Press release: 1997-04: GO OUT AND PLAY AT GAMEWORKS ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP

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: GameWorks (archived)

GO OUT AND PLAY AT GAMEWORKS ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP

New entertainment club offers games, music and social interaction

LAS VEGAS - GameWorksTM, a new breed of club which redefines play, is the newest and most unique entertainment venture to hit the famous Las Vegas Strip. GameWorks offers people the best technology, more than 280 games and social interaction, in a 47,000-square-foot location inside The Showcase Mall, at 3785 Las Vegas Boulevard South; adjacent to the MGM Grand and across the street from New York-New York.

GameWorks is inspired by DreamWorks SKG, Sega Enterprises and Universal Studios, Inc. The GameWorks concept and environment were developed by a design team under the visionary guidance of Steven Spielberg.

GameWorks' main areas include the Loading Dock, a competitive zone where guests can put the newest games to the test; the Arena, a high-energy area that features GameWorks' signature and multi-player games; and the Loft, a relaxing environment offering a variety of classic video games, traditional games, Internet activities, a full-service restaurant, and a full bar.

GameWorks Las Vegas also features "Surge Rock," the world's tallest free-standing rock climbing structure at nearly five stories high.

GameWorks Las Vegas joins GameWorks Seattle as the company's premier locations. There are nearly 100 GameWorks planned for around the world by 2002. New GameWorks are expected to open this year in Ontario, Calif., Tempe, Ariz., and Dallas.

"GameWorks adds a unique form of gaming to the Las Vegas Strip that combines two famous Las Vegas elements, the excitement of winning and the spirit of competition." said Michael Montgomery, president and chief operating officer for Sega GameWorks. "However, there is an important difference. At GameWorks, there are only winners and no losers."

At 75 feet tall, "Surge Rock" has 13 different routes with varying degrees of difficulty. The climbing structure features unique aspects such as sound gags along the various routes, wireless communication between the climber and the belayer at ground level and mounted cameras that project images of climbers on the video cluster inside and monitors throughout the space. Digital registration at the top allows climbers to take snapshots of themselves for retrieval on the GameWorks Web. Located in the Arena, "Surge Rock" is the signature icon for GameWorks Las Vegas.

Signature games, designed and developed by GameWorks, include Vertical Reality, which is expected to open in June. Players in Vertical Reality are strapped into chairs and can rise to heights of two stories as they conquer new levels. However, a losing battle with the simulated "bad guys" can cause a sudden descent to the bottom.

GameArc, a high-end, networked game, features state-of-the-art video displays and an elaborate sound system, allows eight players to battle against each other in the most intense environment possible.

Other multi-player games include three-dimensional sound simulator games, photo-realistic racing competitions and interactive action adventures.

The GameWorks Loft offers classic video games, such as PacMan, Asteroids and Centipede, and a wide variety of timeless games, such as pool, Foosball, backgammon and chess. The SportsZone offers a full selection of sports games, including basketball, a baseball batting cage, and air hockey. A 15-seat Internet lounge is also located in the Loft area.

GameWorks Las Vegas will also feature 130 television monitors located throughout the club displaying live action from some of the games and music videos. Food and Beverage outlets will include a 100-seat full-service restaurant with various specialty items; a Starbucks Coffee bar; a 5,000-square-foot full-service bar; "Fries Station," serving fries and sodas; and the "Drinks Station," which features non-alcoholic drinks, juices and snacks.

GameWorks is the main business of Sega GameWorks L.L.C. Other Sega GameWorks activities include Sega CityTM and Game Operations, which owns and operates numerous arcade and Sega City locations, and Game Sales, the exclusive distributor of Sega arcade games for North and South America. The managing members of Sega GameWorks are wholly-owned subsidiaries each of Sega Enterprises, DreamWorks SKG and Universal Studios, Inc. Universal Studios, Inc. is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global beverage and entertainment company.