Press release: 1995-01-06: TIME WARNER INTERACTIVE TEAMS WITH WAYNE GRETZKY AND THE NHL PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION FOR LINE OF INTERACTIVE HOCKEY GAMES

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

'Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars(TM)' Previews at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, Time Warner Interactive, Inc., Games Division announced the preview of "Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars(TM)" on the Sega(TM) Genesis at the St. Tropez hotel in suite #2903. Time Warner Interactive has an exclusive three-year, multi-platform license with Wayne Gretzky, all-time NHL scoring leader and four time Stanley Cup winner. Additionally, a license was signed with The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) to provide the games with real player names, profiles and statistics. "Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All- Stars" captures the realism of hockey by using advanced 3D imaging of real players' motions, by building the gaming engine on professional hockey players' profiles and statistics, and by using the talents of sports game specialists to design the game. The first product in the line will be developed for the Sega Genesis and is expected to ship in April 1995 for an estimated street price of $54.95.

"We're putting together a powerhouse hockey game with the competitive features that will please veteran hockey fans and will have new initiates in the game immediately," commented Mark Beaumont, Senior Vice President Product Development and Marketing at Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. "We have a lot of experience creating sports titles such as the all-time best selling baseball video game, 'R.B.I. Baseball,' and creation of the unprecedented 3D rotating court in 'Dick Vitale's "Awesome Baby" College Hoops.' The sports market is very competitive -- we're going for winners, by pulling together the best technology, licenses, and talent."

"Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars" features actual NHLPA players from 26 North American teams and 6 International All-Star teams. Real player statistics and profiles are supplied by the NHLPA and updated annually. With over 600 professional hockey players and all their stats you have the talent at your disposal to compete and go for the cup. The battery back-up feature tracks your wins, stats, penalties, and injuries and lets you trade players, edit team line-ups and names, from game to game so you can play a full 84 game season with playoffs.

"Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars" looks and plays realistically because professional gameplay was captured on video and in 3D rendered animations. The title features film footage of NHLPA players in critical moments like face-offs, blocks and goal scoring. To capture the real movements and character of Wayne Gretzky, Gretzky himself is filmed for CD versions while wearing a special suit inlaid with light sensors. Gretzky's actions are recorded with the light sensors and then used to create a basic character outline or animated "skeleton" on the computer. A graphics art package is used to then render the animated hockey player; skating, passing, blocking, and scoring just like the "Great One."

"Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars" puts the player on the ice and in the action. With only three pushes of a button you can be playing hockey! You have two styles of play: "Simulation," which operates under real rules, or "Arcade" mode, a more rough and tumble version in which "street" rules are the name of the game.

Draft some buddies with a four-player accessory to the Genesis or mix in professional muscle with real player profiles and teams to play a game of hockey that will get your heart pumping and puck flying. Check out the action in "Practice" mode where you can play a regular game, shoot-out, or team of choice without the pressure of winning for tournament ranking. If you've got the stuff -- go for "Tournament" play and compete with the pros, playing through a season, a professional best of 7, an All-Star tournament or All-Team tournament. Have it your way with the "Just Play" mode. It's an intelligent "no-brainer" function that automatically customizes the game, set-up, options and competition based on your history of preferences, abilities, and hockey style.

The look of the game has a lot of thought and detail. The player animations are 20% larger than images in competitive hockey games. The user can get right into the game because of the unique close-to-the-action perspective -- your view is at center rink, right on the edge of the ice -- so you'll be right there for full screen face-offs and all the plays. Referees appear in video with digitized audio announcing penalties and goals. Details such as backwards skating action and the sounds of puck slaps and stadium music add to the realism.

Availability

The licenses with Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA provide that Time Warner Interactive develop and distribute a line of interactive hockey products for arcade and consumer systems. The first product will be available for the Sega Genesis and is expected in the Spring of 1995. Versions for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PC CD-ROM, Atari Jaguar(TM) and a powerful 3D arcade version are expected in Fall 1995.

Time Warner Interactive's growing line of sports games includes: the "RBI(TM) Baseball Series," the most popular series in baseball video games; "Payne Stewart Pro Golf(TM)," a true vision 3-D golf game; "Dick Vitale's 'Awesome, Baby!' College Hoops(TM)" featuring a 3-D scaling and rotating court; and "Kawasaki SuperBike Challenge(TM)" using digitized Kawasaki motorcycle racing at its fastest in 15 circuits.

Time Warner Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), develops and publishes interactive consumer entertainment products that span across platforms from location-based and video arcade games, to video game cartridges and computer platforms including: Sega(TM) Genesis(TM), Sega(TM) 32X(TM), Sega(TM) Game Gear(TM), Super Nintendo Entertainment System(R), Game Boy(TM), CD-ROM for IBM(R) and compatible computers, Macintosh(R), Sega(TM) CD, and Atari(TM) Jaguar(TM), and interactive TV applications for entertainment and gaming markets. All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

 -0- 1/6/95



/CONTACT: Tracy Egan, Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division, 408-232-3213/

(TWX)

CO: Time Warner Interactive Inc.; Time Warner Inc. ST: California, Nevada IN: CPR SU: PDT

TM-JC -- SJ005 -- 0066 01/06/95 09:08 EST
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