Press release: 1999-11-11: Sega Sports NBA 2K for Sega Dreamcast Sets an All New Standard in Realistic Basketball Action

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

Sega Sports NBA 2K for Sega Dreamcast Sets an All New Standard in Realistic Basketball Action; Sega Sports NBA 2K Features Unprecedented Gameplay and Graphics

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1999--

Sega Sports(TM) has done it again!

Continuing to create genre-busting sports titles, Sega Sports has redefined basketball games with "Sega Sports NBA 2K" for the 128-bit, Internet-ready Sega Dreamcast(TM) videogame console. "Sega Sports NBA 2K" incorporates an unsurpassed level of detail throughout each aspect in the game. Gamers can see the facial expressions of players, fully animated crowds, and realistic player moves and reactions in gameplay. The game features exact replicas of all arenas, playbooks designed by the NBA and four-player multiplayer support. "Sega Sports NBA 2K" is available at retailers nationwide for $49.95.

Developed by Visual Concepts for Sega Sports, "Sega Sports NBA 2K" is jam-packed with industry firsts. "Sega Sports NBA 2K" features more than 1,300 motion captured moves, which allows for a wider array of more realistic dunks, passes and true-to-life animations. Other firsts include fully animated benches, crowds and coaches and incredible graphic detail. Gamers can see players' eyes blink, their bodies move as they breathe and every detail down to Allen Iverson's cornrows and tattoos. In true Sega Sports style, "Sega Sports NBA 2K" is a breakthrough title in the genre.

"Sega Sports' goal is to create the most realistic sports videogames on the market. We've done that with 'Sega Sports NFL 2K' and now we are raising the bar even higher with 'Sega Sports NBA 2K,'" said Greg Thomas, vice president of product development, Sega of America. "It is important to give players a totally redefined gameplay experience on Sega Dreamcast and 'Sega Sports NBA 2K' is undoubtedly a game that will deliver that experience."

"Sega Sports NBA 2K" features all 29 teams, in architecturally correct arenas. The heart and soul of the realism in "Sega Sports NBA 2K" lies with the players themselves. As players knock down big slam-dunks, they will let out a victorious yell. They will even stare down defenders, salute the crowd after taking it to the hole and grimace in pain when injured. Players also have all of their personal accessories including armbands, goggles, and headbands.

Crowds also add to the realism because of their constant activity. People drink sodas, stand up, cheer and move about, which adds greatly to the ambiance of being at a true NBA game. If the opposing team is shooting a free throw, the crowd will yell and stomp their feet to distract players. The game also features interactive benches -- a first in a basketball game. As players make a dunk or a great play, those on the benches will stand up and cheer.

Just as breakthrough as the graphics is the actual gameplay. "Sega Sports NBA 2K" boasts highly advanced artificial intelligence, which contributes to making it as authentic as an actual NBA game. Teams have real play-calling tendencies, so the Bulls will run a triangle offense, west coast teams will play a fast break game, while east coast teams will tend to play a half court offense with more banging inside. Players who rebound well excel at them in the game and players who shoot well from long-range will be three-point threats. Throughout the game, coaches will yell out plays to their teams, just as they do on the court.

By motion capturing real NBA players, Sega Sports has hit its mark in its attempt to re-create the unique qualities of each position. Sega also enlisted the help of real NBA coaches to make sure each play looks exactly right. Individual 3D player models were used to differentiate NBA player positions and gameplay reflects true-to-life physics -- smaller players will truly have difficulty posting up against the big men in the NBA. Backing down a defender feels realistic, as it takes time to get down and muscle your way in. On offense, players with a mismatch will actually call for the ball.

Players can perform slick on-court moves such as touch passes, alley oops, clearouts and ball swipes. Instant replays, which look like true TV sequences, show every detail in a dunk from player reactions to movements in players' bodies as they swerve or come down for a landing. Gamers can even see the seams of the ball as it goes through the hoop and the swishes of the net. Shooting the rock Sega Dreamcast style is just that good!

"Sega Sports NBA 2K" features a variety of playing modes. In Exhibition Mode, gamers can play with any two teams in the league; Quick Start Mode brings players straight to tip-off with two randomly selected teams. Season Mode allows gamers to take their team through a full season, while tracking the player and team stats. The game also features Playoffs and Practice modes.

Create-A-Team allows gamers to create customized teams based on rosters, trading, line-ups or with imported information from a friend's Visual Memory Unit (VMU). The Fantasy Draft feature puts players in the driver's seat at the NBA draft. Gamers can choose to draft for any team and even view other team's picks.

"Sega Sports NBA 2K" has an extensive Create-A-Player feature that goes far beyond anything ever seen before. Gamers can now adjust every detail from the bone structure, the size of the nose and ears and the body size. Players can also make hilarious "freaks of nature" to play on their team by creating a player with a giant head and extra long arms. Also adding to the fun, gamers can utilize the VMU to obtain information on the game or specific players unseen by their competition. The VMU displays messages to gamers after they throw down big dunks, 3-pointers or last second shots. It also provides players with information on energy levels of players, specific shooting percentages and who is in foul trouble.

"Sega Sports NBA 2K" is officially licensed by the National Basketball Association and endorsed by NBA All Star and 1998-99 scoring leader Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers guard and Sega Sports spokesperson. The game is now available at retailers nationwide or at www.sega.com.

About Sega Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcast is available in the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $199, with a built in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality. The system had 18 titles available at launch that will grow to more than 40 titles by the end of the year. Third-party titles currently in the works will bring the total Sega Dreamcast game library count to more than 150 in the year 2000.

Along with its low price point, Sega Dreamcast has achieved other industry firsts. Its advanced 128-bit architecture makes it the first console with evolutionary capabilities, allowing it to grow and change to match advances in technology and the needs and desires of the consumer. Sega Dreamcast is also the most powerful video game console ever created. It is 15 times more powerful than a Sony PlayStation(TM), ten times more powerful than a Nintendo(R) 64 and has four times the graphics processing power of the fastest Pentium II processor.

In the first 24 hours of availability, Sega Dreamcast netted over $97 million at retail, more than tripling the past entertainment industry record set by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at $28 million on its first day. In its initial four days, Sega sold a total of 372,000 Sega Dreamcast systems, easily surpassing the previous industry record holder, Nintendo 64, which took six days to hit 350,000 when it launched in 1996. In the first 13 days at retail, Sega Dreamcast sold more than 514,000 units. Sega estimates that the company will sell 1.5 million units by Dec. 31, 1999.

About Sega

Sega of America is the 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, and is the only company that offers interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at www.sega.com.

Note to Editors: The NBA and individual NBA member team identifications used on or in this product are trademarks, copyrighted designs and other forms of intellectual property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective NBA member teams and may not be used, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc.

For more information about the National Basketball Association, visit www.nba.com.

Screen shots of Sega Sports NBA 2K are available at ftp://ftp.accesspr.com/public/sega.
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