Press release: 2000-10-18: Infogrames, Inc. Puts Gamers Behind the Wheel of the World's Top Licensed Rally Cars With Test Drive V-Rally for Sega Dreamcast--In Stores This Week

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)--Oct. 18, 2000

Game Offers 16 Licensed Rally Cars, A Track Editor And The Legendary Fast V-Rally(tm) Framerate

Infogrames, Inc., (Nasdaq:IFGM) a global publisher of interactive entertainment software, announced today that Test Drive(R) V-Rally for Sega(R) Dreamcast(tm) is shipping to stores this week. Developed by Eden Studios, the game features 16 licensed cars racing on 84 tracks in 12 countries.

"Test Drive V-Rally is a rally racing fan's dream come true," said Laddie Ervin, director of marketing for sports and racing at Infogrames, Inc. "With its outstanding graphics at 60 frames per second, life-like physics, and a top of the line track editor, Test Drive V-Rally blows the competition away." The renowned V-Rally formula is a welcome addition to the multimillion unit selling Test Drive franchise. Test Drive V-Rally offers the exciting racing tempo and variety of dream cars that stay true to the Test Drive series, while also providing a superior rally racing game with outstanding graphics and gameplay.

Test Drive V-Rally offers more than 16 officially licensed 1999 World Rally Cars (WRC) and 10 classic rallying cars, including Subaru(R) Impreza, Skoda(R) Octavia, Ford(R) Focus, Toyota(R) Corolla and the Mitsubishi(R) Lancer.

The game captures the essence of rally racing by recreating the car physics and environments that real rally drivers encounter. With more than 200 miles of road in twelve different countries, players will find themselves negotiating short cuts, double road super stages and cross roads throughout the game, while cars will suffer progressive car damage and accumulate dirt. Test Drive V-Rally offers in-car pilot animations and the game can be played from a dashboard view with driver shifting and steering animation.

In addition to the game's 84 existing tracks, Test Drive V-Rally's dynamic track editor/generator lets players design their own tracks and change them on the fly, giving them virtually endless possibilities to customize the game. Track editing options allow players to create or edit turns, inclines, terrain and weather conditions, while also letting them choose a point to point or closed loop track. The track editor allows the player to fine tune different aspects of the track, and, after creating a track, the player may go back and make turns sharper or straighter in very fine increments.

In addition to designing tracks, Test Drive V-Rally also gives the player control of several mechanical aspects of their car to improve performance in certain environments. The player must choose strategically from the options in the Car Settings mode:

- Suspension: hard suspension is better for asphalt while soft is better for rough terrain.

- Car Height: if it's going to be uneasy terrain, raise that car up!

- Over/Understeer: a track with gentle bends requires an understeering car while tight turns require an oversteering car.

- Brakes: brakes can be made harder or softer and can be adjusted front to back. There is also a brake assist option.

Test Drive V-Rally features two, three and four-player split screen modes and will be available at most major retail outlets for an estimated retail price of $29.99. For more information visit the Test Drive V-Rally Web site at http://www.us.infogrames.com.

Based in New York, NY, Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is a majority-owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA (Paris Bourse: SICOVAM 5257) and serves as the headquarters for the company's operations in North America. Infogrames Entertainment SA 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, Microsoft* Xbox, 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*, Oddworld(tm), Unreal(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(R) 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), AM General Hummer(R), and Harley-Davidson(R). For more information, visit Infogrames' US Web site at www.us.infogrames.com.
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