Press release: 2000-01-20: Sega and Eidos Interactive Partner to Bring `Tomb Raider: the Last Revelation' to Sega Dreamcast; Lara Croft Comes to a New Videogame Console, Sega Dreamcast

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 FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2000

For the last three years, the "Tomb Raider" series has only been available on the PlayStation(R) game console and PC. Now, Sega(R) of America makes history - again. Sega announced today that Eidos Interactive will ship "Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation" for Sega Dreamcast(TM), the 128-bit, Internet-ready videogame console, this spring. Developed by Core Design, "Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation" is just one of many titles that Eidos has committed to bringing to the platform this year. The "Tomb Raider" series has already enjoyed tremendous success, selling more than 18 million copies worldwide and Sega expects that this well-known franchise will further fuel the retail demand and consumer enthusiasm for the Sega Dreamcast hardware.

Taking advantage of the unsurpassed power of Sega Dreamcast, Eidos has greatly enhanced the graphics of this title. In this version, Lara Croft has been remodeled so that she is displayed in high resolution to match the game's lavish environments, thus creating unprecedented realism in the game. "Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation" for Sega Dreamcast will also feature an enhanced lighting system, a greater draw distance than seen on other versions, real-time shadow casting, bump mapping, environment mapping, volumetric fogging and an enhanced sound system.

"We are honored that Eidos is bringing a well-known property such as `Tomb Raider' to Sega Dreamcast," said Neal Robison, group director of third party licensing for Sega of America. "This further solidifies the commitment and enthusiasm of the third party community for the platform and signals how well it is selling in the marketplace. We will continue to focus on third party support for Sega Dreamcast to bring the best library possible to our consumers."

"Eidos has been a supporter of Sega Dreamcast since the launch of the console. Alongside publishing original Sega Dreamcast titles, we have a strategy of developing versions of our most successful franchises for the platform," said Mike McGarvey, chief operating officer of Eidos. "'Tomb Raider' is one of the most successful brands in our industry's history and the power of the Sega Dreamcast console greatly enriches the whole Lara Croft experience for game fans the world over."

This news comes on the heels of many other announcements in which Sega Dreamcast has set new videogame industry firsts. Sega announced earlier this month that Sega Dreamcast had reached a sell-through milestone of more than 1.5 million units in North America since its launch on September 9, 1999. This significant figure came three months ahead of corporate predictions and just 30 days after the company announced sales had reached the one million units sold mark.

Currently, there are more than 100 developers around the world creating games for Sega Dreamcast. With the help of developers and publishers worldwide, Sega of America expects to have a software library for Sega Dreamcast of more than 160 by the end of the year 2000.

About Sega Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcast is available in the US with a built in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality through the Sega Dreamcast Network, including chat, e-mail, web browsing and online gaming. Content for the Sega Dreamcast Network is provided by Sega, Excite@Home and IGN. The system's preferred Internet service provider is AT& WorldNet(R) Services, the quickest and easiest way to take the system online. Sega Dreamcast currently has more than 40 titles available. Third-party titles currently in the works will bring the total Sega Dreamcast game library count to more than 160 in the year 2000.

Sega Dreamcast's 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. Since it launched, Sega Dreamcast has sold more than 1.5 million units, beating sales milestones set by other high-profile consumer and electronics products such as Tickle Me Elmo(TM) and Apple's iMac. Sega estimates that the company will sell 2 million units by the end of March 2000.

About Sega

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-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.

About Eidos

Eidos Interactive, Inc. is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment products for the PC, PC, PlayStation(R) game console, Sega Dreamcast(TM), Nintendo(R) Game Boy(R) Color. Eidos Interactive is part of London-based Eidos plc (NASDAQ: EIDSY) with additional offices in San Francisco, Paris, Hamburg, and Tokyo. For more information on Eidos Interactive's product line visit http://www.eidos.com

About Core Design

Core Design is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eidos Interactive Ltd, one of the world's leading developers and publishers of interactive entertainment software for the PC, PlayStation, Dreamcast and Gameboy Colour. Eidos Interactive is part of London-based Eidos plc (NASDAQ: EIDSY) with additional offices in San Francisco, Paris, Hamburg, Singapore and Tokyo. For more information on Eidos Interactive's product line visit http://www.eidos.com
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