ISP service for Dreamcast and PC users. Dreamcast currently has over 100 titles available. The total Dreamcast game library count will be more than 200 by December 2000.

About Sega

Sega of America is the American arm of Tokyo-based Sega Enterprises, Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega videogame systems and videogames in the Americas. Sega Enterprises, Ltd. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, offering interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at www.sega.com.
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